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After repeatedly checking the weapon, ensuring that both the internal parts and the sharpness of the sword and shield edges were in optimal condition, Ethan finally stood up. Holding the sword in his left hand and the shield in his right, he tentatively went through a few movements.
Advancing Slash, Guard Point, Roundslash, Shield Bash…
His movements were spot-on. Although the weight felt substantial, it was precisely the sense of power brought by that heaviness that provided reassurance.
Feeling that his limbs were adequately warmed up and his body had grown accustomed to the weight, Ethan finally sheathed and mounted the Sword and Shield back onto his person, officially commencing the hunt.
Ethan decided to first scout the ravine to the west. By repeatedly comparing his memory with the map, he could largely confirm that the location where he encountered the Great Jagras leader near the cliff waterfall was close to this area. If its territory hadn't significantly shifted, he should be able to find traces of Jaggi there.
Leaving the camp and heading down the narrow mountain path, the terrain transitioned from bare, grey-white rock to a wide water pool where the water submerged most of his calves. Several round figures came into view through the water-misted haze.
They were wild Kulu-Ya-Ku, gathered here in small groups to forage. Their peaceful and vacant thoughts confirmed that no predators had appeared in the vicinity recently.
Pushing aside banana leaves taller than himself, he scanned the surroundings. Through the calm water surface, he could clearly see the aquatic plants gently swaying below, and occasionally, the fleeting shadows of fish. In such an environment, it was difficult for footprints or scents to remain. It looked like he needed to continue heading west.
Ethan kicked away a clumsy, eight-legged tortoise that had crawled up to his feet and was trying to grapple with the metal toe-cap of his Yukumo-style trousers. He walked straight through a group of Kulu-Ya-Ku who were staring at him with wide, curious eyes. Only then did the dull-witted creatures seem to remember to flap their small wings and flee in panic.
"Ugh, they are truly slow… I have no idea how they manage to survive and avoid extinction in the wild."
The small interlude was nothing of consequence. Ethan continued forward. As the terrain gradually rose, the ankle-deep water receded, and the ground underfoot transitioned from muddy to dry. A faint, rank stench drifted in on the breeze, and Ethan's attention immediately sharpened.
This smell was not unfamiliar. During his initial difficult struggle for survival in the wilderness, multiple close calls had long equated this odor with danger.
Only this time, instead of retreating, he was actively approaching it.
"No mistake, this is the sign of a carnivorous monster operating nearby…"
Ethan abandoned the bold, open stride he used when walking past the Kulu-Ya-Ku. He began to hug the edges of rocks and vegetation, trying to keep himself hidden in the shadows. In the gradually dimming light of evening, as the sun began to set, this method of movement made him much harder to spot.
The rank smell in the air grew thicker, now carrying a metallic, rusty scent. Occasionally, one or two howls drifted to his ears. Ethan slowed his pace little by little until he rounded a cliff face and saw the scene ahead. Ethan quickly dropped low, hiding his entire body within the tall grass.
Good news: He found the target.
Bad news: The Great Jagras leader was also present.
This was a flat area halfway up the mountain, about thirty meters wide. To the left was a steep cliff face leading up, and to the right was an unobstructed view of the surrounding peaks. It was clear that just beyond that view was a steep, nearly eighty-degree drop.
In a sheltered spot partially obscured by a bamboo thicket, an enormous silver-and-orange-accented creature was coiled up in a slight depression of a nest. A glistening snot bubble expanded and contracted with its breathing. It was clearly deep in sleep.
Not far from the sleeping leader, two comparatively smaller, brownish-orange Female Jagras lay sprawled on the ground, but their heads were held high, constantly scanning the surroundings to ensure they could raise the alarm instantly if anything happened.
Further away on the ground, three or four orange-colored Jaggi were bouncing around a semi-decomposed carcass, occasionally plunging their heads into the exposed ribcage, tearing off large chunks of flesh without regard for the blood staining their heads.
Ethan assessed the wind direction, confirmed he was positioned downwind, and subtly breathed a sigh of relief. He then lowered himself further and began to retreat.
He backed up over a hundred meters, positioning himself where he could clearly observe the key entrance/exit route of the Jagras nest. Ethan finally eased his posture and began to ponder silently.
He wondered if that leader was the same one that forced him to jump off the cliff before. Based on the map, this nest wasn't far from where the incident occurred, so the probability was high.
However, even if he could confirm that this particular leader was the one he sought vengeance against, Ethan couldn't do anything about it for now. This was reality, not a game. Fighting the Great Jagras leader meant fighting the entire Jagras pack. Ethan felt he wasn't ready for that kind of fight, given his lack of combat experience.
"It's hard to kill them when they're all grouped up. I need to find a lone one first…"
Marking the location of the Jagras nest on his map, Ethan silently took a detour, climbed over the relatively gentle section of the mountain cliff, and plunged into the bamboo forest before him on the other side.
…
"Snuffle, snuffle…"
A small, moss-backed pig (Mosswine) kept rooting up the dirt in front of it. Following the fragrant scent, it curled a Blue Mushroom growing beneath the soil into its mouth, chomping contentedly.
Suddenly, a rush of frantic footsteps approached. Before the Mosswine could even turn around, it felt a sharp chill on its rump, followed by an intense pain that made it let out a pig-like shriek. Ignoring the pain in its backside, it scrambled on its hooves and ran wildly.
Ethan wiped the blood from his carving knife onto the nearby grass. He did not chase the Mosswine, but instead looked up at the bright, near-full moon for a moment, before setting off again in the direction the Mosswine had fled.
"With this, those creatures whose noses are sharper than dogs should appear soon, right?"
"Will the Great Jagras leader show up? If it does, the nest will be quite empty, won't it?"
"Hmm… I really am quite ruthless…"
Although he said this aloud, a slight smile curved on Ethan's lips.
Meanwhile, the Mosswine, which had suffered an unexplained attack, ran for over two li (about a kilometer) without hearing any further movement. Feeling that its pursuer had given up, it stopped with a grunt and sniffed around, hoping to find food to replenish its energy—all monsters have the same strategy after being wounded: eat, sleep, and rely on a powerful physique to recover.
After gnawing on several more mushrooms, the bleeding from its wound finally stopped. The Mosswine had just drowsily laid down to sleep when it suddenly heard a rustling noise. It was about to get up and run, but then a pitiful "A-ooh" howl suddenly rang out.
Opening its eyes, a reddish-orange Jaggi fell in front of it, but not in the posture of a predator. It tumbled twice in the air before hitting the ground.
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