Witch’s Night: Chapter 90 You’re Awake?
Even Illusion knew the meaning of “fox spirit,” but she couldn’t refute it.
Indeed, after undergoing atavism, she did fit the description of a fox spirit often portrayed as seductive or mischievous in stories, even the nine tails were perfectly replicated.
Based on this, Ms. Lana offered an explanation.
“Unlike the humans of this world, Illusion’s power source isn’t the Gods, but her own bloodline. The purity of her bloodline determines the upper limit of her abilities, and atavism can greatly enhance the ‘power of illusion’.”
Generally speaking, the essence of all ability users’ powers originated from the Gods.
The six major systems corresponded to the ten Gods, and the Superpower system was actually just the unclassifiable part, fundamentally no different.
There were several hypotheses about the origin of abilities, “Disease Theory,” “Calamity Theory,” etc…
These hypotheses weren’t entirely true, but they weren’t baseless either. The real reason was something the Twelve Saints dared not publicly admit to all humanity.
—All ability users were essentially extensions of the Gods, or rather, the Primordial Demons. The difference from God’s Chosen only lay in the level of their abilities.
The abilities possessed by God’s Chosen… that is, demonic powers, stood at the endpoint from the very beginning.
And what made Illusion most different was that her ability came from deep within her bloodline.
Even more thorough than Luo Yan’s situation, who was detached from the Gods’ system and formed her own, the power Illusion possessed didn’t even belong to this world.
“…Are you an alien?”
Shadow was already numb from shock, but she still couldn’t imagine that Illusion, who she spent her days and nights with, actually came from another world.
“To be precise, it’s another world.” Ms. Lana added, “Or to put it in an easier-to-understand way, even more alien than an alien.”
At least aliens were still within this universe, but Illusion’s existence itself was more like a fantasy creature to this world…
“Anyway, that’s it! There are more important things!”
Illusion didn’t want to dwell on this topic any longer and forcefully waved her hand, interrupting the enthusiastic Shadow.
“So what needs to be done to perform the bloodline purification?”
Noah was still reliable, bringing the gradually deviating topic back on track with a single sentence.
“Project No. 1435, managed by Haxton Laboratory, contains research results on visitors from other worlds.”
Ms. Lana raised her hand, and a light screen unfolded, displaying dense data,
“Although most experimental records have been lost, the specific experimental process is unknown, the experimental results are unclear, and ninety-eight percent of the experimental data is incomplete…”
This string of words made Shadow and Noah break out in a cold sweat. What use was just a project number when almost everything was lost?
But finally, the turning point arrived,
“However, the prototype machine remains, capable of performing atavism and reversal on visitors from other worlds.” A silhouette of a transparent, jar-like container appeared before Ms. Lana. “And the remaining experimental data indicates that the completion level of this prototype machine is quite high.”
Shadow and Noah breathed a sigh of relief; finally, some good news.
“But the problem is, due to improper preservation of the prototype machine, it can only barely support one use. If atavism is initiated, it cannot be reversed again.”
As Ms. Lana spoke, Illusion’s expression dimmed beside her; clearly, she already knew this.
“What will happen?”
Seeing this, even Shadow could sense the severity of the situation.
“She will permanently take on the appearance of having fox ears and nine fox tails.”
Ms. Lana raised her hand and photoshopped an image of Illusion after atavism,
“Like this, she cannot revert to human form until a new prototype machine is manufactured—based on the technological development of the New Era, I estimate this time could be between two thousand and five thousand years.”
“That’s it?” Shadow’s eyes almost popped out looking at the fox-ified Illusion. “In that case… it seems… it’s not so bad…”
The fox-ified Illusion seemed even cuter, even with her usual straight face, she had a kind of adorable feeling.
“Go die, Shadow!”
Illusion, furious, lifted her foot and kicked directly at Shadow, but Shadow dodged nimbly.
“Ouch, can’t hit me~”
Shadow twisted her waist, and then received a heavy punch to the stomach,
“Hiss—how could you hit so hard…”
“Heh.”
