A crimson silhouette streaked across the sky, sending the wyverns circling above the Great Ant Mound Wasteland scattering in panic. Though that figure was not much larger than they were, the danger woven deep into their instincts screamed at them to stay away.
On the ground, some monsters raised their heads, puzzled at the presence of a Rathalos here. Even a fledgling, freshly parted from its parents, would normally choose the forests,far more suitable for survival,rather than this arid land.
The wasteland was nothing but desert. Yellow sand whipped about in the air, yet it could not obscure Luo Yun's keen gaze.
Following the river for a time, he spotted migrating Kestodon, deer,like Kelbi fleeing from unseen hunters, and even a sneaky Kulu,Ya,Ku pilfering eggs from a nest. But for Yaki, there was no sign.
Realizing he had strayed too far from her territory, Luo Yun, though reluctant, had no choice but to turn back. Normally, Yaki would hunt close to her domain. On his way here, he had seen plenty of herbivores and Kelbi, yet none bore the marks of predation. Clearly, she had not hunted in this area today. To keep searching would be pointless.
He spent some time returning to the nest. It looked exactly the same as before,no blood, no disturbance. Yaki hadn't come back. Turning his head, Luo Yun spread his wings and took to the air again.
This time, he flew toward the lake where Yaki had once found him. Yet no sooner had he risen high than his sharp eyesight caught something unusual in the direction of the Ancient Forest,trees swaying violently in one particular area.
The distance seemed well beyond Yaki's territory, but unwilling to dismiss even the slightest chance, Luo Yun veered toward it.
Yaki, meanwhile, was having a terrible day. After making sure her hatchling would stay put, she had gone to her usual hunting grounds, planning to pick out a plump herbivore for lunch.
Instead, she found a brute wyvern rampaging near the lake, scattering all the prey.
Its sheer bulk, its raw power, the aura it radiated,Yaki could only curse her luck and look elsewhere for food.
But when she arrived at her second hunting ground, fury surged through her chest. The damned Pukei,Pukei had trespassed into her territory yet again!
And this time, to her astonishment, the wretched bird didn't flee. Instead, it brazenly lapped up poisonous mushrooms with its massive tongue, then spread its wings wide when she moved to drive it off,challenging her outright to a fight.
How could she possibly tolerate that?
It had only been a short while since she last saw it, and somehow, the bird had grown so much that it now towered over her. But against a creature like this, Yaki had never once felt fear.
Back when she was still small, the Pukei,Pukei had always scampered off at the mere sight of her. Now that she had grown stronger, how could she not crush it?
With a thunderous roar, Yaki charged like a green juggernaut, slamming into the bird.
The Pukei,Pukei did not falter,it barreled forward as well.
The two collided like wyvern,sized war machines. The impact shook the ground, yet neither yielded; their raw strength was evenly matched.
Yaki's blood boiled in disbelief. This cowardly scavenger that once only dared sneak in to steal mushrooms when she was away,now it was fighting her to a standstill?
It was like watching a worthless fool you had always scorned suddenly stand toe,to,toe with you. The humiliation stung, as though she herself had become part of its little game.
Her fury ignited. Today, no matter what, she would kill this wretch. She would defend her territory, her pride!
The battle escalated, the roars of both beasts shaking the air. One fought with size, the other with racial advantage,neither able to gain the upper hand.
Their struggle carried them farther and farther from the original site, their immense stamina dragging the fight across the forest. This was why Luo Yun did not spot them immediately upon arrival.
When he finally arrived, he found Yaki locked in combat with the Pukei,Pukei. Around them lay toppled trees, scorched earth, and stones corroded by venom.
Yaki was in poor shape. Her scales were split in several places, the spines along her back,once flowing like a mantle,were snapped and broken, and blood dripped from the great horned ridge above her jaws. The poisonous barbs of her tail oozed with venom, faint streaks of violet staining the ground wherever she moved.
Most worrisome was her right wing. Its membrane had been eaten away by poison, leaving a swollen purple,red patch that seeped blood.
For a Rathian, flame and venom were weapons of last resort, only used when driving the enemy away failed. Clearly, the Pukei,Pukei had pushed too far, leaving her no choice but to fight with deadly intent. Despite her injuries, she showed no sign of backing down.
The Pukei,Pukei fared little better, though its wounds were not as severe. The most obvious was a bleeding puncture wound in its belly, no doubt from Yaki's horned ridge. Yet its vigor remained high,it held the advantage.
Neither combatant noticed Luo Yun circling above. Their eyes were locked on each other, their strength nearly equal, neither daring to look away.
It was the opening Luo Yun needed.
With a beat of his wings, he soared above the Pukei,Pukie wheeled, and dove at blinding speed.
The instant Luo Yun's fighting spirit ignited, his innate ability triggered,his speed climbing higher and higher as he plunged.
By the time the Pukei,Pukei sensed danger, Luo Yun was already upon it. And in front of the bird, Yaki was charging once again.
Caught between them, the Pukei,Pukei proved itself a veteran of countless battles. With a single glance at Luo Yun's smaller frame, it dismissed him, keeping its focus on Yaki and leaving its back completely exposed.
Experience told it that a juvenile Rathalos, even with the momentum of a dive, could at most scratch it with a claw. Wyvern hatchlings had fragile bones,if they collided head,on, Luo Yun would likely break himself against it.
That single strike, if it even landed, would hardly pierce its hide. No,the true threat was still the furious Rathian bearing down upon it.
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