The young dragon tries to conquer the world

　"Sent from the union?"

　Sereria believed that there should already be quite a few hunters in the town, but even so, the guild still thought that more reinforcements needed to be sent, even if we only considered it from this perspective.

　Sereria also felt a sense of tension, as the Celestials would probably arrive in about ten more days, while the hunters sent by the guild were scheduled to arrive tomorrow.

　"I've already arranged an inn, so please stay in town tonight, Mr. Sereria. We'll try our best to prepare any materials you need. I have my own craftsmen and workshop, so please don't hesitate to ask if your equipment needs maintenance. Ah, however, their skills probably can't compare to those of the expert craftsmen who can forge weapons for such a fine hunter as yourself."

　"No, no, seeing the town, I know the craftsmen here must be very skilled, but since I just recently adjusted the equipment, I won't trouble you with that."

　Hearing Sereria's words, the mayor did not show any intention of forcing her to accept his kindness, but simply added, "Then, if you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask."

　"Oh, could you please do me a favor?"

　These words made the mayor's face immediately change. "Here's the thing, there are two people who usually team up with me, the two who came with me before. Because I was in a hurry to get here, they didn't come with me. I'm sorry, mayor, if you know anyone who is going to Mejpoldan, could you please ask them to pass on a message?"

　Sereria had only wanted to know if there were any passengers or ships heading to Mejpoldan, but the mayor patted his chest and said, "Leave it to me! I'll send someone to Jiangbo Village right away!"

　"Oh, did you specifically send someone over? Well, anyway, Mayor, I really..."

　"Please don't mind it, because I also want to see Miss Sereria's valiant hunting prowess as soon as possible! For that reason, this little thing is nothing!"

　Sereria eventually accepted their offer. There would likely be many hunters participating in this hunt, but even so, Sereria hoped to fight alongside Sibert and Edlinka.

　As she sincerely thanked the mayor, she pondered the defensive battle ten days later. The preparations here were thorough, but the prospect of suddenly facing a completely unfamiliar monster left Sereria, a hunter, with a lingering sense of unease.

　The next day, the hunters sent by the union began to arrive in Mandy Town. This was likely because the union hadn't required the hunters, who were originally located in various places, to gather before setting off, but rather to proceed to Mandy Town immediately upon receiving the message. The hunters, arriving in batches, quickly disappeared into the town.

　Like Sereria, they had probably already found lodging in town and were preparing to confront the powerful figures. Although she didn't know exactly how many hunters would arrive in Mandy, judging from the current situation, the number of participants was definitely not just five or ten. Since a team could only have a maximum of four members, this was the first time Sereria had encountered such a large-scale hunt.

　because

　Sereria couldn't think of anything good to do for the moment, and having been traveling between various hunting grounds for the past few days, she had planned to take this opportunity to rest. However, someone knocked on her door.

　Volume 1: 461 - Preparations for the Campaign Against the Immortal Master

　"Here, who is it?"

　It wasn't yet time for Sibert, Edlinka, and Edward to arrive, and Sereria knew very few people in the town. She wondered if it was someone from the mayor's office, or perhaps a hunter who had come seeking her out. However, the visitor was not anyone Sereria had initially thought of. In a sense, the accompanying person was the most unexpected person for Sereria.

　However, just as what she had longed for became a reality.

　"Wow, you've grown up."

　"Such a condescending tone right from the start!" Sereria roared inwardly. The man standing at the door who spoke these words was older than Sereria; he was also a hunter.

　His protective gear was quite distinctive. He wore a wide-brimmed, bright red hat adorned with a pure white feather. His upper body was covered by a three-quarter-sleeved white shirt and a vest matching the bright red hat. On his feet were sturdy boots.

　This set of equipment is only permitted to be worn by a select few hunters with a special status, known as Guild Knights.

　Unlike hunters like Sereria who operate independently, they are directly under the command of the guild. Guild knights are responsible for tasks such as making suggestions to the guild and cracking down on illegal poachers. Due to the special nature of their work, it is said that most of them are hunters who have already achieved a certain level of success and are willing to take on the role.

　In other words, a hunter who can become a guild knight must possess considerable strength. No, at this moment, Sereria didn't even notice the other person's clothing. She already knew how powerful the hunter standing in front of her was.

　Although the man's weapon was still folded, Sereria could tell that he was using the Shattered Steel Bullet Rainbow Cannon.

　"C-C-C-C-Clement!"

