That's right, a profiteer.
This was Logan's evaluation of Ahtal-Ka; he did not know whether he should call it simple or call it heartless. In short, it would definitely expect a return whenever it took action. Over these past few years, the ones who had been fleecing the Research Commission were not just Logan and the creatures on the Ancient Tree; just that one ancient ruin alone, all the excavation and development and such had required Ahtal-Ka's cooperation and assistance.
So over these years, Ahtal-Ka had also earned a full basin and brimming pots from the Research Commission here; not only had it further improved Annihilation No. 1, it had even made a 1:1 life-sized figure of Logan.
According to the cat that had always been in contact with Ahtal-Ka, Ahtal-Ka's next step apparently was to make another life-sized figure of Aki.
For no other reason than to place it in its Ahtal-Neset to look nice.
Moreover, as Ahtal-Ka's Ahtal-Neset grew more complete, it finally began to emit a pheromone-like scent, attracting those masterless, not-very-strong male Ahtal-Ka to fill its own nest while at the same time serving as reserve food.
As for Logan and Ahtal-Ka's arrival and the Admiral and the others' return, the members of the Research Commission who had originally still been somewhat uneasy now also felt much more at ease at this moment.
Under the Admiral's firm and confidence-filled, encouragement-like speech, the people inside Astera also surged with hot blood.
It had to be said that even with the arrival of the Third Fleet, the Admiral's prestige was still as high as ever; it seemed that so long as he was there, the Research Commission would have a backbone, and even the Commander, who was usually responsible for giving orders and setting the overall direction, became a supporting role at this moment.
This was precisely the Admiral's personal charisma, and also the reason he could make the First Fleet members, who themselves were already the very top-tier talents, wholeheartedly convinced.
"He always has that kind of magic; as long as he is there, we will not feel any fear."
Standing below the stage with her arms folded across her chest, the Field Master seemed to be speaking both to the expressionless Wyverian hunter beside her and to herself.
"He is just that kind of person; we all know that, don't we?"
The Insect Glaive swayed lightly; the Wyverian hunter looked at the Kinsect at the tip of the staff that had already accompanied him for several decades, and endless fighting intent surged up in his pitch-black pupils.
"Old partner, before life burns out, fight alongside me one last time."
On the Insect Glaive, the patterns on the body of the old Kinsect that had already been used very little over these past few years were now slightly mottled; red light lit up at the tip of its tail, and amid the buzzing sound of its wings, it responded to its old master's request.
It was very old, but it could still fly!!
...
The storm was about to arrive; it was unknown whether it was because Yama Tsukami was about to arrive, or because of a normal change in the natural weather.
The air pressure by the sea today seemed frighteningly low, and thick dark clouds rolled up in the sky.
The sea breeze drew the waves to crash heavily against the foot of the cliffs, producing rushing sounds, as if playing a tune for the war that was about to arrive.
In the coastal waters, the liaison ship's captain held a monocular telescope in his hand, continuously sweeping the distant sky.
The defensive works of the members of the Research Commission had already been completed, and a group of logistics personnel had already headed toward the depths of the forest under the escort of the Grimalkynes and the Felynes.
Beside the Celestial Pursuit, Logan gripped the prow, quietly gazing beyond the horizon. Down below, the Chameleos mother and child were lying there lazily, and a faint mist had already appeared in the air.
Don't get the wrong idea; it's only for refreshing and clearing the mind.
Unlike the Research Commission, which needed to rely on telescopes to observe, as Yama Tsukami drew closer and closer to the New World, Logan and Mother Chameleos could sense with increasing clarity the life energy that the other side was recklessly releasing.
They had already judged roughly how long it would take for the other side to arrive, and thus were not anxious in the least.
And in the circulation area on the first floor of Astera, Ahtal-Ka had already assembled Annihilation No. 1; golden threads conducting energy had long since twined around those heavy pieces of metal, and the enormous metallic monster a full fifty meters long was just standing there on the planked circulation area.
All around had already been cleared; all obstructive buildings had long since been dismantled, all just to give Ahtal-Ka a suitable space to fight.
"Gwa!" (When the time comes you take the main offensive and I'll support; be careful not to raise the surrounding temperature too high. If you disperse all of my fog then, those little people down below may not necessarily be able to be kept safe, gwa.)
Chameleos raised her head; her two large eyeballs rotated 180 degrees to look straight at Logan.
"Roar!" (We can talk about that when the time comes. Once the real fighting starts, who will be able to pay attention to that much?)
Logan responded calmly. In a battle of this level, how could you possibly control that many things? The result of daring to hold back would be getting beaten up violently, so he could only say he would do his best.
Upon hearing this, Mother Chameleos also fell silent and began to mobilize the energy organs within her body; this time's opponent was finally about to arrive!
...
"I see it, I see it!! The landing point should be a bit east of Astera!"
The liaison ship with its sails full sped back; before it had even fully docked, the voice of the liaison ship's captain shouting could already be heard.
"Fire the signal flares and draw Yama Tsukami over here!"
At the former meeting platform, now the frontline command post for battle, the Commander waved his hand and immediately gave the order.
Rather than waiting for Yama Tsukami to land and then come from the other side over to Astera, it was better to fire the signal flares right away and lead it into the encirclement.
Astera had abundant freshwater resources; Yama Tsukami could not possibly pass this place up.
Therefore, it was best for the Research Commission to fully seize the initiative.
On the other side, as the members of the Research Commission began to move, Logan also actively ascended into the air, releasing the Elder Dragon aura on his body at full force without concealing it, treating himself as a conspicuous signal to help the Research Commission attract Yama Tsukami's gaze.
At the same time, not far behind the mountain at the rear of the Research Commission, two blazing clusters of light also lit up at the same time, and the scorching heat instantly drove the air temperature around Astera up. The originally thin medicine mist from Chameleos also evaporated in an instant.
Mother Chameleos raised her head resentfully to look at Logan, wanting to let out a few "gwa" cries to complain. They had clearly agreed to go easy, so how did he raise the temperature this high all at once?
But she found that this surge of heat was not caused by Logan; the familiar Flame Dragon couple at this moment had also released their auras. Very clearly, they were the other Elder Dragons that had come this time to carry out the interception.
Mother Chameleos shrank back again.
Alright then? Counting those four Elder Dragons plus Ahtal-Ka, whose combat power was close to Dangerous First-Class Monsters, it could be seen that the consciousness of nature seemed somewhat unwelcoming toward the arrival of this uninvited guest.
This lineup was clearly aimed at driving the other side away, rather than, as with Elder Dragons targeting Elder's Crossing, giving a lesson and showing off some muscle so that the other side would restrain itself before being allowed in.
The wind suddenly stopped!
Logan beat his wings at full strength, forcibly halting the howling gale.
Amid the rolling clouds, Yama Tsukami, with its mouth wide open, slowly lowered its altitude; the clouds no longer rolled. Very clearly, the violent wind from just now had merely been a byproduct of it using a blowing method to speed up its own floating.
Its pair of eyes, as still as an ancient well, looked toward Logan and the others, seeming not to mind in the slightest being stared at by three Elder Dragons.
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