Leaving the flying mounts behind, as they were unable to traverse the dense jungle, Logan pressed forward alongside the soldiers, Isabel, Silvia, and Kryst. While the others found the journey challenging, Logan relied on his monsters' abilities to navigate the treacherous terrain. At times, he created webs to span gaps between branches or used his wings to glide through high areas, skillfully attaching ropes to cross immense tree trunks.
As they advanced deeper into the jungle, the wildlife around them became increasingly diverse. Large gliding squirrels soared between branches, monkeys of all shapes and sizes chattered from the treetops, and a myriad of insects buzzed and crawled around them.
Predators also made their presence known, forcing the group to either fend them off or proceed with caution. Massive felines prowled silently through the undergrowth, baboons with oversized fangs snarled from a distance, and towering, three-meter-tall gorillas observed the intruders with wary, calculating gazes.
Despite the vibrant array of creatures, none captured Logan's attention. Though they possessed earth elemental magic, they were relatively mundane in nature. Logan couldn't risk taming creatures without considering their specific environmental needs, and so far, none suited his purposes.
That changed when he suddenly noticed a flash of movement—a long, darting tongue whipping past him to snatch an unsuspecting bug. Logan's eyes narrowed as he spotted the creature. It was only a meter long, but its abilities were extraordinary. Until it had attacked, the beast had been completely undetectable, blending into its surroundings with an advanced form of camouflage. Unlike Earth creatures that merely mimicked colors, this beast seemed to achieve true invisibility.
Intrigued, Logan raised his hand to point it out to Isabel, silently signaling for her to provide more information about this remarkable predator.
"Large Crystal Chameleon," Isabel remarked, her tone tinged with admiration. "That one is quite rare. We haven't fully understood how it works, but we're fortunate to have spotted it." She shrugged, acknowledging the limits of her knowledge.
"Interesting. I want it," Logan replied decisively, already formulating his plan to capture the elusive creature. Without hesitation, he began conjuring webs of both electricity and darkness, determined not to let it escape.
He started with the electric webs, designed to stun the chameleon. Like a carefully cast fishing net, the webs arced through the air under Logan's precise control, his mana reserves—bolstered by reaching level 80—allowing him to maneuver the net like an extension of himself. The electric web wrapped around the spot where he'd last seen the creature, hoping it hadn't moved. Fortunately, his instincts proved correct as the net ensnared the chameleon. The shocks disrupted its light-distorting camouflage, revealing its shimmering body.
Next, Logan deployed his darkness webs. Unlike the electric ones, these were adhesive and harmless, designed to immobilize the creature. The sticky strands clung to its form, their paralyzing effect ensuring the chameleon couldn't struggle free.
With the skill of an experienced fisherman, Logan began pulling the captured creature closer, the net tightening with each deliberate tug. The chameleon's impressive form became fully visible, and soon it was within a meter of the group, its unique crystalline scales catching the light.
"Well, this will be a good creature to gain a useful ability from," Logan remarked with satisfaction. He gave the net one final pull before dismissing it entirely, leaving the lingering paralysis to keep the chameleon subdued.
Taking a moment to prepare, Logan used a sharpened nail to make a precise cut on his finger. His blade-like nails, honed by his advanced level, easily pierced his toughened skin—a testament to the evolution of his own abilities.
With two drops and Rubina's hypnotizing skill, Logan successfully calmed the creature, making it easy to tame. The large lizard resembled a chameleon in every way—its distinctive cone-shaped eyes moved independently, scanning its surroundings with precision. Its spiraling tail coiled tightly around branches, providing it with exceptional grip and stability. Most striking, however, was its tough, diamond-like skin that bent and distorted light, rendering the beast nearly invisible until it attacked.
Name: Mirage / Species: Crystal Chameleon / Level: 19 / Blood Mark: Right Palm / Loyalty: 1/100
Str: 12 / Agi: 22 / Dex: 18 / Con: 10 / Int: 15 / Char: 14
Camouflage Cloak (Passive): The Crystal Chameleon renders itself invisible by bending light around its body, making detection almost impossible unless it attacks or is stunned.
Crystal Lash: Extends its tongue at blinding speed, delivering a piercing strike that shatters small defenses and deals precision damage.
Prismatic Burst: Discharges concentrated mana stored within its crystalline scales, creating a flash of dazzling lights that disorients and weakens enemies' accuracy.
Reflective Barrier: Harnesses its crystalline armor to deflect incoming attacks, bouncing a portion of the damage back to its attacker.
Predator's Grace: Enhances agility and reaction time when hunting prey, granting swift movement and precise strikes in dense environments.
"Well then, let's keep moving. I'm sure we'll encounter more creatures worth taming," Logan said, petting his newly acquired lizard while pondering how best to manage its journey.
"I think it'd be wiser to send it back to the kingdom," he mused. "They can begin constructing an area for it to thrive. It'd likely do well near Silis's territory, where earth mana crystals are abundant."
"Yes, send it back for now. We need to press on," Logan instructed, grateful for Silvia's presence. While he could perform the task himself, the mana cost would be too draining, particularly with the possibility of battling an ent looming ahead.
With the chameleon safely transported, the group continued their journey. Isabel took the lead, her demeanor shifting noticeably as they entered a certain point in the canopy.
"We've reached the Temple of Earth's territory," Isabel announced, her voice hushed but resolute. "I'm sure you can feel the difference in mana flow. This is where the guardians of the tree—the ents—reside. It's also the most dangerous area."
The soldiers instinctively crouched low as they advanced further into the dense canopy. Even Isabel joined them, moving with careful deliberation. Logan and Silvia followed their lead, mimicking their cautious movements.
The atmosphere around them grew heavier with mana, the energy palpable and almost oppressive. Darkness enveloped the area, and the faint cries of large creatures echoed through the canopy. The ground beneath them, unlike the shifting branches they'd traversed earlier, now felt solid and grounded—like they were treading upon ancient earth itself.
Logan couldn't help but feel like he'd stepped straight into one of those perilous jungle movies, the kind where danger lurked around every corner, waiting to pounce. Each step he took was calculated and careful, his attention unwavering. Yet, the earth itself seemed intent on betraying them. Slow, rhythmic tremors coursed through the ground at unpredictable intervals, their vibrations making stealth increasingly difficult.
The group pressed onward, the darkness closing in around them, amplifying the sense of unease. It was then that they stumbled across a nest—a sprawling network of large, ant-like creatures. The colony seemed endless, its line stretching across the path ahead, blocking their progress roughly ten meters away.
"We might have trouble here..." Isabel cautioned, her gaze fixed on the formidable creatures. She pointed to the endless line of movement and added, "Those things—they're probably the most dangerous creatures in this area."