Chapter 48 - Role Playing the Dark Horse Character

Chapter 48: Double Rejection Bullets collided in midair, and then exploded as multiple guns appeared in front of the white-cloaked figure, launching an assault towards the shadowy figures. It was as if the attack was instinctive, without any consideration. The firelight illuminated the white mask on the face of the person in the cloak. The hood and mask concealed the person's appearance entirely, and the wide cloak hid their build, making it even impossible to determine their height with the naked eye. Yet Li Li seemed to see through this facade, recognizing the true essence within. Opinions varied regarding Li Li’s abilities. Hua Yizhi from Desolate Dragon was unaware of her true abilities, only believing them to be powerful, possibly involving illusions. Mo Mo and You You, being from Tides, might view her actions of rescuing others from 'Twin' as a means to make a mark, rather than holding a personal vendetta against Le Shan. If Mo Mo and You You had told Tides, they'd likely consider her powers to involve rewinding, with the possibility of illusions. However, illusions generally do not cause real harm in the minds of ordinary people, because they are merely hallucinations. An Heyu knew that Hei Ge was from a laboratory experimenting with multiple abilities, and he had read Le Shan's memories, realizing Hei Ge possessed 'various abilities.' Yet only one person recognized that Hei Ge’s illusions could be harmful, and thus, only those related to that person knew the truth! And the person Li Li suspected was precisely a subordinate of that individual. As the bullets once again passed harmlessly through the illusions, the white-cloaked figure gestured. Attacks always targeted the phantom, never catching the true self, continuously being toyed with by the unseen puppet master. Three failed attacks frustrated the cloaked figure, shifting from evading phantoms to attacking on sound. Finally, an array of weapons spread out from the figure, targeting all directions indiscriminately. The white-cloaked figure opted for an all-encompassing offensive! Guns surrounded the cloaked figure, sufficient to arm a small contingent. Bullets fired, illuminating the entire enclosed chamber with fiery light. The figure ignored the structure's tolerance, choosing instead to unleash immense power. Walls collapsed under sustained gunfire, golden points of light connected in lines, darting through the dust. "Boom!" Abruptly, between the white-cloaked figure and the weapons, an enormous ice wall surged up. A fluorescent light ignited abruptly, and the ice wall refracted the light, shimmering like a gem. But beneath the thunderous noise, the figure under the mask inhaled sharply. It was a woman’s voice. The first time this figure leaked personal information. For Li Li had chosen an illusion of ice. At the same moment, the figure conjured weapons to strike the ground, using the force to leap into the air. They danced across the still airborne weapons towards the sky. As they reassessed below, illusions spread, frost creeping up the walls. Confirmed, a chilling breeze rushed forth. "You are truly banal," a deep, magnetic voice rung amidst the chaos. As if seeing the battle as a mere game, tinged with regretful sighs. The phantoms spread outwards, ice-frost enveloping the cube, climbing the floor above them. Without an end. Here, it was either this figure alone, or Li Li alone was superior, preventing anyone outside from halting the expansion of the illusions. Amidst an illusionary crystal besieging half the box, Li Li adjusted her sunglasses slowly. Checkmate She silently declared. In that blink, immense ice spears erupted, shattering and severing the aerial weapons with crisp snaps, rushing toward the white-cloaked figure at the apex. The weapons, like fragile glass before the ice, snapped effortlessly. The figure never questioned this outcome. Someone had planted that authority in her mind, inspiring belief that the ice spears could overpower her abilities without deliberating on whether the illusions' replicated abilities would even allow it. She subconsciously reconciled with this outcome. "Let’s end this charade early," that was the voice of doom. Icy cold enveloped the box, the ice spears rising, cresting past the cloaked figure, crashing down upon her like a tidal wave of icy blades. She looked up, eyes locked on the approaching spikes. With a snap of the wrist, she aimed a weapon at the ice. The gun fired abruptly, but she never checked if the bullets punctured the ice spears; using the recoil, she attempted to weave swiftly through the icicle forest. "Thud." Her motion halted. The ice wave eventually landed, two palm-sized spears piercing her abdomen. The next moment, the tips collided with the ground, the frozen surface of the illusion stirring up frosty shards, and the white cloak soaked red, her gaze beneath the mask witnessing the ice splinters