One-Eyed Monster

The Great Witch stood dumbfounded. She couldn’t comprehend how this child had suddenly popped up and spoken. Wasn’t this supposed to be an illusory scene I was seeing? How did it suddenly start speaking to me? The Spirit Book never mentioned anything like this before. This left her completely baffled.

”What’s so surprising? Are you finding it hard to adapt now that I’m speaking?” The Wind Elemental was still swinging his little feet, his mischievous demeanor unchanged.

”Uh…” After the Great Witch progressed, she didn’t realize she had entered another realm. In this realm, she wasn’t her actual self; it was her Spirit Form. Only through one’s Spirit Form could Natural Force be materialized, allowing Wizards to see, touch, and thus further control it. In other words, she and this Wind Elemental existed only in a world she herself had created. Others couldn’t see them; they only saw the Great Witch standing frozen in place, as if struck dumb.

”Is it strange?” the Wind Elemental continued. ”Before your progression, you couldn’t see me at all. After progressing, you could see me. Now that you can hear me speak, you find *that* strange?”

”Uh, this…” The Great Witch was at a loss for words. Although the child was small, his words were quite reasonable.

The Great Witch blinked. The turmoil in her heart gradually subsided; in other words, she had silently accepted the current situation.

”You know, you’re the most pathetic Progressor I’ve ever met!” the Wind Elemental sneered. ”When others summon us Wind Elementals, we can manifest in adult human forms. But you... you can only conjure me as a child. It’s a joke! It prevents me from using my full strength.”

”But, but I…” The Great Witch wanted to say something but couldn’t find the right words.

”That Black Smoke is here now. What are you going to do?”

”What Black Smoke?” The Great Witch looked around but found nothing. Puzzled, she had no idea what the child was talking about.

”I’m going to sleep. When you figure things out, come find me. This is so boring; dealing with a Progressor like you is such a hassle.” The Wind Elemental stopped swinging his little feet, turned around, and fell asleep.

The Great Witch Biggs naturally didn’t understand what was happening. When her gaze shifted from the child, she witnessed an incomprehensible scene unfold before her eyes. First, two snakes were slithering on her. Moreover, they were snakes with vibrant patterns. Biggs, familiar with the Wizard’s essential compendium, recognized them as Red-striped Snakes from the depths of the Bess Mountains. These snakes were extremely venomous; a single bite meant almost certain death. Yet, these highly venomous snakes were on her body. This was nothing short of a disaster. The Great Witch Biggs began to flail about, a reaction born from her fear of the Red-striped Snakes.

Is she mocking me? Wizard Gus fumed as he watched Biggs’ display. It’s one thing to be disrespectful, but to treat me like a fool? This is too much! Wizard Gus intensified his Spellcraft, intending to quickly pull the Great Witch before him into his Illusionary Realm. Once you’re in the Illusionary Realm, no matter how capable you are, I’ll show you the true power of Gus the versatile!

The Black Smoke neared the Great Witch Biggs. Preoccupied with the two Red-striped Snakes on her body, she paid no attention to its approach. Moments later, the Black Smoke completely enveloped her.

”Excellent!” Wizard Gus was elated. As long as she’s in my Illusionary Realm, I can use my specialty. No matter how strong the opponent, I can take them down.

The Great Witch Biggs, now within the Black Smoke, noticed nothing unusual. She was still flailing, trying to get the Red-striped Snakes off her. After entering the Illusionary Realm, the Black Smoke around the Great Witch vanished, but she was too busy trying to rid herself of the Red-striped Snakes to notice these changes. This was the Illusionary Realm created by Wizard Gus. It looked identical to reality but would change according to Gus’s will.

The Great Witch Biggs, who had been flailing about, suddenly found her vision plunged into darkness. The two snakes on her body vanished as well. She couldn’t see any light; everything around her was pitch black. Wizard Gus was resetting the Illusionary Realm.

”Where are you from?” Only by understanding the opponent can one easily defeat them within the Illusionary Realm. The more familiar something is, the more likely it is to make a person lower their guard. Gus’s question carried a bewitching quality, a power derived from the powder he had used. It would make the questioned person slow-witted and compliant.

Thus, without hesitation, the Great Witch Biggs answered, ”I am the omnipotent Great Witch of Gaga County!”

This was her deepest wish, the title she had most wanted to reclaim recently. Even now that she had progressed, she hadn’t forgotten this. One could say it was the true calling of her heart.

This wasn’t the answer Gus wanted. He didn’t know the Great Witch Biggs was such a person with no grand ambitions; he actually thought she was vehemently resisting. She’s not easy to deal with, Wizard Gus thought. If I don’t quickly understand her, I won’t be able to perceive her inner thoughts, making it difficult to execute my Spellcraft. He had initially thought things would become easier once she was in the Illusionary Realm. Who knew this Great Witch would be so tenacious?

”I am the omnipotent Great Witch of Gaga County!” the Great Witch Biggs continued to cry out, voicing her innermost conviction. She answered every question, completely under his control.

How is that possible! Wizard Gus simply couldn’t believe it. This Great Witch actually claims to be a disciple of Vivian? How is that possible! Vivian is renowned as a powerful Wizard on this continent, a founder of the Six System Sages of the Wizard Alliance! How could her disciple be in a place like Gaga County? How could her disciple only progress to a Gray Robe? Her disciple should at least be a White Robe!

Wizard Gus felt like he was losing his mind. This Wizard is toying with me, playing me for a fool, not taking me seriously at all! This is *my* Illusionary Realm! How can I let someone else do as they please in my own Illusionary Realm! Wizard Gus was furious. He was going to teach this Great Witch a harsh lesson.

This is my Illusionary Realm! I command fire!

With a BOOM, a raging inferno erupted before Biggs, the fierce flames swiftly engulfing her.

”Burn her!”

The flames, like a coiling serpent, slithered onto the Great Witch Biggs, quickly surrounding her.

”AAAHHH—” The Great Witch Biggs, consumed by fire, let out a horrifying scream, then collapsed and writhed on the ground.

This was the reaction of a normal person being devoured by fire. It was too normal. And because it was too normal, Wizard Gus found it abnormal. How could the Great Witch who was just toying with me collapse so easily? This must be her, playing tricks on me again!

”I command ice!”

The flames vanished instantly, and countless Ice Blades erupted from the ground, once again surrounding the Great Witch, who was still rolling on the floor. An overwhelming chill filled the air! The Great Witch Biggs let out a series of muffled groans! Soon, she stopped moving altogether.

Frozen solid? Wizard Gus couldn’t believe what he was seeing. How could this be possible! How could this Witch be defeated so easily! This is a complete defeat! Seeing this, Wizard Gus became even more hesitant to act rashly...