　A man named Clement, second only to her father among the hunters whom Cerelia respected, was her mentor, teaching her various hunting techniques and knowledge. Six years ago, Clement was severely wounded while saving Cerelia and thus returned to Metapetat to recuperate.

　After that, Cerelia never saw Clement again. Of course, it wasn't that Cerelia hadn't been to Metapetat for six years, but Clement was like a wild animal that refused to let anyone see its posture, and he never showed up. However, Cerelia didn't try to find him, because she knew very well the arrogant nature of this person.

　She thought that Clement probably wouldn't want anyone else to see him injured and in such a sorry state. Sereria always believed that one day he would reappear before her.

　"Being hugged by a young girl is definitely a very happy thing!"

　"Who, who would do such a thing!"

　Clement placed his left hand over Cerelia's eye, who was in a state of extreme excitement, and rubbed it vigorously twice. Clement's left hand must have been injured six years ago, but since he could use it so naturally now, it meant that the injury had been fully healed. The guild knight's uniform he was wearing most likely meant that Clement had returned to the ranks of hunters. There was nothing that made Cerelia happier than this.

　"Speaking of which, your outfit is a bit too extravagant. Why don't you change into something more simple?"

　To avoid revealing her inner joy, Sereria deliberately mocked Clement in this way. Just then, another voice rang out.

　"Oh my, the touching reunion is over?"

　A bearded man suddenly poked his head out of the doorway. Sereria recognized him; he was a witty fellow with a mischievous smile that seemed out of place for his age.

　"Grandpa is here too."

　Sereria's father and his friend, Metapetat's uncle, were both hunters who were apprentices of this old man. Although the old man was short, he seemed to have been a rather active and excellent hunter in his youth. The old man also...

　Indeed, the old man had given Cerelia a lot of valuable advice three years ago. Although he hadn't directly pointed her in the right direction, his words had certainly been very helpful during Cerelia's hunt for the Monoblos.

　The old man's equipment was still the same as it had been three years ago: he was wearing light leather S-series armor and the rare weapon named Starry Sky Dragon King Flame, which was full of unique taste, was still hanging on his waist.

　"You two weren't both sent by the guild, were you?"

　"Yes."

　"Guild Knight?"

　"Well, it seems that I was spotted by the guild members while I was undergoing rehabilitation. Sigh, they insisted that I become a guild knight, so I had no choice but to reluctantly agree."

　"You're still as confident as ever. Can't you be a little more humble?"

　"Oh dear, it seems that it's not just their bodies that have grown bigger, but their attitude has also become more like that of a principal. Really, never forget that you should always maintain respect for your master."

　As Clement said this, he turned his gaze to Sereria's equipment. As a fellow hunter, he could roughly judge the strength of an opponent just by looking at their equipment. Sereria felt that the other party seemed to be assessing her achievements over the past six years.

　"Hmm, it seems you're working quite hard."

　"Hehe, it's alright!"

　Sereria breathed a sigh of relief. Even so, she tried her best not to show it on her face. The old man stood by, smiling, quietly watching the two hunters who were not good at expressing their feelings.

　"So, you were all sent by the guild, right?"

　Sereria could have invited the two of them into the room directly, but since the opportunity was rare, they decided to eat and chat in the restaurant on the first floor. Sereria couldn't even wait to sit down at the table, and while the three of them were still walking down the narrow staircase, she couldn't wait to ask a question.

　"Yes, after all, this opponent is no ordinary opponent. The guild believes that it would be better to have someone in charge of integration and command."

　"So, you were the one in charge?"

　"Yes, is there anything you're unhappy about?"

　"No, this should be quite interesting. We'll see if your skills have declined by then!"

　Although Sereria said this, a smile couldn't help but appear on her lips. She was completely different from six years ago; her strength had undergone a transformative growth, and she wanted Clement to see her progress. Most importantly, Sereria was no longer a burden to Clement; she was a hunter who could fight alongside him. Thinking of this, Sereria felt a surge of joy.

　"To be honest, I'm not really clear on the current situation. What kind of monster is this Immortal Master? You said the opponent is extraordinary, which means you should know something, right?"

　Upon hearing Sereria's question, Clement's expression immediately became quite serious, and he nodded slightly.

　"Regarding that guy, the guild actually has almost no useful information. We don't know where it came from, where it's going, or how this kind of monster reproduces. In short, everything is a mystery."

　"What's wrong? You look so serious. I thought I was going to hear some important news, but it turns out there's no information at all!"

　"Don't say that. I heard that fire is effective against it. That's all we know."

　"I see, fire is a common weakness of crustacean monsters."

