Monster Hunt: Notes from a Hunter

Chapter 1261 Found you
With thick fur wrapped around his greaves, the old hunter walked step by step in the deep snow in the forest.

This icy and snowy environment made him feel both familiar and unfamiliar.

Before the discovery of permafrost, there was no real frigid zone in the New World, and it was natural that people would feel uncomfortable after not seeing ice and snow for more than 40 years.

However, only a few people in the investigation team knew that he, like Jean, was from the snowy mountain region of Vlasia.

The memories of childhood and youth have long since faded, but this body still seems to remember them.

Remember how to save energy walking in the snow, and remember everything you should pay attention to in a cold environment.
"I almost forgot that I was also born in the Snow Country." The swordsmanship master stopped and took a deep breath of the icy and crisp air.

"I'm afraid I won't have the chance to go back in this lifetime, so this can be considered a return home in another sense."

The swordsman continued walking.

The heavy snow in the previous two days covered up the footprints and most of the traces.

If a young hunter who is used to the convenience of insect guides were to look at the vast expanse of snow, he would probably feel at a loss.

After all, if the guide insects can't find the first few traces, they won't start leading the way.

Even a hunter as skilled in tracking as Gordon could not avoid feeling awkward when faced with the thick snow that covered everything.

But the swordsmanship master still looked calm and focused, with a clear goal in mind.

As everyone in the investigation team knew, he was an old-school guy. In the past, he didn't know how to use catapults, let alone guide insects.

He thought it would dull his thinking.

Over the past few decades, relying on his own senses and technology to track and search for monsters, he has accumulated an astonishing amount of experience.

With just a quick glance at the snowy forest, he could roughly determine from the terrain and the width of the gaps between the trees where the Ice Fang Dragon could not go and where it was most likely to go.

Soon, he found some scratches on the bark of a thick cedar tree.

The mark was really small and shallow, less than the length of a palm. If you weren't careful enough, you would probably overlook it.

The swordsmanship master walked over, confirmed the shape of the mark, and touched the surface of the mark, and he already had a rough idea in his mind.

Just as he was about to move forward, he thought for a moment and walked back, pulled out his stripping knife, shaved some sawdust and bark from the edge of the trace, and put them into the insect guide cage.

The lazy guide insects lit up slightly.

Although I can find my target without the help of these little guys, it just takes a little more time.

He would not have sought this convenience before, but now, he has figured it out.

People have to accept their age and use convenient and useful things when necessary.

The scratches on the bark and the slightly collapsed bushes looked like terrain, but in fact they were shallow snow pits where large monsters had crouched.
Relying on these traces that ordinary people cannot detect, the guide insect extracted enough breath.

The sun was beginning to set.

The shiny guide insects flew out from the guide cage and led the swordsmanship master through the maze-like snow forest.

Finally, the old Ice Fang Dragon was found in a hidden canyon.

"It's so convenient." The swordsmanship master patted the brand new insect cage on his waist and sighed from the bottom of his heart.

Then, with steps so light that they put the young hunters to shame, he sneaked silently into the canyon.

The Ice Fang Dragon was curled up in the open space between several tall cedars to rest. The snow almost covered its body. If it wasn't for its body still floating slowly with its breathing, one would almost think it was a corpse.

Next to it, there was a half-eaten corpse of Bobo, which had been frozen solid by the cold wind.

"As expected, you are getting old now, your appetite is not that good?" The swordsmanship master muttered to himself silently, "If you were young, a whole head of bobo would barely fill your stomach, right?"

The swordsman raised his head and looked at the sky again.

The sky was darker than before, and the dim afterglow enveloped the small canyon.

Now that the target's location has been confirmed, according to my usual practice, I should retreat quietly at this time and wait until tomorrow morning to officially start the hunt.

——Hunting at night is more dangerous.

This is what his master taught him since he was an apprentice.

He had done this all his life, but now, he suddenly had some other ideas.

"The sun is about to set. We don't have much time left. Why don't we stop wasting time?"

The swordmaster whispered, chugging a bottle of hot drink.

Then, as if performing some kind of ritual, he pulled down his visor and carefully adjusted his helmet, not forgetting to smooth out the old feather on the back of the helmet.

The hot blood was surging in his body for the first time in a long time, and the sound of his heartbeat was still strong.

The boiling fighting spirit and momentum burst out.

The old Ice Fang Dragon, who was sleeping like an old cat with a droopy face and his chin resting on the back of his paws, suddenly opened his eyes.

In the afterglow of the setting sun, the Ice Fang Dragon, who hated strong light, narrowed its ice-blue eyes and locked its eyes on the opponent in front of it.

After the previous two lessons, it dared not underestimate this bipedal creature whose claws were not even as long as its own.

He lowered his body slightly, tensed his muscles, and prepared for battle.

The swordsman also drew out his flying dragon sword [Silver].

It had been many years since he had taken out this fire sword that seemed to be made of pure silver.

The opponent before him is worthy of his full effort.

"Let me take the first step."

The swordsmanship master took the initiative to step forward and charged towards the Ice Fang Dragon.

Faced with the enemy rushing towards it, the Ice Fang Dragon roared and swung its giant claws to stop the hunter.

The horizontally swung claws almost blocked the entire charge path, but the swordsmanship master's speed did not slow down. At the moment when the claws were about to reach him, he swung the blade diagonally.

The scorching blade intersected with the sharp claws, and the swordsman continued to swing the sword in the direction of the claws, deflecting the attack with the least amount of force.

The Ice Fang Dragon's sharp claws brushed past his shoulder, leaving a crack on the shoulder armor.

The swordsmanship master has taken advantage of the momentum to break through the blockade of the arm claws and got in front of the Ice Fang Dragon.

It was plain and simple, yet swift enough to make any katana wielder stare in amazement as it slashed down, leaving a bloody wound on the side of the Ice Fang Dragon's face.

This is a "unique skill" that has been honed through millions of sword swings over decades.

The blood stuck on the blade was burned into ash by the high temperature of the dragon flame before it could drip, and the splattered blood was frozen in mid-air by the biting cold air around the Ice Fang Dragon.

The Ice Fang Dragon howled in pain and took two steps back, staring at the hunter in front of it, its ice-blue pupils filled with fear.

The swordsmanship master did not rush to attack, but instead set up a large sword and pointed the scorching tip of the sword directly at the opponent.

"If you don't show some real skills, the battle will be over soon."

As if it understood what he said, the old Ice Fang Dragon exhaled a breath of frost.

Fine ice needles climbed up its giant claws and shell, and its broken amber fangs were also covered with ice, turning into frosted blades.

"That's right. We are old, and physical strength is not our strong point. We should get out everything as soon as possible." The swordsmanship master's laughter came through the visor.

I was particularly talkative today, perhaps because I was excited to see people like me.

"Courage state. Oh - this feeling, my legs and feet seem to have become more flexible."

Ps.
　Suddenly I realized that the three people that this Frost Blade fought were all Tachi warriors, and the videos about Frost Blade were basically Tachi videos, mysterious.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)