"Who are you?" The pale blue phantom surged to its feet, eyes narrowing. "How did an outsider get in here?"
Her words barely left her lips when Yu Yu felt a crushing wave of mental pressure—a torrent of raw killing intent.
She's ready to kill me in an instant.
Yu Yu thrust the Grand Archon's badge aloft, her voice urgent. "Don't attack! I'm one of you!"
"Grand Archon?" The phantom sneered, her tone icy. "You're exactly who I'm here to kill."
Yu Yu's eyes widened in shock.
What the hell? Aren't magic circles supposed to obey the Grand Archon?
"Senior, you've been dead for years! Please, don't do this!" she pleaded.
The phantom's expression didn't waver, her gaze brimming with murderous intent. "I won't listen to a word you say. Die."
Yu Yu spun toward her companions. "Everyone, get out!"
Her voice trembled with fear. "If we die here, we'll lose our gear!"
Wei Zishu was also panicking, "Hurry, hurry, there are still equipment at the door. What if it is wiped out next time?"
Without hesitation, she hoisted her bow-wielding rogue, Shu Tu, over her shoulder and bolted for the door.
Yu Yu, pinned by the phantom's mental pressure, darted her eyes to the side.
A towering golem loomed beside the phantom—not the gleaming silver she'd imagined, but a darker, almost obsidian sheen. It was massive, nearly brushing the ceiling, dwarfing even three of Yu Yu stacked atop one another.
Straining against the pressure, Yu Yu reached out, her voice a desperate gasp. "Let me… touch… it…"
Feng Ye groaned, utterly exasperated. "…Meng."
The phantom faltered, confusion flickering across her face. This anomaly was unlike anything she'd encountered.
She moved to activate the golem, ready to strike Yu Yu down, only to freeze. The core—I hid it to protect the golem.
Relief flickered in her chest, and she began conjuring an Ice Spear to finish Yu Yu off. But her spell fizzled, interrupted.
She tried again. Another interruption.
This is no coincidence.
Enraged, the phantom turned her fury on an unseen foe, locked in a battle against an invisible adversary.
Yu Yu's hand finally grazed the golem.
In an instant, it vanished into her inventory.
The phantom froze.
Meng froze.
An outsider can just… store a golem's weight like that?
Sweat beaded on Yu Yu's forehead. "Oh no… I can't move…"
Guess I'll have to die and respawn. Hopefully, this game doesn't have loot drops on death.
Despite her speed reduced to zero, Yu Yu didn't give up. She fumbled for a Random Teleport Scroll and prepared to tear it.
"Damn you!" The phantom's eyes glowed red with fury. "I stayed to guard the golem… the golem…"
Yu Yu ripped the scroll, exhaling in relief—only to see five more phantoms pause and turn their gazes on her.
A tidal wave of mental pressure crashed down, accompanied by unmasked surges of magical energy.
Yu Yu's jaw dropped. "This teleport is too random!"
It barely moved me at all!
Chong coughed awkwardly. "…There's probably some anomalous interference. Random's random, you know?"
Meng was struggling, muttered, "I can't maintain Invisibility much longer."
Thankfully, Yu Yu's teammates were quick on their feet, fleeing without hesitation and sparing her the burden of stragglers. Yu Yu hurled the golem from her inventory, positioning it as a shield. The first wave of spells struck the golem and fizzled instantly.
"Huh?" Yu Yu's eyes lit up. "What a shield!"
With the golem out, she moved freely again.
The phantom from the left hall gave chase, spotting the golem and erupting in rage. "Give me back my golem!"
Yu Yu didn't have time to mourn her fourth-ring scroll. She tossed the golem again, regaining her speed. In a flash, she darted forward and touched it. The golem vanished once more. And Yu Yu's movement ground to a halt.
But she was nothing if not resourceful. With precise timing, she threw the golem again, perfectly blocking a single-target spell that followed. Those high-ring spells—whatever tier they were—dissipated on contact with the golem, as if they were illusions.
When your inventory's full and you're slowed, what do you do?
Throw, step, throw, step.
With enough persistence, even iron could be ground to a needle. Through sheer precision and clever positioning, Yu Yu inched her way into the right hall. Part of her success came from staying underground, where even phantoms hesitated to unleash wide-area spells.
