One-Eyed Monster

Igor and Kadi couldn’t help but think of themselves as they watched the Battle Pet Fiery Blaze contend with those snowmen.

They recalled their own struggles in Ghost Wind Valley, where the Great Mentor’s Spirit Painting had left them in a quandary. They had been forced to circle aimlessly many times to find the way out. They figured the Battle Pet Fiery Blaze’s struggle was similar; it was determined to defeat the endless snowmen, but no matter how aggressive its attacks were, the snowmen kept rising.

The Battle Pet Fiery Blaze burned its flames intensely, melting patch after patch of snow. However, the snow kept falling relentlessly from the sky, and no matter how hard it tried, the snowmen remained endless.

After all, no matter how powerful the Battle Pet Fiery Blaze was, it couldn’t stop the snowflakes from falling from the sky.

For the moment, it couldn’t contend with the forces of nature. No, it could never hope to.

Igor felt a pang of empathy. The ordeal must have been a huge blow to the Battle Pet Fiery Blaze, he thought.

Igor’s empathy seemed to infect Kadi, and the two began discussing pain and endurance, as if the Battle Pet Fiery Blaze could understand their conversation. This made Stan Sol and Hustace, who were standing to one side, feel quite exasperated.

Stan Sol really wanted to tell Igor that although Battle Pets used Spirit Power, they were far from being Living Entities. This flame was formed when their family’s unique skill was enhanced with Spirit Power, a skill significantly related to his older brother, Tobin. Stan Sol could only use it; he couldn’t explain the principles behind it. But regardless, this flame wouldn’t be extinguished, nor would it experience human sensations. It was somewhat like an Alchemist’s Exchange Beast, but it possessed a greater degree of autonomous activity. Exchange Beasts mostly obeyed an Alchemist’s Alchemy Equations, while his Battle Pet could move about freely, much like a real pet. Stan Sol truly wished he could tell Igor these facts right now, but alas, he had trouble expressing himself. For now, he could only sigh silently behind Igor.

As for Hustace, it went without saying that he hadn’t wanted to return to this place. He would have felt even more awkward staying near the safe house—where everyone he knew was—than venturing into danger. So, he had no choice but to brace himself and follow Igor.

Hustace still couldn’t understand why Igor had insisted on coming here. The place was deserted, and they could be attacked by unknown enemies at any moment. It was utterly dangerous. He just didn’t get why Igor absolutely had to come back.

Igor had always struck Hustace as peculiar. Of course, he had also always seen Igor as a rival to surpass. In the past, during their Distant Travel, whatever Igor did, he would do. But now, everything was different. Ever since he impulsively decided to follow Igor’s example and venture into Guru Mountain alone, his worldview and outlook on life had slowly begun to change. Facing hunger and cold alone, he gradually realized how wonderful his previous life had been, where meals were served at his call and clothes were handed to him.

Right now, he truly wished he could return to the Governor’s Mansion and have a wonderful, long sleep...

This place! It was a veritable breeding ground for fear.

Hustace felt that although the scenery looked refreshing and the singing was intoxicating, a seed of fear still lurked here, hidden beneath the surface.

Hustace now trailed behind Igor, feeling ill at ease. He glanced left and right, constantly feeling that danger was everywhere, that fear was breeding in every corner.

Even though the Battle Pet Fiery Blaze’s light brightly illuminated the surroundings, it couldn’t dispel the gloom. Compared to daylight, this place was simply too dark!

As Hustace scanned his surroundings, he slowly began to feel a sense of oppression, as if something were tugging at him from behind.

But he didn’t dare turn around to look, terrified he might see something dreadful.

”Why are you pulling me so hard...?” Igor felt something was off. What’s going on? Why is Hustace pulling him so forcefully from behind? he wondered.

”Who’s pulling you?” Kadi found it strange. He looked behind Igor, but even in the firelight, it was somewhat dark, and he couldn’t see anything.

”Hey, why are you pulling me now too?!” Kadi also felt a force tugging at him.

”No, something’s wrong!” Stan Sol said alertly. ”There’s a situation!”

”Igor, look behind me! Look behind me!” Hustace cried, running towards Igor in terror. He didn’t dare look back, but he could distinctly feel someone pulling his arm.

”Behind you?” Igor looked where Hustace indicated. Behind Hustace was empty space; there was nothing there!

But now, everyone felt something tugging at them from behind. This was definitely not right.

However, this unseen entity likely had limited strength, because it couldn’t even budge Hustace when it pulled him. This indicated that the creature wasn’t very powerful.

”Let’s go back!” Hustace suggested, standing behind Igor.

”We can’t go back!” Kadi exclaimed. ”We can’t see these things, but they’re definitely pulling at me! If we return now, they might follow us. We can’t endanger Kevin and the others!”

Kadi showed decisiveness at this moment. Indeed, these monsters might follow them back. But they couldn’t locate these damn things here either. It was a real headache for them.

What disgusted Igor and Kadi the most was that these bastards only pulled at them from behind, showing no intention of attacking at all.

Igor figured that if these bastards had attacked them just moments ago, they would have almost certainly succeeded, as they had all been focused on the Battle Pet Fiery Blaze and had let their guard down.

Stan Sol, however, wasn’t as agitated as Igor and Kadi. He understood clearly that the enemy didn’t dare attack them for the time being. This stealthy, imperceptible tugging was likely the same kind of tactic Igor and Kadi often used.

The goal was simply to disgust them.

To make you lose your temper.

Once you lost your temper, it would have an opening to exploit. Then it could seize that opening, find your weakness, and then capture you all in one go...

Stan Sol couldn’t help but sigh. He was actually a little impressed with himself for figuring out these bastards’ methods so quickly.

It was no wonder, really. He had been hanging around people like Igor for a while now and had, more or less, picked up a few tricks for causing trouble himself...