Claw strikes, blade falls.
Felyne Dilu, who often helped the monster squad with shell and scale maintenance, was adept at harvesting small amounts of material without harming the monster.
Nargacuga, having already closed its eyes in preparation for pain, was quite surprised.
"Finished, meow!"
Dilu, holding the item pouch, ran to Li Fan.
"Good job, Dilu. With the capabilities of the ecological research institute, these materials should be enough to analyze Nargacuga's original habitat."
Little Foolish Naughty immediately retreated. Nargacuga got up from the ground, shook the dust off its fur, and looked at the two humans and one cat with confusion.
"Right, tell your Mizutsune brother to be low-key lately, the wind is tight."
The establishment of Moonlit Haven had significantly reduced the number of hunters stationed on the New World.
However, Fray's expedition had brought many hunters back.
As a subspecies, Mizutsune was a well-known target for investigation.
*Roar~*
Nargacuga lowered its head and rumbled.
"You got separated... Alright, the end of this canyon connects to a larger one. If you reach the exit, that's where Mizutsune lives."
Li Fan informed it.
Nargacuga understood for a moment and spread its wings to take flight.
The team returned to Star Haven to submit the materials for the investigation contract.
While raw materials were less helpful for research than an entire monster carcass, they offered an unparalleled speed advantage in transport.
The ecological research institute, built beneath the Ancient Tree, was currently in a state of busyness.
Li Fan learned that the frequent abnormal reports from various regions had consumed all research resources.
The relocation of the research base had brought considerable impact to scientific research on the New World.
After reviewing several concentrated abnormal situations, Li Fan made a significant discovery.
"It's really here."
"Who? I only saw intel about a Nargacuga sighting."
Eudora asked, surprised.
"These frozen remnants... they were left by it. But why would it come to the Ancient Tree Forest?"
Li Fan couldn't quite understand.
According to the game's lore, Iceborne wyvern came to the New World to utilize the geothermally active environment of the Dragonator Crystal Zone to regenerate its icy armor.
The Ancient Tree Forest clearly lacked similar conditions, yet it had chosen to inhabit it.
"Perhaps it just got lost, like Nargacuga."
Eudora speculated.
"How is that possible... Hmm, it actually makes some sense."
Li Fan realized.
"In that case, isn't the new direction of investigation clear?"
"Exactly. Let's depart immediately."
With a burst of black smoke, the Crimson Glow immediately set course for the Ancient Tree Forest.
Three days passed, and the investigation was not as smooth as expected.
Under the guidance of the bugs, the team had indeed found many frozen traces, but there was still no clue as to Iceborne wyvern's exact location.
However, many sharp, three-toed claw marks made the whereabouts of another monster increasingly clear.
In the evening, in the ship's lounge, the team was organizing the traces collected during the day.
"Many hunters and scholars have been attacked by that Nargacuga recently, meow. I think the stronghold will issue a contract in a couple of days."
Dilu, after packaging the collected black fur, made her prediction.
"There has never been a Nargacuga on the New World before. Did it migrate from the Hoarfrost Reach?"
Eudora couldn't help but be confused.
According to previous ecological intelligence, Nargacuga rarely appeared in cold regions.
"There's an area that fuses many ecosystems, located near the Hoarfrost Reach. It probably migrated from there."
Li Fan speculated and then thought of a possibility, so he tentatively asked, "Regarding Iceborne wyvern's whereabouts, do you think that Nargacuga might know something?"
"If they both migrated from the same area, I think there's a good chance!"
Eudora agreed.
"Since tracking has yielded no progress, let's start with this Nargacuga. Even if we don't find useful information, it will at least stabilize the investigation environment in the Ancient Tree Forest."
Li Fan stated his plan.
The team wasn't the only one tracking Iceborne wyvern.
It was normal for other hunters and scholars to achieve results, but the appearance of Nargacuga only served to hinder their tracking efforts.
"Be careful, meow. Hunters say that Nargacuga is very powerful."
Dilu warned.
"Don't worry. After we eat, we'll set out tonight."
Li Fan said confidently.
Late at night, the two humans and one cat rappelled from the Crimson Glow into the undergrowth.
Nargacuga had very keen hearing, so to avoid alerting it, Little Foolish Naughty remained on standby at high altitude.
Li Fan only deployed Ye Ye to assist the team in their search.
Unlike Iceborne wyvern's erratic tracks, Nargacuga's traces were mostly traceable.
