Somewhere three hundred kilometers deep into the Iron Tree Forest, a team of Awakeners dressed in pristine white coats moved with practiced caution. Anyone with even a shred of knowledge knew how terrifying the border between the inner and outer regions could be, yet there was not a single speck of dirt on their white uniforms.
The group was led by a burly, middle-aged man with a three-foot-long sword hanging at his waist. His eyes were heavy with laziness as he sauntered forward without a care in the world. Behind him, the younger members in white coats looked at him with stars in their eyes, whispering in hushed, reverent tones.
"To think I'd be joined by the legendary Matt on my first expedition... the living god of our Green Heaven Guild," one newcomer murmured.
The more experienced members heard the chatter and exchanged knowing glances, a brief flash of nostalgia appearing in their eyes. They remembered feeling the exact same way when they had first joined the expedition team.
Suddenly, Matt raised his hand. The group came to an immediate halt.
Ahead of them lay the gigantic, shriveled corpse of a Star Beast. As Matt scanned the body, his demeanor shifted. The laziness remained in his eyes, but it was now underscored by a sharp, lethal alertness.
"Rank One, Epic-grade: Blue-Horned Rhino," Matt muttered, his expression turning serious.
The Blue-Horned Rhino was one of the strongest monsters in the forest's outer region. In terms of raw power, it was practically on par with a peak human Star Refining expert. Seeing a creature that shared his level of strength turned into a cold corpse sent a chill through Matt's heart.
He took a deep breath to steady his racing pulse. Without a word, he signaled two specialists. Carrying large, sophisticated canisters, they rushed toward the corpse and began a frantic examination while the rest of the group watched with bated breath.
Suddenly, the two specialists cried out, their shock quickly turning into ecstatic joy.
"There are signs! It was definitely the Verdant Monarch that killed this rhino!"
"There's hope! If we can get our hands on the Verdant Monarch, our medicinal research will advance by leaps and bounds!"
Joy lit up the faces of the expedition team. After trekking through this green hell, they had finally found traces of their elusive target. But before they could lose themselves in daydreams, Matt's lazy, drawling voice cut through the excitement like a blade.
"Stay alert. The Verdant Monarch could be anywhere."
The warning felt like a basin of cold water poured over their heads, and their expressions dimmed instantly. Indeed, the monster could be watching them at this very moment.
What neither Matt—the peak Star Refining expert—nor the specialists realized was that they were already being watched. But the eyes upon them didn't belong to the monarch; they belonged to a lowly-ranked Star Refiner.
With the first rays of the morning sun, Lukas had shot out from his hiding spot, rushing toward the edge of the outer region. After hours of searching, he had finally found traces of his target, only to stumble upon the white-coated researchers of the Green Heaven Guild.
Hidden behind thick, matted bushes, Lukas had completely merged with his surroundings. He didn't allow a single trace of energy to leak out. With eyes as sharp as a hawk's, he watched the rhino corpse from a distance.
The Blue-Horned Rhino, which should have been as large as a hill, had shrunken to half its original size. Its skin was a sickly, translucent pale color, as if something had reached inside and sucked away its very vitality. This was the calling card of the Verdant Monarch.
Lukas activated Traceless Steps, erasing his presence even further. He didn't even dare to breathe loudly for fear of being noticed by the lazy leader. That man gave him a terrifying feeling—as if staring at the man's back was the same as staring at Death itself.
Lukas knew his instincts were right. A peak Star Refining expert was no joke. If it came to a fight, there would be only one outcome for someone of his level: death.
Thoughts raced through Lukas's mind like lightning. He weighed his options and sighed inwardly. He was no match for the Verdant Monarch, nor the Green Heaven Guild. But having come this far, he refused to go back empty-handed.
A chilling light appeared in his eyes. Like a venomous snake hidden in the grass, he settled in to wait for the perfect moment to strike.
Time passed until the sun hung directly overhead. Gut-wrenching, bloodthirsty roars echoed from deep within the inner region, sending shivers down the spines of the young Awakeners. As the air grew heavy, the white coats began to grow restless. They could sense something approaching.
Lukas grew equally alert. The battlefield was becoming volatile, and even his perfect hiding spot didn't guarantee safety.
Just as he focused his vision, a terrifying scream ripped through the forest.
"ARGH! MY HANDS!"
A sickening, wet crunch followed. The body of a young researcher was split in two, hot crimson blood splashing over his nearby comrades. Lukas almost jumped out of the bushes in shock; it was only through sheer willpower that he remained still, his gaze fixed on the horror that had emerged.
Standing in the clearing was the Verdant Monarch.
It was a Half-Step Legendary beast, a towering nightmare covered in bark-like armor fused with rotting flesh. Thick veins coiled around its ribs, pulsing with a rhythmic green light. Fungal growths sprouted from its back like a crown, releasing faint, toxic spores into the air. Its eyes—two glowing orbs of infectious green—scanned every Awakener present.
Panic seized the team. Beads of cold sweat rolled down their foreheads.
Matt stepped forward, his brow furrowed. "Don't be afraid! Remember the training at headquarters—it was all for this moment! Get into formation and knock that monster into the air!"
He gripped his sword, his voice losing its laziness. "If the Verdant Monarch remains grounded, we're all dead men!"
The white coats nodded frantically. They knew the most crucial part of their strategy: they had to get the Monarch off the ground immediately. As long as its feet touched the earth, it would possess infinite healing, constantly absorbing the vitality of the forest itself.