The arrival of summer has made the already dense forest even more so, with lush canopies shielding the ground from the blazing sunlight coming down from the sky.
Walking in the particularly cool woods requires extra caution, as the piles of dead leaves can easily reveal one’s position, turning predators into prey for other, more powerful creatures.
Especially for those adventurers, when prepared, even ordinary adventurers can turn the tables on many formidable creatures.
But if one accidentally encounters some unexpected, formidable beasts or vicious animals, it is often the ordinary adventurers who find themselves overturned.
This group of adventurers is adaptable; to avoid startling their target prey, they make use of hooks crafted from thick ropes, allowing them to move through the tall trees like monkeys agilely leaping through the jungle by swinging from branches.
The adventurers skilled in martial arts can be even more agile than those monkeys.
These adventurers have set their sights on a demon patterned tiger living in this forest, a female tiger accompanied by two cubs.
This demon patterned tiger naturally belongs to the vicious type, obtaining the ability to become ferocious upon reaching adulthood.
The fur of this demon patterned tiger is not only lavishly beautiful, favored by the nobility, but is also a magical material capable of bearing magic rune powers, useful for mages.
Most importantly, demon patterned tigers are naturally spiritual and wise creatures, some even smarter than a newborn white dragon.
If one catches a demon patterned tiger cub, it can be sold to those nobility and merchants who like to cultivate pets and knights using various magical creatures, which could be quite lucrative.
However, experienced adventurers are well aware that the mother tiger nursing her cubs may be extremely dangerous, but what’s more frightening is the danger lurking in the shadows.
Male demon patterned tigers often hide in the shadows, keeping an eye on the movements of the female and her cubs.
If any other creature dares to intrude near the mother tiger and her cubs’ habitat, the male demon patterned tiger will launch a direct attack, killing the intruder rather than just driving it away.
The adventurers carefully observed the surroundings, noting that outside the demon patterned tiger’s lair, only the mother tiger lay lazily on the ground.
The two cubs were playfully biting the mother tiger’s ear and tail, without any trace of the male tiger’s presence.
So, at the adventurer captain’s command, several adventurers hidden among the treetops took out specially crafted long blowguns from behind their backs and began applying a generous dose of a special magic potion to the blowgun tips.
This magic potion loses its effectiveness quickly upon contact with air, but its effects are potent, with even a small drop capable of stunning the huge herbivorous giant elephants on the plains.
This magic potion is quite a financial expenditure for these adventurers, but if they can successfully capture their prey, the cost is but a drop in the bucket.
After applying the magic potion, the adventurers silently aimed their blowguns at the unaware mother tiger, and swoosh, a faint sound of the breeze swept by.
The mother tiger’s ears had just perked up when she was struck.
The intelligent mother tiger sensed the magic potion taking effect in her body, and the splendid magic-patterned skin on her surface began to glow, with wind element power appearing and spreading over her.
Roar, a powerful, penetrating tiger’s roar echoed far and wide, startling a flock of flying birds into the air from the forest, but the mother tiger collapsed in a brief instant.
The two cubs dashed towards the cave in a panic, but the adventurers didn’t pursue them; instead, they reloaded their blowguns and applied the magic potion once more.
Since the mother tiger had sounded the alarm, the male tiger nearby would undoubtedly come over, and they planned to take down the male tiger as well.
After all, hidden in the trees, the male tiger wouldn’t notice them at first, and would likely check on the mother tiger.
At that point, these adventurers could repeat their strategy and easily capture this whole den of demon patterned tigers.
Rustling sounds filled the forest as the male demon patterned tiger rushed towards them, its padded feet minimizing noise even at full speed.
A five-meter-long male tiger leapt onto the mound above the lair, scanning the surroundings cautiously.
Upon not finding any trace of enemies, it didn’t immediately check on the fallen mother tiger, but raised its head, letting out a penetrating roar through the mountain forest.
Growl, that was a warning signal.
The adventurers hidden among the dense tree canopies turned pale, pondering to themselves, "Could it be that even these beasts have started living in clans now? Or has some change occurred in this forest?"
But they dared not to easily expose their positions; under preparation, these ordinary adventurers could easily take down a demon patterned tiger, but if the opponent is ready, the situation could turn around.
They all held their breath, carefully restraining their movements.
Soon, an unexpected change occurred that the adventurers couldn’t comprehend. Instead of other demon patterned tigers, it was a group of kobolds and green goblins with whistle arrows and various weapons that came in response to the tiger’s roar.
This group of kobolds and green-skinned goblins cautiously peered from behind tall trees, and only after seeing no trace of enemies did they angrily rush forward.
To the adventurers’ surprise, the male demon patterned tiger did not attack these seemingly weak kobolds and green-skinned goblins, but stood calmly in place.
The leading kobold was Bag’s nephew, and though kobolds may not value these kinship ties,
Being a relative of the dogman leader, he could at least serve as the captain of a patrol squad.
The kobold captain carefully inspected the fallen mother tiger’s marks, and immediately cursed, "Damn it, those humans are the cause. Those humans can’t be far away; go find them."
The male demon patterned tiger who had been watching suddenly roared loudly upon hearing the kobold captain’s words, the magic patterns on its body glowing as a wind blade sliced through the treetops, cutting off branches.
The keenly perceptive and intelligent male demon patterned tiger had long discovered the humans hidden in the canopy, and now smartly revealed this fact.
After all, it was allied as a demon patterned tiger now; no longer needing to rely solely on its own strength, wise beasts always knew how to borrow power, especially the vicious ones with greater intelligence.
An unfortunate adventurer fell crying from the tree, landing on the thick pile of dead leaves, and was seized by the approaching kobolds.
"Damn, you humans are always causing us kobolds trouble," the kobold captain cursed, kicking the adventurers bound on the ground.
These adventurers understood the laws of living on this land well; though currently cooperating with the Dragon Group, the least they wanted was to provoke the beloved ones of the Giant Dragons.
Moreover, with the situation unfolding in Hobis, the capital of the Gata Empire, the terrifying red giant dragon, embodying legendary significance, had returned from the Human Empire to rule this land.
The adventurers dared not to anger the lands’ sovereign will; otherwise, not only would they risk their lives, but the entire camp might face extermination.
Furthermore, with kobold bows and arrows pointing at them, they dared not to easily resist, and instead jumped down from the canopy one by one, bound tightly.
"This alert point is under Master Chiron’s responsibility; hopefully, he won’t be angry about this,"
The kobold captain felt anxious too, fearing punishment by the stronger Dragon Descendants, as adhering to the dragons’ will meant punishment for any shortcomings.
And when the powerful Dragon-blooded Centaur Chiron learned of this news, his reaction mirrored that of the kobold captain.
"Damn it, you kobolds are always causing me trouble,"
Chiron was a bit angry, for these vicious animals with adequate wisdom for communication were placed in the forest as spokesmen by the dragons.
The flying birds above were the eyes of the Dragon Group, and the beasts below were their mouths.
It was the will of the red giant dragon, commands no Dragon Descendant could defy.
Moreover, these demon patterned tigers were persuaded by physical means, led by him and other Dragon Descendants; now nearly snatched by humans, any breach in this alert zone would be disastrous.
Current human camp and Giant Dragon territory are partners, and since the humans haven’t crossed boundaries, they’re unaware of recent changes in the Dragon Group territory. Thus, he couldn’t arbitrarily deal with the humans.
"I must inform Master Rosani about this matter, ask what Master Rosani wishes, and hope he won’t get angry over it," Chiron thought to himself.