Claw marks from climbing trees, carcasses of herbivorous monsters that had been preyed upon – all these traces provided clues to Nargacuga's location.
The team found the general area within two hours.
*Hiss hiss~*
Three groups of guiding bugs, spinning, simultaneously swarmed towards the top of an Ancient Tree trunk.
Li Fan made a shushing gesture, lay down on the spot, and took out his binoculars to observe the top of the distant trunk.
This was an Ancient Tree with a wide, outward-spreading canopy and a relatively short height, a form very suitable for Nargacuga to nest in.
After a few minutes of observation, the team confirmed that Nargacuga was not currently on the canopy.
As for the bugs' reaction, it was speculated to be due to the lingering scent of too many traces.
The two humans and one cat stealthily crept to the base of the tree, climbed up to the canopy, and searched within the nest enveloped by dense leaves.
Li Fan found several rod-like black thorns, materials produced from Nargacuga's tail.
He speculated that it was these lingering traces that caused the guiding bugs to react so strongly.
"Nargacuga usually hunts at night and rests in its nest during the day... Let's set an ambush here."
After Li Fan deployed his plan, Eudora climbed down a vine to a distance to familiarize herself with the surrounding terrain.
Dilu went to the center of the canopy nest and used a pile of decaying branches as a surface cover to set up a paralyzing trap.
*Swish~ swish~...*
After scattering another layer of withered leaves, Dilu lay down to check, and only after confirming the trap was set correctly did she get up to leave.
The two found suitable ambush positions, and all that remained was to wait.
Several hours passed, and the sky in the distance began to lighten.
*Rustle~ rustle~*
The sound of leaves rustling reached their ears.
The team immediately became alert.
*Whoosh~ whoosh~ whoosh~...*
A series of climbing and leaping sounds approached from afar.
Before long, a dark shadow emerged from the dense leaves.
The swift dark shadow darted left and right between the Ancient Trees, moving at high speed.
Before its form could be clearly seen, it leaped to the top of the canopy.
At this moment, Dilu let out a sigh of relief, her eyes fixed on the black figure.
After a moment of searching downwards, Nargacuga suddenly placed its claws on the ground, its ears perked up, and it looked around left and right.
"Has it discovered us?"
Li Fan asked, somewhat surprised.
"No way, meow. I didn't leave any traces when I set the trap."
Dilu stated with certainty.
"Could this Nargacuga be naturally suspicious..."
As Li Fan spoke, Nargacuga yawned, rubbed itself on the ground in a crouched posture, looking very tired.
No one in the team made a sound. Nargacuga moved a few steps towards the center of the nest, curled its head and tail into a circle, and lay down on its side on the canopy.
"Ugh... Why is it sleeping there, meow? It would be so much better if it slept in the middle."
Seeing that it was only a short distance from the paralyzing trap, Dilu pounded her chest with her cat paws, venting her frustration.
"Don't rush. If we find the right angle to wake it, there's still a chance... Do you have any small bomb barrels?"
Li Fan informed her.
"Yes, meow!"
Dilu unbuckled her backpack and took out a small wooden barrel with a fuse.
"I'll try. Once you get the signal, immediately release a flare to summon Little Foolish Naughty."
After Li Fan finished speaking, he picked up the small barrel and charged.
Eudora, hiding in the bushes, saw a bubble of snot forming on Nargacuga's nose and immediately waved her hands, indicating she would also charge.
Li Fan gestured to guide her, indicating to rendezvous on the tree vine ahead.
"This jungle is too perfect for Nargacuga to hide, so we must limit its mobility."
Li Fan, crouching on the vine, explained his main objective to Eudora.
"Hmm... Then let's cut off its head."
Eudora made a chopping motion with her hand.
Li Fan glanced at the Wyvern Ignition on Eudora's back.
"With that charged slash, you'll do more than just limit Nargacuga's mobility."
Eudora hadn't expected such high destructive power to be a problem, and her gaze darkened.
"Then what do you suggest?"
"The tail is crucial for a monster's balance. Let's cut off its tail."
"Okay, I'll find a position."
"Wait, you can't attack first."
"Huh? Why?"
Eudora couldn't understand.
"The noise from charging the Wyvern Ignition is too loud. Nargacuga doesn't have any sleep-inducing substances in its body, so it will easily wake up."
Li Fan informed her.
"Uh... You've really thought this through. Then we'll just have to rely on agile combat."
Eudora said, surprised.