“Appearance isn’t the issue, the problem is that the atavistic Illusion cannot adapt to the environment of this world.” Ms. Lana slowly added the more serious consequence. “She can only stay within the illusion she constructs and cannot leave, otherwise her life will be in danger.
“According to the few remaining records in the database, it was precisely to solve this situation that the World Federation assigned Project No. 1435 to Haxton Laboratory, which specialized in biology.”
Shadow fell silent, and Noah also became silent.
Never being able to leave the illusion…
Always staying in this bizarre place with no end in sight…
How terrifying.
Although Noah and Shadow both possessed the determination and courage for self-isolation, it didn’t mean they could make this decision for Illusion.
“Don’t think of the situation as too bad, it’s just that my true body can’t leave the illusion.” Illusion sighed. She could tell that Shadow and Noah were feeling a heavy psychological burden after seeing this consequence. “With the help of phantoms, I can still move around outside.”
“So… that’s how it is.” Shadow breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. “Isn’t this the same as before… no difference!”
“It’s similar, but having a fox spirit appearance is still awkward.” Illusion turned her face away.
“How could it be? I think it’s great,” Shadow put her hands on her hips and patted Illusion’s hair. “Ears grow here, tails grow back there… even if it’s a fox spirit, it’s a cute little fox spirit!”
“…Go die!”
After some commotion, they finally returned to the main topic.
The reason atavism was necessary was because the illusion ability Illusion possessed could only be fully utilized after atavism; what she showed now was just the tip of the iceberg.
This implied another terrifying fact: even without using her full strength, Illusion had almost reached the ceiling of human power, a powerful existence ranked among the top ten “Destruction” level ability users.
Shadow and Illusion, busy playing around, didn’t realize this, while Noah beside them remained silent.
He thought of what the Saint had unintentionally mentioned, that in the distant starry sky and countless spacetimes beyond, there had also been brilliant civilizations, powerful worlds far exceeding the New Era.
But when facing the “Calamity Tide,” when facing enemies that even the Gods found troublesome, they all turned to ashes.
Was the race Illusion belonged to also such an existence?
Was it also…
Part of those once glorious civilizations?
Could she… have come to this world because she was fleeing disaster?
No one knew.
“Alright, time is tight, we need to leave immediately.” Noah spoke softly, raising his cloudy eyes towards Illusion. “Illusion, since you have the resolve for all this, we must make a decision immediately.”
“…Mm.”
Illusion nodded solemnly.
“So let’s avoid suspicion, Shadow.”
Noah turned to look at the excited Shadow, his gaze seemingly solidifying, grabbing the back of Shadow’s collar.
“Eh?” Shadow was stunned. “I don’t need to avoid suspicion, I’m also a girl!”
“Your existence is equally dangerous, regardless of gender.” Noah nodded to Illusion, whose expression showed a hint of gratitude. “This is fine, let’s go.”
“No… at least let me take a look, I’ll leave after one look… don’t…”
Accompanied by loud cries like wailing, Noah dragged Shadow out of the illusion, and soon only two people remained in the bizarre scenery.
“Are you ready? Illusion.”
Ms. Lana appeared timely, and along with her appearance, there was also the instrument that had appeared on the display screen.
The prototype machine for atavism.
As if tailor-made, the small prototype machine perfectly fit the small Illusion, and the accompanying devices were also equally small.
Illusion looked at this machine. Even though she had seen it many times before, every time she saw it, she was still amazed by the astonishing heights of Old Era human science.
With her hundreds of years of experience, she couldn’t even understand a single component. No wonder Ms. Lana said that current humans would need thousands of years to replicate it.
“Thousands of years…”
Illusion sighed.
After this atavism, she would need thousands of years to return to her current appearance.
—Assuming she could live for thousands of years.
…How could that be possible?
Even Mister Nine’s long lifespan was only thirteen hundred years.
“Illusion?”
Ms. Lana spoke again, seemingly urging Illusion to act.
Illusion glanced resentfully at Ms. Lana. This Old Era artificial intelligence didn’t seem to understand sentimentality, not even giving her this moment to cherish her human body.
But this was the decision she had already made, since that was the case…
Just go with the flow.
