Free Web NovelChapter 47: Chapter 47: Nightfall Over Mirror Reed Lake
After the Mirror Scale Lake Serpent fell, no team was in perfect condition.
Wei Chen’s shield had taken repeated impacts and showed visible cracks. Lin Xian’er’s team had lost several talismans during the reflection field. Zhao Tianyu’s group looked battered from both the west reed trap reversal and the central serpent fight. Several weaker teams had already withdrawn from the central lake area entirely, choosing to secure smaller resource posts rather than compete for the top.
Qin Yuheng’s team was tired, but stable.
Their biggest advantage was preparation.
The B Grade Water Barrier Talismans had prevented water disruption. The Lake Beast Repellent Powder had preserved movement routes. Qin Mo’s formation belt had reduced his mana burden, allowing him to continue functioning even after several setups. Qin Yuchen and Qin Lian’s upgraded equipment had improved efficiency without drawing too much attention.
The contest scoreboard updated above every badge.
[Current Team Ranking]
1. Qin Yuheng Team — 4,380
2. Wei Chen Team — 3,760
3. Lin Xian’er Team — 3,420
4. Zhao Tianyu Team — 3,310
5. He Jun Team — 2,900
Qin Mo looked at the ranking.
"We are first. We can hide now."
Qin Yuchen glanced at the sky. "Nightfall event may change scores."
Qin Mo looked betrayed. "Why did you remind him?"
Qin Yuheng studied the lake.
The sky above Mirror Reed Lake was darkening faster than natural. A cold wind moved through the silver reeds, making their reflections ripple in the water. The contest panel had not triggered the event yet, but the environment already showed signs.
"What will the event be?" Qin Lian asked.
Qin Yuheng looked at the remaining resource posts.
"Likely defense or survival. The notice mentioned nightfall wave event possible. Since this is a lake zone, beasts may attack resource posts or the central platform."
Qin Mo said, "Can we leave before it starts?"
"This is a contest, not a floor main mission. We can withdraw, but our score will freeze."
"That sounds acceptable."
"Not while Zhao is still close enough to surpass us."
Qin Mo sighed.
Zhao Tianyu approached from the other side of the platform.
His expression was controlled, but his eyes carried anger.
"Qin Yuheng."
Qin Yuheng turned.
"What?"
"During the west reed incident, did your team alter a trap?"
Qin Mo looked away innocently.
Qin Yuheng answered calmly, "We found a trap around a resource node and prevented it from harming us."
Zhao Tianyu’s jaw tightened.
"That trap was not yours to touch."
Qin Yuheng looked at him.
"Then it was yours?" ƒгeewebnovёl.com
The surrounding students immediately quieted.
Zhao Tianyu realized his mistake.
Lin Xian’er smiled faintly from a distance.
Wei Chen frowned.
Zhao Tianyu forced his expression back under control.
"I meant, contest formations can be unstable. Altering them may endanger others."
Qin Yuheng’s voice remained even.
"Then whoever placed it should have been more careful."
Zhao Tianyu took one step forward.
The contest badge flashed warning yellow.
Han Shuren’s remote voice sounded through the observer crystal.
"Zhao Tianyu. This is your only warning."
Zhao Tianyu stopped.
His face turned ugly.
Qin Yuheng did not press further.
There was no need.
The exchange had already exposed enough.
At that moment, the lake bell rang.
A deep sound spread across the entire contest zone.
The sky darkened fully.
The panel flashed.
[Nightfall Event Activated]
[Mirror Beast Tide approaching.]
[All occupied resource posts will be attacked.]
[Teams may choose to defend current post, retreat, or contest other posts.]
[Additional points awarded based on defense success, beast kills, and post integrity.]
Qin Mo stared at the panel.
"Again with waves."
Qin Yuheng looked around.
The central platform counted as a resource post.
And because they held the Mirror Lake Spirit Lotus claim, their team was considered the central post’s primary defender.
That meant the strongest wave might come here.
Wei Chen walked over.
"We should cooperate."
Qin Yuheng nodded. "Agreed."
Lin Xian’er also approached. "If the central platform falls, everyone nearby loses scoring potential."
Zhao Tianyu said coldly, "Temporary cooperation."
Qin Mo whispered, "My least favorite kind."
Qin Yuheng quickly arranged positions.
Wei Chen’s team would hold the front bridge.
Zhao Tianyu’s team would hold the right reed path.
Lin Xian’er’s team would control the left and use mist techniques to disrupt beast movement.
Qin Yuheng’s team would hold the center and respond to breaches.
This arrangement placed Qin Yuheng in command without openly saying it.
Zhao Tianyu disliked it, but after the serpent fight, arguing would make him look foolish.
The first wave came from beneath the water.
Mirror Scale Water Lizards climbed onto the platform edges. Reed Serpents slithered across the bridges. Small silver fish-like beasts leaped from the lake, their scales cutting like blades.
The platform erupted into battle.
Wei Chen blocked the largest beasts at the front bridge, shield glowing gray. Zhao Tianyu fought aggressively on the right, smashing lizards back into the water. Lin Xian’er’s team used mist ribbons to confuse smaller beasts and push them toward kill zones.
