Deceitful Game

Chapter 263 Four-Phase Mirror

The four bright amber beads gradually faded and disappeared along with the mist.

There was something new on the sofa in front of Mingpo.

It was a small mirror, about the size of a palm.

"Is this... a treasure?"

Mingpo murmured softly as she picked it up.

The moment Mingpo touched it, she knew its name and function.

Its name is [Four-phase Mirror (4/4)].

By simply opening this mirror and gazing at one's reflection for four seconds, one can temporarily seal oneself inside it. Simultaneously, a self-image in one of four states—"joy," "anger," "sorrow," or "happiness"—will be randomly released. The image will remain active for a maximum of four minutes. There will be no casting animations when attempting to use the substitute; it will be as if Mingpo has remained motionless the entire time.

The mirror image behaves exactly as shown in the game.

From the outside, the mirror image is exactly the same as Mingpo. This similarity cannot be detected by any means, and it can inherit 100% of Mingpo's thinking ability and combat power.

When the manifestation ends or when Mingbo actively terminates the manifestation, the mirror image will be replaced by Mingbo in place, without any changes. However, if it suffers enough damage to cause bleeding, the mirror image of this "face" will shatter permanently.

If the mirror image shatters, the real Amber will appear four seconds later from the location where the Four Phases Mirror is currently.

From this perspective, this can be considered a substitute scarecrow that can be used four times. If the mirror and the reflection are separate, you can also get a free teleport after the substitute dies.

However... there are significant risks involved in using a body double.

Because if Mingbo were sealed and the mirror itself were destroyed, Mingbo would die instantly. Here, "destroyed" only refers to the "shattering of the mirror surface".

This mirror is just as hard as a regular makeup mirror. It could shatter even if dropped on the ground. Not to mention bullets or explosions.

This means that if Mingpo uses her ability while wearing the mirror, the resulting mirror image can indeed absorb a fatal blow for Mingpo, but then the mirror image will shatter, causing the mirror to fall to the ground. In extreme cases, a single area-of-effect attack could destroy both the mirror and its mirror image simultaneously... and perhaps these damages wouldn't even be fatal to Mingpo's original body.

For example, the damage from machine gun fire or the explosion damage from landmines.

Mingpo clicked her tongue.

...How should I put it? It seems to be particularly useful in certain situations, but it also carries considerable risks.

Something that's a bit of a gimmick but also has real value.

Mingpo thought about it and felt that its most useful feature was in covering the rear.

Split off a mirror image, have it guard this spot, and then hand the mirror containing the "original body" to the teammates who are retreating together.

As long as you don't get hurt, the mirror image won't shatter easily. Then, if you manage to get it destroyed, you can teleport away by sacrificing one mirror image.

For a mirror image that is incredibly fragile, the probability of it getting hurt is not very high.

Mingpo glanced back at Liao Tinglan, and a thought popped into her mind.

"curious?"

He casually handed the mirror to Liao Tinglan: "Here, take a look."

"What is this? Is this a treasure?"

She took the mirror and opened it, looking at herself with some confusion: "But how do I see myself...?"

Liao Tinglan abruptly stopped mid-sentence.

Two seconds later, she slowly uttered the second half of her sentence.

"...It's just an ordinary mirror...sob."

She stood motionless, then suddenly her eyes filled with tears, and she slowly squatted down.

Immediately afterwards, tears welled up in her eyes.

"What's wrong?"

Mingpo asked calmly.

"N-I don't know..."

She hugged herself tightly, wiping away her tears, and said, "I just... I suddenly feel so sad..."

"Section Chief Ming... is its only purpose to make people sad? And what's the point of this...?"

"Oh, I see."

Seeing her so sad, Mingpo laughed.

He extended two fingers and took the mirror back from Liao Tinglan's hand.

She offered no symbolic resistance, allowing Mingpo to retrieve the mirror.

Mingpo extended her left middle finger and gently tapped the forehead of the girl squatting on the ground.

"Alright, come back now."

"……Varied……?"

When Liao Tinglan realized what was happening, she suddenly stopped being sad.

But she still didn't understand what had happened. She just wiped away her tears, and her previously choked voice slowly became clearer: "What? Come back? I... wait? I think..."

"You've been a great help, Tinglan."