The other part? She chalked it up to luck (and senior Meng's help).
Meng bit her tongue, at a loss for words. "…I don't even know how to comment on this."
The outsider's willpower was nothing short of relentless.
Feng Ye was equally speechless. "Thank the stars the golem's big enough to cover her completely."
Chang added, "And Meng's there to help."
"Who are you?"
In the right hall, the library stood unchanged.
Senior Dai Dai, far more animated than expected, lounged with her legs crossed on a chair, eyeing Yu Yu and the golem behind her with curiosity.
Yu Yu stowed the golem instantly. "Senior Dai Dai!"
"They're attacking me!"
"What? Senior?" The phantom blinked, bewildered.
Yu Yu clapped a hand over her mouth.
Oh no. This Dai Dai doesn't seem… slow.
"What's your excuse this time?" Dai Dai's gaze swept over her bookshelf, her tone laced with amusement. "If you want my memories, read the books. They're all here."
"You claim to be the sharpest anomaly in the world, but you can't even be bothered to read?"
Yu Yu froze. "Anomalies have intelligence?"
"Wait—memories?" Something clicked, and her face darkened as she recalled the anomaly that had once infected Chang Yu. "No way this is related, right?"
That thing—had the Federation even caught it? Silver Moon's ten top spellcasters had sacrificed themselves to suppress it. What would happen in reality?
The thought sent a chill through her, her vision swimming.
"What's wrong? Out of tricks?" Dai Dai said coolly, unruffled. "Then get lost."
"An anomaly like you, stealing a golem—what's the point?" she scoffed. "This place is sealed tight. You're not getting out."
Yu Yu rubbed her temples. "Finally, a robe that's useless…"
This feels more like the norm. Otherwise, I'd never have to think.
Meng: "…"
Feng Ye and the others fell silent, quietly assessing the situation.
Yu Yu, clearly not an anomaly, snapped back to her mission. "Senior, do you have three books here?"
"Kaman's Potion Research, Case Studies on Damaged Psyches, and On the Aftereffects of Psychic Trauma!"
Dai Dai seemed caught off guard but held her composure. "They're here. Find them yourself."
Yu Yu glanced outside, where six phantoms stood in the hall, their killing intent palpable but unable to enter.
Meng sighed softly, her voice a whisper in the chat. "Good thing they're all dead seniors—shadows of their former selves. Otherwise…"
Yu Yu approached the bookshelf. "Senior Dai Dai, you said I could look, right? Don't attack me."
Dai Dai's expression stiffened, but she held her tongue.
This anomaly is insufferable.
Who're you calling Dai Dai?
Yu Yu searched diligently.
Missions, even side ones, weren't meant to be easy.
Finding books required focus.
Unable to resist, she asked, "Senior Dai Dai, can I take these books with me?"
"I'm planning to buy a big house, but my study needs some decor."
Dai Dai's legs uncrossed, her gaze turning frigid. "…Are we close?"
"…Maybe not that close," Yu Yu mumbled. "Found one!"
Kaman's Potion Research
The moment she grabbed it, she flipped the cover.
[Acquired Recipe: Kaman's Psychic Restoration Potion]
Without even glancing at the preface, Yu Yu stashed the book and eagerly hunted for the next.
Dai Dai sensed a piece of her memory slip away. Seeing Yu Yu's casual attitude, she rose, her eyes blazing with killing intent.
Yu Yu yelped, activating All-Element Shield from the scroll she'd been clutching. "Senior, where's your honor? You said no attacks!"
Fuming, she added, "If you won't let me complete the mission, why even give it?"
Dai Dai, clearly a woman of action over words, lunged without hesitation.
Meng groaned. "No good—she must've been terrifyingly powerful in her life…"
Feng Ye stared, grim. "I didn't expect to face seniors of this caliber. This team was far stronger than we thought. How did they all fall here?"
Gui Fan chimed in, "Just how horrifying is this memory-devouring anomaly? Meng, bring Yu Yu back now."
Meng reached Yu Yu's side, gripping her shoulder to attempt a teleport.
Yu Yu shrieked, "My god! Anomaly!"
