Jack observed the creatures further. The rhinoceros-armadillo hybrids now had clearer details. Armored plates, with the color-pattern like polished granite. Rhino heads with a single short horn. Very thick necks. Bulky bodies. And long, wide tails that looked like sharks' tails.
"Let's go further west." Reina stated. Her voice remained calm despite the escalating strangeness.
The drone's view moved. It soon caught different lifeforms. They were creatures that looked like gazelles. But they were covered in intricate, crystal-pink scales. A pair of glittering white horns jutted from their heads.
These pink gazelles moved with a twitching, nervous energy. They seemed to be extremely agile and fast.
"Pink-scaled gazelles, huh?" Jack commented dryly. "Anything seemed to be possible here."
Suddenly, they could see that the ground in the grassland vibrated. A colossal shadow fell over a herd of gazelles. The Silver Hawk veered upwards. Gaining altitude rapidly.
What emerged later was a predator of truly monstrous proportions. It was a bipedal beast. A horrifying copy of an ancient T-rex. But with skin covered by ruby scales that sparkled like crystals.
Jack observed it carefully. The creature's head was massive. Its jaws were lined with serrated teeth. And its eyes glowed with an internal, malevolent amber light. This was the gigantic red-scaled Tyrannosaurus Rex.
"Red-scaled T-rex..." Jack stated. His voice was devoid of surprise. He had seen worse. "Very luxurious looking scales. Impressive. But, it should be enough for the grassland. Try to check the other places, Love!"
Reina nodded. Mentally controlling the Silver rHawk. Her gaze was fixed on the screen. "Alright. Moving north."
The monitor showed many interesting grassland creatures as it moved north. The red grassland gradually gave way to a different, more stagnant environment.
The indigo mist below seemed to thicken here. Swirling with a sickly brown hue. And then, a swamp was unfolded. The water was in neon orange color. Thick and viscous. Bubbling with gases that seemed to rise in wierd colored wisps. It was like orange juice mixed with carbonated water... spilled on the ground.
Strange, red-leaved trees dotted the wet landscape. Each had twisted branches covered in phosphorescent fungi.
Within this beautiful yet ominous mire, dangerous things lurked. The hawk drone picked up glinting eyes. Then the full form of creatures that were undeniably crocodiles. But they were mutated to fit this realm.
Their scales were a mottled, crystalline black and dark purple color. And their backs, legs, and tails were covered in rows of razor-sharp, bone-like spikes. They moved with a disturbing, slithering grace through the orange water. Their opened jaws revealed multiple rows of needle teeth.
"Spiky crocodiles?" Leon Drake commented. "Vicious looking beasts."
As the winged drone continued to traverse the swamp, a shadow passed beneath it. Not the shadow of a cloud, for there were no clouds in the sky.
The Silver Hawk ascended further. Revealing the source. A python of truly gargantuan size. Its scales were the color of glistening obsidian. Each one shimmered with a faint, internal purplish glow.
The beast was so thick and huge that it could seem to swallow a bus whole. And its length seemed limitless. Winding through the swamp like a living river. Its eyes were briefly caught the drone's lens. They were pits of ancient, predatory intelligence.
"Gigantic obsidian-scaled python." Jack observed with grim face. "We know where not to go now. Try to explore a different location, Love."
Reina nodded. Directing the hawk eastward. Past the northern tip of the island. The swamp gradually dissolved into a new, equally alien biome.
Jagged spires of crystal erupted from the ground. Forming a landscape of sharp, glittering angles. The crystals ranged in color from deep amethyst to shimmering emerald. Catching and refracting the purple ambient light in a chaotic symphony of color.
This was the rocky crystal hills. And they were not uninhabited.
Perched on the highest, most jagged spire, was a creature of immense power. It was a monstrous monkey. Its entire body was composed of gleaming, multifaceted purple crystal.
It had thick and flowing mane. And a single, extremely long tail. Its crimson eyes glowed with a predatory intelligence. Scanning the crystal landscape. The creature's whole form seemed to radiate intense mystic energy.
"That's also a big one." Dr. Crafton said. A hint of respect could be heard in his dry tone. "And it's not a solitary creature. This is the monkey king. Look!" He pointed.
Indeed, scattered among the crystal spires were hundreds of smaller versions of the crystal monkey. They were not as huge as the first one. But they were still formidable. Each of their smallest seemed to roughly be twice the size of a normal, adult human.
The monkeys' crystal bodies shimmered with the same inner light as the first one.
Jack observed how these beasts moved with unsettling agility. Scaling the sharp terrain effortlessly. As if it were flat ground.
"A great community of crystal monkeys." Reina summarized. "Hundreds of them. Led by the gigantic one."
The drone moved south-east, then directly south. The crystal hills gave way to a flatter, more desolate stretch of land.
Here, the ground was a dusty, ochre color. And the air seemed heavier. Less vibrant. Amidst this desolation, a collection of massive, weathered stone structures emerged. They looked like the ruins of a forgotten civilization. Cyclopean blocks of grey, unadorned stone. Arranged in what might once have been a plaza or temple.
