He looked up again. "Can’t we dig our own tunnels? If we start digging near their nests, maybe we can reach them before the rain comes."
Professor Catherine shook her head. "Wouldn’t work. They’d sense us long before we got close. The moment they detect a stronger presence, they start sinking the tunnels behind them to escape. It’s instinct for them."
Isaac turned toward Leora. "Does the Sword Empress know a way to deal with them? She’s old, and has been alive long enough. Maybe she’s faced something like this before."
Leora’s lips twitched slightly at the mention of her master’s age.
But that was the only reaction she showed.
"No," she said, shaking her head. "My master has never fought these monsters. She doesn’t know their weakness."
Isaac sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
From what he knew, Leora was a reincarnator.
She was someone who had lived in the age when the apocalypse first began.
That was thousands of years ago.
If she hadn’t seen these monsters then, it meant the Sinkhole Worms must’ve evolved later.
It made sense.
Many species had changed drastically over time. The Red Rain was the biggest reason for evolution.
Some monsters that were harmless before had become deadly now.
He looked back at Professor Catherine. "How did the Eltari make sure the worms didn’t go near their cities?"
"They studied the ground first. When they found signs of loose soil, they blasted a special frequency into the ground. The Sinkhole Worms hate that sound. It drives them away."
Isaac’s eyes narrowed. "Can’t we use that same frequency?"
"We can. But it takes at least three full days of continuous blasting to make them abandon a nest. Since they’ve already made one near us, it’s too late. We don’t have that kind of time."
Isaac groaned quietly. "Of course we don’t."
The more he listened, the worse this whole situation sounded.
Every solution came with a new problem.
"Wait," he said after a moment, a spark of thought lighting up in his eyes. "What if I use my hoe? It can purify and fertilize the land. If I use it to cleanse the ground before the rainwater reaches the worms..."
His words trailed off.
The idea started falling apart in his mind even before anyone could comment.
The red rain would cover a massive area.
He’d have to cleanse an entire region before it soaked in.
That was impossible.
The region where it was going to rain was larger than average cities from his past world.
Even with his mana reserves—which were far higher than most—it wouldn’t be enough.
The room fell quiet again.
Then Leora spoke softly. "Don’t worry too much. We’ve already contacted Fortified City 22 to form an alliance. They deal with other races often. Their archives are filled with information. Maybe they’ll know something we don’t."
Isaac turned to her.
"Doesn’t that mean there’s a chance we can get answers from Althea? She’s from the Florathi race."
Leora nodded. "There is. That’s part of why we back to you swiftly. We want you to speak with her. She owes you, and she might be willing to help. The Florathi seem to see you as a valuable ally, so they should listen if you ask."
Isaac nodded slowly. "Alright. I’ll go talk to her."
He pushed back his chair, ready to stand, but then his gaze swept across the room.
Everyone looked tense in their own way.
Emily had a worried look on her face.
Her eyes darted between the map and the professor.
She didn’t say anything, but her fingers twisted the hem of her sleeve repeatedly.
Alice’s face was the same as always—cold and calm—but Isaac could tell she was worried.
Her eyes weren’t focused on the map; they were distant, probably thinking about her family that was based on this city.
Leora’s expression stayed composed, but there was a faint furrow in her brow.
She was trying to appear calm, yet even she couldn’t hide the concern that hung in the air.
The most affected, though, were Professor Catherine and Celia.
Celia sat motionless.
Her hands were on her lap, her face pale.
It was like her mind couldn’t accept what she’d just heard.
Tomorrow, the city she had grown up in—the place she called home, and the place that protected her after she was forced to run away from home—might be gone.
Her eyes flickered to Catherine, searching for some reassurance.
But Professor Catherine looked completely normal.
Her expression was calm with a slight smile.
That’s how Isaac knew something was wrong.
She was too calm.
He activated his system briefly, letting it scan her for a second.
[Status: Doesn’t want to lose her home.]
Isaac sighed quietly.
Of course.
He looked around at the faces again.
No one wanted to admit it, but they were scared.
And he couldn’t blame them.
Isaac took a deep breath to gather himself.
He was the Lord of this city.
If he lost composure now, everyone else would fall apart.
Then, with a calm smile, he said, "Don’t worry too much. If things get worse, I can deal with the Sinkhole Worms myself."
Everyone turned toward him at once.
"...What?" Celia said, her voice small but full of disbelief.
Isaac leaned against the table, his tone casual.
"Sovereign of Land can tie those Sinkhole Worms down even if it can’t pull them up.
"My skill drains the stamina of my enemies once they’re within range.
"With this, I can kill them while keeping them from moving."
Celia frowned, unsure if she should believe him. "But what if you can’t chain them down after they get stronger from corruption? And can your skill even reach that deep underground?"
Isaac grinned, crouched beside her, and ruffled her hair lightly.
"If it doesn’t reach deep enough, I’ll just upgrade it. I still have a Skill Rank Upgrade Card. Once I use it, Sovereign of Land will definitely reach far enough."
Isaac got that Skill Rank Upgrade Card when he got a third wife, Celia.
He had been thinking about whose skill upgrade with that, and had yet to use it.
Celia blinked, processing his words.
Then a long sigh escaped her.
"Thank goodness."
Her tense shoulders relaxed, and her expression softened.
He could see relief in her face.
Immense relief.
A second later, all the energy returned to her face.
She straightened up with a big grin and shouted, "See! I told you Isaac would have a way!"
Professor Catherine smiled at that, her face softening.
"You did," she said, turning to Isaac. "Your plan sounds good, but let’s not rush. We should meet Althea first."
Isaac raised a brow.
Professor Catherine decided to clarify her words. "Kill those worms underground while draining their stamina will take time.
"You’d have to stand in the wilderness during the rain.
"Even with our protection equipment, the red rain’s corruption will break through after a few hours.
"The monsters will attack while you’re fighting, too. We need to plan carefully."
Isaac nodded.
That made sense.
The red rain was corruptive, and it would make the monsters in the wilderness attack him if he was outside.
Issac would have to be careful.
The slightest mistake could ruin everything.
Professor Catherine continued, "And besides, that Skill Rank Upgrade Card is precious. You should consider using it to strengthen one of your new class skills. They are more useful than old ones."
Isaac thought for a moment, then shrugged. "I’ll decide after I talk to Althea."
He looked at her. "Did you already make an appointment with her?"
"I did," Professor Catherine said with a small smile.
Isaac chuckled.
Of course she did.
She always handled things before he even thought about them.
Professor Catherine smirked, as if she could read his thoughts. "Yes, I always am prepared to do whatever my dear Isaac asks of me."