For a long time, Adam remained almost invisible. He started from his landing point and wandered around Cthulhu, choosing his direction randomly.
Even after the ancient disaster, Cthulhu was still much larger than the Dragon Plane. For three months, Adam didn't step inland but collected information about the radiation species along the world's edge and the dimensional rifts.
His main job was to explore and gather information, not to attack directly. Considering the number of monsters he found in three months, he couldn't possibly compete with them, even with the support of the Mage Network's energy.
The dimensional rifts were increasing. Once, while Adam was flying, a calm space ahead suddenly opened a rift. Adam couldn't see the terrifying transcendent monster now, but he guessed it might soon enlarge the rift enough to enter the Dragon Plane.
Each rift was supported by at least one second-level monster, maintaining its stability and driving groups of first-level monsters into the Dragon Plane. Larger rifts were guarded by third-level monsters. Adam thought he might soon encounter fourth-level monsters.
By observing the number of monsters around each rift and how quickly new rifts attracted them, Adam could estimate the population of the radiation species. The numbers were alarming.
The Mage Network had already sent this information to the Tower. Adam knew that the Tower would respond appropriately, so he didn't worry too much. After all, the mages had been waging Plane Wars for thousands of years and had a mature system in place. These matters were too much for a first-level Explorer like Adam to get concerned about.
Three months later, Adam finished circling the edge of this world and returned to the landing point. This time, he was ready to venture inland.
"Indeed, the radiation species have built a new social system on the ruins."
Ten days into his flight inland, Adam saw the first city-like structures, made entirely of radioactive minerals.
This city had no walls or defense structures, and its buildings were quite strange. Adam didn't dare get too close. He sensed numerous high-level energy fluctuations from within the city. The massive amount of radiation altered the surrounding space, giving it an eerie hue. It was hard to imagine any creature thriving in such an environment.
Outside the city, a huge number of first-level monsters brought materials and ores, acting like slaves. They couldn't go into the city. Monsters inside the city gave them things in exchange, and then they left, taking resources from the city to deeper parts of Cthulhu.
"The only way to get in is by breaking into the city; sneaking in is impossible," the devil, worried about Adam's safety, quickly said.
Adam really wanted to observe the radiation species' social system inside the city, but he knew it wasn't the right time. So, he turned and flew towards where the laboring monsters came from.
The line of laborers stretched for tens of kilometers, eventually leading to a basin. Here, Adam saw a mine where high-level creatures supervised first-levels gathering radioactive minerals.
Adam watched the mining area for a long time. Then, his understanding of Cthulhu and the radiation species changed once again.
He had thought that the radiation species here could only struggle to survive, living painfully through continuous mutations. But now, it seemed they were forging a unique path.
Even the invasion of the Dragon Plane seemed to have a new reason now. Maybe the transcendent beings weren't trying to prolong Cthulhu's life but simply wanted to occupy the Dragon Plane. They wanted a war.
This conclusion stuck in Adam's mind. The radiation species indeed had the potential, as they had adapted to a life amidst terrifying radiation and void storms. Their mutated bodies, in some ways, gave them greater potential than ordinary species. If they developed the ability to traverse the void and explore worlds, ordinary planes would stand no chance.
"Master, I think you're overthinking it," the devil didn't seem to agree. "Cthulhu's mutation hasn't been long. Becoming a void species isn't that easy. Maybe they're mining for other reasons. Perhaps the high-level monsters need these minerals for their cultivation, or maybe it's their food."
"I don't know much about the mage world, but master, do you know how long my species has existed?"
"How long?"
The devil hesitated. He actually had no clue about that. He coughed twice and moved past the question, continuing, "Very long, but even now, the devil species doesn't have the capability for starting a plane war. The abyss hybrids do, but they rely mainly on their numbers and ability to consume."
Adam pointed to the monsters below and said, "They are numerous too. If hit by their energy, other species might mutate. And they can eat a lot, even the flesh of their own kind."
The devil thought for a moment, finding no words to counter. "No matter what they do, with your current strength, you can't stop them. That should be the transdimensional mages' concerns. Even if these monsters have potential, facing a battlemage legion now would mean certain death for them."
Adam agreed deeply with this. To eliminate Cthulhu as it was now, the Tower didn't even need to send an army. A few transdimensional mages would be enough. What interested Adam was something else --- what were the radiation species researching by mining radioactive minerals?
There seemed to be only one possibility.
They were researching nuclear knowledge.
"But that's not an easy task. Without a solid foundation of knowledge and help from related disciplines, that is just a dream," Adam muttered to himself.
The devil, weary of Adam's sudden thoughts, quickly said, "Master, what should we do now? The three-year deadline is approaching. Should we find a place to hide?"
After a final glance at the mining area, Adam flew inland, replying to the devil, "No, I must continue fulfilling my duties as an Explorer."
