The mountain rumbled and shook, and the orange-yellow light within the mountain's cavity grew ever stronger.
Hiss! Hiss!
Waves of energy erupted and exploded on the mountain's surface.
Countless reddened, scorching rocks, dislodged by the tremors, plunged into the sea. The turbulent waters quickly boiled, and vast clouds of white mist rose.
Whoosh! Bang!
Whoosh! Bang!
Two heavy thuds sounded. Amidst violent undulations, Black Nest Mountain moved forward a considerable distance, separating from the continental shelf of the volcanic region.
The summit area, which extended outwards like an arch bridge towards the sea, began to slowly rotate and twist.
Crack! Boom!
The solidified black rock layers on the mountain's surface cracked and crumbled on a large scale, falling into the sea and revealing the twisted, solidified dark black substance within.
The two investigators immediately realized that what stood at the boundary between the volcanic region and the boundless ocean was not Black Nest Mountain at all, but the Elder Dragon Lavasioth.
However, the one before them, in terms of sheer size, had already surpassed the historical records for Lavasioth.
"This orientation... it's the Divine Realm! Lavasioth is consciously approaching the forbidden zone!"
The male investigator quickly made his assessment.
Seeing that his female companion not only didn't respond but was staring blankly into the distance, the male investigator urgently warned, "Hey! That direction is the Divine Realm, you can't observe it! You'll be detected!"
The male investigator couldn't understand how his companion could make such a basic mistake.
"The ice-capped mountains within the Divine Realm have disappeared..."
The female investigator replied in a low voice.
The male investigator froze, then slowly turned his head to look.
Just as she had said, the extremely cold region within the volcano had vanished.
The biting cold wind that had obscured their view dissipated, revealing the long, undulating crimson mountain range. The lava flows, which had been perpetually blocked, were now rapidly flowing into the Divine Realm.
The patterns spreading and flowing across the surface, when viewed from above, resembled a ritualistic formation being infused with magic and activated.
Whoosh! Bang!
Whoosh! Bang!
Lavasioth moved forward again, directly towards the edge of the Divine Realm that covered the sea.
Whoosh...
A powerful surge of heat swept through the air.
The two investigators, who had been standing in a daze, were jolted awake by the dry, hot air that entered their mouths.
They realized that the Divine Realm had not disappeared; rather, the nature of the elemental turbulence had changed.
The well-equipped observation posts all had escape routes.
However, with just a glance exchanged between them, the two resolved to continue their observation.
They were determined to gather as much information as possible before they could no longer bear it and had to flee.
Lava surged from the fissures, and the red hot currents that swept across the land gradually transformed into a dark red storm.
Clang!
Kirin landed on the hard, black shell.
However, this time, despite two attempts to stand up and climb, it failed to do so, appearing to be on the verge of death from exhaustion.
Glancing at the Divine Realm ahead, shrouded in the crimson storm, Teostra approached, lowered its head, bit Kirin's neck, and gently lifted it.
Kushala Daora rushed forward, let out a displeased low roar, and extended its forelimbs in a blocking gesture.
Teostra did not respond. With a powerful flap of its wings, it took to the air, carrying Kirin away rapidly.
Kushala Daora opened its mouth and exhaled a few wisps of flame, then strode forward and approached the heat-dissipating organs on Lavasioth's back, which resembled red crystals.
Hiss! Hiss! Boom!
The dark red storm suddenly expanded, and Lavasioth, moving towards the Divine Realm, was instantly engulfed.
On its mountain-like colossal carapace, countless holes projected dazzling light as the dark red storm poured in.
The swirling, expanding dark red storm quickly subsided. The surrounding area, swept by the scorching wind, quickly returned to calm.
Having taken shelter in the escape route, the two investigators, their feet treading on cracked rock layers dotted with embers, quickly returned to the top of the hill.
Whoosh! Bang!
Whoosh! Bang!
Lavasioth, which had been moving slowly before, now seemed to possess a more powerful forward momentum.
However, it did not travel far before stopping in the boiling sea.
Roar~~~
Twisting its neck towards the center of the Divine Realm, Lavasioth let out a long, drawn-out roar.
The winds emanating from the Divine Realm remained scorching hot, and there was no response from the surging dark red mountains.
Lavasioth turned its head forward and continued its advance.
At this point, Teostra, carrying Kirin, returned to the lava-spewing carapace.
Kushala Daora, with its head held high, its entire body shimmering with azure flames, let out a low, fierce roar.
The dim Teostra released Kirin and, without engaging in any dispute or confrontation, looked up in a certain direction across the boundless ocean.
Kushala Daora seemed to sense something as well, turning to look in the same direction.
