One-Eyed Monster

"TSK, TSK, TSK." Xiso couldn't hold back his inner joy and smacked his lips involuntarily. His pale, dry skin looked as if it might flake off from the action.

"Sir!" Arnold cautiously approached Xiso, a serious look etched on his face. He too was exuberant on the inside, not expecting Kadi and his group to find a way through the marsh so quickly. Even though their method was a bit rough, it didn't hinder their progress.

"Hmm!" Xiso nodded. His status among these monsters was second only to the Great Mentor, so he was accustomed to this form of address. "Is the upgraded trap set?"

"Yes. Even though we haven't used it much before, I am still very confident." Arnold puffed out his chest. His face looked a bit strange: asymmetrical, with one side pale and the other rosy, as if one side resembled a baby and the other an old man.

"Were you also behind what happened in the Ghost Wind Valley?" Xiso asked, his curiosity piqued. After all, he had never encountered such a thing before, so it was natural to be a little interested.

"Yes, and no," Arnold answered honestly.

"Oh?" Hearing this, Xiso's interest grew even more.

"That was the first time this ability trap was used. The Great Mentor assisted; I was merely acting as a conduit."

"I see." Xiso felt a sense of relief after hearing Arnold's explanation. The Great Mentor had always tirelessly helped them improve their abilities. In fact, they now fully possessed the strength to contend with any external power. However, the Great Mentor still chose peace. For them, who were always fighting and killing, it had indeed become somewhat exhausting.

"The time I've managed to buy you is limited. Those rolling stones and leaping water splashes have fulfilled their purpose," Xiso continued in his calm tone. He was quite amazed that the two youths had managed to pass the Moonflow Stream and the White Swamp trials without deciphering the ballad. Their accomplishment indeed seemed magical.

That being said, he now had even greater expectations for Kadi and Igor.

"Sir, our stones were overcome just like that?" Arnold still found it hard to believe what had just transpired. The stones, after all, had been specially tempered. It was shockingly unbelievable how they had been beaten by two virtually unknown youths.

"Heh," Xiso chuckled softly. "A test is about gauging, that's all. The reaction speed and coordination they've shown are more than enough."

"Yes, Sir, I understand," Arnold nodded, grasping Xiso's meaning.

"Keep it measured. If they can't even pass the initial stage, then there's no need to remove the Stone House's disguise," Xiso reminded him.

"Don't worry, Sir, I have my own— URGH... AH!" Arnold couldn't finish his sentence before a sharp pain stabbed through his head.

"Hmm?" Seeing Arnold's strange behavior, Xiso quickly approached him. "What happened? Was there an attack?"

"S-Sir, they... they must have passed the first trial! AH..." Arnold gritted his teeth, enduring the pain as he spoke with difficulty.

"What's going on?" Xiso asked calmly. "Is there an impact somewhere?"

"A leap, Sir! The entire timeline... is leaping! URGH... AH..." Straining under the intense pain, Arnold's pale, old-man-like half-face turned fiercely red, while his rosy, baby-like half-face became ghastly white.

"A leap?" Xiso knew Arnold was a Time-Leaper, but he wasn't fully aware of what happened to Arnold when he performed a Time Leap on the timeline. This time, Arnold seemed to be in severe pain, as if he had been attacked on the timeline.

"Calm down, Arnold," Xiso consoled Arnold, whose head looked swollen. However, his attempts to soothe were futile. Arnold was struggling; bulging veins were visible on his swollen head, a terrifying sight.

"S-Sir, they... they might be seizing my timeline! This... this trap might have been seen through!"

"What?" Xiso couldn't believe his ears. Has someone else invaded this place? I didn't sense anything!

"S-Sir," Arnold struggled to articulate, "no other... people... it's... Kadi, he..."

"Alright, alright, retract your trap. Don't let them disrupt the timeline you've just established." Xiso was still very concerned about Arnold.

"It's... no use..." Arnold managed to say. "I must... synchronize onto the same track... to escape the impact... of the leap."

How can this be happening? Xiso could hardly believe what was unfolding before his eyes, but he had to stay calm. He was the monsters' strategist; if he showed any sign of panic at this moment, the consequences would be dire.

As for Time Leaps, Xiso didn't quite understand them, so he couldn't be of much help. However, he also couldn't ask what should be done now; such a question at this time would only cause Arnold to crumble.

Should he encourage him, urge him on? Such pointless shouting wouldn't achieve anything.

Do nothing? He couldn't bear to just watch Arnold suffer this torment...

"S-Sir..." Arnold continued to force the words out, "it's caused by a temporal disruption! I... I might not be able to hold on much longer!"

"Don't worry, Arnold, I'm still here," was the only way Xiso could comfort Arnold. In the face of time, he felt utterly powerless.

"Sir!" Arnold's eyes suddenly widened, and then he pitched forward and collapsed.

"Arnold!" Xiso hastily pulled Arnold up, but he suddenly found he was holding what felt like a weightless shell, and he couldn't sense any Spirit Power from Arnold.

How can this be? This is too much. Xiso felt a deep unease. Given Arnold's current state, he had no way of determining what was happening.

Had Arnold gone to the Eternal Tranquility Realm? That didn't seem likely. Those who go to the Eternal Tranquility Realm lose their body heat, but Arnold was clearly still warm.

But Arnold had lost both his weight and Spirit Power, a phenomenon that was difficult to explain.

What on earth had happened!

The moonlight, like water, was still and serene, casting a silvery, mysterious veil over everything.

Xiso lacked night vision and couldn't see clearly through his spyglass what was happening around the fallen Stone Monster, even though it wasn't too far away.

He hadn't wanted to reveal himself, but it seemed he had no choice now. He had to find out what had happened...

Just as a troubled Xiso was preparing to walk towards the spot where the Stone Monster had fallen, a shrill screech pierced the night sky.

Xiso recognized it clearly. It was the Exchange Beast the Great Mentor had assigned to Arnold—the Mail Bird Arnold used to transmit messages.

Simon whistled and extended his arm. The Exchange Beast, a falcon, spiraled down and landed on his forearm.

Xiso reached out with his other hand, using his Spirit Power to probe the Exchange Beast. This was his method of retrieving messages from it.

"Sir, this is Arnold. By the time you receive my message, it will probably be night. I sent this message to you the following morning."

What does this mean? Xiso was utterly puzzled.

"My Time Leap has been detected. My time and space are now chaotic. I don't have much time to explain further. I'm still resisting with all my might, but it seems to be having little effect."

"I can only relay this message by continuously leaping back. Oh, no time! That Igor is chasing me again..."

"In short, Sir, you must not get drawn into this temporal disruption. Igor and I should be enough to handle things here."

"Alright, I can't say more!"

The message was fragmented and incoherent, causing Xiso's frown to deepen.

The only thing he could be certain of was that, for the time being, he really couldn't offer any help.