Returning to the Ancient Forest, Leon no longer felt the panic he once had.
Perhaps it was the experience of facing an Anjanath head-on, but his composure was far steadier when dealing with small monsters.
Still, the Ancient Forest was just one of many regions in the New World. He had yet to set foot in the Wildspire Waste, the Coral Highlands...
...or even the more perilous Rotten Vale and Elder's Recess.
According to Flora's lessons over the past few days, there were Flying Wyverns much more dangerous than Anjanath deep within the forest.
Though she hadn't explicitly said it, Leon knew the forest was home to the couple known as the King of the Skies, Rathalos, and the Queen of the Land, Rathian.
"Newbie! Daydreaming again, meow?!"
The high-pitched voice snapped Leon out of his messy thoughts. Dumpling, who had finished carving materials, was staring at him.
"Let's go. We have to kill five more Kestodons before we can head back." Leon stood up and put away his carving knife.
"This cat is hunting too this time!" Dumpling puffed out his chest and shouldered his bone club.
The man and cat walked slowly along the gravel-strewn shallows, searching for the next group of Kestodons.
Leon observed the terrain while thinking about how to 'resolve' Dumpling's enthusiasm for the hunt.
After all, if the cat so much as tapped a monster's tail, the system would count it as 'cooperative combat,' and the hunting experience wouldn't be doubled.
"Dumpling," Leon started, acting casual. "You're getting faster at carving. Didn't I say I'd upgrade your gear?"
"Meow? Oh right!" Dumpling's eyes lit up. He swung his small hammer and said excitedly, "I want a new set, and I want to replace this hammer too, meow!"
Leon took the chance to trick him. "I think we have enough materials. You go back to base first and take them to the Smithy. I'll finish the rest of the mission myself."
Hearing this, Dumpling's ears twitched. He looked at Leon suspiciously. "You aren't planning to challenge some other monster, are you? You have to take me with you, meow! Coco taught me how to use Mega Barrel Bombs yesterday, and I want to try them out, meow."
"Of course not. I'm going back to base as soon as I'm done with the Kestodons. If you go back with the materials now, the Smithy can finish your gear sooner. I'm actually faster on my own. It's called division of labor, get it?"
"Hmm... that makes some sense." Dumpling narrowed his eyes, calculated for a few seconds, and agreed. "Fine! I'll head back first. But you have to catch a few more Flashbugs and gather some Honey for me, okay?"
"Deal!"
Seeing Dumpling skip away along the return path, Leon finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He stood in place, stretching his shoulders. Looking at the dark shadows of the trees ahead, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
Next, the solo hunt begins!
Leon slunk alone through the shadows of the Ancient Forest, with coarse cries echoing occasionally through the foliage.
He leaped onto an ancient tree, crouching among the branches to look down at two male Kestodons fighting for territory.
They didn't notice the hunter above them at all.
Boom—
Leon dropped from above, slamming his small shield into the head of one Kestodon, stunning it instantly.
He followed up with a horizontal slash across the Kestodon's neck.
The other Kestodon let out a warning howl and prepared to attack, but Leon had already moved to its flank. One strike after another, fast as lightning—
Slash—
Blood sprayed!
The Bone Kukri was like a rainstorm, landing consecutive precise hits on joints and eyes. A final shield bash flipped the Kestodon over.
Startled, several nearby female Kestodons scattered, trying to escape.
However, Leon had no intention of letting them go.
Advancing Slash!
Using the momentum to slide, he left behind an afterimage.
With a single strike, Leon carved a deep, bone-exposing wound into the female Kestodon's chest.
[KILLED: KESTODON X 8]
[EXPERIENCE GAINED: 50 X 8]
[LEVEL: LV.2 (1100/1500)]
"Sword and Shield..." Leon sheathed his Bone Kukri, a few beads of warm blood still clinging to his fingers.
This was his second weapon in the true sense.
During his first hunt, he used a bow.
The difference between the two was massive.
The Sword and Shield lacked the composure of the bow; he couldn't observe enemy weaknesses from afar. Once he moved, he had to engage in close-quarters combat, relying solely on guards and dodges...
A single mistake would mean getting his teeth kicked in.
Precisely because of this, it was more exhilarating.
That little trial just now allowed Leon to feel the reality of cutting through the tough hide of a Kestodon.
After carving the materials, he had enough Kestodon scalps for the mission. He could have returned to Astera.
But Leon's goal for this trip wasn't finished yet.
He wanted to challenge the Great Jagras again!
For this goal, Leon was fully prepared this time.
He patted the pouch at his waist, which contained several Potions and Rations provided by the camp's supply box.
Then he checked his spatial ring: Slinger Flash Pods, Pitfall Traps, Shock Traps, Farcasters...