At the same time, in Moga Village, built by the sea, the annual fishing tournament was nearing its end.
A colossal Ancient Great Jaggi, suspended from a wooden frame, successfully helped an old fisherman win the championship.
But just as the village chief was about to announce the winner, a dense white fog engulfed the entire Moga Village.
Before the villagers could even figure out what was happening, someone exclaimed in surprise, discovering that the colossal Ancient Great Jaggi, which had been hung up for weighing and measuring, had vanished into thin air.
In the fog, the villagers, following the direction of the mist, soon arrived at the seashore.
Seeing huge ripples appearing out of nowhere on the surface of the sea, as if something were walking on the water, they fled back into the village amidst cries of terror.
The successive circular ripples extended further and further into the depths of the sea.
Before long, a semi-transparent purple form appeared on the surface of the sea.
It stopped its advance in the mist and turned its gaze in the same direction as Teostra and Kushala Daora.
In an unexplored coastal area, a water beast, convulsing from an electric shock, fell onto the beach.
Surrounded by the water beast, Hui Hui let out a cry, expressing her gratitude to Xi Xi in the air.
Just as she was about to continue eating, a strange sensation suddenly arose.
Hui Hui raised her head and looked towards the horizon of the boundless sea.
At this moment, Shield Turtle Ball rolled to her side. It was sent flying by the team playing beach volleyball.
"Hui Hui! Pass the ball over!"
Li Fan called out from a distance.
Seeing that Hui Hui didn't seem to hear, Dilu quickly ran over to retrieve the ball.
"Dilu, later you pretend to jump and block, and I'll wait behind to smash. We can tie the score then."
Li Fan, who had caught up, whispered tactical instructions.
"Okay, meow! Wait, aren't we trailing by 5 points?"
Dilu said with sudden realization.
"I have the right to interpret the rules of beach volleyball. If I say a feint smash is worth 5 points, we can tie with Yudola and Patch."
"That's so cheeky, meow! What's Hui Hui looking at?"
Dilu picked up Shield Turtle Ball and noticed Hui Hui was constantly gazing at the distant sea, feeling curious.
"Perhaps she's a bit down because she can't hunt personally. Did you remember the strategy, Dilu?"
"Remembered, meow."
Just as Li Fan turned to go back to the game, Hui Hui let out a low growl.
Li Fan, surprised, immediately turned around.
"What did Hui Hui say, meow?"
Dilu, sensing something unusual from Li Fan's reaction.
"Hui Hui said she sensed a heartbeat from afar."
Li Fan translated.
"A heartbeat, meow? You can sense that?"
Dilu said in surprise.
"Actually, 'pulse' or 'heartbeat' would be a rough translation."
Roar~
Hui Hui roared again. Li Fan paused for a moment, then turned to look in the same direction.
"Does this heartbeat have a meaning, meow?"
Dilu inferred, seeing Li Fan's solemn expression.
"Yes, it says it is the king."
Four days later, a top-secret eyewitness report from the volcanic branch was submitted to the Guild Headquarters.
After Zudaz and the Guild Master reviewed it, they found Vegaša, who was investigating the remaining traces in Dundorma.
That night, a secret meeting organized by the Hunter's Guild and the Dragoncal Institute began, to which only the most elite scholars were invited.
After a meeting that lasted a day and a night, the Guild and the Dragoncal Institute jointly released explosive news.
A new wave of Elder Dragon migration had begun!
Scholars departed, leaving the Grand Hall, strewn with manuscripts and pages, looking somewhat empty.
Zudaz, who had been discussing for a day and a night, rubbed his bloodshot eyes and sighed, "They have held their ground on the other shore for forty years. I think it's time."
"It's finally here... The Dragoncal Institute is willing to cooperate."
After Vegaša finished speaking, the two of them looked at the Guild Master together.
*Clang!* The scabbard of the Zankuro-tō struck the ground.
"The Fifth Expedition Team recruitment and assembly begins!"
The Guild Master, with a voice like a thunderclap, issued the resolution.
In the early morning, at the dining table on the deck of the Ignis, Yudola, having heard these two explosive pieces of news, was quite shocked.
Li Fan had a vague premonition about these two events, but he hadn't expected them to happen so quickly.
"A completely unexplored and magical region on the new continent. I'm a bit tempted to go, but unfortunately, Kirin hasn't been dealt with yet."
Yudola said with some regret.
"If I'm not mistaken, Kirin is also involved in the Elder Dragon migration and might have already set off."
Li Fan picked up a fried egg from his plate and offered his speculation.
"Oh? The Guild only confirmed the start of the migration, how do you know Kirin went too?"
Yudola inquired.
