One-Eyed Monster

Sol drew his sword. Aside from dirt and rocks, the blade was clean; he hadn’t hit the giant rabbit.

Everyone looked at each other, then nervously at their feet, keenly aware of the danger. Getting hit by the scimitar in the rabbit’s hand was no laughing matter. Except for Baharo, no one knew how to defend themselves. They seemed to have become living targets, just waiting for the rabbit to take aim.

Igor glanced at Hustace beside him, then at the creature Kadi. One was scared speechless, while the other seemed completely at ease, looking around casually.

Igor slowly moved next to Kadi and asked in a hushed voice, ”Aren’t you scared at all?”

”Scared of what?” Kadi responded. Though his expression showed surprise, his face revealed no fear, unlike Hustace, who had gone pale.

That said, even if Kadi had gone pale, Igor probably wouldn’t have noticed. Kadi was blue-skinned and had only one eye—different from humans—so no one truly knew what he looked like when frightened.

”Didn’t you see that giant rabbit? He was swinging his scimitar at Sol!” Igor gestured dramatically. ”And that rabbit is right beneath our feet—who knows who he’ll leap out and attack next!”

”You don’t seem scared either. If you were really afraid, would you have the time to chat with me?” Kadi didn’t directly answer Igor’s question.

”Well, to be precise, I don’t know if I’m scared or not. I’m a bit confused,” Igor replied, his face expressionless.

”Uh, I don’t know what to say either. If I told you I’m not the only monster on Guru Mountain, would that make you feel any better?” Kadi said, his large eye staring blankly.

What Igor said reflected his true feelings. Seeing the giant rabbit had initially sent an inexplicable thrill through him. After all, it was something new and extraordinary; encountering novelties always made his eyes light up and filled him with a surge of energy. However, when the rabbit leaped and swung its scimitar at people, the situation changed entirely. One hit could mean bidding farewell to this world, a world he wasn’t ready to leave. Naturally, a sliver of fear crept in. This mixture of excitement and fear left him utterly confused.

Not far away, Sol stood with his eyes closed, dual swords grasped tightly, slowly moving his body. He was using his unique sense of smell to detect the cunning enemy.

Seeing this, Igor quickly shut his mouth, not wanting his actions to disrupt Sol’s concentration.

The others also stood quietly, awaiting the rabbit’s next attack.

But the rabbit seemed to have gone completely still...

It must be waiting for the right moment to launch a surprise attack, Baharo thought, noting that Sol’s entire defensive perimeter was already established. Sol held two swords: one horizontally, the other pointing downwards. With one knee bent and his body slightly inclined, he appeared to form a protective circle. Anyone sensing with Spirit Power would perceive Sol enveloped in a spherical energy field, ready for an attack from any direction. Maintaining this defensive stance required considerable Spirit Power. What skill! Baharo inwardly marveled. Even in the Hound Organization, few could breach such a defense. And for this old timer to be proficient with melee weapons... that’s surprising in itself.

Just as everyone held their breath, waiting for the rabbit’s attack, a sudden commotion erupted nearby. It sounded like a group of people was rapidly approaching.

”We found it! The boss’s directions were right after all.”

”Are you sure?”

”Let’s get rid of them before the sun reaches its peak. I don’t want to see the sun again.”

The clamor swiftly filled the air, and soon enough, the group reached Igor and the others.

Stan Sol frowned. These people have arrived at the worst possible time, he thought.

Without a word, the newcomers attacked. Those with ranged weapons immediately drew their bows and loosed arrows.

”Get rid of the extra ones! Retrieve the target!” one of them, apparently the leader, bellowed.

”Hurry up! It’s time to report back to the boss! Huh? There’s another Alien Species!” The group of about ten people surged towards Stan Sol and the others, ignoring how Sol had effortlessly shattered the arrows they had previously loosed.

”Battle Pet, Fiery Blaze!” Stan Sol commanded, retracting his dual swords. He couldn’t afford to worry about a surprise attack from the rabbit now. Abandoning his defensive stance, he opened his palm and released the Battle Pet, Fiery Blaze—the same one that had given Baharo such a hard time.

His fears materialized. The instant Battle Pet Fiery Blaze touched the ground, SWISH! The giant rabbit sprang from the earth. It had impeccable timing. Sol was in the midst of switching tactics, his defensive stance already dismantled. Attacking at this precise moment caught Sol completely unprepared.

Stan Sol wasted no words. After unleashing the flames from his hand, he quickly lifted his robe. CLANG! A sound like a scimitar striking an iron shield rang out. No one could comprehend how a soft robe could withstand such a powerful blow from the scimitar.

”Yo ho! I’ve trekked this blasted mountain countless times and never seen an Alien Species. Today, I hit the jackpot—two of ’em! Quite the eye-opener!”

”Less talk! Take out everyone except the Alien Species and our target. The sun will be up soon!”

”Get ’em! Watch me!”

The sight of the giant rabbit further excited the attackers. They quickened their pace, charging forward with fists raised.

”Battle Pet!” Stan Sol, entangled with the giant rabbit, roared.

WHOOSH! The flames on the ground suddenly flared upwards, and once more, a cluster of dancing fire erupted on the mountain.

BOOM! The Battle Pet suddenly inflated, catching the charging assailants off guard. Many had their hair singed by the expanding inferno; several unluckier individuals had their clothes ignite and were desperately rolling on the ground to extinguish the flames.

”We’re comrades in adversity now!” Baharo yelled to Stan Sol. Their struggle with the rabbit was intensifying, the clash of blades a chaotic blur.

”Untie me! I can help!” Baharo pleaded persistently.

”Our objectives should align! These unidentified assailants are after your token!” Baharo continued to shout, watching the group on the mountain path steadily grow. Initially about ten, another five or six had arrived.

The Battle Pet Fiery Blaze danced tirelessly, but with the enemy’s numbers constantly swelling, its fiery waltz could only hold back a portion of them.

”Hey, Igor!” Kadi called out quietly amidst the chaos.

”Hmm?” Igor was currently weaving from side to side, dodging arrows and rocks hurtling toward his head. Any slower, and he’d have been hit long ago.

”Stick close to me later. Don’t get lost.”

”Why?” Igor didn’t understand.

”Because I’m not the only monster on Guru Mountain!” Kadi replied, dodging a small ball aimed at his face. With a swift turn, he swatted it back with his tail. ”If you wander off, I can’t guarantee other monsters won’t eat you.”

CRACKLE! The small ball exploded mid-air as it flew towards the opposing group, showering them with a green powder. One of the men howled in agony.

”But... didn’t you say earlier you didn’t know if you were a monster? Why are you suddenly calling yourself one now?” Igor asked earnestly, narrowly avoiding another arrow.

”Never mind that now. Just follow me.”

”But we have to follow Sol!” Igor retorted.

Kadi was struck speechless, unsure how to respond.

”Look! The big rabbit went back into its hole!”

”Hey, you have to trust me!”

”Damn it, this cursed fire singed my eyebrows!”

”There are so many of us! We can’t take down a few of them? Look, some are even tied up!”

As the number of attackers swelled, the scene descended further into chaos. Though bound, Baharo and Igor could barely fend off the one or two assailants lunging at them. Kadi, being the primary target, faced few direct attacks and handled them with ease. Hustace was in a similar predicament. The young master lay prone on the ground; if Stan Sol hadn’t tied his hands, he would undoubtedly be clutching his head in terror.

There really are more monsters than just me on Guru Mountain, Kadi muttered to himself, observing the pandemonium.