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“Where does it come from?” Liang Tianxiu asked, puzzled.
“It comes from the entity that forms the image in the mirror,” Mo Qi replied.
Qin Xunfeng said, “Entity? Doesn’t that refer to us? How could we produce light?”
The reflected Mo Qi said, “You can’t use the laws of the real world to deduce the game world. In the real world, I wouldn’t exist at all, would I?”
Inside and outside the mirror, both Mo Qi and the reflected Mo Qi simultaneously explained the principle to their teammates.
In the Mirror Maze, light appears as a result of interaction between the objects entering the maze and the mirrors. Both the mirrors and objects capable of creating light reflections are indispensable.
The existence of Liang Tianxiu and the reflected Mo Qi confirmed this theory.
Mo Qi asked, “Have you ever seen a mirror without a reflection? Have you ever appeared in a mirror with no one in it?”
Liang Tianxiu scratched his head. “Actually, no… Every mirror I’ve appeared in always has someone in it. I always make sure to hide in mirrors where the person can’t see me.”
“We can only exist within mirrors that have reflections. We can’t interact with places where there are no reflections, which means those mirrors don’t reflect light. If the Mirror Maze itself had a light source, we should appear in empty mirrors, but that hasn’t happened. This means that in places without people, the Mirror Maze is dark,” Mo Qi explained. “So, the condition for forming light is that there must be real people present.”
Reflected Mo Qi said, “Another piece of evidence is me. Although I came out of the mirror, I don’t have a reflection in the mirror.”
“Isn’t that because you’re a reflection person?” Qin Xunfeng asked.
Reflected Mo Qi replied, “But you can see me. What are you using to see me?”
Qin Xunfeng responded, “The reflected light forms an image on the retina… Ah! By that logic, you should also be able to appear in the mirror. But why not?”
Reflected Mo Qi explained, “Because the ‘light’ in the Mirror Maze rules is different from ‘light’ in the universal sense. The ‘light’ that mirrors can reflect is actually the fragments hidden in the reflection. These fragments only exist in the reflections of people and objects in mirrors. Since I am a reflection myself, I don’t meet this condition and thus cannot appear in the mirror.”
Qin Xunfeng tried to understand, “So you’re saying that I am a person whose reflection can appear in the mirror. My reflection and I together constitute the light source in the Mirror Maze, which is the mirror shard. Both are indispensable. Therefore, whether it’s Mo Qi inside the mirror or you outside, you’re separated, so you can’t produce ‘light.'”
“That’s about the right idea,” the reflected Mo Qi said.
Liang Tianxiu asked, “What about Xia Yao? He and his reflection are merged, and there are still ‘fragments’ inside him. What kind of existence is he?”
“He once lied to me, claiming that he gained power from a lamp, which was a lie based on some truth,” Mo Qi said, holding the mirror shard. “In the entire Mirror Maze, the fragments in a person’s reflection are the light source. Xia Yao has merged his reflection and the light source, creating a trinity, which is why he has the power to control reflections. Additionally, he should be able to decide whether or not he appears in the mirror. He is a rather special entity in the Mirror Maze, similar to a mini-boss in the real world.”
Qin Xunfeng said, “Even if we figure out what the ‘light source’ is, we still can’t deal with Xia Yao and this Mirror Maze, can we?”
Both Mo Qi and the reflected Mo Qi spoke simultaneously, “No, by knowing where the light source is, we can destroy this Mirror Maze.”
The two of them, inside and outside the mirror, instinctively looked at each other. Despite being separated by the mirror, where they couldn’t see each other’s figures, they could still sense each other’s presence.
Mo Qi raised his hand and placed it against the mirror.
The reflected Mo Qi raised his hand and placed it against the mirror.
Two identical hands pressed against each other through a layer of glass, a layer of mirror, and a layer of space.
Someone, unable to tolerate the sight of them interacting through the mirror, spoke up, “What’s the use of all this talk? In the end, you still can’t do anything to me.”
Qin Xunfeng spun around sharply to find Xia Yao standing behind them, with no reflection of Xia Yao appearing in the mirror.
Qin Xunfeng quickly hid behind the reflected Mo Qi, pointing at Xia Yao and said, “Hurry up! Confuse him, control him, pua him! Turn him into a fish you keep!”
Reflected Mo Qi: “……”
He quickly tore Qin Xunfeng off his back and, casting a subtle glance at the mirror where Mo Qi was present, said, “Although I have ways to control his mind, for now, he’s the best guinea pig.”
