Only I Am A Reader

Arthur felt a chill crawl up his spine as he saw the giant, floating eye before him. Its rings of tentacles seemed to move in unison, waving menacingly toward him. He could feel its heavy and oppressive gaze as it looked upon him with tacit knowledge. The Knowledge Seeker had come to share its secrets.

Arthur was taken aback by the Knowledge Seeker's ominous words. He mustered up the courage to ask for more information, determined to uncover the truth behind the statement. Then, with a steady gaze, he asked, "What exactly did you mean by that?"

"You have a vital destiny ahead of you, and it falls to me to ensure that you reach it safely - I'm here to alert you of any obstacles in your path. Why? That is for you to determine, for the future belongs to you alone."

Arthur's brow furrowed in confusion as he attempted to make sense of the Knowledge Seeker's words. Was there something he was alluding to that was beyond his comprehension? Could it be related to the vision he'd had a few days prior, one of someone coming to take away his Unseen Truth Eye? All these questions raced through Arthur's mind as he asked, "What do you mean by that? I don't understand... I had a vision a few days ago about someone coming here to take my Unseen Truth Eye. Is this what you are talking about?"

"An intruder is coming to take the eye. They won't stand a chance against the creature from the cave, but neither does it. You must go there to say a warning before someone more powerful shows up and finishes the task. Don't wait; do something now, or the beast will be doomed,"

"And there is more! The astral plane revealed your secrets to a party of mages, not precisely a formidable crew, so you've got a shot at overcoming them. But the other? There's no way you'll overcome that one."

"So you're telling me," Arthur uttered, his jaw set with determination, "there's no way I can fight against this being coming after the eye? No way I can emerge victorious?" He was not ready to accept defeat before trying.

"You can still accomplish everything you have dreamed of in this world a�" and reclaim your main body to become as powerful as ever. However, achieving victory over that person is not possible. The best course of action I recommend is to make the most of the time you've got here and ensure you do all you need before your departure. Don't worry; there's more than enough time!"

Arthur struggled to accept the truth from the Knowledge Seeker. No matter how hard he tried, he seemingly could not prevail against the sinister force coming for the eye. "I understand," he stated tentatively. "But what will happen to everyone here if I leave before that person arrives?"

"Have no fear," replied the Knowledge Seeker. "There are regulations protecting planets like this one from direct attack, but you must still be swift in fortifying your power and ensure you are well-hidden after your departure."

"What else do you know?" The Knowledge Seeker was an infrequent guest, so Arthur had a hundred questions burning in his throat. He opened his mouth to speak them, but before he could utter one word, the eye disappeared, and the dark veil evaporated, leaving only an eerie stillness in its wake.<novelnext></novelnext>

Arthur had a sense of dread within as he remembered his conversation with the Knowledge Seeker. Somebody was coming to take the Unseen Truth Eye, and they had enough power to render their confrontation hopeless.

He knew he had to warn that beast in the cave of their arrival, but he never imagined it would be someone this powerful! The Knowledge Seeker made it crystal clear that there was no way for him to come out on top in that fight, so the best thing he could do was flee the planet. Would he? Absolutely!

"I can't win against them, but I can get stronger and reclaim my body - and then I can stop the Von Stein family. The Knowledge Seeker mentioned a weaker mage coming for me, too. So I better become more powerful fast, or else I'm at risk of being beaten by both." Arthur thought resolutely.

With bated breath, Arthur banished all his worries to the back of his mind and focused all his energy on finding the mythical herb! The Knowledge Seeker had been a deterrent for the local wildlife, but the little creatures began creeping back into the forest now that it was gone. "I'm sure it's safe here," he mused, treading cautiously through the vegetation in search of any unusual specimens which may or may not be the mythic plant he wanted.

Arthur was growing increasingly frustrated as he scoured the environment, searching for anything that could be useful. His worries began to climb as nothing seemed to fit the bill, and he had almost given up when a glimmer caught his eye. Nestled amongst the other plants, it was - an enormous plant with blooms like stars twinkling in the sun. "How can it be that nobody noticed this before?" he wondered in amazement.

The plant was so majestic and colossal that Arthur found it odd that no one had seen it before, whether they be local villagers or outsiders seeking to discover the island's hidden wonders. The Sucubbus even could find it if she wanted, yet no one did. "Could it only appear at certain times?" pondered Arthur, for this seemed like a possible explanation for the events before him. However, he was not disappointed to be the first one to come across the plant - he was ecstatic - yet there was still an ominous aura around the whole scene, so he proceeded with caution and kept his gaze directed not only on the plant but on the surrounding area as well.

Arthur took determined strides towards the plant, and with every step, his magical power lessened until it had been reduced from a third rank to a fraction of its previous strength. There was no mistaking; this must have been the plant the Sucubbus had warned him about: the one that slowly sapped away mana from any island inhabitants over time, storing it in its very roots. Such a treasure trove of energy could make any mage astronomically more powerful if they were lucky enough to find it! Arthur's last thought as he approached the plant was an earnest prayer for a safe outcome.

"Come on, come on," Arthur growled, inching closer to the plant. Though nothing seemed suspicious, his unease grew until something suddenly snapped him out of his trance! A giant root burst from the earth, shattering the ground beneath him and trapping his leg, immobilizing him as it hoisted him up into the sky!

With lightning speed, the root lashed out at Arthur's body, slamming into the trees, rocks, and ground with relentless purpose - aiming to cause as much damage as possible. Thankfully, his armor provided a shield of protection, allowing his robust physique to withstand the impact of the blows - sparing him from becoming nothing more than a mangled mess.

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