Chapter 489

Chapter 489: Sign

Even Thor sensed something strange. The others—whether the three core disciples or the two ordinary fighters—were equally astonished.

How could someone reach the Tenth Level before them?

Thor, at level 67, could only teleport to the Seventh Layer. For someone to reach the Tenth Level directly, they’d need to be level-70 or higher!

Impossible!

Yet the truth lay before them: the Tenth Level had clearly been looted long ago.

Over 70% of the easily accessible ruins and heritage had been stripped bare. Though the arsenal still held plenty of equipment, the empty spaces on the shelves showed the best gear had already been taken.

What baffled them more was how every ruin had been plundered, yet all the alchemical mechanisms in the tunnels remained fully functional.

This forced the Death Scorpions team to face empty ruins each time while wasting energy disabling traps.

Even with "Warrior" Thor present, brute-forcing through the Tenth Level’s defenses was impossible—the alchemical mechanisms were too powerful.

Who could’ve emptied these ruins without triggering the traps?

A mage specializing in space teleportation magic?

That seemed the only plausible answer.

But did such a person exist among the fifty fighters who entered Crystal Dragon Fortress?

None recalled anyone matching that description.

Besides, the underground Dragon Tower’s intense magical interference blocked communications and weakened long-range teleportation.

Short jumps of dozens of meters worked fine, but attempting hundreds of meters—or even a kilometer—risked deadly displacement errors, like getting stuck in solid rock.

Could any teleportation mage succeed under these conditions?

When the Death Scorpions reached the Tenth Level’s exit, the twenty-meter-tall Secret Silver Golem and its pristine Alchemical Gate deepened the mystery.

Both remained undamaged. How had the intruder escaped?

Or were they still hiding here, watching the Death Scorpions from some hidden perch?

The team grew tense at the thought.

Yet seeing the untouched Golem and Gate, "Warrior" Thor’s face lit with understanding.

"Midi Asreks… So it was you…" Thor whispered, eyes flashing with killing intent.

He’d pieced it together—only a Master of Mechanics like Midi could’ve navigated the Tenth Level so effortlessly, bypassing traps without disabling them.

The Secret Silver Golem’s presence confirmed it. Damage patterns showed the construct had rampaged extensively before being led astray.

Clearly, Midi had lured the Golem away while swiftly unlocking the Alchemical Gate—minimizing effort and cost!

How useful such a man would’ve been as Thor’s subordinate.

But Midi had dodged Thor’s invitation before. Now he’d formed his own team, outracing the Death Scorpions to plunder the Tenth Level.

For the proud "Warrior" Thor, how could he tolerate anyone walking ahead of him?

He couldn’t bear the thought of someone openly challenging him.

To Thor, the finest equipment in the Crystal Dragon Fortress might as well have belonged to him already.

He didn’t mind sharing these treasures with others.

But he’d never allow anyone to snatch even a single item from his claimed spoils.

"Time to teach that foolish human who rules here," Thor growled, his chilling aura erupting like a demon’s as he stormed toward the Secret Silver Golem.

Meanwhile, Midi had secured the remaining two Black Crystal Trees.

Though the Metal Tiger and Purple Gold Scorpion were formidable, neither could withstand Midi’s full power.

Within hours, both area rulers fell. Two new Harvesters converted the trees into Black Crystal Steam Springs, mining black crystals directly.

Yet as three steam springs began operating, changes rippled across the land.

The yield dropped sharply.

Black Crystal Plants could only be harvested once. As Midi’s Worker Bees scoured every corner, even guarded Black Crystal Vines fell to swarms of Soldier Bees. Like locusts, they stripped the land bare.

Originally, Black Crystal Trees accelerated plant regrowth. But by seizing the trees and controlling the springs, Midi choked the land’s renewal. Areas stripped of black crystals turned red as the forest’s balance broke.

This crimson hue felt hostile. Midi sensed movement in the scarlet shadows – the forest awakening against him. A natural backlash against his plundering.

Three steam springs lay dozens of kilometers apart. Magic-polluted air crippled Midi’s Heavenly Dragon Strike teleportation. Even he couldn’t defend all three if multiple Purple Gold Scorpion-level enemies attacked simultaneously. His three companions lacked the strength for solo battles against such foes. Defense required more resources than offense.

The solution? Invest Black Flame Coins in war facilities from the Dragon God Temple.

"More expenses," Midi sighed, rubbing his temples.