As the Blood Moon Wheel tore open the rift, Luna curled up in Ankeli, counting her heartbeats.
The Carved Window Lattice, embedded with a purple Contract Symbol, oozed tiny fragments of glowing light. She bit down on the swaddling cloth embroidered with rose patterns, the unique Light Gold blood of infants spreading the bitter fragrance of Star Sand between her teeth.
"Madam, the Alarm Barrier has completely failed!" Qin Si's voice pierced through the Dark Compartment, and Luna saw a shattered purple Skirt flash by outside the observation hole.
The venomous lizard vines that would wrap around Mother’s neck in the Original were now climbing up the Maid's Pearl Necklace.
The baby's Loud Cry pierced through the chaos as Luna slapped the blood-stained Palm against the inner wall of the Dark Compartment.
When Aelia flung open the door to the Dark Compartment, she reached out her small hand adorned with a Hexagram Birthmark, precisely grasping Mother’s dangling Emerald Earrings.
“Luna, don’t be afraid.” Aelia’s Fingertip gathered white light from Healing Art, but it suddenly dissipated upon touching her daughter— the infant pressed the Moonstone Earrings against her Heart, and on the surface of the emerald emerged a Magic Reflection of Leonard and the Red-Haired Witch kissing in the Alchemical Chamber.
The Nursery’s Iris wallpaper began to peel away, revealing a dense layer of Mama’s Western Venomous Serpent behind it.
Luna felt Mother’s arms around her suddenly stiffen. In Aelia's pale purple Pupil, details blurred by Love Magic for ten years began to sharpen once more.
“Mother, look.” Luna drew a twisted Ancient Demon Script on the swaddling cloth with Star Sand. Aelia's Guardian Necklace around her Neck shattered in response, revealing an inner layer of Ankeli's faded Marriage Contract—where the Twin Curse should have been was instead branded with a Serpent Mark of One-Way Loyalty Curse.
The castle suddenly shook violently, and Luna was wrapped in a cloak embroidered with Defensive Charm by Aelia.
As they burst through the corridor swirling with poisonous mist, the baby caught sight of Three Brothers rushing against the tide of fleeing people through a Gap in her swaddling.
The eldest brother's Dark Magic Tendrils at his severed limb glowed with an unnatural Purple Light. The Second Brother's modified Defensive Formation patterns crawled across Blood Vein, while Brother San’s Fingertip spun crystalline ice wrapped in Black Scale Powder unique to the Western Realm.
“Mother, watch out for Contract Backlash!” The eldest brother's Magic Wheelchair crashed into an Obsidian Pillar in the corridor, while Silver Blue Tentacles formed a barrier to block falling Poison Lizard Eggs.
Those Soul Insect Eggs that would cause his body to rot in the Original now burned into scars adorned with Amethyst scales on the surface of Tentacles.
Aelia shoved Luna into Eldest Son’s arms. As she turned around, Pale Flame swept from her Skirt to the Dome.
On the melting Stained Glass above them emerged a Blood Pact Totem signed by Leonard and the Western Witch.
Luna took the opportunity to pull open her elder brother's shirt, her small hands, dusted with Star Sand, pressing against the Curse Mark on his Heart.
"Listen, Brother." The infant emitted a sound imbued with the ancient rhythm of a Spell, and suddenly, Orlando's severed limb felt a coolness wash over it.
He saw the Amethyst scales swimming within his Dark Magic Tendrils, revealing the unique Iris Crest of their Father's magic in the golden light of his sister's Palm.
A roar echoed through the castle as the Contract shattered. Outside the Ocean Wave Barrier that Second Brother Raymond had erected, the Blood Moon Wheel had already consumed two-thirds of the tower.
Luna suddenly broke free from her swaddling and dashed toward the corner of the corridor amidst her brothers' panicked shouts—there hung the Magic Portrait that Leonard had given to Aelia last year.
As the bloodied Milk Tooth of the infant bit into the edge of the Frame, the hidden Western Serpent Pattern Contract exploded with a thunderous sound.
