Although the "Demon King" had no fixed territory, it did have a relatively stable range in the sand sea of western Sekumea Desert.
However, aerial tracking by the observation Airship and Sajji's team revealed that the "Demon King" was following far behind the female Gold Crown Diablos and heading north toward the Old Desert.
Male Diablos did not help females raise their offspring after mating. This abnormal migration immediately put everyone on alert.
One major reason the Guild had left the "Demon King" alone was that it lived deep in the barren sand sea and posed almost no threat to human settlements.
The only settlement of note, Sun Worship Town, stood atop a vast rocky plateau and had no reason to fear an attack from the "Demon King."
The Old Desert was another matter. Although it was also part of the Great Desert, its ecosystem was far richer, and several major desert towns, including Val Habar and Rekusara, had been established there.
If the "Demon King" suddenly went on a rampage, ordinary towns and villages would have no way to withstand its assault.
Given this sudden turn of events, there was clearly no time to contact Guild headquarters and wait for instructions.
As team leader, Alva made the decision. Archaeological work at the Ruins would be suspended, the Knowledge Seeker would set sail, and they would pursue the "Demon King" after it left its habitat.
Lania also sent an urgent message to Guild headquarters through the courier network, asking them to warn the towns of the Old Desert to be on alert.
—--
Aboard the slowly ascending Knowledge Seeker, the Hunters gathered around a dining table and revised their tactics for the new situation.
The main party for the Hunt was quickly chosen.
Altaïr, Isis, and Serl required no discussion. All three were High Rank Hunters, giving the party an attacker, an armored vanguard, and a skirmisher. All they lacked was a Gunner.
Francesca was the first to be ruled out.
Although she was arguably the most knowledgeable Hunter present, her lack of raw combat strength made it impossible for her to join the main force against a 7★ threat like the "Demon King."
The Gunner position came down to Morgan or Brandley.
Before setting out, both had prepared specifically for this Hunt. Morgan's primary weapon was the Thorn Cannon, forged from Barioth materials and suited to firing Freeze Ammo. Brandley carried the Cirrus Blaster, made from Mizutsune materials and suited to firing Water Ammo.
Ice and Water were weaknesses of the Diablos species. Neither element was common in the desert, so Diablos had never evolved strong defenses against them. The "Demon King" was no exception.
Ice would be somewhat more effective, and Morgan's High Rank-grade Barioth X Armor Set offered better protection than Brandley's Mizutsune Armor Set. In the end, Morgan was chosen for the main party.
Buck and Brandley would form the reserve team. They would remain aboard the Knowledge Seeker, ready to provide support at a moment's notice if anything unexpected happened.
"Beyond the Hunt itself, there's another worst-case scenario we have to consider." After confirming the main party, Altaïr raised a new concern.
"Right..." Serl immediately understood. "If the 'Demon King' remains with the Gold Crown female after she becomes a Black Diablos and the two refuse to separate, the difficulty of the Hunt will skyrocket. We need a contingency plan in place."
Isis tilted her head and pictured the scene. She would throw everything she had into stopping a charge from the "Demon King," only for a Gold Crown Black Diablos to charge her from behind...
She could not help shuddering. "No matter how you look at it, that sounds like absolute hell. If this were a quest, the difficulty would probably rise to 8★, right?"
"More or less..."
"How about Bran and I lure the Gold Crown Diablos away?"
Buck spoke up. Being relegated to the reserve team annoyed him a little, but he knew it was the most reasonable arrangement. He was irritated, not resentful.
Now that another problem had arisen, he felt he had a chance to contribute.
"No." Serl shook his head. "If it were an ordinary Diablos, even a Gold Crown specimen, the two of you could handle it.
"But a Black Diablos undergoing pregnancy-related changes is another matter entirely. You might not be able to stand against her."
"Then what if we add Boss Francesca?" Brandley chimed in.
"What?"
Francesca stared at him in disbelief.
Me, take on a Gold Crown Black Diablos? Do you hear yourself, you pig?
"Ah, sorry, I didn't explain that clearly." Brandley hurried to correct himself. "I meant Boss Francesca could pilot the Sandship and help us lure the Black Diablos away, just like when we led those Diablos to the 'Demon King' before."
Morgan nodded in support of his new friend. "That seems feasible."
"Not really." Altaïr objected. "We lured those Diablos so easily because they were far from their original territories and roaming the breeding grounds.
"But that Gold Crown Diablos is about to return to her nest. Once she becomes a Black Diablos, she'll also develop a powerful instinct to defend it. Luring her away may not work.
"Besides, the sandy expanses of the Old Desert aren't as vast as the ones here. Rocky badlands break them up everywhere, and that terrain isn't suited to high-speed Sandship travel."
Serl agreed with Altaïr's judgment. "Moreover, our previous attempt relied on the assumption that even if a Diablos caught up with us, we could successfully repel it.
"But a Black Diablos is not an ordinary Diablos. If she capsizes the Sandship, the three of you will have a hard time retreating safely.
"Francesca most of all. She's only 2★..."
Faced with Serl's concern, Francesca could find no response and merely rolled her eyes.
"Then let's do this. If the worst-case scenario really happens, we'll split into two teams. The Vanguard Hunting Party will focus on holding back the Black Diablos while our side tries to surround and Hunt the 'Demon King.'
"We'll plan our escape route in advance and set traps to slow the Monsters' pursuit. If we truly can't win, we'll retreat first, then decide our next move or abandon the quest altogether.
"After all, facing the 'Demon King' and a Black Diablos in the same area is already beyond what we can handle." Altaïr proposed a rather cautious plan.
Everyone approved the contingency. The Hunters threw themselves into their preparations, and even Francesca locked herself in her room as a precaution and personally crafted a huge stockpile of Slinger ammo.
Judging by the care with which she carried the rounds in a padded wooden box, those unassuming little projectiles probably packed quite a punch...
High in the sky, the Knowledge Seeker shadowed the "Demon King" at a crawl.
Some had suggested intercepting the "Demon King" along the way and beginning the Hunt immediately. If all went well, they could eliminate the threat it posed to the northern desert towns before it reached them.
Altaïr firmly rejected the plan.
Attacking while still en route introduced too many variables. The terrain was unfamiliar, other Monsters might lurk beneath the desert sands, they could not prepare an escape route in advance, and the Gold Crown Diablos might even double back. Any one of those factors could put them at risk.
Had he been alone, he would have acted more decisively, perhaps even more aggressively. Now, however, he was responsible for his companions' lives.
Sid's example had been a wake-up call. Altaïr had no intention of becoming the next Sid.