Chapter 180: Problem
Benjamin did not make any rash moves.
The power of alchemy activated silently beneath his feet. Under an invisible force, the scorching ground opened without a sound, shattered stone and charred earth parting to either side like flowing water.
In the blink of an eye, a narrow burrow large enough to hold his body had been excavated.
His figure flashed, and he slipped inside. He then used alchemy again to seal the entrance, concealing himself completely.
As he lay in ambush, Benjamin lightly turned his left wrist, and a defensive Level 4 Defense-Type Rune Artifact emitted a faint glow.
After a brief delay, an almost transparent elemental shield silently enveloped his body.
This shield was not purely defensive. The runes on its surface also had the subtle effect of isolating his aura and energy fluctuations, enough to perfectly hide his presence in this scorching underground space.
Based on the intelligence he had obtained earlier by soul-searching that Level 2 Lava Giant, Benjamin knew the approximate distribution of forces at this Lava Giant gathering point like the back of his hand.
There were more than a dozen Level 2 Lava Giants in the inner circle, guarding the core of the stronghold.
The outer perimeter, meanwhile, was densely packed with several thousand Level 1 Lava Giants. Some patrolled, while others carried rocks, busily maintaining the stronghold.
"More than a dozen Level 2s, several thousand Level 1s, and their strongest leader has already reached the peak of Level 2... Given the Lava Giants' combat power, even I would take some injuries in a frontal encounter." Benjamin pondered within the narrow burrow.
"However, since I have seized the initiative, there won't be any problem as long as I prepare thoroughly."
But that was not the main purpose of his trip.
His