Frost Tiger snorted. "Obviously. If it weren't for the resources, who would come to a low-grade planet like this?"
"Exactly. None of us wanted to come." Power Bull gave a bitter laugh, scraping the dirt irritably with his enormous hoof. "But who can predict their luck? Our three clans had the worst luck imaginable this time. In the descent lottery, we drew the lowest-ranked slot: the Eighth Domain's [Domain Guardian Spirits]."
He pointed at the mist-shrouded region behind him. "According to the rules, we had to wait until this final Evolutionary Sequence Domain merged into the Evolutionary Origin Domain before we could appear. And we have to remain within this Evolutionary Sequence Domain's Boundary Domain. We can't leave as we please."
"Yes."
"But you know perfectly well that this slot usually offers next to nothing in returns. Drawing it basically means wasting the lottery fee and making the trip for nothing. If it were you, you'd probably have applied to withdraw from the trial and gone home long ago, right?"
"That's right," Frost Tiger agreed. "I wouldn't waste my time on a garbage slot like this either. That's why I'm curious. Why have your three clans refused to leave and stuck it out until now?"
"What else could it be?"
In the middle of the great river, Sturgeon Crocodile slapped his bone-spiked back against the water, sending countless waves surging outward. "Because we've run out of options. We have to gamble."
"I don't know about Power Bull and Red Carp, but I've been stuck at my bottleneck for far too long. If I return empty-handed from this trip, I'll be useless even back in my clan. Even if there's only the tiniest chance, I have to take it."
"If I'd already met three or five qualified candidates, started my exclusive