The team returned to the base camp, both Li Fan and Yudolra feeling somewhat lost about their next move.
After much thought, Li Fan felt the problem lay in the lack of comprehensive intelligence. At the time, even if the Iceborne Wyvern was hit, there wasn't much confidence in capturing it.
Thus, they decided to seek out the Brachydios to see if they could obtain further information.
Burst, who descended from the sky, listened to the description and looked at the drawing board of the Brachydios. He mentioned that a certain Brute Wyvern had recently been killed by the monster in the drawing, and he could pinpoint the approximate area of the latter.
The team immediately set off for the outskirts of the Elder's Recess.
As dusk fell, two muffled roars erupted against the columnar rock walls.
From the collapsed opening, a small gap blasted open from within.
The Brachydios sensed the external aura and confirmed that the Iceborne Wyvern's presence had vanished. It then used its fist-like forelimbs, formed by slime mold, to continue delivering heavy blows to the rock strata.
Boom! Boom! Boom! ...
Continuous explosions sounded, and the cave entrance, blocked by rock fragments, was soon revealed.
Under the moonlight, the Brachydios emerged from the cave. Before it could even take a breath of the fresh air outside, it suddenly sensed several fierce gazes fixed upon it.
A few minutes later, under the siege of multiple monsters, the Brachydios lay on its side on the ground.
Roar~
Despite being covered in wounds, the Brachydios stubbornly indicated that it wanted a one-on-one fight.
"Don't be so agitated, we're not here to fight."
Li Fan said, stepping out from behind the Odogaron.
At this moment, the Brachydios, lying on its side, trembled and coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood.
"Uh... I only said to restrain it, why was it beaten so badly?"
Li Fan said with some surprise.
Roar~
The Odogaron indicated that it had resisted.
"That was indeed your fault, why would you resist? Don't be foolish anymore, we just want to understand the situation."
Li Fan approached the Brachydios's head and informed it.
The Brachydios's eyes scanned around and it weakly exhaled a stream of hot air.
It reluctantly indicated its willingness to cooperate.
Li Fan placed the ice armor fragments collected from the ley lines in front of the Brachydios and asked, "How much do you know about it?"
The Brachydios's eyes widened, and after a moment, it let out a series of low growls.
"I see... everyone, let's withdraw."
Under the Brachydios's astonished gaze, Cheche and Lei Ge, followed by the surrounding monsters, began to retreat.
"As long as you don't disrupt the existing ecosystem, the Elder's Recess will always welcome you."
Li Fan said, then turned and left.
"What information did the Brachydios provide?"
Yudolra asked on the way back to camp.
"It said that the Iceborne Wyvern in the past was not so violent and disliked, and was even a respected monster in the Hoarfrost Reach."
Li Fan informed her.
"Could it be that due to the lack of ice armor, it has become this way?"
Yudolra speculated.
"It's partly related, but the main reason is that its peaceful life was disrupted. The Iceborne Wyvern once said that two voices had been tormenting it, causing it to be agitated all day long."
"Two voices... could it be the Nergigante and Qilin?"
Yudolra tentatively asked.
"The Nergigante is definitely involved, but the consciousness information transmission distance of the Wind God Dragon's armor is not that far. Therefore, the other voice is likely a real-world sound."
Li Fan deduced.
"Being disturbed by the Nergigante in its consciousness, and surrounded by noise in reality... over time, it would indeed cause psychological problems."
Yudolra seemed to understand the Iceborne Wyvern's feelings a little better.
"So, to achieve capture, we must start from this aspect."
Li Fan felt they had found the right direction.
"But the Iceborne Wyvern already resents you."
"The Iceborne Wyvern isn't that vengeful, is it? Perhaps it has already forgotten most of it."
Li Fan could only think positively.
The next day, the team informed the Iceborne Wyvern's departure from the New World at the Elder's Recess base camp and then took a transport ship across the sea to the Seliana base camp.
Since the nautical chart had been completed, the team arrived at the other side in just two days.
At this time, the ecological research institute, resource management center, workshop, and steamworks in the Seliana base camp had been established.
The lights were bright, a scene of prosperity.
On the notice board at the entrance of the base camp, the ecological research institute had just issued a contract for investigating the abnormal continuous drop in temperature.
Li Fan speculated that it was caused by the return of the Iceborne Wyvern.
In the command center, he exchanged information with Di Yan. Although Di Yan took the return of the Iceborne Wyvern very seriously, at present, only a few teams had the ability to track and investigate, so he couldn't come up with a good solution for the time being.
