Eli Winters wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth and slowly rose to his feet, his gaze fixed on the ratfolk Sage leading the way ahead. The elder's steps were steady and deliberate as he guided them toward a hidden underground chamber. Without hesitation, Big Pan and the others followed closely behind, filing in one after another.
Lang Yan had already taken his leave during the feast. Judging by his hurried departure, he had likely rushed back to the front lines, burdened by responsibilities that could not wait.
The underground chamber was far larger than anyone had expected. It felt like a vast treasury buried deep beneath the earth. The walls were lined with dense rows of instruments and devices, complex and intricate in design. Sadly, all of them were silent now, relics of a once-ambitious research effort that had long since lost its vitality.
The ratfolk Sage sighed softly as he walked. "After decades without meaningful results, all research here was halted twenty years ago."
As he spoke, he stopped in front of a massive, square metal container. It looked heavy and unyielding, its surface reinforced with thick plating. The top was sealed with an enormous slab of transparent glass. Through it, everyone could clearly see a flawless white egg resting quietly on a cushion of soft fabric.
The egg was nearly half a person's height, perfectly oval and smooth. A faint, mist-like aura drifted from its shell, gentle and soothing, filling the chamber with an air of mystery.
"This egg has existed for over seven hundred years," the Sage said, his voice tinged with regret. "Its history is nearly as long as that of our beastfolk. From the moment it was discovered, we never stopped trying to hatch it. Yet every attempt ended in failure."
Eli stared at the egg, curiosity burning in his eyes. "Do you know what race it belongs to?"
All he had known came from the mysterious map he had followed to Starfall Island. The map had mentioned only the existence of a special egg, nothing more. To be honest, if that map had not come from the system itself, he likely would not have gone through so much trouble for it.
The ratfolk Sage shook his head slowly. "We do not. However, during our research, we discovered one thing. The light surrounding the egg possesses extremely powerful healing properties. That alone was enough to make us unwilling to abandon our studies, even after centuries."
Eli felt a quiet shock ripple through him. He had not expected such an ability from what appeared to be a simple egg.
The Sage looked at him seriously. "Eli Winters, are you certain you want to take it with you? I must be honest. Judging by everything we know, hatching it will be extraordinarily difficult. It has shown no signs of life for over seven hundred years."
Eli waved a hand dismissively, a confident smile spreading across his face. "No need to worry. Even if it never hatches, it would still make a fine decoration."
The Sage chuckled helplessly. "Very well."
He walked to a nearby control console and pressed a switch. With a soft mechanical click, the glass panel slowly slid open. The white egg gently levitated upward, bathed in a soft glow, pristine and translucent, as though filled with boundless vitality.
Eli stepped forward and carefully cradled the egg in his arms. The moment he touched it, a strange sensation flowed through his entire body. It felt like the most luxurious full-body massage he had ever experienced, every muscle and nerve soothed to perfection.
Joy flickered in his eyes. Just this effect alone had made the journey worthwhile.
With his objective complete, Eli saw no reason to linger. He nodded to the Sage and turned toward the exit with the egg in his arms, his companions following behind.
When they emerged back into the open air, warm sunlight spilled over them. Eli glanced up at the sky, realizing it was already afternoon.
"Eli Winters," the Sage said sincerely, "why not stay here for the night? Allow me to show you proper hospitality."
Eli smiled and shook his head. "Thank you, but we will not trouble you. Starfall Island is too beautiful not to explore."
The Sage nodded, then produced a silver-white token and handed it to him. "Take this. It is my personal insignia. On Starfall Island, any beastfolk who see it will assist you without question."
Eli accepted it with gratitude, thanked him once more, and soon he and the others rose into the air, departing the forest like birds.
Throughout the entire exchange, Eli never asked why the Demon Bone-Sea had been so determined to attack Starfall Island. To him, it was not his concern.
Still, deep beneath the pavilion earlier, he had clearly sensed an aura eerily similar to that of the Demon Bone-Sea.
The ratfolk Sage stood quietly at the pavilion entrance, watching until Eli and his group vanished from sight. The faint warmth on his face slowly faded, replaced by a calm, emotionless stillness.
Soft footsteps approached.
A graceful foxfolk woman emerged from the pavilion and stopped beside him. Lowering her voice, she said, "He noticed me."
The Sage paused, then shook his head. "It does not matter. His strength is unfathomable. We cannot afford to provoke someone like him."
The foxfolk frowned. "Now that the Demon Bone-Sea is dead, the beastfolk will soon turn on each other. The weaker clans will suffer."
The Sage's eyes turned cold. "With my current influence, I can suppress them for a time. But we must urge Rat Nine and the others to accelerate their work on the new demonization potion. If there are no external threats, then we will create our own. Controlled threats. When the time comes, Starfall Island will belong to us entirely."
For the weak, failure to act meant eventual enslavement.
Elsewhere, Eli and his group settled into a decent inn within the inner city. Their arrival caused quite a stir. Curious beastfolk gathered, asking about the outside world.
Big Pan released a hint of his aura.
The pressure alone sent the crowd scrambling away.
Back in their room, everyone gathered around the white egg, eyes gleaming with excitement.
"It's beautiful," Felina said, gently touching it. "And it feels amazing."
Chiyo placed her hand on it as well. "It really does wash away fatigue."
Everyone tried it and stared in amazement.
Eli laughed. "I have no idea what it is. Any ideas on how to hatch it?"
Big Pan grinned. "Maybe we roast it over fire?"
Eli smacked him. "You just want to eat it."
Big Pan coughed. "I am not that kind of panda."
Eli suddenly remembered that Big Pan himself had once been an egg.
He acted immediately.
With a small knife, he cut his palm. His body was so tough that the blade barely scratched him. Only after coating it with Armament Haki did blood finally flow.
The blood touched the egg.
The egg trembled slightly, absorbing it.
It worked.
He added more blood. Still nothing.
"Try too," Eli said.
Their blood slid off harmlessly.
Only his worked.
Gritting his teeth, Eli cut his palm deeply and let the blood pour out.
The egg reacted violently.
At last, a crack formed.
A small claw emerged, followed by a wet, snow-white creature with twin horns and vivid purple eyes.
It stumbled toward Eli.
He caught it gently.
The creature nuzzled his hand affectionately.
Eli smiled.
Bai Ze.
A divine beast of legend. Wise, benevolent, and a harbinger of fortune.
Whatever form it took in this world, it would not be weak.
And just like that, his team gained a powerful new companion.