章 10: Hidden Threats
Borne prepared to head to the final location of his investigation.
The journey was a bit long, and before he knew it, the morning had turned into afternoon.
All along the way, he was thinking about how best to approach his investigation of the great mountain.
Falcon Peak, or "Wind Falcon Mountain," was a mountain with a long history.
According to legend, tens of millions of years ago, the god Alkis from the Holy Continent hunted here.
Additionally, in many magical beast hunts, it was noted that most beasts liked to hide in this area, attacking anyone who dared to enter.
The entire mountain was a magnificent sight, adorned with towering ancient trees, mysterious boulders, and cascading waterfalls, giving it an air both ancient and dangerous.
Gradually, the yellow soil on either side of the path turned into lush green grass.
Borne glanced at his map and then lifted his head.
"This is it."
Borne dismounted and led his horse, stepping into the forested mountainside.
The terrain in the mountains was not suitable for riding, so walking was more practical.
The mountain air was damp and chilly.
On either side, ancient trees stood tall with thick trunks, their branches entwined with vines that stretched like an invisible net covering the whole mountain.
The canopy of leaves reached high into the sky, allowing only small rays of sunlight to filter through the gaps, creating streaks of color in the air.
Among these ancient trees, green vines twisted like snakes, their large leaves glistening like emeralds.
The horse's hooves splashed through small puddles, sending droplets of water into the air.
The forest was eerily quiet, with only the sounds of Borne's and his horse's breathing, the beat of their hearts, and the crunch of hooves on fallen leaves.
Borne squinted as he scanned his surroundings, a habit he had developed since becoming a scout.
He closely examined the ground, looking for any signs of magical beasts.
Even if he wasn't entirely certain, it was better than wandering around like a headless fly.
As he moved further up the mountainside, the air grew thinner, and the humid air brushed against his face, carrying a refreshing coolness.
Through the mist, he could see various exotic flowers and herbs scattered among the rocks, some glittering like gems, others glowing with a strange radiance, almost as if they possessed a life force of their own.
Small animals occasionally darted through the undergrowth or leapt gracefully between trees, but they seemed to be avoiding something.
Suddenly, a deep, rumbling sound of trees rubbing together reached his ears, as if some enormous creature was crushing the surrounding trunks.
He slowly moved closer, hiding behind a thick tree trunk, holding his breath, and carefully observing.
That's when he saw a massive Mighty Bear appear in his line of sight.
This Mighty Bear stood over two meters tall, with a body as solid as a boulder.
Its dark brown fur glistened faintly in the sunlight, each hair stiff and coarse like steel needles.
Its front paws were like enormous iron hammers, with claws that shone with a chilling sharpness.
At this moment, the bear was lazily leaning against a tall pine tree, rubbing its enormous back against the rough bark, producing a creaking sound.
The bark on the tree trunk was torn apart by its strength.
Countless fragments flew off, as if the tree itself was groaning under the heavy pressure.
The Mighty Bear seemed particularly satisfied, narrowing its eyes slightly, its black, shiny nose twitching with each back-scratching movement, occasionally letting out a low grunt.
Its thick neck and broad shoulders collided with the tree trunk, sending vibrations through the entire tree, causing fruits to drop in a cascade.
With each forceful rub, it seemed to display its incredible power.
The tree swayed slightly under the pressure of its back, appearing fragile.
Borne studied the giant beast carefully, noticing its shoulders and forelimbs were covered with dense muscles, with explosive strength lurking beneath every inch of fur.
Its ears were small and round, occasionally twitching alertly as if they could hear every sound in the surroundings.
The bear's eyes remained half-closed.
The Mighty Bear's expression conveyed a sense of complete contentment, fully immersed in its moment of comfort.
"I can't disturb it. If it notices me, it'll be a horrible death," Borne thought.
He understood that the Mighty Bear's calm demeanor was only on the surface.
Even in such a relaxed state, any perceived threat could trigger an eruption of rage like a landslide.
According to the *Beasts Compendium*, the Mighty Bear was a solitary, Intermediate-level magical beast, rare in number.
Its temperament matched its physical attributes—immensely strong and combative.
Unlike elemental beasts, the Mighty Bear never seemed to tire during a fight, with every move potentially lethal, offering no chance for escape.
Their numbers were limited because they only reproduced in the spring, and due to their unique physiology, a female bear could only bear one cub in her lifetime.
Borne carefully led his horse away.
As he ascended further up the mountain, the temperature dropped sharply, and the surrounding vegetation grew sparse, with cold rock faces becoming more prominent, while a few resilient plants clung to the cracks in the rocks.
The wind on Wind Falcon Mountain was low and resonant.
The sharp cries of the Wind Falcons occasionally pierced the silence.
They circled high above, like the lords of this domain, their keen eyes scrutinizing every corner of the mountain.
There were no signs of caves on the mountainside.
However, Borne discovered several deer carcasses near the rocky edge.
The bodies lay on their backs, their bellies torn open, exposing white entrails.
The flesh around the wounds had shriveled and turned pale, with deep gouges from the Wind Falcons' beaks and claws surrounding the area.
Notably, the shoulders and spines of the deer bore particularly gruesome gashes.
The Wind Falcons' sharp beaks had dug deep into these spots, leaving deep impressions. Around each wound, blood stains and patches of dried black substance were evident.
"This isn't good. These Wind Falcons might go after Radish and me next."
Thinking of this, Borne and his warhorse quickened their pace.
He needed to find traces of the Thunder Tiger before the Wind Falcons detected them.
As he departed, he remained vigilant, watching his surroundings carefully, but fortunately, no Wind Falcons appeared.
Among the rocks at the mountain's summit, he noticed a small cave, its entrance concealed within a crevice.
The cave's opening was narrow, just large enough for a person to squeeze through.
The edges of the entrance were marked by the wear and tear of time and weather, with the rock surface displaying mottled shades of brown and gray.
Moss grew within the cracks, swaying gently in the wind.
Borne took out a light stone and illuminated the cave's interior, revealing nothing but loose stones and a few tufts of grass.
Despite the unpromising sight, Borne decided to check around for any signs of magical beasts.
"There's everything here, but nothing useful," he muttered.
He adjusted his clothing and prepared to mount his horse and leave.
But then, Radish nudged his waist.
In an instant, Borne grabbed the reins, swung himself onto the horse, and immediately became alert to his surroundings.
Something was approaching.
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