Night Journey

Chapter 85 The bright card
As Ciri gazed at the rising city-state, his eyes grew clouded and his consciousness began to cloud.

He slowly began to move, actually walking down the long steps, intending to enter the city.

Someone is calling him.

No, rather, after a long millennium, someone finally heard that call.

"Damn it!"

Cillian mustered his last shred of rationality and broke free from this daze.

He first looked at the Ouroboros Seal. Since it did not burn or sting, it meant that the call did not come from the chaos and evil.

So who is it?

Forget it, no matter who the other party is, Cillian has no interest or energy to get involved in their conflict.

While he was still conscious, Ciri continued to walk up the long staircase.

With each step he ascended, Ciri felt subtle changes taking place within himself: a purer soul essence, a fearless spirit, and a more resilient soul...

The flames that Nunn planted back then have grown ever stronger.

It burned fiercely, using Cirion's soul as its furnace and the blood and corpses of countless enemies as its fuel, nurturing Cirion's hatred and resentment, and forging it into the oath that bound their destiny.

Ciri stopped in his tracks.

At this moment, he has reached the end of his journey and attained a higher position.

A tremendous warmth then enveloped him.

Ciri looked up and the torch, as bright as the sun, appeared before him once again. It was so bright that its burning light obscured everything else, leaving only its own light.

"A Miracle Creation - The Immaculate Torch".

Cillian murmured its name, "Since you are still burning and have not broken, does that mean the Conqueror still lives somewhere in the world?"

No one gave Cirion an answer; the Immaculate Torch simply burned silently, like a cold eye, icyly watching over all things in the world.

Ciri stared at the light, tears streaming down his face, blurring his vision.

Just before everything was about to turn to darkness, Cillian heard a series of cracking sounds behind him.

With the last glimpse of his remaining eyes, he saw that the city-state had risen high into the sky, about to disappear into the clouds, and the mysterious voice was still calling to him, and this time the call was clearer.

It was a woman's voice, and she was saying something, but it was too distant and too indistinct for Cillian to hear clearly.

Just as the last glimmer of light was about to be extinguished by tears, the woman's voice suddenly became shrill.

This time it wasn't a call, but... a warning.

The Ouroboros Seal burned and stung, and from the rising city, a chain hurtled toward Cirion, aiming for his chest.

The vision was dark.

When Cillian opened his eyes again, there was a rapid knocking on the door, and the sound of footsteps, as if Bruce was anxiously pacing around him.

Cillian reacted quickly; someone must have knocked on his door to visit him when he was promoted. What's strange is that he didn't tell anyone his address, so who would come to visit?

Wait a minute, Dalin!

Cillian's vision returned to clear, and he sat upright in the familiar living room.

Seeing that Cillian was awake, Bruce rushed over to him.

"Cillian, someone's knocking on the door. They've been knocking for ages. It must be that Daelin!"

Ciri had a splitting headache.

First came his successful advancement, the city-state that rose in the Sea of ​​Origin, and then Daelin's sudden visit.

Oh, right, and at the last moment, the chains shot themselves.

"This...what is this?"

Suddenly, Bruce's urging stopped, and it cautiously moved back, staring at Cillian's chest.

Ciri looked down and saw a dark blue chain piercing out from his chest.

There was no wound, no blood; it appeared out of thin air, like a phantom without substance.

The pain from the Ouroboros Seal almost burned through Cirion's palm.

Immediately afterwards, the pain subsided.

The illusory chains returned to reality along with Cillian, but were too far from the mysterious city-state and were about to be severed; the chaotic power they carried was rapidly evaporating.

Prepare to launch the final blow.

The chains shattered and then reformed, transforming into a phantom shadow that swung its sharp blade at Cirion.

“Cillian!”

A furious shout rang out, and Daelin abandoned all decorum, kicking open the door. Daelin immediately saw Cillian sitting upright in the living room, and the phantom image of him wielding a sharp knife.

