Ethan stared at the mountain range, and the excitement in his eyes finally overflowed.
This place really was a mineral paradise.
He didn't hesitate. Orders snapped out immediately.
"Spread out. Search downward for energy ore veins."
"Once you find a mining zone, mark it immediately."
"If anyone blocks you—wipe them out."
The Emerald Castle army dispersed at once. Powered Combat Armor units dove first toward different parts of the range. Goblin engineering teams followed with detection gear. The Fallen Star Guard fanned out on both flanks, ready to intercept anything that tried to blindside them.
But right as they were about to touch down, a strange hum rang out across heaven and earth.
It wasn't a roar. It wasn't wind. It felt more like the entire mountain range had been struck at the same time by some unseen hammer. The ore-vein energy in the air froze for a heartbeat—then all of it reverse-flowed, surging back toward the range's center.
Ethan looked up.
