Toda-kun had finally come out of the bushes and without saying a single word he pointed towards a nearby forest where we were heading to see the Gigantopithecus family. Was he still salty that I brought two girls here and not Senko?
The area Toda-kun had helped teleport us in was near a subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest that resembles those in South China, except in Hainan which featured a tropical rainforest.
This forest had Carbon and oxygen isotope analysis of Early Pleistocene enamel which suggests Gigantopithecus inhabited dense, humid, closed-canopy forest. It was a perfect habitat for Gigantopithecus.
The sun shined brightly as we walked on the path towards the forest, during this time I did what I had been doing since the start of the game and scanned the area whenever I could.
Upon the initial scan I already detected Multiple small life forms in the area, it's possible that they were just small reptiles like Microraptor, bambiraptor, ornitholestes and maybe even procompsognathus though I could not confirm any of these guesses.
None of the species I named were “particularly” dangerous, and at worst we could probably just jump any individual dinosaur that attacked us, but I can't shake the feeling someone was following us.
Did the scanner only detect animals and not other players? I quickly stopped walking and scanned the general area again, and a few new creatures showed up which were eudimorphodon and archaeopteryx. I looked around quickly trying to see any disturbances in the vicinity.
“If someone is following us then why don't they just show themselves… unless…” I already knew who it was… that person was Diego! Was he following me around in order to mark out when I was with Toda-kun in order to persuade him to his side again?
That can't be it!? If he wanted to get Toda-kun on his side He would have went to him directly, He already met him when Senko and I invited him to investigate our campsite that was invaded by Dilophosaurus, he has no reason to keep stalking me around in order to get Toda-kun to side with him!
He is definitely here for revenge on me specifically because I took down his lovely maid! I was about to start leaving the three behind when…
“Yuu-san? Are you okay?” Hikari-san tugged at my sleeve.
“Did something happen Yuuki?” Kana followed up.
I looked back at everyone, Toda-kun had his arms crossed, Kana looked confused and Hikari had a worried look on her face.
“N-no it's nothing don't worry… You guys go on without me, I think I have something to do…” I responded hastily.
“Don't be stupid, It's better to stay in a group than go alone, by going alone you're just asking to be mauled out there.” Toda-kun spoke up.
I hate to admit it but he was right, I was the lowest level player here, and leaving the group to investigate whatever was bothering me is a death sentence.
“You're right, I'm sorry for the inconvenience, let's keep going.” I regained my composure and we finally entered the dense forest.
Was I just paranoid over the last two encounters I had with Diego? That can't be it right?
The creature we were looking for was Gigantopithecus Blacki. Gigantopithecus is an extinct genus of ape that lived in southern China from 2 million to approximately 300,000-200,000 years ago during the Early to Middle Pleistocene, represented by one species, Gigantopithecus blacki. Potential identifications have also been made in Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
Gigantopithecus is the largest known ape in the world, Being so large, Gigantopithecus possibly had few or no enemies when fully grown. However, younger, weak, or injured individuals may have been vulnerable to predation by tigers, pythons, crocodiles, machairodonts, hyenas, bears, and Homo erectus.
Yet despite it's fearsome appearance, Gigantopithecus is considered to have been a herbivore. Carbon-13 isotope analysis suggests consumption of C3 plants, such as fruits, leaves, and other forest plants. The robust mandible of Gigantopithecus indicates it was capable of resisting high strains while chewing through tough or hard foods.
Gigantopithecus appears to have been a generalist herbivore of C3 forest plants, with the jaw adapted to grinding, crushing, and cutting through tough, fibrous plants, and the thick enamel functioning to resist foods with abrasive particles such as stems, roots, and tubers with dirt.
Finding the biggest apes on the planet might seem like a fun trip, but with my little stalker chasing me around, If he captured one or more of them it would only empower his Clan!
Upon stepping foot in the forest, it was clear how dense it was and how easy it was to get lost in here. It was like the sun can barely penetrate through the trees and shine into thr woodland.
I better keep my guard up and keep pressing that scan button. I checked my in game map and we were far from our starting town, I zoomed out from where we were and swiped around and I could not find our beginner town whatsoever. We might have to set up camp after this.
While walking through the dense forest I kept scanning the area every 15 seconds and Kept focusing on the noises around us trying to discern any nearby creatures or stalkers.
As we continued walking We suddenly heard a loud “Cawww~!!” noise, it soudned like a large turkey.
“All of you get Your Weapons out, Hikari-san stay close.” I placed my left hand on her shoulder and prepared to unsheathe my katana.
“R-right!” Hikari-san prepared what looked like a rapier sword similar to the one Haruka-senpai used.
“What the heck was that noise?” Kana did a defensive martial arts stancestance while holding a dagger on her right hand.
