For the next three days, Li Fan drew three more identical action analysis sketchbooks, giving one each to Yin Tie and Bazerli.
The rest of his time was spent either training with Xiong Da to improve his strength or practicing the greatsword against the Jieyun wooden stakes.
As his mastery of the greatsword deepened, the lacerations on his palms greatly eased, and the duration of his daily training significantly increased.
In terms of diet, the arrival of Guan Guan gave Li Fan his first monster adept at hunting meat.
Although the hunting grounds were limited to the forest, Guan Guan still managed to bring back one or two carcasses of Rilou beasts, Jun pigs, or Jingling deer daily.
As for dragon eggs, there were no wyvern nests in the forest.
Even if there were, Li Fan would have restricted Guan Guan from entering, as a moment of carelessness could turn his hard-won mount into a meal for other monsters.
He had also made some tentative attempts at training for combat.
However, both Xiong Da and Kuku exhibited a clear fear of monsters occupying higher ecological niches.
Kuku's fear seemed slightly less severe, perhaps due to a lack of prior combat experience.
Xiong Da, having once shared territory with a Zinogre, showed absolutely no willingness to engage.
Li Fan roughly estimated the size difference between the monsters. Apart from Xiong Da's "hug the leg and hang on" tactic to impede movement, it had little other utility.
Furthermore, rashly intervening in combat could disrupt Yin Tie and the village chief's hunting plans.
At dusk, Da Ju arrived at the wooden house, informing Li Fan that the Guild would likely make their move tonight and that he should prepare his hunting gear and head to the Ancient Style Hunting Research Base for assembly as soon as possible.
Li Fan's four satchels for long-distance hunting were already packed. He just needed to equip Guan Guan and they would be ready to depart.
Of course, without the arena's cover, Guan Guan's proximity to Kala Village could easily be noticed by other hunters, leading to trouble.
He would find a spot outside the village and have Guan Guan wait there.
After arranging for Guan Guan, Li Fan and Dilu set off.
At the entrance of the Ancient Style Hunting Research Base, Da Ju was struggling to fasten a noticeably shorter belt around his waist.
Dilu went to help, and with the combined efforts of the two cats, the belt was finally, albeit barely, fastened.
"Once you hit middle age, your belly starts to protrude. I used to be able to wear this with ease," Da Ju said, patting his furry stomach with a sigh. He then picked up the wolf-tooth club at his feet and slung it over his shoulder.
Li Fan felt that the wolf-tooth club was quite heavy, and its swings would undoubtedly be formidable.
Before they could enter, Bazerli, leaning on a reddish-brown greatsword and carrying a large bundle on his back, walked over slowly.
"Village Chief, do you need help?"
"It's fine, this weight is nothing," Bazerli waved his hand.
As he approached, the large bundle landed with a thud, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Village Chief, you're so slow," Yin Tie emerged from the doorway, complaining, before kicking the bundle twice.
"Is this your treasured old-style Sword-type Fire Dragon armor?"
"Yes, they're all ancient relics. Now, they seem to disperse a hunter's abilities somewhat, and they're excessively heavy," Bazerli said, taking out a pair of gauntlets forged from red and black shells and beginning to put them on.
Yin Tie, meanwhile, picked up the chest plate and draped it directly over himself.
Da Ju, after a brief examination of the ancient Fire Dragon chest plate, started to help with its fitting.
Helmet, chest plate, shoulder guards, waist armor, greaves.
A set of five pieces of equipment, and both of them were putting them on. What was going on?
Li Fan was a little confused.
*Clang!* Bazerli finished putting on his gauntlets, drew his Wyvern Blade [Vermillion], and the flames igniting on the blade briefly illuminated the surroundings.
He swung it a couple of times, sheathed his sword, removed the Fire Dragon gauntlet from his right arm, and tossed it to Yin Tie.
"Wearing two at once makes it difficult to swing. You wear this one."
Da Ju took the gauntlet and handed a pair of greaves, which Yin Tie couldn't wear, to Bazerli.
Li Fan had never seen a set of armor being worn by two people before.
Finally, the Village Chief equipped the Fire Dragon helmet, one gauntlet, and one greave.
The remaining parts of the set were all worn by Yin Tie.
"No wonder they distinguished between Sword-type and Bow-type back then. This old equipment is indeed a bit heavy," Yin Tie said, moving his body around to test the fit.
"Li Fan, take these two Earplugs. Soak them in water before use, and they will naturally expand in your ear canals," Bazerli said, handing over two earplug-like objects.
