"I understand now. Huìhuì actually has the ability to attract the Nergigante, but Li Fan doesn't want to take the risk."
Yudora suddenly understood why Li Fan was avoiding the question.
"We have Poké Balls, so there shouldn't be any danger," Dilu offered.
"But once they meet, the Nergigante will lock onto her," Yudora said helplessly.
"That's right, meow. The other party is a monster that preys on Elder Dragons. If they meet, they might find a way to track Huìhuì. Then our activities on the New World will be restricted," Dilu understood the meaning behind her words.
The Nergigante becomes extremely active during the Elder Crossing, and it's not without reason. The creature possesses at least some ability to sense Elder Dragons. Its simultaneous appearance with the Zorah Magdaros in the Great Ravine is the best evidence. If Huìhuì's energy absorption had no limits, she wouldn't fear the Nergigante. However, in her current state, if she were detected, the Nergigante would surely seize the opportunity.
"No wonder Li Fan is exploring the Hērxīng Stone ore veins and is so determined to capture the Nergigante. This not only strengthens the team's combat power but also completely eliminates the threat." After a brief discussion with Dilu, Yudora felt Li Fan's intentions were very clear.
Not far away, by a small river, Li Fan sat on the grass by the bank, gazing blankly at the clear, rushing water. Suddenly, the Adaptive Ball on his shoulder strap trembled slightly.
"Don't worry, Huìhuì, everything is under control." After Li Fan spoke, the trembling of the Adaptive Ball immediately stopped. Although he appeared full of confidence, he knew very well that Huìhuì's situation was not favorable. If the uncertain Nergigante capture plan failed, the only path left would be to brave the Elder's Recess.
"Woogua...gua..." A frog croaked. Li Fan looked in the direction of the sound and found a Paralysis Gas Frog among the pebbles on the opposite bank of the river. After a moment of stillness, the Paralysis Gas Frog suddenly leaped, flicking its long tongue at an insect in mid-air. *Chilù!* The buzzing insect was stuck to the tip of its tongue and was sucked into its mouth.
"Is this... the 'All Equal Frog'?" Li Fan speculated in his mind. Unfortunately, at this size, the released paralysis gas wouldn't affect large monsters. Li Fan had tried to study many environmental creatures, but their actual effects were not as potent as depicted in games. The Paralysis Gas Frog and Sleepy Gas Frog were introduced during the fifth-term training. At most, they could only affect three-star monsters or smaller four-star monsters. Stronger monsters were largely unaffected. According to actual test results provided by the Guild, for inapplicable monsters, they would at most cause them to sneeze twice or cough a few times. However, the accidental observation of the Paralysis Gas Frog hunting gave Li Fan a sudden new idea. He immediately got up to discuss it with Yudora and Dilu.
"The Paralysis Gas Frog can only catch one insect each time it jumps," Li Fan stated, his words seemingly disconnected. Yudora and Dilu exchanged glances.
"If we can redirect the Nergigante's hunting target to other Elder Dragons, Huìhuì will be safe for now," Li Fan continued with his idea.
"Did you understand?" Yudora whispered to Dilu.
"No, meow."
"Native Elder Dragons have existed for a long time, so they must have found ways to resist or evade the Nergigante. That's why they target Elder Dragons from the mainland participating in the Elder Crossing. Huìhuì is currently the most vulnerable, which is why I was worried and tried to capture the Nergigante during the Zorah Magdaros capture operation. But if we change our approach and point the Nergigante towards new targets, it won't pay as much attention to Huìhuì." Li Fan immediately provided an explanation.
"That makes sense. Even if the capture fails, the Nergigante won't bother the team anymore, as humans aren't its primary target anyway." Yudora felt this approach was feasible. The team, constrained by numerous conditions, would find it very difficult to complete this capture. Therefore, planning for failure was essential. If Li Fan's idea could be successfully implemented, the immediate threat would be greatly reduced.
"But where can we find new targets, meow?" Dilu asked, confused.
"Our nemesis, the Kushala Daora, is a good choice," Li Fan replied.
