Under normal circumstances, given the vitality of a Bazelgeuse, even an Elder Dragon would find it difficult to kill one in a single strike. Most of the time, it would still manage to enter its superheated state, leading to an unpleasant battle—and in many cases, even find a chance to escape.
But this time, there was indeed a bit of luck involved.
Even without activating Sunlight to further enhance his power, Logan managed to kill his opponent outright with just one concentrated breath. This was, of course, partly due to the immense destructive power of the Calamity Flame.
It also happened that the Bazelgeuse was in the crucial moment of entering its superheated state; as a result, the outer layer of its scales' defense was breached by the Calamity Flame, and before it could eject any explosive scales, the volatile fluid within—at its most active state—was directly ignited. The explosion not only blew apart its external defenses but also left a wound fatal enough to seal its fate.
Under the dual effect of flame and detonation, the blast that erupted across the basalt plain produced an effect not unlike a small nuclear explosion.
Unfortunately, in such an explosion, the Bazelgeuse was almost certainly reduced to ashes and bones—a true waste for a place as short on food as the Elder's Recess.
Using his extraordinary eyesight, Logan watched as Aki flew back to the nest. Only then did he spread his wings and fly toward another magma zone. After confirming that the Azure Rathalos was still alive, he turned and returned to the nest.
As for the Flame Rathalos, that one was strong enough to escape even an Elder Dragon's pursuit—there was no need for Logan to worry.
Moreover, ever since Logan's metamorphosis had concluded, the Flame Rathalos had finally lost patience and begun flying wildly through the volcanic region, eager for the chance to encounter a single Scorching Heat Rathian.
Life suddenly settled into tranquility. Because Logan would occasionally release his Elder Dragon pressure, many of the monsters inhabiting the basalt zone had come to recognize that, following the Kushala Daora, yet another Elder Dragon had claimed territory upon the basalt heights. In a place already sparsely populated by monsters, their numbers now dwindled even further. Several Bazelgeuses had chosen to migrate, moving far away from that area.
"Roar~ Roar!"
A few urgent cries interrupted Logan's meditation. The flow of life energy slowly coursing into his body faltered, its absorption rate beginning to drop.
Though by now such a trickle of life energy was nothing more than a drop in the ocean to Logan, having this rare moment of tranquility broken still left him somewhat displeased.
Opening his eyes, his ice-blue pupils turned toward the Azure Rathalos flying above the platform.
"You'd better have a reason for this!"
Suppressing the urge to blast it with fire, Logan slowly rose to his feet, a few warm, silver-white discarded scales scattering down.
Because of the leap in his vitality, his Regeneration trait had been greatly enhanced. During non-combat periods, it allowed Logan to constantly maintain his body in its optimal condition; as for the minor loss of life energy, it did not even compare to his natural recovery rate.
Such was Logan's current dominance—according to his own calculations, with the amount of life energy stored within him, even if he fought to the very end, he would likely still be unable to exhaust it all.
Therefore, he was no longer as stingy as before, when he would refrain from using even the slightest excess of life energy.
"Roar, roar~"
After a series of low roars, Logan finally understood what the creature was trying to say.
Spreading his wings, he followed behind the Azure Rathalos, flying toward a relatively concealed location within the basalt zone.
Before long, accompanied by a low growl, Logan and the Azure Rathalos circled around a large cavern and arrived at a coastal ravine within the magma region, landing steadily beside Aki.
With just one glance, Logan saw the enormous skeletal remains of a Fire Wyvern—nothing left but bones.
By rough estimation, its body length must have reached over 30 meters.
"Black Flame King!"
Logan immediately recalled that fifteen years ago, when the Fire Wyvern group of the Ancient Tree needed it most, the Black Flame King had instead taken away most of the veteran Fire Wyvern couples.
Later, after learning that it had failed to break through its lifespan limit and had died in the Elder's Recess, Logan had assumed the creature had simply succumbed to old age. But now, it was clear that was not the case.
For at this moment, the Black Flame King's hardened skull had been pierced through by a blue ice blade radiating chilling air, nailing it firmly to the ground.
This was the Elder's Recess—a volcanic zone!
Judging from the frozen fragments of flesh and blood around the blade's edge caused by extreme low temperatures, it was evident that the Black Flame King had died beneath this ice blade back then.
After so many years, in such a scorching region, this ice blade still retained its integrity—and even caused the temperature of this coastal ravine to be markedly lower than that of the surrounding areas. From that alone, one could imagine the strength of the ice blade's owner.
"Velkhana! And not an ordinary Velkhana at that!"
Looking at the nearly 3-meter-long ice blade that carried a faint purplish hue, Logan quickly identified its owner.
Though Velkhana's appearance was incomparably elegant, its notably irritable temperament. Because it usually appeared deep within icy regions, it rarely caused major disruption to the ecosystem.
Of course, that was only under the condition that its magnificent, ice-blue carapace could be replaced stably.
Otherwise, once its power went out of control, it could plunge the entire New World into eternal winter.
In terms of authority, it was a being completely opposite to Logan.
As for why a Velkhana would exist in the scorching volcanic zone of the Elder's Recess—an ice dragon fond of magma?
In truth, aside from its scales, Velkhana's more important defensive mechanism was the outer shell formed from "volcanic glass"—magma instantly solidified under ultra-low temperatures. This shell not only granted the Velkhana extraordinary defense but also served as a crucial tool for controlling the supercooled liquid within its body.
However, since even volcanic glass could not withstand such extreme cold for long, a Velkhana would usually choose nesting grounds near volcanoes in icy regions—or directly within magma zones.
Therefore, the fact that the Black Flame King had died at the hands of a Velkhana did not surprise Logan much.
"Roar!!"
From not far away came a chorus of fearful, furious, and chaotic dragon roars, sending flocks of Barnos scattering in panic.
Before Logan could take off, a familiar metallic dragon's roar echoed through the air.
The dust clouds shrouding the sky over the Elder's Recess began to churn, and chaotic gales whipped up waves that crashed against the basalt cliffs.
Exchanging a glance with the Azure Rathalos, Logan quickly pondered, then followed the direction of the converging airflow sensed through his wings.
Sure enough—
It was that Kushala Daora!!
Judging by its flight path, it had only just arrived here—and, true to its reckless nature, was once again stirring up a violent storm.
This was the Elder's Recess, not the Ancient Forest!
Acting so high-profile here would definitely bring trouble!
Logan stared coldly at the Kushala Daora within the center of the hurricane vortex, making no extra movement—simply watching it dig its own grave.
After being beaten so badly last time, this Kushala Daora still hadn't learned its lesson.
It had already chosen the path to its own death.
Logan watched coldly from the side, and as he kept watching, he suddenly realized that this Kushala Daora was all thunder and no rain.
Although it stirred up fierce gales, churned the clouds, and willfully radiated its own majesty, in truth, that was all it amounted to.
It was nothing like back in the Ancient Forest—when it had summoned torrential rain, blizzards, and several tornados strong enough to snap trees in half.
At that time, the Kushala Daora's grandeur had been pushed to its peak, as if it were a god descending upon the world.
But now, perhaps awakened by Logan's earlier blow, or perhaps aware of just how deep the waters of the Elder's Recess truly ran, the Kushala Daora's behavior seemed more like that of one trying to establish long-term residence—deliberately putting on a show of "I am strong, don't provoke me!"
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