"Thank you, Village Chief."
"You're welcome. As a hunter, the ears are the most easily injured part. You're still young, you must protect them well," Bazerli advised.
"Understood."
Li Fan wondered if the Village Chief's hearing had actually been damaged when he was younger.
"Village Chief, no one wears those things anymore. While they prevent damage from monster roars, they also make it impossible to hear squad members, and hearing is a crucial sense for a hunter," Yin Tie offered a different perspective.
"That's up to Li Fan to decide... By the way, what are those round things on your strap?" Bazerli noticed the two rows of Poké Balls attached to Li Fan's shoulder strap and asked curiously.
"New hunting tools, still in the research and development phase," Li Fan explained.
"That's quite innovative. I have high hopes for you, young man," Bazerli encouraged.
"May I ask something, Village Chief? Once this matter is settled, will I also get a share of the Spirit Jade-tier Chosen One badge?"
"No problem. It's getting late, let's get going." Bazerli was quite generous this time.
The three of them, along with the two cats, set off.
Not wanting to be detected by the Guild, the squad took a small path out of the village.
When Guan Guan, laden with supplies, came to meet them, both Yin Tie and Bazerli appeared surprised.
The Pukei-Pukei was clearly not a type of monster that could be tamed, yet this one behaved no differently from a tamed Felyne or herbivore.
As the sky gradually darkened and the full moon rose, the squad had only traveled for two hours before reaching their destination.
"Li Fan, we are both somewhat inconvenienced in terms of mobility. The task of observing the Guild's movements will be yours," Yin Tie said, handing Li Fan a pair of binoculars.
"Understood. But is the Guild really going to make a move tonight? If we're not entirely sure, we could set up camp first," Li Fan suggested.
"They definitely will. Recently, to lure the Zinogre, the Guild has been capturing large numbers of Thunderbugs in the wild. Unfortunately, before any significant effect could be achieved, the wild ecosystem of Thunderbugs became imbalanced, making the Zinogre even more unstable. Coupled with the threat of the Mizutsune, if the Guild doesn't take a gamble, it will be too late when the Zinogre gets closer to Kala Village," Bazerli stated with certainty.
"Li Fan and Dilu, be careful not to be discovered by the Guild, or someone might try to steal the credit," Yin Tie warned.
"Yes, I'll be careful."
After checking his equipment, Li Fan discarded the Jawblade I and set off with Dilu.
Less than ten minutes into their journey, Li Fan saw torchlight in the distance. He pulled out his binoculars to confirm that it was indeed the Guild's deployment point.
Haren, carrying a Lance: Thunder Lance "Tobi-Kadachi" I and wearing the Basarios armor, was directing the deployment on site.
Five large net frames covered with black cloth were being carried to the grassy area near the shallow beach.
Next, two large bomb barrels, only slightly shorter than a person, were piled up beside them.
"What's inside the net frames, meow?" Dilu, crouching in the grass, asked curiously.
"If I'm not mistaken, it should be Thunderbugs," Li Fan said, lowering his binoculars.
"Five large boxes of Thunderbugs, meow!?" Dilu was greatly shocked.
He recalled that during the Felyne assessment, he had spent three days and still couldn't catch a single one.
"Perhaps the Zinogre's aggression is too high, and this is the only way to keep it in one area for a short period," Li Fan deduced.
Hunters attacking could indeed lure the Zinogre.
However, if it entered a state of relentless ferocity, the Zinogre's incessant pursuit would make luring impossible.
*Whoosh~~ Boom!*
A yellow signal flare exploded in the sky not far away.
Li Fan couldn't decipher its meaning, so he released the Lantern-bug from the bamboo cage at his waist, which flew high into the sky to scout.
However, there was no reaction, indicating that the Zinogre was not nearby.
"This should be a signal from the squad guiding the Mizutsune. It seems the Guild has abandoned sending a squad to lure the Zinogre and instead set a trap to draw it here," Li Fan said. Just as he finished speaking, several hunters uncovered the black cloths on the net frames.
The previously dark shallow beach became exceptionally bright due to the large number of Thunderbugs gathered there.
*Whoosh~~ Boom! Boom! Boom!*
Three red signal flares ascended in the distance.
Li Fan couldn't tell if this represented a rescue or the imminent arrival of the Mizutsune, so he reminded the Guild to be prepared.
This was until he heard a hurried and sharp cry for help.
Haren shouted "Conceal yourselves!" and the numerous hunters on site scattered.
