One-Eyed Monster

Kadi was unsettled by Igor’s state, and a power others couldn’t comprehend erupted from him. He shook off the Undead Creatures clinging to him and fought his way towards Igor.

The scene was chaotic; everyone was encircled by a swarm of Undead Creatures, with no chance to catch their breath. Each person used their unique abilities to deal with the endless onslaught. These Undead Creatures were faster and more powerful than the previous Puppet Soldiers. No one knew why they possessed such strength or where they had come from. No one knew…

The chaotic scene was also filled with the rampant, chilling laughter of Wizard Reed’s Remnant. But they had no retort; their power was temporarily suppressed, leaving them to endure the mockery.

None of this mattered to Kadi, however. He only knew that Igor was different: he wasn’t being attacked. This was peculiar, and Kadi had to find out why.

After a tremendous struggle, during which he was struck repeatedly and narrowly avoided being impaled by a Skeleton Soldier’s weapon, Kadi finally reached Igor’s side. His efforts had paid off.

”You, ah... how are you immune to these...” The chaos prevented Kadi from finishing a sentence. Just as he was about to ask, an Undead Creature flew at him, intent on devouring him.

Kadi had to deal with this Undead Creature first, putting his question aside for the moment.

Then, Kadi noticed something else: the Igor standing there seemed oblivious to him, like a still painting.

”You… Hmph, say something, will you…?” Kadi still attempted to communicate with this Igor but to no avail. He even noticed that Igor’s expression hadn’t changed in the slightest. Is Igor really this composed? Kadi wondered. Or has he already been absorbed by the Dark Force, leaving only an empty shell behind?

Kadi didn’t know how to face this. If Igor has been devoured by the Dark Force, I can’t accept it!

So, no matter what, I have to figure out what’s going on.

Thus, he once again burst out with immense power, pushing his way toward Igor.

This time, he didn’t intend to speak with Igor. He wanted to grab him and use the methods Igor had taught him to understand what was happening.

Pushing aside several skeletons, Kadi finally squeezed next to Igor. This Igor was silent, his unchanging expression strangely unsettling.

Kadi strained, reaching out to grab Igor. But as his hand neared, he realized it was like grasping at thin air…

This…!

Ignoring the attacks of the Undead Creatures, Kadi tried again, but the result was the same. The Igor over there felt completely empty...

So, it really was just a transparent image, and I actually let it draw me over! Kadi found it hard to believe.

Unsure if the image was a trap, Kadi had pushed his way here, only to find himself surrounded by Skeleton Soldiers and zombies, with no idea how to break free.

Maybe this really is a trap, designed specifically for me, Kadi…

In reality, however, this wasn’t a trap. It was a Spirit Painting Igor had created to distract the enemy. Unfortunately, his plan hadn’t succeeded with them, but Kadi had fallen for it instead. It was truly an awkward coincidence.

Igor had set up this Spirit Painting to find a weakness in the Dark Force. He initially thought the Undead Creatures possessed consciousness and used the Spirit Painting as bait. Alas, these Undead Creatures didn’t fall for it; they all automatically ignored the Spirit Painting.

This gave Igor a definitive answer: these Undead Creatures were driven by living Spirit Power. They had no consciousness of their own; they were merely Dead Objects obeying orders.

Therefore, dealing with these Dead Objects was indeed a troublesome problem.

Where was Igor now? Aside from the Spirit Painting, Kadi couldn’t see or sense Igor’s presence at all.

The more this was the case, the more worried Kadi became. Igor was his friend; he couldn’t lose him like this…

This anxiety made Kadi lose his bearings. He no longer knew what to do, feeling dazed and confused…

In his bewilderment, Kadi thought of Kevin. At that moment, Kevin was right beside him, his sword relentlessly cleaving through Undead Creatures. Yet, even he was struggling against their sheer numbers, especially while protecting the unconscious Great Mentor and the others.

Why? Why does it have to be this way!

Despair washed over Kadi, the questions echoing in his mind: Why am I about to lose the things I hold dear? Why are the things I care about being snatched away so quickly?

The song of Moonflow Stream, the swamps of Guru Mountain, the King of Monsters, Igor whom I finally met, and even old man Kevin… why must they all leave me?

Kadi couldn’t understand. His entire inner being was consumed by fire.

This was Kadi in absolute despair. His whole body was ablaze, even his eyes blazed with red flames!

BOOM!

The Undead Creatures surrounding Kadi instantly turned to ash. This transformation stunned everyone!

Where darkness had once engulfed Moonflow Stream, a vast expanse of crimson fire now blazed, flickering restlessly.

That was Kadi—enraged, despairing, his entire body burning!

The burning Kadi radiated immense power, his flames as crimson and brilliant as the sun.

At this moment, everyone simultaneously realized something: the sun had been absent from this place for a very, very long time…

It seemed Moonflow Stream had been shrouded in darkness for so long they had almost forgotten the distinction between day and night…

If not for the burning Kadi, they might never have remembered.

Kadi now resembled a burning sun, the heat and light radiating from him forcing the Undead Creatures to continuously fall back…

Such a long, long darkness!

Truly, a darkness that had persisted for far too long. Perhaps driving away this darkness was the key to victory.

Kadi had completely lost control. The flames erupting from him burst forth with astonishing power, catching everyone off guard.

Kadi’s blinding radiance brought a swathe of brightness to this oppressive darkness.

This, perhaps, was hope.

No matter how dark the night sky, shining stars will always exist…

This pinprick of light would surely expand, just like Kadi now. As his power surged, the darkness here would eventually be driven away…