"..."

Ronald didn't immediately respond to Nicole's inquiry.

Because honestly, he was still trying to figure out what was going on below.

On the surface, these white liquids were clearly some kind of special inorganic material, even if they contained special magic power, they were essentially not substances that could constitute the body of life.

However, this was just common sense in a normal worldview.

Ronald hadn't forgotten that he was currently in a world with magic. The thing that led him deep into the Arctic Extreme to investigate was the Dust Behemoth that defied all logic in every way.

A creature whose size alone was unbelievable.

No one could guarantee that it didn't possess other unimaginable powers.

A quick recollection of the two he encountered.

One was a deep-sea beast hidden in an underwater cave, and the other was a massive rocky creature sleeping beneath the forest, fused with the soil and stones.

So is there a possibility?

That this Dust Behemoth asleep in the Arctic also had its own unique circumstances?

Ronald boldly speculated in his mind.

Perhaps these white materials were its appearance while it slept.

Only when it awakens from slumber will it reveal its true form as a living being.

"..."

"Hey! Ronald, look down there!"

While Ronald was hesitating, Nicole, who was in his arms, suddenly stretched out her right hand and shouted, pointing downward:

"Exactly the same!"

"The white mist we encountered before was just like that!"

Awakened by this reminder.

Ronald, who had been considering the choice of spells, suddenly snapped out of his thoughts.

Looking in the direction Nicole was pointing, he immediately discovered what had alerted the investigator girl.

Above these white glowing liquids.

In some places, as time passed, a thin layer of white mist started to rise on the surface!

This mist should have originally permeated this enclosed cave or gradually seeped into the soil, eventually seeping upward little by little.

But at this moment, because of Nicole's spell effect, a large opening had been carved at the top of this underground cave, so the white mist floated upward along this path.

During this process.

The white mist began to change its shape in the air.

The gaseous mist gradually coagulated, eventually condensing and forming a colloidal-like texture.

As Ronald and Nicole observed the changes.

This mist, now with form, began to vaguely take on human-like shapes.

"..."

Witnessing the process of the white mist materializing from nothing to solid, Ronald naturally frowned:

"Nicole, the white mist you encountered before, were the monsters they turned into all human-shaped?"

The investigator girl immediately responded:

"No, they weren't."

"As we traveled, these creatures not only mimicked our human forms but even the insects around us were not spared, exhibiting a wide variety."

"..."

"Then something's off."

After hearing Nicole's answer.

Ronald's expression, already somewhat grave, became even more serious.

Because the current reality differed from what the investigator girl described; around them, all the entities formed from the white mist were human-shaped without any non-human forms present!

"Two possibilities."

"One is that we are exceptionally lucky, and here just happens to all form human shapes; the second is that this white mist is purposefully observing the surrounding life forms and imitating their shapes accordingly."

Compared to Ronald, who was cautiously speculating about the reasons behind this transformation.

Nicole's reaction was much more straightforward.

The investigator girl, feeling that she had almost recovered half her strength, smiled slightly and even managed to grasp her pistol while in Ronald's arms:

"Ronald, my suggestion is to take them out immediately and see if these things below have any special reactions."

"After all, we're not here for peace negotiations, so why be so cautious?"

Nicole's demeanor remained as straightforward as ever, but this time Ronald didn't follow her lead.

"Nicole, it's not about being cautious right now."

"If it were ordinary enemies, I wouldn't even be interested in watching them gather into forms."

"But our reckless actions could cause a huge mistake. If the Arctic glaciers melt, no one would want to face the consequences."

Stopping Nicole's impulsive actions.

Ronald began gathering his spells again.

To ascertain information about the unknown, the sin of greed from 'Purgatory' was naturally more useful.

But considering the spell's cooldown and the current situation.

Ronald did not investigate the white mist still forming entities around them, but after activating the spell, directly targeted the large lake of white liquid below.

——Dust Behemoth: Bai Chuan

——Awakening in progress [Two weeks remaining... ]

——The presence of Bai Chuan itself will significantly lower the surrounding temperature, thereby affecting the climate to some extent. This phenomenon will immediately cease upon its death.

And when it is asleep.

Bai Chuan transforms into a unique liquid form, its body naturally secreting white mist to simulate surrounding creatures for hunting, performing periodic replenishment activities for the sleeping Bai Chuan.

"..."

"So, it really is this creature."

Ronald muttered under his breath.

After confirming that the liquid below was indeed the body of the Dust Behemoth, besides the delight of locating his target, he casually picked up a few stones from the surrounding soil.

Then, covering them with the burning power of "Solaris," he hurled them at the white colloidal human shapes still forming.

Swish, swish, swish——

Having confirmed the situation, Ronald acted swiftly and accurately.

Before these white colloids could fully form, the stones pierced through their bodies and were quickly incinerated by the "Solaris."

They could not even pose a threat.

The enemies still forming around them dissipated from their sight like that.

Witnessing the scene unfold before her, Nicole naturally understood.

"Ronald, have you confirmed the situation?"

"Yes, this is the Dust Behemoth." Ronald nodded to affirm the situation and, without much further ado, began explaining the things below to the investigator girl, "I confirmed it through my spell."

"This creature's name is Bai Chuan, and it has two weeks left until it fully awakens."

"And our current goal is to keep it asleep for as long as possible, without killing it."