One-Eyed Monster

Hector held himself proudly, aware that it was now his turn to report the situation.

Although the Heaven and Earth Bind Array set up earlier could give the Chief some understanding, the Spirit Vision could only provide a rough overview, missing many details.

The injuries Hector sustained on the mountain were severe. He couldn’t describe the specifics of the perilous conditions. If it weren’t for the timely appearance of Senior Milo’s Exchange Beast, he, Hector, might have ended up crippled.

”Sir!” Hector approached Kuyi Tulan. He knew he couldn’t wait for the Chief to ask before answering; he had to take the initiative. This followed the teachings of their Alchemy Workshop, which always reminded them, whether before or after Kuyi Tulan became Chief: ”Don’t wait until something happens to cry out. By then, it’s too late.”

Their Alchemy often involved Equivalent Exchanges, many of which were hazardous. If not detected and resolved promptly, an explosion could occur during the exchange, causing immeasurable damage.

It was precisely this risk that made their Alchemy effective in actual combat.

Certain Dark Arts even specifically researched these perilous exchange reactions, transforming the risk into a weapon with surprisingly successful results.

But now is not the time to ponder these aspects. He had to report everything that happened on the mountain to the Chief and prepare him. After all, they hadn’t managed to bring everyone back. The most threatening one, the stutterer, had managed to escape the cage under the cover of two others.

Moreover, he had taken a Wizard and a natural-born Politician with him.

The young governor the people at the foot of the mountain had been searching for was also taken by that fellow...

”What is the background of the opponent who inflicted such a state on you all?” Kuyi Tulan asked Hector languidly. He was always interested in formidable opponents.

”The opponent... it seems... he is the Young Family Leader of the Dastan knights,” Hector struggled to say, still unaccustomed to the strange sensation in his throat after his recovery.

”Seems?” Kuyi Tulan raised his eyebrows, then turned his head towards Dastan in the cage.

”I won’t tell you anything.”

”I believe you’ve misunderstood. I have no intention of interrogating you, nor do I expect you to divulge anything. I merely wanted to confirm something with you. Your reaction just validates it: that man is indeed your Sol Family’s Young Family Leader.”

”Bastard!” Dastan roared, clenching his teeth.

”Rest assured, I will not harm your Young Family Leader, just as I have never harmed you,” Kuyi Tulan said indifferently, then turned to Hector, gesturing for him to continue.

”The opponent possesses a Sharkmon and can control fire.”

”Control fire?”

”Yes, the fire is like a living thing. He calls it a Battle Pet.”

”And that’s all it took for your defeat?”

Hector, suppressing his bruised pride, squeezed out a ”yes” through clenched teeth.

”Just that! Quite the arrogant tone you have, Kuyi Tulan!” Dastan voiced the words Hector dared not say. Insulting him, Dastan, was bearable, but not Young Master Stan.

”Oh, I forgot he is the Young Family Leader of your family. Ancient clans always have some secret techniques, which they strive to conceal, don’t they?”

”So what if we do? And so what if we don’t? Regardless, you won’t get anywhere near our Young Family Leader!” Dastan grew agitated.

”I intend to perpetuate these secret techniques, to ensure their power endures eternally on this continent.”

”Hmph, dream on!”

”Oh, I forgot. You’re half Vero; your clan once served Queen Wensi. In that case, I’m even more determined to reclaim that flame and Sharkmon. I can’t allow a threat from an enemy nation to exist before my very eyes and ignore it,” Kuyi Tulan said, twirling his fingers nonchalantly.

”The Sol Family has always been neutral, never serving any Empire! Don’t spout such nonsense!”

”You should have known from the moment you joined the Kayne Empire’s Guardian Army that vows are sacred and inviolable.”

”True, that was simply me, Dastan Sol, pledging my service to King Kayne. It doesn’t represent the Sol Clan! Please understand that!”

”Regardless, I am determined to obtain the mighty power of the Sharkmon and the flame,” Kuyi Tulan said, his eyes narrowed, still speaking leisurely.

”That depends on whether you have the ability!”

”Is that so? Wasn’t it Senior Milo who brought you back? Do you think our Alchemy Workshop is still at its former level?”

These words silenced Dastan. The Alchemy Workshop has indeed advanced considerably. Even with Grand Master Guzan’s departure, the Alchemists maintained their composure, steadily developing the workshop. I, Dastan, far from stagnating, have grown accustomed to this body over my years on Guru Mountain and elevated my special ability, ’Vanishing Act,’ to a new level. However, when facing my old friend Joela, I still didn’t gain much of an advantage. Joela’s defensive strength has clearly risen a notch; he’s capable of blocking my curved blade. That is indeed formidable power. If the Alchemy Workshop had remained stagnant, I’m sure they wouldn’t have been able to withstand my attack. The events that followed were beyond my imagination, completely exceeding my expectations. Young Master Stan’s strength has also significantly increased, which surprised me. But the Battle Alchemy of the Alchemy Workshop still makes me break out in a cold sweat. Especially Brad, that Alchemist who always goes Berserk. His Physique Technique is no weaker than that of a High-Rank Fighter. If it hadn’t been for Young Master Stan’s Sharkmon, I alone would never have been able to suppress Brad. And this young Hector is the same. The flexibility of his body is at the level of a High-Rank Hunter. Combined with their application of Alchemy, it truly produced unexpected effects in battle.

”To be honest, I can’t understand you Alchemists. You don’t resemble Wizards at all. You’re more like Soldiers. If you were to put on armor, you could fight on any battlefield!”

”The Alchemy Workshop must change to survive.”

”You’re nothing like the Alchemy Workshop of the past, which focused exclusively on Equivalent Exchange and Alchemy Arrays. You have transformed; you’re no longer the Alchemy Workshop of the Great Mentor.”

”Everything that becomes history is destined to fade. Without change, there can be no survival. We need to survive, and we need to endure forever,” Kuyi Tulan began his speech again.

”You’re right, but everything has its natural order. The path you’ve chosen is too extreme!”

”All your talk is merely to persuade me to give up on your Young Family Leader’s power. Let me make it clear to you: that is impossible.”

”No, Kuyi Tulan, Young Master Stan isn’t as weak as you imagine. When the time comes, you’ll realize it. I just feel sorry for you. You could have been a great leader, but now, you’re nothing more than a scoundrel.”

”If I don’t explain the full story, you wouldn’t understand, correct?” Kuyi Tulan smiled faintly, looking first at Dastan, then at Baharo. ”I know you both think I’m mad, but you cannot see what lies in the distance. I see it, so naturally, I must warn you.”

Kuyi Tulan looked out the window, his face weary. ”Walking this path alone is always lonely, something you wouldn’t understand. Anyway, I cannot waste any more time. I need to find out what happened earlier. Guru Mountain holds many secrets, and I plan to uncover them one by one.”