One-Eyed Monster

Igor had opened the Spirit Power channel connecting this World Setting Technique to the outside. He could feel his own Spirit Power surging outwards, while numerous flows of Spirit Power intermittently seeped in from outside.

Clearly, the one-way channel had become two-way.

”So, what should we do now?” Joseph asked cautiously. At this critical moment, he didn’t want to drop the ball or act hastily. This matter was too significant, and he took every step with extreme care.

”Don’t rush. Remember the Great Mentor’s words: ’Slow and steady wins the race,’” Kuren said, trying to soothe Joseph. He knew that Joseph was anxious, as was he himself. However, even so, they couldn’t afford any chaos at this pivotal moment. He could feel Joseph’s caution, but he still used the Great Mentor’s words to reassure everyone, and most importantly, himself. Slow and steady wins the race, he recalled. The Great Mentor’s words essentially taught one to maintain composure, not to panic, and to proceed step by step. This advice was perfectly applicable to their current situation. As long as they remained patient and went through the trial-and-error process cautiously, they would definitely make some discoveries. Many failures were caused by impatience. Hurried steps disrupted what should have been a rhythmic process, turning one’s path into a chaotic mess. A slight misstep in such chaos could cause one to stumble. Thus, to reach one’s goal quickly, it was necessary to calm an anxious mind.

Kuren fully understood this principle, and he hoped that Igor did, too. He had placed his hopes in Igor. He trusted that Igor could find the answers for them and, at the same time, help protect this mountain range.

Igor was completely focused. His mind was entirely preoccupied with the scene unfolding before him. This World Setting Technique was truly magical; it not only allowed sharing but also transmission. This unique feature fascinated Igor, and he delved into its study wholeheartedly.

Since the one-way channel had become a Two-way Channel, Igor sensed even more Spirit Power, and it was of all different kinds.

The feedback from these Spirit Powers seemed to indicate that many things had happened outside.

Among these Spirit Powers, some were familiar, others unfamiliar; some were weak, while others were strong. It was like a chaotic mix of forces, all entangled, each with its own purpose, constantly releasing Spirit Power.

A Two-way Channel has a disadvantage: what comes in must go out, Igor realized. In a world of Equivalent Exchange, this couldn’t be more apt. But this is troublesome for me; my Spirit Power reserve isn’t enough to sustain this.

Thus, at this moment, he naturally thought of Kadi.

Kadi, whom Igor had instructed to accumulate Spirit Power on the side, hadn’t moved until now. He had been continually gathering this power, afraid of failing when the crucial moment arrived.

”Kadi!” Igor exclaimed in excitement. He was already feeling his Spirit Power dwindle. Even with Joseph and Kuren transferring their Spirit Power to him, it still wasn’t enough. He had made an important discovery: the more Spirit Power he transmitted through the Two-way Channel, the more feedback he received.

”Huh?” Upon hearing Igor’s call, Kadi became alert. He looked in Igor’s direction to see what he was being asked to do.

”We need your help now!” Igor said sincerely. He and Kuren were struggling to manage on their own and truly needed a fresh infusion of Spirit Power.

”I’ll be right there! I’ve gathered quite a lot of Spirit Power; it will surely be of help to you,” Kadi confidently responded. He had been focused solely on accumulating Spirit Power all this time, pushing all other matters from his mind. It could be said he was brimming with pent-up energy. Hearing Igor’s call now, he couldn’t help but feel delighted.

”Kadi, be careful to control it; don’t send it all over at once,” Igor warned.

”Alright, I’m pretty good with the Ant Connection Spell; you can rest easy.” Kadi had now fully entered his focused state, letting go of all concerns.

This was a rare display from Kadi, for he had changed significantly compared to his former self. The most noticeable change was his increased confidence. This newfound confidence was entirely due to Igor. As the saying goes, one is influenced by one’s companions. Though his time with Igor was short, he had gained immeasurably.

Igor also noticed this transformation in Kadi. He felt Kadi was much more composed and self-assured than before.

”Kadi, feel the flow of the Spirit Power; this is a Two-way Channel.”

”It flows both in and out, Kadi. You need to control it carefully,” Kuren added a note of caution.

”Don’t worry, I know. I am not the old Kadi anymore,” Kadi said. I feel like I’ve undergone a complete transformation, Kadi thought. The old me would have approached everything with a degree of awe, but under Igor’s influence, I’m entirely different. I now approach every unfamiliar thing with anticipation, completely fearless.

Thus, while accumulating Spirit Power, he had also experimented with things he hadn’t dared to try before. Incredibly, this led to a new discovery. I’m not sure how to articulate this discovery, but I know how to apply it, Kadi thought.

Kadi’s discovery indeed came as a pleasant surprise to Igor and the others. Although Kadi hadn’t said he’d found something, they could clearly sense a difference.

The difference was that the Spirit Power Kadi transferred seemed endless. It was as if he were a bottomless pit; they couldn’t fathom the extent of his reserves.

”Kadi has accumulated a lot of Spirit Power!” Kuren exclaimed in disbelief, momentarily at a loss for words to praise Kadi.

”Is this a sudden outburst? This constant flow of Spirit Power is a bit terrifying,” Joseph, also amazed, began to see Kadi in an entirely new light.

”To think you’ve improved so quickly in such a short time, Kadi! I’m genuinely proud of you,” Igor also felt happy for Kadi’s progress.

”You’re all mistaken. This isn’t Spirit Power I’m releasing myself; it’s Spirit Power I’ve collected,” Kadi stated calmly. Their praise didn’t excite him. On the contrary, he felt they had misjudged. This isn’t my own improvement, just a discovery I made, he thought.

Kadi’s statement naturally caused a strong reaction among Igor and the others. They found it hard to believe that released Spirit Power could be reused.

”Can you explain it in more detail? We don’t quite understand,” Igor gently prompted, much like a mentor guiding his student.

”I can’t quite explain it. I just felt those Spirit Powers flowing in, and I grabbed them. What happened next is a bit complicated... let me sort through my thoughts.”

Everyone waited in anticipation, eager to learn what Kadi had actually discovered.