The Misty Realm (Part 2)

"Class is dismissed! I heard the cafeteria got a batch of Nan Gang's finest Golden Border Cod today. It's not something you see often."

"Really? Let's go! Time to eat!"

A group of students excitedly passed by Ling Ying. A few of the boys stopped when they passed Oliver, who was behind Ling Ying.

"Hey, Oliver."

A guy with a Middle Part said.

"Wanna go to the bar tonight..."

"Aaaah! Get away! All of you, get away! Go away..."

Oliver, already a bit jumpy from various incidents, started screaming hysterically before the Middle Part guy could finish. He flailed his arms up and down blindly with his eyes closed, until another cold hand grabbed him by the wrist.

"Stop howling, they're gone."

Hearing Ling Ying's voice by his ear, Oliver finally opened his eyes. He saw his "best buddies" had already disappeared around the corner of the hallway.

"Looks like these illusions are getting more realistic, a bit sentient."

Ling Ying muttered as she walked forward. Just as she passed a classroom, the door suddenly opened, and a figure with Brilliant Blonde hair walked out.

"Huh? Cecilia, perfect timing, let's go grab lunch together."

Orianna smiled and stepped forward. As she got close, she suddenly paused, her beautiful brows furrowing slightly.

"Hmm, Cecilia, your Bow Tie is messy again. Honestly, pay more attention."

Orianna said, reaching out as if to adjust Ling Ying's slightly loose Bow Tie. Ling Ying remained still. Just as Orianna's hand was inches away, her eyes suddenly turned cold, and she grabbed Orianna by the throat with one hand.

"I'm warning you."

Ling Ying glared at the blade hidden in her palm, her eyes sharp enough to kill.

"Whatever tricks you have, bring them on. But using the faces of people close to me for this will only make your end more miserable."

"Hehehe, so heartless, Cecilia."

"Orianna's" lips curved upwards into a smile.

"Aren't we good roommates? How could you bear to..."

CRACK!

"Orianna's" words cut off abruptly. Ling Ying released her grip. Her neck, twisted at an unnatural angle to the right, slumped limply to the ground. Moments later, her body dissolved into wisps of black mist that scattered in all directions. Along with it, a ghostly, light chuckle faded away.

"Keep walking."

Ling Ying's mood was clearly terrible. Even though she knew the Orianna from just now was fake, the feeling of having killed her friend still felt too cruel. This changed Ling Ying's attitude towards the person behind this space from curiosity to anger. No matter who that person was, she would make them pay a heavy price.

"Roar!"

A beast-like growl suddenly came from the corridor, accompanied by a sound like claws scraping the ground. Ling Ying turned her gaze forward. Sure enough, after a moment, three bloated figures appeared from the end of the corridor. They looked like canine creatures half a person's height, but unlike ordinary dogs, these creatures were covered in burning crimson fire patterns, and each had three ferocious heads. Large globs of dark red saliva continuously dripped from their fanged maws, melting large holes into the ground.

"This, this, this..."

Oliver instantly turned into a repeater.

"Is this also an illusion?"

"No."

Ling Ying glanced at the ground corroded by the Three-Headed Dog's saliva. Then she shook her head.

"This should be real."

"..."

All of Oliver's expressions seemed to freeze on his face. The next second, he finally couldn't hold back and ran backward, shouting.

"Oh my god! No! I don't want to go to hell!"

"Hey!"

Ling Ying turned back too late to grab Oliver. As if attracted by his shout, the Three-Headed Dogs instantly roared and charged towards them.

Ling Ying clicked her tongue and unleashed a sword strike through the air. A Purple Fire Dragon roared down the corridor, but just as it was about to hit, the Three-Headed Dogs dodged it with uncanny agility.

"Gao!"

As if to respond to Ling Ying's attack, two of the Three-Headed Dogs stopped. Their six mouths lit up simultaneously, and the next second, six Fireballs the size of washbasins shrieked towards Ling Ying's location.

"Damn it!"

Ling Ying's heart leaped. She quickly leaped away from her spot. Just then, a shadow suddenly swooped down from above, making her remember that not all the Three-Headed Dogs had stopped to cast Fireballs. Seeing the monstrous dog's head already within striking distance, Ling Ying pondered for a moment, and then her body suddenly exploded into a wisp of ethereal black mist.

The Three-Headed Dog's attack missed. Even with three heads, it probably couldn't understand why Ling Ying had suddenly disappeared. And before it could react after missing its strike, the black mist suddenly pounced behind the Three-Headed Dog. The next moment, Ling Ying's figure burst through the mist, accompanied by a line of Cold Light, slashing down rapidly at the Three-Headed Dog.

