Chapter 170 - Taming Punishment

A little before the fight's resolution...

Director Ignatius paced back and forth, worry growing with each passing minute. The girls still hadn't returned with news, and their presences continued to be detected far from the planned interception point. 

'Why are they taking so long?' he thought while his phoenix stirred beneath his skin, responding to his unease. The beast's agitation only heightened his own anxiety.

That's when he felt it, a disturbance in the mana with the unmistakable mark of abyssal corruption. His muscles tensed instantly, but something was different this time.

"At least it's not as powerful as the last intruder," he muttered, remembering the gold rank agent's intrusion. "Maybe I should go, if the rank is low the terrain maybe can't..."

His thoughts were interrupted when an auxiliary arrived running.