Illusion stepped into the instrument and slowly closed her eyes.
Ms. Lana installed all the devices inside the instrument for her, and some kind of power was drawn from the bottom of the instrument, enveloping Illusion.
……
A dreamless dream.
Another awakening.
Luo Yan opened her eyes, her long eyelashes seemingly carrying the morning dew left by the dawn mist, glistening as they brushed against her eyelids.
How many days had it been?
Couldn’t tell…
Was this a dream or reality?
Or another dream?
She really couldn’t tell…
Her frail body mustered some strength, and Luo Yan managed to prop herself up, leaning against the headboard.
“You’re awake?”
A familiar voice sounded beside her ear. Luo Yan breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed she had indeed returned to reality.
Every time she returned to reality, Saint Illusion was always by her side.
Thinking of this Saint, whom she initially misunderstood, but later discovered was actually just overly straightforward, Luo Yan couldn’t help but smile slightly.
At least Saint Illusion was still by her side, that was enough.
“Saint Illusion, good morning.”
Luo Yan raised her eyes and met a pair of purple eyes.
Purple.
Eyes.
Blinking.
Luo Yan’s gaze briefly scanned the Saint Illusion sitting beside her bed, saw her purple fluffy ears, and then saw the nine fluffy purple tails behind her.
She slowly closed her eyes.
“How could I have such a terrible nightmare…”
“This isn’t a dream!” Illusion became anxious and tugged at Luo Yan’s quilt. “It’s me, I’m Illusion!”
“Even her accent has changed, this dream is too bizarre…”
“I… I… I don’t know!”
Illusion, trying to forcibly correct her accent, ultimately failed, just like her height, it seemed to have become some kind of unchangeable rule.
“The deception of dreams and the difference from reality are becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish… Could it be that my end is near…”
Luo Yan murmured softly.
Finally, after expending a great deal of effort, plus Ms. Lana’s confirmation, Luo Yan was finally convinced that this wasn’t a dream, but reality.
However…
“Saint Illusion, how did you become… like this?”
Luo Yan looked at the current Illusion with a strange expression, her tone slightly amused.
Illusion was already cute when she was small, and now with fox ears and fox tails—well, she said they grew out—she looked even more adorably silly.
Especially the accent…
However, Illusion could explain now.
After the bloodline atavism, the memories buried deep within her bloodline were released together.
Indeed, Illusion was the visitor from another world recorded in the Old Era records, not a descendant or anything like that.
“I… come from a distant world, called the ‘Promised Land’.”
Illusion whispered, her accent still strange, but her tone carried a certain weight,
“However, it should probably be called the ‘Land of Divine Advent’ now. A terrifying divine disaster descended upon our world, destroying everything—yes, true ‘destruction’.”
“Land of Divine Advent?”
Luo Yan looked astonished.
“You’ve heard of it?”
Illusion, who was still preparing to tell her story, widened her eyes.
She hadn’t even said anything yet!
“The Witch of Envy mentioned it.”
“Then it’s fine.”
It seemed that after the bloodline atavism, Illusion wasn’t as taboo about the Witch of Envy anymore.
“The Witch of Envy and the other nine Primordial Demons, or rather, the Gods, should be called the World Will.”
Illusion exhaled and recounted everything from her memory,
“In our world, there was only one strongest World Will, the ‘Progenitor.’ She possessed the power to overturn the entire Promised Land, but still lost to ‘Destruction’—because ‘Destruction’ is the true God.”
“…The Witch of Envy once said that the ‘Progenitor’ was pursuing a deicide plan with no visible future.” Luo Yan whispered.
“No visible future…?” Illusion said with a wry smile, “I don’t know. When I escaped the Land of Divine Advent, ‘Destruction’ had already devoured countless worlds, leaving us only with endless despair.
“Countless races launched self-rescue efforts, but none could escape the judgment of ‘Destruction.’ My race, the ‘Illusory Foxes,’ and our sister race, the ‘Dream Foxes,’ were no exception.
“Perhaps the only survivor in the end was me, this… mixed-blood who successfully escaped into the embrace of another God.”
