One-Eyed Monster

What descended from the sky wasn’t just rocks, but also the counterattack Kadi and his companions had been brewing. The monster saw more than just rocks falling; it saw many, many things. In that brief moment, as the rocks were hurled towards it, the monster’s inner turmoil was indescribable. Its state of mind was like someone standing at a great height, suddenly finding the ground beneath their feet vanishing, causing them to plummet... It was also like a person about to savor a delicious meal, only for a bird to fly past and leave droppings on it... Regardless of its feelings, the monster had to accept the reality: the rocks contained lightning. Therefore, what descended from the sky wasn’t stones, but lightning. No, for the monster, what rained down from the sky was disaster, terror, failure... And, of course, there was also that faint touch of sorrow.

CRACK—

Lightning burst from the rocks. The dazzling yellow light was followed by a deafening rumble, and then a continuous sizzling sound spread through the air... The mere sound of being struck by lightning was utterly torturous. The lightning wasn’t enough to send the monster to the Eternal Tranquility Realm, but it could certainly shatter its resolve to stay.

I’m filled with sorrow, the monster thought. I believed I had almost grasped the various rules of this world, only to be treated with such disdain in the end. To think my own lightning ability was stolen, and they even used it to attack me—this is a terrifying realization. This place is too dangerous. Staying here any longer seems like an immense risk; it would be better to return to my own world.

Countless shards began to retreat. These Split Entities were incapable of attacking, but they excelled at retreating. Losing any single one wouldn’t affect the main body’s safety. As long as even one fragment could escape, it would survive. In the future, it could simply split again. Even if the splitting process took a long time, it wouldn’t matter; as long as the green mountains remain, there will be no lack of firewood to burn.

The monster’s intention to withdraw was obvious. It no longer wanted to contend with that one-eyed fellow opposite it. There was nothing to gain, only repeated blows, both mental and physical, and the impact was significant. The monster was utterly disheartened. It had long felt that faint touch of sorrow, which now nurtured its desire to retreat.

This outcome was not good news for Wizard Reed. He was now feeling many negative emotions, and he knew very well where they originated. The monster he had summoned was showing signs of wanting to retreat, leaving him at a loss. He didn’t want the monster to retreat. Summoning this creature had been no easy feat. If not for the Dark Energy Lord Willem had given him, he might not have been able to summon this monster at all. But now, the monster was actually thinking of retreating. It had barely stepped into this world and was already choosing to leave. This was truly a sorrowful matter.

The plans for Taming the monster, for becoming Lord Willem’s trusted right-hand man, for conquest… All of it would vanish with the monster’s retreat... No, no, no, these visions haven’t even materialized yet, so how could they vanish? Wizard Reed found his own thoughts becoming chaotic. What fell from the sky truly wasn’t as simple as mere rocks and lightning...

This faint sorrow immediately invaded Wizard Reed’s heart. Although he knew that, as someone dedicated to darkness, such feelings shouldn’t arise, the disparity was too great. His mental fortitude hadn’t yet reached the peak standard of a Dark Wizard. The taste of sorrow instantly permeated the entire Moonflow Stream. Not just the monster and Wizard Reed, but even Kevin and Milo, men who had weathered many storms, felt a touch of this sadness... This truly was an inexplicable affair.

Milo held one of the Golden Seats in the Alchemy Workshop. He felt ashamed and regretful for knowing nothing about this monster. This really isn’t a good sign, he thought. An Alchemy Workshop like this will clearly be a drag and affect Lord Kuyi Tulan’s plans. We were inadequately prepared and overestimated ourselves, too confident in our abilities. When he thought of Brad Joela and Pedro, whose whereabouts were still unknown, a pang of pain shot through his heart. The sorrow, starting from an inconspicuous place, slowly spread, gradually engulfing his entire being.

Kevin, meanwhile, was no better off; he too was sinking into sorrow. His sorrow was somewhat connected to Kadi. As Kadi’s Guide, seeing Kadi’s proud performance should have made Kevin happy. Yet, strangely, Kevin couldn’t feel happy. He felt sorrow, though he couldn’t pinpoint its origin. In short, sorrow overshadowed any joy.

I’m happy Kadi has grown, able to stand on his own two feet, Kevin mused. Although his friends helped him a lot, Kadi has still matured so quickly. This rapid growth also means Kadi is no longer a child. It’s time for him to leave my protection. Soon, he’ll have to face the world alone, and that means... a parting. I’m a bit reluctant to let go of the grown-up Kadi. Life will be a bit lonely without that little rascal around; the mountain will feel less lively...

This wave of sorrow washed over Kevin, making him momentarily forget what he was supposed to be doing. Of course, this sorrow only occupied a part of his mind; he felt sorrow for other reasons too.

One reason is that I, as the guardian of Guru Mountain, failed in my duty. This damages my image in Kadi’s eyes, and it’s a disgrace to the Great Mentor. All our initial resolve came to nothing, trapped here by an unknown monster. If it weren’t for Kadi and his friends, who knows how much longer we would have been stuck... Kadi again... Just thinking of his name now brings a wave of sorrow. To think, I was so helpless against that lightning, yet Kadi actually managed to capture and use it! That absolutely stunned me. What makes me feel even more ashamed is our counterattack against the monster... Milo and I went all out, trying to land a fatal blow, but the outcome shocked us. The monster was unharmed! Splitting and reassembling are routine for it; we were no match at all... And yet, Kadi and his friends... they used lightning to attack... And it was surprisingly effective!

It was truly indescribable. At this moment, apart from that faint touch of sorrow, what else could possibly describe their state of mind?