The chapter follows the protagonist as he leaves the city and prepares for a wilderness mission, feeling uneasy about leaving the safety of the city. He is joined by a research team led by Professor Xiao, along with his students Lin Hao and Tang Yin. It's revealed that the mission involves observing Red-Tailed Kingfishers, which have mutated into dangerous rune beasts, and that the protagonist is secretly planning to investigate a nearby secret area during the mission. The group dynamic is also explored with the introduction of the main character's new team and their interactions with the research team, including skepticism towards an unawakened individual.