His figure emerged from the end of the effluvium-filled passage like a ghost, his steps faltering and his armor shattered.
"You're finally back, meow!!" Coco had been waiting at the entrance. Seeing Leon run over, she hurried to meet him.
Leon's legs gave out, and he was nearly carried into the camp by Coco and Dumpling.
His physical injuries weren't severe, but the blow to his spirit left him feeling powerless.
The gap when facing an Elder Dragon was too vast...
"Hey! Don't collapse yet! Quick, lean over here!" The two Felynes rushed to help Leon to the campfire.
Inside the tent, Flora had just woken up.
Hearing the commotion outside, she threw off her blanket and struggled out of the tent.
"Leon!"
"I'm fine." Leon panted, forcing a smile before dropping to the ground.
Vos was still unconscious due to the effects of the effluvium, though his life was not in danger.
"Thank goodness you're okay..." Flora stumbled toward Leon and asked, "What about Vaal Hazak?"
"Fortunately..." Leon gave a bitter smile. "Fortunately, the Field Master arrived just in time. She held off Vaal Hazak."
Hearing this, Flora frowned. "The Field Master?"
Leon nodded. "Yes. She descended from the sky and tore into Vaal Hazak with a few shots."
Flora pressed, "Where is she now?"
Leon lowered his head and closed his eyes. "She's still there... holding back Vaal Hazak..."
The air fell silent instantly.
At that moment, Biscuit, who was tending to Vos, suddenly chimed in, "Don't worry, she'll come back safely."
Dumpling said with lingering fear, "She held off Vaal Hazak all by herself, meow... She's so strong..."
Coco gave a calm meow, clearly possessing full confidence in the Field Master.
Leon clenched his fists and said hoarsely, "I couldn't do anything... I had to rely on someone else to save me..."
"You did your best..." Flora took Leon's blood-stained hand and said, "If it weren't for you, I would have already died under that monster's claws."
Dumpling sobbed, "The Field Master... Is she really going to be okay alone, meow?"
"I said don't worry," Biscuit spoke again from inside the tent, sounding somewhat impatient.
In the firelight, everyone fell silent.
—Until night fell.
The night grew deep.
Footsteps echoed from the edge of the temporary camp.
Flora snapped her head up, looking toward the passage alertly, and Leon struggled to sit upright.
Dumpling and Coco quickly scurried to the entrance, ears perked up, gazing into the distance.
A slender figure walked through the effluvium, slowly emerging from the thick fog.
—The Field Master was back.
She still wore her grey-green hunting gear, though her hood was down now. Her short silver-grey hair was damp with sweat and stuck to her forehead, and smoke still rose from the barrel of her Heavy Bowgun.
"Whew... almost didn't make it back from that one." The Field Master's tone was light, but her left leg was covered in blood, clearly injured.
"Field Master!" Leon stood up and nearly fell; Flora quickly supported him.
Dumpling and Biscuit ran over, circling around her, meowing while checking her injuries.
"Enough, enough, stop crowding me." The Field Master waved them off, leaning her Heavy Bowgun against a stone rack. She glanced at Leon and said with surprise, "You brat, you're recovering faster than I imagined."
It had to be said that the Field Master's powers of observation were far superior to the others'. Following her remark, Flora also noticed something slightly off.
'Hadn't Leon been clearly injured just a moment ago?'
"You... as long as you're okay..." Leon gritted his teeth. "I owe you my life."
"Then you owe me a lot, because you weren't the only one I saved." The Field Master glanced at Dumpling and shrugged. "There's also that cat."
Dumpling raised a paw and said, "This cat can treat you to a drink, meow! I heard humans love drinking, meow!"
"Oh?" The Field Master raised an eyebrow. "Is there booze? Then I guess I'll stay for a bit."
Everyone froze for a second before breaking into smiles.
"The wound on your leg is too deep; you must rest for a few days." Flora took bandages from the medicine box and knelt to dress the Field Master's wound.
"It's fine." The Field Master looked toward the campfire and said, "That monster isn't dead yet, but I blew its leg apart, and it's retreated to its nest."
Leon asked, "How did you end up here?"
As Flora bandaged her, the Field Master explained, "I've been searching for it in the Rotten Vale for a month. This was the first time I've encountered it..."
She paused for half a second, looking at Leon. "But I heard you call that monster 'Vaal Hazak'? How did you know its name?"
Leon was taken aback. He lowered his head and remained silent for a moment before whispering, "I... heard someone mention it."
The Field Master stared at Leon with a sharp gaze, as if trying to discern something from his expression. However, she didn't press him, only giving a light hmph.
"The Hunter's Guild hasn't officially named it yet; you're quite well-informed, kid." The Field Master's tone was casual but meaningful.
Leon didn't speak. He looked away at the dancing flames, but his heart wouldn't settle.
'I obviously can't say the name came from another world—a world of players and data guides.'
Flora seemed to sense the subtle atmosphere and quickly changed the subject. "We're lucky you were here this time. If it weren't for you... we might not have made it back."
"Don't mention it." The Field Master waved it off, saying breezily, "I was just passing through."
"But you said you've been looking for it for a month, meow..." Dumpling muttered softly.
The Field Master patted Dumpling's furry head. "Little guy, your ears are sharp."
The smell of herbs filled the air. Though the Field Master's leg was still bleeding, she looked composed, appearing as strong and steady as ever.
She looked down at her freshly bandaged wound as if it didn't matter. Then she glanced at Leon and suddenly grinned. "Vaal Hazak... that name you gave it is quite fitting. Draped in rotten flesh, spreading effluvium, and looking like it just crawled out of a grave."
She squinted as if mulling over the word. "Vaal Hazak it is, then."
Dumpling's eyes lit up. "Meow! Is it really decided, meow?"
"If I say it's fine, it's fine." The Field Master waved her hand dismissively, her casual attitude carrying an undeniable authority. She continued, "I'll report the name to the Hunter's Guild so they can officially record it."
Leon looked at the Field Master, his heart trembling.
This legendary hunter was sitting right in front of him, covered in blood but still confident and decisive—a pillar of strength for the entire camp.
"That strike of yours was good," the Field Master suddenly said. "You cut a gash into the rotten flesh on Vaal Hazak's back."
Leon was stunned and subconsciously said, "You arrived after I did... how..."
The Field Master said plainly, "That cut was deep and showed signs of fire scorch. It's not something a Felyne could leave behind."
She looked intently at Leon and praised, "It seems you're not just good at naming things; you've got some skill too."
After a moment of silence, Leon whispered, "I'm not strong enough. If it weren't for you, we would have..."
"Then get stronger." The Field Master leaned against the stone wall and closed her eyes. "I know a very strong man. Nowadays, he can hunt monsters with his bare hands, but that only came after relentless tempering."
This sentence brought silence to the camp for several seconds.
The Field Master continued, "A hunter doesn't back down because of one failure. I believe that one day, you will be able to hunt Vaal Hazak."
Leon snapped his head up.
This wasn't just a casual remark from the Field Master; it was a form of recognition—a true challenge and goal.
"I will." Leon gritted his teeth, a long-lost light igniting in his eyes. "One day, I will hunt Vaal Hazak, and many more Elder Dragons."
"I'll look forward to it." The Field Master gave a light chuckle and spoke no more, as if she had already foreseen it.
That injured but very much alive Vaal Hazak was slowly awakening in its dark nest, its broken body brewing a rage far more terrifying than before.