Everyone fell silent. Zheng Zha didn't wait for a reply, continuing on his own: "The difficulty level of this horror movie world remains unclear. Even with the special horror movies granted by the 'Main God,' as Chu Xuan and the others mentioned, I absolutely do not believe they are completely without challenge, simply for us to farm points. My guess is that the difficulty lies in the phrase 'total annihilation'... Of course, this is all just my speculation. Let's first discuss the current situation."

Xiao Honglü glanced at Chu Xuan, then sighed: "I suppose I should analyze the current situation... Firstly, the world of the Eragon movie hasn't truly begun. I mean the story within the film plot; for instance, the protagonist Eragon's dragon egg has not yet hatched, and King Galbatorix and his cohorts do not know the egg's location. Essentially, we are currently in the period preceding the main narrative... This means our primary objective for entering this horror world cannot be achieved."

Zheng Zha nodded: "You mean the young dragon won't grow? Because the plot can't advance?" "Exactly."

Xiao Honglü nodded: "If the plot cannot advance, then that young dragon won't grow, or perhaps even hatch. If that’s the case, how can we expect our young dragon to grow alongside it? This world would lose its purpose... That's the first point. The second is, since we must annihilate the capital, where do we place the personnel who are currently dormant? We certainly can't bring them along to attack the capital. Other minor issues can be sorted out, but these two present serious obstacles."

Zheng Zha looked at the others: whether it was ranged fighters like Ling Dian and Zhang Heng, mid-to-long-range combatants like Wang Xia or the dormant Ba Wang, or close-quarters fighters like Zhao Yingkong and Cheng Xiao—the strength of the Central Continent Team was undeniably formidable. A mission to eradicate an entire capital city, something they wouldn't have dared dream of before, perhaps only achievable by specialized teams like the Celestial Demon Squad. It seemed the Central Continent Team had truly reached their level. If conventional combat failed, the Demon Artillery could still be employed... Zhang Heng suddenly interjected, "Is there a way to complete the mission and allow the young dragon to grow?" Xiao Honglü shook his head, then nodded. "There is a way, but it is extremely risky..." Before he could finish, the young boy nervously fidgeted with his hair, shaking his head.

Chu Xuan suddenly gave a cold laugh, setting down the file in his hands: "Let me explain. There are likely two methods, both perilous. The first is to wait... Aren't we set to be erased in thirty days? Based on plot inference, we should certainly see the story begin before the thirty days are up, allowing the young dragon to mature. However, this is where the trap set by the 'Main God' emerges... How many days exactly until the plot kicks off? How many Reward Points do we have available for waiting? The price for acquiring a true dragon is far from simple..." "The second method is for us to initiate the entire plot! To become the driving force of the narrative!" Everyone stared at each other, puzzled by what Chu Xuan meant, except for Xiao Honglü, who nodded silently, having clearly understood Chu Xuan's implication.

Zheng Zha began unlocking his Third Stage Gene Lock, simulating Xiao Honglü's thought process. After thinking for a long time, he spoke: "The second method is viable, but it carries too much randomness, and we must be wary of the 'Main God' mission's linguistic traps... 'Total annihilation' of the capital—does it mean destroying the creatures within the capital, turning it into a ghost city, but excluding those who managed to leave? Or does it include all creatures presently in the capital, meaning if they leave, we must pursue and kill them along the way? If it's the former, we can use the second method—inform the King about the dragon egg, forcing the plot to accelerate. But if it's the latter, as the plot advances, the King will dispatch creatures from the capital outwards, forcing us to spend significant time tracking and killing stragglers... Every single one must be killed. That could delay us severely, is that what you mean?" Chu Xuan nodded: "Precisely. Whether to gamble on this outcome is your responsibility as captain... A successful gamble brings rewards; a failed one falls squarely on your shoulders. Do you dare take this gamble?" (That tone... it’s so distinctly Chu Xuan!) Eragon felt deeply unsettled. He couldn't understand why everyone in the village seemed to be watching him. Wherever he went, people edged away as if he carried the plague, pointing and whispering from a distance. Even he, slow to notice things, sensed the pervasive strangeness.

"Uncle, what is happening? Why does everyone seem afraid of me?" Eragon was thoroughly bewildered. He casually approached a man, but as soon as he spoke, the man fled in sheer terror, leaving Eragon standing awkwardly alone. The situation was far too bizarre, causing him to stand frozen, mouth agape.

"It's him! Officer, that's the one who found the jewel, just like the legends say!" Suddenly, a commotion erupted from down the street. An old man pointed at Eragon and shouted loudly. Following this, several soldiers wearing half-plate armor burst from behind the old man, swords drawn, charging toward Eragon. Their posture suggested this was far from a joke.

Eragon seemed paralyzed by fear, standing stock-still until a middle-aged wandering warrior burst from behind him. The warrior shoved him violently to the ground, simultaneously drawing his sword to face the soldiers and roaring: "You are destroying your only hope! Eragon! Get back to your dragon egg! Your danger will force it to hatch! Go quickly!" Pushed down, Eragon was still stunned. As he scrambled up from the ground, he kept demanding, "Dragon egg? What dragon egg? What is that thing?" "That stone that looks like a jewel, you idiot!" The middle-aged warrior swung his longsword and charged the soldiers, while Eragon shouted and bolted backward, running toward the farm where he lived.

The farm where Eragon lived was not far from the small village—less than a ten-minute run, to be precise. Especially with his life threatened, Eragon displayed speed surpassing that of ordinary men. He rushed into the hay shed, past his dumbfounded uncle, where the retrieved blue gem lay.

It was truly miraculous. The moment Eragon reached out to touch the blue gem, a distinct fissure suddenly appeared in its center, and the entire stone began to writhe, as if something inside was trying to break free. Startled, Eragon snatched his hand back. Before he could make sense of it, the gem burst open completely, revealing a small puppy with wings—no, more accurately, something like a small, winged bird-dog.

"What are you? You aren't a bird, are you?" Eragon was ecstatic. The words 'dragon egg' spoken by the wandering warrior echoed in his mind. Could this little creature be a baby dragon? Thinking this, Eragon reached out his hand toward the small hatchling.

The little dragon seemed frightened but did not shy away from Eragon’s outstretched hand. When Eragon’s fingers touched the hatchling’s head, a blue flash erupted from the point of contact between them.

Meanwhile, in the nearby thicket, the black hatchling that had been sound asleep in Zheng Zha’s arms suddenly stood up. It looked around curiously, then fixed its gaze on the farm's hay shed, as if something there was drawing its attention.

"Zheng Zha, Eragon's dragon egg has hatched. Indeed, the egg initiates hatching when the master encounters danger."

A voice, Ling Dian's, came from a silver metal shard Zheng Zha held. Zheng Zha exclaimed excitedly, "That’s right. Our young dragon also seemed to sense the activity over there just now. The two hatchlings truly seem connected... Alright, as planned, I'll hand our young dragon over to Zhang Heng. You, Zhang Heng, and Cheng Xiao will stay here. The sleeping members will be under your protection, along with Xiao Honglü, Qi Tengyi, Ming Yanwei, Lin Juntian, Liu Yu, and An Suna—those with little combat ability will also be protected by you. The rest of us... let's go! Use the Green Goblin Glider to fly directly to the capital of Alagaësia!" In the distance beyond the thicket, in the farmyard, Eragon rushed out of the hay shed clutching the blue hatchling, excitement overwhelming him. He had no time to explain; he simply grabbed his uncle and cousin and bolted toward the forest beyond the farm, explaining about the hatchling in his arms as he ran... This was the hatchling marking the beginning of the Dragon Rider prophecy! Leaping toward...