One-Eyed Monster

Igor shook his head, a wave of understanding finally washing over him. He realized that all his experiences contained profound messages—unexpected treasures and the finest gifts.

For instance, Igor now knew for sure that the best way to persuade people wasn’t through eloquence and persistence, but through reality.

Unless they saw it with their own eyes, no one would believe anything beyond common sense.

Igor found this principle quite simple.

So, he couldn’t help but sigh when he saw Kadi and Joseph still arguing.

He wasn’t helpless, just regretful for having taken a detour.

”I’ve also come to realize it, Igor.”

Suddenly, Kuren appeared again. Igor wasn’t surprised; they had spent so much time swirling together in the Inner World that sensing each other’s Spirit Power and communicating in the Outer World felt perfectly natural.

”What did you feel, Senior Kuren?” Igor calmly inquired.

”Our ignorance, and our folly.” Although Kuren was injured in reality, his Spirit Power within the World Setting Technique was still abundant, allowing him to speak calmly and composedly with Igor.

”Indeed, we encountered an unexpected situation in the Inner World. Although some things still require verification, it has given us many insights.”

”That’s right. Yet, how disgraceful of me to waste precious time merely pondering it,” Kuren remarked.

”That’s not necessarily the case. Not everyone can remain calm in the face of such shocks. Like me, for instance. If not for your guidance, Senior Kuren, I might have lost my way in the Inner World.” Igor was frank; there had indeed been a moment when he was utterly lost and bewildered.

”And if not for you, I would have succumbed to my inner demons in the Inner World,” Kuren added, his voice heavy with reflection.

”If Kadi and Joseph hadn’t supplied Spirit Power in time, we wouldn’t have escaped so easily.” Igor and Kuren found themselves deep in conversation.

”Our experiences in the Inner World will take a long time to digest, and we still need to verify some things. Regardless, we urgently need to leave this safe house.”

”True, but we can’t just leave this place whenever we want.”

”You’re right. First, we need to convince Joseph,” Kuren stated thoughtfully.

”He’s just worried about you, Senior Kuren. After all, you suffered a shock in the Inner World and were seriously injured even before that. Joseph is concerned about your condition,” Igor explained, indirectly confirming Kuren’s current poor state.

”My personal well-being is insignificant compared to Guru Mountain, the Empire, and the entire world.”

Igor was moved by Kuren’s self-sacrificing spirit and didn’t know what to say.

”That’s not important now. We must find a way to convince Joseph. It seems Kadi isn’t having much luck; in fact, Joseph is close to convincing him,” Kuren remarked casually.

”Senior Kuren...” A deeply touched Igor wanted to say something to comfort Kuren, but he couldn’t find the right words.

”It’s a pity I’m injured. If I weren’t, I could persuade Joseph. But since I am, he’ll think I’m delirious and, at best, only believe half of what I say. This is truly a tricky situation,” Kuren continued, comfortably expressing his thoughts via Spirit Communication.

”Senior Kuren,” Igor finally knew what to say, eager to share his recent accidental discovery, ”the primary purpose of the World Setting Technique is sharing. So, we just need to share what we experienced with Joseph.”

”Sharing...” Kuren mulled over Igor’s words.

”Exactly, sharing. Let him experience it firsthand. Seeing it with his own eyes will be far more effective than us trying to describe it endlessly.”

Igor’s composure allowed Kuren to slowly process his words and understand his intent.

”Indeed! The best way to persuade someone is to let them experience it themselves. That truly is the best method,” Kuren said, as if suddenly enlightened, sighing with deep emotion.

”So, our task is to show Joseph everything. Isn’t that precisely what the World Setting Technique excels at?” Igor stated calmly, already setting his sharing plan in motion.

Igor, having mastered the World Setting Technique, hadn’t expected an opportunity to use it so soon.

”Alright, I’ll lend you my strength,” Kuren said. He knew clearly that Igor was the key now, and he had to assist him with all his might.

This wasn’t just about helping Igor; it was also his way of contributing his meager strength to Guru Mountain, the Empire, and the world.

”First, we need to draw Joseph’s Spirit Power into this wondrous scene as well. We’ll need Kadi’s help for that,” Igor muttered.

At this moment, Kadi and Joseph were still arguing. One insisted on detailed plans for everything, warning against recklessness, while the other championed bold steps forward, condemning hesitation. One stressed considering consequences; the other, foreseeing the future.

The two were deadlocked, neither willing to yield an inch nor show any sign of backing down.

”Kadi,” Igor called out, ”we need to join forces.”

”Huh?” Hearing Igor call him, Kadi snapped out of the argument, but he didn’t quite grasp what Igor meant by ”we need to join forces.”

”Come here and give me your hand. You’ll understand in a moment,” Igor said gently.

”Alright, I’m coming.” Without a hint of hesitation, Kadi walked straight to Igor, extended his hand, and grasped Igor’s.

”Alright, let’s enter this wondrous and peculiar world together.” With a wave of his other hand, Igor instantly transformed the cave’s scenery. From the hand grasping Kadi’s, he released his Spirit Power, channeling it into Kadi.

Instantly, Kadi’s Spirit Power flowed completely into the technique Igor had established.

”What are we doing now?” Kadi asked, puzzled.

”Sharing. We’re sharing what we saw and heard with you both,” Igor replied. He had brought Kadi into the scene first because Kadi had been with Joseph long enough for Igor to sense Joseph’s Spirit Power—which was exactly what Igor needed.

Originally, Kuren could also have extracted Joseph’s Spirit Power, but his injuries limited him to simpler tasks.

”Senior Kuren, the task of depicting our experience falls to you. I’ll be responsible for bringing Senior Joseph in.”

”No problem.”

Igor’s method for drawing Joseph in was simple, like fishing. The bait was set; now he just had to wait for the fish to bite.

And Joseph did indeed take the bait. Kadi’s sensations were clearly transmitted to him, prompting Joseph to step forward to see what was happening.