One-Eyed Monster

Now, the Dark Force was finally in front of Igor. Even though it was invisible, being able to communicate face-to-face was a significant step forward.

The Dark Force still emitted a sense of arrogance, as if it had heard every story under the sun.

”Quit wasting time and start your story already!” The Dark Force was clearly getting impatient.

But Igor was aiming for this impatience—the more flustered the Dark Force became, the more advantageous it was for him.

Igor’s current policy was to maintain his composure, so he continued to take his time.

He kept extending the fishing line in his hand. Only with a long enough line could one catch a big fish.

”A story has to have grandeur. Just telling it without any build-up won’t do,” Igor said cryptically, playing his part so well that Kadi found it quite amusing.

”Go ahead and tell your story! I want to see if you, the ’Story King,’ can surpass me,” the Dark Force said, growing more defiant. It couldn’t believe how difficult it was merely to hear a story.

This opponent is just too cunning, it thought.

Is he trying to provoke me? Fine, let him try! I’d like to see who really knows more stories, the Dark Force mused.

”Go ahead and tell it! I bet you’re all out of stories,” the Dark Force taunted. Its attempt at provocation was remarkably simple. Just as the old woman had described, despite its long existence, the Dark Force knew little about the world; even its goading was unsophisticated.

This childish attempt at provocation had no effect on Igor. In fact, it gave Igor an opening to provoke the Dark Force even more effectively.

”Knowledge is knowledge. For instance, I know a little story about a talking mouse,” Igor said, subtly rubbing salt in the Dark Force’s wounds.

His jab hit the perfect spot.

Kadi almost laughed out loud.

Who would have thought Igor would provoke the Dark Force this way? Kadi wondered.

This method seemed a bit underhanded. Since it was a formal competition, why not just compete openly? Igor’s tactic of rubbing salt in the wound did seem somewhat unfair, like cheating.

But most people enjoy watching a bit of cheating, don’t they? A fair and open competition might be admirable and impartial, but many spectators find it dull.

For example, if Igor and the Dark Force were to genuinely lay out their stories for comparison right now, the spectators would likely find the entire process flat and uninteresting.

Nobody wants to waste time watching a contest devoid of tension because there’s simply nothing exciting to see.

But if one side cheats, it’s a completely different matter. Take Igor, for instance: he appeared confident, clearly determined to win. Meanwhile, the Dark Force, though still radiating arrogance and aggression, was clearly being provoked. Both sides were on edge—one seemingly strong, the other weak.

The weaker party was naturally Igor. His opponent was a being that had existed for ages and undoubtedly knew far more than he did. So, if they were to truly compete, Igor faced the possibility of being utterly crushed.

Luckily, Igor could cheat. He could instantly reverse the seemingly crushing situation. It sounded exaggerated, but it was the truth.

For the one cheating, being crushed was out of the question; crushing the opponent should be the norm.

And don’t most people enjoy watching the underdog turn the tables and crush the supposed winner?

Consider the Little Black Hands. They were the audience, eagerly anticipating every development, especially the prospect of Igor crushing the Dark Force.

If the stronger always defeated the weaker, the world would indeed be an uninteresting place.

Igor hadn’t been born with this talent for cheating. It was a gain from Kadi’s earlier confrontation with the Dark Force. Even though it was cheating, it was an outcome achieved through their own efforts.

Unfortunately, the main event had not yet begun.

Kadi was also looking forward to this scene. He had faced the Dark Force last time; now, it was Igor’s turn.

At that moment, Kadi sensed the Dark Force’s embarrassment. Just moments ago, it had been rambling on, and now it was suddenly silent. In this atmosphere, Kadi could almost imagine the Dark Force’s face flushing red and then paling.

The silence was short-lived. Igor could sense the fluctuations in the Dark Force’s Spirit Power. It obviously wanted to say something but held back, as if brewing a speech.

”Fine...” The flustered Dark Force finally managed to squeeze out a word. With one word spoken, a sentence was sure to follow. Everyone eagerly awaited its next words.

”You... you’re right. That story about a talking mouse... I’d never heard it before. It’s different from the stories I’m familiar with. I’ve verified it. So, I’ll concede this round to you for now.” The Dark Force finally admitted defeat, which was truly surprising.

”So, everything I said was correct, then?” Igor chuckled.

”For now... for now, let’s say you’re impressive. Alright, can you tell your special story now?” The Dark Force’s ultimate goal was still to hear that story.

”The story will be told in good time.” Igor continued to draw things out, leaving even Kadi puzzled about his intentions.

In fact, Igor was testing something.

His goal was to make the Dark Force utterly exasperated.

”Tell it already!” All this build-up, all this incessant chatter, and this fellow still hasn’t made a move! What on earth is he doing? the Dark Force fumed internally.

”Our world has always operated on fairness: Equivalent Exchange. Anyone wishing to hear a story must offer something of comparable value in return.”

”What?” The Dark Force couldn’t believe it. This youth wasn’t telling the story yet and was now demanding an equivalent item from him.

”Equivalent Exchange. None who come to hear my stories arrive empty-handed. Look at them,” Igor gestured around, his intention clear, ”they’ve all exchanged many things with me.”

The Little Black Hands were utterly confused. ”What’s going on? What does this have to do with us?”

”I...” The Dark Force was lost for words.

It truly wanted to seize this youth and devour him; that way, it could experience the boy’s story firsthand.

”So, you have no story to exchange with us?” Igor’s actual aim was simple: he wanted to see if this creature would attack when pushed to the extreme of frustration.

It seemed it wouldn’t.

Igor, it appeared, had made the right gamble.

”You mean... I have to exchange a story with you?” The Dark Force’s anger abated slightly.

Was listening to a story supposed to be this difficult?

In all its long existence, this was the first time it had received such treatment.