"Something’s wrong, something’s really off,"

The young man with purple hair and leather pants followed behind the team, furrowing his brows in thought, muttering softly to his companions.

But the surrounding companions paid no attention to him, as they were already accustomed to this teammate’s behavior pattern. In every formed team, there’s usually one member who takes on the role of the team’s mastermind.

Naturally, the purple-haired young man assumed this role. However, due to his habit of talking excessively, many of his words were automatically filtered out by his teammates.

Since the group followed the Ranger’s guidance, got through the inspection, and wore the marked nameplates, the young man with exceptional perception found that his inner power and perceptiveness were increasingly active.

In other words, it was only after they wore these approved nameplates that they truly faced the world’s true appearance.

Their previous feelings and perceptions had been suppressed by the vast forest consciousness, unable to accurately judge the rules of the entire world.

Several teammates alongside the purple-haired young man had been admiring the unique charm of the Otherworld since stepping into this city—Royal Capital, the capital of the Dragon Group.

Though this city’s towering and vast presence inspired a sense of awe, having seen many sights and modern metropolitan areas, they quickly pushed aside such feelings, leaving room for a fresh thrill.

Only the steady middle-aged captain kept an eye on the city filled with idle mercenaries and travelers, numerous casters, fierce-looking Barbarian Berserkers, varied alien species, and a noteworthy amount of hybrid children.

Glancing down the street, the middle-aged captain could sense several obscure presences, which even he, a veteran of multiple worlds, found dangerous.

This made the captain’s already prominent brow furrow more intensely, almost as if it could clamp down on a mosquito.

"What did you say was off earlier?" The middle-aged captain turned to inquire of the purple-haired young man. The team captain was the only one with the stability to fully absorb the chatterer’s words and filter them into valid information.

"The force suppressing us appears not to be the typical collective subconscious of an ordinary forest. Instead, a powerful independent consciousness controls the entire forest’s consciousness."

"Thus, our previous assessments of strength might be significantly inaccurate. Haven’t you noticed any changes after gaining territorial recognition?"

The purple-haired young man voiced his discovery, solemnly gazing at his captain.

"You rely on them?" The middle-aged captain covertly leaned toward his team’s intellect, mockingly whispering about fellow teams before them: "One third-generation zombie, having absorbed the zombie bloodline, just mindlessly charges quickest into fights."

"Another is a ticking bomb after cultivating with Blacklight Virus combined with Celestial Demon abilities. A defensive Vampire desires to evolve into a development dead river. It’s fortunate they still appear human!"

The middle-aged captain spoke discontentedly, switching languages without concern that outsiders could overhear. In a city inhabited by many varied races, this group needn’t focus on such details.

"Though the Nephilim residual blood within me has become lively, realizing this world harbors demons and angels, I overlooked this information."

"Overall, we must reassess this world’s strength. Likely, the world we undertake expansion tasks in is of extremely high level; we can’t be careless!"

Before the captain could respond to the purple-haired youth’s words, they rounded a corner and saw, afar upon the horizon of Royal Capital, towering high mountains.

That was the Dragon’s Nest, the Holy Mountain of territories, the Divine Spirit dwelling place of the Beloved.

When distanced, the group often saw majestic mountains, but rarely reacted, for their senses could not yet comprehend information.

At this proximity, however, they could palpably feel a terrifying pressure emanating from the thousands-meter-high peak, akin to a blazing torch-like volcanic nest.

It was like a Monarch’s will overlooking earth’s creatures, attached to the entire mountain.

As long as one doesn’t actively investigate it, it remains an Emperor governing through passive means, maintaining tranquility, resembling a mere ordinary peak.

Yet their bold, active surveying triggered that deep-seated, all-encompassing will, viewing the world’s creatures as subjects, similar to an Overlord casting a gaze that’s unavoidable and irresistibly compelling.

They could even picture a massive Red Dragon, coiled atop the mountain peak, casting a commanding, cold gaze back.

Even from a significant distance, each person’s face darkened, oppressed by the Giant Dragon’s authority, quickly severing their active probing spirit to regain composure.

"I reckon this mission requires negotiation. How about we examine the Beastman situation before deciding? This one seems formidable; no wonder the city’s residents show no tension regarding impending war,"

The yellow-haired girl, pale-skinned yet her face now dark as if smeared with black paste, paused her gum chewing and firmly proposed.