“How so?” Qin Xunfeng asked.
“To test the limits of this world,” the reflected Mo Qi said, glancing at the mirror.
Mo Qi immediately understood and pulled a card from the system.
The reflected Mo Qi possesses Mo Qi’s skills, but the main difference between them is the card system. Mo Qi, being inside the mirror, can still use cards, whereas the reflected Mo Qi, as a mere copy, lacks the game system and cannot use cards.
Although Mo Qi had cards, he could only use them within the mirror and couldn’t inflict damage on Xia Yao outside the mirror.
However, since he had added Qin Xunfeng as a friend, he could send this card to Qin Xunfeng through the system.
At this moment, Qin Xunfeng was engaged in a fierce battle.
His fingerprints were not imprinted on the mirror, and typically, reflections would not attack him. But Xia Yao could control the reflections, and hands reached out from mirrors in all directions to grab Qin Xunfeng.
Qin Xunfeng knew Xia Yao’s abilities and had planned to capture Xia Yao in advance, but Xia Yao was proving to be much tougher to handle than expected.
In the Mirror Maze, Xia Yao is like a beam of light. He can move freely within the mirrors by reflecting off the light, with a speed comparable to that of light. This speed is far beyond what players can endure, and with Qin Xunfeng’s strength, it is impossible to harm Xia Yao.
The methods used against Liang Tianxiu are ineffective against Xia Yao. Liang Tianxiu can only exist within mirrors, so he gets trapped by them. But Xia Yao is different; he can freely enter and exit mirrors. Even if Qin Xunfeng tries to capture him with a makeup mirror, Xia Yao can simply shatter the mirror and step out.
In this Mirror Maze, Xia Yao seemed to be an invincible presence.
“Y-you, quickly control him!” Qin Xunfeng, struggling with the reflected arms, called out for help from the reflected Mo Qi.
The reflected Mo Qi replied, “No need for me to intervene; someone is already helping you.”
[Your friend Mo Qi has gifted you an R-level Item Card.]
Qin Xunfeng received this message just in time.
The card Mo Qi sent from inside the mirror was presumably the key to defeating Xia Yao. Qin Xunfeng expected it to be a high-level card, at least an SR card, but was surprised to find it was only an R card.
At this point, he had no choice but to trust Mo Qi.
Without time to examine the card closely, Qin Xunfeng fumbled to pull out his phone amidst the struggle with the arms and tapped to use the card.
The card transformed into a flashlight and landed in Qin Xunfeng’s hand.
Qin Xunfeng: “…”
What is this thing supposed to do?!
Given Qin Xunfeng’s extensive database, he naturally recognized the card as a common R card from the pool called “Powerful Flashlight.” Its primary function is illumination. Additionally, using it to shine light into an opponent’s eyes in dark environments can provide a very slight defensive benefit. The downside is that it causes minor scatter in the user’s vision, resulting in significant double vision, though the effect is short-lived and relatively low-risk.
“How am I supposed to use this? Shine it on myself?” Qin Xunfeng, half of his body being dragged into the mirror, shouted as he struggled.
The reflected Mo Qi calmly took the powerful flashlight from Qin Xunfeng’s hand and turned it on, aiming it at Qin Xunfeng’s reflection in the mirror.
In an instant, a terrifying light burst forth from the chest of Qin Xunfeng’s reflection. This light continually reflected through the mirrors, and after countless reflections, each reflection of Qin Xunfeng’s chest began to shine.
In the Mirror Maze, due to the endless mirror reflections, Qin Xunfeng’s reflection was countless in number, amplifying the light many times over.
“The light source of the entire Mirror Maze comes from the fragments within the reflections of the human body. What happens when this light is amplified to infinity?” the reflected Mo Qi said.
What began as a single reflection’s chest glowing with light, under the amplification of the Mirror Maze, instantly transformed into an overwhelming, blinding light emanating from every mirror. In that moment, Qin Xunfeng felt as if he were completely blinded.
The intensity of the light reached a level of mental contamination. Even Liang Tianxiu and Mo Qi, inside the mirror, found it extremely distressing. They felt dizzy and nauseous, nearly on the verge of vomiting.
To achieve the absence of reflections on the mirror surface, one method is to fall into complete darkness, where no light is present, thus preventing any image formation. However, given the unique nature of the light sources within the Mirror Maze, where any living being generates light, complete darkness is not an option. Therefore, the only viable approach to overcoming this world is the second method.
When light reaches an extreme intensity, reflections on the mirror surface become impossible, leaving only an overwhelming brightness.
