Atop the small peak, Enzo, noticing the absence of the corpse, felt a flicker of suspicion arise within him.

Yet, this was not his primary concern.

He discreetly noted this detail and unleashed his Flame Wings, soaring into the sky. He then set his course towards the Lava mountain he had initially entered Dragons Land from.

Before long, he successfully located that very peak.

Yet, at its base, there was no lava flowing. Instead, vast expanses of obsidian, formed from the cooling and solidification of lava, shimmered with a dark sheen, all of which hinted at the peculiarity of the red behemoth he had encountered.

“Was that red dragon deliberately waiting for me?”

Enzo pondered, guided by instinct yet lacking validation.

The current disappearance of the red dragon likely signified a portent of some kind. Enzo re-entered the small space to inform the others of the situation.

Upon hearing the news, Carol spoke up again, asking, “Are you certain what you saw initially was flowing lava? Now, upon revisiting, all that we see is lava solidified into obsidian?”

Enzo affirmed, “I am quite certain.”

Eve corroborated, “When Enzo and I first entered Dragons Land, we indeed spotted a red dragon resting upon the lava.”

At this, Carol nodded in acknowledgment.

She remarked, “What you witnessed must indeed be real. It is highly likely that the area is experiencing accelerated time. According to the research of certain scholars in Starry Sky, the Rainbow Dragon appears to possess the power to manipulate time and space. It seems Boyega might be scheming to harness the elemental force of time.”

Upon hearing this, Enzo added, “In the depths of Steles Forest, at Steles Amusement Park, the flow of time is markedly accelerated. Inside, a year passes while merely a day elapses outside.”

This revelation only strengthened Carol’s conviction.

With a frown, she exclaimed, “Boyega’s capture of the five-colored dragon was merely to cultivate the bloodline of the Rainbow Dragon. It appears he has succeeded. That wretched man…”

However, this information bore little relevance to the current situation.

What the group truly needed was news regarding the trials within Dragons Land, which were set to commence soon.

…

Days later.

With the aid of Life Water, Melissa made a complete recovery. Following discussions, Enzo and Melissa decided to enter Dragons Land to assess the situation and partake in the trials, while the others chose to rest temporarily in the miniature world.

Within Dragons Land, the influx of participants continued to swell.

The rift leading into Dragons Land radiated a dazzling brilliance, making it nearly impossible to overlook, drawing many toward it.

At that moment, a colossal, shadowy figure loomed over the entirety of Dragons Land, shrouding the sky in darkness.

The immense silhouette, exuding an aura of power, obscured the heavens.

Everyone in Dragons Land gazed upward in awe.

The black scales shimmered with a metallic sheen, and its razor-sharp claws glistened ominously, capable of effortlessly rending the very earth. Most fearsome were its blood-red eyes, brimming with ferocity and a thirst for carnage, instilling an overwhelming sense of dread.

It was a dragon of titanic proportions!

In the next moment, the colossal dragon descended, its immense claws crushing two small peaks as it gazed down upon Dragons Land. With a commanding voice, it declared, “I am Nicolet, the chief examiner of the Dragons Land trial. The trial shall commence in one day’s time, and all participants may choose to form teams, with a maximum limit of five members.

Once the trial begins, magical beasts will emerge throughout Dragons Land…”

Nicolet proceeded to expound a plethora of rules.

These regulations were quite similar to those known by the majority. However, upon concluding her address, Nicolet added, “Due to the considerable number of participants, there will be additional examiners present. The final rankings will be determined collectively by these numerous examiners.”

With that, Nicolet soared into the sky, vanishing from sight.

For those present in Dragons Land, this announcement ignited a wave of concern.

Other examiners?

Did that imply the existence of further regulations?

No one had any answers.

At a crimson-hued peak, Melissa turned to Enzo and remarked, “Indeed, the rules have shifted. More examiners have been introduced. This new regulation likely did not arise spontaneously, but was perhaps triggered by the influx of participants reaching a certain threshold.”

Enzo nodded in agreement.

He could now ascertain that the red dragon was one of the examiners. However, the rules articulated by the red dragon appeared to conflict with those proclaimed by Nicolet, the black dragon. It was evident that there were deeper truths concealed within this conundrum, potentially linked to the other dragons.

Yet, how to uncover these additional regulations remained a mystery to Enzo. All he could do now was await the trial’s commencement.

Fortunately, this wait was not prolonged.

A day later, at noon, as everyone explored the newly transformed Dragons Land, remarkable changes unfolded. Vast forests erupted from the ground, streams cascaded down the peaks to form lakes, and a myriad of terrifying creatures emerged, the magical beasts referred to by Nicolet.

Such a transformation heralded the commencement of the trial.

