When the plot-skips players into the game world

Antimony Kingdom, City of Knowledge Leipzig.

The Shadow Soul suddenly sat up from bed with a start.

A young man who looked to be in his twenties or thirties was panicking as he scanned his surroundings.

In the dead of night, the room was lit with two rows of candles behind red paper shades, casting a blood-red hue throughout. An unmistakable scent of blood pervaded the room, with the remnants of animals laid around the Ritual Array.

"...Is this... real?"

The doubt in the Shadow Soul's heart slipped out.

He had just experienced something terrifying in an illusion, or so it seemed.

He could no longer recall what had specifically happened—after the dream ended, those images rapidly faded from his mind. However, the terror was deeply etched into his soul.

It was as if he had been through this scene before. Like waking from a dream, only to find himself in a deeper one.

That fragmented experience was like a shattered mirror, or a broken glass—something transparent and hard had pierced deep into his soul, causing him discomfort all over.

"Ah!"

Just as the Shadow Soul tried to support himself up, he realized his left arm had suddenly become weak.

Though clearly unmarked by any wounds, a sharp pain radiated from his left arm. He couldn't help but scream in agony and fell back onto the bed.

"—What's wrong, Mr. Oliva?"

As he broke out in a cold sweat from the pain, a young woman's voice suddenly came from the doorway.

It was Janet Plateau, who had lived with him for a while in preparation for the promotion ritual.

But the Shadow Soul, whose true name was Oliva, felt a shiver run down his spine—the fear pulsing in his heart made him subconsciously doubt whether the person speaking at the doorway was indeed Miss Janet.

His promotion ritual had undoubtedly failed. In other words, the Shadow Soul had not acquired the Path characteristics.

—Since he didn't acquire the Path characteristics, how could he be sure he had left the ritual?

Or could this be another illusion starting anew...

Without waiting for Oliva's response, Janet unlocked the door and came in.@@novelbin@@

She was still in her nightgown, appearing somewhat listless but clearly not showing any other symptoms like Oliva.

"Don't come any closer!"

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The Shadow Soul shouted sharply, his eyes flickering with fear.

He scooted backwards with effort, but the pain from a too-brisk movement to his left arm paused him in an instant.

Just from his reaction, Janet quickly realized what was happening.

"...Is this a disability caused by damage to the spiritual body?"

Forcing herself to stay alert, she expressed concern, "Then your left arm needs to be amputated quickly, or it might spread."

However, the Shadow Soul simply kicked his legs in fear and let out a cry that was almost a scream yet full of strength, "Don't come near! You're fake! You killed me!"

At these words, Janet froze for a moment.

She looked at Oliva, puzzled.

...Could this be the result of dying too horribly in the New Moon Ritual, causing severe damage to the spiritual body and mental instability?

And Oliva felt his memory rapidly becoming blur—he worried if he had actually woken up from the dream. If that was the case, he needed to quickly note down any critical information he still remembered.

Without hesitation, he blurted out, "Alai might have switched identities with Grey, Alai is actually a man! He's dangerous, controlling Shadow Demons, Son of the Moon, controlling Earthbound Spirits!"

"...Huh?"

Janet responded somewhat helplessly, "What are you talking about?"

The resolution scene was crystal clear—

They had definitely encountered Mr. Grey.

Although Janet had run away upon meeting him and she was delirious from being trapped... but seeing the painful images of her and the Shadow Soul's deaths in the illusion, she also knew how she had died last.

The ultimate victor was undeniably Grey, who had defeated them.

Although the secret passage was very dim at the time, Janet, with her vision accustomed to darkness, could still make out the faces of the two people.

The Son of the Moon was the female Son of the Moon who held the sleeping girl during the final settlement! And the girl sleeping in her arms was Grey.

Also present in the final settlement was the young man with an evil smile who was entwined with a Shadow Demon—that must be Alai from the Path of Transcendence. Miss Alai had already demonstrated her shadow abilities in the waiting hall... What misled her was that Mr. Grey was actually a man.

How strange.

Her sensitivity from the Path of Love told her that she should feel like the other person was a girl. It could only mean that the Path of Adaptation's ability to disguise was just too strong.

Another important reason Janet left Avalon that year was related to her sexual orientation that transcended Avalon's understanding. Although she was a woman, she also liked women. This was undeniably a taboo in the morally stringent Avalon.

Such is the characteristic of the Path of Love, for which she could go to any lengths to fulfill her desires.

Similarly, she possessed a keen, hunter-like instinct that could lead her directly to her suitable prey.

Without looking at faces, without hearing voices, much less interacting—just a distant glance was enough for her to know whether someone was of interest to her. This keenness was unique to the "beloved" domain of the Path of Love.

Moreover, Alai was from the Path of Transcendence, and she and the Shadow Soul both died from illusions... According to the Shadow Soul, it seemed they were killed by an Earthbound Spirit.

But how could the Path of Transcendence possibly have powers of an Earthbound Spirit?

That belongs to the undead, the Phantom Demons of the Path of Dusk! Not the demons of the Path of Transcendence!

However, if it was the Path of Adaptation, then it wouldn't be surprising. The Path of Adaptation could learn any Phantom Demon's abilities, whether Earthbound Spirit or Incubus... Seeing her lying there sleeping, she might have mimicked the ability of an Incubus.

The images from the upgrade ceremony must have meaning. For the deceased, it would reveal the cause of death, and for the survivors, it would explain why they survived and the fundamental reason for their victory.

—So, with a bit of analysis, the answer could be obtained: Mr. Grey must have killed them in their sleep!

"What a terrifying combination."

Janet seriously said, "A woman controlling a Shadow Demon, and a man capable of creating illusions and killing in dreams... And it seems that they know each other and trust each other.

"—They must be from Antimony Kingdom, I think they are from the Rose Cross Society. If not, they must be the ones the Rose Cross Society is looking for. Perhaps by following them, we can find the Rose Cross Society."

"No, no! Wrong, all wrong!"

Mr. Oliva cried out in panic: "She used the power of the Shadow Demon... that Shadow Demon is with that woman! It's all Alai, those two people are both Alai!"

"Alright, alright..."

Janet replied helplessly: "I know, I get it."

She just felt that her good brother's mental state was somewhat off, indeed a bit insane.

Although her memory also began to fade. But just by reasoning, something felt amiss—if Grey had a Shadow Demon, could they still die slowly in an illusion? Could she have run away directly?

They would have been shredded by the Shadow Demon upon first meeting.

Besides, the Shadow Demon is a dangerous demon with an unappeasable rage and persistent murderous intent. How could a Demon Scholar who possesses a Shadow Demon still maintain the rationality to cooperate with the Son of the Moon under its influence?

It's best not to believe Mr. Oliva's words.

To prevent her blurry memories from being confused by Mr. Oliva's words, Janet firmly pressed down on Mr. Oliva and started to patiently brainwash him: "Listen, your memory is problematic. Go by what I have recorded..."

At this very moment, in another location no more than ten kilometers away from them in the City of Knowledge, Leipzig,

The Stranger opened his eyes with satisfaction, sat up from the bed, and put on his glasses.

This time, he reaped a huge reward.

...Although he didn't know what happened the whole time, he managed to advance successfully.

And he also got enough inspiration from Bashir Valentine.

—And he even praised me! Several times!

"Thank you, Lord Valentine! I will work hard!"

The Stranger was bursting with energy, clenching his fists.

Just then, someone knocked on his door.

—Without a doubt, it must be the Crown Prince or General Karl looking for him.

The Stranger instantly felt guilty, remembering another matter.

...Did I forget to go find them?