"I have a way to make Dilu's paralyzing trap effective. All you need to do is predict its position in advance."
Li Fan informed her.
"No problem, I'm best at this kind of thing."
Eudora said confidently.
After discussing the combat details, the two immediately took action.
Quietly moving along the vine to the top of the canopy, Eudora first circled behind Nargacuga.
Li Fan, meanwhile, held up the small bomb barrel and gestured towards the sleeping Nargacuga.
To get a more accurate preview, he even lay down on the canopy, mimicking Nargacuga's sleeping posture.
He was testing where it would leap backward if startled.
Once everything was confirmed, Li Fan signaled Eudora and then took out two flint stones, gently scraping them together.
*Sizzle~ sizzle~...*
The sparks ignited the fuse.
Li Fan gently placed the small bomb barrel in Nargacuga's armpit.
Then, he drew his Thunderclap Divine Blade and waited quietly.
*Boom~ Roar~*
Nargacuga, in the midst of a pleasant dream, let out a startled cry. As its eyes opened, it instinctively leaped away from the source of pain.
*Click~*
Its left claw, stepping on a decaying branch, sank slightly, and a crisp sound was heard.
*Crack~*
The disc-shaped paralyzing trap began to emit orange electricity.
Nargacuga's entire body, from head to toe, stiffened and trembled.
Seeing its black, segmented tail curled in mid-air, Eudora, who had already taken her position, slightly adjusted her attack angle, swung the Wyvern Ignition behind her, and began to charge.
Li Fan circled to Nargacuga's side, raising his sword and aiming for its foreleg.
Nargacuga, paralyzed, followed Li Fan's movements with its eyes, glaring angrily.
"What are you looking at? I'm going to cut this off! Hah!"
The Thunderclap Divine Blade descended, and blood sprayed out along with golden lightning.
Nargacuga's mouth opened slightly wider, but its entire body was still trembling violently from the paralysis.
"Hiyah!"
A powerful female shout followed from behind.
Nargacuga felt a lightness behind it and its body tilted forward uncontrollably.
As it regained control, it planted its four claws on the ground and spun to create distance.
Just as Nargacuga was assessing the movements of the two enemies, the tip of a black tail fell from the air and struck the canopy.
Nargacuga initially found the tail somewhat familiar, but as soon as it recognized it, a large amount of blood rushed to its eyes.
*Roar!*
A roar that pierced the jungle echoed.
Nargacuga lowered its body, braced itself on its four claws for a moment, and then leaped and pounced towards Eudora.
Facing the swipe of its claws, Eudora shifted her position slightly and then gripped her sword hilt for a horizontal slash.
*Clang!*
Nargacuga, struck on the head by the flat of the blade, shifted its trajectory in mid-air and fell prematurely.
As its forelegs touched the canopy, it braced itself and completed a turn. At this moment, its tail, which had been swinging downwards, straightened from a curve.
*Sizzle~ Whoosh!*
The sound of a whip cracking echoed.
Nargacuga straightened up and slammed down with its hardened, straight tail.
Eudora, leaning on her sword hilt with one hand and the blade with the other, braced herself.
*Clang~*
The impact produced a clear ringing sound. Eudora, sent flying backward, retreated to the edge but couldn't fully absorb the impact and fell directly from the canopy.
*Roar! Roar!*
Nargacuga spun around on the spot, this time locking its target onto Li Fan.
"I underestimated you."
Li Fan was surprised that a seemingly ordinary Nargacuga could unleash such powerful combat strength.
*Roar! Roar! Roar!....*
Nargacuga's eyes glowed red, completely ignoring Li Fan's words, simply venting its rage.
"Dilu! Summon Little Foolish Naughty!"
Upon hearing the command, Dilu immediately fired two signal flares towards the top of the jungle.
Li Fan glanced at his bleeding foreleg and the tail that was still more than half intact. He suddenly sheathed his Thunderclap Divine Blade behind his back.
*Rustle~ rustle~*
Two large holes suddenly burst through the dense foliage above, and two fire dragons, one gold and one silver, swooped down.
*Whoosh~ whoosh~...*
The immense wind pressure from their hovering flight whipped up the withered leaves on the canopy.
"It's clear that you've lost."
Li Fan said softly.
*Roar~* Nargacuga let out a roar of unwillingness, seemingly knowing it couldn't escape, but still maintaining a confrontational posture.
"I won't kill you. How about we make a deal?"