Stalemate

Lothar entered the mine shaft aboard a small rail cart. Tracks had already been laid here, and quite a few miners were still working the shallow veins, filling the air with clanging sounds.

Along the way, he could see all manner of array patterns carved into the walls. He could clearly sense that the surrounding Spiritual Power had fallen into an extremely inert state.

This was probably a measure meant to make the White Crystal more stable.

"Mr. Lothar, it isn't that I don't trust you, but this place is truly dangerous. If you intend to do anything, please be careful."

The wolfman centurion leading the way spoke somewhat uneasily.

Lothar did not reply. His consciousness had already spread through the underground like tentacles—he intended to replicate the "miracle" from the Alps' battle against the Purge Squad.

Back when he could still use True Dragon Transformation, such an attempt had been far too risky, so he had set the idea aside. But now that he had temporarily lost that ability, after much consideration, this was the only attempt that could give him the power to influence the course of the battle.

"Sir."

Perhaps worried that Lothar had fallen asleep, the centurion raised his voice slightly. Then he saw Lothar abruptly turn around, golden light flickering in his eyes. He seemed like an Ancient God above the nine heavens, radiating an awe-inspiring, inviolable Divine Might.

The centurion's scalp went numb, and he instantly transformed into a hulking wolfman nearly three meters tall.

"Relax, I'm fine. Next, I need to focus a little more—as you said, this place is dangerous."

Lothar looked up at the terrified wolfman and reassured him softly.

He was about to undertake a difficult task. But he had just scanned the area with his mental power, and taking