Heading towards the laboratory proved to be no easy task. The fight before had resulted in the deaths of many harvesters while even more were in urgent need of medical treatment while their armors needed repairs, having sustained damages that affected their ability to travel. This forced them to take lengthy detours around treacherous mountains, prolonging their travel time while contending with relentless monster attacks.

Though now the monsters were no longer solely focused on them, they still had to constantly fight the deranged monsters. With the colossal types occasionally showing up, it started to slowly chip away at the stamina of the elders who had to act as the main fighting force.

Communication had been a near impossibility. It was due to the aura of monsters, the same aura that made even the weakest into a formidable foe.

What should have been a swift journey now stretched on endlessly. Damaged armor suits forced them to navigate around the mountains resulting in frequent clashes against the monsters who were devoid of mercy and cared naught even for their own lives.

The aura generated by the monsters hung in the air providing them with all kinds of enhancements that made it increasingly challenging to defeat them. A monster that was easily dispatched with a single blow now required multiple strikes to kill.

[ Dower, I was able to push a message just now, I have sent a request for an escort. We need to stop and wait for their arrival, ] Retraik, the one who had been suggesting a retreat from the start informed the elder who was in charge of this operation.

[ Did you get a reply? ] Dower asked.

[ It was but a brief moment of connection, it will be good if the message is not lost, ] replied Retraik. Even though the Core Barrier was tame compared to even the Mid Barrier section of the Grand Formation, it had not been easy to set up the infrastructure to allow constant communication, it had taken hundreds of cycles worth of time and massive resources to set it up but it was still not reliable, though stable most of the time. With the monster's aura running rampant, forming a natural formation, it had made it nearly impossible to communicate.

Looking at the state of the exhausted harvesters, particularly the younger ones, Dower reluctantly agreed, [ We have no choice but to rest for now anyway. Let’s hope they arrive soon. ] With that, he turned towards the remaining elders and harvesters, issuing orders on the course of action.

[ Retraik, search for a defensible location, ] Dower instructed.

[ Understood, ] Retraik acknowledged.

After Retraik's return, they proceeded towards a cave nestled at the mountain's base. Although not overly spacious, the cave boasted a high ceiling, allowing them passage inside. It offered enough space for the weary harvesters and elders to find respite. Meanwhile, Dower, Retraik, and a handful of veteran harvesters with functioning armors fought off the onslaught of monsters that relentlessly advanced upon them, rotating with the other elders to not exhaust themselves.

Dower's frustration got the better of him as he questioned Retraik, [ Did you really get a connection? Or was it merely your imagination? ]

Maintaining his composure, Retraik calmly responded, [ The message was sent from this location. However, considering the ongoing stampede, it will take time for them to arrive if even they do receive the message. ]

Time passed, and they got more and more exhausted despite having set up rotations to make sure all of them got some time to rest. When they were finally at their last string, something appeared in their senses. They tensed, thinking another wave of monsters had come only to dissipate a moment later when they realized it was a solitary figure.

[ You surely aren't the only one who arrived, are you? ] Dower inquired.

[ Scouting. Rest behind, ] Inero-ie replied, before taking a moment to elaborate, [ Will bring them here. ] With those words, Inero-ie swiftly departed, his armor suit scaling the mountainside within seconds, leaving Dower and Retraik speechless.

[ Well, it appears we need to wait a bit longer, ] Retraik remarked.

[ Thankfully. I'm growing weary myself, ] Dower sighed in relief before both of them readied to face off against the new wave of monsters advancing toward them.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

***

Dower, Retraik, and the rest of the group arrived under the escort of a harvester sent by Knrama. Instantly, Dower's anger surfaced as he observed not even a single sign showing an indication of fighting. Despite being surrounded on all sides not a single battle had taken place.

