The plan to relocate the Magnamalo was halted, and the monster squad settled down.
Two nights later, at the same time, several green signal flares exploded above the three forward observation posts.
On top of the first defensive wall, Puxian lowered his binoculars and loudly issued orders: "The first wave of the assault is about to arrive! Prepare to engage!"
"Hold the line!"
Over a hundred village defense team members shouted in unison, then entered a state of readiness, conducting final checks and adjustments on weapons such as cannons, rapid-fire guns, and ballistae.
"Green signal flares... meaning the lowest threat impact."
Li Fan said, looking at his notebook.
"So we won't need to make a move yet?"
Yudora inquired.
"Among low-threat monsters, unless they are so small they can easily evade artillery fire, it's difficult for them to breach the first defensive line. We're not needed for now," Li Fan confirmed.
"They're here, meow! It's a Great Izuchi pack, led by a Great Izuchi King!"
Having spent so much time in Kamura Village, Dilo was finally excited to witness the Rampage begin.
As the Great Izuchi pack appeared, soon Arzuros, Tetranadon, Banbaro, Lagombi, and Almudron, each leading a considerable pack, emerged from the forests and converged towards the Kamura Village defensive line.
"So many monsters moving together, it's quite imposing."
Yudora said with some surprise.
She had expected a one-sided victory, but seeing the oppressive aura emanating from the approaching monster horde, she felt a hint of pressure.
"If one gets caught in a dense monster formation, there could genuinely be a risk to life. No wonder village defense team members are mandated to use Wirebugs," Li Fan commented.
As a large number of monsters crossed the demarcation line, the four decoy dummies placed at the forefront suddenly blew their horns.
The monsters' advance slowed, and they gathered in large numbers around the four decoy dummies, launching their attack.
Unbeknownst to them, several cannons had already been pre-aimed at that location.
Boom! Boom! Boom!...
Amidst the fire and smoke, many monsters were either killed on the spot or fell to the ground in agony. The scene was particularly brutal.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!...
Thump! Thump! Thump!...
The rapid-fire guns and ballistae on the edges of the wall carried out precise strikes.
The roar of gunfire was constant, and the thick smell of gunpowder mingled with smoke permeated the air.
About ten minutes later, a staggering Arzuros became the first monster to touch the gate of the defensive line.
Screech! Screech! Its sharp claws scratched, only managing to leave a few shallow marks on the thick gate.
The Arzuros switched to its bear fists and began to smash against the tall gate.
Soon, a Tetranadon that had rushed to the base of the wall raised its massive paws and joined the attack with palm strikes.
Bang! Bang!...
Hearing the dull thud of the gate being attacked, the village defense captain observed for a moment, then forcefully pulled the control lever at his feet.
The four fixed Dragonblaze cannons on either side of the gate simultaneously unleashed streams of flame.
The area in front of the gate was quickly engulfed in flames, and a scorched smell wafted up.
Watching countless lives perish rapidly in the smoke and sea of fire below, Dilo felt a strange sensation.
"Li Fan, can you understand what they're saying, meow?"
Dilo asked tentatively.
"They're saying... we have a mission to complete, and there's no time," Li Fan replied, having understood.
In the main hall of the Kamura Village shrine, in front of the deity statue, Hinoe was alone chanting scriptures, performing a prayer ritual for the Rampage.
She prayed for the gods to bless the villagers and participating hunters with a safe return.
The booming artillery fire from the Kamura Village's outer defensive fortress echoed in her ears.
After chanting for a while, Hinoe suddenly covered her ears.
Not only did she not feel the gods responding to her prayers, but she also heard the pained roars of countless monsters.
"Mission... no time... what do these mean?"
Hinoe muttered to herself, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and stood up to get some air in the shrine's courtyard.
Suitsu, who had been peeking from the courtyard gate, quickly withdrew.
"No wonder my sister hasn't let me participate in the prayer rituals yet. It's so strenuous," Suitsu said thoughtfully.
"I need to find a way to help her share the burden."
Suitsu's eyes were determined.
The artillery barrage, which had lasted for over two hours, ceased, but Hinoe's prayer ritual had made no progress.
Although the shrine maidens were merely symbolic figures for Kamura Village, no one expected the Dragonborn sisters to help defend against the Rampage.
However, Suitsu, who was responsible for the prayer ritual, still felt guilty about it.
But such things couldn't be forced, so Suitsu could only blow out the candles and exit the main hall.
A short while later, Hinoe, holding a candlestick, entered the main hall.
