Into the Jungle

Those who resisted the Dragon Beast met a terrible end.

It wasn't until he said goodbye to the Mountain Stone Elemental and the Root Elder that Linsey realized that this was actually the last survivor.

There were originally quite a few rebels in the Starshine Forest.

However, the Sixth Stage Tree Mother is an insurmountable barrier.

After two years of clearing by the Tree Mother, there were no more resistance fighters in the surrounding area.

Only tree spirits with a strong sense of individuality will break free from control and attempt to escape the Starshine Forest.

Let's assume the situation is more serious.

If Linsey had arrived here a few years earlier, or if the cleanup operation were still ongoing.

Even with the wondrous item "Stone's Breath" bestowed by the Mountain Stone Elemental, it would likely be difficult to escape the opponent's detection.

It was precisely through that protracted battle that we achieved this.

The rock Elemental Lifeform, with only the Root Elder remaining.

They barely survive around this canyon thanks to their special ability to blend into the ground.

But if you go any further, you'll reach the basin swamp occupied by the Black Scale Lizard Dragon.

The road was then blocked by Great Forest.

Those on the wanted list couldn't possibly escape like tree spirits; they were trapped here, quietly awaiting the end of their lives.

One day later.

The two, who were embarking on a new journey, arrived at the edge of the Starshine Forest.

The once vibrant forest, with its scenery unchanged, now appears inexplicably shrouded in gloom.

Linsey and Red were on high alert.

After checking their own condition and confirming that the [Stone's Breath] was intact, the two entered the forest.

Linsey walked ahead.

His eyes were firm, his steps were steady, and he constantly adjusted his route based on the information on the map.

It was as if every step was taken on a meticulously planned and correct path.

Behind him, Red trusted Linsey completely, the girl holding the Meteorite Spear, her dangerous gaze frequently sweeping across the forest.

Anything that seems amiss...

Or rather, as long as Linsey gives the signal, she will launch an attack without hesitation.

The paths in the mountains and forests are not easy to walk on.

There was absolutely no sign of human activity here. We were forced to walk through dense bushes and occasionally use animal trails to make our way for a distance, which required us to clear a path with our knives.

Then, even more troublesome obstacles began to appear.

The shape of the earth does not change suddenly.

The ground below, covered by dense forest, is like the canyon before it, riddled with ravines of all sizes.

If it's too narrow, you can find a way to get over it.

But if it's a canyon that humans can't cross... trying to traverse this kind of terrain often means a terrible wilderness experience.

The only thing that can be called comforting.

That is, the [Stone's Breath] worked perfectly.

Linsey and Red wore this wondrous artifact, and their human aura transformed into the scent of the earth in the Starshine Forest.

The creatures here are already familiar with this scent.

So unless they collide head-on, neither Devil Beast nor ordinary animals will actively seek out trouble for the two of them.

It wasn't until a month later.

The forested area changed from canyons to hills, Linsey and his companion finally picked up their pace.

"Hong, have you ever thought about this?"

At dawn, birdsong echoed through the forest, and occasionally, the roars of unidentified animals could be heard in the distance.

The long and tedious journey made Linsey a little bored.

Reflecting on his experiences since entering the Black Mountain World, some questions remained unanswered, so he asked his companion, "Those Glacier Elemental might affect the advancement of Dragon Beast."

"But to expel someone from one end of the world to a place so far away is itself a very unreasonable choice."

"It could easily have chosen a location around Black Mountain."

"This is beneficial for both surveillance and keeping things under control at all times."

Red immediately speculated. "Unless it doesn't want the Glacier Elemental to get too close, or is even quite wary of them, then it would have driven those Elemental Creature to such a remote place, and even specially dispatched powerful confidants to guard them..."

At this point, Hong might not fully grasp the meaning.

But as someone who experienced it firsthand, Linsey gets a headache just thinking about the Black Scale Lizard Dragon that guarded the Glacier Elemental.

A deadly poison in the mouth; unique and dangerous Source Material Skill; a strong and powerful body; and an impenetrable defense.

These qualities combined, even at the level of the Fifth Stage.

The Black Scale Lizard Dragon is undoubtedly an extremely powerful being. Even if you brought the Lord of Border Town here, it would be uncertain who would win in a head-on battle.

Linsey's victory was due to a combination of factors.

And this incredibly powerful subordinate was sent by the Dragon Beast to guard some Glacier Elemental that had already submitted.

Thinking about this, Linsey seemed to be deep in thought, and her gaze fell on Red.

The girl's thoughts remained focused on the Dragon Beast itself. Following the information Linsey had given her, she deduced the next step:

"So, Linsey, do you think the Dragon Beast's weakness might be related to ice?"

"Seventh Stage powerhouse probably won't be defeated by simple temperature." Linsey shook his head. "But I think this is a line of thought, and we might find some clues from it."

In the primeval forest, Linsey and Red were both lost in thought.

Linsey's statement was merely a hypothesis.

However, the Dragon Beast's behavior of driving away the Glacier Elemental is indeed illogical in many ways, and there should be other secrets hidden within it.

Both of them had the goal of killing the Dragon Beast.

When it comes to the enemy's weaknesses, they will naturally pursue any possibility without hesitation.

Click—

Just then, Linsey stepped on and broke off a dead branch.

From the nearby grove of trees, a small, bright green bird, startled and suddenly taken flight, appeared.

This was originally just a minor incident that could be found anywhere in the forest.

But precisely because of these startled birds, a sharp tearing sound suddenly rang out from the mountaintop hundreds of meters away, and the birds in the sky were then shot down to the ground.

"..."

"What is that?"

Red almost instantly raised the Meteorite Spear and aimed it at the hill.

With her abilities, her spear throws within a 200-meter range are almost guaranteed to be lethal. The power decreases at a greater distance, but even an ordinary person would find it impossible to withstand.

Although the hill is located in a remote area.

But once the two sides continue to close in, she is confident that she can launch a preemptive strike before they clash! Red failed to throw the Meteorite Spear.

Because almost simultaneously, Linsey reached out and stopped her movement.

Linsey grasped Red's wrist and shook her head under the gaze of her ruby-like eyes. "Red, there's something special ahead."

"Let's go over and take a look, but don't make a sound."

With a smirk, she put down her weapon, looking somewhat dejected. "What have you discovered with those inexplicable skills of yours this time?"

Linsey glanced at the map; four fast-moving Yellow Marker were in the corresponding locations. "They are neutral individuals without hostility."

"If this is the situation I'm imagining, then we might be able to get some helpful information."