''What the fuck is going on here?'' Rocky wondered, as he had never before seen a scene so brutal in his life ever before.


    Running desperately, the team leapt over a 6 feet gap in the walkway created because a falling dragon corpse destroyed it, as for the few seconds that he was in the open, Rocky genuinely feared that a wyvern or a dragon would swoop in out of nowhere and eat him alive.


    *Thud*


    Thankfully, nobody ate him as hended safely on the other side, and thankfully nobody ate his team members either, as they all made it to the other side safely.


    "We must keep running…. If we run like hell, we will most likely cross this entire valley in the next 20-30 minutes and that''s our only shot at living.


    Although I don''t know what has caused these wyverns to go bat-shit crazy, I don''t think that we can afford to wait and find out–" Rocky said, as he kept running ahead at full speed, only ncing behind periodically to make a head count to ensure that his team was behind him.


    Immediately behind him was Kronos, who seemed to have recoveredpletely from the burn damage they received just moments ago due to his strong vitality and was in arguably the best shape of the group.


    Behind him was Erin who looked like he was half-dead and ready to drop to his knees at any moment. However, professor Maven''s lectures seemed to being in a clutch, as thanks to him focusing on his physical fitness during university, Erin somehow managed to keep up with the team although clearly struggling as he did it.


    Finally, Buhara ran at the absolute back at an awkward angle as the passage they were moving in was only 7.5 feet tall, forcing Buhara to bend over so as to not hit his head.


    With his backpack gone, he was now carrying the wooden package by hand, and since Rocky expressed no interest in opening the package, Buhara did not even so much as take a peek inside it, until he felt the package suddenly shudder in his hands.


    *SCREECH*


    For some inexplicable reason, the package shuddering in his hand, coincided precisely with another wave of wyverns losing their minds, as the carnage around the team only intensified at that moment, with wyverns who were half-step into the grave, with their wings bitten and their necks bleeding also trying to hunt their nearest dragon enemy.


    "Sir Rocky….. I think this package is alive…. Whatever it is that we are carrying just moved within the box–" Buhara shouted, as when Rocky heard these words, he stopped his running and turned to face Buhara.


    *Thud*


    Unfortunately, Rocky stopping abruptly caused Kronos to bump into him, knocking both men off their feet, however, ignoring this impact Rocky quickly got back to his feet, as he made a snap call to open the package and see what was inside.


    "Toss it over–" Rocky instructed, as Buhara immediately tossed the package over, allowing Rocky to take a look inside.


    "It''s an egg–" Erin said, as soon as Rocky opened the package, as he felt perplexed as to why the team was transporting an egg that looked suspiciously like a dragon''s egg.


    [ System Inspect ]


    Rocky thought in his mind, using one more of the system''s newly unlocked features after it upgraded to level2, as the strongest system recognised the egg as an [ Abyssal Dragon Egg ] that was on the verge of hatching.


    "Ohhh…. This makes so much sense now–" Kronos said, as while the rest of the group seemed clueless as to why wyverns were losing their minds over an Abyssal Dragon Egg, while the dragon''s themselves seemed to be least bothered, Kronos seemed to have an idea as to what was going on.


    "Abyssal dragons are not like the other dragons we know— as unlike the ck, red, green, yellow, or golden dragon ns that dominate the universe and are led by the Dragon God, the Abyssal Dragons are a rare and ancient species, often referred to as ''beast kings.'' as unlike traditional dragons, an abyssal dragonmands loyalty from all manner of creatures, especially wyverns and aren''t just another dragon—they are the natural leaders of beasts." Kronos exined, as he started to speak lore of the Abyssal Dragons as said on his home.


    Rocky frowned, starting to piece things together. "So the wyverns… they''re trying to protect the egg?"


    Kronos nodded. "Exactly. The wyverns can sense that their king is close to hatching. Their instincts are driving them mad because they know this egg shouldn''t be in the hands of humans.


    Abyssal dragons and wyverns share a symbiotic rtionship— as once hatched, the wyverns protect the young abyssal dragon until it matures, protecting it from the wrath of other dragons and in return, the powerful mature Abyssal Dragon safeguards the wyvern flock for life.


    But right now, they''re desperate because this egg is not in a safe nest—it''s being carried by us, and they don''t understand why."


    Erin looked even more perplexed. "But why aren''t the dragons reacting the same way?"


    "The traditional dragons have no loyalty to the abyssal dragons," Kronos exined. "In fact, they view them aspetitors, but they don''t care enough to intervene unless directly threatened. The wyverns, on the other hand, are bound by a deep, ancient loyalty and shall do anything to protect this egg."


    A sudden realization dawned on Rocky, his face hardening as he asked Kronos a difficult question


    "If the egg is about to hatch… and we''re supposed to deliver it— Does that not mean…." Rocky said, notpleting his question, as Kronos understood the meaning behind what Rocky was trying to convey.


    "Yes, whoever wants this egg delivered has no good intentions. Abyssal dragons are often targeted in dark rituals, particrly as they''re about to hatch as sacrificing a newborn abyssal dragon can grant immense power and vitality to whoever performs the ritual.


    I suspect that we might be delivering this egg straight into the hands of someone who intends to kill it the moment it''s born." Kronos confirmed, as Rocky finally understood the whole picture.