"Huh? Who are you calling an idiot? Eugenia, do you believe I..."
Blueflame Warden tried to get up but appeared to be in pain, clutching his chest where a blood-red Cycle Sigil was imprinted. I walked over and squatted in front of him, pressing my hand against the sigil. Gradually, the blood-red Cycle Sigil faded, and Blueflame Warden's wounds healed completely.
"The power inside you is truly astonishing. It's unbelievable—when fighting you, I felt an unusual calm. How did you realize that this illusion is a part of yourself? Human perception shouldn't be this strong."
I shook my head, tilting my face upward to watch as the ice-blue beasts in the sky returned to their original positions.
"Maybe I've experienced something like this before, but I'm not really sure. It's as if my body itself is telling me what to do. Honestly, I didn't realize it. Blueflame Warden, can you tell me what that beast called Golden Howler said to you?"
Blueflame Warden nodded and stood up, glancing around before lowering himself to the ground. He turned his head and gave me a meaningful look.
"Get on, I'll take you over there. This place is just too bleak."
I nodded and climbed onto Blueflame Warden's back. He began to sprint wildly across the white sand.
"Hey, let me ride with you too!"
Eugenia's dissatisfied voice called out from behind, but Blueflame Warden immediately picked up speed. By the time I looked back, Eugenia was already out of sight.
The scenery around us remained unchanged, yet the air currents ahead had been completely torn apart—everything here defied logic.
"When our power reaches a certain level, we can freely influence the Illusory Realm, even create strange beasts. The creatures in the sky are manifestations of my strength—you could think of them as my avatars."
I nodded, uncertain how much longer this would last. Now I understood why this area exerted such overwhelming pressure—if you want to move freely, you have to bring out your strength.
But this approach was far from wise. The Illusory Realm absorbs any power released within it; unless your body achieves a certain harmony with the realm, your strength will drain rapidly. I’d just realized this and changed my battle tactics—the more you resist, the faster your energy fades.
I still didn’t know how to achieve that harmony, but when I noticed those ice blocks, I started eating them. Eating might be the most effective solution.
By letting my body absorb a part of the Illusory Realm, I used it as a medium to synchronize with the environment. I hadn’t even realized this—my body simply did it instinctively.
Gradually, strange sights appeared in the endless white sand sea ahead. A vast green forest, streaked with violet light, drew closer. In the blink of an eye, we reached the forest’s edge.
Towering ancient trees rose from the forest, their branches drifting with specks of violet light that floated upward. Not far away lay a pristine, crystal-clear lake, surrounded by vibrant flowers. After climbing down from Taowu’s back, he led me into the woods. We passed through a sea of blossoms and arrived at a massive stone platform.
On the platform stood a wooden hut with a simple domed roof—Taowu’s resting place, lined with dry straw. In front of the platform, a winding river flowed by.
I walked straight to the riverbank and drank some water. The sweet, clear river shimmered with an uncanny light, reflecting the bizarre plants and flowers around me.