Appearing in the mirror were two small figures—a little green dumpling and a little black dumpling. They grew up together, inseparable, and Pardo recognized their identities immediately.
Without a doubt, the little black dumpling was Fu Li. However, compared to the Fu Li she knew, this one appeared somewhat tender and immature, completely lacking that mysterious, mature aura he usually carried.
As for the little green dumpling... to be honest, Pardo didn't recognize her at first. It was only after seeing them step into the realm of science together that the image overlapped with another figure in her memories.
"This is? Fu Li and Mobius? How is that possible?"
Pardo's eyes widened slightly. She looked at the scene in disbelief and murmured, "No, this is impossible. This isn't the Fu Li I know."
"I remember very clearly. I grew up with him on Twilight Street. Since the age of eight, we have almost never left each other's side."
Seeing Pardo's reaction, Black Pardo curled her lips into a wicked smirk and affirmed, "That's right. You indeed haven't been apart from Li since you were eight. But do you really think I brought you here just to show you a lie that could be popped like a bubble?"
"What do you mean?"
Pardo frowned, her fists clenching unconsciously. However, Black Pardo ignored her, staring blankly at the image in the mirror as she slowly spoke:
"Why don't you keep watching? You'll find out soon enough."
Damn it...
This guy... using my face to put on such a hypocritical, pitiful expression.
Pardo stopped speaking and watched in silence. She watched until Fu Li took Klein's place to become the Herrscher of the Thousand, only to be pierced through by Mobius's spikes due to an inescapable fate of death.
"Do you see?" Black Pardo sighed softly, explaining, "This was the first time he bore the fate of Domination. Just to save Klein. Just so his 'sister' wouldn't lose the one person who understood her."
"He was so weak back then, yet for the sake of those he cared about, he willingly gave everything."
"No, Herrscher of Domination, you're talking nonsense."
"No, 'other me,' you know I'm not lying."
"No! This can't be something that happened! You're lying to me!"
Pardo practically grit her teeth as she forced the words out. She noticed that her emotions were starting to spiral out of control.
But in her heart, she knew clearly that her loss of control wasn't for any other reason than the fact that, for some unknown reason, she inexplicably believed deep down that this was something that actually happened.
This inexplicable cognition began to make her panic. At the same time, some form of invisible thought began to wrap around her, binding her.
"I actually wish it were a lie."
Black Pardo didn't argue further. She simply moved silently to the next mirror and looked at Pardo.
Pardo, pinned by that gaze, stood there for a long while before quietly inching over to the mirror to look at the images within.
This time, Fu Li was a wealthy young master. He met a still-young Eden at a banquet. They made a promise, and years later, he followed through, becoming Eden's manager and partner.
They should have been a perfect couple, like deities descending to the mortal realm. But because Fu Li explored forbidden taboos, he became corrupted and polluted, eventually falling during the battle on the Moon.
And the reason for his fall was precisely to save Pardo and Kalpas.
The image in the mirror faded, and a look of sorrow surfaced in Black Pardo's eyes.
"Look, Pardo. To save you, Fu Li sacrificed his own life. From that moment on, we all owed him a life."
"Where is the next mirror?"
Pardo's voice was somewhat hoarse. Her clenched fists slowly loosened, appearing somewhat powerless.
"Follow me."
The two of them walked slowly to the next mirror. The third time, the one intimately connected with Fu Li was Aponia. It was also the first time he fully revealed his love for those around him.
But in his attempt to save Elysia, during his second attempt to tamper with fate, he was finally caught by the Honkai God, and thus shackled with the chains named "Herrscher of Domination."
Pardo remained silent. Witnessing Fu Li's death once again, the memories of the past began to loosen. She recalled those sealed memories.
Although the memories still appeared as fragmented blurs, she could be certain: everything in the mirrors was real.
And the fourth time... Fu Li was Hua's brother. At the final moment, he clearly had the chance to return to hibernation with them, yet he stubbornly insisted on using his life as the price to touch the secret of the "End" (Finality).
As for the result... although he succeeded, he once again paid with his life.
The light in Pardo's eyes gradually dissipated. Replacing it was a despair and pain flowing from the depths of her gaze, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
Perhaps due to the environment, Pardo felt countless dark thoughts in her heart being magnified in this moment. A maddening impulse was urging her to do something.
"Who is in the next mirror?"
Her tone was very calm. But it was precisely this calmness that made Black Pardo smile, spitting out the answer she had expected.
"It is you, Pardo."
"Is it... me?"
This time, without needing Black Pardo to lead the way, she arrived before the final mirror.
In the mirror, bits and pieces of her time with Li flashed by. Those happy times, gone forever, floated before her eyes one by one.
The first time going to restock goods with Li, the first time sunbathing with Li, the first time napping in his arms, the first time taking a photo with him...
In this life, she had given so many of her "firsts" to Li. But Li cared for more than just her. Before her, there were a full four other women with whom he had deep relationships.
"Now you know, Pardo." Black Pardo slowly stepped forward, looking at Pardo, and spoke in a tone she had never used before: "All of a person's suffering is, essentially, anger at their own incompetence."
"And Pardo, I am not a Herrscher. I am merely a Herrscher personality formed from the unwillingness in the depths of your heart. My love for Li is equal to yours, but in the end, I am nothing but a phantom."
"So, what exactly is your goal?"
The angrier she got, the calmer Pardo became. She looked at Black Pardo, waiting for her answer.
Black Pardo smiled, slowly extending her hand. A pure black Herrscher Core, emitting an ominous aura, appeared in her palm.
"This is the Core of the Herrscher of Domination. Formed from the alienation of resentment, it not only possesses half the authority of the Herrscher of Domination, but it will also drastically increase your strength."
"Your current life is not over yet. Will you possess the power to protect him within this space, keeping him here until the Finality slumbers? Or will you allow him to continue exploring the limits of the End, until he dies once again?"
Pardo did not speak. She simply reached out her hand, bit by bit. Just as her fingertips were about to touch the Core, she suddenly stopped.
"If I take the Core, what will happen to you?"
"Me? Perhaps I will die." Black Pardo smiled faintly, without a trace of fear. "But what does death matter to me?"