One-Eyed Monster

When the Little Black Hands appeared again, they still grabbed Igor and his companions by the ankles.

The fact that this tactic was being used a second time left Igor clueless and completely bewildered.

What on earth was happening? Why were they grabbing ankles again? Why weren’t they playing by the rules?

Igor felt the opponent couldn’t possibly use the same move against them again. It was simple: how could a tactic that had been seen through be used again? Wasn’t that just playing right into their hands?

So, when these Little Black Hands dragged at their ankles again, Igor’s heart surged tumultuously, unable to calm down.

This meant his previous judgment was likely wrong. In other words, he didn’t actually have the ability to deduce things with his mind... It was as if he’d just soared into the sky, ecstatic over some great achievement, only to suddenly find he had no wings and couldn’t fly, plummeting back to the ground with a thud...

Kadi, however, wasn’t particularly bothered. He didn’t have Igor’s delicate sensibilities; he just felt angry. This anger hadn’t just formed. During his argument with Igor, he’d already found this opponent very annoying. The method he’d devised had indeed lured the opponent out. But after emerging, the opponent didn’t fight, merely annoyed them. How could that not be infuriating?

Moreover, they were aggravating Kadi. Kadi was an expert at stirring up trouble; how could he tolerate them aggravating him in this way?

Two out of the three of them were boiling with emotion, which aligned with the expectations of the Little Black Hands. Fear, well, it takes a process to arrive. Anger first, panic first, it doesn’t matter; eventually, these emotions will lead to fear...

The only one who remained calm was Stan Sol. The reappearance of the Little Black Hands made him inwardly shudder.

To appear again so silently, without any sound or movement—this skill was truly divine!

Stan Sol had marveled once when they disappeared, but now that these Little Black Hands had reappeared in the same way, Stan Sol couldn’t help but marvel all over again.

This ability to hide Spirit Power was far too formidable!

Stan Sol couldn’t help but think of the Hunters, the profession that had once brought about his family’s decline. This silent coming and going was very similar to the concealed Spirit Power pursued by those Hunters. Stan Sol had studied this skill. With his cloak and Sharkmon, he could conceal the majority of his Spirit Power. However, no matter what power he drew upon, he could never completely hide himself.

He had even done research; on this continent, the number of people who could hide their Spirit Power to the extent of being almost like an ordinary person probably wouldn’t exceed the fingers of one hand. And one he knew of was the current leader of the Dark Cabinet. The Dark Cabinet, as the most secretive Hunter Organization on this continent, had their Cabinet Elder, Reimundo, who possessed such strength. As for others, they were still incapable of fully concealing their overflowing Spirit Power.

So, Stan Sol felt their current opponent should not be underestimated. The skill they possessed to casually hide their Spirit Power was definitely not something people like them could fathom.

Could it be that things from the Alternate World were all this inexplicable?

Regardless of Igor and Kadi’s guesses, Stan Sol was now very clear: the opponent’s strength was not something they could predict.

Stan Sol had fully sensed that unknown quality from the opponents; this unknown had already plunged him into a kind of fear...

The Little Black Hands’ strategy was entirely correct. Although they had been somewhat confused by Igor and his group’s actions earlier, they finally understood now. In this world, to gain the upper hand in battle, one must act on one’s own terms and not be swayed by others. Previously, they had been swayed by others, losing themselves. Thinking back, this should be the second time they had lost themselves. The last time they lost themselves was when they were bound by the Agreement. That time, it could only be said they were too naive and were tricked by the people of this world. The past was too painful to recall; they weren’t too willing to think about it. Fortunately, they had now come to their senses in time...

They employed the same method. Taking advantage of the youths’ preoccupation, they let the misunderstanding persist, making the youths believe they were creating a confined space... But in reality? They were only thinking of creating fear. To be able to create fear, complete the Awakener’s tasks, and then stay in this world a little longer would be enough. Their requirements really weren’t that high.

All of this was because of the Agreement. Because of the Agreement, they couldn’t exert their own strength; they could only act according to the Summoner’s commands. And also because of this Agreement, they could come to this world, experience its wonders, and witness all kinds of differences. This Agreement was both their springboard to this world and the rule that restricted their actions. They didn’t quite understand the rules of this world, which gave the people who summoned them to this world an opportunity. It was precisely because of this that they were bound by this Agreement. They didn’t know if they could gain freedom, but being summoned was, in a way, an honor for them.

The Little Black Hands had been pondering many things lately. Their few previous discussions had also plunged them into a period of reminiscence. It was this reminiscence that made them bring out things that had been sealed in their hearts for a long time. For instance, what were they? Where did they come from? Why did they appear...? They had constantly sought answers to these questions but had never obtained much accurate information. The Summoner summoned them out but didn’t give them many answers. Everything was like an unknown. Yet these Summoners could completely order them around, and they didn’t know the reason for this either. They themselves had many questions, but the Summoner deliberately prevented them from thinking too much... They were just the Summoner’s tools, brought out for a while, and then it was over... This was probably one of the reasons they wanted to stay in this world a bit longer.

Looking back now, these youths had indeed given them an excellent opportunity—an opportunity to think again... Initially, being constantly ordered about by the Summoner had already caused them to lose many of their original qualities. The restrictions of the Agreement had also led them to abandon thinking long ago, and this, it seemed, was intentionally arranged by the Summoner... The Summoner seemed to have special restrictions on them and completely used them as tools. However, they were lucky, after all. They encountered Igor and the others at this specific moment. This group of youths, though they looked unreliable, had awakened something deep inside them... Not thinking was equivalent to losing their original selves. They hadn’t felt their own existence for so long...