Meng's temples throbbed, her spell disrupted.
Dai Dai's strike shattered Meng's barrier at the entrance, and the six blocked phantoms flooded in.
Yu Yu, terrified, raised a dagger to her throat—only for it to be slapped away.
A black-robed woman, face dark with anger, snapped, "Try killing yourself, I dare you."
Recognizing the voice, Yu Yu squinted at her corruption level.
0.
She cautiously looked up.
Meng sighed. "Stop staring. It's Crimson."
Relieved but still serious, Yu Yu said, "But they said this anomaly eats memories."
"Say something else," she urged. "Something embarrassing?"
Meng hissed, "Shut up, or I'll Silence you."
Yu Yu grinned. "Then say your exclusive line, quick, or I'll do it."
Meng's veins pulsed, but she growled through gritted teeth, "May the stars… shelter you."
Yu Yu exhaled dramatically. "Senior Meng, when Senior Dai Dai taught me Attunement, were you secretly glaring at me?"
Meng snorted. "You were awful at it, half-assing everything. Senior's too patient. If it were me…"
She stopped, fuming at the memory.
They bantered, but the onslaught outside didn't relent.
Yu Yu muttered, "I knew the Grand Archon was unreliable. I told her not to send you, but she did anyway."
"Now look at this mess."
"If I die and respawn, fine, but what about you?"
Meng's face turned green. "You've got the nerve to complain?"
"Without me, you think you'd have made it from the left hall to the right?"
"But if I die, the golem won't drop," Yu Yu said righteously. "Three days for a golem—worth it or not?"
Meng was momentarily speechless.
"Senior, can you hold them off?" Yu Yu asked, worried. "They're supposedly top-tier spellcasters!"
"Maybe the Grand Archon's among them…"
Her eyes widened. "Senior, you were tailing me—did you hear what I said?"
Meng, sweating from the effort, smirked. "Which part?"
Yu Yu's heart sank. "How much did you hear?"
Meng teased, "…Was is it about [eating without washing the dishes] and lifting the Chong's robe, or badmouthing the Grand Archon the whole way?"
Yu Yu clung to her arm. "Senior, my dear senior, you'll keep it secret, right?"
Meng grinned. "Sure."
Yu Yu beamed. "You're the best!"
Feng Ye: "Hmph…"
Chong: "Heh…"
Gui Fan: "I'm on my way. Meng, hold for ten minutes."
Meng: "I'll try."
Yu Yu: "What's that?"
Meng: "Stop squirming, or you'll die if you leave the barrier."
Yu Yu: "I see another book! Wait, let me grab it!"
"Yes! Second one!"
Case Studies on Damaged Psyches
Meng glanced at her. "Still focused on your stupid mission?"
Yu Yu: "Might as well finish it. Senior, you won't need to hold long. One more book, then you cover me to the hall, and we Attune back."
Chang urged, "Meng, listen to her!"
Meng sighed, resigned. "Fine, hurry up."
Yu Yu: "Senior, you're amazing!"
Moments later, she found the third book: On the Aftereffects of Psychic Trauma.
As usual, she flipped the cover, saw no system prompt, and tossed it into her bag.
Meng's pressure eased suddenly. She looked up to see Dai Dai standing still, arms crossed, her expression thoughtful.
Dead for who knows how many years…
Meng couldn't fathom it, but her form began to flicker.
"Senior, what's happening? Don't scare me!" Yu Yu cried.
Her voice snapped Meng back. "I'm fine. Watch Senior, not me."
Yu Yu nodded. "Oh, okay. Senior Dai Dai's mission is done? She's not moving?"
Meng's form stabilized, though her heart still raced.
What would've happened if I doubted this? Would I vanish, or be thrown back to the empty hall, leaving Yu Yu to face them alone?
"…Who're you calling Dai Dai?" Dai Dai snapped. "Get out."
"Golem… golem…" another phantom muttered.
"By the Grand Archon's command, kill!"
Yu Yu raised the badge. "The Grand Archon's right here! She says no such order exists!"
The five phantoms hesitated, then stopped.
Their intelligence is… surprisingly low.
Meng's burden lightened, giving her room to maneuver. "That badge… you turning it in?"