"What kind of bullshit is this?" Dower's words resonated with Retraik, unable to suppress his agreement. They had been engaged in intense battles with monsters from the very beginning, even after the arrival of the support team it only lightened the burden. However, even though this valley was surrounded by monsters on all sides, the valley was eerily clear. The cloaking formation was still active, the terrain was relatively undisturbed, and there were no bodies strewn about.

Dower reined in his anger, opting to hasten his pace as he made his way toward the lab. He was determined to obtain answers.

Entering the lab and leaving their armors at the repair station, they proceeded towards Knrama, who greeted them, "It is good to see that you are all safe."

"Cut the bullshit. Why hasn't this place faced even a single monster attack?" Dower questioned sharply.

"And how would I know that, Dower?" Knrama replied.

"How could you not know?" Dower retorted with his anger and frustration mounting.

Before Dower's anger could escalate further, Retraik intervened, gently pushing him back. "Please forgive Dower. He is distraught over the loss of the young ones and the harvesters who perished in vain. But do you truly have no knowledge as to why the monsters are avoiding this place?"

Knrama responded, a sliver of concern mixing, "I have been observing them since the beginning. They ignored this place initially, but since a few days ago, they started trickling in and we kill them before they get inside the valley but their numbers are increasing daily. It will not take no for them to find this place. However, that is not our immediate concern. We must locate the children swiftly. We cannot allow the name of our family to be smeared."

Retraik interjected, sharing additional information, "I added tracking formations to their armors, but even those signals are disrupted. I fear they may have already crossed the Core Barrier, it will make the search much more challenging."

With that, Knrama suggested, "Why don't all of you rest? Haste won't bring any benefits, and we must prepare for the imminent monster assault."

***

"My lady, some of the elders have arrived. Shouldn't greet them?" Sline informed Cile.

Cile, determined to avoid meeting the elders, responded, "Let's pretend we're busy with the experiment."

"As you wish," Sline acknowledged.

However, before Cile could enter her laboratory, a knock on the door disrupted her plans. The voice accompanying the knock halted her in her tracks. Suddenly her face which had always been static, unchanging, not unlike a mask bloomed a small smile as she faced the elder who entered the room led by Dower and Retraik.

"We offer our greetings to the princess," one of the elders spoke.

"It is a great relief to see your safe return, despite being caught in the midst of a stampede. I hope the casualties were minimal," Cile articulated, her words flowing smoothly yet bearing an artificial quality that had been thoroughly hidden. She smiled, engaged in conversation, expressed sadness when needed, expressed amazement when needed, laughed when needed, skillfully acted out various emotions, and uttered appropriate words until the elders eventually departed. It was only after some time had passed that her face reverted to its usual state, aligning with her vacant, frozen eyes that had remained unchanged no matter the magnitude of her performance.

Both Cile and Sline entered the laboratory, engrossed in a discussion about the ongoing experiment.

***

"How much longer, Livian?" Jionic inquired.

"Not too far now. Just be prepared. I sense many energy fluctuations similar to the monsters we encountered before and there are quite a few stronger individuals gathered there. We will have to be cautious," Livian responded.

"We can simply eliminate them," Jionic suggested.

"But there are too many this time. We need to recover, remember,” Livian replied.

“ Jionic, send your jinns ahead to scout," Meelion instructed.

While Jioniccarried out the order, Livian turned her attention to Meelion, who was walking silently beside her. Concern etched across her face as she asked, "How are you feeling? I tried to condense more life force into yours. Did it help?"

Meelion had been tirelessly dispersing the Qi tornadoes that repeatedly appeared around them when they had been outside of the Grand Formation. Despite Livian and Jionic's attempts to assist, Meelion had adamantly stopped them, not wanting all of them to be exhausted, especially in an unfamiliar world.

"I'm fine, don't worry," Meelion assured her.

"How can I not worry? Thankfully, this formation stops those things from forming," Livian replied, a frown forming as she recalled the tormenting Qi storms that had plagued them ever since their arrival on this planet. They had no choice but to disperse them, despite it worsening their injuries because the things that came out of it were difficult to deal with.