One-Eyed Monster

Igor and his companions continued to maintain their triangular defensive posture, their mental state now settled and peaceful.

Being calm had allowed them some respite. Unknowingly immersed in the spiritual aura of the Moonflow Stream, they had gradually managed to regain some of their Spirit Power.

It was a surprisingly pleasant outcome, managing to rest whilst also enduring an unseen threat.

Igor and Kadi were always able to find something positive amidst the bleak circumstances, a knack for lightening the tense atmosphere. Despite their often playful demeanor, they understood that when minds were calm, all around them would follow suit.

Although they were currently locked in a contest of endurance with their hidden adversary, this silent and invisible duel was draining their spirit and Spirit Power. One misstep could potentially unravel their defense and entrap them within the enemy’s snare.

Presently, Igor and his companions were unaware of the nature of their opponent, but they were alert to a peculiar presence. Their logical explanation was that the adversary was likely a Summoned Creature, given that they couldn’t find an equivalent within their own understanding...

Moreover, they were unable to attack since they couldn’t discern the enemy’s position or form.

For now, all they could do was slowly engage in this battle of endurance with their adversary.

Many would find such a contest helpless, leading to frustration and rage over time. That was the normal reaction.

However, Igor and Kadi did not follow conventional thinking. Instead of frustration, they had found even more tranquility.

Perhaps their reaction was inherent, or they were unresponsive, but their unbowed demeanor had cast a strange atmosphere across the situation.

Igor felt this couldn’t carry on, but finding no better alternatives, he could only watch helplessly as time gushed away...

It was impossible not to feel an urgency, but the degree of their distress didn’t betray their calm exterior, making their apparent serenity seem overbearing to others.

Stan Sol had always wanted to express something, but early communication impediments had broadened his tolerance. Even in the most frustrating situations, Stan Sol never let any emotion show on his face. This was very likely the legendary ’expressionlessness’ he was known for.

Of course, there were exceptions, like Hustace, who maintained a normal demeanor throughout. Neither exaggerating nor acting, he completely portrayed a normal reaction: fear.

Consequently, the current situation seemed highly unusual. Those unacquainted with the truth might have suspected Igor and the others of performing some mysterious ritual! Silently forming a triangle with one incessantly speaking in the middle, it looked as if they were preparing for a magic formation!

It was truly an incredulous situation.

Their extraordinary patience seemed to have silenced the entire Moonflow Stream. Throughout, the stage of the Moonflow Stream had been dominated by Hustace’s soliloquy. Yet, Igor and the others, like a backdrop, demonstrated a high level of poise with their silence and stillness...

They were unsure when this would end. In this test of endurance, the one who stepped out first would be at a disadvantage...

Igor and his companions understood this; therefore, despite the value of time, they continued their unwavering patience. It seemed that cost would yield return. In this land that followed the principle of Equivalent Exchange, time once again verified this for Igor...

The passage of time was fair, causing all parties to feel sadness and anger about its unstoppable haste.

The passing of time implied consumption, and this depletion was equal for both sides. Who would strike first depended on who persevered.

Igor felt that they were calm now and showed no signs of urgency.

They were merely waiting for their opponent to make the first move.

Whether or not the enemy would do so depended on whether they could trick their adversary.

Their indifferent demeanor was, in fact, their best disguise. They might have felt a little anxious inside, but they couldn’t display it blatantly. Whether it was Stan Sol or Igor, at this moment, they naturally formed a tacit understanding with Kadi and appeared calm and composed.

They looked exactly like stone pillars!

What they didn’t realize was that their behavior had induced discussion among the Little Black Hands, a group summoned by Wizard Reed, and that the discussion was quite heated.

In no time, Igor and his companions would discern the outcome of the Little Black Hands’ debate.

At present, they hadn’t noticed anything out of place. It wasn’t their fault, though, for they had yet to perceive what the Little Black Hand actually was, and even its Spirit Power remained undetected.

The Summoned Creature was completely alien to them. Until it revealed itself, like the previous one, they had no clue as to what it looked like.

No wonder. They hadn’t studied Dark Summoning Spells; these explicitly prohibited subjects were out of their purview. Not just them, even the Great Mentor probably knew very little about the topic.

This unhealthy exclusion allowed the Dark Forces to be brash, since most people were biased. It was beyond control. Besides, Adventurers with Class weren’t perfect either.

This enduring habit led to the stealth of the Dark Forces, the majority of which remained unknown. Even those not very powerful but tainted by darkness could stir the entire professional community for a while...

The one who raised doubts about this distorted perception in the professional community was Kuyi Tulan. This young chief alchemist felt that Dark Forces shouldn’t be repelled, but rather should be well-known to people. And he didn’t believe that darkness inherently represented evil...

Of course, this had little direct relevance to the current situation, but it indirectly illustrated the total obliviousness across the continent towards the Dark Forces...

Thereby, when the Little Black Hands gradually emerged from the ground, an air of mystery arrived with them...

The Little Black Hands had come to a conclusion after their discussion: they should surface from the ground and continue to intimidate these adversaries. They were curious about what other unusual reactions these individuals might exhibit!

Truthfully, the performance of Igor and his team had jolted the nerves of the Little Black Hands. These beings, summoned from another dimension, had been utterly captivated by these individuals. They hadn’t expected this world to be so unlike the dull and tasteless place they hailed from; it turned out to be filled with so many strange and peculiar things...