"The old abbot said when he was alive that my spiritual senses were stronger than my sister's. I've practiced the prayer ritual for so long, I can definitely do it..."
"You can't."
"Stop it, sister... Ah!"
Hinoe turned her head and saw Suitsu holding a candlestick, giving her a gentle smile. She let out a startled cry.
"Hinoe, your spiritual senses are too strong. Using the ritual rashly could invite negative influences. The old abbot warned us many times," Suitsu advised.
"You're no different, sister. You've been possessed frequently lately, asking me where you were in the middle of the night. I saw you were too tired, so I wanted to help share the burden," Hinoe said helplessly.
"I... have been possessed?"
Suitsu asked incredulously.
"Yes, and it's been happening more and more frequently lately."
"Sigh, next time something like this happens, you must remember to absolutely not answer," Suitsu sighed helplessly, touching her forehead.
The metal gate of the first defensive line was now in ruins.
The monster corpses piled up against the entrance had formed a small mountain.
Occasionally, single ballista bolts were fired, accurately killing monsters attempting to escape from the pile of corpses.
"Your first time participating in a siege battle, feels a bit strange, doesn't it?"
Puxian, carrying a greatsword, approached the squad and asked.
"A little," Li Fan confirmed with a nod.
"It can't be helped, this is nature's way..."
Bang! Bang! Bang!...
As Puxian spoke, numerous yellow signal flares exploded in the distant sky.
"The second wave... so soon?"
Puxian looked at the warning from the forward post with surprise.
"Is it coming too quickly?"
Li Fan tentatively asked.
"Yes, the interval is rarely this short... I need to go command preparations. Please have the squad proceed to the second defensive line."
Puxian said and then ran off shouting orders.
The squad immediately moved to the second defensive line, which had a narrower terrain and stronger defenses.
Li Fan speculated that due to the tight schedule, the numerous defensive mechanisms in front of the first defensive line had no time to be reset and repaired.
Therefore, the defensive focus was shifted to the rear defensive line.
"Yellow signal flares indicate a mid-tier threat assault. Although there are no apex monsters, the squad should still get some warm-up," Li Fan reminded.
At Li Fan's prompt, the squad began to move around on the top of the wall.
Half an hour later, although the first defensive line had not yet fallen, three Kulu-Ya-Ku had already flown in from high above.
At this time, about twenty hunter teams recruited by Kamura Village were cooperating with the ballistae to intercept them.
The venomous projectiles spat from the Kulu-Ya-Ku's mouths landed on the top of the wall, scattering and splashing, with wisps of purple poison gas rising.
"If Little Dumbbell and Naughty could participate, that would be great," Yudora said helplessly.
"No, even if we don't care, Little Dumbbell and Naughty would become targets. Let's wait until there are more monsters," Li Fan reminded.
"If they fly a bit higher, meow, can't they just fly over Kamura Village?"
Dilo asked curiously, looking at the sky.
"The Kulu-Ya-Ku didn't do that, which means they consider themselves part of the coordinated assault. Their duty is to help the ground-based members attack the top of the wall, limit the defensive firepower, and create conditions for attacking the gate," Li Fan explained.
Soon, two Kulu-Ya-Ku fell to the ground, and one severely injured one fled.
Not long after, two Pukei-Pukei flew in, spitting bouncing fireballs towards the wall.
Such attacks, which carried the risk of igniting ammunition, were naturally taken seriously. The top of the wall responded with disproportionately heavy firepower. xxs壹贰
The two Pukei-Pukei fell to their deaths.
Boom! The deformed gate of the first defensive line tilted backward.
The piled-up monster corpses surged out, and a roaring Magnamalo stomped on the corpse mountain, being the first to charge out.
A pack of Jyuratodus, Gammoth, Odogaron, and Zinogre also emerged.
In the sky, not only Kulu-Ya-Ku and Pukei-Pukei, but also Rathian packs joined the fray.
Led by Puxian, the village defense team stationed at the first defensive line had completed their transfer and moved to the second defensive line to continue the battle.
Cannons roared, ballista bolts shot out, and ground mechanisms were continuously activated.
The siege battle entered its most intense phase.
On the rocky slope, a brilliant purple light suddenly appeared.
The Magnamalo, with ghost fire burning on its forearms, slowly approached the edge of the cliff and let out a roar as it looked at the surging monster tide below.
Startled, the monsters immediately scattered and fled, as if they had seen a ferocious ghost.
"You've come as expected, Magnamalo... Immediately assemble two five-star hunter teams... This!"
