One-Eyed Monster

Shortly after Quinn, who hid his true identity, returned, he also had a pill in his hand, and his face was filled with excitement. Everyone had gotten a pill, so it wasn’t novel anymore, and gradually, the atmosphere of joy and excitement in the tent eased.

Everyone suddenly realized that all the rewards were the same, and no one seemed special, making what should have been a happy occasion feel ordinary.

So, at this moment, everyone started to think about removing their makeup...

After removing the makeup, Igor finally saw the true appearances of the people with fiery red hair. Without exception, these were a group of children, even younger than Igor’s group...

These youths all harbored dreams, hoping to become great, and none wanted to progress step by step. They all thought there was a shortcut to pursue. Despite their mature way of speaking now, they were actually a group of children who hadn’t experienced success or failure, still ignorant of cruelty and fortune.

Igor watched them with involuntary sighs of emotion, until someone called Kadi to remove his makeup, and Igor snapped back to reality.

Kadi had an unusual look, and without the cover of his makeup, he might cause a panic. Igor certainly wouldn’t let Kadi take that risk.

However, Kadi clearly had prepared more thoroughly than Igor. He turned over and continued to sleep, leaving a sentence that everyone at the scene kept pondering: "I want to play the role of this clown. Forget myself; once the makeup is off, I’m no longer a clown. I won’t remove my makeup."

Everyone exchanged looks, especially Igor, whose mouth was wide open in surprise. He couldn’t comprehend how Kadi managed it, reacting so swiftly that he didn’t even need Igor to cover for him anymore.

Watching Kadi snooze peacefully, everyone went back to their own beds. Kadi had set a good example, and they all went to recharge their energies.

This was also the moment Igor had been waiting for, late at night, when he could quietly initiate his actions. His action couldn’t proceed without Kadi’s support; Kadi’s special medium allowed him to connect with anyone, regardless of whether they could sense Spirit Power or enter the Inner World. As long as Kadi was there, everything could link seamlessly.

When the snores started throughout the tent, Igor poked Kadi under the bed, resting. His intention was clear: it’s time to act.

To be honest, Kadi had been looking forward to this moment for a long time. He had been holding back, longing for this moment of action for ages...

But Kadi wasn’t reckless now, knowing their actions need to be covert, so he communicated with Igor using secret codes.

These codes were taught to them by Goodley on Guru Mountain, transmitted entirely by tapping. Goodley claimed they were an ancient code passed down from the Ancient Era, naturally discreet in communication.

Kadi gently tapped on Igor’s arm: "I’m ready, have been ready for a long time!"

Igor turned his hand and tapped on Kadi’s shoulder: "Alright, we need to connect with Brava."

After receiving the message, Kadi quickly tapped out the current difficulty: "Without special medium as a link, can’t find the way in."

Igor: "Can’t you link directly?"

Kadi: "But someone needs to be near me; we’re separated by a tent, can’t sense him at all."

Igor: ...

Kadi: "Don’t worry; there will be a way."

Igor: "Brava is a breakthrough point, I think we need to connect now; waiting might pose risks."

Kadi fell silent; he had to find a medium linking him to Brava; otherwise, he couldn’t connect...

Igor suddenly thought about Kadi not removing his makeup before, quickly tapping on Kadi’s shoulder: "Try the greasepaint, the clown makeup."

Kadi then realized they had used the same greasepaint tub with Brava before.

Following this commonality, Kadi successfully linked to Brava.

Kadi: "I’ve connected! Hurry up!"

Igor sensed Kadi’s taps and immediately began his Inner World exploration, entering Brava’s mental realm through Kadi’s unique medium.

It was all ruins, as Igor stepped into a dilapidated venue.

Here and there hung props used by clowns—wigs, bouncy balls, tall hats, canes...

But these items were covered in dust, as if untouched for ages.

Isn’t this Brava’s tent? Why is it so decrepit now? Igor was puzzled... He had been here before; everything was clean without an ounce of dust.

Why can’t I see anyone here...

This was the second uncanny thing. Any spirit realm would show traces of people, as only humans could envision this Spirit World.

Igor searched everywhere, hoping for a clue...

The tent was eerily quiet; those dusty props seemed to show Igor a path, and Igor slowly followed these items into the depths of the tent...

Gradually, the light became dim, as if something was intentionally blocking the tent’s lighting. The further in he went, the fuzzier it became, leaving no trace visible.

Igor looked deep inside with his night vision eyes.

He saw a figure curled up on the ground, shivering, seemingly on the verge of death...

Is that Brava? Igor wondered, hastening to see clearly the face of the person lying on the ground.

But it seemed something tangled around his feet, binding his rapid pace, and then he saw a clown’s face painted with grease appearing suddenly in mid-air.

Silently, the clown’s face with a red nose and smile emerged from nowhere.

Then, a terrifying force followed, Igor could sense it—Energy Fluctuations.

"Who are you?" The clown’s face emitted a sharp voice, "Why can you see my existence? Why accept this guy?"

Igor could see the clown held a knife that was slowly approaching his throat...

The motions were slow, but Igor was even slower. He knew how to avoid this knife, yet his body wouldn’t respond...

"No matter who you are, I will slowly kill you, just as I slowly killed him..." The knife in the clown’s hand had already stabbed Igor’s throat...

...

Igor woke up.

He gasped for air, but dared not too loudly because there were others in his tent.

Igor tapped with his fingers on Kadi’s shoulder: "Confirmed, Brava is the breakthrough point!"