Secret World: I Became a God Through Lies

Chapter 373 Mirror Lake Feast: Citywide Crisis
"When the mirror lake no longer reflects reality but begins to devour it, the illusion in the mirror becomes the only reality."

—From *The Mysterious Revelation: The Mirror Lake Chapter - The Calamity of Mirror Lake*

The dark sky pressed down heavily on Areston, as if the entire city was being gradually torn apart by an invisible gravity.

Above their heads, the boundless mirror surface surged wildly like a dark sea, reflecting every terrified and desperate face.

The sky reflected the struggles and suffering of countless people in the city, their figures appearing and disappearing amidst the ripples on the mirror-like surface, as if they were about to be swallowed into an unfathomable abyss.

Those silent screams pierced the boundary between reality and dreams, penetrating deep into the soul of every observer.

At the heart of Mirror Lake, the abandoned theater has long since been transformed into an evil altar.

The last six elders of the Haran tribe knelt on the ground, surrounding a dark blue crystal, chanting obscure incantations with a devout and frenzied manner.
The aged face gradually cracked open, and the body crumbled bit by bit like a burning star, transforming into a pure sacrifice:

"The chains of my Lord, forged from my flesh and blood, are now eternally freed!"

As the elders finished their incantation, the crystal in the center of the altar suddenly trembled, then emitted a piercing shattering sound, turning into countless sharp fragments that instantly vanished into the void.

A pitch-black rift suddenly tore open the center of Mirror Lake, and a violent and icy aura from the depths of the astral plane surged in, as if the entire world was about to be overturned.

Deep within the rift, the giant stag Sardarar rose menacingly from the ground.

Countless fragments of mirrors and stars rapidly coalesced on its massive body, and in the blink of an eye, Sazarras had become larger and more distorted than ever before.

Its massive head slowly lowered, and the faces of Arthur and Victorian alternated between the lenses, their voices cold and mocking:
"Three million mortals are three million rebirths of our Lord."

As soon as the words were spoken, the ripples on Mirror Lake spread violently once more. With each ripple that swept across the lake, mortals were horrified to find that their reflections began to twist and tear apart. In their agonizing struggles, flesh and blood flew as they were sucked into the greedy maw of Sazarras.

"No! Please, save me..."

The young soldier trembled and knelt on the ground, his sword slipping from his hand, letting his reflection tear his life apart inch by inch.

Beside him, the once fearless Divine Grace Knight stared in terror at his own reflection as it twisted and vanished in the void, letting out a desperate cry before collapsing to the ground.

Sazeroth laughed maniacally, his voice like a venomous whisper piercing everyone's ears:

"All who are reflected are a feast for our Lord."

The allied lines had completely collapsed, and the soldiers were fleeing in a frenzy and despair.

Each round of artillery fire and mysterious attacks could only briefly shatter Sazarras's body before it rapidly reassembled in an even more terrifying manner.

Medici gripped the broken scepter tightly, her pale face revealing an undisguised despair and self-blame for the first time.

She lost her footing and her body almost collapsed.

"Sister, our people are dying too quickly. If we don't act now, the entire city will perish!" Liseria landed suddenly on her Azure Lion, her face pale, but her gaze was unusually firm.

Medici nodded with difficulty, her voice low: "Go... I approve."

Liseria immediately took flight and sternly ordered the Night Class students and Royal Guards on the battlefield: "Everyone, retreat to the city immediately! Save as many as you can, and never give up!"

A young trainee asked in a panic, "Your Highness, what can we use to save them?"

Liseria's voice was sharp as a knife: "Use the secrets in your hands, use your lives! Remember, we never yield to fear!"

The trainees' faces were filled with sorrow and grief. After a moment of silence, they burst into angry roars.

They quickly followed her and rushed into various parts of the city, launching a rescue operation that seemed almost impossible.

Above Mirror Lake, Sargeras continues to greedily devour human lives and souls, the entire city seemingly becoming its feast.

The sky above Mirror Lake suddenly split open, revealing a huge and cold eye of the void, within which darkness and madness surged endlessly.

"Struggle, your end has come." Arthur and Victorian's cold voices slowly rang out, "Everything in Trelian will sink into the Mirror Lake."

Medici looked up at that eye that gazed upon all living beings, and for the first time felt an unprecedented sense of insignificance and powerlessness.

She raised the broken scepter with trembling hands, her tone carrying a desperate, resolute air:

"Gentlemen! Perhaps fate has already been decided, but we will never accept it in silence!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she took a step forward, and the broken scepter glowed with a faint but resolute light as she charged headlong into the invincible presence in the void.

