I regressed and became the Sword Ice King - Chapter 489

Chapter 489: Chapter 489- Survival of the Fittest

The Shadow Mirror acted with the same phenomenon as the Territorial Space, but there were differences which were laid bare for those who were keen enough to realise.

And amongst those differences, a key factor lay in place– Control.

Territorial Spaces were so– the larger the size of the Space, the more control that slips out of the Caster’s Psychic, which inevitably leads to the collapse if left to a single caster.

The Shadow Mirror existed as a plain on its own.

A separate domain crafted from Occult and Magic Logic, but without its limits.

Cressida had full control of it.

Its properties, exits, entries, nature and elements.

She controlled everything with a snap of her finger.

How such an artefact was created, and engineered so it functions the way it does, was a mystery to most– and even the Matriarch of the Household who produced it.

But none of that mattered, right now.

The lilac-haired angel of vengeance had been hovering in the air. Watching the events unfold as she wrote her play.

Around her were the harsh, crimson skies, devoid of clouds yet scorched by a red sun that seemed to boil the world over.

The air around it steamed from the heat and stretched to the earth, where it stroked its warm tendrils against the rock-riddled grounds.

Across the skies were deep chasms. Hollow portals which had joined different parts of the Mirror.

Combining the prisoners into one battleground of doom.

Her goal had been obvious.

And the demons that were let out had made it so that to the others, if it wasn’t.

So far, everything had played out as expected, and even if it didn’t, she could still see a future she aspired to.

‘The Fall of the Great Families.’

Those who chose to look away from the tribulations of the Minority, don’t get to pretend forever.

This was a punishment she would apply to every Head of the Households.

As the thought played in her head, her smile widened and she tightened her grip on her scythe.

Her body shivered, and a chill ran down her spine as a jolt of excitement plagued her.

‘Finally.’

It was electric.

Every moment spent watching their struggle and inevitable demise was astoundingly satisfactory.

But sadly, her joy was cut short.

“Huh?”

The words ran out of her mouth as her body froze mid-motion.

Her pupils constricted and her lips parted as she slowly reached out for her chest.

‘Some–something…’

Her gaze drifted to the Golden Dome below where she spotted the family Heads gathering despite the clawing monstrosities that blocked the way.

‘Who…’

She peered into the Dome.

Observing their faces, expressions and the change that had occurred.

A moment before, they were getting ready to claw out at each other’s throats, but now… now it seemed tame?

‘What happened?’

She gripped her chest tighter, and a realisation struck her as her gaze landed on the woman who rose from her unconscious state.

The Witch of the West. Kira Merlin had awakened.

‘What– What did she do?!’

The Shadow Mirror was similar to the Territorial Space, but all control was handled by Her, the owner and caster of the Mirror.

And that was why everything that occurred within and outside the space of the mirror was under her control.

She could see it. Make changes, and even alter the entire space.

But at this moment, Cressida could feel something being tugged away.

Something untraceable that should have been trackable within her presence.

‘But how?’

How can Merlin take control over a space that was never theirs? A domain under the control of Dark Mana.

It was impossible!

‘Yet, I can not shake off this feeling.’

A frown formed on her face as her eyes grew stern.

Her attention had focused on the woman who rose to her feet while the other Heads turned to her. Elated and amused by her return.

The change she had expected had come… but it was not what she wanted.

“There’s nothing she can do!” She said out loud, as if trying to convince herself.

But…

In that moment, the Crimson eyes of the Witch flicked with a malevolent hue as the woman’s head snapped in her direction.

Cressida arched her brow. Nearly jumping despite floating in the air as they locked gazes.

A moment passed and the women seemed to persist in their stare off.

But all moments come to an end.

With a smirk, Kira looked away, and Cressida’s smile faltered greatly as displeasure took root in her heart.

“No.”

Her scythe came slicing through the air as the world trembled to her will.

A sudden quake that spread through the heavens and the earth.

The Demons below, as if responding to a decree of damnation spurred into a frenzy.

