Li Fan pondered for a moment and quickly recalled information about the Erosion Dragon Worm.
This was an insect that favored the Dragon-Slaying Fruit as its food.
Places that could bear Dragon-Slaying Fruit were usually inhabited by elder dragons, which was why Erosion Dragon Worms were rarely sighted.
The Guild had a rather negative assessment of the Erosion Dragon Worm.
The reason was not that the insect was particularly dangerous, but rather that its favored food, the Dragon-Slaying Fruit, was a primary ingredient in the production of Dragon-Slayer Bombs.
Dragon-Slayer Bombs were elemental ammunition specifically for elder dragons, requiring a high reserve.
The difficulty and danger involved in finding Dragon-Slaying Fruit in the wild made its acquisition channels extremely limited.
If Erosion Dragon Worms, with nothing better to do, ate some of them, the Dragon-Slaying Fruit would become even harder to obtain, a matter that greatly troubled the Guild.
However, a recent ecological report suggested that when Erosion Dragon Worms consumed enough Dragon-Slaying Fruit and their abdominal sacs were filled with dragon attribute energy, encountering a Zinogre could trigger an activation effect similar to that between a Thunderbug and a Zinogre, transforming them into Super-Charged Erosion Dragon Worms.
Furthermore, there was a connection between the Erosion Dragon Worm and the seed dispersal of the Dragon-Slaying Fruit.
"These Erosion Dragon Worms are after the dragon attribute energy on the ship's hull," Li Fan deduced.
"Elder dragons... oh, they'd turn to ash before we even got close, meow," Dilu exclaimed, realization dawning.
"The Hekstar Stone itself doesn't attract Erosion Dragon Worms, but after being absorbed and converted by the ship's hull, it's been radiating dragon-attribute-like energy. While this energy level might not be significant for colossal monsters, it's just right for Erosion Dragon Worms."
"If this is true, does it count as a new ecological discovery, meow?" Dilu asked excitedly.
"No."
"Ah? Why, meow?"
"If we have to say, it's because the volcanic route is long. By the time we return to headquarters and submit our report, reports from other returning exploration ships will have already been filed," Li Fan explained.
While Erosion Dragon Worms were indeed difficult to spot, given their current attraction, as long as other exploration ships discovered Hekstar Stone veins and recovered them, similar ecological discoveries would inevitably be made.
"I see, meow..." Dilu said with a hint of disappointment.
"We could conduct research on breeding Erosion Dragon Worms and Dragon-Slaying Fruit. If it's confirmed that the seed dispersal of Dragon-Slaying Fruit is linked to Erosion Dragon Worms, we could plant several acres outside the investigation agency and sell only the high-value product, Dragon-Slaying Fruit. Once the cultivation technology matures, we could earn more by selling technology licenses," Li Fan mused.
"Oh! So these Erosion Dragon Worms are quite valuable, meow!" Dilu exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes, but we still need to find a water source and mud to create an isolation layer for the Hekstar Stone vein. Otherwise, this kind of unchecked absorption will lead to severe depletion."
Hekstar Stone was already scarce, and with the potential future use in breeding Erosion Dragon Worms, Li Fan felt that conservation was quite necessary.
Glancing at the map, the Yanhuo headed towards the nearest marked water source.
Less than ten minutes into their journey, Wanni, who was guarding from high above, suddenly descended and alerted them with a roar.
"Something's happening on the ground?" Li Fan went to the ship's railing and looked down.
A Zinogre, running rapidly but with uncoordinated movements, appeared.
The reason it could keep pace with the Yanhuo was primarily its strong climbing ability in the mountains, and the Yanhuo was currently in exploration mode, flying much slower than usual.
Li Fan raised his binoculars for a closer observation.
"One of its head horns is broken, its electrified fur on its chest is almost bald, its right paw is limping, and some of the charged plates on its back have different colors from the surrounding carapace, indicating they're new... but some of the missing charged plates are dark, suggesting they've necrotized... Its condition is quite poor."
After assessing the Zinogre's condition and determining it posed no threat, Li Fan lowered his binoculars.
"The King's Blade, Thunder Cut, is a fairly balanced thunder-attribute great sword. While I haven't experienced the effects of its primary ability, Power Unleashed, perhaps I'll be able to use it in the future..." Li Fan pondered. He felt the most unfortunate aspect was that the Guild likely also believed this severely damaged Zinogre wouldn't cause much trouble in the volcanic region.
Thus, they only mentioned it in the regional brief and did not issue a hunting contract.
"Wait, why is it chasing the airship?" Li Fan wondered for a long time, suddenly noticing something incomprehensible.
At this moment, an Erosion Dragon Worm on the ship's hull was jostled off by its fellows that had swarmed in.
