"He hasn't even reached adulthood yet, but he already possesses power that other monsters could hardly match in a lifetime.
Compared to when we first saw him, it only took him ten years to surpass ordinary monsters, didn't it?" the Admiral asked.
"Just about," the Commander calculated briefly before replying. "Counting from when we first met, it took him only about ten years to become an Elder Dragon. Now, fifty years later, he has completely surpassed the Elder Dragon class."
An Elder Dragon in ten years, a Forbidden Species in fifty—don't ask how; if you do, Asterion just took an elite cram school course.
Currently grinding exams, do not disturb.
"Indeed, such an absurdly massive leap can only be explained by that kind of reasoning. But a childhood lasting a full fifty years? And to possess this level of power while still in his juvenile stage... as expected of a Forb—cough cough!" the Wyverian scholar couldn't help but chime in.
Truth be told, even the Wyverian scholar found it slightly amusing. It was hard for him to imagine that he had lived for so long alongside a Forbidden Species that supposedly existed only in legends.
In fact, his own quarters were packed with statues of this very monster. He owned every single one, ranging from the ultra-primitive version that looked almost indistinguishable from a normal Glavenus to the latest Aero Dragon form. Statues of all sizes lined an entire wall.
This level of idol worship was actually a minor thing. If you were willing to pay a massive fortune—well, a fortune far beyond what a humble scholar like him could ever afford, anyway—you could even trade with the Grimalkynes of the Glavenus tribe for a small shard of shell or a scale fragment shed by this Forbidden Species.
As for what kind of item could actually sway a Grimalkyne who possessed such legendary treasures, nobody knew. It depended entirely on one's personal resourcefulness.
If a hunter happened to master excellent culinary skills during their downtime, they could even showcase their cooking at the Glavenus tribe's Glutton Festival, experiencing the bizarre sensation of preparing food for giant monsters. If they were lucky, they might even cross paths with the Forbidden Species himself coming to dine, who might grant a reward to the winning chef.
This Forbidden Species was simply far too approachable... Is that even right?
Yes, it's right.
No, it's not.
Unapproachable, unpredictable, unknowable—the so-called Forbidden Species were deemed "forbidden" precisely because they were beyond comprehension and extremely hazardous, which was why any related information was strictly classified. But if information about a Forbidden Species was flying all over the place with no way to conceal it... could it even be considered a Forbidden Species anymore?
The Kingdom and the Guild's definition of a Forbidden Species might need to be revised, the Wyverian scholar suddenly realized.
"Surpassing Elder Dragons?" Caly, who had been following the three of them while awaiting orders, finally couldn't help but ask. He was rarely this curious and seldom questioned others, preferring to observe and judge for himself.
And who could blame him? What hunter could possibly pass up secrets related to Elder Dragons?
His question caused the group walking ahead to look back simultaneously. The Admiral glanced at the Commander, then at the Wyverian scholar. After a brief hesitation, he decided to disclose this information to the junior he thought highly of—Caly's grandson was indeed remarkably talented.
"Yes... above the Elder Dragons, there actually exists another classification. The Guild calls them 'Forbidden Species.' Because their power is immense enough to easily obliterate whole kingdoms, all relevant information has been kept strictly confidential.
It's worth mentioning that the classification of a Forbidden Species doesn't actually depend on whether a monster can single-handedly destroy a human kingdom. After all, as long as it's an Elder Dragon, they can destroy the vast majority of human kingdoms, cities, or villages whenever they please.
It's highly mysterious; even Wyverian scholars don't know the exact criteria for the classification... Perhaps the Master of the Third Fleet might know something. Unfortunately, that Wyverian woman took a large group of scholars on an airship into the depths of the New World and completely lost contact. Otherwise, she would surely have plenty of valuable insights to offer at a time like this."
"Even though you know this now, you must not speak of it to your companions unless explicitly permitted," the Wyverian scholar added, adjusting his glasses. This wasn't a threat, but a statement of the rules. "In light of the upcoming investigation, I hereby grant you authorization on behalf of the Guild to know these details."
"Understood," Caly nodded. "Please, tell me more about the Forbidden Species."
"You are quite impatient, young man," the Wyverian scholar said with a smile. "Every characteristic and ability the Aero Dragon has displayed so far validates this hypothesis. From plants to animals, from the most basic microorganisms to the apex predators at the top of the food chain—everything has been altered. An ordinary Elder Dragon cannot drive the evolution of all life across an entire region."
