Chapter Fifty: The Half-True, Half-False Illusion
Chapter Fifty: The Half-True, Half-False Illusion
Somewhere outside the Amethyst Mine, in a spire-shaped building, a middle-aged man dressed in a deep blue robe hurried up to the top floor. He pushed open the door, and an aged wizard turned to face him, lowering his gloved right hand from atop a crystal ball. His hollow eyes flashed with displeasure. “What’s got you so flustered? Another prisoner trying to escape?”
“No!” The middle-aged man’s expression was grave. “Someone has broken into the deepest part of the Amethyst Mine.”
“How could anyone get in there? Hmph, probably another lunatic driven mad by the desire to escape.” The old wizard was imperious. He swept his sleeve coldly, then absentmindedly stroked his crystal ball. “The amethyst there overlaps with magical elements and induces hallucinations. Let him be. It’s likely he’ll die there before long, unable to find his way out.”
“But…” The middle-aged man’s demeanor was uneasy. He stole a glance at the wizard’s arrogant face, conflicted.
“But what? If you have something to say, say it. Don’t stammer.” The wizard frowned, annoyed by indecisive hesitation.
“I sensed… the Master’s presence on that person,” the middle-aged man said, taking a deep breath as if to steady himself. “But I’m not certain I’m not mistaken.”
Suddenly, the old wizard’s body trembled noticeably. He steadied himself and stood upright. “Are you sure?”
Throughout this month, the Master had often been absent from the domain. Others might believe the Master to be elusive, but the wizard knew for certain he had left, though where he went remained unknown.
“It was only a vague sensation. I dare not draw any conclusions.” The middle-aged man shook his head.
The old wizard was silent for a moment, then covered the crystal ball with his gloved right hand. Inside, the image of a figure in tattered priest robes appeared, half-kneeling with a look of agony—none other than Shen Ce.
Upon seeing the ring on Shen Ce’s left hand within the crystal ball, the old wizard’s expression was shaken. He muttered, “How did it end up with him…”
“You think so too?” The middle-aged man looked up respectfully, probing.
The old wizard nodded slowly, then sighed softly, waving his long sleeve. “Go and rescue him. Judging by his state, he’s probably trapped in the illusion, unable to escape.”
Meanwhile, Shen Ce was unaware he was being watched. He bent over, gazing at the shifting scenes reflected in the water, his expression growing darker and more unsettled.
He could only vaguely make out his own face in the water. Behind him, it seemed as if a figure stood, casting a vast shadow over his reflection. Though he had no clue to the man’s appearance, the force gripping his wrist was unmistakably masculine.
“Zero, you cannot escape.” The words echoed suddenly at his ear, cruel and saturated with insatiable desire. He could almost imagine the other’s lips curling into a smile, evoking the sharpness of a vampire baring its fangs.
Shen Ce froze, his mind blank for an instant. The voice was exquisitely pleasant, deep and still as the abyss, familiar yet tinged with a deliberate hoarseness that left him uncertain.
He knew everything flickering within the water was an illusion, but the experience was so strange that, standing on the bank, he almost felt he was genuinely being held captive. That sensation of being controlled was unbearable; Shen Ce tried to wrench himself free, attempting to push the figure away.
But his struggle was futile. He grunted as he was shoved violently to the ground, crouched at the water’s edge, half his face stiff. He longed to turn around, but some unseen force bound him, preventing him from moving his head.
He felt the other’s arms wrap around him from behind, and his face turned ashen. The proximity, the rapid and warm breath, the whole scenario was absurd—Shen Ce could not accept it.
He shrank his shoulders, considering himself someone of little desire, never expecting such a thing would happen in a game, and with a man, no less. Most importantly, he found himself unable to resist.
He pressed his lips together, suddenly overwhelmed by the urge to curse—not merely an urge, but he discovered he couldn’t even cry out.
How pitiful. Yet—
“Why resist?” The other spoke, a low laugh rumbling in his throat—so mocking in Shen Ce’s ears.
The breath lingering at his neck was hot, yet the embrace felt as cold as snow atop a mountain, untouched for years.
Shen Ce closed his eyes helplessly, his clenched fists slowly relaxing. He waited—for an opportunity, though he dared not hope it would come.
Perhaps, he could lodge a complaint with the official team of "Heaven’s Traverse"? The thought made him laugh at himself—an idea that flashed by, and suddenly, Shen Ce jolted. He realized the images in the water had all vanished!
He awakened sharply, wiping sweat from his brow. Everything just now had felt too real—so real that he was still unsettled. He cautiously peered over the water; the surface was still rippling, light shimmering, the waves flickering in irregular patterns.
He steadied himself by clutching a large stone at the bank, feeling weak. He laughed at himself, recalling the shadow that had gripped his shoulder—now, he didn’t dare look back.
Had it all truly disappeared?
Just then, a commanding voice sounded behind him. “What are you doing here?”
Startled by someone speaking behind him, Shen Ce’s pupils contracted; his hand trembled uncontrollably. It took him more than ten seconds to regain composure. The voice was too different from the earlier echo—far from that empty, haunting tone. It was definitely not the same person.
Forcing himself to remain calm, Shen Ce turned to see a middle-aged man in a deep blue robe standing not far away, regarding him with dissatisfaction. “Why aren’t you speaking? Shocked stupid? Didn’t anyone tell you you’re not allowed here?!”
The man’s eyes were an unusually pure shade of violet; coupled with his attire, he looked like a high-ranking demon NPC. Shen Ce seized the chance to cast a basic appraisal spell, but learned nothing.
He collected himself, replying respectfully, “Sir, I’m very sorry. I wandered here by accident, lost my way.”
“Lost your way?” The man snorted coldly. “Do you realize the spatial displacement here differs from the surroundings, and magical elements combined with amethyst induce hallucinations? Had you not been lucky, you’d have been trapped in the illusion.”
Outwardly, the man seemed dismissive, but inwardly he was wary of Shen Ce. The old priest’s words suggested Shen Ce was somehow linked to the Master, and moreover, Shen Ce had managed to break free from the illusion at the last moment—he had thought the young man would need rescuing, yet he’d escaped on his own.
Though his tone was harsh, his explanation was detailed enough to bring sudden clarity to Shen Ce. Reflecting on the bizarre illusion, his expression soured; he lowered his eyes to hide his discomfort. “Please, sir, could you advise me? What exactly was that illusion?”
“Illusion arises from the heart,” the man replied, glancing at Shen Ce askance. “You managed to break free—just lucky, I suppose.”
Illusion arises from the heart? So, the previous hallucination was shaped by his own state of mind?
“How can that be!” Shen Ce’s expression changed—his voice icy, no longer respectful.
The man was not offended; he looked at Shen Ce with amusement. “Do you think I’m lying? Believe it or not, all illusions here are half-true, half-false. Even if it’s not what you imagine, it’s something you’ve once experienced.” Of course, whether those experiences were exaggerated he wouldn’t guarantee.
Shen Ce’s brow twitched; his hand clenched into a fist. Something he’d experienced? Impossible!
Though pursued endlessly since childhood for his looks, Shen Ce had always kept others at arm’s length. In "Heaven’s Traverse," he focused solely on quests and leveling up—never provoking anyone.
Author’s Note: Coca-Cola 2.0 tossed a landmine! Time: 2014-08-26 00:47:45
Coca-Cola 2.0 tossed a landmine! Time: 2014-08-26 00:47:40
[Thank you for the landmine, Fruit! (*／w＼*) So touched! Kiss…]
[Sorry for missing yesterday’s update~~~ I’ll work hard to post daily!]