One-Eyed Monster

The ethereal voices were growing heavier, like stones slowly pressing downward, both large and small, continuously rolling.

Igor looked left and right. He really wanted to understand what was happening, what was causing these voices to become so heavy.

But he found nothing.

In theory, the number of these ”swimming fish” shouldn’t increase further. Igor had withdrawn the Fishing Boat Array long ago, and Stan Sol’s seabirds had also ceased their activities. So why were these voices growing heavier? Could it be that the number of people had increased again?

Igor took a rough look and found that wasn’t the case. The dense crowd hadn’t become intolerably congested; they were still distributed around as before. While it was crowded, it wasn’t to the point of being overpopulated. So, Igor roughly judged that their numbers hadn’t increased much.

Perhaps some had. After all, the high and low tides had stranded too many fish and shrimp. Although the vast ocean desperately wanted to swallow these creatures back, it had not succeeded. Besides, he and Stan Sol were not to be underestimated. Since Kadi joined their team, Igor had become more relaxed and felt comfortable each time. Of course, all this was predicated on them remaining sufficiently concealed.

Compared to the vast ocean, they were like guerrillas, striking and then changing locations, giving their opponent a considerable headache.

Although Igor often liked to confront others head-on, Kadi and Stan Sol were no pushovers. At key moments, they could always hold Igor back.

Never underestimate the power of companions. Igor vividly remembered these words; this was a great truth Hadi had always taught him. Now, reflecting on it, he realized that if it weren’t for his companions, he would have gone down the drain long ago. Because of this, he now firmly believed in that saying.

So now, he held high hopes for his companions, Kadi and Stan Sol.

Igor wasn’t a conservative person. But now, he took Stan Sol’s and Kadi’s advice and remained silent, waiting for an opportunity. Although he didn’t know what this opportunity was, nor what he should do next, he firmly believed there would be a time for him to unleash his energy.

Stan Sol was quite busy at this moment; he was by no means slacking. He knew Igor was anxious, but Igor’s temperament really couldn’t help at this point. Unless Stan Sol figured out the situation before him, he truly didn’t know what orders to give Igor.

He was the Young Family Leader of the Sol Family; commanding people was something he excelled at.

But with great ability came great responsibility. He couldn’t casually issue orders that would plunge his kinsmen directly into hardship. The most terrifying thing in this world was to encounter a muddled leader. If this leader led the way wrongly, then those who followed would endure immense suffering; they might even step into an abyss from which there was no return.

Naturally, Stan Sol did not want to be such a leader, so he was being exceedingly careful. He needed to ascertain whether this dense crowd—these resentful, homeless people—was a trap or something else.

”You... have freed... us...” This resentful crowd was still repeating these words.

Stan Sol faintly sensed that the meaning of this sentence was more than just superficial. They did liberate them. Indeed, Igor and he had pulled them out of that ocean, which could be considered setting them free. But was this liberation truly a good thing for them?

Perhaps the final outcome would be good, but not necessarily at this moment. The length of time these people had been imprisoned varied; some imprisonments were recent, others dated back a long time. It was impossible to discern anything from the time aspect alone. However, judging by their current state, this crowd was undoubtedly a group of villains freshly emerged from oppression. Their bodies reeked of resentment, now seeking an outlet, but unfortunately, they couldn’t find one.

Stan Sol slowly comprehended the meaning of this statement as it repeated, growing increasingly intense. It seemed as if their long-accumulated resentment carried a palpable heaviness, and now they were desperately seeking a place to vent it.

This heaviness and repetition were definitely not an expression of persistent gratitude towards anyone... This heaviness and repetition were absolutely for releasing that profound sense of weight within themselves!

Thinking of this, Stan Sol roughly understood.

These individuals, crushed by resentment, had long forgotten where they were supposed to go. After being misguided, they were essentially imprisoned—a truly sorrowful state of affairs. In this vast ocean, only obedience allowed one to navigate smoothly; even the slightest hint of rebellion would subject them to even heavier oppression. Prolonged oppression caused their initially small resentments to accumulate and magnify, gradually consuming their entire minds. It made them forget too much, leaving only the memory of resentment and oppression here.

These people, no matter the circumstances, were always enemies. They would only submit to power. If you lacked sufficient power, you would only be oppressed and devoured by them.

Therefore, Stan Sol dared to assert that if they responded to these resentment-laden scoundrels at this moment, the reply would undoubtedly be: ”Since you’ve freed us, then come and taste with us what it’s like to be oppressed!” These people would absolutely transfer all their resentment onto you.

Unless you possessed enough power to control them and become their new guide. Then, if you told them to go west, they absolutely wouldn’t dare to go east!

”Hey, Igor, are you ready for a big fight?” Stan Sol asked, full of confidence. Now that he had seen the reality clearly, he could command freely.

”Hmm?” Igor became alert. ”What should I do?”

”I need to ignite my flames. Now, you gather Spirit Power for me. I need a vast amount of Spirit Power.”

”No problem!” Igor, in turn, communicated this idea to Kadi. He himself didn’t have much Spirit Power left, but Kadi had ways to gather more.

Soon after, a continuous stream of Spirit Power surged towards Stan Sol.

WHOOSH—

In an instant, a whirlwind swept up over the sea, spinning towards the crowd. Yet, these people showed no fear at all; they were dejected, seemingly indifferent to the assault of wind, rain, thunder, and lightning.

FWOOM! The whirlwind suddenly stopped. Billowing dark clouds immediately enveloped the sea. It had not been very bright to begin with, and now it grew even darker!

”Just what I needed!” Stan Sol said calmly. He already had enough Spirit Power; now, all he needed was to reveal his final trump card.

Even though this crowd was indifferent to his attack... Come out, Fiery Blaze, my Battle Pet! This time, you are the Ghostly Flame! Burn away these accumulated resentments!

The appearance of the Battle Pet caused the entire sea to roil once more. This was a strong surge of rebellious will, but what use was it? The force that would next confront this vast ocean would be even more powerful!