Qin Yuheng moved wherever pressure rose.
Thunder Shadow Flash allowed him to cross the platform quickly, but he used it sparingly to avoid exhaustion. Qin Yuchen and Qin Lian fought near the center, eliminating beasts that slipped through. Qin Mo maintained three formation nodes that stabilized footing and repelled water surges.
The first wave ended with moderate damage.
[Central Resource Post Integrity: 82%]
[Defense Score +600]
The second wave began ten minutes later.
This time, reflection beasts appeared.
They looked like copies of students, formed from lake water and silver mist. Their movements were imperfect but unsettling. A reflection of Qin Yuchen attacked from the left. A reflection of Zhao Tianyu charged from the right. A reflection of Qin Yuheng appeared near the central lotus platform.
Qin Mo stared at the water copy of Qin Yuheng.
"That is terrible."
The reflection Qin Yuheng moved.
It used a crude imitation of Thunder Shadow Flash.
Not as fast.
But similar enough to shock observers.
Qin Yuheng’s eyes narrowed.
The mirror lake had recorded his movement skill during the serpent fight.
Could reflection beasts imitate observed techniques?
If so, the longer they fought, the more dangerous the event became.
"Destroy reflections quickly!" he shouted.
The reflection Qin Yuheng rushed toward Qin Mo.
Qin Yuheng intercepted it.
Their swords clashed.
The reflection’s power was weaker, but it had no fear and no hesitation. Its face was blank, its eyes silver.
Qin Yuheng watched its movement carefully.
The imitation was shallow.
It copied the outer form, not the internal thunder circulation.
He cut through its rhythm and pierced its chest.
The reflection dissolved into water.
A message flashed.
[Personal reflection defeated.]
[Evaluation increased.]
Other teams struggled more.
Zhao Tianyu became furious when his own reflection copied his Crimson Beast Break. He overcommitted and nearly struck one of his teammates. Wei Chen handled his reflection calmly, shield against shield, crushing it with patience. Lin Xian’er used illusion against reflection, causing her copy to lose target direction.
The second wave ended with more damage.
[Central Resource Post Integrity: 67%]
[Defense Score +850]
The final wave came without pause.
The lake surface rose.
Dozens of beasts gathered.
At the center of the water, a large mirror-like orb formed. Inside it, the shape of the defeated Mirror Scale Lake Serpent flickered.
Qin Mo’s face went pale.
"No. Not again."
The panel flashed.
[Final Nightfall Wave]
[Mirror Serpent Remnant forming.]
[Destroy the remnant core before it stabilizes.]
Qin Yuheng immediately understood.
If the remnant stabilized, they would face another serpent-like boss while exhausted.
The core had to be destroyed first.
It floated above the lake, protected by waves of beasts and mirror shields.
Qin Yuheng looked at Wei Chen, Lin Xian’er, and Zhao Tianyu.
"We break a path. I strike the core."
Zhao Tianyu’s face darkened. "Why you?"
"Because I am fastest."
No one refuted it.
Wei Chen raised his shield. "I open the front."
Lin Xian’er said, "I can bind the mirror shields for three breaths."
Zhao Tianyu clenched his fists. "I will clear the right side."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
"Go."
They moved together.
Wei Chen charged first, shield smashing aside lake beasts.
Zhao Tianyu erupted with crimson force, clearing the right flank.
Lin Xian’er’s mist ribbons wrapped around the mirror shields, slowing their rotation.
Qin Mo activated a Water Barrier Talisman under Qin Yuheng’s feet.
Qin Yuchen and Qin Lian blocked pursuing beasts.
Qin Yuheng used Thunder Shadow Flash.
First burst: across the platform.
Second burst: onto a floating wooden fragment.
Third burst: above the lake surface.
His legs screamed from strain.
But he reached the core.
The mirror shields began to close.
Qin Yuheng released controlled violet-gold thunder through the Black Thunder Pattern Sword.
He struck.
The blade pierced the mirror orb.
For a moment, his reflection appeared inside the core, staring back at him.
Then the reflection cracked.
Thunder exploded.
The Mirror Serpent Remnant shattered before stabilizing.
A wave of silver light swept across the lake.
All remaining beasts weakened sharply.
The final wave collapsed.
The contest panel appeared.
[Final Nightfall Wave cleared.]
[Central Resource Post defended.]
[Major contribution recorded.] freewebnσvel.cøm
The scoreboard updated.
[Final Contest Ranking]
1. Qin Yuheng Team — 7,920
2. Wei Chen Team — 6,840
3. Lin Xian’er Team — 6,210
4. Zhao Tianyu Team — 5,980
5. He Jun Team — 4,700
Qin Mo sat down immediately.
"First place. We are leaving. No discussion."
This time, Qin Yuheng smiled.
"Yes. We are leaving."
The contest exit light descended.
As they returned to the academy, Qin Yuheng looked at the Mirror Lake Spirit Lotus in his inventory.
Another cleansing resource.
Another evolution opportunity.
And perhaps another small step toward healing his father.
