Bear School Astartes

The new equipment was already worn, which meant the occasions for using it were approaching.

The happiness of the Second Squad Leader when handing over [Smaug] to Lann was very genuine.

But a large part of this happiness came from seeing the new materials and technologies, and a small part was: finally being able to drive away the Flame King Dragon!

Although he was quite proud that the arena he designed and built achieved the great feat of ’trapping an Ancient Dragon’.

However, as the person responsible for managing the entire New Continent Expedition Team’s crafting and weaponry, his sense of responsibility urged him that he really couldn’t keep throwing gunpowder at the Flame King Dragon!

Now, the Light Crossbow and Heavy Crossbow hunters at the Star Base were almost out of ammunition!

They grumbled behind his back all day long.

So even though he himself liked the majestic and explosive high-temperature image of the Flame King Dragon, like a fiery furnace.

He still had to make the decision to drive it out of the arena as soon as possible.

And to prevent it from returning for the Expedition Team’s gunpowder out of greed, the method had to be a bit ’rough’.

There’s no other choice; it had to be a strong enough hunter taking the stage.

The night Lann donned the new armor, he received the official task from the Commander-in-Chief.

And early the next morning, he was prepared to have breakfast at the Weapon and Mountain Cat Pavilion and then head to the Great Ant Mound Wasteland with the Expedition Team’s special dry provisions—portable food supplies.

"Really amazing." The chef, wielding a greatsword to slice large dragon steaks, said to Lann and Rong Buqiu. "Even though there were rumors before, to actually trap an Ancient Dragon!"

The sliced dragon steak was grilled on a hot stone, releasing rich oil with a sizzling sound.

Served with side dishes and a main course of bread, it was pushed in front of Lann and Rong Buqiu.

Normally, the chef could overcome his Elu Cat ’meow’ mannerism.

"Unfortunately, it’ll be driven out again soon."

Lann shrugged and stuffed a piece of deliciously textured dragon steak into his mouth.

The chef didn’t look at him, as it was only natural for a hunter capable of taking down a forty-meter-long enraged Terror Tyrannosaurus in the Otherworld to be sent against an Ancient Dragon.

The handsome and large Elu Cat, arms crossed, looked down at Rong Buqiu eating quickly with small bites.

"Be careful, Rong Buqiu. Don’t be reckless, got it?"

The chef spoke in a tone of care for his juniors.

Judging by the greatsword on its back, its muscular build, and the scar over one eye, it was undoubtedly a formidable hunting cat in its past.

Rumor has it that the Grand Commander, resembling the Golden Lion in human form, used to be its partner hunter.

So in terms of identity, it definitely had the qualifications to guide and advise Rong Buqiu.

"Got it, meow!" The Three-Floral Kitten lifted its head from the plate; unlike the already mature chef, this Companion Cat was still full of energy and passionate about adventure.

It confidently raised a hand to the chef: "Don’t underestimate me, I’ve seen major events too, meow!"

"That’s the best." The chef, indifferent, used his paw to smooth his whiskers and then added more dragon steak to Rong Buqiu’s plate.

Many of the cats who had been busy with Rong Buqiu in the kitchen in previous days also greeted it in passing and cheered it on.

The atmosphere instantly became lively and adorable.

But soon, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed up from the wooden stairs below the Weapon and Mountain Cat Pavilion.

The unhurried footsteps made many chef Elu Cats, including the head chef, show strange faces.

The heavy, violent, almost neurotically intense aura pressed down from behind.

If it were a sensitive or weaker ordinary person, their bodies might have frozen in fear just from the sense of the aura before even seeing the person.

However, this strong and ferocious aura only made Lann turn his head.

A ginger fur-covered figure sat down next to Rong Buqiu: "Chef! I want food too, meow!"

It was Gaffi.

And sitting on the stone bar after Gaffi, of course, was Wende.

However, he was not wearing any of the usual armor sets he hunted and crafted.

Instead, it was a new, terrifying armor.

The helmet looked like an inverted cylinder, and there weren’t many hard armor plates on the suit; instead, there was a lot of almost black, dark green leather with structures beneath resembling swollen muscles.

This armor expanded Wende’s physique by twofold.

And like the Terror Tyrannosaurus, some parts of the dark green body showed cracks as if the swollen muscles burst through the skin, revealing the red muscle fibers underneath.

His whole body looked muscular and massive, completely unlike his previous fit and agile image.

The difference was like a serious fighter pursuing both speed and strength changing careers to a performance-focused wrestler big guy.

Black smoke with a red light emanated from his shoulder guards, and the armor had disorganized scattered piles of teeth on areas like the fists, elbows, and knees.

