Single Wish: Rise Of The Omniscient Paragon
Chapter 839 839: 836: The Second Night (3)

"Damn it."

As Zeke cursed, Yara's hand gripped the doorknob. But just as she was about to turn it, a voice drifted into her ears.

"Yara, stop."

Kieran's voice was low and calm, but firm. His hand gripped her shoulder, then moved down to her wrist.

"Let go," Yara hissed through her teeth, but her voice was shaky and hoarse.

"Think," Kieran said as he moved between her and the door. "That's not your sister, Yara. You know that."

"We know what happened between you and her. We know that she's gone... You know she's gone, Yara. Don't be emotional and rash."

A scowl appeared on Yara's face, "I should not be rash and emotional? I'm perfectly fine now!"

"The fire didn't touch her! So she was asleep! We buried her when she was in a deep sleep but she survived. She survived!"

Kieran gave her a sad look. "She's dead, Yara."

Yara vehemently shook her head. "No! No, she's not! You heard her!"

Zeke and Myra were already approaching from behind.

"Yara," Myra said softly. "Please. That thing outside... it's not her. You haven't even seen what is speaking. For all we know, it's a monster that's playing tricks on us."

"But her voice." Yara muttered. "The way she said my name. The way she talked. The way she knocks... Everything is the same."

"Yara, calm down." Aelric said.

However, Yara shook her head.

"Let me just take a quick peek. A quick peek and that's all. I need to know if it's really her."

"Yara." Kieran grabbed her only arm.

She snapped while yanking her arm out of his hands. "Leave me!"

Myra, Zeke, and Aelric were about to act, but then...

Tap Tap

Soft taps resounded from the window.

Everyone turned.

The girl, Lili, now stood outside the cracked windowpane. Her smile remained soft. Her voice was quiet but carried clearly through the glass.

"Yara... do you remember the Lotus Game?"

Yara froze, and her lips trembled.

"We used to play it every summer. You said it was the only game where I could beat you at because it depended on luck."

"We'd run around the garden pond, throwing petals into the water, remember?"

"Stop..." Yara fell to her knees.

"One time, I slipped and fell in, and you jumped in after me, even though you hated cold water. You caught a fever the next day... and Mama grounded you."

Tears poured freely down Yara's cheeks.

"That was... that was real... that all happened. She remembers. She's the real Lili... The real Lili." she said amidst chokes and sobs while looking at Lili who was smiling calmly at her behind the glass window.

"Play with me again, Yaya. Just one more time... I forgive you for what happened. I don't blame you at all."

Yara began to shake uncontrollably.

Zeke muttered, "This is so messed up."

Aelric had a grim look. "Her energy's spiking, and her mana flow's irregular. This is getting dangerous."

Kieran had a deep frown as he looked at Lili whose eyes were only on Yara.

His eyes flashed, and his gaze became dark.

Myra walked to his side, and whispered softly.

"So? What did you see? An illusion or not?"

Kieran remained quiet for a few seconds, and then he grimly replied. "It doesn't look like an illusion."

Myra's expression became extremely solemn, and her gaze shifted to Lili.

"If you're saying it doesn't look like an illusion... Then it's either a very powerful illusion or... it's real, and she's really Lili."

Kieran's frown did not ease. "We both know the answer to that."

He looked at Myra.

"Lili has been dead for years. We both know that it makes no sense for her to suddenly appear in a system trial of all places."

Myra looked at the trembling and crying Yara with pity and worry. "But what if the system trial is a place where one can meet their dead loved ones. What if we just allow-"

Kieran shook his head, and immediately cut her off. "Don't even think about it. This is an extremely dangerous system trial, and you want to take such a risk during the most dangerous time of the system trial?"

"You know what we faced on the First Night. There's no sign of any other living thing apart from that... thing outside. What should that tell you?"

Myra looked at Lili. "That she's extremely dangerous. Dangerous to the point where only one of her is enough to rival a horde of abominations and monsters."

Kieran nodded his head with a dark gaze. "We remain in here, and we're not leaving at all... We need to survive."

Zeke suddenly approached them, and then he crossed his arms. "I agree with the captain, but what are we going to do about her?"

He pointed at Yara. "Can we knock her out? Tier her? Or are we gonna wait till she throws a dagger at one of us?"

"Zeke!" Myra snapped. "How can you say that about your fellow teammate?"

"I'm serious! She's not thinking straight. We either tie her up or knock her out!"

"We're not tying her up like a criminal," Aelric frowned.

"Alright. Alright." Zeke raised his hands, and then he looked at Lili who had the same gentle smile as her gaze never left Yara.

"I wish I could just shoot her to show that she's a fake." He muttered, and he felt a glare coming from Myra.

His lips twitched, and then he shrugged. "I vote knockout if we're not going to tie her up. Who's doing it?"

"I will," Kieran said without hesitation, and then he moved closer to Yara.

Just then, the girl outside said something that made the last bit of hesitation in Yara's heart and mind snap.

"Yara... why did you leave me in the fire? And why did you bury me when I was alive?"

Her pupils shrank, and then she screamed.

In a sudden burst of power, she spun around and elbowed Kieran in the ribs with her mana coating her elbow.

He stumbled back with a grunt.

"Yara!" Myra shouted.

"See! I told you!" Zeke cursed as he got into a defensive position.

Yara's eyes glowed faintly, and her shadow moved. She swiped her arm, and her shadow became a claw that sent shadow slashes towards Myra, Aelric, Zeke, Kieran, and Corey.

The attack sent Myra and Aelric staggering backward as they blocked it.

Corey merely took a step to the side with a calm and indifferent expression.

Zeke dodged it, and then he raised his pistol but hesitated.

Yara lunged for the door, wanting to smash through it.

She almost reached it.

Almost.

But a hand grabbed her collar and yanked her backward.

She gasped as her feet left the ground.

Then a leg swept her feet.

And she slammed into the floor hard, her breath leaving her lungs.

A heavy foot pinned her chest, and the source of the foot was revealed.

Corey.

He looked down at her, but his gaze was completely indifferent and calm.

He raised two fingers, and waved them.

Words made out fire appeared beside him. Yara read it out loud.

"You want to see your sister? Die. I'm sure she's waiting."