Nature's Force drew its power from the surrounding natural energies, and different environments would manifest different kinds of moves.
Though they were still within the Ancient Forest, the second layer was pitch-black—moonlight couldn't reach down here.
The ambient energies were a strange weave of Ghost-type and Grass-type power.
Grass attacks against this Fire-natured Ajanath would deal half-damage; Ghost attacks would hit normally.
The Ajanath, clearly stunned by Bai Chen's unconventional moves, stopped chasing the two fallen hunters and fixed its glare on him instead.
Bai Chen didn't flinch. He confirmed through his mind's eye that Lana and the Master Smith had already carried Raymond and Rob to safety.
He shouted over to the Sword Master, who was momentarily dazed:
"Master, this Ajanath's in rough shape—let's capture it now!"
The Ajanath had been driven to revenge—thirty-plus hours with no food or sleep had drained its stamina and HP. This was the perfect hunting window.
The system blinked at Bai Chen, and a new quest popped up:
[Hunt Quest Released — Slay your first Danger-Level-5 large monster]
[Objective:] Capture or slay the Ajanath.
[Fail Condition:] Ajanath escapes.
[Reward:] Skill Proficiency ×50,000 (allocatable), Rarity-6 Skill Stone ×1.
The Ajanath's level read 44. Normally, Bai Chen wouldn't pick a fight with that alone. Even with Nergigante by his side, he wouldn't be certain—yet with the Sword Master at level 65, defeat felt unlikely.
Two shadow spheres formed in Bai Chen's hands.
"Master, I'll support—go!" he called.
The Sword Master raised his great katana and leapt in.
Bai Chen became the ranged caster at the edges—lobbing shadow orbs, or weaving vines from Grass energy to bind the Ajanath.
The Sword Master showed Bai Chen what true mastery looked like: a flowing dance of drawn blades and breath. No ostentation, just absolute precision—one parry flowed into a spiraling blade, then into a sweeping slash.
Iai Spirit Slash.Perceive-and-cut.Special sheathe-and-draw iai. Each move landed with surgical accuracy. The Ajanath's attacks never reached so much as the hem of his coat.
Bai Chen, who had been ready to fight, found himself mesmerized—watching more than contributing.
"So this is the swordsmanship that makes even the Commander bow," he whispered inwardly.
They traded blows and counters for ten minutes. Then the Sword Master called out:
"You still can summon those vines, right? Time to trap it."
Bai Chen snapped back to focus. He hurled his shadow spheres, then coaxed a thick tangle of vines from the grass energy, binding the Ajanath tight.
The Sword Master threw two capture spheres—and the Ajanath was finally secured.
Bai Chen internally cringed at the waste—one sphere shoved into the monster's maw would've sufficed—but then the system chimed: +50,000 skill proficiency. Two of his master-level skills could be promoted to grandmaster now; strength surged in his bones. The rarity-6 skill stone was an enormous bonus.
As the Sword Master prepared to fire the transport flare, a rumble rose from above.
Bai Chen raised Super Perception and then his eyes widened—the treetop dividing the forest's layers had cracked open.
Boom. Three colossal bodies crashed from the canopy into Zone 13. Their roars tore the night.
Bai Chen stared.
"You three can fight all you want—why drop through the map into Zone 13!?" he muttered.
The three were the very trio he'd glimpsed earlier: Zinogre, Rathian, and Rathalos—the pair and the lightning brute.
The Sword Master, shaken, turned toward Bai Chen.
"Situation changed. We retreat."
He grabbed Bai Chen's right hand to pull him away—only to find Bai Chen's feet rooted as if cemented. The Sword Master blinked in confusion.
"You can't be clinging to that captured Ajanath, can you?" he asked, thinking Bai Chen was reluctant to leave the prize.
Bai Chen inhaled, eyes serious.
"Master—if monsters suddenly intrude like this, according to Guild rules, can we decide on the spot whether to hunt them?" he asked.
The Sword Master hesitated, not expecting this train of thought.
"By the rules, yes—" he began, but Bai Chen cut him off.
"Master, do me a favor. I want to capture those three."
Bai Chen slid his hand to his belt and felt the four monster balls there. The Zinogre hit far harder than he'd imagined—this little lightning brute was a savage, fighting two Wyverns and still not losing ground.
The trio's levels: Rathalos 47 (Danger 6), Rathian 43 (Danger 5), Zinogre 40 (Danger 5). For a level-40 Zinogre to stand toe-to-toe like this was incredible—and both Rathian and Zinogre were bloodied. The Zinogre, in particular, had taken massive punishment and was far below peak.
This was a hunter's dream: three map-level monsters wounded and tangled in one arena—and Bai Chen had a level-65 Sword Master at his side. Miss this, and it would be a crime.
He looked at the Sword Master earnestly:
"Please, Master. This is huge for me. I'll reward you handsomely afterward."
The Sword Master studied the scene, then Bai Chen. He narrowed his eyes.
"Are you sure you can control them?" he asked, skeptical.
Bai Chen produced a single monster ball.
"If I capture them with this, I can make them obey."
The Sword Master had no idea what that palm-sized sphere was. But he saw the hunger in Bai Chen's eyes—the kind only driven young hunters showed.
He sighed, a corner of his mouth lifting.
"You young people have guts."
Bai Chen's face lit up.
"You'll help?"
The Sword Master considered, then spoke with a hard, measured tone:
"I've heard about your Master Smith's talents. If, in the future, she forges a sword that satisfies me—I'll grant your request."
"Deal!" Bai Chen grinned.
—
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