After opening his eyes, Luo Wei found himself back in that pristine underground research laboratory once again.
【Chapter 3: The Shadow of Hegraes】
【Save Point: Divine Research Institute, Basement Level 2】
【Number of Read-Back Attempts: 3/5】
Tilis paused in confusion in front of the table.
Following the same pattern as the previous two times, she dispelled her Illusion Magic, and the table transformed back into the small box she had left behind.
Taking advantage of the moment while Tilils was merging with her memory avatar, Luo Wei quietly left his spot.
He made his way to the "Soul Extraction Procedure" operating table and immediately began rummaging through the cabinets.
Soon, he found the bottles of anesthetic drugs and stuffed them all into his pockets.
These potent drugs, specially developed by the Magic Brotherhood, were so strong that Luo Wei felt they could knock out a whole herd of elephants...
By the time he had completed all the steps of his plan, Tilils still hadn't finished her process, giving Luo Wei some time to check on the battle outside.
Pressing his ear against the wall, he listened carefully. The sounds of chaos outside indicated that the enemy had already engaged with the president, and all the mages from the Magic Brotherhood seemed to be rushing to assist.
The corridor was filled with the sounds of fighting and screams of pain. It seemed that the president was indeed quite a formidable opponent.
Luo Wei considered the president's ability to grow stronger after devouring others, wondering if he might end up becoming a final boss-level antagonist. That would be troublesome...
As he thought this, Tilils's questioning voice suddenly echoed from behind him.
"Luo Wei, what are you doing here?"
Luo Wei froze for a moment, then turned to her with a smile.
"It's chaotic out there, and I'm worried about the safety of this place."
Tilis could sense the commotion outside. She frowned.
"It's that president..."
"...but don't worry," she said with a light smile, "It can't cause any trouble. Once we're done here, I'll take care of it."
It was clear that Tilils was very confident in her own strength.
Luo Wei didn't say anything, merely nodding in agreement. "Alright then."
Tilis took Luo Wei's hand and brought him back to their previous location.
"Aren't you curious about what I just saw?"
"Of course I am. Tell me about it," Luo Wei said, looking at her with a smile.
Tilis narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"Why do I feel like you already know everything..."
Luo Wei just smiled faintly. He certainly knew everything.
Tilis stared intently at Luo Wei's expression, feeling increasingly uneasy.
"Luo Wei..."
She watched in confusion as Luo Wei's next actions unfolded.
"Why are you putting on that mask? What are you...?"
Luo Wei gazed into Tilils's bewildered purple eyes and suddenly recited a spell in silence.
All the crystal stones lit up simultaneously.
Tilis was completely caught off guard by Luo Wei's sudden use of magic right in front of her, and she was momentarily stunned.
Perhaps due to underestimating him, she never imagined that Luo Wei could pose any threat to her, so she hesitated for a moment.
"Luo Wei! What are you playing at? You...!"
Suddenly, she began to cough violently.
At the same time, her consciousness grew foggy. Tilils was shocked as she saw her surroundings begin to change.
A thick cloud of mist rose, quickly engulfing both of them.
Luo Wei stepped back cautiously, watching Tilis's reactions closely.
When she realized something was wrong, she immediately tried to cast a spell to dispel the mist, but it was already too late.
The high-concentration anesthetic had already been inhaled, and Tilis frantically searched for Luo Wei within the mist, her body swaying unsteadily.
"Luo Wei!! Do you even know what you're doing? Luo—!"
The more agitated she became, the more mist she breathed in.
With a dull thud, Tilils' body collapsed to the ground.
Hidden within the mist, Luo Wei slowly approached. Kneeling down, he poked Tilils's cheek.
She remained motionless, completely unconscious.
Luo Wei breathed a sigh of relief, waving his hand to cancel the crystal magic he had practiced countless times—the only magic he knew how to use.
As the mist gradually dissipated, Luo Wei removed the beak-like mask.
He glanced around the corners of the room, where he had placed several vials of open liquid, creating a prepared trap around Tilis.
Tilis thought she was setting a trap for Luo Wei, but in fact, she had fallen into his "sleep spell."
Achieving this wasn't easy. With Tilils's level of magical prowess and her arsenal of high-end equipment, she could easily defeat a hundred Luo Wei in a second.
But Tilils had underestimated him.
She was too confident, too arrogant. In her eyes, someone like Luo Wei, with no magical talent, was nothing more than a toy to be toyed with. She simply didn't believe he could pose any threat to her.
Of course, the most important factor was the advantage of reading the past records, the asymmetry of information.
No matter how much Tilils thought about it, she couldn't have imagined that Luo Wei, who had just walked into the lab seemingly clueless, already knew everything...
Luo Wei lifted Tilils's slender body and placed her on the operating table.
Tilis's eyebrows furrowed slightly, as if she were having an unsettling dream.
He gently stroked her cheek. Defenseless, Tilils's peaceful sleeping expression was a stark contrast to her earlier violent, raving demeanor.
"This is what happens when you calm down." Luo Wei chuckled and leaned against the side of the operating table in a comfortable position.
Then, closing his eyes, he tried to catch a quick nap.
He didn't need to enter a deep sleep, though; it was still dangerous outside, and he needed to be ready to wake up at any moment.
This was the first time Luo Wei had unleashed the ability he gained after containing Ophelia. After learning all of Tilils's plans, his counterattack was now fully prepared.
【Dreamscape】
【A dream world constructed from the subconscious, capable of connecting to the Dreamspace where the ancient god Nodens resides, or creating a localized micro-version. It can draw in corresponding targets, and when they awaken, the Dreamscape ends. (Dreamscape causes irreversible psychological effects on the subconscious; use with caution. Do not explore the true nature of the Dreamscape, or a Sanity Check will be triggered...)】
Without realizing it, Luo Wei's consciousness began to blur.
In the haze, he found himself in a bizarre, fantastical world. He also saw Tilils at the center of this world, lost and wandering aimlessly in search of something.
Luo Wei took a deep breath and gently tapped Tilils's shoulder.
Tilis turned sharply, and upon seeing Luo Wei, the confusion in her eyes began to fade. She broke into a cheerful smile.
"Luo Wei, I finally found you!"
She threw herself into Luo Wei's arms excitedly, bursting into tears.
"Where have you been? I looked everywhere and couldn't find you. Where did you go?!"
Luo Wei gently patted her back, comforting her like a child.
"Don't cry, you found me, didn't you?"