Black Flame King

Today, another Fire Dragon Couple left the Ancient Tree. Most of the Fire Dragon families still remaining there were exceptionally strong, and quite a few were even Veteran Fire Dragons.

Any creature that had reached such a level clearly understood just how much the Ancient Tree's abundant Life Energy benefited them. Unless pushed to the brink, they would never leave.

Over the past few days, perhaps Chameleos was no longer being harassed by Safi'jiiva's noise, or perhaps after its last encounter with Luo Yun, it had decided not to move toward the Ancient Tree anymore. In any case, Chameleos had not appeared again.

Yet Luo Yun did not lower his guard because of that. He had spent the past few days pondering why Chameleos had been moving toward the Ancient Tree.

The most likely conclusion he reached was that Chameleos was after the Ancient Tree's Ley Line Node.

Judging by the migrations of Jinouga and Nargacuga, Chameleos's previous location had not been close to the Ancient Tree. Safi'jiiva's disturbance had merely been the trigger. After leaving its original habitat and traveling farther and farther away, it had likely decided to migrate while it was at it.

This time, it probably intended to settle at the Ancient Tree. That was entirely different from Luo Yun's original belief that Chameleos would return to its own territory once Safi'jiiva fell asleep again.

The impact of an Elder Dragon changing its residence would be enormous. It meant the Ancient Tree's ecological balance would be completely shattered. Only after suffering an unparalleled blow could the Ancient Tree slowly form a new ecosystem, one centered on the traits of an Elder Dragon.

The weak adapted to their environment, while the strong changed it.

The more powerful an Elder Dragon was, the more capable it was of changing its surroundings and transforming them into an environment suited to its growth and life.

They did not need to do anything actively. Simply remaining there for a long time was enough for their traits to subtly influence everything around them.

After confirming Chameleos's objective, Luo Yun kept close watch on the situation around the Ancient Tree.

Sure enough, today, thick White Mist began rising at the edge of the Ancient Tree Area. As if it had completed its final preparations, the dense fog advanced toward the Ancient Tree with a clear purpose.

Once the fog appeared, some sharp-sensed creatures began to flee.

In the sky, flocks of Terror Birds, Wingdrakes, Abomination Birds, and other flying creatures scattered in every direction, blackening the heavens.

Within the forest, Jagras, Tobi-Kadachi, Nargacuga that had yet to leave, and other monsters also did everything they could to get away from the White Mist. They darted through the tangled forest as dragon roars rang without end.

At that moment, it no longer mattered whether they were natural enemies or mutually restraining predators. So long as they could escape the Poison Mist, surviving was the only correct choice.

The Fire Dragons, sensing that something was wrong, began leaving their nests. They circled the Ancient Tree in flight, roaring as they passed information along. For a time, the upper levels of the Ancient Forest were filled with noise.

It was not until a massive Male Fire Dragon appeared—nearly twice the size of an ordinary Rathalos, more than thirty meters long, its tough shell patterned in interwoven black and crimson, golden markings glinting across wings vast enough to blot out the sky, scorching aura faintly rippling over its heavy scales, and countless wounds covering its body like a battle-hardened king's savage bone spines—and let out a high, resounding roar that the Fire Dragons finally fell silent.

As though they had found their backbone, they gathered on the Ancient Tree's branches near that Rathalos and quietly waited for its orders.

Luo Yun was among the Fire Dragons as well, staring fixedly at the enormous Rathalos flying calmly through the air while radiating an incomparably violent aura.

He recognized it!

He had never expected the New World to contain a creature like this.

He had lived at the Ancient Tree for quite some time, circling it in flight more times than he could count, yet he had never discovered any trace of it.

And logically speaking, even if it existed, it should not have lived at the Ancient Tree. Looking across the entire New World, the Dragon Crystal Land was probably the only place it should have appeared.

It was not a subspecies. Essentially, it was merely an ordinary Male Fire Dragon. Perhaps because of its environment, perhaps because of special experiences, along with extraordinarily rich combat experience, it had transformed into its current form.

In the records of the Writers' Team, creatures like it were given a special designation: monsters bearing the Title 'Two Names.'

The dark overlord among Fire Dragons—Black Flame King!!

The instant it appeared, Luo Yun felt that all his recent planning, all the battles against Chameleos he had repeatedly simulated in his mind, had been nothing more than the actions of a complete clown.

With a creature like Black Flame King, capable of fighting an Elder Dragon head-on, an immature Chameleos was nothing at all.

Just as Luo Yun thought he could rest easy and wait for Black Flame King to personally charge into the Poison Mist, find Chameleos, and give it a vicious beating, Black Flame King actually made a highly unusual move.

It was inviting those Veteran Fire Dragons to leave with it and head for that special place brimming with Life Energy, seeking a chance to break through the limits of their lifespans!

Luo Yun froze. Well, damn. Just... damn.

He had seen those who fiercely resisted because their homes had been invaded, and he had seen those who could only leave dejectedly because they were powerless.

But he had never expected that in this world filled with bloodshed and slaughter, ruled by the naked laws of the primal forest, there would be someone who took advantage of a crisis to poach the foundation of another's territory!

Was this really Black Flame King?

No, Luo Yun even wondered whether this imposing fellow was truly a Rathalos at all.

Why did its behavior seem so utterly out of place in this blood-soaked world?

With that thought in mind, Luo Yun carefully examined Black Flame King again as it continued urging its kin onward. That closer look revealed something strange.

A faint grayish-white color showed through at the edges of the gaps between Black Flame King's scales.

Its body appeared powerful, but in truth, it had released a burst of scorching aura only when it first appeared. After that, it had become completely cold and lifeless, like a campfire about to burn out. Though warmth remained at its core, the surrounding area had already become a ring of spent ash.

Clearly, Black Flame King had already entered its twilight years!

Its lifespan was nearing its final moment.

Its body could no longer endure high-intensity combat. On its own, even if it reached the Dragon Crystal Land, it would be unable to claim a good location, perhaps even unable to settle down and receive the bathing of Life Energy.

That was why it had set its sights on these Veteran Fire Dragons.