The hunter squad possessed extensive experience in retreat operations. After detouring through many concealed side paths that could obstruct vision, they successfully withdrew from the Secluded Valley.
Along the way, everyone was digesting what they had just seen and heard.
They had never imagined that an Elder Dragon could sustain itself through such an ecological mode of survival. Across the entire region, aside from the barren land and those gray-white molted skins drifting in the wind, there were no other living creatures at all.
Not even the smallest endemic life forms!
It was as if the whole world had already died.
Beyond the lingering shock in their hearts, this sensation also stirred a deep anger within the hunters.
Having dealt with nature for years and priding themselves as guardians of ecology, they truly could not accept that such a creature existed in this world.
For now, its influence was confined to that single valley—but what if it broke out?
Wouldn't that become a catastrophe for the entire Guiding Lands? Perhaps even a disaster for the nearby New World!
Carrying this unsettled mix of emotions, the group returned to camp in silence.
Other recommended group hunters who were resting in the camp happened to see Darren's team in this state. The atmosphere immediately grew heavy. They all understood that something extraordinary had been discovered—and it was certainly not good news.
Facing the many puzzled expressions, Darren glanced at the Wyverian hunter who was deep in thought. After letting out a sigh, he recounted everything they had seen and heard on this trip, along with his deductions. When the others finished listening, they revealed similar expressions.
"So… Captain, what is your decision?"
After Darren personally confirmed that it was not an opponent hunters could handle alone, they understood the implication. One after another, they voluntarily requested to head to the Secluded Valley to conduct preliminary investigations.
If it was not an opponent that could be handled individually, that meant a large-scale expedition would be required—and the level of danger would likely exceed that of the Elder Dragons they had faced in the past.
Combined with the prerequisite that "it cannot be allowed to leave the valley," it meant this would be an extermination battle—a life-or-death fight where only one side would survive.
In that case, the preliminary reconnaissance and related investigations were of utmost importance.
As the only hunter who had truly faced Xeno'jiiva, Darren needed to return to the New World to report the detailed situation to the Research Commission and cooperate with the scholars in conducting further analysis.
Therefore, this extremely dangerous reconnaissance mission—one that could even cost them their lives—could only fall upon them.
Even in the face of such extreme risk, not a single recommended group hunter backed down.
Looking at those determined faces, Darren silently nodded heavily.
There were no overly sentimental words, nor any unnecessary gestures—he simply patted Aiden's shoulder. After sweeping his gaze over the others, his eyes settled on Mia, who was clenching her fists and quietly cheering him on.
"Then I'll have to trouble everyone!"
After saying that, he slipped out of the camp without looking back, called over his tamed wingdrake, and departed toward the New World beneath the moonlight.
The camp fell into hushed discussion. Meanwhile, at the camp entrance, Mother Chameleos—concealing herself and eating insects—rolled her eyes around once, then made a decision.
Taking advantage of the night, she swayed her long tail and, guided by a certain special pheromone, quietly passed through one monster territory after another, heading deep into the forest.
...
The New World, Astera.
The Commander stood with his arms crossed, his face grave as he watched Darren sitting cross-legged on the deck, gulping down the food in his hands. Nearby, cats kept bringing over fresh food.
In order to bring the news back as quickly as possible, Darren relied on two wingdrakes and rushed back to Astera day and night without stopping.
All the feed on his person, along with items like Max Potions that could restore stamina, were all supplied to the wingdrakes. Aside from the rare occasions when the wingdrakes truly could not hold on and had to land to forage for food, Darren could be said to have spent the entire journey rushing back while starving.
Not to mention the fights that broke out along the way when they passed through certain monsters' territories.
"I never expected such a creature to appear on that continent. It's just that the Sunblaze Dragon…"
The Commander trailed off mid-sentence. The Sunblaze Dragon had left the New World long ago. They had originally thought it departed together with Mother Chameleos, yet now the hunters had found traces of Mother Chameleos in the Guiding Lands—while the Sunblaze Dragon had vanished.
That also meant they could not obtain any information—or any assistance—from the Sunblaze Dragon.
"No. Even in our records, there is no relevant information. After all, even for Xeno'jiiva, what we have is very limited—let alone this monster that is suspected to be an adult Xeno'jiiva."
The ancient Wyverian who was stationed in Astera and, together with the outpost's research institute, studied the replication of ancient weapons, set down the thick tome in his hands and gave an answer that left the Commander disappointed.
"Not a single piece of information…"
The Commander's tone was heavy, his mind constantly weighing the options. In the end, the only sound left at the scene was Darren gulping down food.
After a long while, the Commander opened his eyes, and his gaze became resolute.
"Summon all hunters. Prepare the logistical supplies. Target: the Guiding Lands!"
Just like Darren and the others, the Commander could not ignore the disaster that Safi'jiiva would bring.
If it had not been discovered, that would be one thing. But now that it had been found, their conscience would not allow them to turn a blind eye. No matter the cost, as hunters, they would not permit a creature that survives by destroying ecosystems to exist!
"What about the Ancient Tree?"
"Please rest assured. Before the Lord left, he said that we are an indivisible whole!"
Hearing the ancient Wyverian's reply, the Commander's lips curved slightly. "Then the logistics and related transport will be entrusted to you."
With the Commander's order issued, both the Ancient Tree and Astera quickly began operating like a precise machine, supported by every component, moving rapidly yet accurately.
The first batch of personnel and supplies was escorted along the way by the Fire Wyvern warband jointly formed on a trial basis by ordinary Fire Wyverns and hunters. Aki personally led the team toward the Guiding Lands.
Aki was not going there to participate in battle. The main reason was that Logan had been missing for far too long; she truly could not sit still any longer and intended to personally go to the Guiding Lands to question Mother Chameleos.
...
Half a month—only half a month.
The entire Research Commission hunter force crossed the New World. Through the continuous back-and-forth transport of the mobile research base, nearly all personnel arrived at the Guiding Lands.
In the expanded camp, a recommended group hunter lay on a stretcher, his face wrapped in bandages, recounting the reconnaissance results of this period to the assembled senior officials.
Fortunately, aside from him, none of the other recommended group hunters had suffered severe injuries during the mission.
His own serious wounds had only occurred when he failed to retreat in time during Safi'jiiva's attack and was knocked off a cliff.
That there had been no fatalities was already a blessing amid misfortune. These were recommended group hunters—the absolute top experts among the New World hunters. The loss of even one would be enough to make the Hunter's Guild of the Old World ache deeply; they were super elites.
After comforting him and instructing him to focus on recovery, based on the intelligence currently available, the assembled senior officials began conducting related combat discussions.
Just as each of them was expressing their opinions, from outside the cavern came the dragon's roar of Mother Chameleos, who had been missing for a full half month.