The sudden high-risk alert automatically sent the Mountain Fortress into a defensive stance.
The smile on Natsu's face had yet to fade when it turned to shock.
He immediately checked the detection map.
An enormous point of energy was slowly lighting up.
As time passed, its brightness and size increased rapidly.
Natsu's pupils widened, his mouth fell slightly open, and his mind went blank for an instant.
A Silver Tier creature?
Why was there a Silver Tier creature here?
Wasn't that group of Ice Crystal Spiders supposed to be the Fish Abyss Shelter?
His thoughts stalled for a moment.
But he quickly recovered.
There was no time to think.
"Vanguards, War Beasts, abandon the mission and return immediately. I repeat, abandon the mission and return immediately."
Natsu spoke urgently.
It was as sudden and unexpected as a blizzard erupting over the Greenwood Icefield.
He had no idea what was going on with the Fish Abyss Shelter.
Or why this world was such a mess.
But he was no fool. Since he could not figure out what had happened,
he would withdraw for now, assess the situation, and then resume his previous plan.
That was how Natsu had made it this far, one step at a time.
He never passed up an opportunity he could seize, but he never acted rashly when he lacked confidence, either.
Natsu's orders were swiftly relayed to the Vanguard Combat Units and Living War Beasts.
Without the slightest hesitation, they all abandoned their targets and rushed toward the Mountain Fortress.
Even if just one more attack would have shattered the Ice Crystal Spider before them.
To them, Natsu's orders came before everything else.
Hiss—
A sound filled with anger, humiliation, and a severe case of resentment at being woken echoed across the icefield.
The ice rose,