One-Eyed Monster

Kadi felt disappointed, but he couldn’t let it show entirely. It wasn’t just because he didn’t want to appear childish in front of Igor and Kuren. More importantly, he didn’t want his emotions to cloud their thinking.

Kadi had grown a lot recently at an impressive speed. Being different from ordinary people, he had many potentials still undiscovered. Even though his presence here did not make a significant impact or cause any trouble, it was integral. His method of collecting Spirit Power was incredibly effective.

However, they seemed to have hit another obstacle and were unsure of what to do.

”Shall we just wait for the next wave of Spirit Power Feedback?” asked Igor, his voice tinged with a hint of helplessness.

”How many ’next waves’ can there be?” Kuren sighed, implying that the situation outside didn’t look promising.

”But who knows, the next wave of Spirit Power might carry the information we’re looking for!” Joseph still clung to a sliver of hope.

”Hard to say. The most crucial point is we don’t know what’s happening outside right now,” Kuren added.

”No matter what’s going on outside, we must act carefully. The people who sent this short message are probably in danger, possibly risking greatly to transmit it to us. We cannot let them down,” Kuren spoke solemnly, indicating he considered the situation gravely serious.

”But how can we be careful? What should we do now? We’re completely in the dark.” Joseph was growing anxious. Desperate to know what was happening, he yearned to offer his strength.

But they were stuck in this cave, completely cut off from the outside world. If no one on the outside contacted them, they could be trapped here forever. An alarming prospect! Kadi didn’t dare to even dwell on it. If Kevin didn’t return, they’d be trapped here indefinitely. Simple things like food and water would become significant problems.

Kadi felt an unprecedented fear gripping him. The terror had him completely lost. Even with Igor beside him, he still felt terribly insecure.

What should they do now? This was likely the question everyone in the safehouse was pondering. They had all reached their limits, having exhausted all their skills and resources.

Igor raised his head, glancing at everyone around him. He was unsure about the next step—whether to keep trying or to wait. The deadlock before them made them hesitate.

Hesitation could lead to important things slipping away. Sometimes, the answer might be just nearby, missed due to a moment’s indecision.

Igor thought, I can’t afford to be indecisive anymore. Time is running out, and it shouldn’t be wasted in hesitation.

As he was thinking this, the third wave of Spirit Power Feedback arrived. And this time too, there was nothing.

Kuren and Joseph became restless. If only these Spirit Power streams had brought even the slightest piece of information, they wouldn’t be in this state.

This showed that long periods of isolation could lead to dullness, emotional instability, and loss of control. Kuren and Joseph exemplified this as they grew increasingly agitated and irritable. They didn’t know who to blame. All they could do was suppress their anger, which only made them feel more wretched and stifled. It was a truly difficult state of affairs.

Igor knew he couldn’t lose control of his emotions. Kuren and Joseph had clearly lost their cool due to the current situation. If I succumb too, all the responsibility will fall on Kadi. It wasn’t that Igor didn’t trust Kadi, but he knew Kadi alone was not equipped to handle such a complex situation. More importantly, a stubborn resolve burned within Igor. I refuse to believe we can’t get out of this cave! I won’t admit defeat. I have to try again!

Igor wasn’t someone to give up easily. While he might sometimes abandon certain pursuits, he would always strive for what he believed he could achieve. Now, everything felt like a fluke. As an Adventurer, I can’t simply concede defeat, he thought. So, he spread his Spirit Power, continuing to explore the Two-way Channel. He was determined to find a new breakthrough. I refuse to believe this is a dead end!

He wouldn’t easily abandon this discovery of his, so he continued to explore within the Two-way Channel.

Kuren sighed, his pessimism hitting rock bottom. ”The intervals between each wave of Spirit Power Feedback are getting longer. This suggests something unusual is happening outside. Unfortunately, we can’t do anything about it here.”

”Not only has the interval increased, but the scale of the Spirit Power streams has also shrunk. Each time it’s fed back here, it becomes weaker,” Joseph added, sharing Kuren’s pessimistic sentiments.

”No wonder I find it hard to feel Kevin’s presence in the Spirit Power. Has he gone to fight the enemy too?” Kadi was concerned about Kevin.

”Who knows? We can’t help with anything at this point. So much for being comrades!” Kuren sighed deeply again.

”Seniors, we can’t give up yet. Even though I haven’t found anything new, I can still feel the Spirit Power streams flowing. This at least suggests that the situation outside might not be as dire as we imagine,” Igor said.

”Igor, don’t try to comfort us. We all understand the situation; there’s no need for consolation.” Kuren was truly at his wit’s end, despair nearly overwhelming him.

”It’s not comfort, Senior Kuren. I’m still trying! I refuse to believe I can’t get out of here!”

Like a newborn calf unafraid of a tiger, Igor’s stubbornness—or perhaps bravery—whatever it was, this powerful spirit suddenly filled the entire cave.

Kuren and Joseph were taken aback by Igor’s refusal to accept defeat. They watched him silently, with no more complaints.

Kadi looked at Igor, then at himself. Igor seems so imposing! he suddenly thought. Having such a powerful friend makes me feel honored. This spurred him to redouble his efforts, diligently diverting the collected Spirit Power.

”You’re right! We shouldn’t give up so easily!” Awed by Igor’s indomitable spirit, Kuren and Joseph recognized their own negativity. They immediately shifted their attitudes and followed Igor’s lead to continue exploring.