Of the more than a dozen who didn't leave, more than half hid in the shadows to await orders.
The remaining three, led by Haren, rushed towards the direction of the red signal flares to provide rescue.
Li Fan surmised that those who remained were likely the eleven four-star hunters and two five-star hunters who had been publicly announced.
Judging by the progress of the plan, it didn't seem to be unfolding as expected.
Otherwise, they should all be concealed, observing the battle between the two five-star monsters.
"Dilu, go back and tell Yin Tie and the Village Chief that the Guild is luring two monsters to meet. The Mizutsune is nearby, and the Zinogre should be arriving a bit later."
"Understood, meow!"
Dilu took a few steps, then turned back with a worried expression, "Are you going to be in danger alone, meow?"
"This isn't the mission site, don't worry," Li Fan reassured.
"I'll be back soon, meow!"
Not long after, a clamor could be heard in the distance.
Li Fan raised his binoculars to observe.
Two five-star hunters from the Guild squad, Haren and Will, were each carrying an injured comrade on their shoulders, running at full speed.
Behind them were their two teammates from earlier, and a Mizutsune, constantly sliding on the ground.
The Mizutsune showed no visible injuries, but its dorsal fins were slightly red, suggesting it had been provoked by the pursuing hunters.
At the rear, the hunter carrying a Charge Blade was slowing down, seemingly having reached their physical limit.
Seeing this, Haren handed the injured comrade on his shoulder to Will.
"Chuyan, help me hold it back!" Haren shouted, rushing forward with all his might, grabbing the hunter with the Charge Blade on his back and pushing him behind him.
Then, he raised the large shield on his right arm towards the front, gripped the Thunder Lance "Tobi-Kadachi" I on his back with his left hand, and assumed a lifting stance.
*Splash! Splash!*
The Mizutsune temporarily halted its advance, scrutinizing the hunter holding the shield.
However, the bubbly slime oozing from beneath its body continuously expanded outwards in layers.
*Roar!!!*
*Bang!*
The Mizutsune let out a fierce roar, the sound waves hitting the shield and causing Haren, who was defending with the shield, to be pushed back a considerable distance.
Li Fan, observing through his binoculars, found the sound somewhat piercing and couldn't imagine what Haren was feeling.
As soon as the roar ended, Chuyan approached with a sideways roll.
He shot a grappling hook from his right arm's projector, hooking onto the Mizutsune's dorsal fins.
After testing the strength of the towing rope and confirming it was sufficient, Chuyan tightened the hook and leaped onto the Mizutsune's back.
He removed the Water Beast Claw and began to stab it vigorously.
The Mizutsune immediately became extremely agitated, leaping and twisting its body rapidly.
While in constant danger of being thrown off, Chuyan persisted, stabbing the same spot more than a dozen times. Finally, the hard scales on its back cracked, creating a small gap.
*Gurgle!*
After piercing deeply, Chuyan even twisted the Water Beast Claw forcefully.
*Roar!!!* The Mizutsune roared again, its dorsal fins turning a deep scarlet!
Chuyan was thrown off, landing heavily on the ground.
Haren, stepping on the bubbly slime, ran forward quickly to provide cover, despite his unstable footing.
Feeling threatened, the Mizutsune turned its head, forming a circle and spinning rapidly in place.
Countless shimmering, giant bubbles overflowed outwards.
"This situation doesn't look good for the Guild squad," Li Fan commented with concern.
*Bang!* The Mizutsune's large, purple-furred tail slammed down forcefully.
After blocking with his shield, Haren used the slime beneath his feet to slide backward a considerable distance.
"Open the net frames! Quickly!" Haren shouted, seizing this moment of respite to issue orders.
However, the other lurking hunters, possibly due to the distance and the unusual nature of the command, did not act immediately.
Li Fan, being closer, heard the command clearly.
However, he was also puzzled. Weren't the Thunderbugs meant to attract the Zinogre?
If they were all released, wouldn't that essentially strengthen the Zinogre?
That's why the two bomb barrels were placed there, to damage the Zinogre and destroy the swarms of Thunderbugs simultaneously. What was the meaning of releasing them all beforehand?
Wait!
Li Fan looked up at the sky. The Lantern-bug circling overhead still showed no reaction.
Could it be that the Zinogre hadn't noticed them yet!
Li Fan suddenly realized that Haren's command, while seemingly illogical, was the only way to salvage the current plan.
Haren was about to speak again when a jet of water struck his shield.
He struggled to maintain his footing, blocking with his shield, daring not to make any other move.