Chapter 100: Hunters on the Move
Scaling mountains and ridges was undoubtedly grueling work, but fortunately, the Legiana's "selfless contribution" provided Logan and the others with ample food. At the very least, they didn't have to suffer through hunger as they did on the journey here.
Once they knew the correct path through the continuous mountain ranges and the Great Ravine, crossing them was much faster. This time, it took only one-third of the original time to successfully reach the outskirts of the canyon.
Looking back at the peaks piercing the clouds, the two giant beasts—Logan and Zhu Peiniang—didn't feel much of anything. However, the eyes of the Grimalkynes were filled with reluctance to leave, yet brimming with anticipation for their new life. They didn't leave immediately, though; instead, they took a detour to the open-pit vein where the Glavenus used to mine Machalite Ore.
While Machalite Ore deposits seemed plentiful in nature, they weren't exactly common in daily life. Naturally, they had to gather plenty for their reserves.
This delay lasted for over half a month. During this time, aside from eating and sleeping, Logan spent every day frantically devouring ore. After digestion, electrolysis, and purification, the Machalite was re-condensed into high-purity Sky Stones. He regurgitated them and wrapped them in Legiana membranes, soon accumulating a full bag.
Strangely enough, the Glavenus never showed its face during this period. As a monster that frequently used its tail blade for hunting, the metal on its body surface would inevitably wear down; it should have returned periodically to replenish it.
However, after half a month without seeing it come to eat ore, Logan wondered if the fellow had found a new vein. That guy moved house without even saying a word; he should have invited me over for a look.
Logan shook his body, which had now reached eighteen meters in length. He poured the seventeen evolution points gained from hunting the Legiana, along with those accumulated over the last half-month, into his basic physical attributes and electrical organs. Currently, although his appearance hadn't changed significantly, his strength, speed, and electrical output had all improved compared to half a month ago.
He discovered that with the same amount of evolution points, the stronger he became, the less noticeable the improvement felt. It was like pouring 100 milliliters of water into a cup; the water level rises significantly. But if it were a bucket—or even a pond—the change in water level would be microscopic.
Yet, if one persisted in investing evolution points into a specific category over a long period, the accumulation would eventually overflow the container, leading to another massive surge in power.
As for the underlying principles of this system, Logan didn't bother to overthink it. In this life, his main philosophy was to follow his heart—whatever happened, happened.
Seeing that they had stockpiled enough Sky Stones, Logan's group set off once more. Compared to when they arrived, the two giant beasts had grown in size and taken larger strides, naturally increasing their speed.
As time passed, the air gradually grew dry. The moist humus soil beneath their feet transitioned into loess and sand; the tall trees slowly gave way to low shrubs.
When the first cactus rose from the ground, it signaled their entry into the Wildspire Waste. This dry and desolate scenery was a novel experience for the Grimalkynes, who had lived their whole lives in the Coral Highlands.
They slid down Logan's long tail, peering here and there, occasionally digging into the yellow sand with their claws.
Legend says that the ancestors of cats lived in desert regions, which is why they aren't fond of drinking water and have a habit of burying their waste in sand. Do these Grimalkynes have those genes hidden in their bodies too? Logan wondered.
Logan slowed his pace to accommodate them. He wasn't in a hurry anyway; he might as well enjoy the scenery along the way.
When the cats were tired of playing, the two giant beasts set off again. At nightfall, they found a corner sheltered from the wind to hunker down. With Logan's current strength, as long as they didn't run into an Elder Dragon, he could hold his own against any other creature. Safety was not a concern.
Without trees to block the view, and with the air being thin of moisture and clouds, the stars appeared exceptionally bright. Thousands of brilliant silver lights poured over the pitch-black curtain of night, looking as if they were alive, flowing silently with the passage of time.
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While Logan was leisurely making his way back, several uninvited guests arrived at his cave in the Wildspire Waste.
Due to the impending arrival of the Second Fleet, the Astera base had been exceptionally busy lately. Site selection for various buildings and surveys of the surrounding environment had to be prepared in advance.
A very peculiar Congalala had also appeared in the vicinity. For some reason, it never pointed its backside at other creatures; instead, it breathed foul-smelling gas from its mouth, making it far more difficult to deal with than the standard species.
Because the number of base members was limited, it took several months to settle these matters before they finally found the time to launch an investigation into the "white giant beast" discovered previously.
The transparent crystal they had brought back earlier had been thoroughly researched during this time. Through animal testing, they discovered it could effectively increase lifespan, rejuvenate elderly individuals, and stimulate the latent potential of newborns, allowing them to grow faster and stronger than their peers.
Most importantly, it had almost no side effects and could be consumed in large quantities. Compared to Might Seeds or Demondrugs, it was the difference between heaven and earth. If they had a sufficient supply, they could cultivate a massive number of elite hunters.
Thus, they took this operation extremely seriously. The Field Team Leader, who had prior experience, led the team, accompanied by two powerful hunters.
One had thick blonde hair and a burly build, standing a full head taller than a normal person, accompanied by an equally stout Palico. The other was entirely encased in heavy plate armor, with even their head covered by a helmet, making them almost airtight.
The goal of this mission was to collect as many "Dragon Power Crystals" —the name they gave the transparent crystals—as possible without harming the white beast. Although their current simple equipment wasn't enough to understand the fundamental principles of the crystals, they theorized they were produced by the overflow of powerful energy within the monster's body.
The three of them possessed physical capabilities far beyond ordinary humans, running faster than motorcycles with incredible endurance.
Starting from the Ancient Forest, they crossed all the way to the Wildspire Waste. After traversing many dangers, they finally arrived at the desolate sands half a month later.
Following the route recorded previously, led by the Field Team Leader, they soon reached the massive cave entrance. They first applied a scent-masking ointment, placed various emergency potions within reach, took a deep breath, and cautiously stepped inside.
The dim environment was no obstacle for elite hunters. As they ventured deeper, faint sounds echoed from ahead. When the long tunnel finally reached its end, dappled pillars of light fell from above. Under the sunlight, the "master" of the cave finally appeared before their eyes.
It had black fur on its back and a white belly—and on that belly sat a prominent paw print. It was... a Grimalkyne?
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