[Free documentary segment has ended. Please unlock VIP for further content.]
The free documentary cut off abruptly, ending as swiftly as the studio's sense of professional decency.
The comment section was a total wreck.
[Huh???]
[Seriously, bro?]
The documentary couldn't be called terrible; it was more like a piece of finely crafted garbage. Forty minutes of footage, only two species of dinosaurs, basic cuts, and zero editing flair—it looked like it had been ripped raw from a live ecological feed.
Ten out of ten for freshness. Ten out of ten for... taste.
Naturally, while the free documentary produced by Jurassic World pulled in massive viewership, it also garnered a landslide of negative reviews.
[That's it? That's all?]
[The video quality is mid, but you tell me: does that dinosaur look real or what?]
[I'm not holding my breath for the 'Exclusive Paid Content' anymore.]
[Hey, actually, the stuff behind the paywall is pretty damn good.]
[Too expensive. I'll just wait for the pirated version.]
Darius was a dinosaur nut. His family wasn't wealthy, and his childhood dream had always been to visit Jurassic World with his father.
(Note: One of the protagonists of Camp Cretaceous, a legend capable of outrunning a Carnotaurus on a turn.)
Despite the free documentary falling short of his expectations, Darius was generally just happy to see the footage.
Knock, knock.
With two taps on the door, a "large-sized" Darius, his father, pushed the door open, hands hidden behind his back.
"Dad? What's up?" Darius asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"Ahem." Darius's father cleared his throat, a smile spreading across his face. "You know, picking out a gift is a real brain-drainer."
"So?" Darius looked at his dad, the corners of his mouth already twitching upward.
"I was originally going to save this for your birthday." His father pulled a video game case from behind his back and handed it over, prompting a delighted shout from the boy.
"Wooo-hooo!" Darius cheered, thrusting his hands into the air as he took the gift. "Thanks, Dad! Love you!"
His father chuckled. He cleared his throat again, his expression suddenly turning mock-serious. "However! My own birthday is coming up soon, and I happened to see something that would make a perfect gift for me."
Darius saw his father's gravity and turned serious himself, listening intently to his dad's wish. "And that is?"
His father grinned again, bringing his left hand around to present a tablet. "The full version of the Primeval Ecological Zone documentary. You know I love dinosaurs, so I need someone who loves them just as much to look after this account for me."
Darius froze for a second before cheering even louder. "That is so cool!"
Taking the device and looking at the "Full Version" prompt, a look of concern clouded his face. "Dad, isn't this really expensive?"
His father's smile didn't fade as he addressed his son's worry. "Your old man and a few friends pooled our 'pocket money' to buy it. Ahem... just don't tell your mother."
Darius grinned and couldn't wait to tap the play button. His father watched his happy son, quietly clenching his slightly trembling hand before hiding it behind his back again.
"Dad, aren't you going to watch with me?"
"I'm coming."
[Recommended Viewing Age: 18+]
"Uh..."
"It's fine, I'm right here with you."
Darius laughed awkwardly. The warning made him feel like he was about to watch an "adult film" with a parent.
…
Primeval Ecological Zone, Southern Plains.
A few clusters of transplanted nut trees stood on the grasslands. A family of Diplodocus was currently foraging here.
The nuts at the very top of the canopy were their favorite, but the trees near the Great Lake had already been claimed by the Brachiosaurs. Compared to Brachiosaurs, who can briefly stand on their hind legs, the Diplodocus felt outmatched and chose to move on, seeking other territory to call home.
However, they hadn't chosen to establish a permanent nest here on the Nut Tree Plains. While food was abundant, the area was surrounded by dense forest and shrubbery to the east, south, and west, a natural hunting ground for predators. Making a home here was basically setting up an all-you-can-eat buffet for carnivores.
Thus, the Diplodocus family treated this as a regular feeding spot rather than a home. For Carlo, however, it made no difference, it just meant a few less opportunities for a sneak attack.
Currently, he was leading Mom and Dad, crouching in the distant jungle.
The scene looked rather peculiar. Carlo appeared to be the leader, the one directing the group. It felt a bit like a college student bringing his rural parents into the big city.
And that was essentially the truth. Both Mom and Dad felt that Carlo was more "cunning"—no, intelligent, so they let him formulate the battle plan.
One. Two. Three.
Carlo counted silently, thinking these Diplodocus were remarkably vigilant. They kept three sentries on duty even while eating. Their positioning was strategic, facing East, South, and West. As for the North? That was open plain; they could see anything coming from a mile away.
Carlo weighed his options. Since they were bound to be discovered anyway, he might as well sow panic, much like Carnotaurus One, to force the herd to scatter.
But these Diplodocus were all members of the same family. How could he get them to abandon their kin? While herbivores aren't exactly a united front, usually operating on the "better you than me" principle, they still understood that sticking together made them harder to kill.
Wait... sticking together?
Carlo suddenly had a devious—no, brilliant, idea.
He first estimated the distance between the eastern and western forests, then calculated the top speed of a Diplodocus. He then softly conveyed the plan to his parents: they were to ambush the edges of the woods on the east and west sides. If they saw a Diplodocus emerge, they were to charge.
It took Mom and Dad a while to understand. It wasn't that they were dim-witted; it was just that the Giganotosaurus "language" lacked the syntax for such complex instructions.
In the end, their takeaway was: See Diplodocus. Charge.
Carlo felt a bit helpless, but it would have to do. He waited as he used his Clumsy Stealth to creep to their designated spots, tracking their locations through their scent.
To be safe, Carlo intentionally waited an extra ten minutes to let them catch their breath and reach peak condition. During this time, he found a spot that completely masked his presence, took a deep breath, and...
"ROAAAAR—!!!"
A thunderous roar echoed from the southern jungle. The Diplodocus herd immediately grew restless. They began shifting toward their leader at the center, huddling together. They turned in unison toward the direction of the sound.
Shoot, not enough pressure.
Carlo realized the first roar wasn't enough to break them. But since things had started, he had to push through. He took another deep breath.
Two, three, four times.
The roars continued to blast from the forest—a psychological standoff.
Since we know there's a predator there but it hasn't shown itself, why aren't we running? This thought began to spread through the herd. Panic slowly began to transform into an urge to flee.
Finally, the individual at the northern edge began leading the charge to escape.
———————
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