Chapter 427 Marking and Baiting

Jemin remained silent for a moment, processing all the information.

The Starforgers' plan was not a simple reinforcement from the beginning, but a stress test against time-space weapons.

And these wizards who struggle, research, and fight in the cycle of reincarnation are all indispensable variables in this test—including himself.

A conclusion naturally emerges.

Jemin looked up at the projection of the level eight wizard before him. His tone was no longer a simple question, but rather carried an inquiry bordering on confirmation:

"So, the reason you came to see me specifically is because... the impact of my actions has brought the 'variables' accumulated within this plane to the brink of overload?"

He no longer used the term "variable" to refer to the support troops in general, but instead pointed it to himself.

Because he was well aware that his own existence—maintaining complete memories through his internal inner world and body-tempering techniques, and using this as the core to drive the rapid iteration of the entire research system—was itself an unplanned "variable".

His behavioral patterns, the research acceleration he brought, and the series of paradoxical experiments he conducted all added immeasurable weight to the "variable injection" formula set by Arterius.

Artorias's projection showed an approving and satisfied smile.

“You guessed right.” He readily admitted, “It is precisely because of your efforts and the chain reaction you brought that the ‘information contradictions’ and ‘rule disturbances’ that need to be dealt with within this dimension have increased dramatically in a short period of time.”

"Based on my observations and calculations, the 'thing' that manipulates time reversal is already very close to its limit. You are a wonderful surprise in my plan, and also a key catalyst to accelerate the process."

A glint of excitement flashed in Jemin's eyes.

But the excitement was fleeting, followed by more practical confusion.

He frowned slightly and raised the still unsolved problem: "Even though it's nearing overload, we still haven't been able to locate its 'true form.' We don't know what it is, where it's hiding, or what form it takes. Even if it's overloaded, we still can't find its true form."

If you can't find the target, it's meaningless even if the other party is truly overloaded and has lost the ability to reverse time.

Because what wizards need is to study their opponents, not to solve a trivial plane.

Artorias nodded, unsurprised by the question.

His expression remained calm, as if he had already thought about it countless times.

“You’re right, we can’t find it.” He acknowledged Jemin’s confusion, then changed the subject, “But why must we be the ones to look for it?”

Jemin was taken aback.

The Starforger spoke with an air of absolute confidence, as if he were in complete control: "Wouldn't it be better if it came to us on its own?"

They came to us on their own initiative?

This idea, like a spark, instantly ignited the clues in Jemin's mind.

Although most of the time, that unknown entity seems to be just a rigid program, it can be seen in some things that the "existence" or "program" hidden behind the reincarnation mechanism is not completely inanimate; it possesses a certain level of "reaction" and "coping" ability.

What would a system pushed to its limits, a "thing" that senses its own impending collapse, do?

“Eliminate the threat…” Jemin muttered to himself, his mind suddenly clearing. “When there are too many variables to handle and the system is about to overload, its most direct instinctive reaction is to eliminate the ‘source’ that is causing the surge in variables, or at least the most important ‘anomaly’ that it can identify!”

In this dimension, who is the most conspicuous "anomaly" that could cause the complexity of information processing to skyrocket?

It is the group of wizards who have gained time anchoring, intact memories, and rapidly improved research abilities.

Within this group, who was the earliest and most crucial initiator of the "variable"?

When Jemin’s gaze met Artorias’s projection, the answer was obvious.

"It will...be aimed at me?" Jemin said, but he didn't feel much fear; instead, he felt a sense of excitement.

“This is a reasonable speculation,” Artorias did not deny. “A highly specialized system that serves war would likely have crisis management logic that includes options for ‘decapitation’ or ‘eliminating key sources of disturbance.’ When conventional ‘trial and error’ fails to eliminate the threat and is instead pushed to its limits, it is logical to initiate a deeper elimination protocol.”

“Although there are destructive skills like time paradoxes that target higher-level enemies, I, who have thoroughly studied the time paradox mechanism of this plane, would certainly not make such a low-level mistake…” Jemin subconsciously continued.

"Therefore, the most likely action they will take is to eliminate me directly!"

Having figured this out, Jemin became even more worried: "But even if it takes the initiative to 'eliminate' me, will it definitely lead us to its core?"

That's the most frustrating thing.

The other party controls time; it can launch an attack from any "past" or "possible future."

Artorias's projection curled into a deep smile, a confidence born of overwhelming knowledge.

“There’s no need to worry about that.” His voice was steady and strong. “Having investigated to this extent, and considering the time manipulation characteristics this thing exhibits, I have a basic understanding of how it ‘hides’.”

"It cannot truly escape this plane; its 'existence' is necessarily deeply bound to the spacetime structure of this plane. To put it bluntly, after all the preconditions have been collected, the guesses about this guy's hiding methods can basically be narrowed down to three or fewer."

"The reason I can't find that guy's real body is simply because I'm missing a crucial clue... As long as the other party makes a move, they can provide the final piece of the clue."

The wizard Artorias paused, his gaze seemingly piercing through Jemin and looking deeper: "The real purpose of my visit is to prepare for this."

Jemin listened intently.

“I need to leave a special ‘mark’ on you,” Artorias said directly. “This mark has two functions: first, it can establish and maintain an extremely covert one-way connection.”

"When that 'thing' takes some unconventional action against you or against what it identifies as a 'critical threat' due to overload stress, especially when it uses deeper temporal permissions or exposes more ontological characteristics, this marker allows me to perceive the many changes caused by its actions immediately."

"Furthermore, this mark itself contains a portion of my power. It cannot guarantee your absolute safety under any attack, but it can at least buy you a sliver of... chance to save your life in the most critical moments."

In short, it is both a top-level "detector" and a "protective charm".

Without much hesitation, Jemin nodded. "I understand. I accept."

This is entirely beneficial to him.

It can both help the Starforgers uncover the final mystery in their ultimate plan and provide an extra layer of protection.

As for the risks of being "bait"... the risks have never been far away since he stepped into this plane.

In contrast, having a clear goal and the covert attention of an eighth-level wizard made him feel more at ease.

Artorias said nothing more, nor were there any complex spellcasting movements or energy fluctuations.

He simply nodded slightly to Jemin, his eyes deep, as if condensing countless messages and instructions into that single glance.

“Then,” the Starforger’s voice became ethereal, and the edges of the projection began to ripple and fade like a reflection in water, “we await your good news.”

As soon as he finished speaking, that unassuming figure vanished from the laboratory air like a pencil mark erased by an eraser.

It left no trace of energy or spatial disturbance, as if it had never existed.

Jemin stood still and quietly took a moment to reflect.

There was nothing unusual in the body, and the soul did not notice any extra burden or foreign feeling.

But he knew that the "mark" left by Artorias must have been anchored in his existence in a way that he could not currently comprehend.

He turned his gaze back to the macro charts in front of him, his mood now completely different.

The hunter has laid the final bait and trap, and the prey... may be preparing to launch a fatal attack from its nest, which sleeps with time.

(End of this chapter)