One-Eyed Monster

The familiar voice belonged to Igor.

Kuren couldn’t believe it. He didn’t want to believe it. He felt that all of this was a delusion, something occurring as he journeyed towards the Eternal Tranquility Realm.

How could Igor be here? It’s impossible!

But the voice was undoubtedly Igor’s; there was no question about it.

”He isolated us because he fears us.”

Kuren heard Igor’s voice again.

Am I imagining this? Something isn’t right! Kuren, unwilling to believe the present situation, began to mutter to himself while wielding his knife, splitting another Death Knight in front of him in two.

”It’s not imagined. It’s reality,” Igor’s voice sounded again, unruffled and full of youthful vigor.

”Huh?” Kuren didn’t know whether to be glad or astonished; he was torn.

What’s going on? A perplexed Kuren still felt something was off. Frankly, he preferred to believe he was imagining it.

Yet Igor’s voice echoed intermittently, making it hard for Kuren to accept.

Regardless, he preferred to believe he was imagining things. The likelihood of Igor actually appearing seemed greater in a dream.

However, what Kuren didn’t know was that, at this very moment, he truly was dreaming.

”Senior Kuren, this is your own mental space,” Igor reminded Kuren of reality again, hoping to convey that everything happening here was on a mental level.

Am I really having a conversation with you, Igor? The reason Kuren couldn’t believe reality was actually quite simple: his cautious personality made him think it unlikely he could break through the enemy’s defenses to communicate with anyone.

It’s odd that I can only communicate with Igor. If another person spoke up right now, I’d believe all of this was real. But with only me, this whole thing seems fake.

This, of course, was just Kuren’s perspective.

”This is your Inner World, Senior Kuren. And only I can communicate with you,” Igor patiently explained. The situation was somewhat complicated and couldn’t be clarified in a moment. Moreover, Kuren was still, to some extent, unwilling to believe what was happening.

”My Inner World... That’s right. But it’s out of control now. I can’t even tell which parts are mine and which belong to the enemy anymore.”

”Well...” It seemed that even Igor hadn’t anticipated the situation to escalate to this point. Perhaps they had, at times, overestimated their own strength.

This wasn’t surprising; in fact, it was quite common. In a world controlled by others, merely retaining a sliver of self was already an arduous task, let alone resisting so fiercely.

”Okay, Senior Kuren. Regardless of whether you believe this is an Illusion or reality, everything is going to become increasingly tense. So, for now, could you please just listen to what I have to say?” Igor just wanted to get his points across.

Actually, none of this is the point. I can’t even be sure how much longer I can hold on. Even though I created this Inner World... whether this is the final moment or I’ve fallen for an enemy scheme, whatever it is, I feel powerless to change anything now. So, I’ll just let things run their course, take it one step at a time. Since this Igor insists on talking, then let him talk.

”Then why can you only communicate with me?” Although Kuren had decided to let Igor speak, he still instinctively asked this question.

”I can’t answer that question right away. After all, my time is limited, and I still need to tell you what you need to know. It won’t be too late to tell you when I fully awaken.”

Everyone thinks their time is precious, but not me. For me, time has lost all meaning. Ten thousand years or a fleeting moment—it makes no difference. Always alone, hearing the clamor of others, unable to change a thing. Isn’t that so?

”Senior, the reason this opponent wants to stop us from communicating is because he’s afraid.”

Kuren listened. In his heart, only twenty percent of him believed the one speaking was the real Igor. That was all, just twenty percent. Because right now, he was like fish on a chopping block, completely at the mercy of others, with no say in anything. Even if someone told me now that the opponent was Devouring us for our own good, I would be indifferent—even if that person was the one I had longed to see. So, call it fear if you want. None of it matters anymore. Neither you nor I can change anything now.

An air of despair began to spread over Kuren, though he was completely oblivious to it. To him, it seemed the outcome was already decided...

”This is the ultimate aim of our enemy, Senior,” Igor sensed the change in Kuren and hurriedly reminded him, fearing it might soon be too late...

”What aim? Aren’t we all just heading for destruction anyway?” Negativity had become Kuren’s defining trait.

”To divide and conquer. And to do it by making us feel isolated and helpless. When the methods you excel at have no effect on the opponent, defeat will surely follow.”

”But didn’t you just say the opponent fears us? So why would we be defeated?” Kuren’s logic was becoming muddled.

Igor found it hard to believe. He had expended great effort to break in, yet the effect was minimal. Perhaps this is why I feel such urgency. If Senior Kuren is like this, what about the others? Many must have already fallen...

”Have you finished talking?” Kuren urged.

”I...” For a moment, Igor was at a loss for words. ”I know we’re close to finished, but I don’t believe we’ll be completely wiped out. The opponent wants to assimilate us. We still have a sliver of a chance.”

”A sliver of a chance? Where? I don’t see it at all.” Kuren wasn’t just being negative; he was almost deliberately contrary.

But Igor couldn’t get angry; anger wouldn’t solve anything. The crucial thing now was to change Kuren’s mindset. But how can I turn this around? And I really don’t have much time.

”Senior Kuren, won’t we fight for it?” Igor could only try the most naive approach.

”Fight for?” Kuren swung his sword, a blur of motion. ”In this dead silence, what is there to fight for?”

”Yourself! Your very self!” Igor cried out.

”Myself...” Kuren, the Slaughterer, finally felt a flicker of something at this moment.

Emotions are strange things. You can try your utmost to stir them, yet they might remain unmoved. But then, an careless word can unexpectedly set them alight...

”Yes... I am Kuren! Even if I am to fall, I will do so as Kuren!”