"Stone ruins?" Prof. Enderson mused. Moving closer to the tablet. "Fascinating. Might there be native humans in this spatial realm? Are they extinct already? It doesn't show any sign of… current inhabitants."
For a moment, the ruins did appear empty. The stone was still. Ancient.
Then, a shudder ran through the ground. A section of a crumbled stone wall shifted. It was not something moving under or behind it. No. It was the wall itself that moved.
A living moss covered stone moved. Lifting its body from the ground.
A head swiveled slowly. Featureless save for two deep sockets that glowed with a faint, earth-brown light. A stone golem. Eight meters tall in height.
It began to lumber through the ruins with the great patience of the stones. Then another stirred. And another. Until a dozen of the silent sentinels were visible, patrolling the dead city ruins... which might not be actual ruins.
They didn't move around for long. After just a couple of minutes, they settled back to the ground. Returning into unmoving stone ruins.
"Well, there's your inhabitants." Jack said. "Stone golems. We're lucky to see that."
"True." Professor Enderson agreed. "It will be disastrous if we go there without knowing that those stones are monsters. Seems like the Goddess of Fortune is with us this time."
Jack glanced at Chloe Chase. They did have the possessor of the Goddess of Fortune's inheritance here.
Reina pulled the Silver Hawk back. Bringing it to hover above their initial landing spot. The pulsating amber forest. She removed the tablet from the tree. The dynamic feed was still playing.
A silence fell over the group. Broken only by the tinkling whispers of the strange leaves. And the low chirping sound of the insects.
"So..." Prof. Enderson began. Adjusting his spectacles. "We have observed several distinct biomes. The red grassland with its various types of fauna. The northern orange swamp with plenty of dangerous crocodile-like reptiles and a gigantic python. The crystal hills guarded by a tribe of primate-like crystalline entities. And the stone ruins, inhabited by animated constructs."
He paused. Looking at Dr. Crafton. "Any recommendations for our first expedition point, doctor?"
Dr. Crafton stroked his short beard. "We could stay in the central forest. There are some unobserved flora, fauna and mystic energy here."
He looked around and continued. "If we need to leave the forest... The red grassland seems to offer the most open terrain for observation. The swamp holds too many hidden dangers and is too difficult to traverse for the students. The crystal hills are also hard to explore, clearly heavily guarded, and visually disorienting. The ruins… well, it offers little to study beyond the constructs themselves."
"True. The students are here for field research." Prof. Enderson agreed. "Collecting samples, observing flora and fauna, studying mystic energy signatures. The forest and the grassland seemed to be the best choice."
One of the students spoke up. Her voice was a little shaky. "But the T-rex… It was massive. And the armored rhinos were unsettling."
"Indeed, Ms. Elcrane." Dr. Crafton replied. "But with ten experienced guardians, we should be able to manage any encounters in an open environment."
Jack glanced at Reina. "What do you think, Love?"
Reina pondered for a moment. "Dr. Crafton is right. The forest should be alright for research. But the grassland is the best choice for us, the guards. It's open. We can see threats coming. We can cover ground efficiently and retreat if necessary. It's easier to protect the students too."
"True." One hired guard confirmed. "This forest, the swamp and the hills are too problematic for protection. Too many blind spots. The ruins are even worse. We don't know which of the stones are real stones and which aren't."
"I also agree." Leon Drake said. "Open ground. Wide view. Better for defensive formations, safer for the students. Besides..."
Just as Leon Drake was talking, a bright crimson glow erupted from Jack's shoulder. Rune, his fairy companion, had suddenly pulsed with an intense, alarming light. It wasn't her usual soft glow. It was a sharp, undeniable alarm. Danger.
"Danger!" Jack cut Drake's words. "Ready for combat!"
"Form up! Defensive circle!" Leon Drake didn't doubt Jack's warning and immediately shouted instruction with a decisive authority. "Vanguards, set the perimeter! Non-combatants inside! Weapons out!"
As the guards and students moved to their positions, the air around them thickened. Growing heavy with a primal, predatory scent.
From the dense foliage of the pulsating amber forest, shadows stirred. Not just one. More. They were fast. Big, yet low to the ground. Moving with a silent, deadly purpose.
Then they emerged. A pack of twelve creatures. Each one was a horrifying amalgamation of a hyena and something far worse. They were immense. Each beast was the size of an adult bull. Their bodies were corded with unnatural muscle.
Their fur was a grotesque patchwork of black and scorching orange spots. Their jaws were dripping with luminous green saliva. They were open. Revealing rows of dagger-like teeth. Their malicious eyes were fixed on the expedition members.
A low growl and a chorus of guttural snarls. filled the air. They were surrounding the group. Moving to cut off any retreat into the forest.
"Ready for battle!" Leon Drake roared a command. Already drawing his grimoire.
The pack launched their attack. They moved with terrifying speed. A wave of black and orange fury.
Jack was already in motion. His bracers glowed, and with a flick of his wrist, flaming [Chains of Vengeance] erupted. They whipped out. Three chains burst out simultaneously. Each coiled around the neck of three charging hyenas.
With a brutal tug, Jack slammed the beasts into each other. Their ugly heads collided with sickening force. They went down. Stunned. Whimpering. Their predatory snarls turned to choked gurgles.