Translator: AnubisTL
What was the cause?
Was it the inherent "energy cost" of the time reversal process itself, an inevitable drain on the plane's foundational energy, much like heat generated by friction?
Or was it their series of "Paradox Experiments"—specifically, storing matter from this plane into grotto-heavens in independent space-time—that had caused some minute "tear" or "disturbance" in the world?
Jieming leaned toward the latter possibility.
His reasoning was straightforward: Before their reinforcement force arrived, Frost's Vanguard Legion had already fought in this Reincarnation Plane for over one hundred reincarnation cycles. If each time reversal caused such a noticeable decay, the wizards outside should have detected it dozens of cycles ago, not just now.
Of course, it could also be a combination of both factors. Perhaps time reversal itself caused a slight loss, and their experiments acted like fresh scratches on fragile glass, amplifying the effect.
"We need more data, and longer-term, more systematic monitoring," Jieming stated frankly during the tactical meeting. "We lacked baseline records of the environment's 'constants' in the previous rounds. The benchmark we've established now isn't stable yet. We'll need at least one or two more complete reincarnations before we can make a preliminary judgment on the trend and rate of decay."
Frost concurred with this assessment.
He ordered the Combat Sequence wizards to maintain pressure on the Scythe-Skull Race according to the existing strategy, thereby creating more experimental windows for research.
The Logistics and Research Sequence, meanwhile, would focus all their efforts on a deep analysis of the current data and refine a more precise monitoring plan for the next cycle.
Beyond these busy preparations, Jieming himself had a more critical verification to perform.
He needed to see with his own eyes what had become of the "sources" on this plane—the originals of the "samples" he had stored within his internal grotto-heaven—after the time reversal.
Had they perfectly healed, as if they had never been severed?
Or had they been left with indelible scars?
Or... had something even more bizarre occurred?
He submitted a request to Frost for an external expedition, presenting a detailed plan: using the coordinates and descriptions from the recording crystals, he would revisit each Scythe-Skull stronghold or battlefield where he had once collected a large number of samples to conduct an on-site investigation.
Frost did not object.
The pursuit of truth was the innate duty of a wizard, especially when it directly concerned understanding the nature of reincarnation.
He merely imposed additional conditions for safety reasons.
"You may go, but you must have companions," Frost's tone left no room for argument. "Furthermore, I will place a 'Star-Mark Sentinel' on each of you."
He extended his index finger, its tip igniting with a point of silver starlight condensed into physical form.
Three points of starlight sank into the foreheads of Jieming and the two sixth-tier wizards assigned to accompany him—Roland, a specialist in defense and energy manipulation, and Vivian, an expert in reconnaissance and spatial stealth.
"This wizardry can automatically block a single attack of eighth-tier intensity," Frost explained. "More importantly, regardless of whether it is triggered, if it shatters, I will be able to instantly locate and reach you, no matter the distance. Do not stray too far from the limit of my sensory range. Understood?"
"Understood, Commander," the three replied in unison.
After reviewing the relevant recording crystals, Jieming locked onto his first target: an abandoned Scythe-Skull city over ten thousand kilometers from the main camp.
According to intelligence, the city had been strategically abandoned during the early stages of the wizard invasion. However, it was later reoccupied by a Scythe-Skull reconnaissance unit and converted into a forward outpost.
In a mid-scale sweep operation during the previous round, the wizard forces had cleared this outpost. A combat wizard had "collected" over one thousand intact corpses of low-level Scythe-Skull, ranging from first to third tier.
These specimens were now categorized and stored within his internal grotto-heaven.
With their origins clear, coordinates precise, and the environment relatively simple, this site was the perfect first validation point.
To ensure his experiment wouldn't cause any discrepancies in the cycle of reincarnation, Jieming couldn't wait. At dawn the day after the battle, he quietly slipped away from the bustling camp with Roland and Vivian.
Roland erected a nearly invisible energy shield that enveloped the three of them. It served not only as defense but also as optical camouflage and a partial cloak for their auras.
Vivian led the way, her figure flickering between clarity and blurriness as if merging with the surrounding spatial fluctuations, constantly scouting for the best path and potential risks.
They avoided long-distance teleportation, instead advancing through a combination of high-speed flight and short-range spatial jumps to avoid alerting the Scythe-Skull Race.
The landscape they traversed was desolate and oppressive.
The earth was scarred by the battle. Charred craters, crystallized soil, twisted metal wreckage, and scattered fragments of Scythe-Skull exoskeletons, already weathering under the effects of wizardry, littered the ground.
A faint energy radiation and an indescribable sense of desolation hung in the air—the lingering aura of countless lives extinguished on this single piece of land.
"This land... is unexpectedly fragile," Vivian murmured. Her spatial perception was far more acute than that of an ordinary person. "The 'resilience' of space seems to be weakening. Its stability in some areas is... a bit off."
Hearing this, Jieming swept his mental power across the earth below.
Indeed, in regions where energy conflicts were particularly intense, the "fibers" of space appeared exceptionally fragile, as if they would tear at the slightest tug.
Jieming stroked his chin. The wizardry cast during the previous battle definitely hadn't had this effect. So is this a problem with the plane itself?
Unable to find an immediate explanation, Jieming suppressed his doubts and followed the two figures ahead.
After more than half a day of rapid travel, the silhouette of their target city finally appeared on the horizon at dusk.
It was a nest-style city, deeply characteristic of the Scythe-Skull Race.
Towering spiral spires, constructed from a blend of biomass and minerals, rose like giant insect cocoons, connected by aerial corridors that resembled a spider's web. The ground was riddled with countless holes and tunnel entrances of unknown function.
The entire city was a deep brown, nearly black, crouching on the earth like a slumbering giant beast beneath the fading glow of the setting sun.
Yet, at this moment, the city was terrifyingly silent.
No aerial units patrolled the skies, no figures moved on the ground, and even the pheromone network that should have permeated the air showed no active signals.
"The intel was correct. They've evacuated completely," Roland assessed. "Energy signatures are faint, with no signs of large-scale life clusters. But... stay alert. There could still be stragglers or automated defense mechanisms."
(End of the Chapter)
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