Stopping in his tracks altogether, the Wyverian scholar pulled a somewhat crumpled notebook from his bag. He flipped it open casually and pointed at the dense clusters of numbers and records inside. "These are our recent records of the biological changes across various sectors of the Crystallized Forest, including their before-and-after physical alterations and internal anatomical structures.
My hypothesis is that the Aero Dragon might be a Forbidden Species that symbolizes evolution within nature. Wherever He resides, all things begin to change at a pace far exceeding the natural passage of time. This change could be beneficial or detrimental, but it will inevitably forge an entirely new ecological environment.
Think about it. Everyone present has had experience facing an Elder Dragon firsthand. Whether it's Kushala Daora, Kirin, Teostra, Amatsu, or others—isn't the environmental impact of those Elder Dragons always temporary?
Their range of influence is limited, and their methods require expending physical stamina to unleash their power. Even an Elder Dragon like Amatsu, revered as the Looming Calamity, must exert stamina when whipping up storms or bringing down torrential rain. Once it ceases activating its ability or leaves the area, the weather clears up again, returning to its original state.
But the Aero Dragon is different. He doesn't need to do a single thing; merely living in the Ancient Forest has caused the transformation we see today. That is where the distinction lies."
"I see... Hm, in that case, the name 'Aero Dragon' doesn't quite do the Glavenus Boss justice anymore," the Admiral said, tapping his head with a slight grimace. "Since a mature Glavenus Boss can fly across the sky like a star, effortlessly reshape this world, and even guide the direction of our investigations... why don't we call him the Azure Star Dragon?"
"Hmph, is there even any point in asking us?" Looking at his old friend's excited eyes, the Commander let out a soft snort, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Haven't you already made up your mind?"
Though speaking in a consultative tone, the Admiral's expression made it perfectly clear that he had already decided... After all, this wasn't the first or second time this had happened. It was obvious the Admiral desperately wanted the Glavenus Boss to bear this name.
Especially for the Admiral, the term "Azure Star" carried a distinct and profound meaning.
"Hahahahaha! Really can't hide anything from you, can I?" The Admiral laughed, scratching the back of his head, and turned to the Wyverian scholar. "Let's report this name to the Guild, shall we?"
"The Azure Star Dragon? Of course we can." The Wyverian scholar instantly grasped the underlying meaning of the name. He nodded and let out a sigh. "It's a bit of a shame. I arrived too late to witness the Azure Star Dragon truly take flight... Azure Star... Sapphire Star... Ha!"
No one knew exactly what was crossing the scholar's mind at that moment; they could only see that his expression was deeply moved, with faint tears glinting in the corners of his eyes.
"According to the information you overheard, Caly, something is approaching from that direction, correct?" Setting aside the report meant for the Guild for a moment, the Commander turned to Caly and asked seriously.
"Yes," Caly replied. "The Bazelgeuse Boss said as much. They have all flown in that direction."
"Over there?" The Commander rapidly cross-referenced the map of the New World in his mind, his brow furrowing. "Flying further in that direction leads to the rocky dividing wall between the Ancient Forest and the Wildspire Waste... Are they heading to the Wildspire Waste? Is something coming there?"
An excellent question.
The Ancient Forest... the Wildspire Waste... Astera... the ocean... an allure powerful enough to entice the Azure Star Dragon to leave his nest for a long journey... the things the Azure Star Dragon had done in the past...
Rapidly connecting the clues together, the veterans all looked at one another simultaneously, before roaring out the exact same phrase in unison:
"The Elder Dragon Crossing!!"
The sheer volume of their shout startled several nearby hunters who were still working, causing them to raise their heads and look over in utter bewilderment.
"There's no time to lose. Once the Savage Deviljho's carcass is transported back to the Frontier Research Base, gather everyone and return to Astera immediately," the Admiral decided on the spot. "I admit there's an element of gambling in this decision, but I absolutely will not allow us to miss our chance through slow reactions when the Elder Dragon Crossing occurs again after more than a decade."
"Understood," the Commander nodded. "Are you heading straight over there?"
"Of course!" The Admiral grinned. "I refuse to let myself be a single step behind."
Fire was burning in his eyes.
