It seemed to be somewhat displeased with what that being on the other side of the spatial passageway had done, because this time the trait had been personally bestowed by the other party and had not undergone localization adaptation within the Monster Hunter world.
Something like this would make Logan seem somewhat out of place in this world.
Although it was a cooperation that had lasted for decades, the world had no intention of giving up this child who had grown up under its care.
A trait that had not been localized was uncontrollable. Different energy systems would cause major conflicts in the energy within Logan's body.
If it were left unattended like this, then one day in the future, Logan would face two choices.
Be targeted by the world's malice and die.
Leave this world and go to the other party's world.
A child it had raised for decades—one that was also an extremely rare order-aligned dragon.
He could fully serve as a cornerstone of the world and a maintainer of the world's laws. Even if he had been raised through cooperation, it could not exactly just say it did not want him anymore, could it?
After this exchange of world energy was completed, Logan would also be able to take that final step. Whether on this side or the other side, he would be an existence in extremely high demand.
Therefore, while the other party was infusing the new trait into Logan's body, this side was also exerting force.
Amid the surging magma, the purest bioenergy from deep within the core transformed into a filament and connected to Logan's Terastal crystal.
Along with the seepage of silver particles, further localization adaptation began for Logan's new trait.
Only, unlike the past kind of biotech-like weakening, this time it was a solid, tangible benefit.
Although it did not enhance the trait of the Desolate Land by much, it made the energy structure within Logan's body fit this new trait more closely. It could ensure that he would not injure his body from using pure otherworldly energy, while also allowing him to more stably bring out the full power of the new trait.
With its little scheme seen through, some unknown alpaca on the other side of the spatial passageway stomped its forelimbs. After some thought, it still gave up the idea of carrying out an abduction right now.
The two worlds had only just managed to stabilize the world passageway and were in a honeymoon period. Falling out because of a moment of impulse would truly be a stupid thing.
Just let this little guy—whom it had watched over for decades—stay over there for a while. In any case, its contingency plan had long since been prepared. Everyone in this world would eventually welcome a new companion—though of course, it might also be two...
The alpaca's mouth curled up slightly, as if it had thought of something that made it happy.
With the injection of the two streams of energy, Logan's stamina was rapidly consumed. Biological self-preservation instincts caused him to fall back into a sleeping state once again, and this space seemed to sink into silence yet again.
...
Not far from the canyon, it forcefully scraped off a layer of red outer hide against a sharp stone pillar—something that looked thin, but in truth had an absurdly high resistance to energy.
The crimson giant dragon, somewhat weary, lay prone on this land so barren it seemed to have already entered a state of death. As it breathed, the soft scales on its body rapidly hardened. In less than three minutes, the entire dragon fully returned to its peak condition, gaining a fuller grasp of its own strength.
Presumably, after shedding a few more times, it would reach the minimum standard for reproducing offspring. When that time came, there would be no need to stay in this Secluded Valley any longer—a place that had successfully nurtured it and several of its brothers.
Suddenly, the crimson dragon—whose perception of Everstream energy was absurdly acute—noticed something. Its orange pupils turned toward a certain direction.
"Was that an illusion?"
The bioenergy of the Secluded Valley should be on the verge of being completely absorbed by it. There should only be that tiny remainder it had left behind—just enough to barely keep the land from collapsing.
But what was with that fleeting, incomparably pure bioenergy?
Safi'jiiva could not quite make sense of it.
However, although it had this curiosity, it instinctively knew that it was still in its dormant period. It could not make too much of a commotion and draw the world's attention. So no matter how curious it was, it had to endure it.
The Secluded Valley was far too hidden, and the world's awareness here was weak—too hard to find. If it did not squeeze out the last bit of remaining value here, it would not easily expose its own existence.
...
The Guiding Lands, within the forest region.
Ruiner Nergigante had already lost track of how many times it had been forcibly knocked out of its enraged state. The muscles all over its body were fatigued and aching, and the regeneration speed of its spikes had slowed by quite a bit.
It could no longer remember how many times it had been attacked, nor how many times its spikes had regenerated.
In any case, its energy was now more than half depleted, while its opponent was still full of vigor—fighting more and more excitedly.
Although it was furious at being ganged up on in such a dishonorable way, its reason was telling it that it was enough. If it kept fighting, even it might be in mortal danger!
The decision to retreat was made decisively. Long ago, it had already realized that whether it was the special individual Chameleos, or these seemingly weak yet absurdly powerful small creatures, they had all been intentionally or unintentionally trying to cut off its flight.
Therefore, drawing on years of combat experience, it had already chosen its route of retreat.
The Guiding Lands was a place it had lived in for hundreds of years. Its tracks were almost spread across every region.
Of course, except for that valley within the icy region which, over the past few decades, had gradually become barren and lost its vitality.
After forcefully taking the Admiral's charging strike head-on and feeling the pain of its spikes shattering along its forelimb, Ruiner Nergigante used that impact force to pull in its wings, wrapping itself into a spiked ball, and rapidly rolled backward.
Raising his small shield, Aiden watched the spiked ball rolling toward him. Without the slightest hesitation, he rolled to the side to evade.
Unexpectedly, Ruiner Nergigante seized this opportunity, rolled straight to the edge of the cliff, and without the slightest hesitation, leapt downward in a diving plunge.
The hunter squad, whose fury had mostly been vented and who had shifted from pure beating to attempting to capture Ruiner Nergigante, felt their hearts tighten at the sight. Sheathing their weapons, they sprinted to the edge of the cliff.
Below the cliff, thick miasma covered everything. After Ruiner Nergigante's figure fell into it, it vanished directly from sight.
They had not expected that this Ruiner Nergigante, though clearly not yet at its limit, would choose to flee at this stage. To cut its losses to such an extent had already surpassed the vast majority of Elder Dragons they had faced in the past.
To the side, watching the group gathered at the cliff's edge, Mother Chameleos' large eyes rolled once. She quietly entered a state of perfect invisibility and carefully moved her body. Before the Admiral and the others could react, she decisively fled.
Her act of deliberately drawing out Ruiner Nergigante had already exposed her calculation. Although she knew the Admiral and the others would not say much, still…
She did have at least a bit of a sense of shame!
Mother Chameleos' movements were extremely subtle. When the Admiral turned around intending to give her a proper lecture—warning her not to gamble with her own body like that next time—he could not find her figure. Even the medicinal mist had begun to disperse.
In the end, he could only exchange a glance with Darren and the others, shake his head, sigh, and reveal a helpless expression.
Afterward, they began cleaning the battlefield, collecting the spikes knocked off Ruiner Nergigante's body as well as other materials.