Chương 185: Game Theory and Clash

Chapter 185 Game Theory and Clash (Two-in-One) On the empty circular platform, Xingxian coldly watched the slender figure slowly emerge from the magnificent full-length mirror, pale purple magic threads around him poised to be unleashed.

Mirror Duke's steps were calm and elegant, as if he were not walking on the cold mirror surface, but strolling in the dance floor of the Golden Hall. The pure white smiling mask on his face appeared even more eerie and unsettling under the bizarre lights in the maze.

He stopped a dozen meters away from Xingxian, raised his right hand, which was gloved in white silk, and gently placed it on his chest, giving her an impeccable gentlemanly bow. His voice carried a rhythmic quality as if he were reciting poetry: "Good afternoon, dear Miss Inspector. Welcome to the private stage that I have prepared for you."

"It seems those appetizers didn't satisfy you. That's truly—impolite."

Faced with this provocative "welcome," Xingxian's silver-gray eyes remained completely unmoved, staring coldly at the other party with the same look one would give to trash.

She didn't even bother to say a word more, but instead used the purest form of attack as the most direct response to this hypocritical greeting.

Almost the instant Jingjue finished speaking, the tip of Xingxian's wand suddenly burst forth with dazzling light, and an incredibly solid light beam of pale purple light, carrying the momentum to destroy everything, went straight for Jingjue's face.

However, just as the magical beam of light, powerful enough to easily pierce through steel plates, was about to strike, Mirror Lord's figure vanished without warning, merging into a floating mirror not far away.

"boom--!"

The magic beam lost its target and slammed into a mirror in the distance, piercing a hideous hole in it with a deafening roar.

The next moment, Jingjue's figure calmly emerged from another mirror dozens of meters away, as if the fatal attack was just a gentle breeze brushing against his clothes.

He lightly flicked his long trench coat and said in a slightly reproachful tone, "Oh? So impatient? To start a fight before you've even finished a sentence is—such unladylike and rude behavior."

"My dear—Miss Inspector."

Xingxian turned around with a cold laugh, her wand pointing at Jingjue and shining brightly once more. Her voice was as cold as frost: "There's nothing to talk about with a rat like you hiding in the gutter."

Before the words were even finished, another, even faster and more solid beam of magic shot through the air.

This time, Jingjue didn't even make a dodging motion.

His figure instantly became illusory, while in another mirror a few meters away, a figure exactly like him clearly appeared and took his place in the same posture.

—It's mirror jumping again.

Xingxian frowned slightly, gaining a more intuitive understanding of how troublesome this ability was.

"Hehehe————" Jingjue let out a pleasant chuckle, looking with great interest at the magical girl in front of him with her exquisite and beautiful face and exceptionally sharp and calm eyes, as if admiring an interesting work of art.

"Even so, before we officially begin our performance, there's something I'm still curious about." He tilted his head slightly, "Even though I haven't officially taken the stage yet, you seem to have already called me by my name."

"How did you know that, dear Inspector?"

He paused, then, as if suddenly remembering something, he said to himself in a tone of sudden realization, "Ah, I think I understand."

"Could it be—that nameless crescent moon that narrowly defeated my worthless independent mirror image a week ago?"

"Hmm—Although I didn't inherit the specific memories of that independent mirror image at the last moment, it is, after all, a perfect replica of my personality. That guy's taste should be about the same as mine."

"I suppose it wouldn't be surprising at all to elegantly announce my name, Mirror Lord, before engaging in battle with a beautiful lady? Hehehe—" Xingxian's heart suddenly stirred.

—That nameless crescent moon? He must be referring to the companion whom Liuli and Yinxue called "Senior Xingshuang".

- Judging from his words, he seemed unaware of the true situation of "Star Frost," let alone that she had already handed over the "Virtual Source" left behind by the mirror image to Xiaoying.

—And also, this guy—his personality is just as Xiaoying described: arrogant, conceited, and utterly repulsive.

Although her mind was racing, Xingxian's face did not show any unusual expression.

She knew that Jingjue's question was not just out of curiosity, but also an attempt to probe for information, to confirm whether she had made contact with the local magical girls and how much information she had gathered.

If he admits it, then Jingjue might be able to deduce more things, and even—may realize that he has already grasped the "Insider" card.

