One-Eyed Monster

The Great Mentor’s speech was suppressed, and soon his movements were as well.

If it weren’t for Stan Sol’s timely response, everyone would still be mired in prolonged hesitation, slowly mulling over their options.

It was not unexpected for the Great Mentor, regarded as their standard-bearer, to be targeted. This was undoubtedly the optimal choice for their opponents, who were confident enough, as attacking the Great Mentor was no easy task.

They were still in the dark about their opponent’s true strength, but they could neither retreat nor cry out for guidance.

These elders, though prone to reminiscence, were decisive when it mattered. They wouldn’t be dulled by such setbacks. At this critical juncture, everyone knew their duty: rescuing the ambushed Great Mentor was the paramount concern.

Incidentally, had the Great Mentor not been advanced in years, he wouldn’t have fallen prey to the enemy so easily. But such is the law of nature: birth, aging, sickness, and death. When one reaches a certain age, reflexes inevitably slow, and actions tend to lag.

The enemy clearly knew the Great Mentor well; their attack was targeted and meticulously prepared.

Stan Sol had expended considerable physical strength and Spirit Power in his previous confrontations with the main controller. Despite his current weakened state, he still managed to alert everyone, which was a remarkable feat.

The others, for some reason, seemed to have lost focus at that moment, as though they had all fainted; indeed, everyone in the room appeared to be in a daze.

The Great Mentor knew precisely what was happening, but he was unable to speak or use body language to convey it. The enemy’s method of attack was peculiar—a Spirit Attack. They had previously used a combination of illusion and reality to utterly rout them, and now they employed the same tactic to deliver a stunning blow. These invaders were truly difficult to handle.

Great Mentor Guzan focused his Spirit Power, but his age was a hindrance. Despite his best efforts, he could only channel a minuscule amount of Energy. He wanted to transmit this to Kuren, knowing Kuren possessed the ability to receive it. However, despite several attempts, the Great Mentor failed to send it out.

Thankfully, he sensed the enemy hadn’t pinpointed his location yet; otherwise, he would have been gravely worried.

There was still time. If he could just exert a little more effort, he could transmit that sliver of consciousness to Kuren. Once Kuren understood his intentions, they could surely devise a way to counter this Spirit Attack.

Ordinary Spirit Attacks involved releasing Spirit Power and then attacking with Physique Techniques or other arts. This time, however, the enemy seemed to be casting a net, presumably to pinpoint his prey’s location.

It appeared this invader was, in some ways, also a Hunter.

Such a Spirit Attack would undoubtedly consume a vast amount of Spirit Power. The invader appeared to be alone; where had he obtained so much Spirit Power? This was a significant question. Or perhaps, this was a domain beyond their current understanding.

The oppression intensified; the Spirit Power pressure grew stronger. Great Mentor Guzan could feel the enemy’s powerful aura. He didn’t understand why he was trapped, unable to move or speak. Even his prided Spirit Communication was obstructed. This was simply inconceivable.

Now that he was under this constraint, the safehouse felt like a tray of scattered sand. Although everyone knew to remain vigilant and prepare for another battle, they still lacked a leader to guide them forward.

Great Mentor Guzan felt they were like a flock of swans waiting for a leader; although they flapped their wings eagerly, they had no sense of direction.

Great Mentor Guzan sighed inwardly. This is truly a sorrowful state of affairs. The people of Guru Mountain regard me too highly, causing everyone to depend on me as their standard. My every word, every action, profoundly influences them. But now that I cannot move or speak, everyone in this cavern has become leaderless. They desperately need a leader. And in this cavern, only Kuren possesses that kind of potential.

But what can be done? The enemy has me pinned down completely, giving me no chance to turn things around. I haven’t found the rhythm of the enemy’s Spirit Power, and for now, I can’t break free from this oppressive feeling. Are we really going to be trapped like fish in a barrel in this safehouse by the invader? Who would have thought this would be the outcome!

The Great Mentor observed everyone in the cavern.

Estev, the Soul Guardian, seems helpless at this moment. Perhaps he is beginning to question what he guards, or perhaps the trauma from his severed arm has left him utterly dejected. He looks as if he has just suffered a defeat.

Stan Sol is trying, but he was never destined to be a leader. Why do I think so? Because Stan Sol has always exuded a kind of lonely indignation.

Kuren... if not for that slaughterous part of him, his achievements would surpass Xiso’s, whether in Guru Mountain or the Empire. Kuren would undoubtedly make significant breakthroughs as a Scholar.

Joseph, that observant boy, still lacks drive. He’s somewhat like a child who never quite grows up.

Brad may have overcome an extreme past, but his heart is still incomplete; he has vulnerabilities and needs to be cherished.

Kadi, this child is peculiar. One never knows what kind of trouble he might stir up. If he were to lead, Guru Mountain would probably descend into joyful chaos.

The Witch Spirit, though now fully integrated into the group, still struggles to adapt to a human body. It needs much more time to adjust before it can stand on its own.

Lastly, there is Igor, the young man who loves to explore and endlessly creates miracles.

Will he bring us a surprise this time?

Yet, in his heart, the Great Mentor doubted it. He felt it was unfair to place such heavy expectations on a child who had been innocently embroiled in Guru Mountain’s conflicts. This should have been the responsibility of them, the old-timers, not Igor. Yet, the boy now stood valiantly with them through this ordeal, which was truly a great blessing. They all owed Igor.

At this moment, they had to use their own strength to break free from all this.

It should be us creating miracles for Igor! The Great Mentor thought.