Amidst the splattering purple Crystal Fragments, Luna used Star Sand to draw a spell revealing the truth in the void. Behind the Lord smiling tenderly in the Image, a figure slowly emerged—the Red-Haired Witch holding a baby.
"Father gave a Bloodline Blessing to the children of the Western Realm..." Brother San Alger's Ice Crystal Staff suddenly froze. The Talent Detection Array he had improved for ten years reflected a misleading Curse belonging to their Father within his sister's blood.
Aelia's Firestorm broke through the Dome at that moment. Amongst the swirling Ashes in the moonlight, Luna saw Mother remove that Wedding Ring she had worn for fifteen years.
As the ring fell into the Magic Furnace, her elder brother's Dark Magic Tendrils surged violently, and from his Silver-Blue Veins erupted a Purple Light charged with thunderous energy.
"Mother, East Tower..." Luna anxiously gestured while clutching Aelia's Pearl Necklace. Suddenly, from somewhere in the castle came a baby's Loud Cry resonating with Magic Resonance.
Just as Eldest Son was about to speak, he let out a muffled groan. The Iris Crest on his Wheelchair Armrest, which he had deformed with his grip, began to ooze a Dark Purple Liquid identical to that of Western Realm's poisonous lizard scales.
Silver Blue Tentacles writhed madly at Orlando's severed limb, each vein bursting forth with lightning in an Iris Pattern.
With her Fingertip still coated in Star Sand, Luna grasped at the third Button that had popped open on her brother's shirt and bit down on that Silver Button engraved with their Family Crest using her Milk Tooth.
The Loud Cry of a Western Realm infant pierced through stone walls, condensing into tiny Purple-Black Ice Crystals at Orlando's Temples.
"Father used my Magic Circuit as a filter." Orlando suddenly spoke up. The Wheelchair Armrest melted into Silver Water beneath his Palm. "All these years, the Magic Energy dying from backlash has been flowing towards the illegitimate child of Western Realm." His Tentacles pierced into the corridor wall, following along remnants of Contracts hidden in stone crevices, accurately ensnaring a fleeing Transmission Sprite.
The Purple Light Cluster exploded between his Tentacles. Leonard's soothing Love Words for Aelia mixed with the baby's cries, pouring down like torrential rain upon everyone's Eardrum.
Raymond's Ocean Wave Barrier suddenly surged with Blood Mist, and memories of his best friend's Poison Curse hidden in a Birthday Card flashed back in his mind from ten years ago.
He tore open the cuff embroidered with the Defensive Formation pattern, revealing the still-visible Contract Scar on the inner side of his Forearm. "The Second Young Master's Defensive Formation can withstand external enemies, but it cannot guard against the Poison Apple handed over by a loved one." He bit into his Fingertip and began to redraw the formation in the air. As his blood touched the Star Sand Track laid out by Luna earlier, the entire barrier abruptly reversed, pushing back the toxic mist that had seeped into the Western Realm toward the tower.
Alger's Ice Crystal Staff emitted a Cracking sound as he stared at the misleading Curse swirling within his Magic Circuit, suddenly thrusting the staff into the Ground.
The Ice Layer spread from his Boot Sole, freezing all the melting Poison Lizard Eggs in the corridor. "Third Young Master Lucius improved the Talent Detection Array thirty-seven times," he said self-deprecatingly as he tore off the Blue Sapphire Brooch from his collar, "but never once tested the pumpkin soup he drinks every day." The gem shattered in his Palm, mixing with the Star Sand that Luna had brushed against his clothing, creating an image of Father adding magical materials to his Meal over the past decade.
Aelia's Pearl Necklace suddenly broke, and milky white beads rolled into the swirling toxic mist.
As she bent down to pick them up, Luna let out a warning Loud Cry.
The baby's Toes, covered in Star Sand, kicked against Mother's Hand Back, sending a pearl that was about to touch the ground flying toward Second Brother's barrier.
The pearl cracked open in the Blood Mist, revealing a curled-up Western Realm Messenger Bat inside—its claws still grasping a cloth strip stained with Milk Stain, clearly torn from a Western Realm infant's swaddling.