If Asterion were to truly rank all the Elder Dragons in this world in his heart based on which one had influenced him the deepest, the number one spot wouldn't even belong to Valstrax—the sleek, magnificent Elder Dragon he adored the most—but to Zorah Magdaros.
Completely unlike the backstories and pasts the hunters fabricated in their own minds, Asterion had truly been nothing more than an ordinary Glavenus once upon a time. Back when he was incredibly weak, a chunk of residue accidentally spewed by Zorah Magdaros, which he happened to stumble upon, had left a profoundly deep impression on him—and a wound that had never truly healed.
It wasn't some blatant or superficial sense of threat delivered through words or brute force. Rather, it was an oppression stemming from the ecological hierarchy of an Elder Dragon over an ordinary monster—an instinct embedded deep within the bloodline that could not be suppressed or denied by mere willpower or rationality.
It was just like acrophobia. Even if a person suffering from a fear of heights constantly told themselves that where they stood was perfectly safe, and that nothing would happen as long as they walked normally, a single glance downward would instinctively turn their legs to jelly, rendering them unable to move forward.
That was exactly how Asterion had been back then. His footsteps were so chaotic as he fled from the traces of Zorah Magdaros that his legs shook uncontrollably. It had been utterly humiliating.
To think that Zorah Magdaros hadn't even set foot in the Wildspire Waste at the time; Asterion had merely encountered a piece of mineral residue erupted from the volcano on Zorah Magdaros's back. Yet, a mere scrap of what felt like Zorah Magdaros's sloughed-off skin had filled him with an extraordinary terror. That sense of humiliation and insecurity had woven itself through almost the entirety of Asterion's life so far, never allowing him a single moment of peace.
A thorn permanently lodged in his heart, it had accompanied him for far too long.
How did the saying go? It takes a lifetime to heal a childhood trauma... Well, Asterion was going to heal himself right now.
To alter this world—which he had already reshaped beyond recognition—once again, Asterion was going to hunt down the shadow of his childhood, that mountain-sized Elder Dragon: Zorah Magdaros!
Unlike the venting rage of his younger years—when he had been so ashamed that he went back the very next day to chew up and swallow every last trace Zorah Magdaros left behind—the current Asterion felt completely serene as he rushed toward this old friend.
The physiological instinct of fear from back then had completely vanished, and even the burning shame and anger from that time had evaporated without a trace... leaving behind only desire.
A desire to take the next step.
Capture Zorah Magdaros, kill Zorah Magdaros, and use the colossal life energy accumulated over Zorah Magdaros's entire lifetime to nourish the internal thermal organs within his own body. He would turn this core treasure—obtained from Xeno'jiiva and now on the verge of maturity—into a perpetual motion engine. From then on, he would fully break free from any reliance on external energy sources, possessing near-infinite power... and truly becoming a Forbidden Species in both name and fact!
To fully transcend ordinary life, to surpass even the tier of Elder Dragons, and perhaps even... become a god!!
Just like Fatalis, who would not perish even if everything on the surface was obliterated, remaining unaltered by the shifts of nature or the turning of eras. It mattered not whether the planet's atmospheric oxygen levels, temperature, humidity, or other fundamental factors fluctuated high or low.
The natural cycles of life, evolution and devolution, survival and death—none of it would concern him, as he would possess an extraordinarily eternal lifespan. This was a god! A Dragon God!
Tucking his wings, an even more intense bio-energy erupted from behind him. Asterion pierced into the high-altitude clouds at a near-vertical angle, wrapped tightly in a brilliant blue aura as the sky seemed to cleave open and roll back to either side behind him.
Asterion flew faster and faster, looking more and more like a true star.
The sky ahead was vast and profound, a magnificent future captivating the dragon's very soul... It was finally time to pull out that thorn that had stabbed him for decades.
The Wildspire Waste
The battered carcass of a Rathian lay strewn across the ground. It was clear she had not died peacefully; her head was tossed off to the side, and her body had been torn into three ragged pieces of varying sizes. A massive, heavily-built monster had its head buried deep inside the Rathian's abdominal cavity, tearing away huge mouthfuls of flesh.
Suddenly, as if sensing something, the monster abruptly yanked its head back and looked up toward the horizon. The white spikes covering its forelegs had been stained a vivid red with fresh blood.
—Some spikes truly needed to be shed.
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