Chapter 2178: Darkest Reflections
"… It seems like you truly know about what I'm thinking, even the deepest desires and sorrows. Moreover, you aren't a heart demon but just an imitation, which is truly mind-boggling as only a heart demon knows everything about the host, and although I'm curious as to what kind of miraculous formation could achieve such a feat, I'm more interested in using you to solve a few of my worries."
Evelynn's melodious voice echoed with an utter calm that caused the imitation to smirk.
"As you said, I'm not your heart demon, Evelynn. However, I'm not a reflection either as I'm completely you as you're me. Other than your entire thoughts and emotions, I have a few 'rules' or 'instructions' embedded into my mind, not to mention that I can't exist once you leave this room. That's the only difference between us. Otherwise, I would kill you and claim husband for myself~"
"Big talk for someone whose prowess is lower than mine."
"Doesn't our love for him transcends such things?"
Evelynn's imitation appeared to incline her head slightly, her voice sounding sexier than Evelynn herself, which caused the others to become shocked.
This Hex Demoness never showed them this side of hers. So this was what captivated Davis?
In the room, Evelynn couldn't help but smile.
"I agree, but do you think I still hate myself for doing what I did back then?"
"You did indeed hate yourself to the core, but you're stupid, alright. Just a few words from husband allowed you to no longer feel guilt. However, if you keep feeling guilt, perhaps, he really might abandon you because you're nothing but a headache who thinks she's righteous but has done so many wicked deeds like ripping apart a child in two. What kind of righteous person does that?"
Evelynn's gaze shook on hearing those words. Her bosoms heaved, but she merely shook her head.
"I see. You're 'instructed' to provoke the challengers using their own weaknesses but to not lie as opposed to their heart no matter what."
"Perhaps."
*Whoosh!~*
Evelynn's imitation disappeared from her location and appeared beside Evelynn, her four scythes opening like jaws as they closed down on Evelynn, appearing to slice her. However, what it really sliced was Evelynn's afterimage.
Evelynn herself had retreated a few meters away, her luscious lips moving with a frown.
"Don't be so hasty. Let's discuss more. What do I feel about my sisters? Do I secretly hate them for taking Davis?"
"You do!"
*Boom!~*
The air quaked as the fake Evelynn struck Evelynn's face, the might of the Earth Dragon mixed with the Three-Eyed Chromatic Hex Arachnid was unleashed with a mild poisonous hue into the room but again, what the fake Evelynn struck was empty air as Evelynn calmly retreated, seemingly unperturbed as she moved her mouth.
"How so?"
"Except Isabella and Shirley, you think all of them as burdens! After all, they haven't done anything for husband yet seek his affection shamelessly! You especially hate Natalya for causing him to go astray!"
The fake Evelynn's expression churned in hate as she pounced on Evelynn, trying to catch her, but with each step taken, the distance between them only widened.
However, Evelynn's eyes were trembling at this moment.
"Then why do I tolerate them?"
"Because husband truly loves them."
"Is that all? Is that the only reason…?"
Evelynn bit her lips, her voice containing a plethora of emotions as she closed her eyes as though awaiting her imitation's scythe to fall on her. However, even the imitation shuddered at this moment, her expression seemingly aggrieved.
"No… we truly want to be their big sister and take care of them. Without them all, we wouldn't have come this far together in nurturing his empire, even having Eterna and Celestia, whom we adore and think of them as our own. However, the wicked and selfish blood in us wouldn't let us see eye to eye with them, constantly demonizing our hearts while twisting our thoughts."
Evelynn's eyes went wide in shock as she saw her imitation shudder with visible emotions as though she was real.
"You feel it too?"
But suddenly, the imitation's expression changed as she leaped towards her, her bone scythes swinging at her, creating terrifying slashes that would carve a seventh level Ninth Stage Powerhouse into pieces, but Evelynn still dodged them, her body movements quickly moving out of the way as though she could predict where those scythes would strike.
"You're already stronger than me, so unseal me, you wench!"
The imitation screamed at Evelynn, her hands pining towards Evelynn's neck as she launched herself with an incredible speed using her spider bones as a foothold.
Evelynn's eyes went wide. However, her own scythes sprang out like unsheathed swords and stabbed towards the imitation. Unable to dodge, the fake Evelynn was struck onto the ground, their bones clashing in mid-air.
ρꪖꪁⅆꪖ ꪁꪫꪚⅇꪶ *Crack!~~~*
As a result, the fake Evelynn's spider bones broke, hanging as though they were dislocated. The fake Evelynn, who was struck onto the ground, tried to stand up, her veil coming off as she clenched her teeth, her eyes becoming colored in hatred.
"Why… why can't I be with husband…? You… you're not worthy yourself, yet you have the gall to stop me…!"
Evelynn couldn't help but wryly smile.
"I'm quite miserable, I must say. I truly can't live without him, obsessed and forever in love, just as I like it."
