At that exact moment, Jake had more than a few legitimate concerns weighing on him—but one demanded immediate attention.
If anyone who interacted with Anthace—or even carried one of its extensions for long enough—ended up falling under its control without realizing it… then how long would it take for an Evolver like him?
Was his mental fortitude and raw power enough to make him immune? And if not, how long before the elite tier of Players—the very top bracket he belonged to—started dropping like puppets with their strings yanked from underground?
If the takeover was fast-acting, then yeah… he had a serious problem.
Jake owned more than a few items crafted from Anthace's wood and leaves. He even had two Goblets of Ethershine—one enchanted to +25, the other to +27. They sat inside his Space Storage, a place that was supposed to be isolated from external influence.
Supposed to be.
That still required verification.
He turned inward.