Chaos reigned in the city. Liseria rode her Azure Lion, soaring over the ruins, followed by dozens of rescue teams.
They are doing everything they can to pull the desperate crowd back to reality from the encroachment of Mirror Lake.

"What's the situation in the East District?" Liseria asked urgently into the communication crystal.

An urgent response came from the crystal: "The exit to the East District has completely disappeared, swallowed by Mirror Lake! We... cannot leave!"

Liseria's heart sank, and she immediately looked in other directions to confirm: "West District?"

"No! The Mirror Tide is blocking the way; our attacks are completely ineffective!"

"Where's the North Gate?" Her voice trembled with a hint of resentment.

"Your Highness, the North Gate has long been completely sealed off by the power of Mirror Lake. The soldiers are trapped inside the city and have suffered heavy casualties!"

Liseria stared intently at the churning Mirror Lake in the distance, a deep despair creeping onto her pale face: "We're trapped here..."

She was struggling internally. She knew she should stay calm and be strong, but overwhelming despair and guilt almost crushed her.

The lion beneath him seemed to sense its master's emotions and let out a low, mournful roar.

Just then, a silver shadow swept to her side—it was Celian. She said in a low voice, "Calvino asked me to tell you that the Lost One might be able to open a passage."

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope rose in Liseria's heart: "Really?"

Selene slowly shook her head: "But the premise is that he must leave the main battlefield of Sazarras."

Liseria looked into the distance and saw Calvino standing at the bow of the Lost One, holding the Dream Lantern and struggling to withstand the surging onslaught of Sazarras. His face was tired but still resolute.

Calvino seemed to sense her gaze, turned his head to look at her, his expression complex, and a hint of indescribable bitterness appeared in his eyes.

He nodded slightly to Lyseria, then raised the Dream Lantern to block Sazaras's attack once more, clearly having made his choice.

“It seems we have no choice but to rely on ourselves…” Liseria’s voice was low and pained. She quickly turned to the rescue team and shouted, “If we can’t evacuate, then we must hold our ground! We must protect the remaining survivors in the city!”

"Your Highness, can we really hold out?" The young student Norma's voice trembled, and despair was evident in her eyes.

Liseria looked at the soldiers and cadets, covered in wounds yet still desperately trying to save lives, and took a deep breath.

His voice was as firm as steel: "Even if it's just to hold out for a few more moments, to save one more person, it's all worth it!"

"Understood, Your Highness!" Norma fought back tears, gripped the Ghost Blade tightly, and turned to rush to the battlefield.

The entire city has been turned into a giant prison, with the power of Mirror Lake sealing off Alleston, turning every exit into a suffocating place of despair.

Outside the city, the waves of reflections continued to expand and engulf relentlessly, and countless citizens struggled in agony, yet could not escape their own reflections.

The soldiers swung their swords in terror at the void, only to be dragged into the mirror world by distorted reflections amidst screams, leaving behind mottled bloodstains and chilling echoes.

Amidst the ruins of the theater, Sazeroth's body reformed once more.

The enormous and eerie mirror deer stared menacingly down at the people trapped in their predicament, its voice as cold and sinister as a venomous snake's whisper echoing throughout the entire city:

"Why struggle in vain? Surrender to the mirror, and you will be free from the pain of reality."

But on the bow of the Lost One, the eerie blue flame of the Dream Lamp in Calvino's hand still burned stubbornly.

As he watched Sazarras approach, a deep bitterness welled up inside him:

“I’m sorry, Liseria… now is not the time.”

He gritted his teeth, stepped forward, and the flame of the Dream Lamp in his hand surged, temporarily blocking Sazaras's offensive.

However, his gaze kept sweeping towards the distance, where desperate citizens and trapped rescue teams were. He knew that every second of delay could mean the loss of countless lives.

A heavy decision clashed within him. He knew that if he could just step away from the battlefield, he might be able to save these people.

But if he does that, Sazarras will completely break down Medici and Eidl's defenses, and the city will fall without a doubt.

Calvino closed his eyes, his voice filled with unspeakable pain and exhaustion: "I'm sorry, please wait a little longer... I will definitely give you a way out."

Sazeroth's offensive grew increasingly fierce; the Deerclops roared, and countless shards of light rained down from the sky like a meteor shower.

Each attack shook Calvino's defenses, forcing him to make even more ruthless choices.

The city, surrounded by Mirror Lake, is now in a desperate situation with no way out.

Sazarras roared to the sky, causing the Mirror Lake to churn violently. Black waves swept across the lake, swallowing everything in their path.

Countless mirror-like creatures crawled out from every mirror, every puddle, and every broken window, their piercing screams and twisted bodies weaving into a suffocating sea of ​​terror. Alleston instantly became a city of nightmares.

The young soldier swung his sword fiercely at the reflection, only to watch helplessly as the blade pierced through the void, falling to the ground without any effect, and then screaming as he was dragged into the mirror.

The elderly woman, Katie, held the terrified child tightly in her arms, whispering sadly but firmly, "Child, don't be afraid, Grandma is with you."

As soon as they finished speaking, Mirror Lake swept over them like a tide, silently engulfing them.

Bella, a young doctor on the rescue team, did her best to shield the children, smiling and reassuring them, "It's okay, I'll protect you."

The next second, her body was mercilessly torn apart by the darkness, and blood splattered everywhere.

Above Mirror Lake, the massive, twisted body of the Mirror Deer of Sazeroth looked down upon the struggle of humanity, its voice deep and resonant like a declaration of judgment:

"Mortal resistance only makes despair sweeter."

Medici struggled to support the broken scepter, blood dripping continuously from between her fingers.

She gazed at the city that had become a living hell, her heart aching as if being torn apart: "Is this... the fate of Trelian?"

Edel landed beside her on his griffin, his voice hoarse and filled with grief and indignation: "Perhaps we cannot kill it. But if defeat is inevitable, I would rather die in battle."

Medici remained silent for a long time before finally replying with a resolute tone, "Yes, until the very last moment of my life."

As soon as she finished speaking, countless mirror blades rained down like a storm. Medusa and Edel fought back with all their might, but were still knocked back several steps by the enormous force, leaving them in a sorry state.

Sazarras sneered, and his massive antlers slammed down, sending the two flying again. Medusa struggled to her feet, her lips stained with blood.

Liseria witnessed this scene from afar, her heart aching, but she forced herself to remain calm and brandished her longsword, ordering her soldiers: "We must not retreat! For those who have fallen, we must continue to fight!"

The soldiers charged forward bravely, but with a casual wave of his hand, Sargeras swallowed everything up in the black ripples.

They struggled to grasp at something, but could only fall futilely into the abyss of the mirror, letting out silent screams.

The power of Mirror Lake completely enveloped the entire city; the sky had collapsed into a mirror-like abyss, and the ground had become a distorted nightmare.
Countless civilians and soldiers were swallowed by their own reflections, struggling in vain.

Edel gritted his teeth and charged toward Sazarras, swinging his longsword with all his might, but the next second he was pierced through by countless mirror blades, and blood gushed out.

He staggered back several steps, his eyes bloodshot, a deep sense of powerlessness welling up inside him: "Have we really lost...?"

Medici trembled as she supported him, her heart sinking into an icy abyss, her eyes filled with helplessness and guilt: "I'm sorry, I couldn't protect this city..."

A sinister grin spread across the face of the Stag King of Sazeroth, and Arthur's and Victorian's voices mingled together:

"Do you see? So-called beliefs and so-called resistance are nothing but vain dreams."

The giant stag roared once more, and Mirror Lake suddenly surged with even more violent waves. The enormous eye of the void in the sky opened completely.

It coldly gazes upon the mortal world, radiating an overwhelming sense of oppression.

As Medici gazed at the world swallowed by the Mirror Lake, she felt an unprecedented sense of insignificance and despair.

She knew that Sazarras's power far exceeded her limits, but she still stubbornly stood firm:

"We may ultimately fail, but the people of Trelian will never succumb to despair."

Sazarras snorted coldly, and countless shards of glass rained down once more, each reflecting a struggling and wailing soul.

Medici and Edel could only do their best to defend themselves, their bodies gradually filled with severe wounds.

In the distance, Liseria led her nearly collapsed rescue team in a desperate struggle to protect the remaining civilians. Her eyes were filled with despair and grief, yet she still cried out loudly:

"No matter what, hold on for just a little longer!"

However, her voice sounded so faint amidst the roar of Mirror Lake, as soldiers fell one by one and citizens were dragged into the void, their cries of despair echoing throughout Alleston.

In such despair, everyone knew in their hearts that perhaps no more miracles would happen.

Alleston has utterly succumbed to despair.

Sazeroth stands menacingly above the Mirror Lake, its massive stag head raised, frantically devouring the terrified and helpless souls of mortals.

Beneath the waves of Mirror Lake, the struggles and cries of every face were ruthlessly suppressed and swallowed up.

