The four of them squatted down on the spot, preparing to monitor the Magic Beast for three days. If they found nothing after three days, they would proceed to complete the job.
Quickly reaching a consensus, the four decided to adopt a division-of-labor strategy: Gray and Lyon would stay behind to monitor the Magic Beast's movements, while Natsu and Gajeel, using their acute sensory abilities as Dragon Slayers, would venture deep into the forest to search for more clues.
After carefully scouting the surrounding area, Gray and Lyon finally chose a tall, densely leaved tree as their observation point. This tree not only provided good concealment, but also gave them a clear view of the Magic Beast's activity track. Lightly scaling the trunk, the two sat securely on a thick branch, holding their breath and fixing their gazes on the distant Magic Beast. They were confident in their stealth abilities; as long as the Magic Beast's perception wasn't abnormally keen, they could complete the monitoring mission without being discovered.
Chapter 188