After circling twice and failing to squeeze back in, it could only land on the top of the railing, absorbing the residual dragon attribute energy from the periphery.
Li Fan stared at the Erosion Dragon Worm for a moment, then looked at the pursuing Zinogre below, and a thought struck him.
"Could this Zinogre be trying to... mutate into a Zinogre?"
Monsters actively seeking mutation, especially towards a subspecies, was extremely rare.
This would explain its presence in the volcanic region.
This area had the highest concentration of elder dragons, providing a habitat for Dragon-Slaying Fruit to grow, and thus, Erosion Dragon Worms would naturally appear.
However, even though the method of attracting and controlling flying insects was similar, there were still differences, as they utilized different energy attributes.
Given the limited threat posed by this Zinogre, Li Fan did not rush into action but chose to observe for a while.
After all, he had no clue yet.
He had considered capturing a Zinogre, which would allow him to begin training to resist elder dragon pressure.
However, the latest sighting reports from both the Guild and the Dragon Calendar Institute were from half a year ago.
Moreover, Zinogres preferred to inhabit extreme environments, making it even harder to find their traces.
The fact that this Zinogre could actively seek mutation indicated that, based on its instincts or past experiences, it believed there was a possibility.
This was a good start.
*Splash! Whoosh!*
About ten minutes later, they were nearing the designated water source. Perhaps due to exhaustion from the prolonged pursuit, the Zinogre's severely worn front paw lost its grip as it leaped across a cliff, causing it to fall backward into the ravine.
"Perfect, you can rest for a while." Li Fan noted the location of the fall and decided to check on it when they returned.
Soon after, a peculiar landscape appeared.
On either side of a shallow beach, rivers flowed, and lava bubbled.
The team descended to the riverbank, scattering the small animals drinking there.
Shasha tested the soil, confirmed it was suitable for mud, and began digging a water channel from the riverbank by butting its head into the ground.
Then, it dug a deep pit and repeatedly rolled and pressed its back carapace within it.
"I heard volcanic water is very rich in minerals. How about we collect some in a bucket?" Yudora inquired.
"Let's finish collecting the mud quickly and go see..." Li Fan was saying when he suddenly saw the Zinogre, panting heavily, appear on a rock platform not far away.
The Zinogre seemed unconcerned by the team and instead looked up at the Yanhuo hovering low in the sky, letting out continuous roars.
"Roar~ Roar~ Roar~"
The agitated Erosion Dragon Worms on the ship's hull quickly quieted down.
"Roar~ Roar~ Roar~"
The Zinogre's charged plates on its back opened.
After a brief silence, the Erosion Dragon Worms became agitated again, continuing to scramble for positions to absorb dragon attribute energy.
"Roar~..."
"Stop roaring, can't you see your roars hold no attraction for the Erosion Dragon Worms?" Li Fan interrupted.
Hearing the human voice, the Zinogre first tensed and lowered its body, looking around the rock platform before spotting the hunter team by the river.
The Zinogre narrowed its eyes, vaguely feeling that these two hunters looked familiar, especially the female hunter carrying a great sword.
However, the aura emanating from their armor made it reluctant to approach and investigate.
"Oh... Oh! It's you!" Yudora was the first to recognize it.
"You're... the fleeing King's Fang Great Sword!"
"That's a bit much, Yudora, that's the name of the equipment," Li Fan reminded her.
"It is, isn't it? If the King's Fang Great Sword hadn't escaped in Kalara Village, I could have... well, with so many people involved, the materials wouldn't have been enough for a great sword... Let's call you Zinogre Bracers then." Yudora changed its name.
The Zinogre pawed at the ground, its eyes glinting fiercely, but after a moment of hesitation, it still made no move to attack.
Clearly, it judged that in its current state, it might not be a match for the two hunters.
"Wait for me a moment, don't rush to attack," Li Fan said softly and walked towards the rock platform where the Zinogre was.
He released the insect cage and let out Bulb.
The Zinogre's vigilance gradually subsided.
As the Silver Crown Ball was thrown, an Erosion Dragon Worm emerged from the ball, and the Zinogre straightened up in surprise.
"Dragon-Dragon! Come back! Don't go to the airship!"
Under Li Fan's shouts, the Erosion Dragon Worm, Dragon-Dragon, circled briefly and continued to fly upwards.
"If you don't listen, I'll break your wings!"
Dragon-Dragon plummeted rapidly and flew back to the shallow beach.
"This is a Thunderbug, and this is an Erosion Dragon Worm. Which one do you want to symbiosis with?" Li Fan gestured with his hands as he spoke.
The Zinogre leaned towards the Erosion Dragon Worm and let out two roars.
"Bulb, Dragon-Dragon, go and try to activate it." Li Fan gave the instruction.
