Chapter 102
Chapter 102
Lyra raised her hand. “I’m going too.”
Lana and Jane spoke almost in unison. “No way!”
After their words, they locked eyes. Jane’s spirit seemed to waver for a moment, while Lana pressed her lips together stubbornly. Neither of them was willing to give in.
Lana spoke first, her voice steady. “Lyra, Janey’s a spirit now. If she goes into the Wraith zone, she’s basically one of them. it’s safer for her.
“But you’re different.
“You’re a living, breathing person. If you go in, those things will target you first.”
Jane nodded in agreement. “Comrade Vance, the danger level in the Wraith zone is unknown. I can just drift over and check things out. There’s no need for you to risk it.”
Lyra lowered her hand, her fingers curling around the card in her pocket.
“Jane,” she said.
“Yeah?” Jane replied.
“Where do you live now?” Lyra asked.
Jane paused, caught off guard.
Lyra pulled the C Tier Tricolor Mimic card out of her pocket and waved it in front of Jane with a smirk. “This is your new
home.”
“Your soul’s sealed in here by my Soul Deck, and I’m the only one who can let you out or pull you back in. So, how exactly are you planning to go?”
Jane was speechless, her mouth hanging open.
Lyra pointed at the Decoy Doll. “I’m not out of lives yet, I’ve got nine left.”
She drew Wraithslayer from her waist, its blade flashing cold under the light. “See? I’ve got a weapon, too.”
“Looks like I’m all set, safe and sound!” she said with a grin.
Lana’s eyes were fixed on the blade in Lyra’s hand. “Lyra, I know you’ve got your gear, but…”
“Lana, Lyra said, sheathing the knife with a relaxed tone.
“This isn’t some last-minute decision. I made up my mind back in/my room.”
She took a step forward. “I’m going to have to go into the Wraith zone in the real world sooner or later.”
“Every round, the game sets up traps in the missions, trying to corner us players, all just to break into the real world. But nobody knows what’s really going on inside those zones.
“Aren’t you curious?”
Lana didn’t answer. She was curious; Command Center had discussed the anomaly many times. Drones lost signal at the border, and every soldier sent inside had vanished.
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Chapter 102
“Being curious is one thing.” Lana said, resting her hand on the back of the chair.
“Lyra, the Decoy Doll is a game prop. It works in the missions, but what about in the real world?
“What if it just stops working once you’re inside the Wraith zone?”
Lyra gestured to Jane, her chin lifted. “Jane, the Soul Deck is a game prop, too.”
“Just now, right here in this room, I used it to seal the souls of ten cats and bring back two spirits, all in the real world.
“If the cards are usable, that means all game props can be used in reality.
“If you’re still not convinced, I’ve got the Scrying Orb and Veilmist. I can show you how they work right now.”
Lana hesitated, thinking, ‘Lyra is Draconia’s hope. I shouldn’t let her risk this. But unless we crack the game’s logic, these missions will drain the whole world. Maybe only she can find the truth.
After thinking it through, Lana finally gave in. “If you can show me those items actually work, I’m in.”
Lyra grinned. “Lana, watch this.”
“Veilmist, on.” Lyra said, and triggered the effect.
Lyra vanished from the room.
Jane’s spirit jerked back, her gaze sweeping the room. “Where’d she go?”
Lana’s expression didn’t change. “That’s Lyra’s gear. She’s gone invisible for fifteen seconds.”
Zoe stared at where Lyra had been standing. There was nothing, not even a footprint left on the floor.
“It works, Zoe said softly.
Jane drifted over to where Lyra had vanished, her spirit reaching out, but she couldn’t sense a thing.
“Even my spirit sense can’t pick her up?” Jane asked, surprised.
“That’s right, but if a Wraith attacks her in the game, she’ll still get hurt,” Lana/explained.
When the fifteen seconds were up, Lyra reappeared right beneath Jane, less than two feet away.
Jane jerked in surprise, her spirit flickering as she shot halfway up into the air.
Lyra tilted her head up at her, a little smug grin playing on her lips.
“Didn’t I tell you, Jane?” Lyra said.
Lana’s gaze flicked from Lyra’s face to the Decoy Doll in her hand. “Alright.”
“I’m in, but there are two conditions,” she said.
Lyra perked up, all ears.
“First, wake up all eight cats and make sure you question each one before heading out,” Lana said.
“Each of the ten cats died in different rounds, entered the game at different times, went through different missions, and witnessed different things.
“Ivana said their souls were being extracted, and Janey mentioned a space packed with Wraiths. Maybe some of the other
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Chapter 102
cats saw something different.
The more intel you have, the less likely you are to walk into a trap once you’re inside.”
Lyra nodded. “Got it.”
“Second.” Lana said, holding up two fingers.
“I’ll put together a squad of soldiers with high Vital Flame values to go with you. They won’t enter the core area. They’ll stay on the perimeter to back you up.
“Once you’re inside, report in every five minutes. If you lose contact for more than ten minutes, pull out right away. Don’t go any deeper.
“Can you do that?”
“I can,” Lyra replied without hesitation.
Lana nodded at her. “Lyra, the goal here is to see what’s really going on inside, and to have Janey confirm if what she saw matches the real Wraith zone. Just don’t try to do too much.”
“Got it,” Lyra said.
Seeing how quickly Lyra agreed, Lana let out a sigh. She had no idea if she was making the right call, but all she could do was hope things would go smoothly.
“Little Lana, don’t worry. If anything really goes south, I’ll fight with everything I’ve got. Even if it costs me everything, even my soul, I’ll cover Comrade Vance’s retreat,” Jane promised, knowing just how important Lyra was.
Zoe opened her mouth, but didn’t say anything.
“Janey, I just hope you both make it back safe,” Lana said. She didn’t object. If she were Janey, she’d do the same.
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