Comet Dragon, breaking into the gravity field

"That's...that's the one—"

Waving her hand towards the treetops, Chihaya Aine shouted angrily, "That pink guy!"

Looking in the direction, Ritsu Narose, an honorary member of the bird bar, identified the species of the bird at a glance.

"Tao, Liu Lajiu... Another bird?"

"Narushe-kun, you should understand, right? This is a pink bird. It looks like a UR-level, super rare species, right?"

"No, this bird is actually quite common."

"Eh?"

Chihaya Aine was suddenly petrified when she heard Ritsu Naruse's comments.

Unaware of the pallid figure, Naruse Ritsu continued, "Although it was initially very popular among hunters due to its color and appearance—some even brought it back to the Old World to raise—it became so common that few paid much attention to it."

"To make an analogy, it's similar to the spotted dove."

Takamatsu Deng nodded in understanding, while Chihaya Aine was gasping for breath, as if she saw two more joker cards in her hand.

While they were talking, the Peach Blossom Bird that had been standing on the branch suddenly flapped its wings and flew away.

"Let's follow it." Looking at the direction it left, Mingse Ritsu suddenly said...

……

The huge tree trunks bend into arches, forming a natural green passage.

Perhaps because large creatures often pass through this passage, although there is some water in it, it is wide enough for the three of Naruse Riku to pass through side by side.

Following the flight path of the Peach Blossom Bird, they just walked out of the dimly lit tunnel and saw the depths of the forest where spores were dancing in the wind.

Fine golden sunlight seeped through the gaps between the leaves, reflecting off the small puddles with a magnificent brilliance. White and pink flowers bloomed all over the ground, and together with the deep green moss, this picture scroll was formed.

"so beautiful!"

Chihaya Aion sighed subconsciously. Although Takamatsu Touma didn't say anything, her expression showed her mood at the moment.

"Because the climate in this area of ​​the Ancient Tree Forest is more tropical, it can be considered evergreen all year round."

Leading the girls towards the small mound ahead, Ritsu Narushe stopped beside a plant bearing fruit.

It looked about one meter tall, and the fruits hanging from the tips of the leaves looked particularly plump. At first glance, it looked like the pitcher plant that Gao Songdeng had seen in the children's encyclopedia.

"This is poison vine. The things that look like fruits are actually sacs that store poison. As long as they are impacted by external forces, the poison will leak out."

I touched the poison bag with a piece of vine I had just picked up, and the bright red, plump "fruit" began to sway slightly.

"But a light touch like this won't matter."

Throwing away the vine that he was temporarily using as a teaching stick, Ritsu Narose took out the storage box that he had been carrying on his back.

Before setting off, he accepted a few tasks from the base task bar.

One of them was that a scholar from the Botanical Research Institute commissioned a hunter to collect poison vine venom - in order to prevent accidents, he also kindly provided an antidote.

But it's completely useless to Ritsu Narose.

With a swift movement of his knife, he removed the poison bag and a portion of the stem and leaves, then carefully placed them in a storage box lined with a natural sponge. Repeating this several times, the poison vine was reduced to a bare weed.

"With this, the task of [collecting poisonous creepers] is completed."

When he heard Ritsu Naruse announce that the mission was completed, Takamatsu Deng, who was accompanying him as an "editor", immediately ticked the box on the mission list.

"The remaining missions include... [Hunting the poisonous monster bird that likes to bully people with its tongue], and [Investigating the abnormal situation in the northwest area of ​​the Ancient Tree Forest]."

While Takamatsu Deng was reporting the situation seriously, Chihaya Aine, whose HR (Hunter Level) was still at level one and had not yet been promoted, stood idly by and watched - she was holding the defense team sword prepared for her by Naruse Ritsu, and the pink gem she was holding in her hand was put into the pocket of her inner shirt.

While daydreaming about what kind of moves she would use when she encountered a monster, Chihaya Aine suddenly saw the Peach Garden Birds that were originally standing on the vines flying away.

Along with a burst of noisy cries, a bad feeling lingered in her chest.

"The Peach Garden Bird will immediately flee when it senses the presence of an external enemy" - the words that Ritsu Narose said on the road suddenly appeared in Chihaya Aine's mind.

