Z-Crystals and a Radiant Stone Vein!

Because of the limits on the resources and energy they could carry, the Ultra Recon Squad's Out-of-City Expeditions generally lasted around ten days.

After subtracting the supplies needed for the return trip, they did not have much time left to explore.

Regrettably, yet understandably, this Out-of-City Expedition was like the hundred or so before it: there were almost no worthwhile gains to speak of.

So-called worthwhile gains would probably mean the reason Ultra Necrozma had gone berserk, clues pointing to that reason, or a way to change everything.

However, Ultra World was simply too vast, while humanity's strength within Metropolis was limited. After all these years, they had still found nothing.

Calling it nothing gained was not entirely accurate. Every expedition brought back essential resources such as metal ores, supporting Metropolis's development.

Although the results of this Out-of-City Expedition were no different from usual, the atmosphere among Metropolis's upper ranks was not particularly grim after the team returned.

That was because research into [Space Jump] technology was nearing completion, which meant they could enter another world to seek new possibilities.

But before any technology could be put into use, it needed sufficient testing to verify its safety, especially something as dangerous as space jumping.

It was easy to imagine that if the equipment suddenly failed during a space jump, everyone aboard would surely perish amid Strong Winds in space.

There was no doubt that the people taking part in the first batch of trials would face almost certain death.

Xia Chen gallantly volunteered to help Metropolis conduct the space jump experiments, of course, after he found the Kartana capable of slicing open an Ultra Wormhole.

So, after following the expedition team back to Metropolis and resting for two days, he set out once more.

Alone, his destination was Sword Valley,