Chapter 62 – Damn, He Equipped It

“How you got in is how you’ll get out,” said Ashe.

Gerard nodded. “Shattered Lake Prison is located in the center of Shattered Lake. Aside from ships and flying, there are no other means of transportation. However, the nearby airspace is a military restricted zone. Any flying object will be scanned and shot down by the prison’s Lexus Rapid Fire Cannons if they don’t have clearance. The waters are also filled with swarms of finger sharks, so unless you’re a fishman, even a skilled defensive mage would have difficulty swimming out.

“The only way to escape has always been by boarding the ship used to transport death row inmates out. Even guards and staff like me have to take that ship to and from Shattered Lake Prison, no exceptions. Supplies are also delivered when prisoners are being transported.

“Though it’s obvious the ship would be heavily guarded and inmates have no chance of sneaking aboard, at least it provides a direction to consider instead of digging escape tunnels and disturbing the sharks’ dinner.”

Ashe asked, “Are there really no other options?”

Gerard thought for a moment before nodding. “There is one case – if the mayor is accused of serious misconduct during his term but key evidence like memory recordings can’t be found, he must immediately resign, relinquish all duties, and be temporarily confined in the nearest Blood Moon Prison – Shattered Lake Prison for Caimon City – for isolation until the Heresy Court investigation concludes for him to either resume office or be imprisoned there.”

Ashe was surprised. “If no evidence is found, doesn’t that prove innocence?”

Gerard nodded and shook his head. “Usually yes, but some magic spirits like ‘Rewrite,’ ‘Clip,’ and ‘Erase’ can alter memories. Though memory tampering is a serious felony for both mages and subjects, shady politicians and councilors often edit their memories, which the Heresy Court can’t immediately verify as real or fake.”

“Thus, investigations on important figures will usually scan the memories of those close to them too, since others’ recollections can also provide incriminating evidence. If nothing is found, then it indicates a false accusation.”

“Has a mayor been imprisoned before?” Ashe asked.

“Around three to four times in history I believe? I only remember each time the mayor resumed office with increased fame and even won re-election afterwards.”

“So that proves the mayor was innocent?”

“That’s the general perception,” Gerard said mildly. “The process itself has no visible flaws.”

“But even the best systems are executed by people.”

“Is that what you told the hunters when you got caught?”

They quickly moved on from that topic. Cases like a mayor’s imprisonment were too rare to consider for Ashe’s plans.

Ashe suggested a few other outlandish ideas – impersonating guards, clinging to the ship’s exterior, hiding in waste barrels – which Gerard shot down while expressing disturbance at the last one.

Their discussion was interrupted by the sound of bells chiming midnight. Gerard exclaimed, “It’s 12 already, hurry back to your cell! Just say treatment delayed you if guards ask, and don’t take any detours or you’ll lose contribution credits.”

Ashe nodded and donned Na’vi’s ‘Shadow King’ boots, feeling they clashed with his prison garb. With such cool boots, he ought to have a matching stylish outfit too, right?

“Wait,” Ashe suddenly realized something. “What time is it now?”

“12 o’clock sharp. That was the bell signaling mages to enter the virtual world – our connection strengthens after midnight under the Blood Moon, so soul energy recovers faster there.” Gerard shrugged. “But that’s irrelevant to you.”

Ashe froze as a bead of cold sweat rolled down his forehead.

He and Iris had always agreed to enter around 10pm. So now…

The virtual world, the Sea of Knowledge, the Isle of Inheritance.

Zzzt zzzt zzzt –

Thunder roared wildly, restrained by iron whips. The unbreakable whips conducted stray arcs of electricity, crystallizing sand into glass!

“Striving for justice, I sense dreams and channel spirits.”

The lightning wielder chanted strange, cryptic poems in a hoarse voice. Bare-chested, his brown skin was covered in geometric black tattoos. His face was hairless, eyes bloodshot. He manipulated the spinning thunder whips, twin walls of lightning protecting his sides!

Sonya gasped for breath, using her wooden sword to prop herself up. Scorched ashes still clung to her hair. She looked haggard and dim, as if the fog would swallow her any second.

‘Will this be my first death so soon? Felix hasn’t died even once yet. If I fall behind, Professor Trotzam will see me as inferior!’ Though senior Leone said she died her second time here, who knows if that’s true…

Sonya did not fear death itself. Dying in the virtual world was inevitable, even Metas the legendary Binding Mage of Starrealm boasted of dying twenty times – ‘That’s quite low among us Four Wings.’

To mages, virtual deaths were like taking leave from work. Undesirable but unavoidable, to be accepted gracefully and used to ponder how to spend the upcoming break from virtual punching-in.

