Chapter 384 - 11: Reconnaissance of the West and East, Part 2

Chapter 384: Chapter 11: Reconnaissance of the West and East, Part 2

However, this was perhaps to be expected in a natural environment. Larger trees monopolized the nutrients and sunlight, leaving only low-lying grass around them with no room for other trees to survive.

The flocks of birds, which were the transformed Fierce Raptor Druids, flew over one great tree after another, occasionally stopping in the canopies to observe.

On the first day, the Fierce Raptor Druids made no discoveries.

On the grasslands beneath the great trees, wave after wave of Crystalized Creatures formed groups and ran toward the World Tree Territory and the territories of the other humans.

These creatures were angular and covered in exoskeletal armor, with sharp fangs and teeth. The skills possessed by each squad were complementary.

Beyond that, the Fierce Raptor Druids discovered no markers indicating the presence of intelligent life, such as buildings.

’Strange, why haven’t we seen anything resembling a building? Does the lord here not need to construct them?’

Pela Tek was puzzled. He refused to believe that these Crystalized Creatures, which were obviously driven almost entirely by instinct, could be the kinsmen of this continent’s lord.

If two different groups of Crystalized Creatures happened to meet, they would most likely fight. The crystals on the loser’s body would be taken and eaten by the victor.

After consuming the crystals, the Crystalized Creature would visibly grow, and the crystals on its body would become larger.

This behavioral pattern was clearly designed for combat. It was somewhat similar to the behavior of the animals in the outer layers of their territory, only more extreme and efficient.

Moreover, these Crystalized Creatures would attack the small birds on sight. The greed in their eyes told Pela Tek that they didn’t recognize the druids as enemies; they simply wanted to catch and eat them.

Thus, Pela Tek led the Fierce Raptor Druids toward the source of the Crystalized Creatures. They flew slowly, as they had to constantly avoid the creatures’ sudden attacks.

Two days later, the Fierce Raptor Druids arrived at a plain covered in tall, grass-like plants ranging from five to ten meters in height.

These plants lacked normal leaves; in their place were tiny, crystalline shards that sparkled brilliantly in the sunlight, creating a beautiful sight.

There were also many spherical Crystalized Creatures on the plain. Unlike the ferocious ones heading for the World Tree Territory, these were much rounder, with no sharp angles on their bodies. They roamed the plains, periodically inspecting the surrounding plants, pulling weeds, and removing small bugs.

It seemed these Crystalized Creatures were cultivating and managing these crystalline plants.

Pela Tek had his subordinates test them. As long as they didn’t harm the crystalline plants or the creatures themselves, the druids could hop all over the spherical Crystalized Creatures without issue.

They also flew to the edge of the plain, provoked a few of the ferocious Crystalized Creatures, and then flew back onto the plain.

When these Crystalized Creatures saw the Fierce Raptor Druids fly onto the plain, they ceased their pursuit, turned around, and resumed what they were doing before.

’They look like the robots from Glacier World. Simple logic and clearly defined duties. They don’t seem like natural life-forms at all!’

After confirming that these spherical Crystalized Creatures also lacked any real intelligence, Pela Tek led the Fierce Raptor Druids deeper into the continent.

As they neared the edge of the grassland, they discovered something new.

A group of spherical Crystalized Creatures was harvesting mature crystalline plants. Much like the rice and wheat grown in their territory, these plants were topped with crystalline ears full of plump, small crystals.

These spherical Crystalized Creatures, like a swarm of diligent little bees, hovered in mid-air around the crystalline ears. They pried them open and stuffed the small crystals inside into their mouths, one by one, swallowing after just a few chews.

Once they had eaten until their bodies were swollen, they would fly away from the grassland, even as more spherical Crystalized Creatures constantly arrived to take their place.

"Let’s go. We’ll follow them and see where they go after eating their fill."

The spherical Crystalized Creatures arrived at a structure on the grassland composed of several large crystals and disappeared inside. When they emerged, their swollen bodies had shrunk back to their normal size.

’Finally, a building...’

Tears welled up in Pela Tek’s eyes. The scouting mission was finally getting somewhere.

The Fierce Raptor Druids tried to slip into the structure but found they couldn’t get in. It seemed to have a recognition system; a small door, just big enough for one of the spherical Crystalized Creatures, would only open when one approached. The door would shut immediately after the creature entered, giving the Fierce Raptor Druids no chance to get inside.

Just as Pela Tek was pondering how to get inside for a look, the stream of new spherical Crystalized Creatures stopped, and the ones that had gone into the structure began to leave one after another.

After all the spherical Crystalized Creatures had departed, the structure simply stood up.

The startled Fierce Raptor Druids who had been perched on the structure all took flight. Only then did they get a clear view and realize that the "building" was, in fact, a gigantic Crystalized Giant Turtle.

It extended its four limbs, climbed out of the depression it had been resting in, and trotted off into the distance, completely ignoring the small birds—the transformed Fierce Raptor Druids—around it.