“It sounded like a bird, Maybe its a Deinocheirus.” Toda-kun took out his long scythe.
“I doubt a deinocheirus would be out hear hindering its mobility with its large size, Maybe it was a citipati or a struthiomimus… or better yet.” I grabbed 3 daggers from my jacket and threw it at where the noise came from.
Upon impact a large bipedal bird came out and ran away. It sported black at the back and yellow feathers on its underbelly to neck.
“Eh~?? What was that?” Kana lowered her guard and relaxed herself.
“I believe That thing is a A beipiaosaurus, a small to mid sized theropod from China, Beipiaosaurus is a genus of therizinosauroid theropod dinosaurs that lived in China during the Early Cretaceous in the Yixian Formation. The first remains were found in 1996 and formally described in 1999.” I explained before heading towards the bush trying to pick up the three daggers I threw.
“Ehhh!? That's disappointing, here I was thinking it was a large dino!!!” Kana sighed letting her entire body fall on the floor.
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This girl was hoping to fight something large, I gotta commend her bravery though.
After putting my daggers back in my coat I scanned the area again, and there was something nearby. I immediately looked around but I couldn't see it anywhere.
“Nobody let your guard down!” I unsheathe my Katana when the ground suddenly trembles.
“Yuu-san behind you!” Hikari shouted desperately.
Upon turning around a large fist suddenly struck me in the gut and got backhanded my flank to the side and knocked me away and crashed through several trees making them collapse, it was a Gigantopithecus!
“Gahhh!!!”
I couldn't control my momentum as the sneak attacks completely disoriented me, causing me and several tree trunks that I crashed through to all fall off a cliff as I crash on a large stone with the trunks barely missing me way below the cliff.
The impact on my gut and flank stung so badly! It felt stronger than Kana's strike that launched Me through Gunhildr town's brick wall.
“Geez… so that's how strong a monke's are bare hands are…” while trying to get up, I could that I started losing consciousness and notice my health bar was critical.
While losing consciousness I saw my private chat was being spammed by both Kana and Hikari-san, unfortunately I could not move my hand to open the chat's UI… does this mean they managed to escape? If they are then that's all I needed to know, I don't want Kana or Hikari-san getting hurt in my consciousness.
I could not move my arms and legs at all… was I paralyzed? That can't be it, I didn't felt an impact on my spine… was it because I crashed on this rock?
The best I could do is force myself to sit up and open the ui trying to use any healing items I could use, I only had 5 small healing potions, but healing back up to 20% is no big deal right? I pressed the use button and I was able to move my arms and legs again, I was barely able to stand up and get my bearings.
“Getting hit like that is the worst!” I maintained a steady breathing when a shadow loomed above me.
Upon looking up… there was a large creature standing above me, It rivaled a giraffe in height and it had a massive beak.
“Shit…”
I was face to face with Quetzalcoatlus, one of the largest Azhdarchid Pterosaurs, I think fatigue had set in as all I could do was collapse looking into the eye of Death.
It looked like I was just gonna be an easy prey… as the Azhdarchid lowered it’s head and prepared to grab me with its beak…
***Screaaa!!!*** a velociraptor leaped from above me an attack the Azhdarchid by its neck, causing it to stagger and shake off the Velociraptor.
I felt a gentle hand grab the back of my jacket, Pulled me up and ran away with the Velociraptor following after the Quetzalcoatlus flew off.
I was still blacking out but before I did… I caught a glimpse of whoever saved me… it was a tall girl with short black hair and red eyes, after she grabbed me she hid inside a small cave with me as her Velociraptor tame followed after.
“Ara~ Ara~ are you alright dear? I was trying to tame that bird when I saw you fall off that cliff and noticed it immediately went for you so I had to protect you.” She had a gentle tone
I really couldn't muster another word, fatigue fully sat in and just blacked out completely.
°°°
Opening my eyes slowly, I was still inside the cave and I felt like I was lying down on my side… upon turning to lie on my back however… I felt a hand on my hair.
“Ara~ Ara~ are you finally awake~?” The girl gave me a gentle smile as she was toying with my hair with her hands.
“...hm…. Eh- Eh!??” It took me a second to process and realize that I was lying down on her lap. Instinctively, I sat up immediately and stood back up, I checked my stats and inventory and it looked like nothing was altered.
“Ara~ did you have a good nap?” the girl spoke with a motherly tone.
How do I respond to that? I vividly recall passing out and getting saved by someone but I have no clue who she is, and to top it all off she just let me use her lap as a pillow until I woke up. How much more embarassment must I experience?
“How long was I out for?” I asked desperately.
“Ara~ you were only out for 15 minutes.” The girl answered tenderly.
“I see… I owe you one then.” I used a stick to scribble “Ryuki” on the dirt near her feet
“Ara~ no need for that, I was just helping an early game player.”
How was she being this humble with me, I should be the one apologizing!
“I’m sorry for being a bother to you, I’ll be taking my leave now, My friends must be in trouble.” I bowed before taking off outside the cave.
“Wait, what’s your name?” The girl asked.
“It’s Yuuki.” I left then went to the rock I crashed on along with all the tree trunks that fell with me.
“I see, call me Black Luna.”
While running, I knew it was rude that I left her behind so quickly, but I can’t just let Hikari-san and Kana get hurt! Toda-kun you better keep them safe! Looking up at the cliff I fired my grappling hook and zipped back up the top. Upon landing, it was apparent that the Gigantopithecus caused a mayhem! There were a trail of collapsed trees and there were several Rhamporynchus, Eudimorphodon flying away as beipiaosaurus, camptosaurus, dryosaurus, Struthiomimus and Ornithomimus were all running away in fear.
“This was the first time I’ve seen so many animals running away from a common threat! Kana… Hikari-san please stay alive long enough for me to get there!” I unsheathe my katana and started dashing in the direction of all the commotion, noises and ravaged forest in my way.
I kept running at the direction of the ravaged forest, when a sharpened tree trunk was thrown in my face to which I just barely avoided getting my face skewered!
“Just what the hell is going on in there!?”
Several more debris were thrown in my direction, I jumped on top of another sharpened tree trunk, ran on it leaped above a large rock and used my momentum to squeeze between another pair of large tree trunks, using my katana to propel off a tree stump and threw pair of 3 draggers at an incoming tree branches allowing me to pass through unscathed and landing as I sheathe my katana back in its place.
“It looked like things cleared up.”
I heard the roar of the gigantopithecus nearby, I continued running in its direction when I suddenly got tackled at my side knocking me on the forest floor. I immediately got back up and looked at the direction of the attacker.
What I saw absolutely terrified me, I was face to face with a large theropod from the morrison formation, it was the “Different Lizard,” Allosaurus.
Allosaurus is an extinct genus of large carnosaurian theropod dinosaur that lived 155 to 145 million years ago during the Late Jurassic period. The name "Allosaurus" means "different lizard", alluding to its unique (at the time of its discovery) concave vertebrae. It is derived from the Greek words ἄλλος (allos) ("different", "strange", or "other") and σαῦρος (sauros) ("lizard" or "reptile").
The first fossil remains that could definitely be ascribed to this genus were described in 1877 by famed paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh. The genus has a very complicated taxonomy and includes at least three valid species, the best known of which is A. fragilis. The bulk of Allosaurus remains have come from North America's Morrison Formation, with material also known from the Lourinhã Formation in Portugal. It was known for over half of the 20th century as Antrodemus, but a study of the abundant remains from the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry returned the name "Allosaurus" to prominence. As one of the first well-known theropod dinosaurs, it has long attracted attention outside of paleontological circles.
Allosaurus was a large bipedal predator for its time. Its skull was light, robust, and equipped with dozens of sharp, serrated teeth. It averaged 8.5 metres (28 ft) in length for A. fragilis, with the largest specimens estimated as being 9.7 metres (32 ft) long. Relative to the large and powerful legs, its three-fingered hands were small and the body was balanced by a long, muscular tail. It is classified as an allosaurid, a type of carnosaurian theropod dinosaur. As the most abundant large predator of the Morrison Formation, Allosaurus was at the top of the food chain and probably preyed on contemporaneous large herbivorous dinosaurs, with the possibility of hunting other predators. Potential prey included ornithopods, stegosaurids, and sauropods. Some paleontologists interpret Allosaurus as having had cooperative social behavior and hunting in packs, while others believe individuals may have been aggressive toward each other and that congregations of this genus are the result of lone individuals feeding on the same carcasses.
Allosaurus is one of the most fearsome dinosaurs ever to have roamed the earth, Allosaurus is a large, ferocious theropod dinosaur, that which weighed up to 3.7 tons and measuring around 39.7 feet in length and 12.5 feet tall, but unlike the real life counterpart, this Allosaurus was 42 feet in length and 19 feet tall.
“How the hell are you so large compared to the real life counterpart!?”
I immediately threw 3 daggers in its direction, however the theropod just charged through the attack and knocked me down on my ass.
I got back up and took my katana out.
“This isn’t the first time I had to face a large theropod, but now I need to deal with you before I could even save my friends!”
I could hear its bellowing all the while it was staring at me with piercing eyes. I heard more bellowing and turned to my side and my eyes widened, there were another pair of allosaurus as large as this guy!
“Shit…”