One-Eyed Monster

No one on either side of Moonflow Stream expected the situation to turn out this way.

The Little Black Hands were utterly disappointed that their long-planned entrance did not surprise anyone. But the plan was already in motion, and they had to grit their teeth and carry it through step by step.

Igor and his group initially didn’t realize that the hands emerging from the ground were the same ones that had been dragging them from behind. At first, Igor thought they appeared somewhat familiar. However, as time passed and the Little Black Hands behaved increasingly childishly, he began to suspect these were different entities...

The ones capable of stealthily dragging us from behind absolutely wouldn’t act so juvenile, Igor thought. And we’ve been in a standoff with them for so long. How could they show up and then behave so indecisively?

In reality, the waving of the hands by the emerging Little Black Hands was meant to convey mystique. Unfortunately, their execution was far off the mark. The hands looked extremely awkward; moreover, they seemed a little overdone and unnatural. It looked as though someone trying to climb out from underground had gotten stuck, and their flailing hand was signaling for help...

Only when the familiar drag on Igor’s ankle registered in their minds did Igor and his companions realize that these hands were indeed those summoned creatures.

If not for this familiar force, they still wouldn’t have identified these little hands as their previous adversaries.

No wonder; the two performances were so vastly different. It didn’t seem like they were done by the same entity.

Now, these Little Black Hands had all surfaced, grabbing their ankles and trying to drag them down into the earth...

Why is this opponent so persistent in dragging us? Igor wondered.

While their force wasn’t enough to pull them underground, the constant dragging was really revolting!

It had happened just before, and it was happening again. The dragging sensation from behind had been equally revolting. Their opponents couldn’t achieve much with it, but they kept harassing them. It was utterly exasperating.

The current situation was this: the Little Black Hands’ dragging force wasn’t potent enough to pull Igor and his team underground, nor were Igor and his team confident about breaking free. Thus, both sides were locked in a standoff, each trying to exasperate the other. In a strange way, a sort of mutual understanding had developed between them. It was indeed a rare sight.

Amidst all this, there was the peculiar case of Hustace. The poor, fear-ridden lad, consumed by misery, was left entirely alone, performing a one-man show that no one was watching.

Igor realized what had initially been a contest of endurance had now become one of attrition, though endurance and attrition certainly had their similarities.

”Why do these creatures insist on dragging us?” Kadi voiced his confusion directly. There are much better ways to annoy people, he thought. Why are they so fixated on this one tactic?

What wooden opponents! the Little Black Hands fumed silently. Our whole purpose is to make them feel bewildered! We want them to feel surrounded by unseen hands, to make them unable to even imagine what’s behind these hands, damn it!

However, Igor didn’t sense any of this. He was contemplating things on a different level.

”Maybe they have their own reasons,” he said.

Nonsense! Of course, we have our reasons! the Little Black Hands seethed. Our purpose is to instill fear in you!

”What reason could they have?” Kadi said doubtfully. ”Do they really intend to drag us underground?”

This guy dares to underestimate our strength! the Little Black Hands fumed. If it weren’t for the restrictions of the pact, dragging you underground would be a piece of cake, you hear! They felt humiliated; being underestimated was a terrible feeling.

”Maybe that really is their goal!” Igor said earnestly.

Hmph, this young man has some sense after all, the Little Black Hands thought, slightly mollified. He knows we’re not to be trifled with!

”But they’re not strong enough to drag us under,” Kadi interjected. ”It looks to me like they’re just stalling for time.”

The Little Black Hands deflated. Just when they thought Igor was an observant young man, Kadi had to open his mouth and fill them with negativity. This is blatant disrespect! He’s looking down on us!

”Why do they have to drag us? It’s completely unnecessary!” Kadi grumbled, always preferring the direct approach; he didn’t like to overthink things. ”Why don’t we just fight it out and get it over with?”

”Who knows,” Igor replied. ”Maybe their way of thinking is just... unique.”

Unique, my foot! The Little Black Hands’ frustration reached a new peak. Some of them even suggested ignoring the pact and just thrashing these two boys to vent their anger. However, these were in the minority; most of the Little Black Hands were more rational.

Exactly! Who knows if this is some kind of trap set by this seemingly foolish duo? they reasoned. It’s better to be cautious.

Igor was still contemplating how to discern their opponents’ true intentions.

His mind raced with conjectures. The stalemate had dragged on for some time, and he began to imagine some rather outlandish scenarios.

”If you were going to fight someone, would you have certain requirements for the environment?” Igor turned his head to ask Kadi, hoping to slowly test his hypothesis.

”It depends,” Kadi replied.

”What does it depend on?”

These two are actually discussing their theories right in front of us! This is too much! the Little Black Hands thought indignantly. They clearly don’t take us seriously at all!

Is it possible that, from start to finish, they haven’t grasped the sheer unknown that lies behind these hands?

Can such uncertainty truly fail to instill any fear in them?

The Little Black Hands found it utterly unbelievable...

”If it’s a place I’m familiar with, I’d definitely try to lure the opponent into terrain where I have the advantage for a fight,” Kadi explained. ”But if it’s an unfamiliar place, I wouldn’t have much choice but to adapt to the circumstances.”

”That makes a lot of sense,” Igor nodded. He found Kadi’s analysis quite insightful and worth considering.

Ultimately, the Little Black Hands had failed to instill any fear in Igor and his companion. Instead, they had only managed to pique Igor’s curiosity.

”Well, I still think there’s something a bit... unreliable about these opponents,” Kadi remarked. His casual tone deeply wounded the Little Black Hands.

Why did we have to encounter such characters? they lamented. Why couldn’t we get some slightly more normal people? We could have finished this mission ages ago...

It was truly strange; this was the first time the Little Black Hands had ever actively wanted to complete a mission early just to go back and rest...