The Cycle of Fate

Chapter 132: Review

Lumian had always thought that the lizard-like little sprite was just a projection of something in his dream—a symbol or metaphor with more figurative meaning than actual substance.

But now, he saw it for real—a transparent, vague, lizard-like creature!

It truly existed!

And it appeared in the "otherworld," in the pit left behind by the "Tree of Shadows," in an incident involving powerful forces!

Aurora, emerging from her mouth, couldn't help but wonder: could that lizard truly be something that happened in reality?

What does it represent, and what is its purpose?

Lumian furrowed his brows, his expression twisted, feeling a mixture of pain, shock, confusion, and detachment.

The shock made him believe that he might be able to recover some memories, to verify the truth, to confirm whether it was just a symbolic representation from the dream or something that genuinely existed in reality. But this time, unlike when he received psychological treatment or heard Madam Pualis' words, no corresponding images flashed in his mind. What came to mind was still that dream.

At this moment, a layered, majestic voice from Termiboros echoed in his ears: "You don't really think that all the anomalies and misfortunes happening around you are caused by me, do you? You don't think that with just my sealed self and your mere Sequence 7 strength, along with a weapon barely reaching Sequence 5 level, you could have escaped from the hands of Suzanne Matis, who was near demigod status and had hidden means, do you? Do you really think Suzanne Matis' failure was simply because she was an evil spirit, impulsive, extreme, and rushed into the ritual without sufficient preparation, and there were no other reasons?"

These words resonated in Lumian's mind, flooding his thoughts, making it clear to him within a short time.

Lumian froze, feeling as though he had moved from early summer to winter and was slowly sinking into an unfrozen lake.

He blurted out, "Then what was it?"

Termiboros did not respond, as if he had noticed something, understood something.

In a flash, Lumian was filled with overwhelming joy, as if a heavy stone pressing on him had suddenly lightened considerably: "Does this mean that Aurora was really controlled by that lizard-like strange creature? That's why she occasionally felt fine and would seek help with me? No, she must have realized something was wrong back then. The correct reading order of the letter was: We're becoming stranger, and those around us need help fast!"

At this moment, Franca nudged Lumian. "Why are you spacing out? Hurry, we need to get out of here. The official Beyonders and clergy are coming in!"

Lumian snapped out of his thoughts, carrying the scorched clothes that clung to him and holding the branch from the main body of the "Tree of Shadows," not the one later created by Suzanne, as he followed Franca toward the other end of the chaotic street.

During this process, two more realizations hit him: "Termiboros, as an angel of fate, displayed insight into many issues just now. He must have considered that Suzanne Matis would use me as the ritual's focus, without unlocking the seal, and that she would present me as an offering to the Mother Tree of Desire. She's no novice to the occult world like me! So from the very beginning, she never intended for the seal to be fully broken by her. She was simply bluffing, using the situation to force me into seeking her help, agreeing to her unfair terms to free her. What she didn't expect was that I would bluff Suzanne Matis, using her own information to push her into offering help on her own. No, she must have thought about this possibility, but it wouldn't cost her anything to try. What if I hadn't come up with a quick-witted response? Damn, she's so cunning! I could've been easily tricked!"