Chapter 681: Three-Way Stranglehold
Predator Mothership, Hunting Command Center.
The holographic projection clearly displayed everything happening on the surface of planet Pandora.
The footage of the Young Blood being blown to pieces by the RDA mech's heavy firepower was replayed repeatedly. The air was filled with suppressed rage.
The Elder stood before the projection like a cast-iron statue. Only the cold glint flashing in his eyes revealed his inner turmoil.
Below, the remaining four mature warriors and six Young Bloods stood in silent reverence.
"Vogak was too hasty." The Elder's voice was deep, devoid of discernible joy or anger, yet every word carried immense weight. "He underestimated the defensive capabilities and combat resolve of those outsiders wielding energy weapons. He abandoned the patience of a hunter, leading to the end of his honor."
He turned to the Young Bloods, his gaze sweeping over each of them like a physical force. "Do you see? This is not the glorious hunt against great beasts that we are familiar with. This is war, a war filled with traps and long-range firepower. To underestimate your prey is to destroy yourselves."
The Young Bloods lowered their heads. Expressions varied beneath their masks—anger, lingering fear, and deep reflection upon the Elder's admonition. Vogak's death had taught them a bloody lesson.
"The Na'vi, relying on their sacred tree and the forest, possess resilient defenses; acquiring high-quality trophies is difficult," a veteran warrior summarized. "The RDA possesses fortified defenses and ferocious firepower; the cost of direct confrontation is massive."
The Elder nodded slightly. "Then, we adjust our strategy. Abandon forced assaults on stationary bases. Our advantages lie in mobility, cloaking, and individual hunting techniques."
He pointed to the vast jungles on the projection. "Expand the hunting grounds to the entire planet. Targets: their patrols, isolated units, and transport vehicles. Weaken them, terrify them, make them pay for their actions, and simultaneously accumulate experience and trophies for yourselves."
He paused, his gaze deepening. "Simultaneously... continue the search. Celtic's death was not that simple. Those 'special targets' he engaged in his final battle must be found. They... might be the prey truly worthy of the hunt."
The new directives were issued. The Predators altered their tactics. They no longer recklessly approached the RDA's core defensive perimeter, nor did they force an attack on the Na'vi's Hometree. They broke into smaller units, prowling the jungles and valleys of Pandora like true phantoms.
The RDA's field operations began to endure greater pressure.
A squad heading to a fringe mining sector for equipment maintenance was subjected to a precise ambush en route.
Two escorting Scorpion gunships were blasted out of the sky by sudden plasma fire.
The ground squad utilized their vehicles to mount a defense, but the invisible hunters were elusive. Every time they appeared, it was accompanied by the death of a soldier and the claiming of a skull.
In the end, only one transport vehicle packed with wounded soldiers barely managed to escape back to base, bringing with them a tale of terror.
A migrating Na'vi caravan was also attacked. Several clansmen went missing, leaving behind only signs of a struggle and scorch marks from some kind of high-temperature weapon.
These attacks no longer sought direct confrontation; rather, they were brimming with a hunter's patience and cruelty. The Predators began collecting the skulls of different species and diversely equipped soldiers, enriching their trophy collections while practicing various hunting techniques.
On the Trailblazer, Ryo, Maine, and the others closely monitored the shifting situation.
"The Predators have changed their strategy, pivoting from frontal harassment to guerrilla-style hunting," Maine said, looking at the intelligence summary. "The RDA's losses in field operations are rising, and the Na'vi and other native tribes are also being affected."
Techmarine Cassius spoke in a deep voice: "Typical xenos hunting mentality. They are accumulating advantages while probing our bottom line."
Elandir provided a unique perspective through her psychic perception: "Their mothership... the energy readings have cyclical fluctuations. It appears to be transmitting data or providing some form of scanning support to the surface units. Furthermore, I can sense several powerful consciousnesses moving across the surface, far more... profound than those young hunters."
Ryo tapped his fingers on the table in thought.
"Let them continue. The RDA needs to pay the price for their arrogance, and the Na'vi need to gain a deeper understanding of the threat from the stars. For us, this is a prime opportunity to collect data." He looked at Cassius and Margaret. "Have our Astartes reconnaissance squad and Armiger mechs covertly deploy monitoring equipment in the outer sectors. I want to know their operational patterns, communication frequencies, and... their specific method of communicating with the mothership."
He paused, adding, "Simultaneously, remind the Omaticaya clan and our three 'observers' to heighten their vigilance. The Predators' hunting grounds are expanding; no one is absolutely safe."
At the Omaticaya's Land of Chants, Hometree was radiating vigorous life under the nourishment of Eywa's network.
However, the atmosphere within the clan was far from relaxed.
The news of the ambush and the combat reports coming from the RDA's side made the Na'vi realize that this new threat was far more bizarre and dangerous than the Sky People they previously knew.
Shinji Ikari, Asuka, and Rei Ayanami also felt this tension.
While learning the language and customs alongside the Na'vi, they also began to understand Na'vi hunting techniques and ways of jungle survival.
Asuka was rather disdainful of this, deeming it too primitive, but Shinji learned earnestly. In fact, during a simple gathering activity, he relied on his sharp observational skills to spot a potential dangerous trap ahead of time (later confirmed to be left by the Split-Claw Clan), earning some measure of goodwill from the accompanying Na'vi.
Rei spent more time near Hometree, attempting to establish a deeper level of consciousness connection with this massive tree of life. She could sense that Eywa's network seemed to possess a vague perception of the Predators' cloaking abilities, but it was not yet clear enough.
Following the Predators' adjustment in strategy, the situation on Pandora rapidly escalated into a brutal three-way stranglehold.
Relying on their cloaking advantages and hunting instincts, the Predators constantly harassed the RDA's field units and the Na'vi's patrol squads.
The RDA countered with a reinforced reconnaissance network and superior firepower, proactively dispatching armored squads deep into the jungle to purge any suspicious zones.
Relying on their familiarity with the terrain and the faint early warnings from Eywa's network, the Na'vi fiercely counterattacked any Predator hunters they encountered while simultaneously protecting their home.
The hunt continued, but the roles of hunter and prey could instantly reverse in every encounter.
The jungles, valleys, and the fringes of the mining sectors became a vortex of bloody collisions between the three powers.
And outside of this increasingly chaotic vortex, Ryo's forces observed coldly from the sidelines.
He closely monitored every clash between the factions, collecting critical data regarding Predator tactics, RDA response capabilities, and Na'vi potential.
The forces in his hand remained drawn but unfired, like a colossal beast lurking in the shadows, quietly waiting for the optimal moment to intervene and secure a decisive victory in a single stroke.