Chapter 152: Two Faces of Light and Darkness

“Come, surrender everything to me.” As the king-level evil god approached, the black Zhuang Xiaoyuan immediately grabbed her by the neck and lifted her up. Upon contact, dark energy surged from the king-level evil god and was rapidly absorbed by the black Zhuang Xiaoyuan. When the last trace of black energy was drawn into her hand, the king-level evil god disintegrated into dust and ashes. The aura of darkness around the black Zhuang Xiaoyuan grew even more intense.

“Even though you’re an enemy... are you really me? I can hardly believe it.” Witnessing the black Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s actions with her own eyes, Zhuang Xiaoyuan muttered doubts. Though it was hard to fathom, deep inside there was a strange certainty.

“Ah, of course. I am you. We are the same person, but we are also two opposites.” Flicking the dust from her hand casually, the black Zhuang Xiaoyuan finally looked over. Under her gaze, everyone felt an overwhelming pressure—an entirely different level of domination from the previous king-level evil god.

“Why have you appeared? Who exactly are you?” Despite her insistence that they were the same, Zhuang Xiaoyuan couldn’t understand. Was she born with a split personality? A side effect of transmigration? An incomplete soul fusion?

“No, none of that. Our feelings are the same, and our memories are interconnected. But our personalities and emotions are completely opposite. In this world, where there is light, there is shadow. You embody the kindness, gentleness, righteousness, and responsibility of the light. I am the shadow’s rage, arrogance, and jealousy. Everyone has their light and dark sides, but we are special—our darkness manifests more easily.” A cold smile curled her lips as the black Zhuang Xiaoyuan answered Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s questions, reaching out with her right hand toward the magic mirror behind her.

“So, you are my dark side. What do you intend by coming out? To eliminate me and take my place on the surface?” A flicker of caution appeared in her eyes. At this moment, Zhuang Xiaoyuan found herself oddly free of anger or frustration.

“Tsk, tsk. I told you, we are one. Neither of us can kill the other. This time, I mainly came to greet you and to verify if you can truly return to being ‘her.’” A shadowy black energy was injected into the magic mirror by the black Zhuang Xiaoyuan. As the dark energy flowed in, the reflections of Wen Hui and Chu Miaomiao emerged from the mirror—only their appearances differed from the originals, their armor and attire transformed entirely into black tones.

“Wow, incredible! I actually came out too.” Seeing her own reflection step out of the mirror, Wen Hui showed no displeasure. Instead, her face brightened with curiosity, though it stiffened slightly as she took in her reflection’s somber expression, as if she had lost everything. Could this be Wen Hui’s own deep-seated negative emotions?

Chu Miaomiao frowned slightly at her reflection, which wore a smile that grated on her nerves. That submissive, ingratiating smile—like someone desperately trying to fit in—was painfully sharp in Chu Miaomiao’s eyes.

“I leave the two of them to you. Just make sure they don’t interfere with my affairs. No unnecessary actions. Understood?” Pointing at the black versions of Wen Hui and Chu Miaomiao, the black Xiaoyuan instructed her shadowy creations.

“Understood.” Wen Hui’s somber expression deepened as her vacant eyes followed the black Xiaoyuan’s finger towards her original self.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure they don’t get close.” With a placating smile, the black Chu Miaomiao nodded at black Xiaoyuan. Her gaze toward her original self suddenly sharpened, like a beast cornered with nowhere to run.

With the rush of dark wind and the hum of a powerful engine, the black Wen Hui and Chu Miaomiao lunged at their originals, forcing them aside. Though mere copies created by black Xiaoyuan, they absorbed the originals’ negative emotions through the mirror, making the shadowed versions stronger. Wen Hui and Chu Miaomiao struggled to fend them off, pushed toward the margins.

“Xiao Hui, Xiao Miao... who is ‘her’? Why must I become ‘her’?” Although aware of Wen Hui and Chu Miaomiao’s plight, Zhuang Xiaoyuan couldn’t spare a hand to help. In fact, facing black Xiaoyuan, she was the one in need of aid. After all, black Xiaoyuan had already reached the level of an imperial evil god, marked by the crimson runes on her brow.

“You still don’t know? As expected, you haven’t awakened yet. But it’s fine—if this time fails, I can wait for the next.” A black card appeared in black Xiaoyuan’s hand. Pressing it to her chest, dark light enveloped her.

Touching her chest, she found the unusable black card inside her had vanished. This further confirmed the truth in black Xiaoyuan’s words that she was truly herself.

“Divine Spear Gungnir.” As black Xiaoyuan stepped forth from the shadowy light, transformed into the Black Knight King, the noble lady Zhuang Xiaoyuan summoned Gungnir with a solemn expression. Though many mysteries remained, this battle was inevitable.

“You are too weak now, making me weak as well. If you let me have what I want this time, I might just give you a small reward. To see ‘her’ sooner.” No sooner had she spoken than black Xiaoyuan leapt forward, wielding her black-and-red demonic sword in a fierce overhead strike aimed to cleave Zhuang Xiaoyuan in two.

“Boom!” The clash between the crimson spear and black-red demonic sword rang out, ending with the demonic sword’s victory. Though the vampire’s power was formidable, it paled compared to the Black Knight King’s strength, which had surpassed two great stages beyond. Zhuang Xiaoyuan was forced back three steps, her brow relaxing slightly. Having long known black Xiaoyuan’s prowess, she was unsurprised by the retreat. Her current strength was still within manageable limits, and the noble lady’s power was not her only weapon.

Gripping her divine spear tighter, Zhuang Xiaoyuan shifted stance and charged at black Xiaoyuan, taking the initiative to attack. As she closed in, her spear darted like a living serpent toward black Xiaoyuan’s vital spot. Kindness and gentleness in the light did not mean surrender in the face of danger.

A cold smile curled black Xiaoyuan’s lips as she raised her black-red demonic sword. In an instant, Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s speed surged to its peak. From facing black Xiaoyuan directly, she appeared suddenly behind her, her spear thrusting unrelenting toward the back. (To be continued...)