Chapter 327 - 287: Entering the Relic

Chapter 327: Chapter 287: Entering the Relic

Including this Phantom Chameleon, Shire had encountered more Magical Beasts than he could count on one hand over the past three months. And aside from a few mutations, these Magical Beasts all more or less retained the appearance of their original biological forms.

Take this Chameleon, for example. Its appearance was like a smaller chameleon scaled up, still possessing the Bone Shield behind its skull and two cannon-like eyes that could rotate 360 degrees.

Furthermore, these Magical Beasts also retained their original survival traits—for example, the cunning of the Fearsome Claw Bear and the Chameleon’s habit of lying in wait. Shire felt that, based on this pattern, they would likely keep these traits even if they eventually grew into the highest form of Magical Beast—a Forest Evil God.

It was just like the Elephant Lord. Its body had grown far taller than even a Giant’s, yet it still led its herd on patrols through the forest, living by the ancient memories of its species. The Feathered Serpent was probably the same.

Serpentine creatures become extremely sluggish when the temperature is particularly low. If it drops below 10 degrees, they cease all activity and begin to hibernate. If this assumption was correct, then as the temperature continued to fall, the Feathered Serpent God would likely enter hibernation. That would be the best time to defeat it. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

Shire walked in the middle of the formation with his hands behind his back, his mind constantly calculating how to deal with the Goblin Kingdom to the north. ’To get the leaves of the Dragon Claw Tree and make Dragon Breath Snuff, I have to take care of that Feathered Serpent. But the current temperature isn’t low enough to force it into hibernation.’

’The Evil God’s Electric Ball hadn’t completely hit Broken Tooth. That was partly because Broken Tooth had awakened the Shadow Shuttling Ability, but it also had to be because the serpent’s reaction time was slowing down in the cold.’

’I need to finish scouting this entire area in the next few days. I have to move quickly, during this lull while the Feathered Serpent Evil God is unable to leave its nest and those goblins haven’t started a new round of attacks.’ Shire looked up at the sky. ’In another month at the earliest, the temperature will definitely drop below 10 degrees. That will be the best time to send troops to attack the Goblin Kingdom.’

Of course, it was an Evil God; it wouldn’t be that easy to deal with. But if he let it recover until next spring, his own tribe would likely be wiped out.

’I wonder if the Elephant Lord and Lust will be reliable when the time comes. If they aren’t, I’ll have to rely on the strength of my tribe alone.’ He lowered his head and gently kicked away a small branch. ’The team’s overall combat performance just now was pretty good, too. If the Feathered Serpent Evil God is in hibernation, we should be able to handle it, right?’

Compared to when they fought the Fearsome Claw Bear, his tribe now was a completely different beast. They were no longer just a group of goblins who only knew how to dig traps and throw Bombs. Now he had Centaurs and Skeleton Warriors, and if things got really desperate, he still had five chances to mobilize the Tree-men. Moreover, the goblins themselves had all grown to different degrees. Take Red Eyes, who had just slain the Phantom Chameleon with a single sword strike. Back when they faced the Fearsome Claw Bear, with the Magical Beast already in a trap, the first thing he did was grab Shire and prepare to flee. If Shire told Oreco and the others about that, they probably wouldn’t believe it at all.

Goblins were interesting creatures. They were experts at fighting when they had the advantage, and because they had such limited experience, their confidence would swell dramatically after a few consecutive easy wins. Just like after they killed the Fearsome Claw Bear, when they faced the Cyan-Eyed Dragon Snake, the little guys didn’t show a hint of fear. This sometimes gave Shire a massive headache. He worried that one day they would meet a truly formidable opponent, suffer a crushing defeat, and lose many goblins. In that moment, the tribe’s inflated confidence might just vanish with a PFFT, like air from a punctured ball.

"We just need to go a little further before we have to change direction." Shire closed the Domain map he had summoned. They were currently following the path trampled out by the Elephant Lord, but up ahead, they needed to turn onto a side path. "Go tell Broken Tooth to scout a little further west, and especially to check if any other Magical Beasts are hiding there."

He ordered one of his goblin subordinates to hurry to the front of the formation and inform Broken Tooth, who was moving through the shadows. After the Phantom Chameleon’s ambush, Shire had become exceptionally cautious. Who knew what other new creatures might leap out of the Nightmare Forest.

However, as if their presence had declared their sovereignty, the group encountered no further danger on their march. They occasionally spotted a few leopards and Forest Grey Wolves, but the menacing aura of the party sent them fleeing immediately. Shire guessed that the bloody scent of the Chameleon had attracted their attention.

"We’re almost there," Shire said, checking the Domain map again. The marker—crossed swords and a question mark—was now very close to his current position. They were cutting through the woods, heading in a straight line toward that location.

"I wonder what’s there," Shire muttered, glancing at the Naga Prince not far away, who was slurping from a floating sphere of Light Beer.

......

After a good deal more time, the party finally arrived at their destination. They had taken two rests along the way, during one of which Pazani had specifically come over to ask where they were going. He had been about to ask if they were just wandering aimlessly, but a single glance from Shire stuffed the rest of his words back down his throat.