dancing in the air. After a massive quake, the white mask trembled, then slipped off the face, revealing the true identity of the white-cloaked figure. A face Li Li had seen before. Boots crunched across the ice, and there stood a youth in sunglasses and dark hair, whether real or an illusion remained unknown. The youth was mysterious and casual, as formidable as ever. Raising a hand casually, the black-haired youth let out a soft snap with long slender fingers. Illusions vanished. Icy carpets dissipated, leaving only sparkling ice remnants, flickering starlight in the air. The white-hooded figure fell thirty centimeters from the ground, landing once more on Four-Way’s mechanical floor. "Still alive?" Li Li asked. Her gaze disdainfully regarded the fallen figure, a slight smile lifting her lips. "Thank you for showing mercy," the figure propped herself up to a seated position, then onto her feet with great effort, before kneeling on one knee, hand over her heart. "Leader." She said. That face was once seen by Li Li at the Ability Guild, belonging to someone from the noble Yue family. Because she was from the Yue family, she learned from Yue Qing that 'Hei Ge’s illusions could inflict damage', which is why she instinctively raised the ice spears while suppressing herself. Her superior was an S-class spell-type wielder of the ice element, someone intimately familiar with the terrors of that ability. An A-class ability user, a subordinate who once accompanied the Yue family's cousin, known as Rao Yue. Unexpectedly, she belonged to Tides, the former Ability Guild. Li Li raised an eyebrow slightly, "Oh?" Was this the mole within the nobility that Hua Yizhi had mentioned, working for Tides? And just then, as questioning prompted her exclamation, with dust still lingering, white-cloaked figures emerged behind the collapsed walls. They had ostensibly been waiting, their abilities insufficient to pierce Li Li’s illusions. Now they stepped forward. And kneeled in unison with Rao Yue, bowing and swearing fealty to the only standing figure. That was Li Li. Upon receiving this homage, a sense of déjà vu washed over Li Li; reminiscent of the daytime in Desolate Dragon when she was similarly hailed as leader. Except then, it was led by C-class Hua Yizhi, while now it was an A-class. It felt like her status was rocketing upwards, Li Li thought. Her smile remained unchanged, she uttered nothing. But silence can sometimes exert its own pressure. "The probing was my own initiative," Rao Yue said, eyes trained on the ground before her. The mask had fallen, pale hair draped along her ears, tips stained with her own blood. The wounds from the spears remained, yet her tone held no hint of pain. "I serve as the Four-Way City agent for Tides, named Rao Yue. I joined Tides four years and six months ago," she explained, "I have never met the Prophet and have no idea how formidable his prophecies might be. Therefore, I always harbored doubts, not fully convinced by the prophecies." Before her, the black-haired youth leisurely tucked hands into the pockets of his blue coat, tilting his head contemplatively, as if listening. "For the newer members of Tides like me, we share this skepticism," confessed the fearless double agent under an S-class noble, "If the Prophet were truly so powerful, then why was there such a colossal failure for the former Ability Guild six years ago, bringing them to the brink of destruction?" "Heh." Li Li let out a derisive chuckle. Rao Yue shivered slightly, continuing to fixate on the ground, "But you have shattered my prejudice with sheer strength." “I’m willing to believe in what the Prophet foretold because you are strong enough,” Rao Yue finally said. “We need you to lead us.” Li Li looked at the white hood that had slipped from Rao Yue's head, her gaze falling with an inscrutable emotion. “But I refuse,” she replied. Whether 'Hei Ge' was the prophesied individual or not, as long as she could decisively defeat Rao Yue, they would pledge their allegiance to her. These people simply needed a leader, a symbol, regardless of who that might be. Turning away casually, she thought that her visit had been for naught. “My only intention was to warn you—regarding the matter of Twin, there better not be a next time.” Mo Mo was one thing; she appreciated her approach, but not anyone could make use of her. She paused momentarily. Turning her head, her crimson pupils behind her sunglasses met Rao Yue's now slightly anxious gaze. Then she suddenly smiled. “Behave.” The smiling face seemed to convey nothing more, yet Rao Yue trembled suddenly. In a fluster, she lowered her head, that crimson wave engulfing her in her mind, suffocating her. She didn’t know how long it was before she lifted her head again, finding the space empty. The only traces left were the blood from her abdomen, dripping slowly onto the floor. “Plop.” ... Midnight arrived. [Opening the portal for you...] [Welcome back to reality.]