Chapter 81: Dream Fox and Illusion Fox
“Dream Fox? Dream Demon?”
Bai paused. She had never heard that term before.
“What Dream Demon?” the other woman asked, confused. “Although the Dream Fox is a demon race, I’ve never heard of them being called ‘Dream Demons.'”
“Then what are you? An Illusion Demon?” Bai asked, her composure returning. She had seen Illusion Demons before, and they looked nothing like this woman.
Illusion Demons, like Heart Demons and Shadow Demons, were formless demons.
But while the other two had a physical form, Illusion Demons were just a black mist.
Even more formless than the other formless demons.
“I am an Illusion Fox. We are of the same race, but different branches,” the illusion master explained, then frowned. “But you… what kind of demon are you? I rarely leave my domain, so I’m not familiar with the newer races.”
“A Shadow Demon,” Bai said, her soul vision shifting, and she transformed back into her Dream Demon form. “And now, I suppose I’m the Dream Fox you mentioned?”
The illusion master nodded. “Although you look a bit different from the other little ones I’ve seen, that accent is unmistakable.”
…So it was a common Dream Demon accent.
“So, your Illusion Fox abilities… they create illusions?” Bai asked curiously.
“That’s one of them. As a Dream Fox, you should know that our abilities are quite varied,” the illusion master said, one of her tails floating up, a faint purple light enveloping her.
The light faded, and in her place stood… Bai.
“Wh-what…?” Bai stared, stunned. The other Bai was a perfect copy.
Her aura, her appearance, her gaze… even a mirror couldn’t have been so accurate.
And she had seen this ability somewhere before…
“I can disguise myself as anyone, anything. That’s another of my abilities,” the other Bai said, her voice identical to Bai’s.
“I remember now. Nisha had a similar ability… could it be that she inherited the power of an Illusion Fox?”
She remembered the rune Nisha had given her. It had felt similar to this.
And she was right. Neily had brought back two demonic powers from the Place of Divine Advent.
One was the power of the Dream Fox, the other the Illusion Fox.
And this pair of sister races’ powers had fallen into the hands of her and her twin sister, Nisha.
But Neily’s mastery of the power was far greater. She had acquired four abilities, while Nisha had only managed one.
Of course, both races were terrible at direct combat. That was why, in the capital, before she could access the power of Vikarn, the Calamity Class Nisha had had to flee from Bai.
“I think I understand, but it’s still a bit… unexpected,” Bai sighed, then, her expression turning serious, she asked, “Excuse me, senior, how should I address you?”
“…We usually address each other as sisters. We don’t have a ‘senior’ title,” the illusion master said calmly. “As for my true name, it was lost with the Promised Land. You can call me… Zi.”
“Zi…”
Bai had nothing to say. Who had started this trend of naming people after colors…?
Her own name, Bai, had been given to her by Sister Neily when she was too young to object.
And the thought of calling her “Big Sister Zi,” and her calling her “Little Sister Bai”… it sent a shiver down her spine.
It sounded like something out of one of those romance novels the Imperial ladies were so fond of. One of the most classic, cheesy tropes…
So, she said, “Then I’ll just call you ‘sister.’ You’re clearly much older than me.”
“Much… older?”
A vein throbbed on Zi’s forehead, her faint smile freezing.
“I… I’m very young!” she said through gritted teeth. “It’s not like you Dream Foxes, who look the same forever!”
“…My apologies. I didn’t mean to offend,” Bai said, surprised by her reaction.
“It’s not an offense. It’s just that you, little one, are a bit too… direct,” Zi said, her hand on her chest, her breathing slightly ragged—in some areas, she was visibly much… larger than Bai.
Bai didn’t know what to say, so she just offered a weak smile.
“You’re leaving, aren’t you? I can see it in your eyes. You carry a heavy burden,” Zi said, her gaze fixed on Bai.
Bai was silent for a moment, then nodded. “Yes. I still have many things to do. Many, many things.”
“How nice. I have nothing to do, just… stay here, in this beautiful, false world.”
Zi smiled, but there was a hint of bitterness in it.
“Why don’t you leave?” Bai asked. “Even the most beautiful scenery… is still false.”
“Because only here… am I truly alive,” Zi said softly. “Outside of here, I am already dead.”
Bai had already suspected it. This “Promised Land” was likely the “Place of Divine Advent.”
“You should go. Don’t ask any more questions. The more you know, the more you will be powerless against the cruel, despairing reality,” Zi said, as if sensing her unspoken questions.
She approached Bai, crouching down and cupping her face in her hands.
“Just like before, you Dream Foxes.”
“The creators of dreams, yet you always choose to face these irretrievable tragedies, this hopeless reality…”
Her face was close to Bai’s, her purple eyes meeting her mismatched pink and red ones.
“But… I envy you, little one. To possess such courage…”
She leaned down, and her lips gently brushed against Bai’s, a soft, indelible mark.
And with that kiss, Bai finally touched the key to the illusion, the one real thing.
The fragrant, beautiful world around her shattered, and the cold, desolate silence returned.
Bai had escaped the illusion, but not through the path Rex had described.
“That was…”
She touched her lips, the soft, warm sensation still lingering.
She hadn’t even had time to react. She had been kissed by Zi.
“Why do I always feel like I’m getting the short end of the stick…?”
“Bai, Bai…” Isabelle’s frantic voice echoed in her ear.
And then, a small, cold body slammed into her, and she was enveloped in a desperate embrace.
“You’re finally back, Bai! Wuwuwu! I’ve been looking for you for so long…”
