When Benjamin stepped out of the spatial portal, Viola was already waiting there.
She stood with her arms folded on a scorched wasteland, her long silver-gray hair blowing wildly in the wind.
Bert Vera Augusta had also arrived and was sitting alone on a low rocky hill nearby.
Her long black hair was tied into a neat high ponytail, and the sleeves of her Wizard Robe were rolled up to her elbows, revealing her sleek forearms.
When she saw Benjamin arrive, she merely nodded in greeting before turning her gaze back into the distance.
"Where's Karl?" Benjamin asked Viola.
"Inside, holding the plane origin together." Viola tipped her chin toward the nearby room protected by layers of spell formations. "That bug's parasites have already eroded about a third of his control over the plane origin. Karl has anchored himself in the core area and is doing everything he can to stabilize his remaining control."
"Things are pretty troublesome right now. That bug's ability to parasitize is stronger than we expected. The moment he lets up, it'll gain complete control over the entire plane. So don't count on him for the fighting ahead."
"What about the other Level 7 Wizards?"
"Bad timing. They're all at the most critical stages of their conquests." A trace of irritation crept into Viola's voice. "Wizard Augusta has gone into the Insect Race's Stepping-Stone World, the old man and his wife are closing their net, and none of the other Level 7 Wizards can spare anyone either. So it's just the three of us here."
Benjamin nodded, having gained a rough understanding of the situation.
He sensed Karl's aura. It was quite steady, so there was no need to worry too much about him for now.
"What about the bug itself? Do we have any general