One-Eyed Monster

”Since I won’t be discovered by this master controller, I know what to do now.” Igor had initially planned to achieve his goal by questioning Stan Sol. However, it seemed he had already thought of an even better course of action, proving that plans can never keep pace with changes.

Once his doubts about Stan Sol’s identity were dispelled, Igor began to loosen up. Imagination was his strong suit, and he certainly knew how to leverage it.

Stan Sol had wanted to stop Igor after hearing his words, but he eventually gave up. Perhaps his own entrenched thinking and experiences were constraining his mind, preventing him from finding better methods and even causing him to overlook many basic things.

For example, within this vortex, the master controller couldn’t perceive any signals. Therefore, they could do whatever they wanted here!

Igor shivered. ”So dark! Is it that afraid of the sun?” As soon as he finished speaking, a round moon appeared above his head.

Silver moonlight rained down, blanketing the ground. It looked like a serene night, with the soft moonlight accompanied by a charming nocturne.

”Hmm, I was thinking of the sun. Why did a moon appear instead?” Igor seemed somewhat dissatisfied; things here hadn’t unfolded according to his imagination.

”Although the master controller has no control over this place, it’s still his territory. So, it’s normal for there to be some influence,” Stan Sol explained. He greatly admired Igor for his active thinking and, crucially, for his audacity to freely do anything he wanted.

That was Igor’s way—somewhat random, yet not without reason; a perfectly reasonable attempt.

”Yikes, why are we such ugly fish!” Igor exclaimed, startled, upon seeing Stan Sol, who had been speaking. Previously, within the master controller’s Inner World, he had found it quite smooth to transform from a bird into a mayfly, and then from a mayfly into a fish. But now, he suddenly realized how ugly he looked.

At least Stan Sol’s fish form was ugly. I probably don’t look any better, Igor thought. Stan Sol’s fish had a large mouth, long whiskers, a big head, and a small tail. Its mouth seemed to occupy more than half its body, and its head took up more than two-thirds. This top-heavy, ugly fish was truly an eyesore under the moonlight.

”Since the master controller can’t sense me here, why should I remain a fish?” Igor muttered to himself. He felt he could do anything he wished here. After all, this was his Inner World, and he had free rein.

”What do you want to become then? Remember, this is the Dark Sea created by the master controller himself,” Stan Sol said.

”Even in a vast sea, I can still be myself!” Igor said casually. Immediately, he transformed from his fish form into that of a young child.

”Uh, why is this different from what I imagined? Didn’t I intend to look like my current self? Why did I turn into a seven or eight-year-old?” Igor was still unsatisfied. I should have done better, he thought.

”That’s already quite impressive. Look at me; I’m still a fish,” Stan Sol encouraged Igor. Indeed, Igor’s energetic transformations also made Stan Sol feel quite pleased. However, Stan Sol had other things to consider and needed to conserve his Spirit Power.

Watching Igor’s antics, Stan Sol felt much more relaxed. On one hand, he had been suppressed for far too long in this Dark Sea, and this lively young man truly brought him a great deal of relief. On the other hand, his taut nerves desperately needed to unwind, and the light-hearted atmosphere Igor created provided him with that opportunity.

Despite being in the vortex and under the master controller’s suppression, he was still affected; all of Igor’s imagined creations were consequently diminished.

”Is it comfortable being a fish?” Having grown accustomed to his new form, Igor now had the energy to joke with Stan Sol.

”Not comfortable. It was purely out of necessity,” Stan Sol replied with a light chuckle.

”HEH HEH, I’m still more accustomed to being myself.”

”But weren’t you a fish just a moment ago too?” Stan Sol teased.

”...” The tease hit a sore spot. Igor, in his child form, looked quite comical being speechless.

”Alright, alright. Now that you’ve shed your fish form, you should share your plan. How are we going to escape from here?” Stan Sol still had great confidence in Igor.

”Hmm... I have a plan, but I’ll need your help,” Igor said, scratching his head. Although his creations were diminished in the Inner World, he was still confident they could escape.

For instance, even in the depths of this sea, Igor had managed to forcibly create a patch of land. This land, though still deep within the sea, was enveloped in layers of bubbles, with both Igor and the land patch contained within them.

”If there’s anything I can do to help, I won’t hesitate,” Stan Sol affirmed, his tone resolute.

”Great. Now, we need to start running, but we must run along the very edge of this vortex. You’ve been swimming around here for a long time, so you should have a good understanding of it.”

Igor’s idea was indeed daring, leaving Stan Sol slightly flabbergasted. Running along the edge of the vortex... that’s quite challenging, Stan Sol thought. Igor was currently in a child’s form; he could run. But Stan Sol was still a fish. How is a fish supposed to run? He was genuinely perplexed.

Besides, can one simply run along the vortex’s edge just because they say they can?

Stan Sol remained silent, utterly unsure how Igor’s plan could be executed.

”Don’t worry; I have a way, especially within the Inner World!” Igor said, noticing Stan Sol’s confusion and directly explaining his solution.

”Huh?” Stan Sol still didn’t quite grasp what Igor meant.

”See? I told you I didn’t need to be a fish, because a fish can’t do *this*.” Igor conjured a steam locomotive out of thin air. According to his imagination, this locomotive could travel underwater. He had originally envisioned a colossal steam-powered railcar, but due to the influence of the master controller’s Inner World, his imaginative power was greatly diminished, resulting only in this smaller steam locomotive.

”This...” Stan Sol felt there was nothing more he could do to help Igor; this was completely beyond his imagination.

”What are you still gawking at? Hurry up and get in! Or do you think this fish can navigate the edge of the vortex on its own?” A large fish tank sat on the steam locomotive, clearly prepared for Stan Sol.

”But... you...” Stan Sol began, still puzzled even after getting into the fish tank.

”I know what you’re going to ask. Of course, I need your help. I need you to lead the way!” Igor declared, then yanked a lever. The steam locomotive started up with a RUMBLE!