Chapter 131: The Shattered Mirror’s Edge
Maria’s hand tightened around Vex’s throat, her knuckles white from the strain of maintaining her grip on the unconscious woman. Victory felt hollow in her chest—too easy, too clean for someone of Vex’s reputation. The phantom pain from her elaborate illusion still coursed through her nervous system, making her fingers tremble despite her apparent triumph.
’Something’s wrong. She gave up too easily at the end. Someone with her skills doesn’t just—’
Vex’s eyes snapped open, blazing with renewed fury and something else—calculation. Her legs came up in a vicious twist, both boots connecting with Maria’s ribs with bone-crushing force. The impact lifted Maria off her feet, sending her flying backward through the air before she crashed into a pile of rubble with a sickening crunch.
"Did you really think," Vex snarled, rolling smoothly to her feet despite her wounded hamstring, "that I would fall for the same deception twice?"
Maria coughed up blood, her vision swimming as she struggled to rise from the debris. Several ribs were definitely broken this time—real ones, not phantom pain from an illusion. "You were... unconscious. I felt your pulse stop."
"I’ve mastered techniques you can’t even imagine, girl." Vex’s form began to shimmer and split again, but this time the duplicates looked more solid, more real. "Controlling my own heartbeat and brain activity is child’s play compared to what I’m about to show you."
Maria managed to get to one knee, blood running down her chin as she assessed her situation. ’Badly injured. She’s not falling for illusions anymore. And she’s holding back something—I can see it in her eyes.’
Vex took a step forward, then stopped abruptly. Her head turned slowly toward something Maria couldn’t see, her expression shifting from predatory confidence to absolute horror.
"No," Vex whispered, her voice breaking. "Not you. You’re dead. I saw them kill you."
Maria followed her gaze but saw nothing except empty air and falling snow. The battlefield around them continued its chaotic symphony of clashing steel and shouted commands, but Vex seemed oblivious to everything except the invisible presence that held her transfixed.
"Selene?" Vex’s voice cracked like a child’s, tears streaming down her face. "Selene, I tried to avenge you. I tried to make them pay for what they did."