We absolutely cannot let him succeed!

Xingxian's eyes instantly turned mocking. She met Jingjue's gaze with a cold smile and said in a clear, cold voice, "Although you, a rat in the gutter, have managed to escape in several past pursuits, the Magic Kingdom has never stopped tracking dangerous individuals of your caliber."

"Your abilities, your style of doing things, and your disgusting code name have all been meticulously recorded. They are information that every inspector must memorize. Moreover—" Xingxian pointed to the bizarre and dazzling mirror world around them, her disdain undisguised: "Your so-called Mirror Labyrinth is practically branding 'Mirror Lord' on your forehead. Are you afraid people won't recognize it?"

While glossing over the matter with an impeccable lie, Xingxian immediately seized upon the key point in Jingjue's words, staring intently at him with a scrutinizing gaze, and continued to ask, "However, I am quite interested in what you just said, 'What do you mean by defeating your independent mirror image, Crescent Moon'?"

"Could it be that in this city, which has been cut off from the kingdom for so long—my companions still exist?"

"Hehe—Is that so?"

Upon hearing Xingxian's impeccable answer and the subsequent counter-question, Jingjue's lips, hidden beneath his mask, involuntarily curved into an even more delighted smile.

He chuckled lightly, not answering immediately, but instead asking jokingly, "So, you haven't even been able to contact the local survivors yet, and you've already so eagerly barged into my host's living room all by yourself?"

"Answer my question." Xingxian ignored his mockery, her voice growing colder and harsher.

"Are there still any of our comrades in this city?"

"And she even deleted the image you created?"

"So what if it is? So what if it isn't?" Jingjue still didn't answer, but elegantly spread his hands, as if he wanted to appreciate the increasingly "moving" expression on Xingxian's face due to his eagerness.

"It wouldn't matter if I told you this."

A flame of anger ignited in Xingxian's eyes. She took a step forward, and the magical fluctuations around her became even more pronounced.

"The reason I was sent here is because it has been far too long since we have received any communication from our comrades to the kingdom."

"All of this, from beginning to end, is—your masterpiece." She emphasized the word "masterpiece," her voice filled with barely suppressed hatred.

"Hahahahahahaha!"

Upon hearing Xingxian's accusations filled with anger and hatred, Jingjue showed no displeasure whatsoever. Instead, he burst into unrestrained, joyful laughter, as if he had heard the most beautiful praise in the world.

Laughter reflected back and forth in this eerie space made up of countless mirrors, converging into a deafening wave of sound that madly assaulted Xingxian's eardrums.

"Should I say you're confident, or just too arrogant, dear Inspector?" Jingjue finally stopped laughing and looked at Xingxian with the same pity one would show to an ignorant child.

"Without any intelligence support, you ventured alone into this labyrinth I meticulously designed for you, and not only did you dream of avenging your lost comrades, but you even—thought you could walk out of here alive?"

"Are all the inspectors of the Magic Kingdom as innocent and adorable as you? Hehehe."

A cold glint flashed in Xingxian's silver-gray eyes as he sneered, "If you want to kill me here, you're welcome to try."

The moment the words fell, dozens of pale purple magic threads, which had been lurking in the mirror and shadows, shot out from all directions without warning, binding Mirror Lord tightly with a speed that was almost imperceptible to the naked eye, as he was still triumphantly declaring his victory.

Xingxian's movements did not pause at all. The moment she got the thread, she immediately increased the injection of magic power.

"laugh--!"

The incredibly tough magic threads unleashed a terrifying cutting force, tightening instantly. The bound "Mirror Lord" didn't even have time to utter a scream before being sliced into countless pieces of varying sizes, scattering across the ground.

However, Xingxian's face showed no joy at his success; instead, it grew increasingly solemn.

"Trying to lull me into a false sense of security through conversation, buy me time, and then launch a sneak attack using a pre-prepared technique? That's certainly a good idea."

"Unfortunately, tricks of this caliber are completely useless against me."

Sure enough, Jingjue's mocking voice rang out again from another direction.

Xingxian slowly turned around and looked at Jingjue, who walked out of a huge mirror unharmed, with a cold gaze.

"However—your ability to control the threads does remind me of some unpleasant things."