　"Have you started using elemental weapons?"

　"Yes, but I haven't made a fire-attribute weapon yet. Since the opponent is a shelled species, the possibility of lightning being effective should be quite high, right? If it's lightning, then I have the lightning sword at my disposal."

　The long-awaited reunion ended abruptly. However, this meeting added a new objective for Sereria in the upcoming defensive battle: to show Clement her growth over the past few years.

　Early the next morning, Sereria's request to ask the mayor of Manti Town to deliver a message to Mejpoldan turned into a wasted effort. The messenger she had asked the mayor to deliver the message yesterday had not even arrived in Mejpoldan yet. However, Sibert, Edlinka, and Edward had already arrived in Manti Town early in the morning and found Sereria's room, knocking on her door.

　Most likely, it was only after Sereria left Mejboltan that the guild released a prediction of the Celestials' travel route, so Sibert, Edlinka, and Edward set off for Mandy Town based on their own judgment.

　"Haha, without us here, there are many things you probably wouldn't know what to do, so we rushed over!"

　"Yes, we're saved now."

　Dealing with a powerful immortal would likely be dangerous, far exceeding the dangers of a normal hunt. Therefore, Sereria hesitated to decide whether to drag her two companions into the battle. Perhaps sensing Sereria's hesitation, Edlinka grabbed Sereria's arm and pulled her out of the room, a smile on her face the whole time.

　"Okay, let's go."

　"Huh? Where are we going?"

　"The hunters sent by the guild should have arrived by now, right?"

　"Hmm? Ah, I see. You guys received the guild's message too, right?"

　"Yes, shouldn't the hunters from the direct guild be in charge in such situations? If that's the case, I hope you can introduce us to them."

　While Sereria was still hesitating, Edlinka had already taken the initiative to express her willingness to participate in the battle, which left Sereria with no choice but to agree. Smiling, she led three companions to visit Clement.

　When Sereria and the others arrived at the mayor's mansion, the scene before them was quite different from before. They saw many hunters sent there by the guild adjusting their pace.

　Some were practicing swinging their weapons in the courtyard, while others were maintaining their equipment in the hall inside the house; every hunter was quite busy.

　Sereria and the others had already spotted about twenty hunters, and these hunters were likely not all of the participants. Moreover, there would probably be more people arriving later. In addition, the hunters who originally used this town as their base were no longer here. Judging from this situation, by the final moment, the number of hunters participating in the battle against the Immortals might reach around fifty.

　"Wow, this is truly spectacular!"

　Sibert couldn't help but let out a sigh of admiration.

　Indeed, not only were there a large number of participants, but the town of Manti also had strong defenses. Sereria could understand why Sibert would say that.

　"No, no, it's too early to be surprised. Although we can't see clearly from here, there are still some well-equipped defensive facilities in the direction from which the immortals are attacking in the east, which are no less impressive than those in Metapetat!"

　"What? Not inferior to Metapetat? Although I don't know just how powerful Immortal Master is, no matter what comes our way, we're guaranteed to win!"

　“Sibett-san, it’s dangerous to be too careless.” Edlinka’s words made a lot of sense. And Sereria, who had personally witnessed the figure of the Immortal, deeply agreed.

　"By the way! Sibert, don't be scared after you hear this, but the hunters sent by the guild are led by Clement!"

　"Oh! It's that rather narcissistic guy!"

　As time passed, the Immortal Master indeed arrived at the outer edge of Manti Town according to the predetermined route. Just as Sereria had expected, about fifty hunters had gathered in the stronghold, each of them looking quite capable. The hunters present all exuded the kind of aura that only masters who had experienced many hunts and overcome countless life-and-death trials could possess.

　Because of the large number of hunters gathered, the scene resembled a weapons and armor appraisal event. Greatswords, one-handed swords, spear-shaped lances, bows, crossbows, and more—almost every type of weapon could be found here. The same was true for armor.

　"Oh, someone over there is wearing the salon collection. And that one over there is the peach-furry beast collection, right?"

　Besides, users of armor such as the Alloy series, the Monster Bird series, and the Red Velociraptor series can be found. Even the more unusual Flying Insect series equipment is worn by some people. There are all kinds of armor here, including people wearing Gruluga series or Basa series armor. When they find these kinds of hunters, Sereria and Edlinka both have an inexplicable feeling of unease.

　"Look, there are people wearing water dragon armor over there too!"

