Bear School Astartes

A celebratory banquet that turned misfortune into blessing ended lively among the Investigation Team.

Everyone was happy but not indulgent. Those who came to the New Continent were already the elites honed on the Old Continent; they all had good self-control.

After drinking just the right amount to reach a pleasant buzz, the banquet began to slowly disperse.

Lann still shared a room with Aiden, just like before.

However, Wende, who originally lived with them, seemed to be performing remarkably well in the Investigation Team recently. While the team had no substantial rewards to offer as recognition, the Commander-in-Chief decided to upgrade his housing.

He had a large room specially modified by the Workshop District as a reward.

It’s said that on the day he moved, his smug demeanor made even the cheerful Aiden want to hit him.

Of course, if it were a real fight, he definitely couldn’t win.

"Let him live alone!" Aiden said in a ’jealous but trying not to show it’ tone, "Besides that big glass observation mirror embedded at the pond’s bottom, what fun is there in that room? Can it chat? Hmm?"

Lann immediately nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, yes, indeed."

But when Lann had a couple of drinks with the Commander-in-Chief, he heard that Wende’s performance was still advancing by leaps and bounds.

The originally stagnant ecological research activities for both the Land Coral Plateau and Valley of Miasma regions were progressing rapidly thanks to this ’Superpower Hunter’s’ forceful support.

The Commander-in-Chief believed it wouldn’t be long before he had to upgrade Wende’s housing specifications again.

However, perhaps due to a lack of skill in constructing such ’reward-natured luxurious housing,’ when building the first one, the workshop craftsmen set the bar too high, making it difficult to lower expectations for the second.

With no other options, the Commander-in-Chief could only consider building a courtyard on the mountain top.

That is, behind the offshore ship that was swept to the mountain peak during the conflict between the Steel Dragon and an unknown Ancient Dragon when landing on the New Continent.

A courtyard built at the mountaintop behind the ship would serve as encouragement for Wende’s accomplishments.

However, that’s a matter for the future. For now, luckily a berth has opened, and Belengar got a place to stay, sharing a room with Aiden and Lann.

Tishaya was arranged to stay in a vacant female room.

After a night.

Having first experienced the hot weather of the Great Ant Mound Desert, she soon rushed to the Ancient Tree Forest.

After a day of jolting through and losing the Chaos Magic Power environment, Tishaya felt incredibly light upon waking up.

The fresh sea breeze and air of the New Continent flowed outside as she opened her door and stepped out.

Water from the heights was intercepted by mechanical devices, turning it into a gentle waterfall.

Even the gaps in the wood floors made from dried timber seemed eager to sprout grass due to the vibrant Life Force, with some of the flooring already growing into a complete piece.

"Good morning."

Lann leaned against the railing, smiling as he greeted the Female Warlock.

His profile bathed in the morning light over the sea made Tishaya instinctively tighten the collar of the borrowed sleepwear from the Investigation Team’s females.

"Did you sleep well?"

The Demon Hunter casually asked, brushing the molten silver strands blown across his face by the sea breeze back.

"It’s a fantastic environment, although the bed is a bit hard, and the table is just a plank cut directly from the tree – not at all regular."

Tishaya walked barefoot across the wooden floor to Lann’s side, gazing at the distant sea and the endless forest grown from Ancient Trees.

"But it’s strange; I thought both my body and instincts should be accustomed to Chaos Magic Power. Yet, here, without it, I don’t feel uncomfortable at all."

As she spoke, Tishaya curiously examined her hand.

Usually, with just a thought, this hand would glow. But now, there was no sign of movement.

Lann glanced sideways at the Female Warlock.

The sleepwear borrowed from the Investigation Team’s females... it’s called sleepwear, but it’s really just a shirt.

The shirt hem barely covered her hips, leaving the Female Warlock’s beautifully contoured, slender legs exposed completely bare.

"Ahem." The Demon Hunter coughed politely twice as a reminder.

While such attire was nothing unusual to the Female Warlock, as Tishaya once communicated with him using the Thousand-Mile Telescope wrapped only in a towel after bathing, with water still dripping down her body.

Her unconcerned demeanor practically treated him like a child.

Although, in terms of age, it was true; but still, one had to be mindful in the New Continent.

"Change clothes, Tishaya. Our time here is short; we must hurry up with the business at hand."

The Demon Hunter extended his thumb, pointing behind him.

That direction is the location of the first arena built at the Star Base.

The Female Warlock glanced sidelong at the young Demon Hunter calmly watching her, then chuckled softly and turned back to her room.

