"I really do need to find that Kirin."
Bai Chen answered calmly.
│ "Is it a Research Commission investigation?"
The Field Master asked curiously.
Investigating Kirin was the task issued to the two of them by the Third Fleet.
Since Bai Chen had come from Astera, he logically shouldn't have known about that mission.
"No, no. It's not a Commission task—it's a personal need."
│ "Personal need?"
The Field Master was stunned.
│ "Don't tell me you're planning to hunt that Kirin?"
"Mm." Bai Chen nodded.
The Field Master suddenly felt a sense of unreality.
That was an Elder Dragon—and Bai Chen was actually planning to hunt it.
│ "That's extremely dangerous,"
She reminded him kindly.
"I'm confident."
The Field Master did not question whether Bai Chen's hunt would be legitimate.
Hunters were allowed to hunt monsters under three circumstances.
The first was when the Guild issued a quest authorizing the hunt.
The second was when a large monster intruded during another hunt—hunters could decide on their own whether to engage.
The third was during exploration of unknown regions or frontier development, where hunters were permitted to hunt freely to improve efficiency.
Bai Chen's situation clearly fell under the third category.
As long as he didn't behave like that Deviljho—killing anything he saw—the Commission and the Guild had no grounds to pursue him.
The Field Master nodded.
│ "Since you've made up your mind, we have no reason to stop you. Would you mind letting the two of us come along? We're also investigating Kirin's ecology."
"That's fine," Bai Chen agreed.
"Just be aware—once the battle starts, I may not be able to protect you. Please retreat to a safe place when that happens."
│ "We won't hold you back,"
Both the Field Master and Koen said firmly.
That night, the three talked at length.
During that time, Bai Chen even had Cosmog use Instant Transmission to take the two of them back to the research base briefly.
Cosmog could teleport based on images within a person's mind.
As long as it read the Field Master's memories, it could bring everyone directly to the base.
After returning, the Field Master couldn't stop marveling at how convenient Instant Transmission was.
│ "This ability is incredible. With something like this, safety alone would improve tremendously."
That evening, the Field Master even fed Cosmog herself.
Its adorable appearance quickly won over the veteran First Fleet explorer.
The next morning, Bai Chen woke up in his bed at Astera.
He stretched, had breakfast, and freshened up.
"Today's the decisive battle."
The moment he finished speaking, Bai Chen had Little Nebula use Instant Transmission.
In the blink of an eye, he reappeared in the mountain cave from before.
The Field Master and the Wyverian hunter Koen were already prepared to depart.
Bai Chen stepped to the cave entrance.
The Coral Highlands were still engulfed in thunder and rain—
a stark contrast to Astera's clear skies.
He draped the leaf-woven rain cloak over himself.
At that moment, Koen asked:
│ "That rain cloak—Ancient Wyverian craftsmanship, isn't it? How did you obtain it?"
"This?"
Bai Chen glanced down casually.
"I once saved an Ancient Wyverian. This was their gift."
The two signal flares from yesterday had both been fired by Koen.
He had some ties with the Ancient Wyverians—the flares had been given to him by the villagers of Coral Village.
For now, Bai Chen had no intention of revealing his relationship with the Ancient Wyverians.
There would be plenty of time after the Wyverians successfully cultivated the fruit.
│ "They must have been extremely grateful,"
Koen said with a nod.
Koen also had a rain cloak, but his was self-made—an imitation rather than a gift.
"It was nothing. I just happened to save one of their higher-ups."
Bai Chen didn't dwell on the topic.
He expanded his Ultimate Aura, forming a psychic barrier to block the rain, then lifted the two with telekinesis.
Moments later, they flew into the storm.
Flying without relying on any other creature left both of them quietly astonished.
Koen thought to himself:
Such a convenient and mysterious power… just how does he do it?
Bai Chen followed the direction indicated by the Field Master.
They had barely flown three kilometers—
When Bai Chen suddenly sensed an extreme threat.
He grabbed the two and dodged backward.
A dark-green monster leapt horizontally past them.
The violent turbulence created by its leap nearly knocked Bai Chen out of the air.
The three spun several times midair before Bai Chen finally stabilized them.
He stared in shock.
The Deviljho plowed a fifty-meter trench into the ground below, smashing through a massive Coral formation before coming to a stop.
Shock filled all three of their eyes.
They had been flying at nearly one hundred meters in altitude.
And yet that Deviljho had leapt straight up to attack them using nothing but its powerful hind legs.
What kind of monster was this?
Bai Chen carefully observed the Deviljho.
Crimson, arm-thick veins pulsed across its dark-green hide, while overflowing Dragon-element energy leaked from its jaws.
"So it's using Dragon energy to reinforce its physical body…"
Deviljho's enhancement state was known as the Frenzied State.
It was similar to Rajang's Battle Aura—
Both techniques used energy to amplify the body.
Bai Chen watched as the Deviljho prepared to leap again.
"It's locked onto me."
With the skill Elder Dragon Blood, Bai Chen's life energy far surpassed that of ordinary monsters.
Attracting Deviljho's relentless pursuit was only natural.
He gently lowered the Field Master and Koen onto a high plateau.
│ "It looks like it won't let us go find Kirin unless we deal with it first."
Bai Chen had no intention of fighting Kirin while risking a Deviljho crashing the battle.
│ "Are you planning to hunt it?"
The Field Master asked.
"No. I'm going to drive it away."
Bai Chen knew very well that, with his current strength, defeating this Deviljho was impossible.
But that didn't mean he had no countermeasures.
He drew the two swords from his back and ascended higher into the sky.
If a hundred meters wasn't enough—
Then he would fly higher, until this wingless monster could no longer reach him.
Below, Zinogre Blade and Hidden Pair blade coordinated their attacks, harassing Deviljho relentlessly.
After three to four minutes of skirmishing, Bai Chen realized his blades struggled to penetrate its defenses.
This high-rank Deviljho possessed formidable durability.
"Blades can't break through… I'll need another method."
He briefly considered having Cosmog teleport Deviljho elsewhere—
But unfortunately, Deviljho's Dark + Dragon attributes rendered it immune to Psychic-type abilities.
Seeing Deviljho unleash a sweeping Dragon Wave toward his blades, Bai Chen immediately recalled them.
He reached into his pack and pulled out a Bomb.
He knew exactly what to do now.
Bai Chen removed all three swords and used telekinesis to send them to the Field Master and Koen for safekeeping.
Then he deliberately lowered his altitude.
He lifted a twenty-kilogram boulder with psychic force and smashed it straight into Deviljho's head.
"Oi, you big idiot—"
"You wanted to eat me, didn't you?"
"Then come chase me."
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