　Sereria turned her attention to Sibert, but he merely smiled at Sereria and Edlinka's rather childish feelings. The hunters were gathered outside Mandy Town, standing outside the heavy gate that required looking up. If that gate were destroyed, Mandy Town would suffer a severe blow.

　"Sorry to keep you all waiting!"

　All fifty people present turned their gaze to Clement, who was speaking. Sereria and the others realized that it was not appropriate to stand next to Clement at this moment, so they hurriedly retreated to a more distant place. A platform had already been prepared in front of the east gate. It was a simple platform made of wood and with steps, about waist-high to Sereria.

　However, Sereria had no desire to step onto the stage in this atmosphere and become the center of attention. Clement, the old man, and the mayor, on the other hand, calmly accepted the gazes of fifty people.

　"Although the esteemed immortal has not yet appeared, it should only be a matter of time. Therefore, please prepare to go to your posts."

　"I believe everyone is already familiar with the general process of this operation. The immortal being we are going to defeat is no ordinary monster. To make a final confirmation, please allow me to briefly explain it once again." Clement's voice was quite loud, and he continued smoothly.

　Volume 1: 462 - Defeating the Immortal Master

　"like

　Although this large-scale hunt is a defensive operation, I suspect none of you have similar experience. Therefore, to avoid chaos, I've decided to proceed with our usual team formations. Teams with skilled marksmen, please take to the top of the city walls to snipe with crossbows and other weapons. Your swordsmen will be responsible for carrying ammunition.

　"The swordsman-led teams will serve as the vanguard on the ground. In addition, the ground squads will be further divided into direct attack groups and bomb and trap setting groups. The tasks of each group and team will be based on the results of our previous discussions."

　Indeed, if everyone acted according to their own ideas, the scene would probably become quite chaotic. However, Sereria felt that the gunners in the ground squad might be alright, but the swordsman assigned to the sniper squad was a bit of a waste of his talents. The hunters gathered here didn't seem to have any other questions either; they just nodded to each other and waited for Clement to give the order.

　"Alright, then I'll leave the rest to you all!" The shouts of the many hunters in front of the East Gate echoed throughout the valley.

　After preparations for the raid began, hunters belonging to the sniper squad were busy moving back and forth along the path, carrying ammunition or shells and hurrying to their assigned positions with crossbows and cannons. Below, at the guide passage, the ground squad of hunters also began their work. Incidentally, the old man was not participating in the actual combat this time.

　He merely provided his name and funds, assuming the role of nominal leader, while Clement was solely responsible for actual command in combat.

　The old man appears to be controlling the rooms inside the fortress where weapons and supplies are stored. As for the mayor, since his presence would only be an obstacle once the defense war begins, Clement has asked him to return to town first.

　"They're here!" Clement whispered. Sereria then felt a deep, muffled footstep on the ground beneath her feet, so deep it was hard to tell if it was a sound or a vibration. Other hunters who also felt the footsteps shouted to alert their companions. Those who hadn't heard the footsteps drew their weapons one after another, and the atmosphere became extremely tense.

　When the footsteps became loud enough for all the hunters gathered there to hear, everyone became alert. Due to sound reflection, the footsteps seemed to come from the left and right, sometimes sounding like they were still far away, but sometimes sounding like they had already passed over their heads and arrived behind them. The sounds coming from all directions made the hunters feel disoriented.

　However, when Sereria casually looked up, she discovered that a huge mountain shadow had appeared at the end of the mist. Just a moment ago, the spot where that enormous, dark figure was now was indeed empty. Moreover, the shadow was still moving forward.

　"A monster is coming! A powerful immortal is coming! It's...it's huge!"

　The first thing to reveal itself, cutting through the thin mist, was the monster's right foreleg. At this moment, only one leg appeared before Sereria and the others, but even this single leg looked as thick as an ancient tree that had lived for countless years. It was indeed the leg of a shelled creature. The shell, gleaming with a slight blue sheen, had a texture distinctly different from that of iron.

　The thin shell, which looked almost transparent, had a heavy feel due to its numerous layers. Then came the left front leg. The distance between the monster's two legs was wide enough to easily accommodate an ordinary house. In this way, the Immortal Man slowly revealed its full form from the smoke.

　"boom!"

　Its appearance was like a giant, moving mountain. Judging by its shape alone, the Celestial was indeed a crustacean-type monster, its entire body covered in hard shells and supported by four legs. Structurally, it resembled the Daimyo Shield Crab and the Shogun Scythe Crab. However, because every part of the Celestial's body was so enormous, it gave the impression of being a completely different kind of monster.