Chapter 105: The Shapeshifter

With anxious hearts, the company made their way through the perilous魔兽森林. Because of the growing size of their force, some weaker predatory creatures no longer dared to come out easily. The powerful carnivorous beasts from this other world would all actively avoid such a formidable procession. Unless provoked, these otherworldly creatures would keep their distance.

It took some time to climb the highest peak nearby—the same mountain range where they had previously harvested ice. Along the way, they encountered highland tigers, but because the company was so large, the tigers dared not provoke them and retreated of their own accord.

Jia Zhengjin reached the summit and surveyed all the surrounding mountains in the distance. According to legend, dragons most loved to perch upon the highest peaks, building their lairs at the very top. However, after sweeping his gaze across the horizon, he found no trace of a dragon on any of the visible summits. This counted as good news, at least confirming that the dragon was not near their base.

"Keen, there's nothing... should we head back?" Tina asked, her voice laced with worry as she cupped her hands around her mouth and breathed warm air into them. The mountaintop was simply too cold.

Jia Zhengjin hastily fashioned a pair of gloves from fiber and put them on her hands. "Don't be impatient! Let's check a few more peaks ahead. Today's mission is to determine where the dragon is."

"But this is far too dangerous..." Tina was deeply concerned.

"Don't be afraid! If danger arises, I'll protect you and make sure you leave first!" Jia Zhengjin reassured her.

"That's not what I mean!" Tina said. "I'm afraid something might happen to you."

Hearing this, Jia Zhengjin reached out and drew her into his embrace. "I know! But I must confirm it. Let's go! I'll be as careful as I can!"

The company set out once more, crossing several mountain peaks in succession. Setting off at dawn, they walked until afternoon. In truth, they hadn't traveled far from the base at all—they had only just managed to scale the third treacherous peak. There was no helping it, for these mountains were all extremely high in altitude, and along the way they had to remain vigilant against all manner of otherworldly creatures and bizarre plants.

"Keen, it's almost dark!" By the time they reached the third summit, Tina was already panting from exhaustion. So Jia Zhengjin fashioned a simple stretcher and had the kobold warriors carry her.

Truth be told, never mind Tina—Jia Zhengjin himself was utterly worn out. "Let's hurry and take a look at the summit, then descend as far as we can before nightfall. We'll have to spend the night in the wild. I'll build an enclosure with stone bricks so everyone can rest as well as possible."

The very thought of resting in the wilderness made Tina's heart churn with anxiety. Even inside their fortress city, bristling with arrow towers, she wouldn't dare wander about at night.

"Keen, are we really going to keep searching tomorrow?" Tina asked with concern.

"Mm! I need to confirm which direction the dragon lies. Only by knowing its direction can we formulate a strategy to deal with it."

"But what strategy could there possibly be against a dragon?" Tina sighed.

"Mm... there will always be a way." Jia Zhengjin seized the time to ascend the mountain, quickly reaching the summit. He stood there and gazed around in every direction; the dense forest teemed with all manner of strange creatures below.

But of a dragon, there was still no sign. It seemed it was not in the vicinity either.

The group pressed onward once more, following the mountain ridge as it descended. As the sun sank below the horizon, they arrived at a relatively open clearing near the mountainside.

While it was still light, Jia Zhengjin quickly pulled out a backpack filled with prepared stone bricks and constructed four tall walls joined together. Though it was not as large as their fortress in the city, nor as tall, and could barely accommodate the kobolds, giant wasps, and Jia Zhengjin's party—still, the presence of walls brought a measure of reassurance.

After night fell, they lit a bonfire within the enclosure. Roasting some raw meat to fill their bellies.

Having toiled the entire day, Tina, who had the weakest constitution, was the first to fall into a deep sleep in Jia Zhengjin's arms. Peilin leaned against Jia Zhengjin's other shoulder, closing her eyes to rest.

The werewolf Wolf, however, remained full of energy, taking sole charge of the night watch. It seemed he could go without sleep entirely—perhaps werewolves simply had no need for it.

Deep into the night, Jia Zhengjin too sank into a heavy slumber.

The kobold troops and giant wasp swarm huddled together to rest; within the entire temporary campsite, only Wolf remained awake. He feared nothing, leaping straight onto the wall and pacing round and round in patrol.

"ROOOAR—!!" At some unknown hour, a thunderous sound split the air once more.

Jia Zhengjin's eyes snapped open, and he scrambled to his feet in panic. The sound was far too close—so close it felt as if it were right beside them.

Tina and Peilin were also startled awake, their faces turning pale.

The kobold troops and giant wasp swarm, shrouded in darkness, were likewise terrified by the sudden noise—chaos erupted in an instant!

"Wolf!" Jia Zhengjin shouted anxiously.

"I'm here!" Wolf appeared at his side in an instant.

"Did you hear that?" Jia Zhengjin asked.

"Loud and clear!" Wolf pointed toward the east. "I'm afraid it's right nearby!"

"Everyone, stay silent! Don't panic!" Jia Zhengjin commanded. "The night is no time for travel. Since we've slept this long without being discovered, we'll continue to rest! When dawn comes, we'll find a way to slip away quietly!"

"But who could possibly sleep beside a dragon?" Peilin asked, her face expressionless.

"There's no choice!" Jia Zhengjin said helplessly. "Venturing into this pitch-black forest—this is territory we have never explored. If there are dangerous creature tribes out there, we'd be just as doomed!"

Following Jia Zhengjin's orders, Wolf quieted the kobolds and giant wasps, all of them curling up against one section of the wall.

As for Jia Zhengjin, he wrapped his arms around the trembling Tina and Peilin, hiding in the middle of the group.

He secretly regretted his rashness. Perhaps he should never have come—better to have led everyone straight out of the demon beast forest. He shouldn't have been so reluctant to part with the abundant resources here, stubbornly determined to confirm whether the dragon posed a threat to the city.

In truth, if a dragon truly existed in the demon beast forest, the city would be in danger sooner or later anyway!

But regret was useless now. All they could do was pray that the dragon would not discover them.

The bonfire had been extinguished. Now every person and creature fell silent, with only their own distinct heartbeats audible.

"ROOOAR—!!" Then, a despairing event unfolded! The next instant, the terrifying dragon's head from last night appeared above the wall. A pair of golden dragon eyes, many times larger than a human being, curiously swept over the creatures within the enclosure. At the same time, its enormous maw opened wide, emitting a thunderous sound.

It was over! Jia Zhengjin clutched Tina and Peilin tightly, staring at the dragon's head that could swallow them all in a single bite, his mind going completely blank.

"WHIR!" Just then, the werewolf Wolf charged forward with incredible bravery, striking the dragon's nose with his razor-sharp claws.

"ROOOAR—!!" The dragon, likely never having imagined anyone would dare resist, found its nose slashed open with a gash. It let out an ear-shattering roar.

"How could the dragon's skin be cut like that?" Tina, who had been clinging with her eyes shut, opened them at the sound and revealed a shocked expression.

"Right... because it isn't actually a dragon..." At that moment, Jia Zhengjin saw the attributes of the creature before him, and the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

【Doppelganger】 HP 956/1000.