One-Eyed Monster

Igor’s assumptions or conjectures, regardless of what they were, were incredibly convincing. Otherwise, Joseph and Kuren wouldn’t have, by coincidence, described the same features of the creatures on Guru Mountain.

If Igor were the enemy, then Joseph and Kuren would become sinners to all of Guru Mountain. But luckily, Igor wasn’t.

As Igor listened and thought, he realized there were only two ways to prove his conjectures correct. One was to find relevant evidence. The other was to pursue his line of reasoning to its conclusion.

Finding evidence might seem simple, but within the World Setting Technique, it wasn’t as if one could do whatever they wished. However, continuing along the path of his conjecture held some possibility because, simply put, the World Setting Technique was a type of spell. Appropriately using Spirit Power to explore within the technique was exactly what Igor excelled at and enjoyed doing.

”After much thought, the Spirit Power signatures in this cave should belong to only these few individuals,” Joseph pondered, believing his analysis to be comprehensive.

”I agree with Joseph’s assertion: Kevin, the Great Mentor, Yuga, and Arnold,” Kuren repeated, also feeling that he and Joseph had completely provided all the information they knew. Now, they had to see how Igor would connect everything. It all seemed very calm on the surface, but hidden beneath were many undercurrents. Joseph and Kuren both knew that discerning different people’s Spirit Power was not an easy task. A careless mistake could throw their minds into complete chaos, a state difficult to rectify. Once that happened, their minds would be finished—after all, not everyone could withstand the impact of a mental bomb.

”What are you planning to do next, Igor?” Kuren asked with concern. Having weathered hardships with Igor both within the inner and outer manifestations of the World Setting Technique, Kuren had long considered him a ’good brother.’ However, that term still felt a bit awkward to him; he much preferred ’good friend.’

”I’ve noticed something odd, Senior Kuren,” Igor frowned. He didn’t directly answer Kuren’s question, not because he didn’t want to, but because he had stumbled upon a discovery he felt was more crucial. It seemed to relate to the entire technique or its potential connection to the Outer World. However, he couldn’t be entirely sure and thus felt the need to consult Senior Joseph and Senior Kuren.

”Odd?” Joseph was puzzled, as he hadn’t noticed anything strange himself. The only anomaly could be Igor’s behavior itself—what a sorry state of affairs.

Kuren and Joseph looked at each other, apparently noncommittal about Igor’s discovery.

”Perhaps it’s my illusion, but I strongly feel this slight change, one we usually wouldn’t even notice.”

”Oh?” Although noncommittal, Joseph and Kuren were still eager to hear Igor’s findings, as every anomaly Igor had pointed out so far had indeed been real.

”It’s related to recovery,” Igor said. ”Not long ago, right here, I felt my Spirit Power recovering very quickly—more than twice as fast as usual. However, just a short while ago, I felt my Spirit Power restoration return to its average level.”

HISS. Igor’s description caused Joseph and Kuren to involuntarily gasp. Once Igor mentioned it, they, too, realized they felt the same way.

Kuren, already injured, had been resting peacefully in the Slumber Room. However, he was now restless, his peace disturbed by Igor, this uninvited guest from Guru Mountain. Since Kuren was already in recovery, he hadn’t paid much attention to its speed. He had previously attributed his slow recovery to overexerting his mental and Spirit Power. Reflecting on it now, that no longer seemed to be the case. Things appeared to be slowing down, especially his recovery.

Looking at Kuren, Joseph too felt the same. Indeed, the healing speed was slowing to a normal pace, nullifying nearly all the advantages the Slumber Room previously offered.

”Come to think of it, you’re right,” Joseph softly admitted.

”This anomaly, though it seems trivial, probably isn’t so simple,” Kuren said. He was beginning to feel uneasy, as if something terrible had already transpired.

”What’s behind this is likely quite troublesome. Seniors, I wonder if you remember the questions I asked earlier? This technique contains a lot of Spirit Power, yet you were both quite certain it includes a Healing Technique.”

”That’s correct. Only Yuga has the ability to release such a Healing Technique. As a Wizard and a former six-element sage, he naturally mastered the Healing Technique,” Joseph stated. He might not have been an encyclopedia of Guru Mountain, but as its Eagle Eye, he saw these things very clearly.

Something’s not right, Joseph thought after speaking. The Healing Technique we feel here is diminishing. What does that signify? It seems to indicate some irresistible force outside is preventing Yuga from smoothly transmitting Spirit Power into the Slumber Room...

Kuren also realized this. He and Joseph looked at each other and exclaimed in unison, ”Could it be?!” their faces etched with shock.

”This may mean that a serious situation has arisen outside,” Igor pointed out.

”We have to get out of here quickly! If even Yuga has met with an accident, the situation outside must be dire!” Joseph grew more anxious. Yuga must be encountering significant trouble, he thought. Otherwise, he wouldn’t stop infusing Spirit Power and the Healing Technique into the Slumber Room. As a Wizard, Yuga could sense the limitless natural world; a lack of Spirit Power was simply out of the question for him. Only one scenario could cause Yuga’s Spirit Power to be depleted: he was using all of it. And that could only happen for two reasons: either the opponent was overwhelmingly strong, or Yuga himself had suffered a devastating attack.

Joseph’s anxiety didn’t disrupt Igor’s calm. He remained methodical, and confirming this anomaly gave him more confidence in the path ahead.

”Don’t rush. Rushing is futile and will only cloud your thoughts,” Kuren, who was clearly calmer than Joseph, comforted him, not because Joseph was overly agitated, but because he feared Joseph’s impatience might disrupt Igor’s train of thought.

”Take it slow. I’ve found the right direction. Seniors, don’t worry!”