Astraea and the others had not been the only ancient beasts watching those breakthroughs.
Once several members of the first group reached Extinction Grade, the remaining ancient beings outside the Monster Small World stopped treating Lucien's method as an interesting possibility.
It had become proof.
Lucien could help ancient beasts cross that threshold.
That changed everything.
By the time the first group finished consolidating their strength, another batch had entered the Monster Small World.
Some had spent ages stuck below Extinction Grade.
Others had once believed they would eventually cross the barrier on their own.
Watching Astraea, Condoriano, Saber, Kira, and the others succeed one after another made that confidence considerably harder to maintain.
Jealousy helped.
The Red Dragon felt it more openly than most.
Several ancient beings it considered peers had already surpassed it.
That was apparently unacceptable.
