Mutual provocation

Fire Raven has fused with the "Pain" disease? Is that even possible? When I switch to the "Hunter" Pathway, will I be able to do something similar? Is this the fusion of different abilities that comes with switching Pathway? More unique, more bizarre? Franca coughed as she listened, her expression a mixture of surprise, seriousness, and a touch of excitement born from anticipation.

Although she was forced out of Invisibility, she was already very close to the Female Anthony, so she raised her left hand and pointed the "Ring of Punishment" encircled on her thumb at the Person in the Mirror.

Franca did not actually use "Mental Piercing"; it was merely a deliberate gesture to confuse her target and the lurking enemy.

She had just noticed the battle on Lumian's side and suspected that the Female Anthony also had a "Mirror Substitute," which was why "Mental Piercing" couldn't achieve the desired effect.

In that case, why not add a negative status effect to the other party that won't trigger "Mirror Substitute"?

Franca's Beatrice Necklace, hanging around her neck, reflected the surrounding firelight, completely arousing Female Anthony's desire for achievement.

She had long noticed that these "Person in the Mirror" were hostile and resentful towards their real selves, and had a very strong desire to prove themselves.

Their greatest weakness is their desire for achievement.

When Female Anthony heard two coughs right next to her, she, as a "Psychiatrist," made the same choice as he, Men.

With the distance so close that she could no longer dodge the subsequent attacks, she turned halfway around and looked at Franca and Jenna, whose figures had already appeared.

Her Eyes narrowed and turned a pale gold.

"Intimidation!"

Unlike the Male Anthony, the Female Anthony chose "Intimidation" because there are two attackers, and this ability can affect the targets simultaneously.

As if an aura emanating from a dragon, from a creature at the top of the food chain, suddenly descended, causing both Franca and Jenna to involuntarily show fear on their faces and tremble with fear.

One of them froze in place, while the other tried to escape to the nearest Grayish-White Stone Pillars and hide behind it.

However, before Female Anthony could use his Intimidation, Jenna, who was coughing, also launched an attack. She threw the half of the blood-stained Cloak she was Past, causing the "Bone Flute" and Wooden Box inside to roll to the target's feet.

With her other hand, she pulled the trigger of her Revolver, sending a bright yellow bullet Entanglement in black Flames flying toward Female Anthony.

At that moment, she was affected by the "Intimidation," and her right hand trembled with the movement of her body, causing the bullet to inevitably miss its mark.

Amidst the bang of the gunshot, Gardner in the Mirror, hiding in the shadows, narrowly escaped being hit by the off-target bullet.

Fortunately, he kept moving and darting around, then dodged the bullets by diving to the ground, and with a roll he disappeared into another shadow.

The unharmed Female Anthony, seemed to have a Burning Flames in her eyes. Instead of adding a "Frenzy" to the "Intimidation" Franca, she turned her gaze directly to the Men who was coughing and moving.

She ran Past, determined to defeat Male Anthony and prove herself.

At this moment, behind the frozen Franca and the running Jenna, two figures emerged: the Male Franca and the Male Jenna who had previously used their abilities to hide.

The former flicked his Sleeve Sword at Franca's vest and thrust it Past with all his might, while the latter stared maliciously at Jenna's back and pulled the trigger.

With two snaps, Franca and Jenna's bodies shattered like Mirror, thus escaping the effects of the "Intimidation." However, their sore and itchy throats were not relieved, and they could only endure the discomfort, occasionally coughing as they fought against the Male Franca and Male Jenna.

Lumian's throat was also itchy, and even his head, which was used to the high temperature, felt hot.

As an "Ascetic," this level of illness did not challenge his endurance. He looked at the Female Lumian who was not far away, and crimson flames Entanglement him, transforming into a Fireball that shot towards Past.

Female Lumian face still showed some prominent veins, sneered and disappeared from the spot once again.

It's "Spirit World Traversal" again!

Her figure was still outlined behind the rapidly moving Anthony, as if she wouldn't stop until she killed this "Psychiatrist".

Just then, the Fireball that had just been launched dispersed prematurely, turning into streaks of light.

Lumian's figure flashed within the stream of light, and he too "Teleportation" to Anthony's side.

He was just feigning an attack, waiting for Female Lumian to use "Spirit World Traversal" so he could follow closely and trap her!

To this end, Lumian not only destabilized the Fireball's structure beforehand, but also used the "Lie" ear clip's ability to enhance his control over the Flames.

He appeared beside Anthony almost as quickly as Female Lumian, then immediately raised his hands, clad in Iron-Black boxing gloves, and began slamming them down on his opponent.

A flurry of hook punches!

At the same time, Lumian mentally simulated the kind of desire he wanted to see:

The desire to replace real people!

This desire is easier to ignite, and it'll be easier to explode later!

Lumian, who had already donned the "Torture" gauntlets, hoped to use this state, which might not be eliminated by the "Mirror Substitute," to influence his target, causing "himself in the mirror" to temporarily lose the ability to fight.

With a loud bang, Lumian's two punches were blocked by the Female Lumian, but she had no boxing gloves, and her forearms were riddled with bloody holes from the short spikes on the "Torture" device.

