Bear School Astartes

”Dragon gems...”

On the way back to the Star Base, Lann said while looking at the anxious Wende.

This seasoned and powerful Hunter also seemed to be a believer in the luck conservation theory.

Personally extracting two dragon gems from a two-star monster, this kind of luck made him cautious even when stepping over a tree root.

”Is it a rare material similar to the energy core or nucleus of monsters?”

Lann seemed to have seen this kind of setting in ancient fantasy novels.

Setting aside the superstitious Wende, Aibo provided an answer.

”Dragon gems are indeed rare materials; many powerful pieces of equipment require them to be crafted. However, they are not the energy core or nucleus of monsters, but more like stones formed in monsters’ bodies.”

”The type of concept material you’re talking about... well, if you insist, maybe it’s only found on ancient dragons.”

Lann, having gained more knowledge, felt satisfied.

When they returned to the ancient tree forest camp, the three people and a cat discovered more anomalies they hadn’t noticed before.

For instance, the path they cleared through dense bushes and vines just this morning had regrown to the point where they needed to cut through again on their way back.

This growth speed completely exceeded human understanding.

Even fungi couldn’t grow this fast!

”This isn’t normal either.”

Lann said firmly while unsheathing the Lady of the Lake’s Sword to clear the way.

Wende was in a mode where he barely moved or spoke, clutching his bag of materials and supplies, focused on getting through his ’luck balance trough’ with no losses.

Gaffi was also perched on his shoulder, vigilantly watching for any movement.

Lann wondered why this man and his cat were so superstitious, perhaps they had indeed suffered from bad luck before.

”Although the lush ecology of the ancient tree forest has surpassed my imagination, if it continues to grow at this speed, I don’t think the forest’s area would only be several tens of thousands of square kilometers.”

Aibo nodded in agreement.

”The trees and vines of the ancient tree forest are the land itself; if they grow this fast, then theoretically, there shouldn’t be stable terrain, and the ecosystem built on the land wouldn’t be as stable as it is now.”

The three people and a cat rushed, practically reopening a path in the forest, and finally made it back to the camp by the time the sun was setting.

The three travel winged dragons that brought them were leisurely perched on the camp’s stands, cawing.

At this point, Lann didn’t dwell on feeling like ’hanging dried meat’ with the flying posture, and the three people and a cat quickly used the grappling hooks to latch onto the winged dragons’ saddles, flying back to the Star Base.

When they arrived at the base, they met Little Jack, who was returning with the remaining members of the Fifth Period Team from their training.

These people didn’t look very tired; after all, they were elites from the Old Continent before coming to the New Continent.

However, the thoughtful expressions on their faces indicated they likely discovered some physical discomfort during their activities in the New Continent.

”Hey!”

Little Jack and Aiden waved at them enthusiastically from the ground.

With the usual warmth and cheer, it made Lann feel like they hadn’t seen each other for a long time.

Aibo and Wende landed the winged dragons.

”So, how was your first hunt in the New Continent?”

Little Jack asked with a smile, hands on his hips.

But quickly, he and Aiden noticed the unusual expressions on the three faces.

”We found ecological anomalies during the hunt, we need to report to the Commander-in-Chief.”

Aibo’s summary made Little Jack’s face turn serious.

Ecological anomalies, those words were like the highest alarm for Hunters in this world.

”Got it, follow me, we’ll head straight to the Commander-in-Chief.”

Little Jack nodded seriously, then turned to say.

”Aiden, you take the rest back to the base for rest.”

”Leave it to me.”

Brother Sunshine, with his light red mohawk, patted his chest in agreement.

So the three men and a cat, with Little Jack, headed for the Commander-in-Chief’s office, where he had yet to rest.

This was essentially the bow of the dismantled ocean-going ship used for the construction of the Star Base.

The ship’s bow was equipped with a command table and maps, documents, and the like, to facilitate the Commander-in-Chief’s work.

A sturdy old man with graying hair and tanned skin could tell something was up the moment he saw this group approaching.

Aibo and Wende didn’t say much; they just pushed the ecological survey book and two dragon gems to the Commander-in-Chief.

”Ecological anomaly, Commander-in-Chief.”

It should be said that this veteran Commander who led the New Continent Expedition Team in taking root in an unknown environment for decades was truly remarkable.

These words that made Little Jack’s face change drastically only caused the Commander-in-Chief to frown slightly.

He pushed the two dragon gems aside, opened Aibo’s large book, and while quickly flipping through it, he said.

”I recommend the group provide me with a brief explanation first. Squad leader, go gather the department heads, we need to hold an emergency meeting.”

Very soon, the department heads of the Expedition Team gathered on the ship’s remnant bow.

Aibo then explained the anomalies they encountered to everyone at the emergency meeting.

”Well...Indeed, these are changes we haven’t encountered in the past decades.”

The Director of the Ecological Institute mused while stroking his beard.

This was one of the Dragon-man Race scholars whom Wende recommended Lann to consult.

The Dragon-man Race was a minority closely integrated with human society in this world. They had only four fingers on their hands and feet, and their feet had a reverse joint structure, resembling Werewolves. However, their bodies were pale and hairless.

They had pointy ears and lived long lives, mostly working as scholars or researchers.

The Shield Axe, an item, was initially developed by a Dragon-man from the Old Continent.

However, these Dragon-men were slender when young but would shrink significantly when old, becoming as tall as an average person’s thigh like a mini old man.

The Director speaking now was one of those mini old men.

Judging by his age, he might have even witnessed the birth of the Hunter profession in person.

”But there must be reasons for the ecological mutations, and the cause of such drastic changes would not go unnoticed...The only ’explosive news’ recently is the landing of that big guy, right?”

Everyone knew who the ’big guy’ referred to—Molten Mountain Dragon.

”Ancient dragons indeed possess unfathomable power, but isn’t it a bit too fast?”

The logistics chief, a dark-skinned woman with a Latin vibe, stood with her arms crossed, looking worried.

”Even counting from the time Molten Mountain Dragon stepped onto the continental shelf of the New Continent, calculating its effect on the New Continent, it’s only been a little over a week, let alone it officially landed only yesterday.”