Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1611 - 557: King of Tyrannosaurs

Quickly thereafter, Ogre and Otto, the famed Twin Flame Spirits, arrived atop blazing fire hawks right next to the assembled group.

In that instant, Sword Saint Terrio started presenting the others to Rein.

"Lord Rein, let me introduce these two, renowned as the 'Twin Flame Spirits,' Ogre Zock..."

"Lord Rein, even though we're meeting for the first time, I've heard plenty about your impressive exploits from Lord Terrio," Ogre said in greeting, offering a slight bow.

"Lord Ogre, greetings." Rein responded with a gentle nod and a warm smile.

Yet right then, the demeanor of the remaining five elite Federation champions—excluding Terrio and Haleem—had shifted dramatically compared to earlier.

Before, these individuals harbored some resentment over the Dragan Empire dispatching just a youth for this collaborative venture. A few had even plotted to throw obstacles at Rein, hoping to force the young fellow to back down under pressure.

However, at present, the five not only bowed proactively, but their gazes held no trace of skepticism or disdain.

Such is the transformation wrought by raw power.

Rein, of course, fully recognized this shift.

"Looks like I won't need to prove myself any further," Rein mused inwardly.

Indeed, during a shared expedition, mutual distrust or grievances among team members would surely undermine cohesion amid challenges—a crucial factor in delving into the perilous Floating City Ruins.

Naturally, claiming flawless teamwork at this stage might be hasty, yet it marked a promising beginning nonetheless.

Right now, Rein felt his opinions held greater influence than previously.

Following brief greetings and introductions, the party made their way back toward the cavern encampment.

"Lord Terrio, any recent probes into the ruins on your end?" Rein inquired offhandedly.

"None, sigh... lately..." Sword Saint Terrio let out a heavy breath, shaking his head before summarizing the circumstances succinctly.

"Really? You've hit a blockade on the second underground floor? Some colossal metal dinosaur showed up there?" Rein expressed mild astonishment upon hearing this.

He'd assumed the Federation's squad of seven legendary powerhouses would have delved as far as the third or perhaps fourth basement by now, yet...

Regarding that colossal metal dinosaur in the second basement, Rein recalled no trace of it during his own inspection of the prison area there.

After all, based on Terrio's account, a gigantic metal beast surpassing even Metheus in size wouldn't have escaped detection.

"That's correct, Lord Rein. Furthermore, I'm fairly convinced that this enormous metal dinosaur on the second basement is none other than the elite unit from the ancient goblin mechanical army—the Mechanical Tyrannosaurus King."

Haleem interjected at that juncture.

Upon catching the phrase "Tyrannosaurus King," Rein spotted a glint of dread in the surrounding eyes.

"The Tyrannosaurus King?" Rein murmured, nodding as he pondered deeply.

He placed faith in Haleem's assessment.

Still, what could explain the Tyrannosaurus King's presence on the second basement floor?

Typically, the goblin barracks lie on the third basement level, implying the beast had shifted upward from the third to the second on its own initiative.

Could this be... a bid for freedom?

A sudden realization struck Rein, leading him to consider this scenario.

"Any unusual activity lately?" Rein pressed onward.

"Indeed, per the reports from the guards on constant watch, the rumbles emanating from the Floating City have grown more frequent and intense, though no clear alterations appear on the surface," Terrio clarified.

This confirmation only solidified Rein's prior hunch.

Quite likely, the Fiend Demon is puppeteering goblin remains across the floors in a desperate push to flee the Floating City Ruins. Why else would the constructs venture upward from the third to the second basement voluntarily?

Clearly, letting the foe slip away from the ruins is out of the question.

Failing that, dire and unpredictable disasters could unfold.

Evidently... swift exploration is essential.

With the cavern camp's entrance barriers expanded by removing more stone, the pair of colossal dragons, Metheus and Dorick, trailed Rein within, causing alarm among numerous Federation troops and scholars.

"Lord Rein, maybe you ought to take a short break first, right here..."

"Hold on, Lord Terrio, noticing how everyone's holding up well, why not depart immediately?" Rein gestured dismissively, cutting off Terrio's offer of respite.

"Immediately?"

Rein’s suggestion prompted surprised stares from everyone on site, Haleem included.

As though questioning if this wasn't overly hasty.

Having just traversed the vast Empire on a tiring trek, and already plunging into the ruins?

"Exactly, the more we postpone, the worse it bodes for future ruin delves," Rein declared gravely.

His statement left the group quiet for a beat.

As their mightiest member, Rein's every utterance demanded serious heed from the rest.

"Very well, Lord Rein, we'll head out right away." Sword Saint Terrio agreed with a nod after a moment's reflection.

Truth be told, bearing the burden as the Federation's expedition head, he felt immense strain from the lack of advances or key findings over the elapsed period.

Besides, this outing needn't yield monumental breakthroughs; simply grasping the evolving dynamics inside the Floating City would fortify the groundwork for upcoming ventures.