“The more painful the struggle, the more delicious the soul,” Sazaras whispered excitedly and greedily. “Every bit of your fear and despair is the most sumptuous feast of our Lord.”

Medici swayed as she propped up the broken scepter, breathing heavily.

Her eyes lost their former arrogance, but a resolute fire suddenly ignited within her: "If this is our destined end, then I will give my life to bring you a brief glimmer of hope!"

She suddenly raised her scepter high and began chanting ancient incantations rapidly.

In an instant, the mysterious and supreme No. 7 of the Life System, the nurturer of life, the [Holy Mother of Procreation], burst forth with a dazzling milky-white radiance.
Medusa's body was immediately enveloped in pure and vast holy light.

Above the sky, the milky-white phantom of the Virgin Mary slowly appeared.

Her gaze was compassionate and merciful, like the warm morning sun, sweeping over every survivor in the city.

In an instant, the raging tide of Mirror Lake was forced back by the holy light, and the reflected creatures let out painful screams and turned into ashes.

The soldiers stared blankly at the figure of the Virgin Mary, a glimmer of life rekindling in their previously dim eyes:
"Our Lady has descended! We still have hope!"

The citizens struggled to their feet, their eyes filled with tears and gratitude as they looked up at the sky: "Holy Mother, save us!"

Sazeroth roared in fury, and the massive Mirror Deer's body trembled violently, shattering and falling mirror shards.
It glared menacingly at the phantom of the Virgin Mary, viciously threatening: "A mortal dares to tamper with supreme power; what awaits you is eternal curse and destruction!"

Medici struggled to stay afloat amidst the phantom of the Virgin Mary; her life force was rapidly ebbing away like a flood.
The color drained from her face at a visible speed, and her hair turned as white as snow in an instant, but she gritted her teeth.

He whispered with difficulty, "If I can gain even a moment, my death will have meaning..."

The soldiers seized this brief respite, quickly reorganized their defenses, and led the wounded civilians to the city center.

Their faces were filled with determination, and a faint but tenacious flame rekindled in their eyes.

However, the holy light is ultimately only temporary.

The milky white light gradually dimmed, and the phantom of the Virgin Mary slowly dissipated into the void. Medusa knelt weakly on the ground, and her scepter fell to the side.

Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, her eyes weary and desperate: "I'm sorry... my power ends here..."

As the holy light completely faded, Sazeroth's body reformed once more in an even more grotesque form.
The boundless black tide of Mirror Lake surged in again, quickly filling the void left by the fading holy light.

The hope that had just been ignited in people was shattered in an instant, replaced by an even more intense and utterly despairing despair.

The soldiers collapsed to their knees, their weapons slipping from their hands, their eyes filled with only death and sorrow.

Sazeroth looked down at the city with excitement, uttering a triumphant yet cruel whisper:

"Your struggles and hopes are nothing but illusions. Now, the feast of Alleston's soul will be mine to enjoy."

Just then, a calm yet firm voice came from the bridge of the Lost One, interrupting Sazarr's celebration.

Calvino walked slowly forward, his face pale but resolute, the blue flame of the Dream Lamp in his hand still burning steadily.

He gazed at Sazarras meaningfully, a faint, cold smile playing on his lips:

"What you call a feast is nothing but a delusion within a delusion, a lie within a lie."

Sazaras abruptly turned to stare at him, a hint of barely concealed anger and confusion flashing in his deer-like eyes: "What are you talking about?"

Calvino's gaze was as deep as the night, and the dark blue firelight in his eyes shone with an undying brilliance.
"And our destiny master is about to awaken."

Sazarras's body trembled violently, and the raging tide on Mirror Lake also paused, as if something unsettling it was slowly awakening from the abyss.

Calvino raised the dream lamp once more, his tone gentle yet imbued with certainty and mystery:
"You will soon realize that everything you have is nothing but a lie woven by fate."

Sazeroth roared again, seemingly trying to mask the growing unease and doubt within him.

But Calvino's voice pierced through its illusion like an invisible blade.

The ripples in the Mirror Lake and the Void continued, but Sazarrah's offensive noticeably slowed down for a moment.

Although the city remained mired in despair, a faint glimmer of hope rekindled deep within everyone's heart—perhaps a real turning point was about to arrive.

"The illusion reflected in Mirror Lake will eventually shatter, and the real world is hidden behind the broken mirror."

—From *The Mysterious Revelation: Mirror Lake Chapter - The Awakening of Destiny*

(End of this chapter)