One-Eyed Monster

While Igor awaited a weakness to appear in "that painting," in another corner of Guru Mountain, a group of people engrossed in battle were gradually peeling back the layers of another maze.

Alchemist Hector's strength was considerable; he gradually forced Baharo into a corner. If Baharo wasn't careful, he could very well fall off the cliff.

Although the cliffs of Guru Mountain didn't seem too steep, the mountain was still high enough for a fall to be lethal. Baharo now had to not only withstand Hector's peculiar attacks but also prevent himself from accidentally falling. The immense difficulty he currently faced was palpable.

Baharo struggled desperately. Stan Sol, on the other hand, was not in such dire straits. Alchemists Joela and Brad, even working together, could only manage to fight him to a draw. The two sides were locked in a stalemate, a scene that somewhat reflected the formidable strength of the ancient Hunters.

These individuals were trapped in a maze on Guru Mountain. Unable to ascend or descend, they had no idea who had created the maze, nor did they understand why that person wanted to trap them there. Each of them sought the answer in their own way—an answer crucial to their next moves. Thus, they couldn't afford to relax for even a moment.

Although Stan Sol and these Alchemists had reached a tacit understanding, combat was combat, and neither side could afford carelessness. Even if they ultimately found and dealt with their hidden adversary, there was no guarantee they wouldn't turn from current opponents into future enemies. No one could say for sure. After all, the distinction between an opponent and an enemy could shift in an instant; none of them could judge whether the others would ultimately hinder their progress.

The Sharkmon in Stan Sol's hands, though long absent from the battlefield, was now ravenous and restless. At this moment, the starving Sharkmon sensed the long-lost Spirit Power—abundant and robust. Its fighting spirit, needless to say, was incredibly fervent. Sometimes, Stan Sol even felt the creature wanted to break free from his control and lunge with its Gaping Mouth at the rich Spirit Power.

Joela could feel the Sharkmon's impulse. As a member of the Golden Seats, he knew full well the consequences of being bitten by a Sharkmon, so he prioritized defense. He also knew his Physique Technique was far from enough to threaten his adversary; attacking an opponent's strength with his own weakness would be a losing strategy. Besides, Brad's berserk state was no mere display.

Joela could see their opponent was wary of Brad's berserk state. Despite Joela himself having absorbed several attacks for Brad using his Hardening Spell, the enemy's Sharkmon was visibly more aggressive towards Brad. It seemed the creature preferred Brad's Spirit Power, persistently entangling Brad while only dealing with Joela perfunctorily.

They fought intensely, each feeling they had met a worthy opponent and respecting the other's combat style. Simultaneously, they shared a common goal: to slowly draw out the adversary hidden in the shadows. They wanted to confuse this hidden enemy, to make them believe everything was under control. Only then might their adversary become careless, causing this Maze Array to loosen and reveal a flaw—a flaw that would be their key to breaking free.

However, despite fighting up to this point, they still hadn't found that flaw. The hidden enemy seemed exceptionally skilled at concealment and endurance. They even began to doubt if their opponent had fallen for their ruse at all. If not, that would indeed be troublesome.

"Wait!" Baharo, cornered, resorted to his talkative nature again. Though his dual swords danced swiftly, they could never fully block Hector's fists. Hector's punches seemed to weave and bend, always striking him when he least expected it.

Indeed, in the instant he spoke, Hector's fist struck his chest. The punch wasn't very powerful, but Baharo felt as if a massive hammer had slammed into him. Behind him stood a tall tree, and beyond that, the cliff...

After taking this punch, Baharo thought, This is it. My life is almost over. Although the punch hadn't been very powerful, he hadn't managed to fully block it. If the momentum didn't send him crashing into the tree behind him, he would be sent plummeting off the cliff at terrifying speed...

Aargh—! Baharo screamed internally, his face suddenly blank, pale as a sheet. A torrent of emotions surged within him, yet no sound escaped his lips, as if he'd suddenly been struck dumb. More critically, he felt no strong impact on his back. This means... I'm going to fall off the cliff...

I shouldn't, absolutely shouldn't have yelled at that critical moment! I should have been completely focused on fending off the attack. But alas, my mind went hot for an instant, and that single moment of heat... it's cost me everything I've worked for in my life...

Goodbye, Hounds. I'm sorry. I've disgraced you.

Goodbye, Dark Cabinet, the sacred sanctuary of my heart. Even now, I haven't even glimpsed its gates.

Goodbye... Huh? What's this feeling? It's like someone's punching me. That can't be right. I should be in mid-air, plummeting from the cliff. My ears should be filled with the whistling wind and my own hysterical screams...

It was as though an entire drama had played out in Baharo's mind, a drama that should have concluded by now. But the pain wracking his body told him this was no dream. He was still on Guru Mountain, still getting, uh, pummeled.

"Wait," now it was Hector's turn to be surprised. After his previous successful strike, the large fellow had flashed a strange smile, spread his arms wide, and was leaning back leisurely. Behind him was a patch of bushes. Will something happen when he falls into them? Hector wondered. Is it some kind of burrowing technique?

Hector was also puzzled. This large fellow had been personally recruited by the Chief; he was certainly no ordinary individual. Logically, he shouldn't be so lacking in offensive power. Yet, up to this point, the man had only been taking a severe beating from him. Aside from a purely defensive posture, the fellow had shown no offensive capabilities whatsoever. Yet now, this fellow was wordlessly lying down—no, falling back into the bushes. It must be some special technique, Hector mused. Whatever technique it is, I'll strike first and ask questions later!

SMACK!

Hector's fist struck Baharo's body once again. Logically, many of the branches in the bushes behind Baharo should have snapped from the impact. Moreover, despite this level of attack, the man didn't even seem to have any broken ribs. His resilience is truly formidable... Hector thought.

However, this strike stunned everyone present. From Stan Sol to Joela, from Brad to Hector—everyone was utterly dumbstruck by the scene unfolding before their eyes.