The rest was accomplished in one go.

Dai Lin took a step that covered several meters, and the immense source energy gathered on his fist, even forming a metallic sword light.

Ling Feng grazed past Cillian's nose, shattering the illusory image with a single punch and completely extinguishing the unleashed chaotic power.

Not content with all that, Dalin grabbed Cillian by the collar and threw him toward the balcony. Before running away, he also grabbed Bruce by the scruff of the neck and fled the living room with him.

The two people and the dog landed together on the open ground outside.

After waiting a moment and confirming that there were no abnormalities, Dai Lin breathed a sigh of relief and complained.

"Cillian, is this some kind of promotion ceremony? Isn't this far too reckless? Without anyone's protection, what if something goes wrong?"

An accident had occurred, but Dai Lin easily resolved it.

Cillian knelt on the ground.

He had just been promoted, and his body hadn't yet adapted to the new power. Coupled with the series of events that had just occurred, cold sweat soaked his back.

"You successfully advanced? Becoming a Fusion Master at such a young age, your potential is limitless."

Ignoring Cillian's weakness, Daelin continued, "But what was that phantom just now? I've seen many accidents during advancement, but this is the first time I've ever seen something like this."

He wiped his fists, carefully recalling that brief exchange.

"Hmm... Rather than pure chaotic power, it's more like corrupted source energy, and this power itself is not harmful; it's more like it's meant to bind you."

Cillian had no time to ponder the mysterious city-state and the phantom.

"Have you said enough?" He wearily raised his head. "What exactly do you want from me?"

"Oh, this."

Dalin smiled and said, "Your secret has been exposed, Cillian."

Bruce realized the situation was bad and struggled to escape, but Dalyn grabbed him by the neck tightly.

Dai Lin continued.

"Oh, no, I should call you... Reverse Falcon now."

Bruce fainted.

……

Back in the still-messy living room, Bruce was casually tossed aside, while Cillian and Daelin sat facing each other.

The two remained in a subtle silence, their thoughts growing and spreading in the stillness.

From the day Cillian prepared to impersonate the Reverse Falcon, he realized that his actions would arouse Daelin's suspicion, but whether in terms of motives or rank, Daelin only doubted him, rather than affirmed him.

Not to mention, it's not a good thing for Dai Lin to expose himself.

From the moment Daelin told Cillian that he had preserved the information on the Reverse Falcon, the two were, to some extent, on the same side.

Dai Lin was all smiles, not at all like someone who had come to arrest someone.

Are you thinking of how to defend yourself?

Cillian shook his head. "I'm waiting for you to prove it."

"Evidence?"

Dai Lin casually put his feet up on the coffee table, treating the place like his own home.

“It’s very simple, Cillian. The Reverse Falcon has been missing for many years, and with the city council’s blockade, very few people actually remember what he looks like. I’ve secretly kept all the details.”

But shortly after I shared this information with you, the Reverse Falcon returned, which makes it hard not to suspect you.

Cillian, with an indifferent attitude, said, "Continue."

"Most importantly, according to Elton's testimony, he accidentally entered the dark alley and was saved by the Reverse Falcon. Anya arrived at the scene afterward and found a large amount of residual soul essence power there..."

Dai Lin paused for a moment, then said, "The information I showed you back then was not comprehensive. For example, when Reverse Falcon killed enemies, it usually left behind wounds from sword and blade strikes, without any residue of soul essence or the burning of flames."

“These doubts aren’t enough,” Cillian said with a smile. “Before today, I was only a first-ranked player. It would have been too difficult for me to kill so many powerful enemies.”

"It might be difficult for others, but for you..."

Dai Lin deliberately drew out his words, his tone becoming serious.

"For the sole survivor of Baiya Town, who possesses a noble bloodline, this isn't difficult, is it?"

Cillian's smile froze; the Boiling Sword was within reach.

In an instant, the atmosphere became tense and hostile.

(End of this chapter)