Chapter 258: Plan ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by novęlfire.net

The next few days passed without fatal incidents, but the search grew increasingly difficult. The area was no longer smooth and stable. Invisible spatial distortions appeared—some chaotically deadly, tearing apart a mosquito swarm that ventured too close, likely capable of shredding larger creatures.

Others were like crossroads to the unknown, potentially leading to resource-rich “paradises” or deadly traps. Levin Mills explained that this “Spatial Distortion Zone” was newly formed, its spatial rules still unstable, creating a labyrinth of lethal traps where the next step was unpredictable.

This increased the search’s difficulty and time, but the wizards didn’t complain. Unstable zones teemed with unique creatures and rare resources, boosting their hauls. The Glimmer Bugs, serving as scouting vanguards, minimized losses by triggering traps.

As resources accumulated, the recruited wizards began using potions to heal soul damage from contract-related mental shocks. However, the heavyset wizard, the scouting core, was struggling.

That night, during a rare gathering prompted by Levin’s discovery of a relatively stable large area for the next day’s search, Jie Ming followed the Glimmer Bugs’ mental navigation to the rendezvous. Initially, everything seemed normal—until he saw the heavyset wizard.

No longer “heavyset,” he was now a gaunt, emaciated figure, as if drained of all vitality. If not for his faint soul aura confirming his identity, Jie Ming wouldn’t have believed it was the same person.

Scanning the group, Jie Ming approached Jack discreetly. “I thought you’d be late,” Jack greeted casually.

“I got lucky. Ran into a distortion yesterday, but it spat me out near the rendezvous,” Jie Ming replied, subtly gesturing toward the gaunt wizard. “Senior Jack, what’s with him?”

Jack glanced over, shrugging nonchalantly. “What else? The Glimmer Bug losses have been too heavy. His flesh can’t keep up.”

Jie Ming was stunned. He’d seen the wizard create Glimmer Bugs by shedding flesh but assumed it was a “flesh compression” storage technique, like Jack’s armor expanding into a fortress via mechanical compression, not defying mass-energy conservation. The wizard’s massive body had produced bugs far exceeding his weight, so Jie Ming hadn’t suspected the truth: he was literally sacrificing his flesh.

“Using such self-destructive magic… incredible,” Jie Ming muttered, eyes wide.

Jack gave him an odd look. “What’s wrong?” Jie Ming asked, sensing the strangeness.

“Nothing,” Jack said, shaking his head, ending the conversation.

Levin Mills arrived, frowning at the gaunt wizard’s state. “How are you holding up?”

The gaunt wizard managed a grim smile, his voice hoarse and weak. “At this rate, I’ve got thirteen days left at most.”

The wizards inwardly sighed. If he couldn’t continue, the mission might fail. The recruited wizards, however, remained calm, even content, having already reaped substantial rewards.

Levin patted the gaunt wizard’s shoulder, offering quiet reassurance, then turned to brief the group. “Quiet down,” he said, his voice clear despite its softness.

“I’ve scouted tomorrow’s search area. Unlike the ‘flat’ zones we’ve covered, this one’s like an inverted trapezoid—higher and wider at the top.”

As Levin explained, the group grasped the new area’s layout. Previously, they could search in a horizontal line to cover everything. Now, the expanded, elevated terrain posed new challenges.