Jingjue's gaze fell on the slowly dissipating magic threads, and his tone suddenly turned somewhat gloomy.

"Just a simple attempt." Xingxian's tone remained calm, as if the failed, meticulously planned sneak attack had had no effect on her whatsoever.

"I'm not so arrogant as to think that such a simple trick could kill you, a cowardly fellow."

She held her wand horizontally across her chest, adopting a standard battle stance, her eyes filled with high spirits.

"Ready? Coward."

"Now, I'm going to get serious."

Seeing Xingxian's high fighting spirit, Jingjue seemed to become interested as well. He gracefully landed from the mirror, his feet firmly on the circular platform without making a sound.

He placed his right hand on his chest, gave another impeccable gentlemanly bow, and then said in an expectant tone, "So, before the final performance officially begins, could you tell me your code name, dear Inspector?"

"After all, I don't want a delicious prey of your caliber to be completely ruined by me and leave without even a name worth remembering."

Upon hearing this, Xingxian's lips curled into a mocking smile: "Given your cowardly nature, this thing standing before me right now—it certainly isn't your true form, is it?"

"If I destroy this hateful mirror image of yours today, and you're hiding somewhere, will you even know anything about what happened here? Even if I tell you my codename, what's the point?"

"Just like you said yourself, you still don't know who that Crescent-class companion who defeated your independent mirror image was, do you?"

Seemingly struck at a sore spot by Xingxian's sharp words, Jingjue fell silent for a rare moment.

A few seconds later, he let out another low chuckle: "Heh heh—as expected of the inspector of the Magic Kingdom, your words are indeed sharp, and you show no mercy in hitting people where it hurts."

"However, this time—you've misunderstood me."

"To show the utmost respect to the inspector who has traveled from afar, this time—I am personally piloting this most perfect 'Mirror Puppet' to welcome your arrival."

"So, rest assured," Mirror Lord's voice was full of confidence, "Even if you are truly powerful enough to completely destroy this puppet mirror image, and even this labyrinth I'm so proud of—"

"Everything that happened here today, including your beautiful figure and your desperate expression, I will remember it all through the eyes of this mirror."

Upon hearing this, Xingxian's heart suddenly stirred.

- The mirror image with independent thinking ability cannot share memories with the original body, while the puppet mirror image that is completely controlled by the original body can share memories in real time — Xiaoying's previous speculation was indeed correct.

But Xingxian still didn't reveal any of her inner thoughts, only gripping her wand even tighter.

She slightly raised her chin, a proud and confident smile appearing on her face, her clear, cold voice echoing in this bizarre and fantastical mirror world: "Kingdom Inspector, Xingxian, remember this title."

"Because I am the magical girl who will soon utterly destroy your mirror image puppet and this disgusting place!"

The moment the words fell, the magical threads surrounding Xingxian burst forth with an unprecedentedly dazzling light.

The next moment, she transformed into a pale purple streak of light, charging straight toward Mirror Lord with an indomitable momentum.

Faced with Xingxian's unstoppable charge, Jingjue's pure white smiling mask remained unchanged. He simply took a graceful step back, his figure once again merging into the mirror, easily dodging Xingxian's frontal assault.

"Is it like this again?"

Xingxian's figure came to an abrupt stop in mid-air, landing steadily on a floating fragment of mirror. She turned around and watched Jingjue's figure emerge from the mirror in the distance once again, a cold smile appearing on her face.

"What's wrong, my dear lead actor?"

Her voice was filled with undisguised mockery as she continued, following Jingjue's earlier "stage play" rhetoric: "The play has only just begun. If your performance is just like a cowardly mouse hiding in its own nest—"

"Then I regret to inform you that this performance is destined to be unpopular with any audience member."

Upon hearing this, Jingjue's inhuman eyes, hidden beneath his hat brim, narrowed slightly. He gave a soft hum, not immediately refuting, but instead scrutinizing Xingxian again with a critical gaze, slowly confirming, "You just said—your name is Xingxian?"

"So what if I am?" Xingxian retorted, her wand glowing again, ready to launch the next attack at any moment.

"Star String—Star String—" Mirror Lord repeated the code name in a low voice, and then glanced at the magic threads surrounding Star String that were extremely similar to the basic form of a certain spell.