Puxian, with a grave expression, was about to issue orders to deal with it, but before he could finish, a Nargacuga, enveloped in Safi'jiiva's corrosive insects, walked out from behind the Magnamalo and stood to its left.
"Immediately assemble four five-star hunter teams... Huh?"
Puxian's expression tightened as a Barioth, with a brilliant emerald glow on its crown, stood to the Magnamalo's right.
"Immediately assemble six five-star hunter..."
"Village Chief, we only have four five-star hunter teams recruited in total," the village defense captain reminded him.
"Then...."
The ghost fire on Magnamalo's forearms suddenly shook violently, and a gust of wind descended.
Puxian saw a Rathalos, flapping its wings, descend onto the heads of the three monsters. He closed his eyes in pain, pondered for a moment, and urgently said, "Quickly send for the Chief Hunter Team!"
"The actors are all in place! Where's the apex?"
On Li Fan's side, it was the complete opposite. He kept scanning with his binoculars, as if the scene wasn't exciting enough.
"Chief Hunter Team!"
Seeing the village defense captain running over shouting, Li Fan's heart leaped, and he quickly ran over.
"Captain! Is there an apex that needs to be dealt with!"
Li Fan shouted at the top of his lungs due to the roaring artillery fire from the top of the wall.
"No! It's the Magnamalo! It not only participated in the Rampage but also brought three five-star monsters to battle! We urgently need a hunter team to deal with it!" the village defense captain shouted back.
"Oh, I see."
"You... your reaction is so calm!"
"We are the Chief Hunter Team! If we panic in the face of danger, it will have a very negative impact on other hunters!" Li Fan explained.
"I see! As expected of the Chief Hunters! Even when facing danger! They remain calm! I've learned a lot!"
The village defense captain was greatly inspired.
There's no other way now, so we'll have to try the undercover plan to capture it.
However, the Magnamalo is so petty and holds grudges.
Even if the capture is successful, it will definitely break off ties with these former comrades.
Li Fan wouldn't resort to the undercover capture plan unless absolutely necessary.
But if the key character, the apex individual, doesn't appear, other plans simply can't be implemented.
With a long roar from the Magnamalo, the monster squad attacked in unison, charging into the monster tide like a tiger entering a flock of sheep.
The monster tide was already under artillery fire. Facing the assault of four five-star monsters, they had no chance to fight back amidst the chaos.
Bang! The Magnamalo's forelegs pinned a Jyuratodus's head to the ground.
Despite its roars and the blue electrical sparks surging on its body, it kept its head down, bit into its retractable neck, and tore it apart on the spot.
The Jyuratodus struggled for a moment, then quickly fell silent.
Not far away, a Barroth had just used its brute strength to send the Thunder Brother flying, when Xi Xi's clawed tail pierced the Barroth's back in mid-air.
A surge of electricity was injected. The Barroth, electrocuted to the point of near unconsciousness, had just regained consciousness when it terrifyingly realized it was high in the air.
Squelch!
Naughty withdrew its sharp claws and stomped down with its hind legs, sending the Barroth plummeting to the ground.
Below, a Banbaro sensed a shadow cast over it and looked up.
Splat! The falling Barroth was smashed into the ground.
"So brutal," Li Fan couldn't help but say as he rushed over.
"Looking at it this way, isn't the monster squad led by the Magnamalo playing a positive role?" Yudora asked curiously as she ran.
"That's true, but the Magnamalo has dispersed the gathered monster tide, which will limit concentrated killing power. Moreover, the Magnamalo is completely uncontrollable. No one knows if it will go to the top of the wall to cause destruction after it's had its fill of killing in the monster tide," Li Fan explained.
"I checked the ecological books about Magnamalo, and they don't mention it liking to eat live prey, meow, especially not in the middle of a battle," Dilo, hanging on Li Fan's back, asked curiously.
"That's probably to increase feeding efficiency. During the Rampage, the Magnamalo will take the opportunity to feed without restraint to reach its optimal state before participating in its mission," Li Fan speculated.
He felt that the Magnamalo had prepared for so long, just waiting for this moment.
It's reasonable to consider this a long-term, non-distinctive adaptive mutation.
However, the only place on this continent that can satisfy the Magnamalo's feeding habits is here.
On the chaotic battlefield bathed in moonlight, the fierce battle continued.
Suddenly, a dense cloud cover, obscuring the sky, rapidly approached.
The team, on their way, saw the thick shadow that swept past them from behind and engulfed the entire Kamura Village. They then looked up.
The night sky was no more, replaced by rapidly churning dark clouds.
In the center of the cloud layer, a void was gradually appearing.