The glow of the Teleportation Array gradually faded.
Benjamin opened his eyes to a familiar sight.
The Purgatory Sulfur Plane's eternally gray-red sky, smoke billowing from distant volcanic craters, and the smell of sulfur hanging in the air.
"I'm back."
He took a deep breath, the corners of his mouth rising of their own accord.
It had been more than ten years.
That was nothing to a wizard, but what he had gained on this trip rivaled centuries of ordinary gains. Benjamin stepped out of the Teleportation Array, and a Black Giant Priest immediately came forward.
"My lord, you've returned."
Benjamin nodded and asked as he walked, "How have things been these past years?"
The Black Giant Priest followed behind him and gave a brisk report. "The Incense Divinity Path has been running smoothly, and the number of believers has increased by roughly three percent. The Level 7 Large Elemental Pool's output has remained stable, with no abnormalities. The Automatic Factory is operating normally and has stockpiled enough materials as you requested..."
Benjamin listened, reassured.
The Purgatory Sulfur Plane was his foundation. As long as nothing went wrong here, he would have somewhere to fall back on, whatever happened outside.
He spent three days clearing the backlog of affairs.
Operating data for the Incense Divinity Path, maintenance records for the Elemental Pool, production reports from the Automatic Factory...
He reviewed and signed off on every last item.
Three days later, Benjamin finally had time to sit down and take stock of what he had gained.
He sat in the center of his laboratory, rows of pale blue crystals laid out before him.
Entropy Brains.
Large and small, there were 523 in all.
Benjamin looked at the crystals and could not help smiling.
He had earned plenty of Military Merit on