One-Eyed Monster

This mountain, I will protect it for you this time. Stan Sol quietly murmured Dastan’s name to himself.

Although he didn’t know what Dastan had been through, he knew that the people of the Sol Family would never easily lower their status. Even if the family’s honor no longer existed, the members of their family still possessed a deep-seated pride. This pride prevented them from readily admitting defeat to any powerful foe, from easily giving up when faced with any difficulty, and from retreating in the face of any danger.

It was this very pride that made every member of the Sol Family refuse to bow down to others. Their inner arrogance kept their heads held high. Even if utterly defeated, they would not lower their proud heads.

Stan Sol had used his family’s secret technique to teleport himself and his prey to the other side of the mountain. Although he knew finding his brother was important, the current situation prevented him from easily descending. Only by getting past this peculiar moment can I think of the long-term.

He wanted to help Dastan protect this mountain range. After this protection was successful, he would go find Tobin. Then, he would fulfill his promise, return here, repay Dastan, and protect this mountain range on his behalf. As for what secret this mountain held, he wouldn’t concern himself with it. He, Stan Sol, only knew that his kinsman was guarding this place. His kinsman had given up everything for it. Therefore, he had to take up the mission on behalf of his kinsman.

Stan Sol’s appearance disrupted the plans of the three leaders of the Black Crow.

Estev, the Soul Guardian, possessed considerable strength. The Black Crow leaders weren’t confident enough to defeat him, so they could only resort to their backup plan: exhausting Estev.

Originally, their plan had been flawless. No matter how abundant one person’s Spirit Power reserves were, they could only be maintained for a period; they could not be endless. Using their combined strength to drain one person’s Spirit Power reserves was a sound plan, one that didn’t require them to risk touching upon forbidden matters.

Estev naturally knew their intentions. While he played for time against them, he pondered ways to defeat his enemies. His greatest skill was his ability to conceal himself. On the surface, he was a Fighter, but in reality, he was a Hunter—an ancient one, just like Stan Sol.

The first time Stan Sol had exchanged blows with him, he had realized Estev was no ordinary Fighter.

Sure enough, Estev’s identity as a Fighter merely served to conceal his true nature.

He was an ancient Hunter and also a Soul Guardian. The primary task of Soul Guardians was to safeguard secrets that had been sealed away, making them, in essence, secrets themselves, unknown to the world.

Nobody knew what Estev’s trump card truly was. Everyone said he had sharp eyes, and nothing could be hidden from him.

Estev now stood rooted to the spot before the great boulder. It was one of the secrets he guarded—it was a gateway. Even if this gateway were breached, the Black Crow members might not achieve their objective, but Estev was clearly unwilling to yield any line of defense.

”Thank you for your assistance,” Estev said to Stan Sol, who had offered his help. ”Although I don’t know why you’re helping, with the instincts of an ancient Hunter, I know you’re not deceiving me. Because what I sense from you is sincerity.”

He was in a stalemate with the three Black Crow leaders. Stan Sol dared not rashly attack them either, because interfering with either side in the confrontation could cause their Spirit Power to become chaotic. Once that happened, both parties would suffer comparable damage.

At such a time, I can only contribute my own Spirit Power, assisting one side to suppress the other. Only this approach can be effective.

Stan Sol was a battle-hardened warrior, no rookie to such confrontations. He knew what should and shouldn’t be done at a time like this.

His appearance had disrupted the Black Crow leaders’ plans. Now, the three figures opposite him began to retract their Spirit Power, preparing for the next wave of attack.

Estev twisted his neck and limbered up, his pipe still clenched in his mouth. He always had his pipe with him during a fight; it was a habit, and also one of his skills.

Estev was glad he hadn’t acted according to the original plan. If he had followed the deductions of the hunchbacked Scholar from the tavern, he would still be on his way up the mountain at this very moment. Setting off early had allowed him to avoid this surprise attack by the three Black Crow leaders.

According to the hunchbacked Scholar’s deduction, Willem’s subordinates would still be on their way up the mountain at this point. That Dark Wizard, accompanied by two rather strange-looking pets, had concocted a ridiculous excuse and was preparing to ascend.

That murder case was undoubtedly connected to the Black Crow, but it wasn’t something Estev needed to concern himself with. At the time, his instincts had told him things weren’t so simple. Willem rarely beat around the bush, yet now all signs indicated the Black Crow was procrastinating, which was completely out of character for the operational methods of a Dark Organization.

Therefore, Estev had disregarded the hunchbacked Scholar’s attempts to dissuade him and, without waiting to consult with the other Soul Guardian, had decisively set out for the mountain.

He wasn’t particularly fast. By the time he reached the summit of Dawn Peak on Guru Mountain, he discovered the Gravediggers had already arrived.

He had missed it by a hair’s breadth; a great door to the secret guarded by this mountain had been on the verge of being opened...

”The Black Crow truly live up to their name as Willem’s puppets. They act without hesitation,” Estev remarked with a sigh.

”Enough nonsense! You’ll get what’s coming to you soon enough!” The fat man, Mugen, glared, his eyes wide with anger. His fingers danced as he swiftly produced several forbidden Alchemy Equations. He also clutched the glass bottle containing the Wire Puppet, which he had been carrying.

”Gus, you take the Wizard. Mugen, this newcomer Hunter is yours. I’ll deal with this troublesome fellow!” Jani’s bronze skin was emitting copious amounts of steam as his body began to transform. He practiced the Bone Fighting Technique, a forbidden art among Fighter Physique Techniques. If he could break through this taboo, his Physique Techniques would be unparalleled.

”Dark Magic,” Estev said disdainfully. He had encountered dark-type arts before and was quite accustomed to them.

”This isn’t just dark-type; it’s also forbidden-type! This is the Black Crow’s Integration Art!” The Black Crow leader named Jani had now completely transformed. He seemed to be clad in an additional layer of armor, a ghastly white, looking like a carapace constructed from countless bones.

”The highest realm of Physique Technique is breakthrough. But you people who seek shortcuts always misunderstand.” Estev sighed. He felt that those who practiced Dark Arts were simply deranged.

But none of that mattered now. The current situation was a direct confrontation. His opponents had already adopted a stance indicating their certainty of victory, and Estev had to offer a response.

”No matter how long the night, the sun will always rise. Therefore, all your struggles are futile.”

”Defeat me first, then you can run your mouth,” Jani’s voice began to change, growing muffled as if he were speaking with a mouthful of aged wine.

Quicker than words could describe, Jani’s fist shot out like an arrow loosed from a bowstring, flying towards the pipe-smoking Estev with a speed that seemed to defy human limits.