Mo Qi chose the second method.
As the intense light permeated the entire Mirror Maze, the hands that had been grabbing Qin Xunfeng also disappeared. He struggled to escape from the mirror, when suddenly, a voice appeared in his mind.
“Take out your weapon and attack above the hand holding the flashlight.” It was the voice of the reflected Mo Qi.
This voice was not a suggestion or discussion, but an indisputable command. Qin Xunfeng immediately retrieved a small model chainsaw from his pocket. It looked delicate and lacked any apparent offensive capability; the teeth were not sharp, and it was a harmless item he had brought from the real world.
However, Qin Xunfeng could alter the object’s data.
As Qin Xunfeng swung the chainsaw, he increased its length, width, thickness, and sharpness. The tiny, cute chainsaw that could fit in his palm instantly transformed into a sharp, powerful tool, and he struck fiercely at a point 20 centimeters above the reflected Mo Qi’s palm.
The intense light made it hard for Qin Xunfeng to see his surroundings, so he closed his eyes and attacked, feeling the chainsaw bite into something solid.
“I knew you’d come for the flashlight,” the reflected Mo Qi said with a smile. He redirected the flashlight towards Xia Yao’s eyes.
Without the intense light source, the terrifying brilliance from the infinite reflections and amplifications finally dissipated, and Qin Xunfeng could slowly begin to see again.
Qin Xunfeng was taken aback by Xia Yao’s severely burned appearance, which emitted a burnt odor.
“What happened to him?” Qin Xunfeng was shocked by Xia Yao’s condition.
“When I used the flashlight, he was hiding in the mirror,” the reflected Mo Qi explained. “I believe that to ensure his ability to move freely in and out of mirrors, his position must differ from Mo Qi’s. While Mo Qi is within the world of mirrors and we are outside, Xia Yao is within the mirror surface, existing in the same dimension as the reflected images in the mirror. In that dimension, light is extremely intense, releasing a massive amount of light and heat in an instant. The reflected images all disappeared, and he suffered severe burns.”
Xia Yao, who was being illuminated by the flashlight, screamed in agony. He tried to cover his eyes, but the reflected Mo Qi ruthlessly stepped on his hand.
“Quiet,” the reflected Mo Qi said. “I’m just trying to locate where your fragments are hidden within your body. Seeing how painful your eyes look, it seems I found the right spot right away.”
Qin Xunfeng asked, “Why are the fragments located in my reflected image’s chest, but in his eyes?”
“Probably because of the light,” the reflected Mo Qi said. “All control-based skills require a medium. To control these reflected images, Xia Yao needs a medium as well, and in this maze, light is the best medium.”
Qin Xunfeng understood. Just like a puppeteer uses strings to control puppets, Xia Yao needs a similar ‘line’ to control the reflected images. In this maze, the only special ‘line’ Xia Yao possesses is the mirror fragment he fused with, as mirror fragments serve as the light source here. With this ‘line,’ Xia Yao needs to connect it to the ‘puppet’ to control it. The most convenient connection is through visual sight. Therefore, Xia Yao most likely hid the fragment in his eyes, allowing him to control all reflected images within his line of sight.
Qin Xunfeng’s realization hit him hard. The calm, indifferent demeanor of the reflected Mo Qi contrasted starkly with the frantic, suffering Xia Yao. It became evident that Mo Qi’s reflection, while assisting them against Xia Yao, had its own agenda and wasn’t necessarily aligned with their interests.
The conflict in the maze was more complex than it initially seemed. Mo Qi and his reflection, despite being allies against Xia Yao, might not have the same goals as Qin Xunfeng and the others. With Xia Yao out of the way, they could potentially face an even more formidable adversary in the form of the indifferent, calculating reflected Mo Qi.
The balance between the three forces—players, Xia Yao, and the reflected Mo Qi—could shift dramatically. And as Qin Xunfeng glanced at the unfeeling reflection, he couldn’t shake the feeling that their fight was far from over and the true danger was yet to come.
Qin Xunfeng’s attempt to shield Xia Yao only highlighted the intensity of the situation. The severe scatter caused by the flashlight was distorting his perception, making it nearly impossible to distinguish reality from the afterimages.
In the midst of the blinding light and Xia Yao’s agony, the true nature of the reflected Mo Qi’s intentions became more apparent. The intense glare and the resulting chaos were not just collateral damage but a deliberate strategy to push Xia Yao to the brink.
Despite Qin Xunfeng’s efforts to help, the light’s scatter was making every move clumsy and inefficient. He needed to act quickly before the situation spiraled further out of control.