"Dean Vegaša, by studying Kirin's shed exoskeleton, confirmed that the current degree of corrosion was not severe, making molting unnecessary. Furthermore, forcing an early molt would significantly increase the difficulty."
Li Fan explained.
"So, that means Kirin molted under abnormal circumstances for the sake of the Elder Dragon migration."
Yudola quickly understood the reason.
"Yes, it wanted to be in its best condition before embarking on a long journey."
Li Fan confirmed.
"It's a bit like a hunter making thorough preparations before setting off..."
"Perhaps for the Elder Dragons, the new continent is not a place that can be easily set foot upon."
Li Fan speculated.
"Very likely. Many terrifying legends I've heard come from the new continent."
"What terrifying legends?"
Li Fan asked curiously.
"I heard there's a monster called a Great Jaggi, also known as a Great Devourer. It's incredibly ferocious and terrifying. Even a Brachydios would give it a wide berth... Why are you smiling?"
Yudola asked, confused.
"It's nothing... *cough*..."
Li Fan quickly covered his mouth.
"I don't know if the Guillotine can restrain the Great Devourer. I'll definitely try it when I visit the new continent."
Hearing Yudola say this, Li Fan's smile quickly froze.
"Actually, I haven't decided whether to go to the new continent yet."
Li Fan informed her.
"Huh? Why not?"
Yudola looked surprised.
"Don't you think it's a little dangerous?"
"Yes, I heard that even after 40 years of exploration, the expedition team has only established one base on the new continent... But if we don't go, what about Kirin?"
Yudola shook her head in denial, then saw Li Fan looking troubled and asked, "You seem to care a lot about this? Don't worry, before, when the expedition team recruitment announcements were sent out, it took a long time just to transmit them to various places, let alone assemble and depart."
"That's true. After breakfast, let's go to the Guild Headquarters and look at the original eyewitness report first."
Li Fan felt a significant reduction in his stress.
After breakfast, the team headed to the Guild Headquarters. Upon entering the Grand Hall, they saw the original top-secret eyewitness report.
It was a report bound together with pages whose edges were scorched black.
Elder Dragons collaborated to awaken Lavasioth, and the awakened Lavasioth attacked the Divine Realm.
The forbidden entity was not angered; it even seemed to have offered assistance.
Li Fan and Yudola were increasingly shocked as they read this information, which was beyond their comprehension.
"They must have planned this for a long time, but what was the reason?"
After briefly calming their emotions, Yudola asked in confusion.
"Perhaps it was for a leap in life-form evolution, to achieve evolution in a new environment?"
Li Fan offered his speculation.
"Even the forbidden entity needs to evolve?"
Yudola found the idea completely illogical.
"Perhaps, it just wanted to see the King of Elder Dragons?"
Li Fan inferred, based on that extremely arrogant heartbeat.
"King of Elder Dragons? What kind of monster could have such a title?"
Yudola asked in surprise.
"Probably something like... a spoiled baby who was pampered from the egg."
Li Fan attempted to describe it.
"Uh, I can't understand."
Yudola found the description too bizarre.
"Chief Hunter Team!"
Zudaz, upon arriving at the Grand Hall, said with great joy.
"Hello, Director Zudaz."
Li Fan greeted him.
"The Fifth Expedition Team is recruiting members. Is your team interested in joining?"
Zudaz asked eagerly.
"We haven't decided yet."
Yudola replied first.
"We hope you two will make a decision soon, as the leader of the Fifth Team is still vacant. If you participate, you would definitely be the best candidate."
Zudaz informed them.
They were supposed to be recommended as team members, so why were they suddenly being considered for leader?
Li Fan, in his confusion, recalled the team's past experiences and felt that being a leader seemed quite normal.
"We will consider it."
Li Fan gave his reply.
After viewing the original eyewitness report at Headquarters, on the way back, Dilu and Yudola both wanted to eat grilled fish, so Li Fan waited near the fountain in the commercial district.
Under the onslaught of successive crises, even the most prosperous areas of Dundorma were somewhat desolate.
Many shops had closed down. Sophia's Doll Shop had been replaced by a canned goods store.
The only ones who seemed largely unchanged were the evangelists of the Dragon Worshipers.
Unlike before the crisis, there were now many listeners gathered around the yellow-robed men.
Li Fan opened his 3DS, intending to look at photos he had taken in recent days.
He was surprised to find that the once dazzling word "Courage" had turned dim.
"Alas, am I destined to become the Azure Star?"
Li Fan sighed.
At this moment, a yellow-robed man, who had finished his shift, sat down next to him.
"You're not the person who gave me money last time... No, it's you!"
The yellow-robed man, speaking incoherently, recognized Li Fan and was very surprised.