Yu Yu hid it instinctively. "Why would I? It might come in handy."
Meng's expression turned odd.
Yu Yu clarified, "I mean for bluffing on the mainland, not in Silver Moon."
Meng: "The Enforcers."
"What Enforcers?" Yu Yu pouted. "If you don't tell, no one will know. Senior Qiong can't read minds!"
Qiong: "Hmph."
Dai Dai, growing certain, demanded, "Take out the golem."
Yu Yu clutched her bag. "No way! It's mine!"
Dai Dai's voice turned ghostly. "We excavated it from the ruins. How's it yours?"
"The Grand Archon ordered Mu Cheng to guard it. That's her only memory now—endless duty. If you don't hand it over, how do I send her back?"
Yu Yu hugged her bag tighter. "Let her fight. Senior Meng can handle it."
Meng: "…Thanks for the confidence."
Yu Yu feigned ignorance. "Senior's the best! I'm cheering for you!"
Dai Dai: "Where are you from?"
Yu Yu: "Outside, obviously. Senior, you're rational again?"
Dai Dai studied them. "…You don't seem like anomalies, for now."
"Great! Can I turn in the mission?" Yu Yu held up the three books. "I found your books!"
Dai Dai: "…"
Meng: "…"
Feng Ye and the stream audience: "…"
Speechless, no one knew how to respond.
Dai Dai, silent for a long moment, finally spoke. "…I recall you just pried those off my shelf."
Yu Yu: "Oh, I need to go upstairs to turn in the mission?"
"Figures it wouldn't be that easy."
Dai Dai: "Can you return my books?"
Yu Yu stashed them instantly. "No way, Senior. Bear with it. A full shelf is a full shelf, no matter who's you!"
Dai Dai took a deep breath. "The badge."
Yu Yu hesitated, but Meng nudged, "Give it to her."
Yu Yu stared.
Meng, expressionless, said, "Ask the Grand Archon for one later. Why take hers?"
Yu Yu grumbled.
That stingy Grand Archon? Forget it.
Her pout was obvious, and Feng Ye, watching, twitched, reminding herself to stay calm. A Grand Archon must remain composed.
Dai Dai took the badge, which glowed deep blue, the words "No Wind" blooming under its unique mana pattern. Her voice deepened. "Mu Cheng, Zi Cheng…"
She named six codenames, and the phantoms halted.
"The Grand Archon orders you to return to your posts. No mistakes."
"Yes!" Five phantoms obeyed instantly.
"Mu Cheng, you object?"
"Golem… Senior told me to guard the golem…"
Dai Dai glanced at Yu Yu. "She's not on this floor. Go back. I'll explain when she returns."
After a long pause, Mu Cheng shuffled out, dazed.
Meng maintained her barrier, exhaling softly. "Unbelievable…"
She stopped herself from dwelling further.
Yu Yu: "Senior Dai Dai, why were they fighting? Where's the core?"
"Don't know."
"What about the Wu Feng Grand Archon upstairs? Why's he so lost?"
"Don't know."
Yu Yu: "…How do you know nothing?"
Dai Dai: "My codename is Jin Che. Stop calling me Dai Dai."
Yu Yu blinked innocently. "Okay, sure."
Meng smirked, glancing at her.
Yu Yu ignored it. "Senior, you're staying on this floor. You must have some memories preserved, right?"
"We're the ones you were waiting for!"
Jin Che's expression grew forlorn. "Has the magic circle fallen so far?"
She murmured, "To send only one high-tier and one mid-tier…"
Yu Yu: "…Uh, let's say that's the case."
She pressed, "Can you let us take the books back?"
"The magic circle's so broke we don't even have books!" she declared boldly.
Meng: "…"
Feng Ye: "…"
Xue: "…"
When it comes to brazen lies, outsiders take the cake.
"No."
"Why not?!"
Jin Che said calmly, "These books anchor my existence. Without them, my will would collapse, and I'd become an anomaly."
"Then, whether you could escape, I'm not sure."
Yu Yu: "…It works like that?"
Jin Che didn't linger on the magic circle's state. She rubbed her brow. "The anomaly sealed here is on par with the 'Flora Calamity' or 'Knowledge Curse.'"
