Chapter 1457 - 938: Trial of Awakening (Part 2)

Chapter 1457: Chapter 938: Trial of Awakening (Part 2)

"Footprints: Three-toed, deeply embedded in the soil, with a span like that of an adult man’s three steps..."

"Gnawing marks: Hardwood as thick as a bowl rim easily bitten through, the break showing snarling jagged edges..."

"Smell: A mix of the dampness of decayed soil, the metallic tang of rust, and... some kind of pungent glandular secretion..."

"Activity range: Fixed core deep within ’Howling Wind Valley’, but the edge marks indicate extreme alertness, patrol range far exceeds territorial needs..."

"Sight fragment (blurred): In the dim dusk, a massive shadow flits eerily through the forest, moving swiftly, the frenzied wind pressure causing adult giant trees to sway violently..."

"Rough map: Hastily drawn terrain, seems to indicate this is my hunting ground, marked with key area information like streams and cliffs..."

Legolas’s mind raced, integrating the clues from the notes with his vast knowledge accumulated in the wild forest of Tate Continent:

Size and power: Depth and span of the footprints, combined with the marks of biting through hardwood, suggest the target is at least as large as a strong warhorse, with knotted muscles, and terrifying power.

Claw/Hoof characteristics: Unique three-toed shape, excluding most even-toed and feline beasts, pointing to large birds of prey like griffins, winged dragons? But the notes did not mention flight traces. Or some rare giant lizards, ground dragon subspecies? Or... some kind of unknown mutated powerful magical beast?

Behavior: Extremely strong territorial awareness and vigilance, wide activity range implying sensitive perception or lightning-fast movement. That glandular secretion might be a deterrent mark or some eerie hunting aid.

Danger level: Definitely a high-tier predator, excellent in power, speed, and perception, extremely likely to possess concealed special abilities, like deadly toxins or frenzied elemental attacks.

"Small? No, at least a medium dangerous species! A typical power-type terrestrial beast, vigilant and swift... challenging enough, just to my liking!"

Excitement burned in Legolas’s eyes, and a sharp smile unique to hunters encountering formidable enemies appeared on his lips.

This is precisely the ultimate trial he yearns for!

The supreme glory of the hunting arrow should be tempered by such a legendary prey.

The prey’s level far exceeds his current status, but this disparity is precisely what makes the hunt worth going all out for.

Having clarified the general outline of the target, he decisively turned towards the equipment area, his gaze sweeping over the displayed weapons like a scanner:

Light Spirit Hunting Bow (Short Bow): Swift shooting speed, excellent concealment, suitable for rapid guerrilla warfare in the forest, but limited power and range, hard to penetrate heavy armor.

Forest Longbow (Longbow): A balanced choice, moderate range, power, and shooting speed, highly versatile, slightly constrained in dense forest environment, yet the current optimal solution.

Armor-Piercing Heavy Crossbow (Crossbow): Overpowering destructive strength, extremely strong penetration power, ultra-long range, but slow loading like a snail, cumbersome and difficult to carry, thunderous when fired, easily exposing the shooter.

A variety of quivers:

Ordinary Feathered Arrow (Balanced and Practical)

Armor-Piercing Cone Head Arrow (Assault Tool)

Barbed Hunting Arrow (Bloodletting Torture)

Poison-tipped Arrow (Unfathomable Risk, to be used cautiously)

Signal Whistle Arrow (Special Purpose)

Trap Tools:

Steel Wire Snare (Agile Concealment)

Animal Trap (Large, Strong Threat)

Triggered Spiked Pitfall Components (Bulky and Time-consuming)

Other essentials:

Sturdy Leather Armor (Lightweight Protection)

Sharp Hunting Knife (Close Quarters Life-or-death Combat)

Bandages and Hemostatic Herbal Pack (First Aid Essentials)

Climbing Hook and Rope (Terrain Crossing)

Water Pouch, Flintstone (Survival Basics)

Legolas showed no hesitation, decision swift as lightning.

The target is large, tough-skinned, highly alert, pursuing a killing blow or rapid weakening is paramount.

He chose:

Weapon: Forest Longbow.

The longbow achieves perfect balance between power, range, and relatively quiet firing characteristics, suitable for medium-range precision sniping and agile maneuvering.