"Mother, be careful!" Orlando's Tentacles wrapped around Aelia's waist, and his Wheelchair scraped sparks against the stone floor.
The Purple Light at his severed limb suddenly surged; those magical wounds previously mistaken for backlash now revealed their true nature as conduits for Magic Energy.
Seizing the opportunity, Luna pressed a saliva-soaked Silver Button against the root of his Tentacles. The Family Crest transformed into a dispelling Key under the influence of Star Sand, severing his magical Umbilical Cord to the Western Realm bastard.
Suddenly, a Sea Witch-like chant echoed outside Raymond's barrier; he recognized it as a folk song from the Western Realm that his best friend had hummed during their betrayal years ago.
The waves of the Defensive Formation automatically reorganized themselves, converting Sound Wave attacks into counteracting Curse. "The Second Young Master's improved formation has finally come in handy." He sneered as he crushed the messenger bat underfoot; seawater surged from the Judgment Array, enveloping the bat's Remains and coalescing into a Holographic Projection of Leonard and the Red-Haired Witch’s Tryst within the Dome.
Alger's Ice Layer had covered the entire eastern corridor; he knelt on the Ice Surface, trembling Fingertip brushing against the frozen Black Scale Powder. "The Birthday Gift received by Third Young Master Lucius," he pressed his forehead against the Ice Surface, "always claiming it was rare materials bought on the black market." The Black Scale Powder beneath the Ice Layer suddenly began to flow backward along hidden tracks laid out by Father over ten years in the castle, pointing toward a concealed Nursery in West Tower.
Luna suddenly coughed violently; fine Star Sand Crystals clung to her delicate eyelashes.
She grabbed Brother San's drooping tie and wiped away Xue Mo that she coughed up onto a crack in Alger's Ice Crystal Staff.
Alger's Magic Circuit emitted a Resonance as three hundred sixty-five hidden Monitoring Arrays emerged beneath the Ice Layer—all set up using time he had squandered on training.
A sound of crystal shattering echoed through the castle, and Aelia's flames suddenly turned a ghostly blue.
She picked up the broken Pearl Necklace and discovered that each pearl contained a miniature Contract Symbol. "The Lady of the Fortress has worn the Demon Binding Shackles for fifteen years." Her action of crushing the pearls was ruthless, but it halted abruptly when she touched a pearl engraved with a heart—one that Leonard had strung together on their fifth wedding anniversary.
Luna wrapped a bloodied Swaddling Cloth around Mother's wrist, as Star Sand burned a Warning Totem into the fabric.
Aelia's pearls suddenly exploded, and Dark Purple Liquid coalesced in the air into the mocking face of a Western Witch.
In that instant, as flames swept through, Raymond pointed at the shifting barrier and exclaimed, "Father's Blood pulse Blessing is backfiring at the West Tower!"
Orlando's Tentacles had fully transformed into whips of thunder. He maneuvered his Wheelchair to crash through a hidden door. "Mother, the secret passage in the East Tower..." Before he could finish, the Wheelchair was suddenly held in place by an unseen force.
From his severed limb, a Magic Interface oozed Purple-Black Slime, and what had been mistaken for Curse Marks now revealed the outline of a Western Venomous Serpent.
Alger's Ice Crystal Staff pointed toward the shadows of the western corridor. "Who’s there?" At the moment the Ice Blade pierced through the darkness, everyone heard Qin Si's stifled gasp.
The Maid's embroidered shoe revealed half a petal stained with poison—exactly what the Western Witch loved to use as decoration for her Headdress.
The Ice Blade grazed Qin Si’s Luna, embedding itself into the stone wall as the Maid stumbled and fell into the swirling toxic mist.
Alger’s spell Zhang Jian crystallized in ice reflected the flickering Purple Light among her Hair Bun—that was a Poisonous Mushroom Hair Ornament gifted by the Western Witch to her Servant.
"Ten years..." Qin Si trembled as she unfastened her silver clasp at the collar, revealing a writhing Serpent Pattern Contract Pattern beneath her collarbone. "They used my sister's Magic Core as a Chip." She suddenly grabbed scattered pearls and hurled them against the Ice Surface; within the milky fragments emerged an image of a girl unconscious in a dungeon, her neck adorned with a slave collar glowing with the same Purple Light as the Sheen Pattern.
Aelia’s flames flickered uncertainly at her Fingertip, and Pearl Powder drifted down from her fingers.
Luna suddenly let out a sharp Loud Cry as an infant's fist covered in Star Sand struck heavily against the Ice Surface.
The frozen Black Scale Powder soared into the air, reconstructing above their heads the scene from that night when the Western Witch cursed Qin Si—a Purple Robe wizard's dagger pressed against the throat of an unconscious girl.
"Madam, be careful!" Lucius's voice echoed from down the corridor, wrapped in Magic Resonance.
Third Young Master Lucius swung his Ice Blade, which suddenly turned and grazed past Qin Si’s ear before piercing into a Gargoyle statue behind her.
From the melting statue's mouth fell a half piece of poisoned Violet Petals.
Alger's Ice Crystal Staff struck the ground heavily. "Father has even manipulated the Gargoyle." The frozen toxic mist suddenly revealed a dense web of Magic Silk Threads, each Dark Purple Thread connecting towards the direction of the West Tower.
Luna seized the moment of silence and flung the Star Sand-covered Swaddling Cloth towards Lucius.
The Fabric unfolded in the air into a Magic Scroll. As Third Young Master Lucius infused his magic, his Fingertip traced over it, revealing thirty-seven buried Western Realm Contract Arrays within the foundation of the Magic Castle.
Lucius's Light Gray pupils constricted sharply. "Father has transformed the Magic Fortress Core into..."
The entire castle suddenly emitted a roar like a dying beast. Amidst the collapsing East Tower's dust, Leonard's roar swept in with the toxic mist. "Who allowed you to touch my Contract Array!" The Lord's Silver Boots crushed the Ice Layer, while the Western Venomous Serpent writhed madly on his cloak, with baby fist-sized Poison Lizard Eggs swimming within every pattern.
Luna's Hexagram Birthmark suddenly burst forth with golden light, prompting Aelia to instinctively shove her daughter into Eldest Son's arms.
Orlando's Dark Magic Tendrils quickly formed a cocoon-like shield, while Raymond’s inverted barrier raised Lucius' Water Barrier around them.
Alger's Ice Crystal Staff plunged three inches into the ground as Han Qi rapidly spread along the Contract Array’s Magic Silk Threads.
"Father, take a look at this!" Lucius hurled the Magic Scroll into the air, and the Contract Array drawn with Star Sand suddenly materialized.
Countless Star Sand Parchment Shards flew out from the collapsing tower remains, each branded with Leonard and Western Realm's Bloodline Blessing Spell.
Leonard’s pupils suddenly turned into Shu Tong as he swung his Serpent Pattern Chains against Raymond’s Water Screen Barrier.
At the moment when the toxic mist met seawater, Luna suddenly grasped her brother’s Tentacles' tip and bit down hard on her Fingertip with her Star Sand-covered Milk Tooth.
"Blood for blood!" The baby's garbled Spell caused everyone's hearts to stop.
Orlando's Magic Interface at his severed limb suddenly erupted with Purple Gold Radiance, reversing the flow of Magic Energy that had originally been directed towards the Western Realm.
The seawater within Raymond's barrier instantly boiled, turning the toxic mist into steam infused with Iris Fragrance.
When Alger's Ice Layer reached Leonard's feet, it suddenly exploded, forming three hundred sixty Thin Blades suspended in mid-air.
Third Young Master Lucius pulled open the collar embroidered with the Family Crest, revealing a Serpent Mark that resembled that of his Father. "Did you plant a misleading curse at my birth?"
Luna's Loud Cry suddenly transformed into an eerie chant, her bloodied Palm pressed against her elder brother's Tentacles at their base.
On Orlando's Wheelchair Armrest, the melting Silver Water suddenly solidified into a sword, its hilt bearing the Family Crest that burned against the Western Venomous Serpent.