Her third eye opened, shining crimson as she cast the Collapse Hex. The imitation's third eye also opened, casting the Collapse Hex at the same time, but naturally, she exploded as she, the imitation of the fourth floor, was the weaker one in this battle.ρaꪁⅆa ꪁꪫꪚⅇꪶ
Evelynn stared at the dispersing dust of strange energy, unable to contrive what it was, before turning to look at the fourth floor's treasures. They were the Yin Essence Orb and the Darkness Essence Orb that was useful for her, Natalya, and Mingzhi.
She turned around, unceremoniously walking towards them, and looked at each of their faces, her lips curving with a sense of helplessness.
"I'm sorry to have shown such an ugly side of me, and yet, that is my true face. That is who I am."
"…"
Fiora and the others didn't know what to say, much less Lea, who had just decided that she was one of them because there was no infighting but was she wrong now? Furthermore, it was from the first wife?
"No big deal."
However, a lazy voice echoed, catching everyone's attention.
It was none other than Mingzhi, looking unperturbed.
"Why do you think I instantly killed my imitation? I have a few thoughts like yours, more or less. Honestly, which one of us doesn't have some grievance against the others? Especially when you're the first wife who enjoyed his love first and foremost or the first woman to have laid his eyes on him? In truth, I disliked you for taking Davis away in the beginning, not to mention that you have these humongous honkers that are atrocious!"
Mingzhi tapped on Evelynn's bosoms, causing the latter to become dumbfounded.
"…"
"But I've come to terms with it long ago, and the more I speak with you, the less I dislike you as I know you're an atrociously kind woman."
"…"
Evelynn became flabbergasted again and again.
Not only her but the others were dumbfounded, but in their hearts, they agreed with Mingzhi's words. Certain differences do always exist, which makes them feel complex, like watching others hoard his affection at certain times or watching the birth of Eterna and Celestia, which induced their own maternal feelings and even a bit of jealousy as to why weren't they the first or the next to give birth to an heir?
However, these were just fleeting feelings that would more or less disappear as they enjoyed their time within his protective wings, but for Evelynn to feel this much inside her heart and keep it hidden, they couldn't understand.
However, Evelynn couldn't help but smile.
"As expected of the woman who warned Davis about my worries. You're truly more befitting to be the big sister than me, Mingzhi."
"Stop that~" Mingzhi trembled, "I'd rather stay free lest I mistreat every single one of you as having authority is corrupting. Only a naive woman like you would not be willing to misuse it."
"Hehe…!"
Evelynn couldn't help but giggle but then suddenly shuddered as she saw Natalya on the stairs to the upper floors looking at them, at her with sorrowful eyes.
Natalya walked down and stood before her, her eyes tearing up.
"Big sister, you still hate me for that? I'm sorry~"
She had cleared the fifth floor sooner and obtained the Yang Orb Essence and Light Orb Essence, unlike Evelynn because she wasn't talking with her imitation but went straight for the kill as her imitation was spouting about separation and abandonment, causing her to become furious and end it but now, even the big sister she respected and adored hated her?
Natalya's lips quivered as tears fell, and watching it, Evelynn shuddered before she wrapped her arms around Natalya, shaking her head.
"It's not like that, Natalya~ I swear. These are dormant thoughts that I would've forgotten long ago if it weren't for this accursed blood running in my veins. It constantly invokes the darkest thoughts in my head, fueling my hate, but I generally suppress it, and it wouldn't appear for some time before reappearing when something bad or dislikeable happens to me."
"…!"
Everyone in the unknown became shocked, while a few who had an idea finally understood why Evelynn was unapologetic. It was the Three-Eyed Chromatic Hex Arachnid influencing her thoughts, and Bylai and Zestria, who had trouble themselves being arrogant and vainly prideful back before Davis humbled them, deeply understood what Evelynn was speaking about.
However, they knew that since Evelynn was a fey, she would be affected more by the magical beast's blood.
"I… I see." Natalya moved back as her expression couldn't help but blossom into a hopeful smile, "So big sister doesn't hate me? I love big sister for taking care of me without ostracizing me, treating me as an equal."
"I don't." Evelynn kept shaking her head, "I don't hate a single one of you enough to detest, scheme, or kill. My blood just amplifies these small hateful thoughts. That's all. You can all ask Davis, and he could vouch for me as I've talked about this to him before."
She turned to look around, wondering if they would believe her, but then Mingzhi shook her head.
"No need. You're incapable of lying from what I have seen, and trust me, I look at you 'very' closely."
Mingzhi looked at Evelynn's big bosoms with wide eyes as though she had some beef with it.
"Hehe~"
Evelynn awkwardly smiled as she hid her voluptuous assets while feeling many gazes.
Who knew that all of them would be jealous of her natural assets? In fact, she was sometimes secretly jealous of their ability to move without having their bosoms sway like rocking boats in the seas. It was uncomfortable, not to mention the gazes she received from other men, which made her feel offended.
Meanwhile, Clara and Tia looked at each other, wondering how they ended up in this place. As for Schleya, she had an indifferent gaze, although her eyes and ears were completely attentive.
"In any case, let's go. I don't want any of us to miss my favored disciple's new abilities or the Earth Dragon Queen's quaking might."
Lea interrupted as she made a gesture, causing the others to nod before they moved onto the sixth floor. They were sure that the two of them would be up for challenging a floor with their extraordinary prowess.