One-Eyed Monster

The words ”I’ve succeeded” instantly brought relief to Kuren and Joseph, whose hearts had been hanging in suspense. Though they knew they still didn’t fully understand the situation outside, they harbored a glimmer of hope, and that hope was enough to kindle their fighting spirit.

All they needed to do now was wait patiently. As expected, Igor didn’t disappoint them. Despite their previous doubts, his actions had given them a perfect explanation.

The accomplishment of this suicidal Inner World search was miraculous, and the fact that Igor had not just emerged but had actually found what he’d been looking for was truly admirable.

At this moment, Joseph and Kuren couldn’t help but marvel at the Great Mentor’s insight. Those who attracted his interest indeed possessed extraordinary qualities. Though the Great Mentor’s three apprentices were quite peculiar, the talents Great Mentor Guzan recognized were undeniably gifted, far surpassing ordinary people.

Take Igor, for example. Even if he hadn’t become the Great Mentor’s fourth apprentice, someone like him, who could cause upheaval in the Inner World even in his sleep, was a rare talent indeed.

Igor also felt gratified. His gamble on his future had paid off. The outcome had been positive. He was thrilled to continue pursuing his dream of becoming an Adventurer and no longer needed to go back to chopping and selling firewood.

Now, the only disgruntled one remaining was Kadi. He didn’t comprehend why Kuren and Joseph were filled with excitement. He didn’t understand what had happened.

Why did these two get so ecstatic just because Igor said a couple of words after waking up? And why did Igor still look so down even after a good sleep? Could the World Setting Technique really be this magical? Did Igor actually resolve the entire thing smoothly in his sleep?

Kadi’s mind was brimming with countless questions, but he couldn’t voice any of them. It wasn’t because he was shy, nor because it wasn’t his place to ask; he simply didn’t know how to begin. The chaos in his mind prevented him from effectively consolidating his questions. There were too many fragmented doubts, and he didn’t know where to start.

He had just seen everyone become excited after Igor woke up. Now, he had witnessed with his own eyes someone solving problems in their sleep.

”Did you really resolve all the issues in your sleep?” After struggling for a moment, Kadi finally blurted out a question. The effort of forming the question must have been a formidable mental struggle, as his blue skin turned slightly purplish.

Igor chuckled. Kadi’s words amused him, and his initially languishing Spirit Power recovered slightly.

”Yeah, I created a miracle in my sleep!” Igor responded jokingly.

”Err, what kind of miracle?” Kadi pressed, while Kuren and Joseph also awaited Igor’s answer. They wanted to know if Igor had found a way out and if he had discovered the answers they had been seeking during his Inner World exploration.

”In the Inner World, I found Stan Sol. We worked together, escaped from that dark ocean, and I obtained some information about the outside from him.”

”What’s going on outside?” Joseph asked urgently, very concerned.

”Have those scoundrels from the Alchemy Workshop come over?” Kuren, too, was anxious about the situation outside, constantly analyzing various possibilities.

”The situation outside is complicated, but the main invaders are not from the Alchemy Workshop. In a way, the people from the Alchemy Workshop are even helping to protect this mountain range.” Igor briefly described the information he had gained from Stan Sol. Although many things sounded contrary to Joseph’s and Kuren’s deductions, they couldn’t find any inconsistencies at that moment.

”You saw Stan Sol?” Kadi inquired.

”We only communicated through Spirit Communication,” Igor answered truthfully.

”Who is the enemy?” Joseph asked.

”Unknown. They were attracted by the secrets of Guru Mountain,” Igor responded. After he and Stan Sol had escaped from the unknown controller’s Illusion World, they had exchanged some information. Igor had heard about the Soul Guardians and Grave Robbers, but he couldn’t fully grasp the relationship between them. For now, he only knew that the secret concealed by the mountain was much larger than what he had previously heard from Guzan.

Perhaps this mountain hid ample secrets, with each person knowing only a part of them. Some were guarding it, and some were coveting it. The opposing forces grappling for these secrets made the whole matter more complicated.

Igor’s recounting brought silence to the safe house.

However, Igor had no intention of remaining silent. ”The situation outside is grave. Even a skilled individual like Stan Sol is finding it challenging, which gives an idea of the enemy’s strength.”

How strong must the enemy be? Joseph and Kuren couldn’t help but frown. They even found it hard to believe that those scoundrels from the Alchemy Workshop would turn around to help them. This was something they couldn’t wrap their heads around.

Could a miracle have occurred?

”We can’t sit idle. What awaits us might exceed our imagination,” Igor continued.

”Yes, we have to get out of here as soon as possible! I believe Kevin needs our help,” Kadi could no longer contain his anxiety. Since Igor had claimed success, it meant he had found a way out. If they could leave, they could then assist Kevin and the others.

”Ah, no, Kadi. I forgot to mention, we might need to change our plans.”

”Hmm?” Igor’s words surprised Joseph and Kuren as well.

Aren’t we leaving? No one expected this. Had Igor learned about the special circumstances outside and turned into a deserter? Or was he simply a coward? But his previous actions didn’t suggest that at all. Kuren and the others’ minds instantly raced with possibilities.

”Next, we may witness a miracle!”

”A miracle?”

”Yes, witness a miracle. The process was full of twists and turns, too long to explain now, and time is short. You can ask them all together when they arrive,” Igor said, stretching out his hand as if welcoming something.

In an instant, a ring of light, neither too large nor too small, appeared in the cave, radiating a faint blue light that flickered intermittently.

The blue ring of light grew brighter, its color deepening, and in no time, the entire safe house was filled with dazzling blue light!

Then, with a SWISH, shadowy figures appeared from the blue light—and there was more than one!

THUD! A muffled sound echoed as the blue light dispersed in all directions. Where the ring of light had been, several people now stood or lay.

”Great Mentor!” Kuren and Joseph cried out in unison.