Swallowing nervously, she was about to alert Ritsu Narose beside her when she saw a monster with a dark green appearance and bright patterns on its tail emerge from a hole made of twisted vines.

If it were just this, it would be fine, Chihaya Aine wouldn't find it that scary.

But when she saw those eyes, too big to ignore and bulging outward, she felt the creeps run down her spine.

Coupled with the two orange-red spots on both sides of her mouth that looked like blush, Chihaya Aine felt that what she encountered was not a monster, but the living Annabelle who should appear in a horror movie.

36. Love to Discover! Secret Meeting of Dragons~ (Two in One)

——The poisonous bird discovered them!

——The poisonous bird threatened!

——The poisonous bird rushed over with its big tongue swinging!

——The poisonous bird was killed in seconds!

A minute later, Chihaya Aine looked at the monster next to her who was beaten to his knees by Ritsu Naruse, with his tongue sticking out and fainting, and blinked in confusion.

“Good food.”

"Because it's just a small animal-level monster."

After tying up the target of the mission that was delivered to his doorstep, Ritsu Narose put on gloves and checked its big tongue while explaining.

When the poisonous bird encounters a creature stronger than itself, it will flee in disgrace with its feathers tucked in; but when it encounters a creature of similar size or weaker than itself, its feathers will turn red and stand on end like it did just now, and it will put on a face that looks very ferocious.

The problem is that the poisonous bird can only distinguish between strong and weak based on the size of the opponent.

This is the result of playing too much in the fish pond game, and it also causes it to be extremely short-sighted sometimes and dare to actively provoke those seemingly insignificant creatures.

For example, the ancient dragon that turned into a human form is now only about one meter tall.

He flashed behind the poisonous bird and grabbed its tail. Without giving it a chance to spray venom, Naruse Ritsu immediately transformed it into a spinning, charging green bird dragon.

Although I don’t understand what the “small animal”-level monsters that Ritsu Narose mentioned are, the set has now changed from "Annabelle" to "Scary Movies".

Holding the katana and repeatedly wielding it on the sleeping poisonous bird, Chihaya Aine began to use her own original meditation training method, using it as an imaginary enemy and practicing continuously.

On the side of the poisonous bird, Gao Songdeng was observing it carefully while measuring and recording its specific data.

"The mission requires hunting the 'poisonous bird that likes to bully people with its tongue'... But how do we know if it's the target?" Still unable to figure out the problem, Takamatsu Deng asked from beside the fluffy green feathers.

"Because all poisonous monster birds like to stick out their tongues and flick them around, plus it's quite common, so just hunt one at random."

After saying something very unfair to the Poison Bird as if nothing had happened and confirming that there was no accumulated venom in its mouth, Ritsu Naruse threw the disposable moss gloves aside.

By looking up at the position of the sun, he could roughly judge the time.

It's almost noon now, so instead of continuing to walk through the hot and humid forest, we might as well have a picnic in this well-ventilated place.

Although we're still inside the ancient forest, and the aroma of the food might attract unsuspecting critters, we're already here...

That’s it for now, let’s eat first.

Leaving the poisonous bird, which had demonstrated its superb binding skills, on the slope below, Ritsu Narushe brought the two girls to the high platform - which was once the nest of the poisonous bird.

Compared with large creatures that mainly eat meat, the vegetarian poisonous bird that is accustomed to eating out seems to pay particular attention to environmental hygiene.

Apart from the poison ivy and scattered walnuts that it suspected had been left in its nest as snacks, the environment here looked no different from the grass in the park.

She took out the portable food and asked Takamatsu Deng to take down the big pot she was responsible for carrying. Naruse Ritsu prepared to have lunch here.

The supply of materials in the New World is naturally not as abundant as that in commercial cities, but compared to compressed biscuits, this food made from dried meat, grains and preserved fruits is undoubtedly more delicious.

"Is there no barbecue today?"

"Do you need me to remove one of the poisonous bird's legs? The meat should taste good."

"No, forget it..."

Looking at Ritsu Naruse, Chihaya Aine realized that this guy was not joking with her, so she shut her mouth very decisively.

Even as an outsider like her, she knew that blood would attract some terrifying monsters in this primeval forest.

but……

They seem to be doing similar things now?