Her eyes grew increasingly resentful and vicious, as if she wished Lumian would die the next second.

She completely abandoned her pursuit of Anthony Reid.

Thump, thump, thump! Lumian threw punches, interrupting the "Self in the Mirror's " attempts to use other abilities.

He continued to mock the other person.

"Hey, no ' Torture ' boxing gloves?"

"So weak? It can't even mirror a Mystical Item that's not even at the Half-God level?"

Lumian's actions served two purposes: first, to vent her emotions, and second, to provoke her Female Version of Himself through "Provocation," thereby increasing the probability of igniting the other person's desires and emotions with the "Torture" gauntlets.

The Female Lumian made no attempt to conceal her anger. While parrying the barrage of punches, she also taunted in a mocking tone, "Provocation!"

"If you had noticed Aurora's abnormality sooner, the problem might have been solved."

"Useless! If it were me, I would definitely do a better job!"

Lumian's mind went blank for a moment; even as a "Ascetic," he was still "Provocation."

This was the regret and guilt that had been hidden Depths within him, one of the roots of all his Pain.

His eyes turned bloodshot as Blood-Colored, embarrassment, and a strong urge to self-destruct surged from the depths of his heart.

He attacked with increasing frenzy, trying to channel his spirit into his right hand to see what would happen here, in the Fourth Epoch Trier, in the Fourth Epoch Trier reflected in the mirror, where the aura of the "Blood Emperor" would manifest, and what it would bring.

At that time, everyone here, as well as those Evil God Gift-Bearers like Vazan Sansong in other areas, will die—they will all die together!

Just then, Lumian's thoughts suddenly cleared up considerably. His emotions and impulses seemed to be gently caressed by a breeze, and he seemed to hear the melodious tunes that his Older Sister Aurora liked to hum. He quickly calmed down.

"Soothing!"

"Soothing" from "Psychiatrist" Anthony Reid.

While Lumian was relentlessly attacking the Female Lumian, Anthony distanced himself from them. He then dodged his female counterpart's pursuit while circling around Lumian's area. Whenever he saw a companion acting strangely, he would immediately send a "Soothing" message to Past.

The Female Anthony, influenced by the "Beatrice Necklace," only sees her true self and completely disregards the life or death of the Female Lumian.

Lumian suppressed his urge to self-destruct. His gaze fell upon the Female Lumian, who was swaying precariously under his frenzied attacks, her expression Distortion. He saw Franca and Jenna coughing more and more violently, to the point that it would affect their ability to use. The Male Versions of Them seized the opportunity and was forced to use "Mirror Substitute" again.

Franca is alright, Jenna probably only has one more "Mirror Substitute" left.

Seeing this scene, Lumian forehead was already burning hot, was half worried and nervous, and half puzzled.

Where is Gardner in the Mirror?

In this situation, whether he targets Franca, Jenna, or himself and Anthony, the effect will be excellent; he might even kill one of them with a single blow, after all, he is the "Reaper."

But Gardner in the Mirror never launched an attack; only the echoing laughter proved that he was still there, still trying to persuade Lumian and the others to give up resistance and hand over the Black Statue.

"Snort!"

Seizing the opportunity when Lumian's offensive slowed down, the Female Lumian, pushed to her limit, used the "Heng-Ha Art".

Two beams of white light struck Lumian, and his vision went black as he experienced the same sensation that many of his previous enemies had felt.

Snap!

A shattered Mirror lay on Franca's body, and Lumian's silhouette was outlined beside her.

As soon as her thoughts returned, several ideas flashed through Lumian's mind:

"After spreading disease with the Disease Raven, Gardner in the Mirror never used any other Aggressiveness again, only hiding in the shadows or concealing his form..."

"No, it didn't start with the disease spreading from the Disease Raven, it started with the appearance of ' Person in the Mirror ' like Male Franca..."

Why didn't he attack?

"The person in the mirror doesn't have the ' Torture ' Gauntlets, nor should they possess the aura of the ' Blood Emperor,' the seal of Mr. ' The Fool,' Termiboros... The ' Torture ' Gauntlets are made from branches of the ' Shadow Tree '..."

"This Mirror World clearly looks dangerous and terrifying; it shouldn't be able to reflect even the ' Torture ' gauntlets..."

Suddenly, Lumian realized a reason:

These four "Person in the Mirror" were not naturally generated in the Fourth Epoch Trier in the Mirror, but rather created by Gardner Martin in the Gardner in the Mirror using his special connection to this place!

This is equivalent to a skill!

The reason Gardner in the Mirror doesn't attack is because he's trying his best to maintain four "Person in the Mirror" and has no ability to attack. He can only hide himself and use words to distract the enemy and affect the target's fighting will!

In a flash, a smile appeared on Lumian's face.

While dodging the attacks of Male Franca and the "Teleportation" Female Lumian, he took out the "Eye of Truth" he had obtained from Buwal and put on the strangely shaped Monocle that looked like it was made of flesh and blood.

This allows one to see through illusions, perceive reality, and discern the brilliance of the spirit!