One-Eyed Monster

”You have arrived just in time.”

Upon hearing this, Bigas wore an expression of disdain. She slowly turned to face Estev and said aloofly, ”You are somewhat strong, which gives you some qualification to speak with me. However, when I haven’t given you permission to speak, it would be best if you remained silent.”

Estev paid no mind; he knew this woman well. Bigas was arrogant. She wouldn’t interact with the weak, nor would she associate with those she deemed contemptible.

However, her arrogance was justified. Renowned for her natural beauty throughout the Empire and as the youngest Sage of the Six Elements in the Wizard Alliance, she possessed undeniable, matchless abilities.

Estev merely smiled at Bigas’s words. Her temperament hadn’t changed at all, even after so many years.

”When Lady Bigas commands you to be silent, you should comply and stop your nonsense!” the Witch Spirit chimed in, clearly putting on a display of borrowed authority.

”You keep your beak shut too!” Bigas snapped, turning her head towards the foolish bird fluttering by her shoulder, her tone laced with impatience.

This rebuke terrified the Witch Spirit. It began to tremble, its wings fluttering so unsteadily that it looked like it might fall from the air.

”I told you to find a proper vessel, and you chose a bird? Do you have any awareness of what it means to be a powerful entity?” Bigas continued to berate her Witch Spirit, clearly dissatisfied with its choice.

The bird fluttered about, its beak clamped shut, daring not to utter a word.

”What? Do you wish to object? Go on, state your reasons. You may speak now,” Bigas said, her imperious aura leaving no room for negotiation.

”Mistress, Mistress, you must understand my predicament! In these desolate mountains, finding a suitable...”

”Enough of your incessant chatter! Is that supposed to be a reason?” Bigas cut off the Witch Spirit’s rambling with a sharp voice. ”How many times must I tell you? The weak don’t warrant so many words! There are plenty of bodies here you could possess, yet you ignored them. It seems you’ve learned nothing from your time with me!”

”M-Mistress...” The Witch Spirit trembled, unsure whether it was better to speak or remain silent.

”That young body lying over there is quite good. Go and possess it. Surely it’s better than your current avian form,” Bigas said, her gaze shifting. Instantly, a chilling aura shot towards the prostrate Hustace.

”Yes, Mistress!” The Witch Spirit excelled at carrying out orders. In its view, this was far preferable to making decisions for itself.

The bird dropped to the ground with a THUD. This was the bird’s reaction after the Witch Spirit departed its body. The bird lay on the ground for a moment, then struggled to its feet, preened its feathers with its beak, and flew into the sky. As it flew away, it shivered, the frigid atmosphere on the mountaintop sending an unusual chill through it.

”What are you doing?” Qi Liu, who was guarding Hustace, suddenly noticed the beautiful sorceress staring at Hustace as an unnatural gust of wind swept towards them.

”Did I give you permission to speak?” Bigas barked at Qi Liu. She raised her hand, and a blast of frost shot towards Qi Liu’s mouth, instantly freezing it shut.

”The weak have no right to speak before the strong,” Bigas declared, her gaze so piercing it felt as if it could run someone through.

No one dared to respond to Bigas. This aloof woman kept emphasizing the distinction between the strong and the weak, clearly holding everyone else on the mountain in contempt.

Stan Sol only noticed Bigas’s frigid presence after he had dealt with the Black Crows and retracted his flames.

However, Stan Sol didn’t feel uncomfortable. While he didn’t entirely agree with Bigas, he found no fault in her words either.

Stan Sol’s perception of the strong and the weak was similar to Bigas’s. His ancient Hunter family followed the rule of survival of the fittest: the strong always held the power to speak, while the weak could only obey the strong.

Therefore, he rather admired Bigas.

Of course, Stan Sol wasn’t the only anomaly on this mountain. The Great Witch, Witch Biggs, also held Bigas in high admiration.

She felt immensely proud that her junior martial sister, Bigas, had advanced to become a Holy Robe and, moreover, a Sage of the Six Elements.

She had been unable to move moments ago entirely due to her excitement. Before her stood the Alchemy Workshop and two Hunters of unknown origin, yet none of them could compare to her junior martial sister. In her eyes, her junior martial sister was the greatest person in the world—beautiful, powerful, and most importantly, Bigas was *her* junior martial sister.

At that moment, a flush spread across Great Witch Biggs’s face. She tried to move her stiff body and felt a wave of numbness. Such were the consequences of prolonged immobility, a fact she was only now experiencing.

However, Great Witch Biggs paid no mind to the tingling sensation now; she was more eager to speak with Bigas.

So, she took heavy steps forward, forcing a slight smile onto her face. This smile was a rare occurrence; it was one of the few times in many years she had smiled voluntarily.

”Bigas—”

”Insolence! Who dares address my Mistress so informally? Are you tired of living?” Before Witch Biggs could finish, the Witch Spirit, now fully possessing Hustace’s body, leaped up. It would not permit anyone to insult its Mistress with such improper address.

”Did I give you permission to speak? Stay out of this!” This time, Bigas, uncharacteristically, did not rebuke Witch Biggs but instead shouted at her Witch Spirit.

The Witch Spirit, now adapted to Hustace’s body, crouched like a chastened child and said nothing more.

Witch Biggs was stunned. She realized Bigas spoke with an overwhelming dominance, like an icy gust suddenly blasting one’s head, causing uncontrollable shivers.

”I didn’t notice at first. Your appearance has changed a great deal, Senior Sister,” Bigas said, taking the initiative to greet Witch Biggs—a remarkable event in itself.

Everyone on the mountain was astonished. Those who knew Witch Biggs of the Wizard Alliance, like the young Alchemists such as Brad, struggled to control their emotions, clenching their fists to restrain their impulses.

But what they found truly inconceivable was that this arrogant Bigas addressed a Gray Robe Wizard so calmly. Even more astonishing, Bigas called this Gray Robe Wizard ’Senior Sister’!

Could this Gray Robe Wizard also be a member of the Wizard Alliance?

”I...” Witch Biggs, the one addressed, was so taken aback she was momentarily speechless.

”You always had the best memory among us, but you were also the most... peculiar. Now that you’ve advanced to Gray Robe, it’s time you returned to see Teacher,” Bigas continued, completely devoid of her usual aloof, powerful demeanor.

This uncharacteristic behavior made everyone on the mountaintop view Witch Biggs in an entirely new light. It was utterly unbelievable to them.

They had never imagined that this quiet Gray Robe Wizard was actually from the same sect as Bigas. Moreover, they couldn’t comprehend how Bigas distinguished between the weak and the strong...