One-Eyed Monster

”Igor? Suddenly, a voice reached Igor’s ears, startling him.

This was the Inner World, and he wasn’t the one in control; he couldn’t just think freely. Now someone was calling his name directly. Weren’t they trying to get caught by the controller?

Unfortunately, his surroundings were pitch dark, and Igor could see nothing; all he could do was shake his body. Soon, Igor felt a surge of power, like a punch landing on his body.

Even so, Igor dared not respond. He was extremely cautious, unwilling to expose himself recklessly. Even though someone had called his name, he didn’t dare let his guard down.

At the same time, he worried this might be a trap set by the controller. If it was, he’d be in serious trouble. He had followed that faint light in his subconscious deep into this place, and now there was no way back. Besides, even if he hadn’t been drawn in, finding his way back with his own power would have been incredibly difficult, especially since his consciousness had been completely blurred at the time. But now, someone was calling him, interacting with him forcefully, and he had no idea what to do.

Just as Igor hesitated, a light suddenly appeared before his eyes.

”This should be a method you’re familiar with, Igor.” A stream of Spirit Power, vibrant and colorful as a beautiful painting, flowed past, carrying information.

This scene was familiar; it was the Spirit Communication method Igor had previously used in the Two-way Channel of the Outer World. The vibrant colors, however, were Kadi’s preferred style. This stream of Spirit Power felt unmistakably like Stan Sol’s. Igor had assumed the light in his subconscious was Stan Sol. Now, this entity had sent a strong current of Spirit Power, clearly trying to earn his trust.

Igor felt a flicker of excitement, but he still couldn’t be certain. The controller could simulate anything. Even if he thought of nothing in this Inner World, the controller could find ways to extract information about him. While it seemed exaggerated that all his information could be obtained so quickly, Igor felt he couldn’t afford to be careless, no matter how small the possibility.

Therefore, Igor continued to observe everything cautiously.

”You are very cautious, Igor, but I can already feel your heartbeat. You’re not this excited just because I’m here, are you, Igor?”

That was undeniably Stan Sol’s voice, and it had voiced his innermost thoughts, which genuinely surprised him.

”You must be worried this is a trap. Unfortunately, time is short, and I have no way to prove myself to you. I don’t expect your complete trust right now either. If you think I’m Stan Sol, just create the slightest ripple; I can sense it. I’ve been here longer than you, so naturally, I know more of the details.”

Stan Sol’s words swayed Igor. Following Stan Sol’s suggestion, Igor flicked his tail in the opposite direction—the only change he could manage.

”Very well, Igor. To keep it brief, I can’t say much more; I need to conserve my Spirit Power. So, listen carefully.”

Stan Sol’s words were enigmatic, and Igor still couldn’t be sure if they were true. However, given that this light had restored his consciousness, he decided to listen.

”This is the Inner World. Since you managed to enter, you must understand what that implies. Your caution up to this point also shows you grasp the significance of the controller in an Inner World. However, things are a bit different here.”

Stan Sol spoke rapidly, glossing over many details. Igor worried that if the controller detected any anomalies in the Inner World now, wouldn’t they both be instantly and completely devoured?

But reality wasn’t what Igor had imagined. This Inner World was peculiar—so peculiar that this vast expanse contained nothing but darkness, devoid of any other hue. This pervasive darkness didn’t seem intentional; rather, it appeared to be an inherent attribute of the place.

Stan Sol continued to speak quickly. He was surprisingly patient in ensuring Igor understood, perhaps because Igor had previously pestered him with endless questions. So, despite the urgency, he explained things in detail.

This detailed explanation gave Igor a profound understanding of their surroundings. He learned this wasn’t a typical Inner World, nor was it created by the controller; it had formed unconsciously. Stan Sol didn’t have time to explain why it had formed. However, this piece of information was enough for Igor. He understood that the controller here couldn’t casually read people’s thoughts. Nevertheless, this controller could devour anything that opposed the potent Spirit Power within this darkness—similar to the concept of submission Igor had learned about. If one couldn’t merge with the darkness, everything would be annihilated. Many beings struggled here, lost and without direction.

Stan Sol had submitted from the very beginning. He felt an intense pressure and understood that, for the time being, this situation was unstoppable. He had drifted within this dark vortex for a long time, camouflaging himself and lying low—essentially biding his time by feigning compliance while seeking an opportunity.

Discoveries often favor the prepared. Stan Sol’s feigned compliance eventually paid off: he found this place, a vortex. How it formed required further investigation, but its Vortex Center was a void, creating the perfect environment for their current conversation.

”Within this vortex, the controller can’t detect any sign of rebellion and thus cannot interfere. This is the only place I can speak to you at such length and share so much.” Stan Sol spoke from the heart, completely baring his soul.

Time waits for no one. Stan Sol didn’t waste a moment praising Igor for the remarkable feat of entering this Inner World. After explaining the situation, he immediately moved on to his plan.

”The reason I had you connect to me is so I can escape. The controller in your location hasn’t discovered this link yet. By connecting with me, you’ve created the necessary conditions. Now, all I need is to perform a Spirit Communication with you here to complete the plan.”

Stan Sol’s words were somewhat profound, and Igor didn’t fully grasp them. However, he could now somewhat confirm that this place was indeed a vortex, as he felt no pressure here.

”A lot has happened, and I don’t have much time to explain it all. Everything here is chaotic. This is my only chance!” Stan Sol sensed Igor’s hesitation.

”But how can I know you’re not a liar!” The words had barely left Igor’s mouth when regret washed over him. He hadn’t managed to hold back after all.

Success was within grasp, only to be undone at the final moment.