What are you doing? This is not a park. Aren’t you afraid that some weird guys will suddenly break in?

"Don't worry, there aren't any small animals for large creatures to prey on in this kind of place." Mingse Ritsu said leisurely, waving his hand with a smile. "Besides, this is the nest of the poisonous demon bird. When it chose its nest, it should have made sure there was no danger nearby."

"But..." Gao Songdeng hesitated, turning his head repeatedly to confirm something before raising his hand to ask, "It seems like there's another animal coming out of there."

"?"

After being slapped in the face on the spot, Ritsu Narose frowned slightly and looked in the direction the girl pointed.

In the mixture of pollen and spores, a more fishy smell, different from that of the poisonous bird, drifted in from the distant corridor made of hardened vines on the breeze.

"This smell..."

Muttering to himself, Mingse Ritsu suddenly saw a bright yellow figure quickly appear from the cave entrance.

It's actually a scratching bird! ?

Seeing the egg thief looking panic-stricken, Mingse Ritsu's brows furrowed even more.

Isn't this right?

The smell he smelled should have been emitted by some more ferocious carnivorous creature.

He had no intention of hunting the birds, and as he sat on a high place and watched, his inner suspicions were soon confirmed.

At the edge of the poisonous bird's nest, Ritsu Narose clearly saw the female fire dragon known as the "Queen of the Land" appearing right after the poisonous bird.

That's right... No, how could the scratching bird have the guts to steal the fire dragon's eggs?

Was he starving? Or did he pick up an egg he saw on the road that no dragon wanted, and now that he's been chased like this, he's still insisting that he picked up the egg?

Although the Ancient Forest wasn't suitable for flying, the female fire dragon was a flying dragon that specialized in ground hunting. Its strength was enough to catch up to the scratching bird, but it had to consider the stolen dragon egg.

The two guys, playing like a cat and a mouse, didn't notice the people on the platform, so Ritsu Narose still had time to explain the current situation to them.

"Hey, how about we help it get its eggs back?"

"That's a good idea, but the female Rathalos doesn't agree." Looking at the pink-haired girl beside him who was eager to try, Naruse Ritsu poured cold water on her. "According to the female Rathalos's habits, if she or any creature other than a Rathalos touches her eggs, she'll probably instantly think of them as thieves with ill intentions."

"Eh? So unreasonable?"

"This is the normal state of living things."

"It looks...very anxious."

The girl's original Wind Dragon suit had been replaced with a more robust and reliable Defense Team suit. While its appearance might seem unassuming, its performance far surpassed the seemingly ethereal Wind Dragon armor.

With two cotton spores tucked between his ears for camouflage, Gao Songdeng, who was not wearing a helmet, stared intently at the farce below, as if he was worried about the female fire dragon.

Although she looks extremely fierce, her motherly side unexpectedly touches the girl's heart?

Ritsu Narose glanced at the girl beside him who seemed to be worried about the female fire dragon, and wondered whether to let them participate in this meaningless fight.

However, before he could think too long, a strange feeling spread throughout Ritsu Narose's body.

Looking up at the sky, in this not-so-wide space, he vaguely felt another aura approaching at a very fast speed.

"coming--"

As soon as he finished speaking, a huge shadow descended from the sky.

A crimson figure appeared in an instant, covering the fleeing bird before rising into the air again. The thief, who had been sprinting along the ground, had vanished, leaving only a white dragon egg rolling on the grass.

"A fire dragon...but why is it coming here now?"

Automatically ignoring the screaming bird, Ritsu Narose focused his attention on the familiar figure in the air.

Fire dragons—whether in the New World or the Old World, whether in forests or deserts, traces of these creatures seem to be seen everywhere in the world.

At this moment, it looks particularly majestic in its red shell, as if to prove its title as the "King of the Sky".

Unlike the female fire dragon whose toxins are concentrated in the spines on its tail, the male fire dragon's claws are the best tools for it to exert its toxins.

Now, the bird that was struggling hard just a few seconds ago has gradually stopped moving.

Sensing the scoundrel's sudden death, the Sky King swooped down and mercilessly slammed it to the ground. The female fire dragon protecting the eggs saw the now-dead bird and let out a high-pitched roar, as if expressing her joy.