It resembled the Terror Tyrannosaurus’s haphazardly grown teeth extending beyond its lips.

These areas, initially meant for protection, seemed to be turned into malicious weaponry for brutal attacks.

This was the [Fog Nest Master Terror Dragon Set].

On Wende’s back was a greatsword.

The size and specifications were standard for New Continent Hunters, but it had dark green scales, strong dragon attribute energy, and instead of steel for the blade, it had jagged teeth arranged like a chainsaw.

Daring to use material from the [Fog Nest Master] in such large areas, wrapping one’s body, even crafting weapons.

It’s completely understandable for the entire person to exude an aura of near-insane savagery.

With a ’click’ sound, the clasp on that bizarre and fierce helmet opened with a soft noise.

Wende slowly took off his helmet.

Rong Buqiu, momentarily awed by the power of the armor, nervously swallowed.

"Is Wende okay... meow?"

Rong Buqiu worriedly spoke to Gaffi beside him.

As a result, the ginger Elu Cat didn’t even bother turning to look at Wende, sulkingly burying his head in his meal.

"Oh, me? I’m perfectly fine!"

Wende, having taken off his helmet, waved at Rong Buqiu with a smile.

His cheerful and open smile was completely different in style from the fierce and terrifying look of the armor.

Rong Buqiu was stunned for two seconds.

"The new armor is quite powerful, right?" Lann raised his cup towards Wende, receiving a warm response.

"Indeed, it’s quite powerful, almost like my old gear that I threw into the sea!"

Wende patted the helmet beside his hand with gloves made from Terror Tyrannosaurus fang.

His expression was happy but also mixed with a bit of hesitation.

"But it’s also strange... it’s my first time wearing equipment made from someone else’s hunted materials."

Clear in thought, his emotions and personality, as usual.

Lann smiled, while Mentos’ evaluation data faded at the corner of his retina.

Wende was completely unaffected by the pressure from the [Fog Nest Master Terror Dragon suit], or... enduring the pressure was easy for him?

No wonder he’s the ace of aces in the Hunter’s Guild.

Thus, the two hunters, both clad in terrifying new gear, started eating at the same table.

"Why is Gaffi angry with you again?"

Lann curiously pointed at the ginger Elu cat, whose head was buried in his food.

"It’s not really anger..." Wende awkwardly averted his eyes.

"It’s just that Gaffi wants new equipment too, but Wende isn’t getting it for him." Aibo bounced over from behind.

This compiler who partnered with Wende as always.

Talking and laughing, she reached into the plate.

Lann smiled as well, but he was prepared; he casually twisted his body, and the new armor blocked his plate.

Aibo wasn’t one to let it go; she smoothly snatched a piece of dragon steak from Rong Buqiu’s plate.

The Three-Floral Kitten blinked: "Meow?"

And Gaffi, the cat in question, let out a ’meow’ and hugged his head with his little paws.

"I want Terror Tyrannosaurus gear too, meow! Do you think I can’t handle it, meow!?"

"No, we just think you handle it too well." Wende sighed beside him.

"If we give you the gear, it wouldn’t put any pressure on you, just increases your appetite... you’ve got a tummy now, Gaffi."

Aibo pulled out a big chicken leg from somewhere, gnawing on it as she spoke earnestly.

"Ginger cats are prone to getting fat, you have to restrain yourself, Gaffi!"

-----------------

After breakfast, the newly-reformed squad departed from the Star Base, heading towards the Great Ant Mound Wasteland.

On the way, Aibo and Wende teased Lann as they did before.

Asking if they should ride him again all the way.

But once Lann summoned the Qilin, already enjoying days in his hometown, he instantly faced multiple crit hits.

However, Wende and the others seemed to handle it better than Aiden and his partner, probably because they’ve seen stranger things before.

Now, it’s more difficult for Wende to hang on to the flying wyvern.

Because the armor is so fierce that the wyvern took a long time to barely adapt.

But still, any slight movement from Wende would make the wyvern tremble for a while.

After a period of travel, their surroundings gradually transitioned from the vibrant Ancient Tree Forest to what appeared to be barren desert.

On the way, Lann mentioned how long it had been since he last met Aibo, wondering if it felt distant; yet the compiler hanging on to the flying wyvern and stealthily stuffing food into her mouth seemed to have no concept of ’unfamiliarity.’

As if she had only seen Lann yesterday.

And because this Hunter Squad’s goal was clear, heading straight for the transit base.

They soon felt an abnormal rise in heat, along with anomalies caused by the resident Flame King Dragon.