"We have to split up. There's no need for all of us to go to the Majestic Treefrog Grove with Vicente.",

The whole point of traveling together is to fight those damn monsters.

We will not do that by going to Majestic Treefrog Grove. We're only going there to find clues for Vicente's pentagram hunt. It doesn't have to be all of us," said the quadruped bird, his voice steady.

"But how does that help solve the dangers of dragon traps?" Paul asked, frowning.

"Dragon traps are very difficult to deal with, but not impossible. Someone talented and powerful can definitely get through the games set by the dragons who built these traps.

If Vicente, Victor, and Elmo were to go together, I think they might get into Majestic Treefrog Grove. In the meantime, we can wait for them where we are. The nearby monsters are unlikely to move to endanger us, so we'll be fine," the quadruped bird explained, his feathers ruffling slightly as he spoke.

Elmo considered Qiang's hypothesis and felt that the hippogryph was right.

"I really don't see the nearby monsters and vampires coming towards our group. As long as our men keep quiet and don't take any risks, they should be fine on their own for a few weeks. And it is better to face the dragon traps in small numbers," Elmo told his human companions.

The three human Beginner Archmages looked at Vicente and Victor with anticipation, waiting for their decision.

"This must be the best method for us. With only three of us heading into the Majestic Treefrog Grove, it will be easier to outwit the monsters on the way," Victor agreed, his eyes shining with determination, unfazed by the danger that lay ahead.

Being already an Intermediate Archmage, he was confident in his abilities and curious about the challenge of the dragons.

Dragon traps were notorious for being difficult to pass through, but also for being almost like a game, a challenge to be overcome, not just to eliminate those who entered the game.

Perhaps because they were so strong, dragons were arrogant and overconfident. Their traps were not only a way to protect their domains and wealth, but also a way for them to entertain themselves.

When someone capable came along to challenge their traps, the dragons would always watch these beings, hoping to find opponents worthy of fighting.

It sounded silly, but dragons were like warriors, thirsting for battle and using their many attributes to attract potential opponents.

So it wasn't impossible to survive the dragon challenge!

However, that didn't mean that the chances of death for challengers weren't immense...

"Let's do what Qiang suggested," Vicente agreed with the hippogryph's division and plan. "As soon as these two finish their cultivation, we'll present them with the plan and head north."

"In that case, we should prepare for the journey," Elmo warned Vicente and Victor, his voice filled with solemnity and a hint of admiration. "Dragons are divine creatures. With powers ranging from their immense physical strength, high-level magical abilities, telepathy, body transformations, perfect elemental control, telepathy, among others, their traps can be of literally any nature.

We may face physical games that test our bodies, or metal games that can destroy our minds. Anything is possible when you enter dragon territory through the back door."

Victor and Vicente nodded in understanding before the two of them separated from the rest of the group to meditate and think about what they should do.

They would do this for the next seven hours, until Bonfi and the werewolf had finished sleeping and woke up a little stronger than when they had gone to sleep two days ago.

They would soon hear from Ayden and the others about Vicente's, Elmo's and Victor's plans, until the two humans from the Dark Path had finished their psychological preparations for their departure.

After some orders and advice from the three of them to the rest of the group that would stay in the area, they quietly left the area, moving along the ground at a reduced speed so as not to attract the attention of enemies a few miles away.

They would travel north for the next few hours, following Victor's trail to the place he had explored in his investigations over the past few days.

But later that day, they would arrive at their destination, where a small group of monsters and a vampire had to guard an area of tens of square kilometers.

...

Arriving at their destination, Vicente, Victor, and Elmo studied the surroundings, each of them using their special abilities to sense the terrain ahead and determine where it would be best for them to proceed.

"I imagine that the places where the monsters and the vampire are close to each other should be the easiest places to set traps. But we don't want to attract attention, so I vote we go to a place where we can get past them without attracting attention," Victor said to the two of them.

"That should be the case," Elmo agreed with Victor's analysis. "But I don't think it will make much difference if we take the place where the enemies are or the place that is less guarded. Either way, we'll face several tests before we earn the right to enter the dragons' territory.

I can sense at least a dozen traps in our path. Whether the first challenge is easier or more difficult will make no difference. The last challenge is the hardest and there's no way around it."

Vicente felt the same way, looking ahead and feeling as if a gigantic creature was lying in that area, waiting for his trio.

He agreed with his companions and soon after, with his electromagnetic abilities, he became invisible together with Elmo and Victor, while the auras of the three of them disappeared.

Then they slowly made their way between their position and the dragons' traps, keeping an eye on the nearby monster, which fortunately was very concerned about where it was and not where the group was entering.

The group would be able to avoid a battle with the vampire coalition in this area, which would be devastating for them if it happened so early in their journey.

But without having to face the powerful enemies outside of Majestic Treefrog Gorge, they would enter this legendary region of the continent until they reached the first dragon trap in their path.

Feeling the last step they had taken, the three of them raised their guards as they sensed the beginning of the arduous journey into the territory of the Dragon Tribe!