One-Eyed Monster

This gaping shadow steadily closed in on the Earth Dragon, looking ready to swallow it whole.

With the glow of the fire lighting up the scene, Igor witnessed this terrifying spectacle. Who could have anticipated such a turn of events?

It was bizarre: a Summoner conjuring a monster only to devour it.

Igor was somewhat at a loss.

Everyone had already settled into their positions, ready for a major battle with the Earth Dragon. They knew that making the first move would likely be to their disadvantage, so everyone had agreed to assume a defensive stance.

Even Hustace was delving into his memory, trying to pinpoint the Earth Dragon’s vulnerability. Though he hadn’t personally seen an Earth Dragon, he had read about them in books.

But now, everything had become so sudden and unpredictable. Who exactly was the enemy?

Even the Alchemists maintaining the Alchemy Array were somewhat taken aback. Indeed, what was happening?

The most perplexing part was the Earth Dragon, standing still like a statue, showing absolutely no reaction. Was it paralyzed by the sudden turn of events? Or was it some taboo between the Summoner and the Summoned Creature that prohibited it from moving?

Even a mouse, when tortured by a cat, would instinctively seize any opportunity to escape, even if that opportunity was deliberately created by the cat.

Yet this Earth Dragon, astonishingly, remained utterly still, allowing itself to be gradually devoured—a spectacle that left many dumbfounded.

Damn it, even if you can’t fight the Summoner, can’t you at least try to escape? Someone’s started to devour you, and you still don’t try to run!

However, the Earth Dragon truly didn’t budge, standing like a sculpture as it was slowly swallowed by the gaping mouth within Reed’s black cloak.

In a short while, the once-mighty Earth Dragon vanished, silently and seamlessly disappearing into the darkness.

There was no scream, no struggle, no disturbance; it was simply swallowed up!

As for the motive behind this, probably only Wizard Reed himself knew.

No one could understand why he would go through the trouble of summoning the Earth Dragon from the Space Eye only to devour it without it doing anything. Was this action really justified? Presumably, only Wizard Reed knew the answer.

Everyone could only sigh at the Earth Dragon’s glorious arrival and desolate departure.

It vanished silently before it could even display its true prowess—a truly sad spectacle.

The image of the Earth Dragon being devoured remained vividly in Igor’s mind: a still frame of darkness silently enveloping everything.

It was truly disheartening to think that the Earth Dragon—which had arrived amidst lightning and thunder, causing abnormal weather phenomena, its two flapping wings continuously emitting purple flames, looking incredibly imposing—disappeared before it could even fully reveal its form. What a letdown.

In Igor’s eyes, this was all a disappointment. But for Kuyi Tulan, it was a shock. He had never expected the Power of Darkness to be this potent. Now, he didn’t know how he should deal with Wizard Reed.

The Reed he now saw was completely unfamiliar. The Reed he once knew was a cautious and meticulous individual, never acting without absolute certainty of the outcome and adequate returns.

But the Reed standing before him was reckless, a complete madman.

Was this the negative influence brought about by the Dark Force?

Kuyi Tulan couldn’t think anymore—not because he didn’t want to, but because he couldn’t. More accurately, he had no time to contemplate.

After indifferently devouring the Earth Dragon, Wizard Reed silently turned towards them.

His form was still a black silhouette. Despite devouring the Earth Dragon, his body hadn’t expanded, but the edges of the black silhouette now constantly sparked with lightning, as if some of the Earth Dragon’s characteristics had been assimilated into him after the Devouring.

His wild laughter echoed through the air, and then Wizard Reed resumed his speech. This speech was a culmination of years of pent-up frustration and a symbol of his current, inflated ego.

Although his figure hadn’t physically enlarged, his ego had swelled to a boundless state.

His signature laugh was incredibly unsettling, and his constant references to everyone as ”ants” were nauseating.

However, in the face of such power, resentment was futile; the weak had no voice.

Even though Milo, Simon, Igor, and the others were seething with fury and itching to attack, they simply didn’t have the energy.

The seal they had applied earlier seemed on the verge of collapsing. An unknown force was continuously absorbing the Spirit Power they released, causing the Spirit Power needed to sustain the Alchemy Array to gradually weaken.

Everyone began making compromises to maintain the Alchemy Array. There was no other choice. If they ignored the seal, the Patchwork Monster and the Water Folk would reappear and tie down most of them. Then, whether they could protect this mountain and safeguard the Great Mentor would become a significant uncertainty.

”In the end, you will all step into our embrace,” Wizard Reed’s speech was like an intangible assault, making them all feel uneasy.

”In the end, your proudly held heads will bow.”

”Darkness will embrace you; all things will come to this moment.”

”Abandon your futile resistance. Embrace us. Everything will eventually become a thing of the past.”

Though the speech wasn’t fervently impassioned, it was subtly manipulative. The words seemed to possess a magical power that lulled the listeners, gradually making them want to give up resistance.

”I’ve been thinking,” a sudden, discordant voice rang out. It was like a meteor streaking through the darkness, incredibly dazzling.

”I believe there’s a flaw in what you’re saying.”

Everyone, not just Wizard Reed, was stunned by Kadi’s words. What on earth was he up to?

”If your Power of Darkness can devour everything, wouldn’t it devour you too? And if you can be devoured, why do you still act so high and mighty, as if you’re superior?”

Is this a goad? Igor wondered, looking at Kadi. But what’s the purpose of goading him at a time like this?

”And another thing,” Kadi continued. ”If everyone is going to be devoured anyway, why are you still here wasting your breath? Shouldn’t you just sit on the ground and wait?”

Frankly, Kadi’s interruption was like a clear stream flowing through murky waters; everyone’s oppressed mood began to lighten.