As the scholars' exclamations subsided, they gathered, discussed for a while, and finally reported back to Logan.
On one hand, they praised Chameleos's remarkable intelligence and the wondrous properties of that new type of medicinal mist—it completely overturned all the Old World's existing records of the species, marking a historic breakthrough in Chameleos documentation.
The praise was so overwhelming that the cat in charge of translation didn't even know how to interpret it anymore. All it could say was, "Amazing! Powerful! Like a god!"
Hearing the compliments it could understand, Chameleos—though it had already re-entered its stealth state—was wagging its long tail so fast it nearly took off.
'That's right, gwa! That's me, gwa!!'
"The first issue can now be considered perfectly resolved. As for the second, we plan to build a furnace and use controlled heating to place the Fire Wyvern eggs atop it, maintaining a temperature of about 45 °C to stimulate the activation of the fire-type energy within the eggshells."
The scholars were a little helpless. Under normal circumstances, to activate inert fire-type energy without relying on the alchemical technique known as "Elemental Liberation," a temperature of around 50 °C was required to meet the minimum condition.
However, maintaining such a temperature on these Fire Wyvern eggs for an extended period would be enough to kill the fragile embryos inside. Therefore, after repeated calculations and discussions, they decided to try using a temperature of 45 °C to activate the fire-type energy. Although the effect would be minimal, for these perilously endangered Fire Wyvern eggs, it was still better than nothing.
The method of artificial intervention the scholars devised was already quite impressive. After all, in this world where technology relied heavily on archaeology, neither alchemy nor science had reached the brilliance of ancient times. Being able to achieve this level in such a short period was already the pinnacle of research capability.
"If we can activate the fire-type energy, then what temperature would be most suitable?"
Logan suddenly posed this question through the cat.
The scholars exchanged glances. Although they didn't understand why Logan would ask that, they quickly replied, "For ordinary Fire Wyvern eggs, a temperature between 25 °C and 30 °C is optimal. But considering this batch of eggs has undergone certain mutations, maintaining it between 35 °C and 40 °C would be most appropriate. This range neither hinders the eggs' absorption of external nutrients nor diminishes the medicinal efficacy on the silk threads."
Hearing that answer, Logan finally let out a breath of relief. At merely that temperature, he could maintain it without damaging the ecosystem.
In fact, it might even promote the growth of those plants in the Ancient Tree region that had long been steeped in the leylines' nodes.
After further inquiry and learning that six hours of medicinal absorption per day would be optimal, Logan, under the hesitant gazes of the scholars, soared into the sky.
A single dragon roar startled the Flame Rathalos, who had been lazily lying in its nest half-asleep.
"Rooaahhh~"
A sound that was part dragon's roar, part yawn, echoed back.
Soon after, the Flame Rathalos appeared, its head drooping, its wings flapping weakly as it wobbled through the air—rising and falling as though it might fall asleep mid-flight at any moment.
"This guy's done for."
That was Logan's evaluation of the Flame Rathalos, furious at its lack of drive.
But thinking about it, it made sense. The Flame Rathalos's own strength could already be said to be the greatest below the Elder Dragons. After years of symbiotic mutation, it had learned to control its flames. With no worries in life yet no mate to speak of, a bit of decadence in its daily habits was understandable.
Swaying unsteadily through the air, the Flame Rathalos landed beside Logan. Its eyelids fought to stay open as it let out a weak, half-dead growl.
Though Logan didn't bother to glance at the expressions of the people on the platform below, hearing Chameleos's gloating croaks made it hard for him to keep a straight face.
In the eyes of other creatures, Fire Wyverns were always known for their volatile temperaments, seeming to possess endless energy every day.
So for one to suddenly show up acting this lazy—it was downright jarring.
With a flick of his tail, Logan struck the Flame Rathalos on the head with a sharp smack.
Its eyes instantly cleared up.
"Boss!!"
Meeting Logan's cold, expressionless gaze, the Flame Rathalos felt a chill run through its heart. In an instant, its entire body bristled with vigor, as if ready to charge the moment Logan gave the word.
"Start the fire."
Blinking, the Flame Rathalos suddenly understood what Logan meant.
