It took a while, but all of Archer's women returned to Draconia and met at a mansion in Dragonheart City. They all were worried, but Lucrezia reassured everyone that he could be healed if they found the ingredients needed for the antidote.
Everyone met in one of the halls as Lucrezia spoke to the group of women, "Ladies. Archer is down, and we cannot expect help from him, so we must save him."
They all nodded as the mosasaur woman continued, "Kass, Demi, Teu, and Hemi will go after the Ghost Leviathan and then head to the deserts of Avidia to find the rare Blue Grass that grows in the oasis that litters that horrible land. It's as blue as Teuila's hair, so it's easy to spot once you find it."
When the four girls heard this, Demetra became concerned, "You expect two Titans from the sea races to travel across a desert?"
"Yes, rivers run through the desert that will allow you to get your hydration, but the reason I'm sending you three there is because of how strong the monsters are," Lucrezia explained, which the four women understood.
Lucrezia smiled, "The 3rd legion will be heading to Avidia to secure a beachhead in the desert so you have a place to return to."
Following that, she looked at the other women, "Hecate, Maeve, Nefi, and Tali, you will be heading to the Howling Forest in the Southlands. In the heart of the dangerous forest is the Nevander Tree."
The four nodded and waited for her to continue, which she did, "Once you're there, I want you to gather as much bark as you can before heading to Verdantia, where you will need to sneak into the Church of Light gardens to steal a leaf that holds valuable medical properties."
Maeve's eyebrow shot up, "Why us four?" she questioned.
"Hecate is an expert at using moon magic, which can help you hide in the Novgorod Empire along with disguise rings, while Tali is an expert at sneaking into places while you, Maeve are a skilled warrior, and Nefi is a talented mage who can bring the firepower if you get found out."
"What does this leaf look like?" Talila asked.
Lucrezia smiled, "Good question; the Holy Leaf shimmers gold under any light, while Nevander Bark is brown with green streaks. You won't be able to miss either ingredient, ladies."
They all nodded as she concluded, "The 1st DRN Fleet will accompany you to both locations. Olivia wants to assign you a cohort of Dragon Marines to join you in the Howling Jungle while they cover your retreat from Verdantia."
"Okay, what if the church finds out we're there? They will try to capture us?" Teuila questioned.
"You will be disguised, and the 1st Fleet will cause trouble off the Novgorod coastline to distract their forces," Lucrezia answered with a knowing grin, which made the others laugh as they knew the enemy would be angry once they visited them.
After that, she turned to the last group of four, "Nala, Lyn, Leira, and Seraphina, and you will be heading for the Orientia continent, where you will start your search for the Green Sea Jungle, where the Dark Unicorn and Rainbow Swamp Moss can be found."
"Once Archer is recovered, he will handle the Swarm on the mainland," Lucrezia responded thoughtfully. "How is the Deep Sea Mining project progressing?"
The dragonkin woman smiled reassuringly before guiding Lucrezia to a meeting room. After they had checked on Archer, they could discuss the project's status in detail.
***
[Sia's POV]
The Cave Spiders kept coming, but Sia swiftly dispatched them with practiced skill earned through her high rank and relentless training. With each strike, she drove the creepy arachnids deeper into their dark domain.
She was taken aback by what she found inside as she pursued them into the cave, 'Archer's heart would explode with greed,' Sia thought.
In front of her were veins of Mithiril and other rare metals. She spotted gems all over the walls, which shone with hundreds of colors as the Manaheart Crystal's glow reflected off them. 'I must tell my husband when I see him again,' she mused.
After dealing with the Cave Spiders, Sia returned to the sleeping Primordial, wrapped in a mana cacoon that glowed like a lighthouse. She approached it and touched it, only to feel a warm sensation rushed into her body.
This caused her to shiver, "Yes, I know we're friends, Mary. Now rest and recover while I find even more treasure for our husband."
Following that, the dragonkin stepped through the cave and dodged a few web blasts the monsters flung at her. Sia sent a few Fire Slashes into their creepy bodies, slicing them in half and causing them to hit the ground with a thud.
Sia marched forward and found a smaller tunnel that stretched for miles. She continued to
explore until she came across another cave covered in gold veins that she remembered to write down when time allowed her.
After that she ventured deeper into the labyrinthine tunnels beneath the earth, the air grew
heavy with the scent of ancient stone and damp earth. Her footsteps echoed faintly against the rough-hewn walls as she navigated through narrow passages and cavernous chambers, guided only by the flickering light of her enchanted torch.
After what felt like hours of winding through the subterranean maze, Sia emerged into a vast, cavernous chamber unlike any she had seen before. The remnants of an ancient city lay before her, bathed in the soft glow of her torchlight.
Crumbling stone structures rose from the ground like skeletal remains, their walls adorned with faded murals and intricate carvings that spoke of a civilization long lost to time. Sia approached cautiously, her eyes wide with awe and curiosity.
She marveled at the craftsmanship of the weathered statues that stood sentinel at the city's entrance, their faces worn smooth by centuries of wind and sand. Though overgrown with moss and tangled roots, the streets still bore traces of intricate patterns and mosaics that hinted at a once-thriving culture.