"You know all too well the consequences of doing this. Do you think the company will let you get away with desecrating the sacred body of Qlipoth?"

However, faced with the phantom's questioning, Aventurine showed no signs of fear or hesitation. He straightened up and responded, "Diamond has always cared about results. As long as the value I can create far exceeds the cost... the process and means are not an issue."

"How can you fool the family without paying a price?" Aventurine took a deep breath and continued, "It's okay, even if the cornerstone of 'Preservation' is shattered into pieces, it can still function, although its efficacy will be greatly reduced, but it's enough for me." After saying these words, a barely noticeable bitter smile appeared on Aventurine's face.

"I'm really curious now," the phantom asked with a puzzled expression, "Why is every step you take so risky, and the options you prepare for yourself always accompanied by strong self-destructive impulses?"

"Do you really believe that 'the greater the risk, the higher the reward'? I didn't realize you were so loyal to the company."

Hearing this, Aventurine just coldly snorted, responding with a disdainful expression, "There's a lot you can't see... so you also can't see how I'm going to win everything."

"Provided that you can actually do it," the phantom's lips curled into a mysterious smile as it said softly. Its eyes revealed a kind of unfathomable light, as if hinting at something.

"We shall see."

As the last word fell, the cornerstone in front of them gradually dissipated like smoke, eventually completely merging into that illusory image, leaving only an empty carpet.

The cornerstone had vanished into thin air... Undoubtedly, all of this was just part of the illusion. Aventurine was looking around, trying to find clues, when suddenly he noticed a familiar small figure not far away.

Hm? Is that... Thinking this, he involuntarily stepped towards that direction.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the child he had met before. At this moment, the child was looking up at him, his little face full of innocent smiles, happily calling out, "Hello, we meet again, mister with the beautiful eyes."

Aventurine's voice revealed a hint of barely noticeable tenderness: "Yes, we meet again. Have you found your mom and dad?"

"Of course I have! And my sister is here too, we just played hide and seek together, the four of us, it was so much fun!" The child answered excitedly.

"That's wonderful. By the way, did anything interesting happen on your way here?" Aventurine asked with a smile.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Yes, yes! Dad took me to see something called a 'banana peel movie', it was so magical!" The child gesticulated enthusiastically.

Aventurine chuckled softly, gently correcting him, "You mean a film reel, right?"

The child's eyes were full of curiosity and excitement, "Mm-hmm, yes, that's it! So many paper pictures put together, and then they became like moving murals, it was absolutely incredible!"

"Put me and dad, mom, and sister together, and it becomes a family."

"You should try it too, mister! You've been looking so gloomy, you should be happier in an amusement park, you know."

Hearing these words, Aventurine's expression became a bit complex, but he still nodded slightly and responded, "Alright, I'll try to be happier."

[Sushang: Aventurine's face always seems to have a smile on it, but he can't fool his younger self.]

[March 7th: Ugh... after seeing the previous content, seeing this scene feels a bit sad.]

[Himeko: Little March, on the path of exploration, the people and events we encounter are just a tiny fraction of billions. As nameless travelers, we will see many more stories later, perhaps containing tragedies as well. But we must maintain an optimistic attitude and keep moving forward bravely.]

After watching the film reel on a nearby machine with the child, the child seemed to suddenly hear some strange noise, shouting something, and then like an excited little pony, eagerly ran out of the room.

Aventurine was about to call out to stop the child, but seeing him so excited, he swallowed the words back. After some thought, Aventurine still felt uneasy and followed closely behind.

When Aventurine reached the square outside the cinema park, the child's figure flashed by in the distance, and he could hear his happy voice coming from afar: "Wow, it's so high here—it's much higher than the highest sand dune we've ever seen in the desert!"

At the last place where the child appeared, there was an entrance to a maze made of bushes and stone bricks. Aventurine was heading in that direction.

However, at this moment, the phantom suddenly appeared again, but it didn't stop Aventurine's steps. Instead, it stood quietly to the side, carefully examining Aventurine's figure, with a faint smile on its face, as if finding the scene before it somewhat amusing.

"Why so quiet now?" Aventurine couldn't help but turn his head, curiously asking the phantom.

The phantom smiled slightly and replied, "You've indeed piqued my interest... I admit there are still some aspects of you that I don't fully understand."

Hearing this, Aventurine's lips curled into a barely noticeable smile. He responded, "You're being quite sincere this time."

The phantom let out a light snort, its tone filled with confidence: "Sincerity is one of my few precious qualities, no need to emphasize it specially. Do you see that maze? Before you walk out of there, I'll have understood you completely."

"Our cinema journey is not over yet, and your life flashing before your eyes continues... and I don't mind making this process very, very long."

The phantom disappeared again, and Aventurine held his head, seeming to hear some voices muttering, causing him pain, while the audience watching also heard these whispers:

"You cannot escape from the past!"

"You... cannot... escape... from the... past!"

"You can't... escape... from... the past!"

......

"Your future will never exist!"

[March 7th: Ugh.... what a brainwashing voice, it feels irritating to listen to]

[Herta: What's this, brainwashing? I'm curious about these self-illusions, want to research them]

In the scene, as he continued to chase to near the maze, three-dimensional text floated in the air again.

(There is no water here, only rocks)

(Here there is only wind, sand, and sorrow)