The flesh-colored cocoon wriggles and contracts in the air.

 

Undoubtedly, this is the core of the entire mirrored world. If it appeared alongside the glorious city in the mirror, then… the cocoon has probably been hiding here, incubating for a full three hundred years.

 

What exactly is it incubating?

 

However, upon seeing it, Edwina suddenly understands why this thing brought the living into this place, reversing the laws of life and death, three hundred years ago, and even now.

 

It is devouring souls, transforming them into the nutrients it needs for incubation. Creating undead is just a byproduct, making the process more convenient.

 

After all, compared to the living, who have reason and intact spirits, the broken and chaotic souls of the undead are easier to absorb and plunder.

 

No wonder the undead in the normal and reversed Forgotten Land give Edwina a sense of some kind of difference. Outside, the strength differences are clear, and their desire to attack the living is stronger, purely driven by instinct.

 

Inside, however, these undead seem to form groups based on certain relationships from their past lives. They also exhibit a certain degree of strategic behavior, showing remnants of intelligence.

 

It seems that the undead in the real Forgotten Land are the discarded products after having their souls absorbed by this cocoon, while inside are the untapped reserves.

 

Most of the questions are now answered. Edwina is left with only two things she can’t understand.

 

Why has this thing been hiding in the world within the mirror for three hundred years, never revealing its existence, but suddenly at this moment, it begins to openly and unabashedly plunder the living?

 

The widespread and expanding fluctuations clearly are not targeting just one person. Judging by the increasing intensity later on, it is feared that it has already spread beyond the [Forgotten Land]. In that case, the strong from the kingdoms will soon take notice of the anomaly and come to investigate.

 

Is it because there is not enough ‘food’? Or is it about to complete incubation, with no more fear?

 

Moreover, has the power of this ability to replace the living with reflections weakened?

 

After all, she is only a 【Fearless Knight】 Rank equivalent to the Earth level, although blessed and protected by the divine, she cannot possibly compare to legendary level beings.

 

Initially, the glorious city disappeared overnight, with millions of people gone, and there were even true powerhouses. But why has it taken three or four days on her side, and only after dozens of attempts did she succeed?

 

Logically, shouldn’t a longer incubation time result in stronger power?

 

The holy knight couldn’t understand, but there is only one thing she can do now.

 

She tries to cause trauma, even kill the cocoon in incubation. Only by breaking the core of the reflection world, causing a breach, can she possibly escape.

 

Otherwise, the only outcome is assimilation into the undead, letting the other side take away her soul in a daze.

 

Edwina knows that her chances of success are slim. The powerful individuals who were sucked into this place must have tried similar things, but the result is that the world within the mirror still exists, and the truth of the ‘cursed’【Glory City】 remains unknown to the world.

 

If she doesn’t act, she won’t have any chance at all.

 

She tightly grips the long sword and holy shield in her hands, channeling the sacred power of prayer into them. The blessed weapons once again emit a brilliant golden light that clashes starkly with the surroundings.

 

Edwina doesn’t know if the cocoon has any senses like vision or hearing. She can only rely on her experience, stealthily approaching from a concealed position directly below it. She continuously gathers strength, waiting for the moment to deliver a earth-shattering blow.

 

The eerie cocoon remains motionless, seemingly completely unaware of a cunning little mouse getting closer. It continues its rhythmic contraction and expansion. Even when Edwina moves to a distance of just a dozen meters, it shows no reaction.

 

Strange, is it so dull?

 

If this cocoon is the one releasing the mixed spiritual energy time and again, its perception should be very sharp. Edwina isn’t confident that it wouldn’t detect her even from this close.

 

Could it be a trap?

 

The ruins come to an end here. Going forward, there will be no more cover, no room for retreat. The young holy knight is about to face the monstrous essence of this abomination.

 

At this point, she can only give it her all, and the outcome rests on this…

 

Hmm?

 

Thud…

 

From somewhere, there comes a heavy tremor, like a giant striking against a barrier.

 

Edwina, already extremely tense, is startled by the sudden intensification of the pounding sounds. Her raised hand immediately retreats, and she looks around, a bit confused about the situation.

 

Thud, thud, thud…

 

The knocking becomes more urgent and intense, echoing throughout the entire space as if the world itself is resisting the demonic hand reaching into it.

 

No, considering the environment and origin of this world, it might be more accurate to describe it as a hand of judgment or even a divine hand.

 

Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud…!

 

The attacker from beyond the world seems to be growing impatient. The force of the strikes suddenly increases, causing the entire mirrored reflection to shake and wail.

 

The ancient ruins of buildings collapse one after another with a resounding roar, leaving Edwina, caught in the midst of it all, struggling to maintain her balance due to the violent tremors.

 

However, whether it’s her or the owner of the reflection world, at this moment, they have no time to spare for these details.

 

The former is struggling just to remain standing, with the thunderous pounding making her dizzy and disoriented to the point where she can’t distinguish directions.

 

As for the cocoon that seems to have noticed Edwina’s presence, it has no energy left to pay attention to this insignificant ant. Its entire focus is on manipulating the mirrored shadows, resisting the terrifying invaders from the outside.

 

Thud, thud, thud… crack, crack…

 

From somewhere in space, there comes a hoarse and overloaded wail. Although Edwina cannot see, the increasingly frequent and dense sounds, resembling the shattering of a mirror, suggest…

 

Having studied professional spatial magic knowledge and structures, she realizes that the spatial barrier connecting and separating the two worlds is likely starting to fracture, on the verge of losing its effect.

 

As the continuous sound of fragmentation reaches its peak, akin to the complete collapse of the Great Wall.

 

Boom!!!

 

In a previously empty space, the fabric of space shatters like glass, forming a deep black hole several meters long and wide.

 

A slender, seemingly girlish hand emerges from it, still in a fist-clenched posture.

 

Following this hand’s owner—a golden-haired, golden-eyed girl—another black-haired girl and a towering three-meter-tall warrior in golden armor step out slowly.

 

“Wow, is this the world inside that mirror? It’s quite large.”

 

The priestess with black hair and a white robe looks around with curiosity on her face.

 

“It stinks, a smell of fake and counterfeit reversed laws.”

 

The golden-haired girl, who punched through the world barrier, comments in this way.

 

The golden-armored warrior remains silent, its gaze passing over the bewildered and shocked holy knight lady nearby, finally focusing on the pink cocoon hanging between the remaining walls.

 

It slowly raises the large sword in its hand.

 

Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish!

 

The cocoon, well-prepared for this, lashes out with numerous tentacle-like limbs, swiftly attacking the three newcomers who have just arrived and are still finding their footing. The attitude towards them is completely different from how it treated Edwina. The speed is so rapid that the holy knight lady can’t even see it clearly.

 

However.

 

A flash of golden light, and Edwina also doesn’t see the movements of the golden-armored warrior. All the tentacles that surged from various angles are simultaneously cut into two, losing their strength and vitality.

 

The warrior turns around, the tip of the sword pointing forward, a unquestionable and imposing tone permeating its buzzing and muffled voice.

 

“Defy the majesty of my lord, die!”

 

The swordlight flashes again, and in the center of the cocoon that instilled fear in Edwina’s heart, a fierce dark green blood blooms. The mournful and eerie wail of an unknown creature echoes throughout the entire mirrored world.