One-Eyed Monster

The puppet monster was still sneering at Master, but he himself gradually realized that his mockery was growing weaker.

His energy dwindled, soon to collapse, and maintaining this form at the moment was quite remarkable.

He needed blood, fresh blood...

”Blood... blood...” The puppet monster was already rambling incoherently.

”Perhaps this is the side effect!” Igor remarked as he watched the puppet monster; he had seen similar occurrences in the Border Realm before—after devouring another’s consciousness it wasn’t easy to maintain another’s state. Those Soul Devourers had mostly deviated from human norms, with some Soul Devourer knights only existing as skeletons. Ultimately, these powers were not their own, unable to be wielded freely, nor could they completely occupy another’s body.

Like this puppet monster before them, he was never truly his daughter; he could not control a young woman’s body, and the energy in him could only control this vessel through constant repetition. Though powerful, they were invaders, unable to master human bodies.

Igor gazed at the grotesque puppet monster; its already ugly visage lost color, becoming even more distorted.

”The power is peeling away from him; soon he’ll revert to his original appearance.” Igor said to Kadi.

”Is this the same as what you saw in the Border Realm?” Kadi asked, still concerned about the matter; during his special training at Guru Mountain, he frequently asked Igor about the Border Realm, and now, he finally encountered a similar situation, cherishing this opportunity to learn about their adversary.

”Not exactly; in the Border Realm, energy can be continually absorbed, whereas here, it’s impossible to continuously obtain energy.” Igor explained.

Master Lao watched Igor and the others, his eyes showing a strange expression, as if he was somewhat puzzled by them.

By this time, the puppet monster bound by chains had become extremely bizarre; something seemed to be peeling from him as his whole body began to lift upward as if something was hoisting him.

”Not good!” Igor suddenly sensed a familiar sensation related to spirit power, similar to what he felt in the Border Realm before.

”What’s wrong?” Kadi also became alert.

”There’s...” Igor hadn’t finished speaking when his eyes suddenly turned white; Kadi, witnessing the scene, understood—it was Igor entering the Inner World in a new manner.

During the special training at Guru Mountain, Igor and Kuren repeatedly explored the Inner World, eventually reaching a new model not where the person is completely asleep but experiencing temporary blindness, allowing his perspective to enter another area.

Kadi couldn’t enter the Inner World but could only wait quietly; he couldn’t participate in the battle within and could only watch the puppet monster before him, hoping it remained controlled.

Igor’s perspective entered another realm, in which he could see energy rapidly withdrawing from the puppet monster, while a core-like object continued to gather.

This is the so-called Spirit Core... Igor finally saw clearly; all energy was peeling off the puppet monster and clustering onto a small sphere, the sphere becoming irregular, resembling a seed core.

Gathering, merely extracting energy’s key, you should’ve witnessed once!

A voice suddenly echoed in Igor’s ears.

Who are you? Igor instinctively asked, knowing the question was foolish, yet his mind’s first response was such.

Last time, you asked a similar question; this time it lacks novelty. However, encountering you twice is fate.

Is the Spirit Core your purpose, you crossed worlds and came here for it?

Why do you always dwell on such questions; does it matter who we are or our purpose?

While it might not matter to you, you tread on our homeland; we must ascertain whether your intent is malicious.

Igor began exchanging with this familiar yet strange voice within the Inner World; in this Inner World, he couldn’t physically contact the voice, considering the exchange an extreme.

You’re special, the Border Plan failed utterly upon your arrival; your emergence altered our plans. Meeting you again is my honor.

Who are you?

Hope one day we engage directly; may you reach that standard.

What do you mean?

Igor wished to converse further with the unseen adversary, but the spirit core had vanished entirely, indicating the voice’s departure.

Igor quickly exited the Inner World, breathing heavily; the new method of entering required significant exertion, leaving him slightly fatigued in that brief time.

”How is it?” Kadi promptly asked.

At this moment, the puppet monster on the ground had transformed, with a pale-faced girl lifelessly lying there...

”No outcome...” Igor responded, helpless.

”Don’t worry, we just descended the mountain; this is only the beginning.” Kadi comforted Igor.

”A new start, yes, it’s just the beginning...” Igor slowly reminisced recent experiences, his heart touched slightly.

”But this guy, turns out really a youth form?” Kadi pointed at the barely-living girl.

”No, the outer shell is him; the girl merely an energy entity to maintain his form.” Igor recalled what he saw in the Inner World, gaining new insight on the puppet master; intellectually, he understood now how the powers controlled occupying bodies, though some details needed further exploration.

”Then can the girl be saved?” Master Lao asked urgently, as the life lying there merited concern.

”I’m not a wizard, difficult...” Igor felt troubled.

”There’s a wizard here, isn’t there...” Kadi turned, gesturing towards the smoke group.