After a moment of silence, he seemed to have suddenly thought of something extremely interesting and burst into unrestrained laughter.

Xingxian stared coldly at the guy who had suddenly gone mad, a sense of confusion rising in her heart. She raised her vigilance to the highest level to prevent him from using any insidious tricks.

The laughter abruptly stopped a moment later.

Jingjue's gaze fell on Xingxian again, his eyes filled with a mocking realization and a condescending pity, his voice full of sarcasm: "So that's how it is—so that's how it is."

"It seems you're a fan of that detestable magical girl—Starfrost."

"Not only is his fighting style consciously mimicking hers, but even the codename 'Star String'—is it derived from her extremely troublesome unique technique—'Star String'?"

"You know Senior Xing Shuang?!" Xing Xian's eyes instantly sharpened as he asked in a deep voice.

"More than just acquaintances—" Jingjue's voice suddenly turned incredibly gloomy, as if filled with endless resentment and hatred, "Your senior left me with memories I'll never forget?"

Upon hearing this answer, Xingxian immediately recalled what the other person had said when they saw him using magic threads.

—So that's how it is. The "not-so-pleasant" memory he mentioned came from Senior Xing Shuang?

Thinking of this, Xingxian's lips involuntarily curled into a mocking smile. She met Jingjue's gaze with a cold laugh, her tone filled with disdain: "It seems that you and your senior do indeed have some unpleasant past."

"Then let me guess what kind of unforgettable memory you're talking about is."

""

"Wasn't it true that you once tried to challenge the authority of your senior like an overconfident little insect, only to be easily crushed under her feet like an ant?"

"In the end—it took a tremendous effort to barely escape from my senior's grasp, like a stray dog?"

Jingjue's body stiffened for a moment. Although the mask concealed his presence, Xingxian could still sense that the elegance and composure he displayed froze for a moment, and the ethereal energy fluctuations belonging to him in the surrounding air became extremely turbulent in an instant.

After a moment of silence, Jingjue seemed to be trying his best to suppress the anger in his heart.

A few seconds later, his voice returned to its previous frivolous and mocking tone, as if his earlier lapse in composure had never occurred.

"Hehe—I must admit, you are indeed very talented at provoking your opponents, my dear Inspector."

"I must also admit that her Star Strings," once fully unfolded, are indeed—a power so strong it's almost unfair."

"Compared to her almost perfect and unique technique," his gaze fell on Xingxian, filled with disdain and contempt, "your crude imitation is simply—worthless trash."

Faced with Jingjue's derogatory evaluation, Xingxian showed no anger, but instead felt it was perfectly reasonable.

—That's for sure. How could I, at my current level, possibly compare to the strength of my predecessors?

But facing this hateful enemy, she still replied with a cold laugh, "It doesn't matter. To deal with someone like you, 'trash' like me is enough."

"Heh, perhaps." Mirror Lord continued in his repulsive tone, "However, your senior Starfrost can no longer deal with me.""

"Because—she is dead, and I am still alive."

"That's the most important thing, isn't it?"

"What did you say?"

"Unforgivable!"

Xingxian's eyes instantly turned icy cold, and an uncontrollable killing intent erupted from her, making the surrounding air seem to freeze.

She roared and launched another attack on Jingjue.

Jingjue easily dodged the attack once again, and looking at Xingxian, whose emotions were clearly out of control, he let out an even more gleeful laugh: "Hahahaha! Did I say something wrong? Xingshuang is already dead! No matter how powerful she was, dead—that's it!"

"Shut up!" Hoshizune's voice trembled with anger.

"Senior has simply disappeared!"

I will definitely find her!

Faced with these vicious words directed at her most respected senior, her emotions fluctuated violently for the first time since entering this maze.

"Oh? A junior who idolizes a deceased senior, yet refuses to accept the harsh reality, clinging to the wishful thinking that she's just missing?"

"What a deeply moving bond, hehehe—" Seeing Xingxian's intense reaction, Jingjue's lips curled into a cruel smile beneath his mask as he continued his vicious mental attack.

"Want to find her? Don't worry—" Mirror Lord's voice suddenly turned incredibly sinister, and his figure flashed rapidly between several mirrors, finally appearing abruptly in front of Star String.

I'll take you to see her right away!