Their fists and claws slammed against the Dome while the earth shook beneath their feet.

Its impact spread across the Dome. Causing a synchrony of destruction onto the shield that had blocked the Patriarchs and Matriarchs from their inevitability.

The Heads of the Family were no slower in action.

With the sudden escalation around them, their bodies had grown tense.

But with the figure who stood in their presence, a form of ease had somehow found its way amongst them.

So much so that Gloria could help but admit it.

The young Jun Matraiarch held her great sword strong as the noise began to rise to a deadly pitch… and with it, the words of the Households.

“You took your time in awakening, Kira,” Derrick spoke first as the Witch of the West observed them.

“That was a dangerous move.”

Kira turned to him with a blank expression.

“I know my importance in a crisis like this.”

She scoffed.

“You wouldn’t have let me die even if you had to sacrifice a limb.”

Derrick reeled his words in with a groan.

He folded his arms and retreated to the back of the group.

He knew a reply would be useless.

“Now that you are here, I suppose you already have something in mind?”

Their Heads turned to Gloria.

“Even if you expected our protection, a woman of your vastness would never truly trust us.”

She tilted her head slowly.

“What did you do while you were unconscious?”

Kang’s brows arched.

“Is this true?”

Kira lingered in the scrutinising gaze of Gloria Jun.

Making out the clear suspiciousness and distrust that was portrayed in her eyes.

It was expected.

And not worthy of attention.

“Where we are now, is a far superior version of the Territorial Space… yet restricted in many more ways.”

She began.

“I had realised our transport the moment she cast due to the sudden loss of contact with the space I had tried to manifest for the Vortex in the Castle.”

Paulson Aquarius nodded slowly as he stroked his long white beard.

“So that is it.” The old man said. “You tethered us with the Vortex… is that it?”

Kira’s gaze darted to him for a second before an unamused smile lingered on her face.

She nodded in response.

Bryne Son Goku shook his head.

“Well, that’s a mistake, don’t ya think, mate?”

A smirk grew across his face.

“Wouldn’t the others be trying to close that very gate?”

Kira shook her head.

“An explanation for my actions will only be a waste of time.”

Then, she signalled to the Dome around them and the Old man behind.

“Manon will not hold this place for long and Cressida must have felt something amiss.”

“A gate will appear and we will make our way through it.”

A sudden crack echoed in the air, drawing their attention to the source.

Immediately, the Household Heads grew serious as their weapons were drawn out.

The Dome was breaking.

“Hah…”

A soft moan escaped in the air before a heavy thud echoed as Manon fell to his knees.

“The shield!”

He screamed with a croaked voice as he strained his arms in the air.

Gloria slowly spun in his direction.

Unamused as the King, who had been standing back, glanced around in a frenzy.

His expression was a score sheet.

Evident and unrepressed.

And so was his fear.

She turned to Kira, slowly.

“How long until the gate opens?”

Kira’s lips tugged into a smirk while she watched as more cracks spread across the walls of the Dome.

Its jagged tendrils spread around like spiderwebs under the massive pressure of the Demons.

“Five minutes.”

She replied. Projecting her voice into the air so that all may hear… and they did.

The goal was clear.

Survive for five minutes and the road home shall be paved.

“Fi– fiv– five minutes?!”

The King’s panic-driven voice echoed with a high pitch as the man seemingly grabbed onto Manon who was already trembling on his own.

The ripple effect on the man’s control was immediate.

The crack spread further and its pieces began to shatter like glass.

And with it, were the hungry snouts and limbs of Demons slithering enough to fit through it.

Somehow the conflict that was threatening to ensue amongst them had receded, but what existed now was a greater threat than even themselves.

Surviving a challenge like this would only take the most crafty and strongest of the bunch.

So as Gloria exploded her aura out, preparing for the deadliest battle of her life, she turned her nerves to steel and her heart even colder.

This wasn’t just a battle.

It was a survival of the fittest.