Episode 203: This is the Real Stampede
Wyverns were fighting over their territories.
The territory of a single Wyvern is estimated to be about 300km to 800km in diameter. This is expected to be proportional to the individual’s strength.
However, this balance collapsed just the other day.
As far as observations go, Wyverns are large Monsters that reign almost at the top of this Demon Forest.
At least, they haven’t been seen fighting any external enemies.
At most, there would be minor skirmishes with neighboring members of their own kind.
In other words, their territory would not fluctuate significantly except for individual deaths due to old age (whether that exists or not).
Well, that’s just a prediction.
However, due to an external factor called ＜The Tree＞, an individual with a large territory was defeated.
A vacant area was created, and naturally, the Wyverns in the adjacent territories began to move in to seize it.
Suddenly moving would cause territorial disputes with other adjacent Wyverns, so the Wyverns around the vacant area gradually expanded their territories.
Finally, they clashed.
Intense electromagnetic pulses were generated, and electromagnetic waves resembling noise from Bio-Radars were also observed.
Looking back at past records, noise had been recorded fairly frequently, so it seems they had been overlooking it all along.
The frequency modulation was intense and the intensity was low, so it seems it had been classified as noise caused by some kind of celestial phenomenon. Even a super AI couldn’t have predicted that it was electromagnetic waves emitted by Monsters.
Breath-like attacks using various Sound Waves from audible to high frequencies flew around.
Sometimes they even spat out Charged Particles, making it a true kaiju showdown.
Attacks that missed their targets tore through the forest, blew it away, and the earth shook from the melee combat.
Naturally, the surrounding biota was in utter chaos.
From small animals to large Monsters, they desperately fled to avoid being caught up in the battle.
Some of them were even four-legged Monsters the size of small mountains.
“This is a critical situation.”
“This is bad…”
Commander (Eve) and ＜Ringo＞ were discussing the situation while monitoring it.
The Five Sisters attended them.
“Sister, I suggest an immediate withdrawal.”
The first to voice her opinion was Ichigo, the second daughter.
“Sending a large force without a request is not a good idea. Just leading the villagers to escape would be enough to earn their gratitude.”
“If the goal is to intimidate by showing our power, deploying a large force wouldn’t be a bad move.”
Akane, the eldest of the Five Sisters, countered this.
“At the very least, we could establish our position in the surrounding countries. If we succeed in defending them and return the land without occupying it, we would gain great fame. It could also be considered a favor.”
“But wouldn’t that just end with a letter of appreciation?”
“Favors are just verbal promises, aren’t they meaningless between nations?”
Utsugi and Erika were somewhat skeptical. Their attitude was a passive agreement to Akane’s plan.
“We could just occupy it as is… I think… If we establish an Adventurer’s Guild… and indirectly control it… it would be hard to complain…”
And Olive gave the most radical opinion.
It seems she was enjoying acquiring various materials.
She frequently interacts with the Strategic AI ＜Cosmos＞, which may be stimulating her possessiveness.
“Heh heh. Everyone’s giving such interesting opinions.”
Eve was smiling as she looked at them.
“＜Ringo＞, what’s your opinion?”
“Yes, Ma’am. I prefer sending in a large force to establish effective control.”
“…I expected that.”
The third raison d’être of ＜Ringo＞ is “to expand the sphere of influence.”
She is always on the lookout to increase territory whenever there is an opportunity.
“Well, there’s no denying that it’s an attractive proposal.”
Eve smiled wryly and stroked Olive’s head.
“If possible, I want to get along with the inhabitants of this world. So, I don’t want to resort to strong measures if possible. Of course, I don’t deny them. If necessary, I will take those measures.”
“…”
Deliberately ignoring the greedy-looking ＜Ringo＞, Eve nodded.
“I can’t bear to abandon them either. It’s close to the border, and well, we can make excuses for anything. ＜Ringo＞, dispatch Gigantia. Of course, wait until the last possible moment.”
“…Yes, Ma’am.”
◇◇◇◇
A giant body runs through the forest, pushing aside trees.
It looks like just a boar, but its size is different.
Its body length is about 40m, and its height is 25m.
It continues to run, mowing down trees and creating a straight path.
If you look closely, there are scorch marks on its back.
It was hit by a Wyvern’s Charged Particle breath and fell into a state of panic.
It doesn’t care about minor obstacles.
It runs down slopes, breaks through ridges, and crushes boulders.
Even so, its body, protected by Magical Power, is undamaged.
And the vibrations and roars generated by its escape were causing further chaos.
A mass migration of animals and Monsters began in the direction of the Great Boar’s advance.
Giant ape-like Monsters with a height of 3m fled in groups, running on the ground and sometimes leaping between trees.
Mantis-like Monsters about 1m in length fluttered into the sky and began to flee.
Following them, giant mantises over 15m in size took off.
Of course, the direction of escape is south.
That is, the pioneer village protected by ＜Paraiso＞.
◇◇◇◇
An ominous atmosphere enveloped the village.
“The atmosphere is different than usual…”
The defense officers were talking with serious faces.
Reports from the scouts who were patrolling regularly were gradually changing.
“Even with so many Soul Butterflies, it’s strange that the animals are fleeing in such a panic.”
“Soul Butterflies are certainly a threat, but they shouldn’t be enough to make small animals abandon their homes and flee… should they?”
“In the first place, they hardly ever land on the ground. At most, it’s when they eat False Green Trees (Trent) or when they lay eggs, right?”
“That’s right. So, they must be fleeing from some other threat.”
However, there is no time left to investigate it.
“Report! Monsters confirmed in the sky! Shadow Mantis (Shadow Player)! Multiple units!”
There, a watchman rushed in.
He had visually confirmed them flying in the sky from the watchtower built on the hill.
“Tch. It’s troublesome, but… it’s not something we can’t handle. The boss isn’t there, is it?”
“Yes. Not visually confirmed at this time!”
“Contact the young lady of ＜Paraiso＞. We should also form teams. If they are Shadow Players, we should be able to hunt them with our usual bows. Especially if they are in the sky.”
“Leave it to us!”
“My arms are itching for action!”
The hunters of the village raised their spirits, grabbed their equipment that they had brought in, and rushed out of the room.
They had been feeling frustrated that they had no chance to show their skills and were just being protected by ＜Paraiso＞.
“…But I don’t think that’s all.”
“It’s reasonable to assume that the Shadow Players have also fled.”
“They shouldn’t be flying during a hunt. In the first place, they shouldn’t be good at flying.”
“Is there a possibility that they are being dragged along by the movement of the Soul Butterflies…?”
While the defense officers were continuing their discussion.
The watchman in the watchtower had visually confirmed a further problem.
He peered into the telescope to measure the distance of the Soul Butterflies that he saw in the distance.
The moment he caught them in the center of his vision, a huge threat jumped out from under the Soul Butterflies.
“…Hidden Player!!”
Its body length is about 15m. 1.5 times the size of a Soul Butterfly.
It catches the Soul Butterflies in the air with its huge scythes.
It moves silently through the forest, and sometimes jumps up to catch even airborne Monsters. It is a hunter belonging to the apex of the shallow layers. That is the Hidden Player.
“It’s here! That guy is dangerous!!”
“Damn, Deareaga hasn’t come back yet! I have no choice, I’ll go!”
“＜Paraiso＞’s Golem might be able to win… But there are definitely Shadow Players swarming around it! We might not be able to handle it unless we mobilize all of our forces!”
One person jumped down from the watchtower and ran to the command post.
The true threat was approaching the frontier pioneer village.