One-Eyed Monster

Igor stared intently at the shadow. He never would have guessed that this seemingly lightless area was the cave’s exit.

Igor had always felt his previous judgment was correct, but reality now proved him wrong—and outrageously so.

He could never have imagined this shadowy place was actually an exit...

But the truth was the truth. Whether Igor understood it or not, there it was, firm and unyielding.

”Once we break the Spirit Lock, everything will proceed naturally,” Yuga added. He too had a special attachment to this cave, never imagining this day would come.

His, the Great Mentor’s, and Xiso’s original purpose in creating this Sanctuary was simple: to establish a hiding place others couldn’t find in times of crisis. It was a place only they knew, a shelter for dangerous times, and also a visual trap. Its secrets could only be uncovered by those who could break their enchantments.

Initially, this Sanctuary wasn’t so special. It was merely a deception created with the World Setting Technique to confuse enemies’ vision, allowing them to hide inside and adjust their state.

This Sanctuary had indeed served as an excellent cover. Even now, with Guru Mountain facing its most serious invasion in years, this cave still played a crucial role. Initially, however, this Sanctuary was purely experimental, with no such mysteries inside.

Yuga was unsure why the cave had started becoming so extraordinary. Guru Mountain had been peaceful at first, and the cave was used as a Slumber Room. Most people entered it to cultivate their abilities. Yuga himself had gone in once to enhance his sensitivity to Natural Force.

As for why the cave had become as it was now, Yuga remained baffled. Not just Yuga; hardly anyone in all of Guru Mountain had a clear understanding.

Spirit Power could be transmitted into the cave through a special medium. The cave occasionally displayed Illusions, and sometimes, the Natural Force within it was even more potent than outside. A series of strange events occurred in the cave, all completely beyond their expectations.

These events had occurred too suddenly for them to notice at first. Even the experienced Great Mentor couldn’t identify the fundamental reason for the cave’s changes.

However, they were monsters, and monsters should act like monsters. Something forming naturally, no matter how startling or unexpected, was still somewhat too ’common’ for them.

Using the word ’common’ here might be a slight exaggeration, but regardless, they had overlooked these changes.

Although many questions remained, as time passed, they began to form some theories. They presumed the subtle changes in the Sanctuary occurred due to the confluence of their various Spirit Powers within the enclosed space.

Most people agreed with this guess. However, they couldn’t understand why Spirit Power would converge within this particular cave. But since the cave’s development trend was positive, they didn’t interfere. They let it evolve, continuously exploring and researching, hoping to make new discoveries someday.

That day truly arrived, thanks to a young man named Igor. When invaders threatened to unveil the secrets of Guru Mountain, this stubborn and straightforward young man, with his indomitable spirit, had forced open a new gateway. His discovery clarified the developmental path of the entire cave. They now understood that its self-progression wasn’t due to the convergence of Spirit Powers, but rather their absorption and digestion.

According to Igor’s newfound understanding of ’Spirit,’ it was clear this cave was situated in a special location—a convergence point between two realms. Evidently, Spirit Power was a unique medium...

If there weren’t formidable enemies outside right now, Yuga truly wished he could summon Xiso and Arnold back to immerse themselves in the joy of research and exploration together.

Alas, they needed to expel the invaders first before they could quietly continue their research...

Damn those invaders...

The convergence of Spirit Power occurred right at the junction of the two realms. This awakened new powers and caused certain changes in the cave. These changes might not have seemed significant, but once they stepped into the Inner World, they would realize that this seemingly insignificant external appearance was, in fact, far from simple.

However, the current situation didn’t allow them to venture into the Inner World to investigate. The invaders were vigilant, and could arrive at any moment. By then, they wouldn’t have the leisure to discuss these matters.

Igor felt a strong sense of frustration, but that stubborn spirit still surged within him.

Igor walked up to the shadow and scrutinized it. It was definitely a hole, but as soon as he extended his hand, he felt a strong force pushing him inward.

”Is this the Spirit Lock?” Igor turned his head in bewilderment, hoping for a definitive answer.

”Each person’s Spirit Lock is different. We can’t be certain of Kevin’s exact form,” Yuga shrugged, sounding helpless about this.

”Then you can’t just stand there thinking!” Igor exclaimed, spreading his hands. He had noticed a common habit among his seniors: they loved to stand around pondering at length before launching into a long story—though, admittedly, Igor quite enjoyed listening to them.

Igor’s almost roaring shout startled everyone present.

Everyone considered the Spirit Lock a special entity, not to be tampered with without proper understanding.

But Igor wasn’t one for deep contemplation; he was an aspiring Adventurer. To him, all this was mere daydreaming. He needed to forge ahead through exploration.

Seeing the stunned faces of the others, Igor felt a wave of frustration. Out of this frustration, he stamped his foot—a habit he’d picked up from Clarisse, the flower seller at the entrance of the Yonder Travel Academy.

Although it was just an unintentional stamp, Igor, having stepped into the Inner World twice, found his Spirit Sensing Ability had undergone a complete transformation.

The stamp sent a strong vibration through him, a vibration that originated from within the shadow.

This vibration brought a flash of insight. He felt as if he had found the way out!