A Farcaster could call a tamed Wingdrake to return to the nearest camp, making it one of a hunter's primary life-saving tools.
Three days of basic lessons had not been in vain.
After confirming everything was ready, he moved toward Area 2 of the Ancient Forest.
Stepping onto the moss-covered woodland path, the scene changed completely. Sunlight filtered sporadically through the towering canopy of ancient trees, creating a dappled effect.
The air was thick with the scent of damp plants and a faint musk—the traces of wild animals.
It was cool and humid here, with piles of withered branches and rotting leaves, making it an ideal hiding spot for small predators.
Leon crouched to observe. On a patch of mud, there were fresh claw marks—long, intersecting, with a trailing tail mark.
Jagras.
Leon's lips curled into a slight smile. He picked up some stones from the ground, loaded them into his Slinger, and advanced cautiously.
Screech!
A piercing hiss came from behind the bushes as two Jagras lunged from the shadows, sharp claws aimed at Leon.
He had expected this. Dodging to the side, he drew the Bone Kukri from his waist, its cold light cutting through the air!
Clang!
The sound of an impact rang out as Leon blocked a Jagras's claws with his small shield. He followed with a backhand horizontal slash, severing its forelimb and sending blood flying.
The other Jagras dazed for a moment before lunging again, trying to bite Leon's shoulder.
"Too slow."
Slash!
The Jagras's throat was slit by the blade. It fell to the ground struggling, let out a few whimpers, and then went still.
[KILLED: JAGRAS X 2]
[EXPERIENCE GAINED: 100 X 2]
[LEVEL: LV.2 (1300/1500)]
Leon didn't linger. After quickly carving the materials, he continued deeper, trying to find the Great Jagras.
After a few steps, he found three more Jagras tearing at a carcass among some fallen ancient logs.
This time, Leon didn't charge in head-on. After observing the terrain, he quietly climbed a nearby large tree.
The trunk of that tree was exceptionally thick, connecting horizontally to another large tree nearby.
He climbed above the three Jagras and jumped!
Thud!
A single shield bash crushed one Jagras's head, leaving it slumped on the ground.
With blade and shield working in tandem, a series of close-quarters slashes left the other two Jagras a bloody mess.
[KILLED: JAGRAS X 3]
[EXPERIENCE GAINED: 100 X 3]
[LEVEL: LV.3 (1600/2500)]
[UNASSIGNED ATTRIBUTE POINTS: 5]
Leon had just sheathed his Bone Kukri, and the pale blue text of the system notification hadn't even fully faded...
...when a violent tremor shook the forest, accompanied by familiar panting and the sound of snapping trees.
"It's here!" Leon leaped onto a giant tree, hiding himself within the canopy.
A massive Great Jagras, its belly swollen like a drum, stumbled out of the woods. Its mouth was stained with blood that hadn't been cleaned off, and its abdomen heaved—clearly, it had just feasted.
Each step it took produced a low thud, its massive body making the tree roots groan. It had entered the lazy state following a full meal, its alertness greatly diminished.
Leon held his breath and watched, looking for an opening to attack. He planned to set a trap while it was relaxed to ensure a 'clean and efficient' hunt.
In the next second!
A huge figure charged out like a thunderbolt.
BOOM—!!
An... Anjanath?
The Anjanath opened its massive jaws and ruthlessly bit down on the Great Jagras's neck.
'You've got to be kidding me...' Leon's pupils shrank, and he unconsciously held his breath.
Faced with the sudden attack, the Great Jagras was caught off guard. It could only frantically swing its body and tail, trying to shake off the vicious predator.
The Anjanath clamped down on its prey, its hind legs treading the ground powerfully. Its body was like a mobile fortress, pinning the Great Jagras firmly to the ground.
"Grawww—!!"
Struggling, the Great Jagras snapped back, its sharp teeth tearing a small chunk of flesh from the Anjanath's left leg, causing blood to spray!
But this weak, futile counterattack only served to make the Anjanath angrier.
The next moment, the Anjanath tossed its head high, throwing the Great Jagras directly through the air!
Crash—!
The Great Jagras slammed into an ancient tree, and the food it hadn't had time to digest was vomited out.
This wasn't the first time Leon had faced an Anjanath, but he still felt a chill run down his spine from the overwhelming pressure.
Fight or flee?
The Farcaster felt slightly warm in his palm...
Leon was torn.
He didn't know if his current self could defeat an Anjanath, but the monster before him was clearly much smaller than the one he had encountered before.
Just as Leon was unable to make up his mind, the Great Jagras was roasted by a fireball, and the forest was suddenly filled with the savory aroma of grilled meat.
The Anjanath lowered its head and began to feast.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+40 chapters) patre0n.c0m/Royal_ink]