Although the heavy crossbow is strong, its slow loading is a fatal weakness when facing fast targets, and the thunderous sound would instantly jeopardize concealment;

The short bow, on the other hand, lacks sufficient power to shake a giant beast.

Arrows: Mainly chose Armor-Piercing Cone Head Arrows (equipped with barbs), filled a whole quiver with 20, ensuring ample firepower.

Additionally, carried a small number of Ordinary Feathered Arrows, 5 in total, for probing, driving, or disrupting the target.

He decisively abandoned the poison-tipped arrows—its effects are unknown, might anger the target or contaminate precious spoils;

This is a sacred trial, aiming for pure hunting akin to real hunting, not indiscriminate slaughter. Signal arrows are unnecessary here.

Armor: Wore lightweight, sturdy leather armor, focusing protection on the chest, abdomen, and shoulders, ensuring his figure remains as agile as the wind.

Tools: Fixed the sharp hunting knife securely at the waist, ready for the life-death moment of close combat;

Brought along two sets of steel wire snares and a large animal trap, for setting lethal ambush spots or creating obstacles.

Climbing hook and rope are indispensable, transforming peril into safety in complex forest terrain.

Bandage herbal pack and water pouch are survival foundations, carried with him.

Abandoned the bulky spiked pitfall components—setting them up takes too much time, and their effectiveness on the target’s large size is questionable.

Core of strategy: Intelligent capture is paramount, utilizing dense environment to set traps to restrict its movement, seek the best sniping position, aiming for precise fatal blows to vital points—eyes, throat, heart, or joints, firmly avoiding reckless frontal confrontation.

He already had a complete and detailed plan and swiftly took action.

The hum of the bowstring’s tension was pleasing, as he tested the weight and balance of the hunting knife, feeling like an extension of himself. He methodically fixed the equipment onto his body, each movement reflecting practiced skill.

Finally, he carefully tucked the hunting note containing clues against his chest, close to his heart.

Everything is ready.

Taking a deep breath filled with the aroma of wood and the tang of rust, Legolas resolutely pushed open the hunting hut’s heavy, creaking wooden door.

The bright light instantly swallowed his vision, like falling into a pure white dream.

As the light receded like a tide, the scene before him made him pause slightly, then a strong, nostril-tingling sense of familiarity surged within his heart.

He was standing at the foot of an ancient and dense primordial forest.

Towering giant trees rose from the ground, majestic like green giants, with knobby roots digging deep into the fertile black soil like the sharp claws of a giant dragon.

The dense tree crowns interlayered, obscuring the sky, allowing only the mottled golden beams to pierce the deep green shade with difficulty, casting swaying light patches on the ground.

Vines like thick pythons wound around the aged trunks, thick moss and fern-like plants carpeting the moist ground and dark rocks like a velvety blanket.

The air was filled with the humid scent of decomposed organic matter, the refreshing fragrance of greenery, and a... primordial and wild, almost tangible pulse of life.

This scene, so reminiscent of his homeland—the edge of that wild forest famous for danger and bounty on the Tate Continent—what a resemblance.

"Feels like home..."

Legolas murmured, a hunter’s unique, excited yet stern smile in the face of a challenge played on his lips.

He tightened the bow strap on his back, adjusted the position of the quiver, ensuring the hunting knife at his waist was in the most convenient position for drawing, as if becoming one with the weapon.

Those sharp eyes belonging to an elf and a top hunter, swiftly scanned the dense forest before him like a searchlight, greedily surveying the environment like the most precise instruments.

The mottled textures of the tree trunks, the soft layer of fallen leaves on the ground, the subtle changes in the angles of leaves blown by the breeze, the distant faint clear bird calls and rustling insect chirps...

Countless subtle information like trickling streams flowed into his vast sea of consciousness.

He listened attentively, capturing every slightest sound that the wind carried, as if listening to the whispers of the earth.

He took a deep breath, nostrils twitching, striving to differentiate besides the greenery’s scent, any hint of the target’s elusive "rust and glandular secretion" mixed aroma in the air.

"I really need a bit of time to get used to the weak physique here before dealing with it."

After all, dropping from Level Ten to Level Three, this span is unimaginably vast.

As a hunter, one must understand and perfect one’s body status.