Chapter 57: Mirror Realm Domain
"The rift will stabilize in just a moment. I suppose you're also here for the Source Energy Fragments... It's just unfortunate that the laws within this spatial rift are chaotic. Even if there are Source Energy Fragments, they’ve already been contaminated. Ordinary apprentices who come into contact with them will suffer a magical backlash. Only undead creatures, which know no pain, can forcibly digest the energy within the fragments."
As Padin Green spoke, his gaze remained locked on Richard Eva and Soro Flare, the two third-level apprentices, as if fearing they might suddenly attack, hoping to strike first.
"Even contaminated Source Energy Fragments from an alternate dimension still hold research value."
"Oh, that's true. After all, you white witches are so fond of your research. In that case, how about we work together? I’ve been squatting here for several days now and have gathered some intel. If you're willing, I can share it with you."
Though Padin Green still wore a smile, Janna could clearly sense from his words that he had no real intention of sharing any spoils with their group.
But it was well known that apprentice black witches were solitary by nature, and it was hard for them to change that habit.
Facing a group with no allies of his own, if Padin Green didn’t want to be driven away, he had to offer something of value to protect his own share of the profits.
“No problem. If your intel is valuable, we certainly won't refuse a well-meaning cooperation.”
Seeing Padin Green lower his stance, Richard Eva signaled to the others with a look, and his previously wary expression also "softened."
Truthfully, apart from Lo Silverfox, who had prior experience with spatial rifts, the rest of them knew little about them.
If they could get valuable intel from Padin Green, it would undoubtedly make their plans smoother.
Moreover, even with the numbers advantage, Richard Eva’s group wasn’t sure they could truly “take down” the infamous Ghost Kid.
If he escaped, he would surely hold a grudge.
During the interval when they entered the rift, he could easily contact Blackbone Grove apprentices to set up an ambush. There was a real risk of being hunted down.
In the end, all their hard work might end up benefitting someone else.
“This spatial rift leads to the Mirror Realm Domain. Its laws are primarily centered around [Confusion], [Imitation], [Reflection], and [Concealment]. The creatures inside are mostly non-living mirror entities and generally do not attack proactively. However, the laws of the Mirror Realm Domain are highly exclusive. Once they detect intruders, the mirror laws will inevitably retaliate…”
Upon hearing this, Richard Eva couldn't help but glance at Lo Silverfox. But Lo simply shook his head.
“At the time, I could only determine that this rift likely led to either the Mirror Realm Domain or the Mist Domain. But there’s too little information on these two alternate spaces in the library, so I can’t verify whether his intel is accurate.”
With a spell-transmitted whisper in his ear, Richard Eva felt a tinge of doubt, but his expression remained unchanged as he looked at Padin Green.
“Mr. Padin, how do you know so much about the Mirror Realm Domain?”
“Because I’ve been there before, of course.”
Seeing Padin Green’s confident and assertive demeanor, the group exchanged glances again.
Richard Eva, taking the lead, changed his attitude and adopted a very “sincere” and “genuine” expression.
“Then let’s hope for a pleasant cooperation!”
“A pleasant cooperation.”
Seeing that they had finally agreed, the magic at the tip of the wand hidden in Padin Green’s right sleeve—ready to strike at any moment—quietly dissipated.
“Mr. Padin, you mentioned earlier the retaliatory effects of the Mirror Realm Domain’s laws. Could you explain that more clearly? Otherwise, we wouldn’t know how to respond.”
“Of course, no problem.”
While politely agreeing, Padin Green subtly retracted his wand and continued to maintain the optimal casting distance from Janna’s group.
“You can think of the Mirror Realm Domain as a mirrored world formed from countless projections of the primary material world. The retaliation from its laws is essentially this—figures from those historical projections will hunt down the real people… Once a real person is killed by a projection in the mirror world, reality and illusion will flip, and that projection might replace the real individual in the primary material plane.”
“You mean, the people who die inside will be possessed by the laws of the Mirror Realm Domain?”
“I wouldn’t call it possession. At most, their souls are shredded, turning the invaders into puppets that retain only a sliver of memory from the projection of the material world.”
Upon hearing this, Janna’s eyes narrowed slightly, her expression becoming more serious.
“Janna, can you purify this kind of contamination?”
Hearing Richard Eva’s voice in her ear through spell transmission, Janna was silent for a moment before replying the same way:
“If the soul is already destroyed, there’s nothing left to purify.”
Darksun Contamination worked through radiation, polluting magic and causing extraordinary individuals to mutate.
The "contamination" of the Mirror Realm Domain was more like directly and violently “erasing” the soul—so aggressive that even Darksun paled in comparison.
“If the Mirror Realm Domain is truly this dangerous, how did you manage to get out, Mr. Padin?”
“Just kill everything.”
A chilling killing intent filled the air.
Despite his youthful and innocent-looking face, Padin Green exuded an air of defiance and utter disdain.
“The rift is opening.”
Just as Richard Eva was about to ask more questions, Lo Silverfox, who had been watching the rift closely, suddenly spoke up in warning.
Crack—
Like an eggshell breaking, the web-like spatial rift split further.
In the blink of an eye, space quaked as all the cracks converged into one line, forming a massive opening nearly three meters wide right before their eyes.
“Well, what a shame. Looks like we don’t have time to chat anymore.”
As he looked at the now stabilized spatial rift, Padin Green waved his wand.
From the obsidian tip, a strange ghost wearing a skull mask and draped in a tattered black cloak silently drifted out.
Seeing this, Janna didn’t hesitate either. She chanted a spell, quickly performing a Spirit Summoning before entering the rift.
“By my will, I command you—Summon, Thornflower Sprite.”
As a ghost-affinity apprentice, ghosts were Padin Green’s strongest force.
Similarly, as a summoning apprentice, Janna’s contracted summoning beast was naturally her greatest strength.
Hiss—
As the Contract Array quickly formed, the Thornflower Sprite appeared before Janna, glaring warily at the skeletal ghost and letting out a series of hostile hissing sounds.
“Oh? A summoning apprentice? Quite rare.”
Roar—
Sensing the intense plant-based life aura from the Thornflower Sprite, the skeletal ghost circling Padin Green burst out with a powerful surge of deathly soul energy...