One-Eyed Monster

The shadowy part was a corner of the cave where a puddle had formed from water constantly dripping from above. The dripping sound suggested a small passage or alcove within the cavern.

Igor had carefully observed that spot earlier. He found that not only was it pitch-black inside, but its surroundings were also completely dark. If it were an opening to the outside, there would be at least a faint glimmer of light, but this shadowy area was entirely obscured in darkness, without the slightest hint of illumination.

This oversight, coupled with the presence of the puddle, led Igor to dismiss the idea that this spot could be an exit.

Igor reasoned that since they hadn’t encountered any puddles when they entered, this spot where a puddle had appeared surely had no connection to the exit.

Similar preconceived notions affected Kuren, causing him to overlook the shadowy corner as well.

Although Kuren had suffered a strong blow to his head when they entered, his senses remained clear. He was fully aware of what he had and had not experienced, so he also failed to give the shadowy corner the attention it deserved.

Thus, through a series of misjudgments, both of them overlooked the shadowy area and became firmly convinced they hadn’t found the exit at all.

However, the group teleported in by Stan Sol clearly didn’t share their preconceived notions. Following conventional thinking, they saw the shadowy area and immediately thought of an exit. More importantly, this group didn’t waste much time; the association with an exit was natural for them. There was no convoluted process; everything seemed quite normal and straightforward.

Of course, the most important thing was that they had actually guessed correctly.

No, it couldn’t be said they were merely guessing. Theirs was normal reasoning. Kuren and Igor could only blame themselves for overcomplicating simple matters. Something they should have seen through at a glance was obscured by their own preconceived notions, leading them down the wrong path.

At this moment, Igor and Kuren really felt like squatting in a corner and drawing circles in the dirt.

However, excessive grief and self-blame wouldn’t change anything at this point. Igor and Kuren were both sensible people; they knew time was precious. Now that they knew where the exit was, the next natural consideration was how to get out of this Safe House.

”The exit is indeed over there, but getting out that way will be difficult. After all, this place isn’t called a ’Safe House’ for nothing,” Yuga explained. He was the only Wizard among the Mountain Monsters of Guru Mountain to have reached the level of a six-series sage, so he had some understanding of the cave’s spellcraft; he had, after all, been one of those who created this sealed space with the Great Mentor years ago.

”The student surpasses the master; this principle applies to all things in the world. It was hard to imagine such a situation before, but today, it has become abundantly clear,” the Great Mentor mused, seemingly out of nowhere. His words puzzled everyone, especially Igor, who was scratching his head raw in confusion.

Yuga, however, felt a deep resonance upon hearing the Great Mentor’s words. He clearly understood what the Great Mentor was lamenting: this Safe House. Indeed, this had been a subject he and a few others had been researching for the past few years.

When they first created this sealed space with the Great Mentor, it hadn’t been so complex. They had simply augmented an ordinary cave with a World Setting Technique. Primitive caves like that still existed on Dawn Peak.

But later, these caves seemed to have leveled up on their own. Not only did the World Setting Technique become increasingly vast, but even some details changed, transforming them from simple deceptive traps into complex, multifaceted mazes.

Calling this Safe House a maze was no exaggeration. Yuga, one of its original creators, found himself completely disoriented after entering this particular Safe House, the entrance to which had been opened by Simon. Although he clearly knew what was an illusion and what was a trap, he simply couldn’t find the way out. Moreover, none of the other creators who had tried to decipher its intricacies had made any effective progress.

”Unless the one who initially opened the entrance reopens it, none of us can unlock that strange door.” Yuga’s explanation, though detailed, was delivered quickly; his speaking speed had increased considerably this time. This was naturally to swiftly share the Safe House’s characteristics with the others, allowing them to quickly grasp the situation, especially Igor and Kuren. Yuga naturally trusted Kuren deeply; after all, he was a comrade with whom he had fought side-by-side, so that level of trust was a given. As for Igor, Yuga had high expectations. Being able to find Sol through the Inner World, enabling Sol to complete the Teleportation Spell, was already an incredible feat. This was a young man full of promise, one worth placing hope in.

Therefore, Yuga was quite confident in Igor. Perhaps this young man will make some novel discovery, lead us out of this cave, and then we can engage the uninvited guest outside in a new round of battle... The mental image was rather appealing; Yuga felt almost embarrassed to dwell on it too much...

”Does this mean our Safe House can only be opened by Senior Kevin? Why is it like this?”

”Perhaps it’s some kind of evolution of spellcraft. Who can say?” the Great Mentor sighed again.

”Evolution of spellcraft?” Igor was suddenly bewildered, not quite understanding what was being discussed.

It seemed getting out of this Safe House was indeed not going to be easy.

”I’ve always found this phenomenon very strange,” Yuga continued. ”Why would a cave augmented with the World Setting Technique undergo such changes influenced by the person who opens it? I’ve pondered it endlessly but can’t figure it out.”

”Actually, it’s a matter of a Spirit Lock. What’s peculiar is that this Spirit Lock can only be undone by the person who initially activated it,” the Great Mentor added. He had also done some research on this, but evidently, he hadn’t reached many definitive conclusions.

”So, you mean if we can undo this Spirit Lock, we can get out, right?” Igor asked excitedly. He finally felt like he had a clue.

”Essentially, yes...” Yuga quickly added. Igor’s excitement was contagious, stirring Yuga’s own hopes. After all, their expectations for Igor were high; they all desperately wanted to get out of there.

”How the Spirit Lock originates has always been a mystery,” the Great Mentor said. ”But after our recent discussion, I now believe its appearance must be related to the convergence of these two worlds.” His analysis of the current situation was evidently quite thorough. Compared to Igor and the others, the Great Mentor’s assessment was clearly closer to the truth.

However, some things couldn’t be overcome with conventional thinking alone.

Some things are intrinsically linked to the unexpected. It was precisely for this reason that an impulsive yet pure-hearted young man like Igor had the chance to create miracles.