After a night's rest, the eight-member team packed their equipment, disassembled their weapons, and set out toward Location Two following Norma's calculated route.
The second day's journey proved far safer than their first encounter with the giant serpent. They made steady progress through the mountain terrain without incident, found secure shelter for the evening, and passed another uneventful night.
On the third day, the team continued advancing toward their destination, but Commander Wang Jianjun deliberately slowed their pace. He called a halt twenty kilometers short of Location Two, selecting a wind-sheltered area to establish camp.
During their evening meal, Wang Jianjun convened a tactical briefing. "Ye Sheng, brief everyone on Location Two's situation."
"Of course, Commander Wang," Ye Sheng replied, accessing his data files.
"Location One and Location Two are geographically close. Two days ago we encountered that giant serpent—confirmed descendant of the King of Sky and Wind. Based on historical patterns, there's high probability of an actual dragon presence at Location Two."
"Unlike Location One, no civilian witnesses reported anomalies at the second site. However, during high-altitude reconnaissance of Location One, Norma detected something significant at Location Two."
Ye Sheng pulled up high-resolution satellite imagery, displaying it for the team's examination. The photographs showed a series of massive impressions carved deep into the snow, as if some enormous creature had crawled across the landscape.
"Norma's analysis of the footprint data indicates the owner measured at least one hundred meters in length. I believe everyone understands what such dimensions imply."
His meaningful glance encompassed the entire team. A creature exceeding one hundred meters could only mean they were dealing with third-generation dragons at minimum—more likely second-generation specimens. According to existing data, few third-generation dragons achieved such massive size. Moreover, even if third-generation creatures could pollute their environment, they typically couldn't create giant blood descendants capable of using Word Spirits.
"But that's not the most concerning discovery," Ye Sheng continued. "At Location Three, a mountaineering expedition recovered a strange metallic fragment during their passage. It resembled a creature's scale."
"Cassel College obtained this object from the mountaineers. Laboratory analysis confirmed it originated from a second-generation dragon—possibly higher classification."
"While Location Two appears distant from Location Three by human standards, for dragons, that distance is like traveling from living room to backyard. Therefore, Cassel College believes the creature responsible for Location Two's footprints also shed the scale fragment found at Location Three."
"This is why Principal Anjou told Gustave that Kunlun might harbor multiple second-generation specimens."
"Did everyone understand Ye Sheng's briefing?" Wang Jianjun surveyed his team's faces.
"Understood!" came the unified response—quiet but resolute. Even facing complete second-generation dragons, they would complete their mission: confirm the creature's existence, determine its location, and establish preliminary preparations for future dragon-slaying operations.
"Since everyone's committed, rest well tonight. Tomorrow we take action!"
"Yes, Commander!"
The team enjoyed their most substantial meal yet that evening, building energy reserves for the challenges ahead.
Dawn brought simple rations and an early departure. By eleven o'clock, Wang Jianjun's expedition had reached the coordinates where Norma had detected the massive footprints.
Wind and snowfall had obscured the surface impressions, leaving the area indistinguishable from any other section of Kunlun's vast wilderness.
"Footprints this size must have created enormous pressure," Wang Jianjun reasoned. "Dig through the snow and examine the underlying rock!"
"Yes, Commander!"
The team deployed their entrenching tools, excavating through accumulated snow until they reached the ice layer beneath. Breaking through the frozen barrier revealed their suspicions were correct—the stone foundation had been crushed to fragments by tremendous weight.
With the footprints' authenticity confirmed, Wang Jianjun ordered the team to spread out and search for additional clues.
Location Two differed significantly from Location One's obvious cave entrance. Here they faced an expansive slope where Norma's photographed footprints represented only a small section of a larger trail that mysteriously terminated without explanation.
After nearly an hour of systematic searching yielded no results, Wang Jianjun used his radio to recall the team.
But when the seven other members regrouped, one person was missing.
"Where's Aki? Has anyone seen her?" Wang Jianjun's voice carried sharp concern. He'd heard Aki Sakakotsu's voice over the radio just minutes earlier.
The others exchanged uncertain glances. Even Ye Sheng, who'd been searching the same general area, hadn't encountered their missing teammate during the return journey.
"Commander Wang, let me go find her!" Ye Sheng volunteered immediately.
"Wait." Wang Jianjun placed a firm hand on Ye Sheng's shoulder. "We can't separate further—that only increases the danger. Aki is our teammate, so if we're searching, we do it together."
"Thank you, Commander."
Under Wang Jianjun's leadership, the team followed Aki Sakakotsu's search route. Fortunately, the snowfall had stopped, allowing them to track the footprints she'd left in the white surface.
Suddenly, at a specific location, Aki Sakakotsu's trail simply ended. Her footprints stopped as abruptly as if she'd vanished into thin air.
"What happened here? Was Aki taken by something?"
Logically, no creature in this environment should be capable of carrying off Aki Sakakotsu, especially considering her heavy equipment load. But if the abductor was dragonborn, the situation changed dramatically.
Even so, if she'd been attacked, there should be evidence—signs of struggle, discharged weapons, something. Her sidearm remained easily accessible at her waist. What kind of force could make a fully armed hybrid disappear without trace?
"Everyone spread out and search the area. Stay within ten meters of each other!" Wang Jianjun commanded, unable to explain the phenomenon.
Following orders, the team dispersed. Ye Sheng moved toward the spot where Aki Sakakotsu's footprints terminated, but the moment he stepped forward, he too vanished completely.
This time everyone witnessed the disappearance, and the same word occurred to each team member simultaneously: "Nibelungen!"
"Commander Wang?" Chen Moqing looked to their leader for guidance.
The legendary Nibelungen—pocket dimensions where reality operated under different rules, typically associated with dragon presence. If they'd stumbled into one, the situation had escalated far beyond their original mission parameters.
"Only Ye Sheng's phone can contact headquarters directly, but we can't risk everyone entering unknown territory," Wang Jianjun decided rapidly. "Li Quan, Ma Yue—descend the mountain immediately and inform headquarters that we've discovered a Nibelungen in Kunlun!"
"Everyone else, follow me inside!"
"Yes, Commander!"
The team executed Wang Jianjun's orders with military precision. Two members began their urgent descent to report this critical development while the remaining five prepared to enter the supernatural realm that had claimed their comrades.