"It feeds on memories and was intelligent from the start. Given time, it'd become a catastrophic threat to Shiva," she explained. "Once we detected it, we hunted it here."
"Then what happened?"
Jin Che thought for a long time. "I don't remember."
"I'll tell you what I do recall."
"Don't interrupt."
Her tone was cold but carried an undeniable authority.
Yu Yu recognized it—Archons and Grand Archons often spoke like this.
Chang had already pulled their records. "Jin Che, one of the war Archons back then. A brilliant senior. She orchestrated the Spider Cult and Snakebone Town's mutual destruction, leaving both gods wounded and dormant. The Council deemed her mind exceptional and her talent boundless, with a high chance of becoming a Legend…"
But no matter the genius, death ends all. Nothing more to say.
Not her words—archived as a Legend's lament.
Meng's gaze softened with pity.
Such a shame.
"I don't recall what happened, but your mention of Attunement gave me a guess."
"It's a Grand Archon's unique spell. Given the anomaly's link to memories and your earlier words, we likely split our memories across floors, each with distinct duties, right?"
Yu Yu nodded firmly. "Exactly! You taught me the spell! Then you attacked me the moment I arrived!"
Jin Che: "…I see. Be quiet."
"Besides splitting memories to preserve ourselves, we sealed Yan Mound with…"
She clutched her head, wincing. "I don't remember…"
"I only recall…" she murmured, "she said… she said… fight anomaly with anomaly…"
"Anomaly… against anomaly…" Jin Che strained to remember. "It was… the Grand Archon… yes, the Grand Archon…"
"But You Feng disagreed, and so did we…" she continued. "It was too dangerous…"
"Then… I don't remember…" she whispered. "Did she succeed?"
"This anomaly is cunning. It devours our memories, uses them to deceive us, sowing doubt and turning us against each other…"
"Later, we entrusted our minds to the Grand Archon, relying on her to distinguish us," she said. "But it wasn't enough… not enough…"
"Memory is the vessel of will. Without it, where does will reside?"
"If this continues, we'll all become anomalies," she said, her eyes heavy with despair. "That cannot happen. It must not."
"We couldn't accept this erosion," she said. "So the Grand Archon proposed a plan."
"She'd try to become the anomaly herself. If she failed, we'd follow."
"But becoming an anomaly requires immense hatred, obsession, and corruption…"
Jin Che's voice grew hoarse. "She fused with the anomaly and stayed upstairs with You Feng."
"After that, I know nothing."
"This is what I'm meant to tell you, to warn those who come after…" she said. "This isn't one anomaly—not just one…"
"The Grand Archon may have become a far greater anomaly," Jin Che said, her eyes brimming with sorrow despite their indistinct features. "She's more terrifying, more unsolvable than the original."
"Go. Leave this place and never return."
Feng Ye: "Meng, get Yu Yu out now."
"Gui Fan, where are you?"
Gui Fan: "I'm here. Her squad's been hypnotized and ejected. What's wrong?"
Feng Ye gritted her teeth. "It's too dangerous. These seniors are… Let's go. I'll report to the Legend. This is beyond us."
Yu Yu hesitated. "An anomaly that can't be solved by dying?"
Meng: "Why are you always thinking about dying?"
Yu Yu: "Do you know where the core is?"
"The one upstairs isn't the Grand Archon?" Yu Yu paused. "Then why's he lost? Forgetting Wu Feng?"
Meng pondered, uncertain. "If the anomaly's devouring, Wu Feng's likely to mutate soon—physically. Those around her will be corrupted fast…"
"They're all too dangerous."
"By the Grand Archon's order, I'm taking you out."
Yu Yu hadn't expected this. "What about the core? These seniors?"
"Wait—the Legend came here before. He left a staff and got out fine."
"He sent me for the staff, so it can't be as bad as we think."
Feng Ye froze, her mind reeling.
Right. There's the Legend's mission. I can't just back out.
She urgently contacted the Speaker.
Moments later, a reply came—
"I'm here. Proceed."
Feng Ye relaxed, regaining her composure. "Meng, don't bring her back. Keep going."
Meng: "??? Grand Archon?"
Feng Ye: "Her Majesty"
Just two words.
