This villain is too popular.

Chapter 399 That wasn't a shadow, but her 'true soul'

Most people have always classified the 'Shadow of the Past' star source as an elemental star source.

After all, materializing abilities like shadows and black mist are too easy to associate with shadow manipulation.

But Rin Yagami didn't think so from the moment she obtained this star source.

Because in her heart, her shadow clone was never a cold aggregate of energy, but a part of herself, a freer 'soul' that she had peeled away.

So when she had her shadow clone target the original body as the "target" to steal the original body's memory fragments about the raccoon, she didn't hesitate for a moment.

After all, no one in this world doubts themselves, just as no one worries that their left hand will suddenly chop off their right.

"Damn you little devil!"

The raccoon stared at Rin Yagami, whose eyes were vacant and who looked like an inflatable doll, showing no reaction whatsoever. The golden bell around its neck jingled rapidly, and the raccoon finally stomped its foot hard.

"You win, I'll find someone else!"

Currently, apart from Yagami Rin, the only remaining examinee in the assessment venue is 'Phantom Thousand Shadows'.

The raccoon closed its eyes, maximizing its perception of the Eternal Nightmare's domain. Black mist surged like a tide into every corner of the city ruins, searching for the traces of Illusionary Thousand Shadows.

Its perception ability is practically a bug in the realm of Eternal Nightmare; it becomes as conspicuous as a torch in the night if the target feels even the slightest fear.

But after 30 seconds, the 'fear signal' that should have been crystal clear has not given any response at all.

The entire ruins were eerily quiet, with only the whistling of the wind blowing through the broken walls, as if Huan Qianying had never appeared at all.

The raccoon suddenly opened its eyes, its pupils filled with disbelief.

Something's not right, not at all.

Rin Yagami can split her own soul and block the 'cognitive connection' between herself and her, so what about Sen'ei?
Surely she can't also have the 'Shadow of the Past' star source, right?

The uniqueness of a Star Source is something all Star Envoys know, and there have never been any exceptions.

The raccoon administrator, who couldn't think of an answer yet, ultimately chose to use other means to find Huan Qianying.

A short while later, the raccoon keeper opened his eyes again.

"found it."

As soon as he finished speaking, the raccoon manager took to the air and flew quickly towards a certain direction of the city ruins, eventually landing on the rooftop of a department store.

But when it saw the figure standing in the sky, the raccoon's eyes started twitching uncontrollably, and it even forgot to shake its golden bell.

"No, what's wrong with you?"

Looking at Gensuke, whose appearance was completely different from Yagami Rin's but whose aura was almost identical and whose eyes were incredibly empty, the raccoon administrator was utterly speechless.

It immediately retrieved Huan Qianying's Star Source Files, and when it saw the introduction to 'Personality Mask Nuo Opera', it finally couldn't help but complain.

"Are young people these days so good at having fun?"

【Star Source: Persona Nuo Opera】

【Effect 1. Memory Access: Can access fragments of the target's recent memories (requires 10 seconds of physical contact)】

【Effect 2. Personality Sketch: Quickly sketch the other person's personality and imitate their personality】

【Special Effect 3. Deep Interpretation: Deep down, the user believes they are the 'disguised persona', unable to see through their own disguise, and can use all of the opponent's abilities (maximum power 50%).】

"Heavenly Dao, I'm not surprised that Rin dared to actively split her own soul, but I didn't expect that Huan Qianying's trust in Rin would reach this level, actually daring to learn from her and split her own soul." Caroline was quite surprised as she watched Huan Qianying in the scene, imitating Yagami Rin, using a shadow clone to 'erode the main body' and seize some of her memories.

Because everything is just as the raccoon manager said.

Soul splitting is dangerous. This kind of operation is something that even a Calamity-level Star Envoy wouldn't dare to do casually, let alone two Level 3 Star Envoys.

But Huan Qianying has not only done it, but seems to have done it quite well.

It was only because Yagami Rin had absolute trust in 'herself' that she dared to perform the soul split.

But Huan Qianying is different; her 'trust' never comes from herself, but from Yagami Rin.

She firmly believed that if Yagami Rin could do this, she must have had a reason for doing so, and that she herself could definitely do it as well.

This absolute trust in others was something that even Huan Qianying herself might not have realized.

Having long seen through all this, Heaven smiled and said in response to Caroline's question, "Caroline, in a sense, Chikage was originally Rin's second shadow, wasn't he?"

Caroline: "."

Considering Huan Qianying's complex and special feelings for Ye Shenlin, Caroline ultimately did not choose to refute the Heavenly Dao's statement.

Because she felt that things were indeed quite similar to what Heaven had said.

Even more than she trusted herself, Huan Qianying trusted Yagami Rin.

Even though this guy keeps saying he wants to surpass Rin Yagami and completely crush her under his feet.

The complexity of human nature was on full display at this moment.

Faced with two examiners simultaneously employing the 'soul separation' technique, the raccoon administrator's blood pressure visibly increased.

Although it could also see that Huan Qianying was hiding behind the drainage pipe on the rooftop, it observed its movements through the shared field of vision.

However, it dared not attack the 'shadow clones' of these guys without harming their lives.

What if we accidentally damage the soul fragments of these guys?
Out of a sense of unease, the raccoon keeper waved his paw, and black mist condensed in his palm, but in the end, he vented his anger by smashing it on the ground, choosing not to attack Huan Qianying's shadow clone.

"You little brats, you've all gotten so incredibly bold! Fine, fine, I give up!"

"You two boring guys have passed."

[The assessment is over! Remaining examinees: Yagami Rin, Gensen]

A pale blue teleportation light appeared immediately, and the raccoon's figure disappeared in the light, leaving behind a resentful remark just before it was about to leave.

"Don't give me a chance, or next time I'll make sure you two know what real 'fear' is."

[Explorer Assessment Rest Lobby]

As the teleportation light dissipated, Yagami Rin and Gensuke appeared in the rest area almost simultaneously.

Looking at the two of them, Tiandao joked, "Although the Moon Shadow Clan usually acts alone, I feel that they will probably team up more often in the future."

Upon hearing this, Caroline asked curiously, "What's the reason?"

Tendou smiled, then looked at the two people standing side by side not far away and said meaningfully, "Because for Rin, Chikage is the least troublesome teammate; and for Chikage, being with Rin is more important than anything else."

Caroline paused for a moment, then replied, "...Yes."

(End of this chapter)