Sonya knew her first death would not impact Professor Trotzam’s assessment. Early deaths were just bad luck, late ones not necessarily good.

Some losses and lessons had to be experienced firsthand.

But like all youths, Sonya harbored a fantasy –

‘Maybe I can become the first undefeated mage.’

Now on the cusp of having that dream shattered, Sonya felt no disappointment. Reaching her fourth entry before dying was already beyond 99% of mages.

Most died on their very first visit, drowning being the most common – despite repeated warnings not to enter the Sea of Knowledge, the allure of gazing into its depths often proved irresistible.

Sonya knew a quick first death said nothing about aptitude. Arriving precisely at 11pm, she found no Observer or boat, so tread water directly.

Sitting in a boat she felt nothing, but afloat Sonya could barely resist looking down – were there fish? The seabed? Sunken treasure?

Curiosity overflowed in mages.

After resisting that temptation, Sonya cast her sights on the fog.

Shouting produced no reply. Accepting the Observer’s absence, Sonya prepared herself – solitary exploration was routine, their joint adventures a miracle, like bringing a teacher to one’s exams!

Yet Sonya felt no unease, rather an excitement akin to a child escaping parental supervision to explore alone.

Soon confusion set in. Without guidance, visibility was poor. Sonya swam randomly for over an hour, more tired than harvesting wheat for her mother. She considered voluntarily exiting.

But the virtual world rewarded effort – incredibly, her floundering uncovered an Isle of Inheritance!

Sonya immediately accepted its trial, brimming with confidence. The secret skill ‘Moon Reflection’ could even counter senior Leone! She thought no region beyond her reach now.

Then she was utterly thrashed.

The Isle mage wielded twin nine-section steel whips. Lightning and swords both emphasized raw offense, with no elemental relation.

Yet at first contact, the lightning wielder lashed Sonya like a spinning top.

He used few magic spirits, but his battle experience and tactics steamrolled Sonya completely. His whips struck as spears from afar and iron bonds up close. Attacks roared like thunder, defense stood like castle walls!

When he spun the thunder whips, Sonya didn’t dare approach.

Vibration swords were nullified by the whips’ shields, moon silk shredded easily. Even Moon Reflection, Sonya’s trump card, was pierced by the extended spears – for all its speed and power, the skill’s range was still too short.

No wonder the virtual world was called the greatest teacher. Sonya had to acknowledge her limits. She’d thought swordsmanship merely a conduit for spirits, but the perfected nine-section whip skills opened her eyes – true mastery should handle any situation, unlike her current helpless flailing.

Yet Sonya did not resign herself to death.

From the corner of her eye, she glimpsed the Isle’s edge not far behind.

A window to flee might appear if she timed it right.

The lightning wielder would doubtless give chase, but never leave the Isle. Sonya could only hope the seawater slowed him enough for escape. Once in safer waters, she could deploy the virtual escape portal from her spirit roster and return to reality.

She silently swore to enroll in swimming lessons tomorrow – the doggy paddle was just too slow!

Zzzt zzzt zzzt –

The wielder’s right whip shifted into a thunder spear and lunged!

Now!

Sonya fired off a vibration sword, ready to backpedal and dive.

But her foe predicted this – his left whip spun out, twirling through the air as a thunder boomerang to sweep Sonya’s legs!

Too late.

She had to jump or be bound and stunned by the electrified coils!

But that would play right into his follow-up impaling spear!

Her only chance was to jump higher than the spear could reach!

Teeth gritted, Sonya pushed off with all her might, barely clearing the extended spear’s range – then the wielder twisted his wrist, detonating the spear in a spiraling thunder blast! The foremost whip section accelerated like a flying knife toward Sonya!

“Damn you!” Sonya cried out, praying for a miracle.

And one happened – she collided with something in midair, stopping short!

What could be floating on the open sea?

A mudskipper dragon surfacing to breathe, leading to an accidental maritime crash?

Zzzt zzzt zzzt –

Paralyzed by impending doom, Sonya’s mind went blank, eyes instinctively squeezed shut.

Clang!

“Hm?”

After two seconds of continued existence, Sonya realized she still hadn’t left the virtual world. More importantly, she stood on solid footing rather than plunging into the sea. Opening an eye, she saw a sword-like aura barrier emerge before her, rippling from the whip strikes but not penetrated.

Glancing down revealed a familiar boat beneath her feet.

“Lucky I’m here. You’re so fortunate.”

Turning back, Sonya saw the Observer materializing from the fog and thought –

Damn, he equipped it.