However, Eileen's tone shifted abruptly, a subtle and complex glint flashing in the depths of her icy blue eyes, her tone taking on an almost cold frankness:

"Of course, there are two sides to this. If... I mean, if the 'god' behind you truly intends to completely control your will, then right now, with your powers resonating deeply and your soul profoundly intertwined with His divinity..."

Eileen paused slightly, her gaze sweeping over Monica and the others who tensed up again, before slowly uttering the second half of her sentence.

"His will will penetrate and even cover your 'true self' more easily than ever before. Once this door is opened, the price to close it or break free will be far beyond your imagination."

That last sentence, like a cold steel needle, ruthlessly pierced the atmosphere that had just eased.

Anna gasped, Enzo gripped his hammer tightly, and even Mark's expression instantly turned serious.

“Eileen!” Monica practically screamed through gritted teeth, glaring at Eileen with a hint of displeasure in her beautiful eyes. “You call this comforting?! This is blatant intimidation! You’d be better off just shutting up!”

Eileen was slightly taken aback by Monica's outburst, then rolled her eyes at her without any politeness.

She gave a disgruntled snort, turned away, and refused to respond to Monica at all.

Ha, foolish Shadow Appraiser!

Do you think I want to talk to you little brats about such simple things in this filthy cellar?

If it weren't for you, Monica... if it weren't for you being chosen by the stars of fate, destined to follow Mark and become an indispensable eye in the goddess's scheme, why would I have given up my chance to advance to the legendary level as an appraiser, just to condense the laws of stars and moon?

The grand plan of the Star Moon Church, the divine decree of the goddess, every step is like a precisely operating star orbit, where a single move affects the whole situation.

Since I, Ellen, have chosen to take on this responsibility, I must ensure that every step proceeds according to the predetermined trajectory.

Mark's strength is key; his condition must be stable, even if it means being confronted with the most direct truth... As for your fragile hearts?

Hmph, it's nothing compared to the survival of the world!

...

On the vast sea to the east of the Holy Dragon Continent.

Far from the hustle and bustle of the mainland and the threat of the Demon Realm Rift, an archipelago of scattered islands lies quietly amidst the azure waves.

Ships shuttle back and forth between the islands, and the huge port handles merchant ships from all directions. The buildings on the port are not the stone and wood structures commonly found in human towns.

Instead, it presents a rugged and solid style, even directly carved from natural giant rocks, subtly revealing a primitive and powerful aura.

Even the salty sea breeze in the air contains an indescribable sense of majesty that comes from one's bloodline.

This is not a kingdom ruled by humans, but a territory under the control of the dragon race—the Holy Dragon Islands.

Thanks to the dragons' powerful deterrent and the relatively free tradition, this sea area is indeed safer than the mainland interior, which is constantly plagued by war and monster invasions under the rule of the Holy Light Church.

At least for non-dragon visitors who abide by the rules, this place can be considered one of the few lands on the Holy Dragon Continent that has not been tainted by war and intrigue.

An inconspicuous ocean-going merchant ship slowly entered the port of the largest island on the outskirts of the archipelago, mingling with other merchant ships.

The ship has a deep draft, suggesting it is carrying heavy cargo.

In the shadows of a corner of the deck, several figures quietly gathered, their auras deep and reserved, quite unlike those of ordinary merchant and crew members.

They were the four wise men sent by the Enlightenment Society to the Dragon Mountains to seize the "Heart of the Holy Dragon".

'Dragon Hunter' Grom, 'Shadow Fiend' Shadowclaw, 'Wind Chaser' Jules, and 'Thunderbolt' Tobyzan.

Grom walked at the front. He was a burly man, wearing leather armor covered with strange dark scales, and a grotesque heavy sword hanging at his waist, which looked like it was made from the sharp teeth of some huge creature.

Since the goal is to seize the dragon's treasure, it is only natural that he, who has the reputation of being a dragon hunter, should lead the team.

His hawk-like sharp gaze swept across the bustling port and the distant, mist-shrouded island center, where the faint, chilling aura of a dragon could be heard.

The shadow claws behind him almost blended into the shadow of the ship's side, their presence barely perceptible.

Jules was lean and wiry, with bright, lively eyes, and seemed to float about like a sprite in the wind.

Tobizan was wrapped in a deep blue cloak that seemed to be woven from thunderclouds, with faint arcs of electricity occasionally flashing beneath the hood.

"We've arrived." Grom's voice was deep and hoarse, carrying a quality honed from years of dealing with dangerous creatures.

He pointed to the area behind the port, shrouded in a powerful magical field and thickest in mist.

"Our target lies deep within those clouds and mist."

Jules, the 'Wind Chaser,' frowned slightly, his gaze piercing through the bustling harbor and landing on the massive protective barrier formed by ancient magic, visible to the naked eye deep within the archipelago.

Below the barrier are rolling hills covered in lush vegetation.

"Is that the Dragon Mountain Range where the Dragon Clan's treasure trove is located? It looks quite large. The Dragon Clan actually manages to protect an entire island and mountain range within it; they're truly wealthy and powerful. How can we pinpoint its exact location? Forcing our way through such a protected area would be tantamount to suicide."

He raised a question, which was also on the minds of Shadowclaw and Toby Zan.

Although they were all legendary powerhouses, it would be foolish to force their way into the sacred lair of the entire dragon race.

Grom's lips curled into an almost cold smile. He shook his head, but his gaze did not leave the cloud and mist. Instead, it seemed to pierce through it and be cast toward the deep blue sea in the distance.

"You are all terrifyingly naive. Why do you think that people of other races could know the true location of the Dragon Clan's sacred Dragon Mountains?" He lowered his voice, making sure only the three people around him could hear him.

"That's just a smokescreen thrown out by the dragons! The real Dragon Mountain Range isn't the mountain range you imagine built on an island. It... is hidden underwater."

"Underwater?" Shadowclaw's hoarse voice was like sandpaper rubbing together, and the shadow under the hood seemed to freeze for a moment.

Jules and Toby Zan also showed obvious surprise.

“That’s right.” Grom was very certain. “It is said that it was a magnificent miracle created by the ancient dragon ancestors with their supreme power, combined with the essence of the elements, on the endless seabed! It is hidden deep below the sea level, and its huge mountain structure is itself the most solid fortress and the strongest magic hub.”

"The islands we see are merely the summit of the highest peak of the Dragon Mountains... or more accurately, the projection of the mountain range's massive energy nodes onto the sea and the outposts established by the dragons."

"Those cloud barriers that shroud the islands are merely a means to conceal the true behemoth beneath, a behemoth powerful enough to shake the gods."

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