With the mindset that every second he could stall for was a second gained, Weimeng took the initiative to speak to Sainsai:
"I thought the instant I showed myself, I'd be dragged straight into your 'Spirit Realm.'"
Sainsai answered calmly:
"If it had been earlier, I would indeed have done so. But now that the Butcher Hunter is backing us from the shadows, activating it just to deal with you alone isn't worth it."
Weimeng wiped the sweat from his forehead and unhurriedly questioned Sainsai:
"So, before you kill me, would you mind satisfying my curiosity and telling me why you Clowns are so resistant to using the 'Spirit Realm'?"
Sainsai had no intention of concealing anything, and frankly admitted to Weimeng without reservation:
"Because activating the 'Spirit Realm' throws us into a brief state of mental derangement."
"It makes you recall pain and truths that once existed. It makes you see through the falsehood and absurdity of this world. In that state, you begin to question the meaning of your own existence. Forget moving—even thinking becomes difficult."
"That feeling is agonizing, even more agonizing than having your body wounded by a Tainted Crystal. So to us, the 'Spirit Realm' is a technique best left unused whenever possible."
Upon hearing this, Weimeng did not look particularly surprised. Instead, he gave a light chuckle and remarked:
"Oh? But our Hunter Corps has never mentioned such a drawback of the 'Spirit Realm.' Could it be that what you possess is an incomplete version of the technique?"
Sainsai responded evenly:
"Incomplete? No, you have it exactly backward."
"Within the bounds of the Fifth Nightmare realm, what your Master Hunters possess is the truly incomplete thing. I imagine the Hunter Corps pays close attention to every hunter's mental state and intervenes whenever necessary, doesn't