Jack followed a Black Giant Priest through the busy excavation site.
Over the past five years, the entire Forbidden Zone had changed beyond recognition.
The pit walls had been cut vertically, exposing layer upon layer of rock. Each layer bore rune markings in different colors, an indexing system the Black Giant Priests used to record geological ages and the distribution of ruins.
The ruined buildings at the bottom of the pit resembled an ant nest torn open, with densely packed stone structures stacked atop one another, extending from the edges toward the center.
The Black Giant Priest led Jack down a temporary metal walkway, passing through layer after layer of ruins before finally stopping in front of an enormous building covered by a translucent energy shield.
Benjamin emerged from the entrance, apparently having just finished another excavation. His Wizard Robe was covered in dust.
"Teacher, everyone on this plane has been rescued." Jack bowed to Benjamin.
"You're here." Benjamin nodded at Jack.
"You did well on your mission, and your timing is perfect. The excavation of these Core Ruins has reached its final stage. We'll be able to conduct the final exploration in a couple of days."
"Core Ruins?" Jack glanced around at the densely packed buildings. "None of these count?"
"These are just the outskirts." Benjamin raised a hand and pointed beneath their feet. "The true core lies much deeper beneath this building, in a
place far below. Everything I excavated before was on the surface, and there wasn't much of use inside. The truly important things are all in the deepest reaches."
"You'll come in with me when the time comes. It'll broaden your horizons."
Jack nodded instinctively. "Yes!"
Half a month later.
Jack followed Benjamin through a metal passage cleared by the Black Giant Priests.
Unlike the