At the base camp, Aibo and Master Haruno's investigation had made significant progress.
They discovered a large number of fault lines in the wild of the Hoarfrost Reach and confirmed that with the frequent earthquakes, the displacement between the fault lines was continuously increasing.
By studying the residual information of the first adventurers who landed on the island and seeking information from ancient dragon people.
They learned that a monster called a Great Being destroys the ecosystem through its "song."
"This progress is a bit fast..."
Li Fan muttered.
"Uh... why don't you seem surprised at all?"
Di Yan asked in surprise.
"Aibo and Master Haruno are both excellent compilers. It was within my expectations that they would make significant progress. As for this Great Being, do you have specific information now?"
Li Fan inquired.
"Yes, scholars believe that the Great Being refers to the Iceborne Wyvern."
Di Yan informed him.
"What do you think?"
"I agree with the scholars."
"Alright, since there aren't many suitable candidates for tracking and investigating the Iceborne Wyvern, I'll do it."
Li Fan volunteered.
"Really? Thank you so much, Li Fan."
Di Yan thanked him solemnly.
"You're welcome. As the leader of the Fifth Expeditionary Force, my primary mission is naturally the most cutting-edge ones."
After exchanging information, Li Fan went to the workshop and presented a design drawing.
The craftsman scratched his head after looking at it, but since the leader of the Fifth Expeditionary Force lacked neither materials nor research points, he accepted the order to craft it.
After resting for a night in his residence at the Seliana base camp, the team set out for the wilderness the next day as the sun rose.
Riding on Qilin, they hadn't gone far when a familiar roar was heard.
Li Fan looked up and saw Yaya, perched on a coniferous tree.
"What's wrong, Yaya?"
This place was very close to the base camp, and Li Fan felt that Yaya wouldn't approach rashly without an urgent matter.
Roar~Roar~
"Your girlfriend's family... is going to attack the Seliana base camp and humans... Why?"
Li Fan understood Yaya's description and was quite surprised.
Attacking human settlements with intent was very rare among monsters, let alone mobilizing the entire clan.
Roar... Roar...
Yaya said she didn't know either, but it seemed related to the evolution of the Frostfang Wyvern clan. As for the mastermind behind it, her girlfriend only said it was the strongest monster in the Hoarfrost Reach.
Related to evolution? Could it be the method to mutate into a Frostfang Barioth?
Li Fan immediately thought of a possibility.
As for who could be the mastermind, it was definitely the Iceborne Wyvern that had reformed its ice armor.
As Li Fan was pondering, a cold wind blew.
The team looked up and saw the Coral Pukei-Pukei, Piaopiao.
Roar~Roar~Roar...
Seeing Piaopiao circling and letting out urgent roars, Li Fan tentatively asked, "Piaopiao, you're not going to tell me that the Coral Pukei-Pukei clan is going to attack humans, are you?"
Roar! Piaopiao's eyes flashed with surprise, and it immediately confirmed.
"Damn it, is this the Iceborne Wyvern's revenge... It seems it not only has a lot of influence in the Hoarfrost Reach, but also controls the key to the mutation of the Frostfang Wyvern and Coral Pukei-Pukei."
Li Fan had thought that with his restrictions on the Iceborne Wyvern, the defense battle of the Seliana base camp in the game would not happen at all.
Unexpectedly, by chance, he had become the leading factor.
"Is there a definite time?"
Li Fan asked Piaopiao.
Roar~
Piaopiao indicated that when the frost sweeps the land, it would be time for the clan to attack.
"Alright, it seems I need to think of a way."
It might be difficult for Li Fan to stop the Iceborne Wyvern, but if he couldn't restrict the Coral Pukei-Pukei and Frostfang Wyvern, then he shouldn't be in the Hoarfrost Reach anymore.
Roar~Roar!
Piaopiao warned him not to spread the word that it had leaked the secret, and then spread its wings and flew away.
Yaya leaped down from the treetop, saying it didn't matter. Since her girlfriend's clan didn't like her, it was even better if she was eliminated while attacking the human settlement.
The reason for the urgent notification was to hope that the monster team could be prepared.
"Controlling the key to mutation is the main reason the Iceborne Wyvern can command two clans, but starting from this aspect, time is clearly insufficient... It's better to find the leaders of the two clans and negotiate amicably."
Li Fan quickly settled on a strategy.
Whoosh~Whoosh~Whoosh~
Odogaron, Lei Ge, and Cheche appeared one after another in the snow.
As members of the group known as the "Ruffians of the Ice Sea" by the Guild, Yaya naturally stood with the three monsters.
