The cavern no longer carried the warmth it held earlier.
The laughter had faded.
The excitement from capturing the drakes had settled into something quieter—heavier. Firelight still flickered across broken stone pillars and cracked cavern walls, yet now every shadow seemed deeper beneath the crimson glow of the crystals embedded throughout the cave.
Near the eastern fire—
The body of the dead mercenary rested beneath a dark cloak.
Silent.
Still.
The wilderness had taken its first life from the expedition.
And everyone present understood—
It would likely not be the last.
Cold mountain wind drifted through the cavern entrance carrying the distant sounds of the southern jungle. Somewhere far outside, unseen creatures howled beneath the moonlit wilderness while inside the cave, the Exploration Unit slowly reorganized itself once more.
Because the expedition could not stop.
Not now.
Not after everything they had discovered.
The chained drakes rested near the massive nest under constant magical suppression. The female remained calmer than before while the male still watched the humans with dangerous golden eyes filled with restrained fury.
Heavy enchanted restraints wrapped around both creatures tightly while glowing runes pulsed continuously against their scales.
Yet despite the restraints—
The drakes looked magnificent.
Powerful.
Ancient.
Like rulers dragged down from the skies themselves.
And now—
Those rulers would carry humans.
Kel stood near the center of the cavern while the remaining explorers slowly gathered before him.
The black-haired man's coat moved softly beneath the cave winds while flickering firelight reflected against his calm dark eyes.
No exhaustion appeared on his face anymore.
Only stillness.
The atmosphere around him felt strangely distant tonight.
Not cold.
Not emotionless.
Simply—
Steady.
The explorers who wished to return slowly stepped forward one after another.
Some looked ashamed.
Others relieved.
A few conflicted.
But unlike before—
No one mocked retreat anymore.
Not after watching death sit quietly beside the campfire.
Teren stepped forward first.
The young explorer lowered his head slightly while gripping the strap of his supply bag tightly.
"I'll return with the second batch."
Kel simply nodded.
No judgment.
No disappointment.
Then others followed.
Two wounded mercenaries.
A mana-exhausted scholar.
Three mages.
One scout whose arm still trembled slightly after the drake battle.
Eventually—
Ten people stood before Kel.
The selected second batch.
The rest of the expedition silently watched them.
Some envious.
Some understanding.
Some quietly relieved they themselves did not step forward.
Kel's gaze moved across the returning group calmly.
Then finally—
He spoke.
"Ride the drakes back."
Silence.
Several explorers blinked.
Others widened their eyes instantly.
"…What?"
Even the chosen returners themselves looked stunned.
Kel calmly turned toward the restrained drakes.
"Five people per drake."
The atmosphere became strange again.
The idea itself sounded absurd.
Terrifying.
Magnificent.
Ride drakes?
No one present had ever even imagined such a thing.
One younger mage swallowed nervously.
"…Are they even stable enough?"
The male drake immediately growled deeply hearing the discussion while smoke escaped faintly from its nostrils.
Several explorers instinctively stepped backward.
Kel ignored the reaction.
"The restraints will hold."
His voice remained calm.
Absolute.
"Additionally…"
His gaze shifted toward the nest.
"…take the five eggs with you."
The returning explorers slowly turned toward the massive drake eggs resting within the shattered nest.
Even now—
The sight of them felt unreal.
Future drakes.
Future aerial units.
Future power.
One mercenary quietly whispered beneath his breath—
"…The South is truly changing…"
Kel continued speaking calmly.
"When you return to the Southern Council…"
A faint pause followed.
"…report everything."
The firelight flickered softly across his face.
"The ruins."
"The ancient knowledge."
"The drakes."
"The dangers deeper within the wilderness."
Several scholars immediately straightened seriously hearing that.
Kel's eyes darkened slightly.
"And make them understand one thing clearly."
The cavern became silent again.
"The wilderness is not merely danger."
A faint cave wind passed through the chamber.
"It is opportunity."
Those words settled deeply within the minds of everyone present.
Because now—
After everything they witnessed—
No one could deny it anymore.
Meanwhile—
The chosen second batch slowly approached the restrained drakes carefully.
Fear remained visible across their expressions despite the excitement hidden beneath it.
The female drake watched them silently.
The male continued glaring murderously.
One mercenary muttered nervously while approaching the creature.
"…I never thought I'd mount a drake before dying."
Another quietly laughed.
"Try not to fall off then."
The atmosphere softened slightly afterward.
Not cheerful.
But lighter.
Meanwhile—
Teren slowly walked toward Kel before departure preparations fully began.
The young explorer hesitated briefly.
Then quietly spoke.
"…I'll deliver the requests personally."
Kel looked toward him silently.
Teren's eyes unconsciously drifted toward the covered corpse near the fire.
"The orphanage."
He swallowed slightly.
"And the portrait."
Kel simply nodded once.
That alone somehow felt heavier than praise.
Meanwhile—
The remaining expedition members began preparing the transportation packs carefully. Ancient records, monster materials, medicinal archives, fabrics, and collected resources were secured tightly against the drakes' reinforced saddles.
The five eggs received special protective coverings layered with mana insulation cloth and stabilization enchantments.
Because everyone understood—
If even one egg broke during transport—
The loss would be catastrophic.
Nearby—
Landon quietly watched the preparations while leaning against a broken stone pillar.
His silver-gray eyes slowly shifted toward Kel again.
You're already building the future…
Not just through politics.
Not just through the Southern Council.
But through symbols.
Drakes returning to the South carrying explorers and ancient treasures—
The image alone would reshape how people viewed the wilderness forever.
And Kel knew it.
Of course he knew it.
Sairen softly sighed through the soul-link.
"…You're turning this expedition into legend intentionally."
Kel calmly watched the explorers securing the eggs.
"Legends unite people faster than laws."
The guardian remained silent briefly afterward.
Then softly laughed.
"…You really are dangerous."
Meanwhile—
The explorers finally mounted the restrained drakes carefully.
The creatures growled lowly beneath the added weight while enchanted chains clinked heavily against scales.
Five riders per drake.
Supplies secured.
Eggs protected.
The sight looked surreal beneath the crimson cave light.
Humans riding sky predators.
Even the remaining explorers stared silently at the scene.
Because instinctively—
Everyone understood.
History was being written right now.
Then finally—
Kel stepped slightly forward.
"Leave at dawn."
The returning explorers nodded quietly.
No one complained anymore.
No one questioned the danger.
Because after everything they survived—
Fear itself had changed shape inside them.
And beyond the cavern entrance—
The endless southern wilderness waited silently beneath the dark ancient sky.
Watching.
As humanity slowly began reaching upward toward its monsters.