Chapter 463, Section 462: In the Mist
“It’s fake!” The confusion in Sophia’s eyes lasted only a moment before she made a judgment about the seemingly familiar scene almost immediately.
Sofia had also thought that one day she might be able to return to her previous world, but in any case, it shouldn't be as simple as just returning when the fog rolls in.
The panel could be pulled open to check my status, and there was no indication of being hallucinated or affected by mental factors.
That shouldn't be a distortion of one's own perception, but rather that this area itself is an illusion.
Sophia knew that the mist was probably more than just an illusion, but that didn't stop her from understanding it that way for the time being.
boom--!
A violent explosion came from deep within the thick fog outside the window, making the windowpane vibrate.
Or were they Samuel and his group?
Are we all in the same illusion?
She instinctively wanted to go out and check, but as soon as she took a step, Samuel's admonition to "make sure you protect yourself" acted like shackles, pinning her firmly to the spot.
"If only I were stronger..." This feeling of knowing that her companions might be fighting hard, but she could only stand by and watch, made her grip the bow in her hand tighter.
"Get out!"
A familiar angry shout jolted Sophia back to reality from her despair. She immediately rushed to the window and saw Bella's figure appear on the narrow street below, brandishing a longsword and retreating as she fought.
Following behind her were a group of bizarre, twisted humanoid monsters.
Their movements were stiff yet swift, and judging from the tattered pieces of clothing remaining on their bodies, these monsters were likely the original inhabitants of this city.
Looking at these familiar yet repulsive figures, Sophia murmured to herself, "The mutants..."
Soon, she also discovered that these mutants did not have panels!
Downstairs, Bella swung her sword with all her might, and with a flash of silver light, she beheaded the two mutants who pounced on her the closest.
But more monsters kept pouring out from the crossroads and dark alleys.
Bella anxiously looked around, her gaze sweeping across the entrances of the buildings along the street. She seemed to be weighing whether to hide inside and use the complex terrain to her advantage, but she was also clearly worried that there might be more dangers lurking inside the buildings.
Just then, several arrows gleaming with silver light fell from the sky, piercing the heads of the closest mutants chasing Bella!
“Bella! Over here!” Sofia’s voice came from above.
"Sophia!" Bella's eyes flashed with surprise. Without hesitation, she rushed into the entrance of the building where Sophia was.
At the same time, Sofia's bowstring twanged rapidly from the window, shooting down any deformed individuals who tried to chase her into the stairwell or climb up the exterior wall.
Easily shooting down these seemingly powerful mutants, Sophia couldn't help but think, "If only I had that hero's power back then..."
Thump thump thump—
Just then, there was a knock on the door behind her.
"Bella?"
"Sophia, it's me."
It's not Bella!
It was a clear and familiar voice, yet one that she had buried deep beneath the ruins of her memory—a voice she thought she would never hear again in this lifetime.
She carefully opened the door.
A young man in a police uniform stood outside the door. He had a handsome face and his eyebrows bore a resemblance to Sofia's.
However, a blood-stained bandage was tightly wrapped around his neck, and the outline of a hideous wound was faintly visible at the edge of the bandage.
“Alexei?” Sophia’s voice trembled without her even realizing it. The next moment, she raised her bow again, the arrow pointed directly at the young man, tears welling up uncontrollably in her eyes. “You… what exactly are you?”
“Hey, hey, hey,” Alexei said, his face showing a helpless yet slightly aggrieved expression, obediently raising his hands. “Could you please stop pointing this thing at me like that? It’s kind of scary.”
His voice carried a hint of sadness: "Do you... want to kill me again, sister?"
As he spoke, he slowly raised his hand and untied the blood-stained bandage from his neck.
The bandage slipped off, revealing a horrific, deep knife wound that exposed bone, clearly visible to Sofia.
Looking at the wound she had inflicted herself, Sophia repeatedly reminded herself that it was all an illusion.
However, no matter how hard he tried, his fingers, which were fully drawn back on the bowstring, could not release the condensed silver arrow.
“Sister, I don’t blame you,” Alexei said, looking at her struggling, without resentment or blame in his eyes. “After all, there was nothing we could do back then. But I’m doing very well here now. The Mist isn’t what you think it is; it’s not what you imagine it to be.”
"It's not what I thought?"
“Yes,” Alexei nodded firmly, extending his right hand to Sofia, palm up, in an inviting gesture, “Let me show you the truth, sister.”
Sofia did not step forward. Her rationality still kept her on guard, but her heart was violently shaken by the familiar face and the shocking scar in front of her, making it impossible for her to bring herself to shoot the arrow at this "brother".
Seeing that Sofia did not respond for a long time and did not put down her weapon, Alexei's face showed an undisguised dejection.
Just then, the sound of hurried running came from the corridor.
A silver sword light suddenly appeared!
Bella's longsword pierced Alexei's abdomen without mercy, pinning him firmly to the opposite wall!
"Lady Sophia, are you alright?" Bella asked with concern.
“Bella, he…”
"Ah, is this someone important to you?" Bella glanced at the young man, pressing her sword even harder, showing no intention of holding back.
A silvery light shimmered in her eyes: "They're all fake! Just like my dad who suddenly appeared in front of me before, asking me to go to some Mushroom Capital, and whom I killed with a single sword strike! They're no different from those monsters outside, all lifeless gray!"
No blood flowed from the wound in Alexei's abdomen; only ashes-like matter drifted out, and his body began to crack inch by inch.
"Sister, sooner or later... you will come back... I will be here... waiting for you..."
Before he could finish speaking, his body completely disintegrated, turning into a pile of gray fragments that then vanished into the air as if they had never existed.
As "Alexei" disappeared, the previously light fog thickened again.
This time, Sofia didn't hesitate and grabbed Bella's wrist tightly.
At one moment, the suffocating whiteness around us suddenly vanished, and a salty sea breeze swept over us, dispersing the last wisp of mist. Behind us was the vast wall of mist receding into the distance, and ahead lay the boundless, azure sea.
They're back, standing on the deck once more!
"Lady Sophia!"
"Hero, I'm so glad you're alright!"
Priest Samuel and the head guard immediately surrounded her. They all bore the marks of battle, and upon seeing that Sophia was unharmed, they all visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
However, Sofia's gaze quickly swept across the deck, and her heart sank.
The number of guards on the ship was noticeably fewer than before they were lost in the fog... Their figures were probably forever left in that eerie white mist.
...
In the middle of the night, Dylan splashed cold water on his face to wash away the gloom in his heart.
He dreamed of his daughter again.
I hope Bella won't get involved in any danger, I hope the kingdom can defeat the demons, and I hope that father and daughter can be reunited after the war...
(End of this chapter)
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