A month later, under the scorching sun. At the end of the Great Ravine, layered, pointed, ochre-colored rocks stood in opposition at the mountain's summit. Below was a vast canyon, hundreds of meters wide and stretching as far as the eye could see. Dozens of cargo trucks were advancing along narrow paths carved into the rock faces on either side. At the end of the path, a wooden palisade fence spanning the canyon appeared. While the strength of this fence alone couldn't realistically block the Zorah Magdaros, the artillery array mounted on top could deliver the fiercest concentrated bombardment from the front. The hunters responsible for guarding had lost count of how many times they had returned, but each safe arrival at the observation site felt like a narrow escape. During this time, they had experienced the vibrant life of the New World and, at the same time, understood the hidden dangers within this energetic ecosystem.
"The artillery array will be completed tonight, everyone, let's push harder!"
"Are those cannonballs? Please place them in the storeroom opened in the rock face."
"Whose Pterodactyl keeps defecating up there? Can someone manage it!"
Amidst the hammering and shouting, preparations for the operation were proceeding in an orderly fashion. On the upper section of the wooden palisade, Di Yan was reporting the latest movements of the Zorah Magdaros to the overall commander, Fray. Since the creature's destination was known, monitoring its movements was possible. However, the Zorah Magdaros's motive remained a mystery. Upon their initial arrival at the canyon, the investigation team had explored its depths and confirmed that it did not connect to any other region; it was a dead end. The fact that the Zorah Magdaros traveled across the sea only to enter a dead-end alley was truly incomprehensible.
"Commander! It's been a long time since I've seen you!" Aiden, who was transporting cargo boxes, called out from a distance as he saw Li Fan and his group arrive.
"Aiden? That Zinogre armor you're wearing, you've upgraded your gear quite quickly," Li Fan said with some surprise. Aiden's armor and equipment brought from the mainland had all been lost when the White Wind sank. He was essentially starting from scratch, relying on the standard armor and weapons provided by the Astera base.
"My master said that armor is a hunter's life insurance and must be upgraded as soon as possible. Also, the proportion of materials that need to be handed over to the branch here is much lower than on the mainland, and there are many tasks that can earn research points. It's quite easy to craft armor," Aiden explained.
"Aiden, don't be lazy... Commander!" Martha, who hadn't seen Li Fan in a long time, said with surprise.
"Long time no see, Martha, you've gotten tanned," Li Fan remarked.
"Ah! Have I?" Martha quickly covered her face.
"No, just kidding."
"Commander, you're so annoying!" Martha said, huffing as she walked away carrying a small box.
"Commander, I have something I want to ask you. During your airship survey, did you find any information about the Kushala Daora?" Aiden asked earnestly.
"No, are you seeking revenge for your master?" Li Fan speculated.
"Yes. Although I might not be strong enough yet, I still want to gather some information in advance," Aiden stated firmly.
"How about this, if I get any relevant information or a contract, I'll notify you."
"Really, Commander! That's great, I'll get back to work now!" Aiden said, picking up his cargo box and quickly leaving.
"Strange, why is the Kushala Daora so hated among so many Elder Dragons..." Li Fan sighed.
Night fell, and a cool breeze occasionally swept through the canyon, whistling with the wind. Under the illumination of countless torches, construction on the wooden palisade continued. Aside from the rows of tents in the operational area, there were no resting grounds, so the team chose to spend the night on the Firebreak. After dinner, Li Fan saw Epo, sitting by the dining table, writing notes in a large book she carried. Tree Leaf scooped a bowl of thick soup and brought it over.
"Thank you, little Felyne. What's your name?" Epo asked gratefully.
"My name is... Tree Leaf, meow," the timid Tree Leaf replied softly.
"The pan-fried fish fillets at dinner were made by you, weren't they?" Tree Leaf, hearing this, hid behind the dining table and poked out half her head, saying, "Yes, meow."
"They were delicious. Could you share the ingredients and method?" Epo asked.
"Okay... I'll go prepare it, meow, and bring it over later." After speaking, Tree Leaf quickly dashed into the entrance of the Felyne slide.
"Tree Leaf, do you still have any Nergigante Strawberries... they're not here. I'll find them myself then." Li Fan wanted to have some dessert fruit. Seeing no one in the kitchen, he began searching on his own.
"How's it going?" Li Fan asked, glancing at the pages filled with Epo's writing.
