Paradox

Vivian's figure vanished completely into the void as she slipped into the city ahead of them for a thorough reconnaissance.

A moment later, her voice came through the encrypted psychic link. "Safe. No organized enemy forces detected. Only a small number of first-level worker bees were found wandering aimlessly in the lower pipelines. They may have been abandoned or naturally hatched later. We can enter."

Benjamin and Roland landed atop a tall tower at the edge of the city.

From here, they could overlook a vast stretch of the urban district.

Benjamin did not waste any time. He immediately took out a Recording Crystal containing detailed logs of the samples the wizards had collected here during the previous cycle.

His spiritual power swept through it, and the scene from back then emerged: battle had erupted in a high-rise building in the distance. The wizard forces had stormed in through the main eastern passage, while the Sickle-Skull Race defenders organized their final resistance in the western plaza. After their defeat, the remnants had attempted to flee through the underground network, only to be wiped out by rune traps planted in advance—

"That area?"

After viewing the recorded information as well, Roland cast a scouting spell in that direction.

A moment later, he nodded. "Indeed. Though the camouflage is quite good, the energy fluctuations there are far too placid compared with the other areas."

Soon, Vivian's on-site reconnaissance results came back as well. "Their camp is indeed in that area—"

Benjamin nodded and looked at Roland. "It's good that nothing has changed. Then I'll have to trouble you, sir. Try not to let a single one escape."

"A trivial matter."

Roland raised a hand toward the sky. In the blink of an eye, an enormous energy shield spread outward.

The expanded energy