"Sizzle!"

The sharp blade cut into the Three-Headed Dog's middle head, slicing straight through its midsection. The Three-Headed Dog, half a person's height, didn't even have time to let out a scream before its body, split in two, ignited with translucent Void Flames. The Three-Headed Dog's body, capable of containing hellfire, instantly turned into a torch and then, in the blink of an eye, vanished into nothingness.

"Gao-gao!"

The remaining Three-Headed Dogs did not retreat despite their companion's tragic death. Instead, they roared and charged together. Their ferocious heads suddenly swelled and cracked open, countless fine threads erupting from within. They rapidly extended, instantly transforming into whips of flame, scattering sparks as they whipped through the air. The once wide corridor immediately became crowded, with both the ground and walls being disfigured by the chaotic flame whips.

Ling Ying was slightly surprised by the Three-Headed Dogs' transformation. Then, a Flame Storm erupted from her blade, instantly sweeping through the corridor. A few seconds later, the storm dissipated. Apart from a more dilapidated corridor, the Three-Headed Dogs were nowhere to be seen.

"You're making yourself bigger because you're afraid we can't hit you?"

Ling Ying let out a light, mocking laugh twice before walking through the corridor. Suddenly, something where the Three-Headed Dogs had just died seemed to catch her attention. She walked forward and looked closely, only to see irregular Black Mist Clumps scattered, appearing and disappearing.

"What is this?"

Ling Ying frowned. After a moment of thought, she drew her sword and lightly stabbed at the shadow clump, retracting the Void Flames from her blade as she did. She felt the substance was somewhat familiar. As expected, the moment the edge of Doran's Blade touched them, the Black Mist Clumps writhed and then rushed to collide with the blade. Ling Ying felt a familiar energy flow into her body through the long sword. At the same time, the mark on her neck briefly lit up before falling silent again.

Ling Ying instantly understood what those Black Mist Clumps were. Shadows, but why were they here? Did this Space Mage also possess the power of shadows? The first person Ling Ying thought of was the Shadowmancer she had devoured. Were their accomplices trying to get revenge on her? Combined with Caitlyn's intel, this wasn't impossible.

Ling Ying shook her head, feeling a bit dizzy from the overload of information. Things had clearly become complicated. Just as she was pondering, a scream from behind drew her full attention.

"Aaaah! Don't come near me!"

It was Oliver. Ling Ying frowned and quickened her steps, chasing after him. Turning a corner, she found Oliver standing stock-still in front of her. Although she couldn't see his expression because his back was to her, Ling Ying guessed he was terrified from his constantly trembling shoulders.

"Hey, are you okay?"

Ling Ying moved closer, trying to check Oliver's condition. When they were only a step apart, Ling Ying's peripheral vision suddenly caught her shadow on the wall moving strangely.

"Shadow?"

Ling Ying felt a chill and quickly shifted her body. The next moment, two sharp black beams narrowly missed her, slicing past her front. A cluster of silver hair fluttered past her face – it was her long hair, cut at the edge.

"Hehehehe..."

Suddenly, Oliver in front of her let out a strange laugh, accompanied by the creaking sound of bones twisting. His head rotated a full circle to face Ling Ying. His entire face contorted and stretched into a monstrous, inhuman visage.

"What the hell..."

Startled by the horrifying face, Ling Ying couldn't help but curse. But her movements were not slow at all. She quickly lifted a leg and forcefully kicked Oliver in the abdomen. He was immediately sent flying backward. Mid-flight, his body suddenly expanded into a sphere before exploding with a boom into a puddle of black sludge.

"Human bomb."

Ling Ying's expression was grim. The opponent's attack was clearly no longer child's play like before; it had become increasingly vicious. That last move was clearly calculated, anticipating Ling Ying would check on Oliver. If she had fallen for either trap, she would have been in trouble.

Ah, right, Oliver exploded. And there's more. Ling Ying turned around. She saw two dark shadows gradually solidifying on the wall and detaching themselves. Soon, two black-robed figures, nearly as tall as the ceiling, appeared before Ling Ying. Their heads were covered by eerie white bone masks, and in their hands, each held a shoulder-high, double-bladed battle axe burning with a ghastly green Demonic Flame, sending chills down one's spine.

"Ah, first the Three-Headed Dogs, and now what? Hell Gate Guardians? It really fits the theme of this space."

Ling Ying gave a wry smile, but her eyes suddenly sharpened. The next second, she hurled a massive shadow magic orb.

"Stop pretending! Shadow!"