[Quest Name: Surprise Attack on the Scorched Earth Bazelgeuse]
[Quest Level: 7★]
[Objective: Hunt a Bazelgeuse]
[Verification Item: Bazelgeuse Tongue]
[Location: Elder's Recess]
[Client: Intellectual Biologist]
[Quest Description: The three old-timers have finally pinpointed the Bazelgeuse's habitat! As a man of science, I simply must investigate. Members of the Fifth Fleet, please assist with the hunt!]
[Reward: 14400z]
[Time Limit: 7 Days]
"A Bazelgeuse?" Leon frowned, confused. "Not a quest for Nergigante?"
Vos explained, "The Elder's Recess is still under lockdown. Only hunters with active quests can enter. This mission gives us seven days to track down Nergigante's trail..."
Hearing this, Leon looked back down at the parchment. His gaze fell on the name 'Bazelgeuse,' and his heart sank slightly.
The Bazelgeuse—a formidable monster found in the Elder's Recess. Not only was it massive, but its body was covered in explosive scales that it could detonate to create fiery blasts. It was a creature that combined high mobility with devastating explosive power.
If the hunt wasn't handled correctly, a single mistake could result in being burned to a crisp in an instant.
"Seven days..." Leon murmured. "So we have to ensure the quest doesn't fail while buying time to find Nergigante?"
"Exactly." Vos looked grave. "It's an opportunity, but it carries risk."
Leon fell into thought.
Suddenly, he looked up and asked, "Then why did you come to me?"
Vos replied bluntly, "Because it's my first time going to the Elder's Recess too. It's safer to team up."
He paused, then added, "Besides, you saved my life back in the Rotten Vale."
Leon was taken aback, then turned his gaze toward Vos.
The man remained as stoic as ever, speaking with such matter-of-factness that it seemed as though mentioning life and death was just a mundane exchange between hunters.
"The Rotten Vale... you still remember that?"
"Of course I do." Vos took a sip of water, set his cup down, and said, "If not for you, I'd probably have become nutrients for an Elder Dragon by now."
Leon didn't reply immediately, instead lowering his head in contemplation.
He had never been one to act on emotion; a mission was a mission, and a favor was a favor.
However, he also knew that the Elder's Recess was not a hunting ground ordinary hunters could easily set foot in. The environment was complex, the volcanoes were active, and the monsters were territorial...
Adding the fact that the Bazelgeuse itself was an extreme threat, even the slightest oversight could lead to a total wipeout.
After a moment's thought, Leon looked up and said seriously, "Let's get one thing straight: I'm not going to throw my life away for this. If the quest spirals out of control, I'm retreating immediately."
"I know," Vos nodded. "That's why I came to you. A calm, reliable, and level-headed partner is worth far more than a reckless brawler."
"Fine. Seven days... I hope we can find Nergigante." Leon sighed softly, tucking the quest parchment into his item pouch.
"We will." Vos raised his glass, clinking it against the one on Leon's table. "To a successful hunt."
The two locked eyes for a moment, an unspoken understanding passing between them.
Trust between hunters was never built on grand declarations; it was forged piece by piece through countless hunts where they shared life, death, and every retreat in between.
"Alright, we leave in three days. I need time to prepare." Leon stood up, his gaze steady as he looked at Vos. "A Bazelgeuse is no joke."
"No problem. I'll handle the request for supply replenishment." Vos also stood up, clapping Leon on the shoulder. "See you at the Quest Counter in three days."
A few minutes later, the two went their separate ways.
As Leon walked alone through the corridor leading to the Ecology Research Center, night had already fallen, and the researchers were beginning to retire for the evening.
Warm yellow light spilled from the wooden arches, illuminating not only the monster illustrations hanging on the walls but also the deep contemplation in his eyes.
Bazelgeuse, Nergigante, the Elder's Recess...
Leon pushed the door open gently.
There was still someone in the archives—a young researcher in a white robe was organizing the bookshelves. He looked up, startled to see Leon, but then offered a polite smile. "It's late, Hunter. How can I help you?"
"I want to look up information on the Bazelgeuse and the Elder's Recess." Leon got straight to the point, his eyes already scanning the rows of wooden shelves.
"This way, please." The researcher nodded and led Leon to a specific shelf. "This section contains the Bazelgeuse files we've recently compiled. However, our observations are limited, so the information isn't very extensive yet."
"Few hunters have returned from the Elder's Recess so far, so we can't be one hundred percent sure if they're the same as those in other regions."
"I see. Thanks." Leon nodded and flipped open a heavy folder.
"[Bazelgeuse]"
A massive creature classified as a 'Flying Wyvern.'
Its silhouette is somewhat rounded with a small face, and its upper body appears bloated due to the thick layers of scales covering it.
Blackish-yellow, teardrop-shaped scales hang beneath its head and tail. Compared to other Flying Wyverns, its claws, teeth, tail, and wings aren't particularly specialized; it relies primarily on its 'Blastscales' for combat.
"*Hazard Note: Blastscales explode upon contact with fire; scales on the ground can also detonate.*"
During combat, it enters an energized state, its body glowing with a red light. In this state, the Blastscales detonate immediately upon hitting the ground.
"Does it have a weakness?" Leon asked while flipping through the pages.
The researcher thought for a moment. "Thunder is currently its greatest weakness. Beyond that, the key is knowing how to dodge the scales. Most of the damage it deals comes from the explosions."
Weak to Thunder...
Just like the Arcanum Twinblades he had crafted...
Leon noted down the Bazelgeuse's traits and weaknesses before turning to the topographic maps on the other side.
A massive composite map covered an entire wall, with the Elder's Recess positioned right in the center.
He took the opportunity to hand-draw the terrain of the Elder's Recess into his Hunter's Notes.
Suddenly, Leon's hand stopped.
He saw a line written in red ink among the annotations.
"[Three squads have gone missing in this area. Possible connection to unidentified individual '???']"
"Xeno'jiiva?" Leon's eyes darkened as he whispered to himself, "So... it really is there."
"Did you say something?" The researcher looked up.
"Nothing." Leon closed the folder. "Thank you. This is more than enough."
"You're welcome. Good luck with the hunt." The researcher nodded, watching Leon's departing back. He sighed softly in admiration, "The hunters lately... they're getting more composed by the day."
Leon stepped out of the archives as a night breeze blew through the corridor.
Standing by the railing, he gazed at Astera sleeping in the darkness, feeling as though he was drawing closer to the endgame.
But... how was he supposed to get back home?