Meanwhile, Ben and Elvira were back inside their base. The two stood side by side, staring at the prototype slime farm.
They were deep in debate about how it worked—when a distant crack of red lightning lit up the cavern.
Both of them paused, turning their eyes toward the direction it came from. "Seems our pursuer's come. Do you feel it, my beloved?" Elvira asked softly.
"Of course," Ben replied. "I might not be some grand expert on mana, but even I can tell… that's probably Aether."
"You think we can beat them?"
"It's not about can or can't, Elvira. We have to. We need to strengthen our defenses—fast. How much mana do you think we'd need to block something like that?"
"Hmm… completely blocking it would take a lot," Elvira said, a glint of confidence in her eyes. "But redirecting it? That's a different matter." She smiled.