"Hmm... I can say there's been no progress at all. I've considered it from every angle, but based on the current intelligence, I still have no clue why the Zorah Magdaros came to the canyon." Epo sighed helplessly.
"I remember there were other sighting reports from the mainland, and judging by the time and location of the sightings, they weren't the same individual. If we look for the differences, we might find something new," Li Fan reminded her.
"Differences... Speaking of differences, this Zorah Magdaros is the largest individual known so far. Furthermore, research reports on its tracks indicate that the super-thick rock shell on its body was formed by accumulation over time. If we use this as a basis for judgment, it means that even among the extremely long-lived Zorah Magdaros species, this is an elder," Epo mused.
"Since the difference lies in age, why not start researching from here?" Li Fan suggested.
"Right, younger individuals haven't come, but an older one has visited..." Epo said thoughtfully, then quickly flipped through her book and began her research in earnest. Li Fan found a Nergigante Strawberry the size of his fist and left with the plate.
Not long after, Tree Leaf placed a piece of paper with the ingredients and method for the pan-fried fish fillets next to the book.
"Thank you, Tree Leaf." Epo, realizing what had happened, opened the recipe and found a leaf specimen tucked inside.
"This is a lucky leaf I collected. It's said to bless all life, so I'm giving it to you, meow... I hope it brings you good luck." After Tree Leaf explained, she quickly ran off.
"Hey!... Alright, I'll accept it then." Seeing Tree Leaf disappear into the Felyne slide, Epo tucked the lucky leaf into her book.
Two days later, after working day and night, the blocking defensive facilities were finally completed. The next step was debugging and detailed operational deployment. The biggest problem they faced was a lack of combat experience. Fortunately, Fray's tactical deployment was sound, and with the assistance of the investigation team, Li Fan could better execute his plan. As for the inevitable failure of the final outcome, Li Fan believed it was acceptable. After all, based on the story's progression, apart from the waste of resources, the Zorah Magdaros brought mostly benefits after passing through the canyon. Firstly, it opened up a land route to the Coral Highlands, giving fifth-term hunters a wider hunting ground. Secondly, the connection with the third-term research base would allow the outpost to obtain the vast amount of ecological research data accumulated over the years. Thirdly, it provided combat experience. On his way here, Li Fan had considered preventing this Zorah Magdaros capture operation. However, if this operation couldn't be successfully carried out, then the subsequent life-or-death interception operation would mean the investigation team would face the Zorah Magdaros directly for the first time. Li Fan considered this to be very dangerous.
Two days later, at noon, heavy footsteps echoed into the canyon. Even though they knew the Zorah Magdaros was still some distance away, everyone involved in the operation wore a solemn expression. Inside the Firebreak's cabin, the team began their final deployment.
"You want me to be responsible for rescue?" Yudora asked, confused.
"That's right. Besides shelling and attacking the heat-dissipating organs extending from under its skin, we have no other means to truly harm the Zorah Magdaros. Therefore, placing you at the offensive end has little significance. On the other hand, the flight ability of the Kushala Daora armor can be of great use during rescue missions," Li Fan explained.
"No way, doesn't that mean we're completely letting the Nergigante off the hook?" Yudora hadn't expected that due to the change in the operational plan, she wouldn't even have a chance to fight.
"That's right. However, if it really goes berserk, I'll do my best to keep it occupied... You can keep an eye on me then too." Although he had multiple life-saving measures, Li Fan wasn't sure if any unexpected situations would arise.
"Okay, I'll keep a close watch on you," Yudora promised.
"What about me, meow?" Dilu asked eagerly.
"Dilu, you and Little Fool and Naughty will be in the air, awaiting support."
"We have to be separated, meow?" Dilu asked, somewhat surprised.
"Yes, there are too many variable factors in this operation's environment," Li Fan said helplessly.
"Wait a minute, with this deployment, won't you be the only one fighting on the Zorah Magdaros's back?" Yudora felt this seemed intentionally arranged.
"No, there are also the elite members of the fifth-term team," Li Fan informed her.
"Alright, but I can join the fight at any time."
"Me too, meow." The human and the cat said firmly.
"Hmm... In about two more days, we'll meet with the 'Meow Meow,' I hope it's a pleasant encounter," Li Fan muttered.