Ning-Ning claimed she could lead the Hunters to their target within two hours, and she was not bluffing.
According to Ning-Ning, the "Black Madman" had an enormous territory and might roam dozens or even hundreds of kilometers. Its movements appeared completely random, but there was a pattern.
There was one place it visited every few days.
The place was a tidal flat strewn with crushed stone and gravel. The water along the riverbank was so shallow that even a small Felyne could walk through it with ease. For a Large Monster like a Yian Garuga, it barely reached its ankles.
The moment Altaïr saw the riverbank, he understood why the Yian Garuga frequented it.
During the Estrellian Incident, he and his companions had hunted countless Yian Kut-Ku and learned the species' habits inside and out. As a close relative of the Yian Kut-Ku, the Yian Garuga shared many of its behavioral traits. The two species had nearly identical diets.
Earthworms, insects, shrimp, crabs, scorpions, snails, shellfish, and other small invertebrates were among both species' favorite foods.
Small crustaceans in particular supplied a Yian Garuga with the calcium needed to keep its body strong and the toxins needed to produce venom. Those unassuming little creatures were treasures to them.
A glance across the riverbank revealed countless small crabs darting among the rocks. For a Yian Garuga, it was practically a natural buffet.
"But how can you be sure it's nearby right now?" Morgan looked at Ning-Ning, who was leading the way. "Does that Yian Garuga schedule its meals down to the hour?"
"No, meow. I had my underlings keep an eye on this area. It came by this morning, so it'll definitely return today, meow. That thing has a huge appetite and can't fill its belly in one meal, meow."
Realization dawned on Lambert. "No wonder you kept rushing us to leave. It wasn't because you're good at tracking. You just happened to run into it this morning, huh?"
Ning-Ning shot her a sidelong look. "Then why don't you happen to run into one and show me, meow?"
"Quiet." Altaïr stopped the two from bickering again. "This is a good battlefield for us. The terrain is flat, the water is only knee-deep at its deepest, and the damp conditions should somewhat weaken the Yian Garuga's breath attacks.
"Ning-Ning, are there any Small Monsters nearby?
"We can clear them out first to secure the area. The smell of blood might even draw that thing over."
"No, meow. There used to be some big crabs and stupid birds here, but the Black Madman blew them all apart with its fireballs, meow." Ning-Ning pried a small crab from between the rocks and eagerly offered it to Sajji. When he shook his head, Ning-Ning popped the crab into her own mouth and crunched noisily.
"Mmm... The Black Madman really values this place, meow. Any Monster that dares come here gets hunted down by it."
Isis shrugged. "I understand. If a cockroach crawled onto my plate, I'd hunt it down too."
"In that case, we could make some noise, say, fire a few shells into the air, and draw it over." Morgan looked to Altaïr for confirmation. "Should we?"
After a moment's thought, Altaïr shook his head. "There's no hurry. Knowing it's nearby is enough. We can make a few preparations first.
"Sajji, get into the air and confirm its exact location."
"Got it, meow!" Sajji whistled and unfolded his glider, and Hakucho cooperated perfectly, carrying him into the sky.
Ning-Ning looked up, a sharp gleam flashing in her eyes.
"You can fly too, meow?! Then couldn't you carry shells up there and drop them from above? A Monster that can't fly would have nowhere to hide, meow!"
"You really are a demon," Lambert said bluntly.
Ning-Ning bared her trademark vicious grin. "Thanks for the compliment, meow."
Once they had narrowed down the general area, aerial reconnaissance proved highly efficient. Sajji and Hakucho returned after only a few minutes.
"Found it. It's very close, meow. About nine hundred meters away in a straight line to the southwest, meow. Boss, what's the call, meow?"
Isis and Morgan looked to Altaïr as well, their intent unmistakable.
Altaïr took out his pocket watch and checked the time. "We still have more than six hours until sunset. We have plenty of time. Let's proceed with the tactics we just discussed."
"All right!" Isis swung her Gunlance around and swiftly chambered a shell.
This was her first real battle since switching to Demon King Tyrant, and she had been itching to test it. She pulled the trigger and fired several shells into the air.
The deafening reports echoed through the mountain forest. To a sharp-eared Yian Garuga, those shots were no different from a roar right beside it. Seconds later, an enraged screech came from the southwest.
Something had actually dared invade its territory and its dining table, then even "roar" at it? The intruder had a death wish! I'm coming to kill you!
Once certain that the target was approaching, Sajji followed Altaïr's directions, found a patch of gravel exposed above the water, and set up a Shock Trap.
Morgan took up the firing position selected in advance. Clawdia sharpened her claws, while Altaïr and Isis readied themselves for battle.
Ning-Ning caught Lambert by the hem of her clothes and began dragging her toward the woods. Was she worried about Lambert's safety? Of course not.
She remembered Altaïr's warning perfectly well. If Lambert caused any trouble here, Ning-Ning would be implicated. She had only just found a fast track to becoming stronger, and she was not about to let that path close, meow!
"Hey! Don't pull me! Wait! Just a few more seconds!" Lambert fought Ning-Ning's insistent tugging while playing her Hunting Horn, performing a melody that drew out the other three Hunters' physical potential.
Feeling power surge through him, Altaïr could not help reflecting on Lambert's choices.
Lambert could easily have become an excellent support Hunter, yet she insisted on fighting on the front line as an attacker. Was this what people called an "artist's rebellious streak"?
Ripples spread across the once-calm water, and the sound of vegetation being crushed came from the mountain forest.
"Here it comes." Altaïr put aside those thoughts and focused on the direction of the noise.
"Gyaaa!!"
Without pausing to observe or probe the Hunters, the massive purple-black bird burst from the trees like a madman, taking long strides as its spike-covered head whipped wildly from side to side. It charged straight at the Hunters on the tidal flat.
It was not particularly large. Its body looked to be only about twelve meters long, giving it no size advantage over an ordinary Yian Kut-Ku. Compared with Large Flying Wyverns, it even looked slender and slight.
Yet the reckless bloodlust radiating from it was no less overwhelming than the aura of a Tigrex, a Large Flying Wyvern notorious for its ferocity.
Even the battle-hardened Hunters tightened their grips on their weapons.
"Begin the operation!" Altaïr barked as he surged forward.
Farther back, Morgan crouched with his Heavy Bowgun braced but held his fire. Isis, who should normally have been the first onto the front line, instead retreated, leaving Altaïr as the most obvious target in the purple-black bird's eye.
As he ran, Altaïr raised his Slinger and fired a Paintball.
The Paintball struck the Yian Garuga's chest and burst, splashing pungent liquid in every direction. Although the Yian Garuga's sense of smell was not particularly sharp, the irritating scent agitated it further.
Once certain the target had locked onto him, Altaïr changed course and tried to lead the Yian Garuga toward the nearby Shock Trap.
It was a conventional tactic, but a practical one that could give them an opening.
A heartbeat earlier, the Yian Garuga had been shrieking and charging like a mindless madman. Now it stopped short. Vigilance flickered in its single red eye as it scanned the ground ahead along the path Altaïr was taking.
Then a trace of humanlike mockery gleamed in its eye.
Its huge beak was crisscrossed with battle scars, with a large piece missing from one edge. It opened wide.
No buildup was visible. A dull boom like cannon fire erupted, and a scorching fireball blasted out. It obliterated the Shock Trap crackling faintly with electricity dozens of meters away, along with a broad swath of the surrounding ground.
Altaïr skidded to a halt. Shock spread across the Hunters' faces.