Chapter 68 Deceptively Real [Part 1] "You'll give me 1-10 points..."

Knox was pale, with sunken cheeks and eyes blacker than obsidian, as if they had absorbed all the light in the world. He wore a magician's top hat and carried an exquisitely crafted silver staff, its tip inlaid with a ruby.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing through the tunnel as he opened his arms. "Witness this historic moment! After decades of performances, we have finally reached our most spectacular turning point!"

Crackling sounds filled the air. No sooner had he finished speaking than bright red fireworks burst forth behind him, as if dozens of fairies had been blown to bits simultaneously.

He then removed his top hat and bowed deeply to Ashlin and the others.

However, he was met with only deathly silence.

"No applause? No Bravo? That really upsets me," Knox said, sounding aggrieved, but quickly perked up as if it were his birthday. "It's okay, maybe it's because I forgot to tell you it's a show, haha. What score would you give me out of 1-10?"

“Yes, yes.” Knox spread his fingers, admiring his long nails. “You can try all sorts of spells, like turning me into a mosquito or something. But probably not now.”

"Now, your magic belongs to me."

He looked at her easily and clapped his hands like a child.

Suddenly, Ashlin felt the magic within her body being forced to move like a puppet on strings.

Dark green thorns sprouted from the cracks in the maze floor, binding them all, including the rats, tightly.

The spikes were piercing her arm, making it hard for her to breathe.

"...Potion of control over magic."

The potion she had just drunk was as sweet as cream. And what did Princess Elaine say in the dream the goddess had given her?

The magic control potion tastes like sweet milk...

"Well, it didn't last long, but it was enough," Knox said happily, then let out a wail for some reason.

"Did you strain your back?" Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Should I get you a massage therapist?"

“Ah, no need, no need. Illusions are so powerful that sometimes this happens.” Knox cracked his neck and stretched his muscles. “An illusionist of my caliber can even fool my own body. I really deserve an award.”

"Enough with the nonsense, what did you do to Sanova?" Ashlin asked through gritted teeth.

“Don’t worry, he’s still peacefully under the altar,” Knox said happily. “I followed the legend exactly, and I found the basement. I must say, for Sanova’s age, he has plenty of hair, allowing me to use enough illusion magic to impersonate him.”

Ashlyn felt nauseous, but there wasn't much left in her stomach to vomit.

"The secret basement of the altar."

Yes, she remembered.

To avenge the moon god's mischief, the sun god imprisoned him in a secret basement of the altar and cursed him.

Knox nodded, moved closer to them, and examined them one by one.

“Amber’s granddaughter, right?” He poked Nova’s small parts with his silver staff until all the gears and nails fell to the ground. “She looks like a fool, but she can manipulate mazes…”

“I can’t,” Nova said. But Knox was just happier.

Nova stared at him.

Knox shrugged.

“Never mind, you’re not the only one studying the Edoro Labyrinth.” He shook his finger. “Every second, the illusion labyrinth changes and becomes impossible to grasp, except for the four anchor points located in the four directions and the crystal at the center of the labyrinth.”

“Anchor points…” Lucas murmured, “linking to four locations on the surface. I’ve heard of them. I… but I don’t know…”

He shook his head.

“Indeed, you are as knowledgeable as I am,” Knox said. “By the way, do you know what would happen if all the anchor points and the central crystal were destroyed?”

“The labyrinth will become completely out of control,” Lucas speculated. “All monsters and all illusions will be released onto the surface…”

Knox nodded excitedly.

“And only Cynthia can control them. She will rightfully become the Queen of All Things, and I am her right hand.” He suddenly turned his head. “Thank you so much, Ashlin. I couldn’t have accomplished so many tasks without you.”

Ashlin stopped breathing. "What are you saying?"

"Let me see... Ah! South, the caves of Dragon's Breath Mountain, contaminated by dragonfire. Check it off." Knox pulled out a task list and pencil from somewhere and checked off each item like an inspector. "East, the Divine Oak of Iloviana, destroyed by the Magic Flute. Check it off."

"Oh, no."

Ashlin was dizzy and disoriented. This couldn't be.

"Finally, the West... Yesterday's Tavern in Helian City, destroyed by Wild Tree, tick!" He put down the list.

“You’re lying. How could yesterday’s tavern be an anchor point?” Lucas asked. “It’s just an inconspicuous tavern in the lower city.”

“Yes, I was surprised when I found out. But this was a setting from hundreds of years ago by the archmage, and we don’t know the reason. Perhaps that archmage was just too fond of drinking… Anyway, I set the illusion hourglass there for two reasons: one was to trap the witcher, and the other was to detonate Ashlin’s power. At that time, I had just disguised myself as Sanova and learned from his letters who you were and what your abilities were… That’s why I made sure the illusion didn’t affect you.” Knox smiled. “Ashlin, you helped me destroy the four anchor points of the labyrinth! But please forgive me, I can’t give you too much of a reward yet, because the crystal at the center of the labyrinth hasn’t been destroyed yet.”

“You mean the crystal that sealed Cynthia’s soul and cursed her?” Lucas said.

Knox nodded. “Of course. I need a spell, a spell that can break all curses in the world, to release Cynthia and break the core of the labyrinth. And that spell obviously shouldn't be wasted on a cat!”

He continued walking past them, touched the head of the unconscious Zach, then came to Ashlin, bent down, took off his top hat, and magically produced a blood-red illusion rose from it.

Finally, he bent down to Lucas.

He commanded the thorns, forcing Lucas to lift his head. Ashlin was in agony; the plants now obeyed only Knox.

Lucas looked at him reluctantly.

“...Uncle.” He squeezed out the word through gritted teeth.

Knox's smile grew even brighter, as if the entire labyrinth was illuminated by the word.

“He recognized me! He recognized me!” he shouted excitedly at a wall, as if it were filled with an audience. “During these years of wandering, I often heard people talk about how much you look like me, and I never thought it was true. I knew you would recognize me! I knew that the bond of blood cannot be severed by any magic.”

“No, I’ve only seen you in court portraits,” Lucas said.

She stopped.

This is how the strokes are written.

Knox nodded approvingly. "I knew you'd figure it out, young lady."

He waved his hand, and gray mist rose in the air, forming a wall of fog. Then, as if drawing on glass in the rain, he wrote on the fog wall with his finger:

Lanrit Noel de Vere

(Lanrit Knoll Deville)

He blinked, and the last two letters of Knoll crossed over and fell to the opposite side, becoming:

Knox

(Knox)

“So, after consuming the Twin Grass, you won the gamble,” Lucas said. “You didn’t die… but instead gained magic.”

Knox smiled with satisfaction. "So, you know the story of the Twin Grasses too."

“You’re even more foolish than I thought,” Ashlin said. “Willing to give your life for magic. Twins have been a curse of the dark witch from the beginning. You’re just lucky to be standing here.”

"It's ironic to hear this from a witch of divine blood. You're standing here by luck, my dear. If it weren't for Talia's forest blood, you'd be nothing."

Ashlin's heart skipped a beat, and she didn't immediately refute his words. "You know my mother?"

But her mother said she had no memory of Lanrit. He did not stop her execution.

"Of course! Thanks to her, Nicholas and I knew about the Twin Grass!"

“Wait a minute,” Lucas said. “What does this have to do with my father? Don’t tell me this is a family drama.”

“Oh dear, everything is inextricably linked to your father.” Lanrit gently rubbed Lucas’s head.

"From the very beginning, it was your father's idea to obtain magic through twin grass."