One-Eyed Monster

"Holy One, forgive my rashness this once." The Gray Robe Wizard was so frightened he broke out in a cold sweat; his knees buckled, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.

"Hmph!" Bigas, suspended in mid-air, let out a scornful snort, then furrowed her brow. "Blood-Sucking Worms! Hmph! To think such a petty trick could bring you to this state! What face do you have to stand before me?"

"Master, Master, I was wrong! I won't dare to do it again!"

Suddenly, a soft, immature voice trembled in mid-air. It sounded like a child sincerely confessing to stern parents after making a mistake. Every syllable was filled with a fear of its parents, making even the onlooking Treasure Hunters feel a twinge of sympathy for the voice.

"Hmph!" Sage Bigas seemed quite fond of this sound, uttering it several times in a short while.

"Master, I won't dare anymore! Please, Master, don't annihilate me..."

"Annihilate you? That would be too lenient. You will thoroughly experience the suffering that weaklings deserve."

"No! Master! Please don't! Ah——"

The onlooking Treasure Hunters were completely bewildered, unsure of what was happening.

Currently, a magnificently dressed Wizard floated high in the sky—a spectacle strange enough on its own. The sudden moans and agonized cries that pierced the air made the Treasure Hunters, whose hearts were already in their throats, even more uneasy. They looked around, trying to locate the source of the screams.

The two who had been engaged in the Spirit Duel earlier were also acting strangely. One knelt trembling on the ground, not daring to move, as if he had offended an incredibly important personage. The other was inexplicably scratching his head, looking left and right, as if he had never witnessed such a scene...

"Holy One, please forgive this lowly one this time..." The wails made the Gray Robe Wizard, still kneeling, even more terrified. He inwardly cursed himself: Why was I so arrogant? Why was I so impatient...

"Silence! What are you to be worthy of speaking to me? If I haven't permitted you to make a sound, then kneel there properly!"

Bigas's voice possessed a magical quality. It not only caused beads of sweat to roll down the forehead of the Gray Robe Wizard kneeling on the ground but also made the surrounding Treasure Hunters slowly, slowly back away.

At this moment, the Treasure Hunters who had scrambled to the front for a better view were beginning to regret it. Why did we charge forward so fiercely? Retreating now won't be easy.

However, even those on the periphery couldn't flee immediately; a bizarre pillar of water blocked their path.

"Outrageous! Did I permit you to move?" Bigas's voice echoed once more from mid-air.

Her voice resonated, filled with disdain, arrogance, and boundless insolence... This voice elicited two kinds of reactions. One was like that of the kneeling Gray Robe, beads of sweat rolling down his face, full of fear and apprehension. The other was like the Treasure Hunters who hadn't moved, their coarse faces twitching, full of defiance and anger.

"We come and go as we please! How can we let a wo— MPH! MPH!"

Impulse is a Devil. Before some of the bolder individuals could fully express their anger, their mouths were inexplicably sealed by ice.

"The weak are only fit to experience fear and pain." Bigas opened her previously narrowed eyes, her gaze sweeping the ground like a hunting hawk.

That hawk-like gaze made the previously restless Treasure Hunters lose all their impulsive urges. In the face of absolute power, all anger could only meekly recede.

For these Treasure Hunters, this was boundless terror, for who knew what the Wizard floating in the sky would do next.

CLAP. CLAP. CLAP.

Just as the crowd of Treasure Hunters was at a loss, unsure whether to advance or retreat, the crisp sound of clapping came from a distance.

This rhythmic applause instantly silenced the restless crowd.

"As expected of the Wizard Alliance. Every appearance is made with such fanfare."

A young man in the distance clapped as he walked forward, flanked on his left and right by two subordinates with grave expressions.

Bigas looked towards the sound and saw three figures approaching. They were dressed in purple cloaks emblazoned with a hexagram emblem.

"No wonder you're so arrogant. So, you're from the Alchemy Workshop."