"Yaya, you know the way, right?"
Li Fan asked.
Roar~
Yaya replied that of course, she had to travel back and forth several times a day when delivering food to her girlfriend.
"Then that's good... The main strategy is to communicate amicably. We need to make the Frostfang Wyvern clan realize that attacking humans and human settlements is a very unfriendly act. Only when absolutely necessary can we use a little force. Overall, we need to subdue monsters with virtue."
Li Fan stated the combat plan.
Roar~...
The four brothers of the Ice Sea responded, saying that their greatest skill was subduing monsters with virtue.
"Alright, let's go."
Roar! Roar! Roar!...
A series of fierce roars sounded, and led by Yaya, the monsters set off across the snowfield.
Next, Little Fool, Naughty, Xi Xi, and Burst appeared one after another from the spheres.
Li Fan gave them similar instructions, and the monsters flew away to the airspace where the Coral Pukei-Pukei lived to negotiate.
After thinking for a moment and finding no other ice-element monsters that might be driven by the Iceborne Wyvern, Li Fan returned to the Seliana base camp.
"When the next blizzard arrives, the Iceborne Wyvern will attack the Seliana base camp!"
In the command center, Commander Di Yan's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Yes, my suggestion is to prepare early. Since the route between the Hoarfrost Reach and the New World is connected, and the Starcrown base camp is currently safe, why not transfer some defensive facilities and personnel?"
Li Fan suggested.
"Okay, I'll contact the old man immediately."
Although Di Yan was the commander, this was his first time participating in a defense operation of an elder dragon class.
However, the chief hunter before him was different. He had outstanding performances in the defense operations of the Emerald Leaf Fortress and the two battles of Dundorma.
"Furthermore, the Iceborne Wyvern has had very little contact with humans, and it probably can't distinguish where the real base camp is. We can establish a fortified area to guide it. This way, it won't affect the base camp, and we can choose terrain that is most advantageous to us to engage in combat."
Li Fan proposed a plan for the engagement area.
If the attackers were monsters like Kushala Daora, Teostra, and Lunastra, who had more contact with humans, this kind of guidance would not work. They would even deliberately bypass it and head straight for the core area of the base camp to cause extensive damage.
But the Iceborne Wyvern was different. The so-called human settlements were a vague concept in its impression.
As long as there were buildings and human activity, it would be recognized as a "base camp," and it might not even know what artillery was.
"That makes sense! Fifth Expeditionary Force leader, please wait a moment."
Di Yan said, opening a booklet on his desk and diligently taking notes.
An hour later, as Li Fan, who had completed the combat deployment, emerged from the command center, Di Yan rang the bronze bell for an emergency summons at the Seliana base camp.
All hunters of three stars and above hurried to the scene.
The team set off at this time and headed for the icefield.
Riding on Qilin, they traveled in one direction for about five hours when distant rumbling sounds, accompanied by slight ground tremors, were transmitted through the air.
Wooo~Wooo~Wooo...
"Is this the song?"
Yudolra asked in surprise after listening for a moment.
"That's right."
Li Fan said, observing the cracks and fault lines appearing on the snow-covered ground.
"The duration isn't very long, and the sound isn't very piercing. Why can't the Iceborne Wyvern tolerate it?"
Dill asked curiously.
"The Iceborne Wyvern's perception method and hearing range might be different from other monsters. Perhaps this acceptable vibration sound, to it, is like an explosion sound wave right next to its ear."
Li Fan deduced.
"Aibo's ecological report states that the song occurs in various places in the Hoarfrost Reach. Assuming the Iceborne Wyvern's perception in this area is strong enough, the frequency of the song it hears might also significantly increase... Perhaps it can hear it all the time."
Yudolra expressed her opinion.
"I understand! As long as one's hearing or perception is good enough, all the songs that appear will be detected."
Dill suddenly realized.
"Will this help in capturing the Iceborne Wyvern?"
Yudolra asked.
"Yes, at least we've figured out what's bothering it... Let's go back to the base camp to prepare for battle."
Li Fan sighed.
"If we fail to capture it again this time, will we have to eliminate it completely?"
Yudolra tentatively asked.
"Yes, after the engagement and familiarizing ourselves with the base camp's defensive facilities, if we still can't capture it, it will pose a fatal threat to the Seliana base camp."
Li Fan answered affirmatively.
"I understand."
Yudolra fell silent for a moment, then leaped onto Qilin's back.
Upon learning of the impending attack, the Starcrown base camp fully utilized its transportation capacity to provide full support to the Seliana base camp.