Following the map markers, the group arrived at the suspicious area. It was a small, raised mound, the base of its outer rock walls riddled with holes of varying sizes. Every so often, small groups of Fungi would scuttle out from a burrow or squeeze back in together, making for frequent comings and goings.
Columbina cast her senses into the mound's interior, penetrating the layers of rock.
"There is a vast space inside. I have found a safe spot," she said.
As soon as she finished speaking, a white light flashed silently. In an instant, the group found themselves inside the cavern within the mound, materialized near the ceiling of the internal space.
The three scholars immediately entered work mode, their eyes scanning the surrounding environment. Simultaneously, Coppelia activated her Elemental Sight to assist in detecting traces of elemental flow that were imperceptible to the naked eye. With a clear division of labor, the squad began to operate efficiently. Pen tips moved rapidly across paper, filling page after page with records.
The interior of the cavern was a world unto itself. Clinging to the rock walls were massive mushrooms with caps exceeding seven meters in diameter, alongside patches of tiny fungi emitting a faint blue fluorescence, casting a bizarre and motley glow throughout the grotto.
On the ground, multitudes of small Fungi clustered together, their bodies continuously emitting a soft green halo. They were releasing Dendro elemental energy.
On the relatively flat ground in the center of the cavern, just as previously speculated, stood a giant Fungus whose size far exceeded that of its kin. Its entire body presented a rich emerald green hue, and its skin texture appeared to be something between tough leather and interwoven mycelium, retaining distinct mushroom characteristics.
Standing, it towered over an adult human. Its body was robust, with a silhouette approximating a giant pheasant, yet it dragged five slender structures behind it, colorful as peacock plumes. These "tail feathers" formed an elegant, semi-circular fan that swayed gently with its movements.
It was pacing across the clearing with steady steps, appearing composed and unhurried—quite unlike a typical monster. The conspicuous fan-shaped tail feathers behind it rose and fell rhythmically with its stride, its posture actually exuding a certain sense of beauty.
"If we get rid of it," Columbina asked, looking down, "will the situation here return to normal?"
"Not necessarily," one scholar continued recording without lifting his head. "We are only responsible for investigation and assessment. Whether the final choice is extermination, containment, or relocation will be for the mentors to decide based on the complete ecological report."
Another scholar added, "Matters like ecological balance are very delicate. If handled improperly, the consequences could be even more troublesome than the current situation."
Coppelia took out Amos's Bow. "I think we can 'test' its combat capabilities and reaction patterns first."
Columbina understood the intent. She lifted the three scholars and temporarily settled them onto the broad cap of a large mushroom growing from the rock wall. The vantage point offered a wide field of view, making it easy to observe the battle below.
After Coppelia launched a series of probing attacks using arrows infused with different elemental energies, she gained a general understanding of the giant Fungus's capabilities.
It possessed a strong sense of territoriality and high aggression. Once provoked, not only could it launch Dendro elemental missiles of considerable power or execute swift charging attacks, but it could also somehow "command" the masses of small Fungi within the cavern to coordinate a siege.
However, whether it was the creature's own attacks or the elemental orbs and leaping strikes launched by the small Fungi, it was all nothing more than impotent rage against Columbina and Coppelia, who remained suspended in mid-air. The attacks simply could not reach them.
Seizing this rare opportunity, the three scholars on the mushroom cap wrote furiously, recording the giant Fungus's reactions to different elemental attacks, its movement speed, attack intervals, and the range and frequency with which it summoned its kin...
"...Using Electro attacks can cause paralysis..." As one scholar penned the final observational conclusion, the "test" below also came to an end.
At this point, the enraged giant Fungus had summoned a massive number of small Fungi, crowding more than half the cavern.
Before the dense swarm of Fungi could completely surround them, Columbina activated her teleportation once more, whisking everyone away from that clamorous nest.
...
Investigation Team Camp.
Coppelia stood before Columbina, wearing a plain white apron and waterproof leather gloves.
"I am going to find Nafisah to learn some cooking techniques," she said. "Do you want to come along and watch?"
"I want to stay here and chat with the others," Columbina replied.
"Alright." Coppelia nodded. "Then do not leave the camp perimeter during this time."
"Mn."
Coppelia turned and jogged toward the cooking area at the edge of the camp, where Nafisah had already set out a cutting board and some prepped ingredients.
Columbina watched Coppelia's retreating figure, stood there for a moment, and then turned to walk toward the other tents in the camp.
But inside and outside the tents, the scholars who had taken a brief rest after lunch had already thrown themselves back into their work. Some gathered in small groups, debating in hushed tones about solutions to the Fungi problem; others hunched over desks alone, organizing the morning's field drafts into clear charts and text. The air was filled with low discussions, the rustle of turning pages, and the scratching of pen tips against paper.
Columbina, who had originally intended to find someone to chat with, looked around. Everyone seemed immersed in their own affairs, with no time to spare. She suddenly felt a bit hesitant to go up and disturb them.
She silently walked over to a vacant table and chair and sat down. For a while, she watched Coppelia in the distance, who was currently "wrestling" with a lump of dough. Then, she lowered her head, turning her attention back to the disabled Moon Spirit in her arms, whose body was still trembling slightly.
She stroked its wrinkled surface ever so lightly with her fingers until the trembling gradually subsided.
After soothing the Moon Spirit, she raised her head, casting an unfocused gaze toward the rainforest outside the camp. Sunlight pierced through the layers of foliage, casting countless dancing, dappled shadows onto the grass. She simply watched, allowing her mind to go blank.
After a while, Kelvin's figure appeared beside her, holding several thick booklets in his hands.
"If you are feeling bored," he placed the books on the table beside Columbina, "perhaps you could look at these to pass the time."
He opened the top volume. The pages were filled with numerous hand-drawn illustrations, executed with delicate strokes and accompanied by dense explanatory text.
The artistic technique was quite exquisite; whether it was the veins of plants or the fur of animals, everything was lifelike. However, the handwriting beside the drawings was wild and scrawled, with many smudges and corrections between the lines, looking like raw, first-hand field notes.
Columbina was intrigued. She took the notebook, placed it on her lap, and carefully turned the pages with her free right hand. The notebook depicted all sorts of strange and oddly shaped flowers and fruits, colorful insects, and small animals and birds of various forms. With each image she viewed, she felt as if she were entering a unique, secret jungle realm.
Kelvin stood to the side, quietly watching her read. When Columbina was nearing the end of the notebook, he raised his hand to pinch the frame of his monocle over his right eye. His lips moved slightly, as if he intended to ask something.
But before he could speak, Columbina suddenly flipped the pages back a significant distance, stopping at a specific page.
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