"Compared to your arrogance, we are still far lacking."

These two short sentences made the already uneasy Treasure Hunters even more astonished. They immediately made way for the three newcomers, and another round of whispers broke out.

So these strange Alchemists are from the Alchemy Workshop. No wonder they were so arrogant when they first arrived. And it's no wonder we're no match for them...

Indeed, the one clapping was Kuyi Tulan, the Chief of the Alchemy Workshop, and on his left and right were Milo and Carmello, respectively.

The awe of the many Treasure Hunters did not make Bigas shed her arrogance. She remained high above, looking down at Kuyi Tulan. "I didn't expect the Alchemy Workshop to also be a band of thieves hiding in shells, mobilizing most of your main strength for such a trivial matter."

"How dare you speak like that! Who are you calling a thi—" Carmello, beside Kuyi Tulan, couldn't stomach Bigas's arrogance and started to retort, but before he could finish, he sensed something was amiss.

"Did I give you permission to speak?" Bigas's Ice Arrows and her voice assailed Carmello almost simultaneously.

Quick as thought, Milo stepped in front of Carmello. Extending his right hand, he spun it in a circle. SZZT! A searing hot shield suddenly appeared on Milo's arm, turning all the incoming Ice Arrows to water.

Then, Milo forcefully flung the shield in his hand. With a flick of his fingers, the spinning shield suddenly CRACKED apart with a ripping sound, transforming into dozens of arrows that shot towards Bigas.

BANG! BANG! BANG! Bigas was equally decisive. With a flick of her fingers and a wave of her robe, tiny water droplets flew out to meet the arrows head-on...

Afterward, the watching Treasure Hunters felt their luck had run out. The arrows suddenly seemed to gain weight above them, changing direction and plummeting downwards. The crowd of Treasure Hunters dodged left and right, rolling on the ground, covering their heads. The large chunks of ice on the arrowheads smashed into them, leaving them cut and bleeding.

Watching a show also comes at a price; how could there be a free lunch in this world? This was the greatest lesson these Treasure Hunters learned today.

"Consider this a return gift," Kuyi Tulan shrugged.

"Chief! Lord Milo!" Carmello's face was filled with shame, clearly embarrassed by his earlier unpreparedness.

"Don't mind it. Our opponent is the renowned Bigas, after all," Kuyi Tulan continued, still clapping.

"Hmph!" Bigas's response was as terse as ever.

"To think you've advanced to Saint Robe so quickly. It truly surprises me!"

"Likewise. I also didn't expect you Alchemists to be able to stand and speak with us Wizards."

"Hehehe, the Wizard Alliance is still so high and mighty, looking down on everyone," Kuyi Tulan said softly.

"You weaklings are not qualified to converse with the strong." Bigas's arrogance remained as high as ever.

"Yes, yes, yes. On this continent, when it comes to foot speed, no one can compare to a Saint Robe Wizard. A journey that takes us a month, a Saint Robe Wizard can complete in just a few days. That's why I remember, during the National Defense War, your Wizard Alliance..."

"Dare to say one more word, and I'll make you bleed immediately!" Bigas sharply cut off Kuyi Tulan, her eyes fierce and filled with killing intent.

"You try it!" Milo, at his side, puffed out his chest, his face equally fierce.

"You!" Bigas raised her hand, and instantly, a large, dark cloud gathered in the sky.

It seemed a fierce battle was about to erupt at the entrance of the Non-Intoxication Tavern. Everyone held their breath.

"Bigas, we are not enemies, are we?" At this tense moment, Kuyi Tulan, who had been smiling playfully, suddenly spoke with gravity.

Although his voice sounded calm and ordinary, it possessed an indescribable magic. Listening to it felt as if a part of one's body had been displaced.

"Hmph!" Bigas lowered her raised arm and angrily flicked her robes.

"Now, we should discuss some serious matters!"