With an explosive burst of fire cloud, it was instantly engulfed in raging flames.
After a charge so brief it was nearly imperceptible, it exhaled a torrent of blazing breath that completely enveloped Logan.
In the stunned eyes of the scholars below, what unfolded before them was a blatant "assassination."
"T-This… this is just like what was recorded in the Admiral's notes—the other Fire Wyvern igniting its whole body in flames to challenge the King of Fire Wyverns for the throne? But at such a critical time?!"
Watching the flustered scholars, both Chameleos and the cats were speechless.
What on earth were they talking about?
A challenge against the King of Fire Wyverns?
That Flame Rathalos—unworthy of the title!
Seeing the trembling scholars pull out their notebooks again, apparently ready to make yet another round of absurd notes, the cats immediately pounced to stop them.
Who would've thought that the usually frail-looking scholars, as if having swallowed some kind of Demon Drug, would actually struggle evenly against the cats.
As the flames were drawn inward, the red tint along the edges of the scales faded. From the protrusion at the corner of the mouth, two sharp bone spikes grew out, and the smooth scales, like silver-white armor, neatly covered that perfect body.
From between the seams of the scales, bluish-violet flames burst forth. A pressure like that of an unknown ancient monster swept across the area. Within the body, blood infused with vast amounts of life energy flowed rapidly, transforming that vitality into fire-attribute energy, colliding and fusing with the inner energy organs—
Until it poured out as an immensely pure inferno of extreme heat.
As the enormous wings spread open, the orange-red flames were instantly dyed a bluish violet.
A pressure akin to that of an Elder Dragon blanketed the entire Ancient Tree region, suppressing all surrounding monsters. Those timid species such as the Pukei-Pukei and Kulu-Ya-Ku went utterly mad, fleeing deep into the narrow and hidden parts of the forest, seeking a little psychological comfort within that dark and enclosed refuge.
Meanwhile, the more daring, high-ecological-rank monsters raised their heads in confusion, their gazes seeming to pierce the dense foliage—catching sight of the god-like figure upon the Ancient Tree—and each wondered what could have caused the master of the Ancient Tree to once again reveal such a form.
"Th-This…"
"Is this… the true form of the Sunblaze Dragon?"
The Deputy Director stammered, muttering under his breath, his trembling hands so agitated that his notebook had fallen to the ground without his noticing.
The scholars who had been daydreaming wildly and "arguing" with the cats also ceased their resistance.
Before that magnificent and awe-inspiring figure, the dull words of this world could no longer describe it.
Beauty? Pressure? Ferocity? Savagery?
All of these traits could coexist within that being—and merge together with astonishing harmony.
"A miracle of nature!!"
At this moment, that was the only phrase that could express the scholars' truest feelings.
Overwhelmed by this sudden pressure, the small Chameleos widened its eyes in disbelief as it looked up at the silver figure in the sky. It had never imagined that this creature—who until these past two days had seemed merely a slightly stronger variant of the Fire Wyvern—
Was in fact one standing at the very pinnacle of the ecological hierarchy.
Moreover, it wasn't the kind of power gained through some special temporary state—this was genuine strength, for the same blood flowed within its body.
Among Elder Dragons, unless they deliberately concealed themselves, they could faintly sense each other's presence.
The Chameleos couldn't quite understand it. The last time Logan had besieged that troublesome fellow in the Coral Highlands, he had seemed merely an ordinary Elder Dragon-class creature—so how had he suddenly become a true Elder Dragon?
Or perhaps, even back then, Logan had still not revealed his full strength?
Feeling deceived, the Chameleos was now both aggrieved and relieved.
Aggrieved, because if this being was also an Elder Dragon, then all that effort to display Elder Dragon dignity before it had made it nothing but a clown—Logan had probably been laughing in secret.
"We're both Elder Dragons, so what were you pretending for, huh?"
Relieved, because after its determined actions, it had somehow managed to become Logan's 'ally' in a sense. In this world, few creatures were willing to face two Elder Dragons at once—it really was brilliantly clever!
Its tail swayed slightly, unintentionally blocking the small Chameleos and shielding it from Logan's overwhelming pressure.
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