"Huh? If you're going anyway, why ask?" Yudora was confused.
"I want to test if it can understand what I'm saying. If it can, then we can... have a deeper conversation."
"Uh... you meant 'trick' just now, right?" Yudora probed tentatively.
As the two flying insects approached, the Zinogre held its head high, waiting for them to land.
However, the two flying insects circled continuously, unwilling to land. Finally, Dragon-Dragon spun and accelerated, bumping into Bulb and knocking it onto the charged plates on its back.
The sparse electrified fur on its chest bristled, and several blue currents flashed.
However, as the electric light flowed to its back, it did not trigger an activation, turning Bulb into a Super-Charged Thunderbug.
As expected, once the ability to activate Super-Charged Thunderbugs disappeared, it could no longer attract Thunderbugs.
But the condition of its charged plates seemed okay. Could it have injured its internal organs?
After Bulb fled, Dragon-Dragon also attempted an activation effect test, and the result... it was electrocuted unconscious.
Li Fan helplessly pressed his forehead to his hand, recalling a saying from society.
Different circles, no need to force integration.
Seeing that the mud was ready and Yudora was loading it, Li Fan said helplessly, "Alright, our communication ends here."
He certainly wanted the mutation to succeed, but the problem was that, based on the experience summarized from Kuku, achieving the correct Zinogre mutation would require at least a Dragon Attribute Jewel.
As the team prepared to leave, the Zinogre did not immediately show anything but turned and ran away quickly.
Just as the two large barrels filled with mud were being hoisted, the Zinogre, carrying a huge bone club in its mouth, returned and reappeared on the rock platform.
*Crack! Crack!*
The Zinogre easily crushed the weathered bone club and chewed it in its mouth.
"Is that... an ancient dragon bone?" Li Fan, on the shallow beach, said uncertainly.
"Let me see, meow... Yes, it's ancient dragon bone!" Dilu exclaimed, quickly identifying it with binoculars.
"What is it trying to prove?"
*Cough cough... roar... cough..*
As if choked by the bone powder, the Zinogre coughed a few times and continued to swallow.
"Zinogres are carnivorous monsters and usually ingest some bone matter when they eat, but this bone, weathered for who knows how many years in a bone tomb, clearly cannot serve as food... Could it be that this is the substance that triggers its mutation?" Li Fan considered a possibility, but could not be sure.
"Can't we capture the Zinogre Bracers first?" Yudora inquired.
"Its ability to communicate with me is mainly due to its interest in Thunderbugs and Erosion Dragon Worms. This is vastly different from making it submit and willingly be captured," Li Fan explained.
"Then beat it up?" Yudora asked.
"It seems something... has emerged from the lava, meow," Dilu said, watching the lava surge.
In the lava pool on the other side of the shallow beach, a small mound began to rise.
A moment later, as lava spilled, pieces of carapace resembling white mountain rocks were exposed.
*Thump! Thump!*
Heavy footsteps echoed from within the bubbling orange lava pool.
A head, entirely encased in white rock, emerged from the lava.
"It's a Cephalos, meow!"
"What rotten luck, appearing at this time..."
"Roar~ Roar~ Roar~" Li Fan was halfway through his sentence when the Zinogre's roars began again.
"Big brother, are you afraid the Cephalos won't see you?" Li Fan was speechless.
The Cephalos, stepping onto the shallow beach from the lava, shook its body to dislodge the lava clinging to its carapace.
Hearing the monster's commotion, the Cephalos turned its neck and looked at the Zinogre on the rock platform.
"Roar!" A circular sonic wave emanated from the Cephalos's mouth, a fierce roar.
The little fool Wanni, high in the sky, heard the roar and swiftly swooped down.
After the team ascended, the Zinogre's roars continued unabated.
Li Fan understood that this was not a provocation towards the Cephalos.
Zinogres had their own distinct roars used to threaten enemies.
These roars were generally used during charging to send a guiding signal to Thunderbugs, directing them to converge on its back.
"Stop roaring, or you'll lose your life. Little fool, give it a fireball..."
Just as Li Fan was about to step in and warn it.
Within the blue current gathering on the Zinogre's electrified fur, a flash of red and black lightning suddenly appeared.
Li Fan thought he was mistaken and rubbed his eyes.
The result was that, although faint, more red and black lightning appeared.
It's really possible! But what's the principle...
The charged plates were keratin, with similarities to bone composition.
Ancient dragon bones did indeed contain trace amounts of dragon attribute energy, and due to their relatively low acquisition difficulty, they were a primary material for making Dragon-Breaking Orbs.
The current intake and duration were unknown, but if fed with ancient dragon bones containing stronger and purer dragon attribute energy...
A path for mutation appeared in Li Fan's mind.