Qin Xunfeng’s quick action to blind Xia Yao was a critical move. With Xia Yao’s vision obstructed, the control he had over the mirror images through the light source was significantly diminished. The blinding light that once allowed Xia Yao to dominate the mirror maze was now neutralized.
As Qin Xunfeng secured the fabric over Xia Yao’s eyes, the reflection of Mo Qi watched with cold detachment. The intense pain and suffering inflicted upon Xia Yao, while strategically significant, exposed the ruthlessness that could be harnessed through mirror-based powers.
The situation was becoming increasingly complex. While Qin Xunfeng managed to neutralize Xia Yao’s immediate threat, the danger of mirror image Mo Qi’s true intentions lingered. The balance of power in the mirror maze had shifted, but the potential for new threats remained high.
Now, with Xia Yao’s control compromised and the light source neutralized, Qin Xunfeng and Mo Qi needed to rethink their strategy. The immediate threat was subdued, but the broader implications of mirror image Mo Qi’s capabilities posed a looming concern.
Even so, Qin Xunfeng still tied Xia Yao’s hands together with a knot that was determined to be the most difficult to untie by Big Data detection. He made sure Xia Yao couldn’t pull off the fabric strips before letting out a slight sigh of relief.
Qin Xunfeng looked up and said, “I thought you would kill him.”
The mirror image of Mo Qi cast a disdainful glance at Xia Yao: “Does he even deserve my first time?”
Qin Xunfeng: “???”
At that moment, the card used by Qin Xunfeng for collecting data suddenly gave him a prompt: [Collect the number and quality of fragments within the mirror image of Mo Qi.]
“What kind of data is this? Do you have mirror fragments inside you?” Qin Xunfeng asked.
“I don’t have reflections in the mirror; there’s no light source, so how could there be mirror fragments?” The mirror image of Mo Qi frowned. “What kind of fragments are you referring to?”
“Are there any other fragments?” Qin Xunfeng scratched his head. “It’s just that my card prompted me to collect data on the fragments inside you.”
The Mo Qi inside the mirror could hear their conversation. Upon hearing Qin Xunfeng’s words, he felt something was off. Just as he was about to establish a mental defense, he suddenly felt a massive psychic force invading his brain, rapidly searching for information about the bullet fragments.
He and the mirror image of Mo Qi were still in a state of resonance, allowing the mirror image to easily search certain memory fragments in his mind.
The mirror image of Mo Qi quickly understood the situation. He looked at Qin Xunfeng and said, “There’s a fragment hidden in your card…”
Qin Xunfeng was puzzled: “What fragment?”
The mirror image of Mo Qi replied, “If you die, this card will belong to Mo Qi.”
“…What are you planning to do?” Qin Xunfeng became cautious, stepping back and leaning against the mirror.
The mirror image of Mo Qi continued, “Speaking of which, Mo Qi is still trapped in the mirror. He needs to kill someone to get out. If you die, I can also get that card.”
At that moment, Qin Xunfeng felt that the mirror image of Mo Qi was genuinely intent on killing him. The eyes were cold and merciless, looking at him as if he were already a corpse.
Then, a voice came from within the mirror: “Are you sure you want him to be the first person you kill, rather than me?”
It was Mo Qi’s voice. Qin Xunfeng suddenly felt as though he was being protected.
“I certainly don’t want that.” The mirror image of Mo Qi looked toward the mirror from which the voice had come.
“Then let’s find another way out,” Mo Qi said. “I believe there must be other methods. If not, I can use a scene card to change the rules of the Mirror Maze and find another way to leave the mirror.”
“But his card is very unpleasant,” the mirror image of Mo Qi said.
Mo Qi sighed. Every fragment was the same, whether it was the dislike for other fragments or the obsession with him.
“Just because it bothers you, it’s better in his hands than in mine, isn’t it?” Mo Qi reassured.
The mirror image of Mo Qi considered this and agreed, “That’s true. It’s definitely better for it to be in his hands than yours.”
“Let’s first find a way to get out of the mirror,” Mo Qi said. “I hope we can exist within the same space.”
“Isn’t the rule of the Mirror Maze that you have to kill someone to leave the mirror? Can there really be another way?” Liang Tianxiu asked excitedly upon hearing there might be other methods.
“I’m not sure, but it’s worth a try,” Mo Qi replied.
“Try what?” Liang Tianxiu asked.
Mo Qi said, “Look for a completely dark mirror.”