When Lann and Tishaya descended from the residential area, they navigated the winding paths, along various wooden staircases built against the mountain, heading towards the arena.

On the way, Lann and Tishaya had a limited discussion on how to seal the chaos magic power carried by the Fog Nest Master’s corpse.

But in fact, most of it was Tishaya explaining her thoughts, while Lann simply tried to understand.

After all, such matters are typically handled by formal Casters, with Demon Hunters rarely getting the opportunity to mix in, lacking experience.

Upon arriving at the arena built with layers of thick giant trees, many people were already bustling about.

The arena largely resembled the setting when Lann and the Ecological Research Institute dissected the Fierce Claw Barbaric Jaws Dragon.

Rock foundations held a layer of compacted yellow earth, and there were special terrains designed for Hunters to fully display their hunting skills.

Like stone steps or gentle slopes.

Of course, these terrains sometimes instead cause hunters who aren’t too skilled to have their blood pressure skyrocket.

Like when a Tachi User executes the Dragon Ascending Sword, the moment of impact has them stepping on the edge of the steps, twisting their ankle while slashing askew...

And today, the arena would fulfill another of its functions — a monstrous dissection research ground.

"Hey! Long time no see, looking quite spirited today, Wende!"

Before Lann and Tishaya even entered the arena, the Demon Hunter raised his hand, familiarly greeting a Hunter leaning against the door, gulping down an energy drink.

This Hunter was dressed in a set of extremely stylish and sophisticated equipment.

The red material was made to resemble exposed muscle structures, wrapping the entire body, yet if examined closely, the patterns are somewhat like dancing flames.

Bone materials were used for the gauntlets and boots, fashioned into claw shapes.

On the head was a similarly red demon face, carrying a hint of Japanese style.

Lann always felt that many regions of the Old Continent in this world shared cultural similarities with many cultures from his homeland world.

Due to the full-covering demon face helmet, Lann actually didn’t recognize the person.

But the ginger yellow Elu Cat at this Hunter’s feet, clutching the glass bottle with two little paws and tilting its head to drink the energy drink, was recognized by Lann.

That was Wende’s hunting partner, Gaffi.

"Yes, long time no see, you really had me running ragged since you arrived."

After downing a bottle of refreshing beverage, Wende’s voice indeed came from beneath the demon face helmet.

"I received an emergency notice yesterday and had to hurry to the Great Ant Mound Wasteland transfer base to repel a Flame King Dragon. After hastily departing, I got caught hanging on a Wyvern until midnight, only to be chased down and told things were fine there and to return to Star Base."

This guy, outside fighting, while his mouth wasn’t as dirty, still couldn’t avoid the tone of complaint.

"Really not letting people rest at all!"

Standing at his feet, Gaffi also finished its refreshing energy drink, old and sorrowful, echoed.

"Not letting people rest at all, meow~"

Wende hung on the Wyvern until midnight, so Gaffi must have been hanging on Wende’s leg all night as well.

Using Wyverns as transportation is something that ordinary people really can’t handle easily.

The ginger-faced Elu Cat shook its head and sighed while packing the emptied glass bottle back into the bag.

Furthermore, this superpower Hunter who is proficient in all hunting weapons was now carrying a pair of dual blades on his back. It seemed they were Ice Attribute Weapons made from Wind Drifter Dragon materials.

What Hunters call Water Attribute Weapons use organ called "Water Bladder" from monster bodies to produce water with outstanding biological permeability.

That type of water, when hit on the body, can directly penetrate, disrupting electrolyte balance and causing water poisoning.

Whereas Ice Attribute Weapons use the "Ice Bag" to produce special freezing gas.

This freezing gas can easily freeze water molecules in the air into ice crystals, which then quickly melt. Although the melting process is faster than normal, the heat removal remains substantial.

Thus, it can effectively lower the prey’s body temperature, weakening the prey’s physical performance.

Both Water Attribute and Ice Attribute can have a notably successful effect against Flame King Dragon.

It was evident that even in the extremely short time after receiving the emergency notification, Wende still relied on his experience and standards to propose specific plans for dealing with the Flame King Dragon.

Wende raised the demon face of his helmet, revealing his face.

For rough-nerved Investigation Team members, even grievances are just fleeting emotions.

Thus, now Wende’s face was more curious than anything else.

"Heard that you’re trying to pull the Terror Tyrannosaurus corpse that escaped to your world back here... can you really do that?"

"I can’t, but as for what’s called ’Magic’..."

Lann continued walking past Wende, followed naturally by the Hunter and Elu Cat.