Meng shut up, no questions asked.
Gui Fan: "I'm here, next to Meng, Invisible."
Meng glanced around instinctively.
Yu Yu, oblivious, asked eagerly, "Senior, shall we check upstairs?"
Jin Che: "Don't go. Beyond the surface, he's… mutated. If he's not coming down, that's a blessing."
Yu Yu shrugged. "Fair enough."
"We'll keep Attuning. One mission's done," she said. "Senior, cast Feather Fall on me. I can't move."
The golem's so—damn—heavy.
Feng Ye mulled over Jin Che's words. "Memory is the vessel of will. What are they now?"
Xue sighed. "Senior Jin Che… what a brilliant idea."
"She scattered her memories into books, floor by floor, making her the only senior to partially break free," she said. "Only Jin Che could give us these clues."
Guang Chen said gravely, "And Senior You Feng, holding on to write notes despite the corruption…"
Chang sighed. "These seniors had it rough."
Yu Yu, pondering, concluded, "So the magic circle had a couple!"
The Grand Archon needed obsession and hatred to become an anomaly, so she consumed it and locked herself with You Feng…
Wu Feng, You Feng…
No wonder her badge was under someone's pillow.
Is this a bad ending?
Meng, tugging Yu Yu's sleeve as she floated, snapped, "I don't know what misconceptions you have about the magic circle."
"Spellcasters may not care much for it, but that doesn't mean there aren't couples."
Gui Fan mused, "Mostly no time for it. Too distracting."
"Senior You Feng was impressive, though."
Yu Yu couldn't hear her, but the others did.
Guang Chen: "Hmph, women."
Chang Ming: "Heard you almost became Feng Ye's student, but she ditched you for wolves? True?"
Guang Chen: "Where are you?"
Chang Ming: "Hey, hey! I just said one thing!"
Feng Ye ignored them.
In the hall, Yu Yu began Attuning.
Meng stood with arms crossed, maintaining the poise of a high-tier spellcaster.
Yu Yu, searching for the rhythm, muttered, "Where's Shu Tu? Where is she?"
Come on, save me.
"Senior Dai… Jin Che," Yu Yu asked, "if I complete your mission, will you teach me a spell?"
Jin Che's face twisted. "Dai what?"
Already annoyed by their refusal to leave, she was livid.
When has the word 'Dai' ever applied to me?
Yu Yu said earnestly, "Super-smart Senior Jin Che!"
Meng opened her mouth, then stopped.
Who just demands spells like that? Have you no boundaries?
"You stole my books and have the gall to ask for spells?" Jin Che said, incredulous.
"But I only took them because of your mission."
"If the other Jin Che wasn't… less sharp, I wouldn't have had to…"
Jin Che scoffed. "No. Whoever gave you the mission can teach you."
Yu Yu sighed dramatically. "Fine."
"A kid like you, always aiming too high," Jin Che mocked. "You're mid-tier. Could you even use my spells?"
Yu Yu: "I'd learn them first. What if they're lost? Senior, have you uploaded them to the magic circle?"
Not giving up, she added, "I could upload them for you~"
Her words struck a chord.
After a pause, Jin Che looked at Meng.
Meng considered. "I can try."
Yu Yu's smile vanished, her Attunement notes going off-key.
Classic. The NPC steals the reward! Why does no one stop this?
Under Yu Yu's resentful glare, they began a ceremonial spell exchange.
"Next time, I'm sneaking out alone, no one else…" Yu Yu muttered, dejected.
Bringing people means sharing rewards. So sad…
Meng, hearing clearly, shot her a look. "Good luck getting out."
Yu Yu: "No way, really?"
The exchange complete, Jin Che studied her. "Do you even know how? I taught you? Why's your playing so awful?"
Yu Yu: "…"
Give me back my sweet, slow Senior Dai Dai!
Finally, Yu Yu nearly finished Attuning. "We're leaving…"
She looked at Jin Che, her expression complex. "If we solve this, I'll come back to tell you, Senior…"
Jin Che nodded slightly, watching them go.
The hall fell silent, the five phantoms resuming their eternal patrol like loyal sentinels.
Jin Che stood motionless, lingering.
Gone memories are gone. Can new ones endure?