The crowd sprang into action, launching attacks on the appearing magical beasts. Enzo and Melissa joined the fray, but after successfully slaying a small magical beast and retrieving a Magic Crystal, they opted for a quiet spot to observe, refraining from pursuing further prey.

“Is this the Magic Crystal?”

Enzo inquired, examining the geometric, crystalline gem beneath a towering tree.

Melissa nodded, affirming, “Indeed, it is.”

She continued, “During the previous supernatural trials, others expressed curiosity about the nature of the Magic Crystal, but they yielded no conclusive results. It is merely an ordinary crystal. Devoid of energy, it possesses only hardness.”

Enzo stowed the Magic Crystal away, choosing not to delve further into its mysteries.

He then remarked, “Dragons Land has expanded considerably since our arrival, yet despite our extended stay, we have encountered few fellow trialists. This situation seems amiss. Given the number of participants, we ought to have crossed paths with others, unless they are all concealing themselves.”

Upon hearing this, Melissa too sensed the anomaly.

After slaying the small magical beast, they had wandered through the revitalized Dragons Land, yet had not encountered many other trialists along the way.

It seemed either those individuals were hiding or simply absent from this region.

This situation has not gone unnoticed by many.

Most of those who have sensed this, like Enzo and Melissa, have temporarily ceased their hunt for magical beasts, opting instead to exchange information in hopes of uncovering the truth behind it all.

After all, when it comes to the value of one’s life, it far outweighs the significance of trial rankings. Without understanding the underlying rules, one can only wonder what unforeseen circumstances may arise.

Consequently, the atmosphere in Dragons Land has grown peculiar.

Many have begun to congregate spontaneously to share intelligence, seeking clarity on the truth behind these events—an undeniably effective strategy.

By the following day, some discoveries were made.

“There are barriers to the east and west that prevent entry. The topography of Dragons Land has changed significantly, with only the central oasis remaining largely unaltered.”

Such revelations sparked intrigue among numerous individuals.

Enzo and Melissa, too, became aware of this information, and in light of the five-colored dragon’s message, Enzo formed a bold hypothesis.

This trial in Dragons Land likely comprises more than one!

The five-colored dragon may very well correspond to five distinct trials, with that oasis serving as the key.

Only in this manner can one account for the differing rules articulated by the red and black dragons.

As the news spread and the time for the trials continued to dwindle, the participants’ urgency intensified. They shifted their focus from uncovering the truth to concentrating on hunting magical beasts, with the sounds of battle echoing incessantly—some slaying the magical beasts, while others fell victim to them.

…

Dragons Land, the forest.

Pow!

With a resounding crack, Enzo sent a magical beast flying with a swift strike, then sheathed his Flame Spear. He retrieved a Magic Crystal and tossed it to Melissa, inquiring, “How many do we have now?”

Blood smeared across Melissa’s face as she declared, “A total of three hundred, but all from lesser magical beasts. This quantity would at most secure a position within the top ten.”

“Only the top ten?”

Enzo expressed his confusion.

In Dragons Land, no concrete rankings existed. Melissa’s assessment stemmed from the previous trial. Though time remained to hunt more magical beasts, securing the first position seemed improbable.

At that moment, Melissa resumed, “Based on the last occurrence, Dragons Land will soon witness increasingly formidable magical beasts. Slaying these powerful magical beasts will yield greater Magic Crystals.”

With this revelation, Enzo swiftly grasped the situation.

He abandoned his pursuit of the lesser magical beasts and began to seek out larger ones. The presence of barriers on both sides significantly limited his search area.

Before long, Enzo encountered a formidable magical beast.

This magical beast, resembling a human in form, stood an impressive four to five meters tall, adorned with a pair of horns atop its head, emitting a bellow akin to that of a bull. Upon sighting Enzo and Melissa, the large magical beast charged at them in a frenzy.

Enzo shook his head slightly.

This magical beast possessed merely Level 8 strength.

It posed no substantial threat to him.

With a casual flick, he cast a fireball, swiftly ending the magical beast’s life. Just as he prepared to retrieve the Magic Crystal, a commotion arose nearby, and five team members from the trial emerged.

They gazed at the fallen magical beast, their eyes alight with avarice, yet upon witnessing Enzo’s prowess, they could only suppress their greedy inclinations.

“Is something the matter?” Enzo inquired, his voice tinged with dissatisfaction.

The individuals standing before him exchanged glances, and finally, a man of average stature stepped forward—their leader, Dandil. He addressed Enzo with respect, saying, “Esteemed warrior, we have discovered a gathering place of colossal magical beasts, but we require additional allies. We would like to extend an invitation for you to join us in this hunt.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep