Whoa—so cool, like a twilight breeze over still water.

I stepped out of the passage to the Fourth Layer, arms spreading like a gull, comfort lapping at me like a mild tide as I stretched.

It isn’t the knife-cold of the Mountain of Extreme Ice, nor the furnace heat of the Lands of Molten Lava; the air sits just right, like the Enchanted Forest at dawn.

But unlike that forest’s thin breath of life, this place hums with vitality, sap rising like spring in my veins.

Confusion pricked like minnows—what is this place, really?

How to put it… it’s tricky: everywhere I look, it’s water, a mirror spread to the horizon.

Yes, almost nothing but water—no, the depths teem with water-born life, shadows of plants and fish clear as ink on glass.

It’s not the sea; seawater isn’t this clean, and it lacks this soft, unsalty feel, so it must be a lake—a vast basin, a sky-wide mirror.

As for me—disbelief fizzed—I’m standing on the lake itself, not far from its heart.

Uh… what’s going on here?

I stomped down; it held like packed earth, but the moment I relaxed, I sank like a stone through silk.

What a bizarre place, a trick mirror made of water—what’s the deal?

Forget it; if the riddle won’t open, I won’t pry, I thought, shaking my head as I walked like a skater over moonlit glass.

It felt good—feet on the lake’s skin, texture strange as silk over stone, soothing as rain on summer eaves.

Beneath me, a painted world of water glimmered; above, a cool breeze combed past like willow leaves, and my chest loosened like clouds breaking.

Maybe—maybe this is even better than my first step into the Enchanted Forest.

Hoo—

I closed my eyes slowly, letting my body loosen like wet clay, and a wish rose like incense—if only this feeling could last a lifetime.

Then drop dead here, kid!

FrostyLily Dream’s voice cracked through my head without warning, and I nearly plunged like a startled carp.

My heart jumped, stung—uh, why are you telling me to die?!

Hah? You’ve got the nerve to ask why? Turns out you’re a little perv—snatching Ruyu’s first time before you left…

Stop! Stop! I didn’t do anything like that!

I blurted fast; if FrostyLily Dream kept going, she’d bury my name deeper than mud after rain.

I just touched her rabbit ears, okay? I didn’t do anything else!

Ha… you really are—forget it.

She sighed, resigned, like wind leaving a flute, then after a beat spoke again.

Fine, by the usual script, congrats on reaching the Fourth Layer so fast—though your looks did most of the rowing.

…

Riding on my face, huh? Hard to argue; truth sits heavy like a rock in water.

In the Lands of Molten Lava, if my look hadn’t fit the Emperor of Flames’ taste, he’d have one-shot me or thrown worse terms—passing would’ve been a flicker at best.

At least you’ve got self-awareness. Enough chatter—lemme brief you on the Fourth Layer.

The Fourth Layer’s called the Lake of Trials, and as you see, it’s a lake, a sea-wide expanse hiding its depths like a calm ocean.

And there’s one more thing.

What?

Her tone turned solemn, clouds drawing in—please don’t let it be nasty.

Simple: Layer Four is the pivot—the point where the climb steepens.

Think of it like this: Layers One to Three are beginner; Five to Seven are intermediate.

Layer Four nudges you over that threshold—got it?

…Got it.

I nodded, stiff as a reed in wind. So the layers above Four hit a lot harder than the first three?

Mm, that read’s fine. With your current strength, you’ll scrape up to Layer Five at best.

If that rankles, grind here till you’re sharper; the Lake of Trials is a hinge to train challengers to grow and adapt.

But this trial isn’t gentle—most people fail, so watch yourself like a sailor watches storms.

Understood!

My ease evaporated like mist; what stayed was unease and a thrum of excitement, a drum in my ribs.

Don’t be fooled by my easy clears in the first three—luck carried many of those, and I nearly sank more than once.

I won’t slack, especially after FrostyLily Dream’s warning, carved like a line in stone.

Good attitude. Last bits: the guardian, the pass condition, and a hint.

Unlike the first three layers, there are no beasts here—only the guardian, alone like a cliff in open sea.

The Lake’s guardian fights like you, with blade in hand; his name is “Mirror.”

His strength sits around the half-step Divine Realm’s peak; he looks weaker than Ruyu and the Emperor of Flames, but don’t get careless if you want the win.

Ask him directly about the pass condition—he sets it himself, like a judge writing his own trial.

As for a tip, there’s not much: adapt, flex like bamboo, or you won’t take the victory.

That’s it. Good luck, kid. I’m really looking forward to your show—after all, you’re someone big sis has her eye on.

Her voice vanished like a pebble dropped in deep water—she always does that.

I shook my head, steadied my heart, and headed for the lake’s center, resolve bright as a blade.

She hadn’t given me a location, but I didn’t need one; the center called like a drum, a strong aura pooling there, heavier than Mikaret’s by far.

After five or six minutes, I reached the heart, the water opening like a curtain.

A blue-clad youth stood before me, holding an ice-blue tachi—plain in make, maybe five feet long, quiet as frost.

His looks were ordinary, but his aura was a deep sea—casual one moment, storming the next—and pressure rolled over me like waves.

Hello.

I called the Shattered Light Sword into my hand, grip firm as rock, and offered a greeting.

I’m Yumigawa Sumeragi. Please advise.

I am called “Mirror,” guardian of this Lake of Trials.

He dipped his head, then looked me over with a strange face, gaze like a pebble flicked across water.

By the way—are you sure that outfit’s okay? Cute, though.