Raymond's Ocean Wave Barrier abruptly contracted into a blade of water, while Alger's icy Thin Blade turned to aim directly at their Father.
Leonard's cloak was suddenly besieged by the collective hatching of Poison Lizard Eggs, with the newborn lizards turning to bite at the edges of their master's cloak.
The Lord stepped back in a mix of anger and shock, his Boot Heel shattering the hidden Transmission Array beneath the Peacock Stone Tiles. Ten years ago, he had deceived Aelia with Love Words that mingled with the Loud Cry of a child from the Western Realm, creating a piercing echo in the corridor.
Aelia's Pearl Necklace unexpectedly began Automatic Repair, its milky beads glowing with Blood Light as they wrapped around her Wrist.
The lady lowered her gaze to the Contract Ashes left on her Palm, and a Pale Flame suddenly spread from her Hair Tips down to her Skirt.
Leonard, who was confronting his sons, suddenly screamed in agony as the Brand of his Heart's engagement was scorched by flames, leaving a Scorch Mark.
"Mother, be careful of backlash!" Lucius shouted as he swung an Ice Shield to block the splattering venom. The modified detection array created by Third Young Master Lucius suddenly lit up beneath everyone’s feet.
The image Emerging from the Formation Center made Aelia's Pupil constrict—fifteen years ago at the wedding scene, Leonard hid the Contract Symbol from the Western Realm within a bouquet, which was now seeping into her Wedding Ring.
Luna suddenly broke free from her swaddling, her back adorned with a Hexagram Birthmark crashing against the edge of the detection array.
In that moment when Star Sand mingled with the array’s light, everyone saw Leonard’s magic continuously siphoning Aelia’s life force through her Wedding Ring.
The lady’s flames surged threefold, and on the melting Stained Glass appeared an Emerging scene of Leonard’s Last Night with a Western Witch feeding their illegitimate child.
"Father!" Lucius cried out as his Ice Blade suddenly turned to sever the Magic Silk Thread connecting Aelia to her Wedding Ring. "You even..."
Alger's Thin Blade rained down upon Leonard but vaporized upon touching his protective magic.
Third Young Master Lucius suddenly knelt on one knee, ice crystals emerging from his Zhang Jian enveloping the Hei Xue he coughed up—those "nutritional potions" his Father insisted he take daily were now congealing into Poison Spikes within his Blood Vessel.
Raymond's Water Blade Barrier suddenly shattered, and the Second Young Master, leaning on his staff, gasped for breath. As the Defensive Formation's patterns crawled up his neck, Luna pressed her small hand, dusted with Star Sand, against the back of his neck.
The blood of the infant seeped into the formation's core, and the damaged barrier abruptly reformed into a vortex crackling with thunder, grinding Leonard's Serpent Pattern Chains to dust.
When Orlando's Silver Sword pierced Father’s left shoulder, the Wheelchair was suddenly overturned by an unseen force.
From the Eldest Son's severed limb, a Magic Interface erupted with Purple-Black Slime, reconnecting the magical Umbilical Cord that should have been severed to the West Tower.
Luna suddenly emitted a warning Loud Cry as the infant's golden light penetrated three layers of stone walls, illuminating the Bloodline Transfer Ritual taking place within the West Tower.
Aelia's flames abruptly converged into pure white as she raised her hand to remove her Wedding Ring, an act filled with the determination of Jade and Stone Burn Together.
Leonard's Roar and the Western Witch's Qian Jiao echoed simultaneously, causing the entire Magic Castle to begin collapsing from its foundations.
As Luna was lifted into the air by the shockwave, she saw Contract Ashes flying from her Mother's Pearl Necklace, coalescing into a new formation outline.
Amidst Rolling Debris, Aelia's bloodied Skirt Hem swept away a falling Warehouse Beam.
The lady protected Luna in her swaddling with her left hand while her right palm held the melting Wedding Ring suspended in midair; Pale Flame crystallized on her eyelashes.
Leonard's broken Serpent Pattern Staff was reassembling three meters away as the Western Witch's Curse Chant penetrated through layers of stone walls.
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