NOVEL NEXT Chapter 29.2
29.2. Long Vacation 2
Afterward, Nord set out on many adventures with Newt. The deep green young dragon, growing stronger at a rapid pace, had already gained enough hunting experience to take on stone-tier monsters by itself.
As the end of the long summer break approached, Nord finally decided to take Newt on a crystal-tier request.
The task he chose involved the subjugation of colony-type monsters.
Colony-type refers to creatures that form groups, such as wolf packs or insect swarms. Conversely, there are solitary monsters, such as bears or wyverns, that do not form groups.
While these are general trends, occasionally, even solitary monsters may be observed settling as pairs within a shared territory.
Among same-tier requests, solitary-type monsters tend to be more challenging than colony-type ones. The former’s threat arises solely from their combat prowess or ferocity, unlike colony-types, whose strength lies in numbers.
Though Nord could defeat solitary monsters himself, he was uncertain about Newt’s ability to fend for itself if targeted. Therefore, as a test, he decided to have Newt face a crystal-tier colony-type monster first.
The target for this mission was a land shark.
A lizard resembling a shark in appearance, it earned its name due to its ferocity, rivaling even sea-dwelling shark monsters known as ocean killers.
Since land sharks wander in search of prey, they can be encountered almost anywhere except in the cold northern regions.
They are a common threat faced by crystal-tier adventurers due to the damage they inflict on travelers and livestock alike.
This particular task was to eliminate them near a minor road branching west off the main highway from the royal capital.
Road security was the knights’ domain, but priority was given to major routes connecting large cities, often leaving smaller roads neglected.
Yet, while left unattended, merchants and travelers might be attacked, and villages along these roads could wither away.
Thus, when land sharks were spotted, the Adventurer’s Guild would promptly issue a subjugation request.
“See anything?”
Nord called out from a wagon borrowed from the knights.
He was addressing someone in the sky.
Under a clear blue sky, a lone figure soared freely.
It was Newt, the young wyvern, wings spread wide as he circled overhead.
Under the summer sun, his green scales shimmered as he caught the wind and glided above.
His golden eyes, slit vertically, spotted something moving in the distance.
He observed closely—something he had never seen before with a shark-like form.
“Kyui!”
Newt let out a long cry as Nord had taught him and descended.
Upon hearing the call, Nord followed, guided by Newt.
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A single land shark’s combat strength is not particularly high.
As individual foes, they are considered weak among those faced by crystal-tier adventurers.
However, when a pack of them attacks, their shark-like ferocity can become a significant threat.
Unarmed merchants and travelers would be defenseless against such a threat and would be devoured without a means to fight back.
Several land sharks leaped at Nord simultaneously.
Necks, hands, legs—their trajectories were clear to him in an instant. He swung his sword.
A green light flashed, slicing through the airborne land sharks.
Before the two halves of a severed shark hit the ground, Nord swung again.
Another land shark was cut down.
Nord quickly dealt with most of the nearby threats. Only one remained.
He sheathed his sword and turned his gaze toward it.
The earth-colored land shark seemed cautious, but not of Nord.
—Whoosh! Whoosh!
Above the land shark, Newt soared effortlessly, flying in an eight-pattern motion.
He maintained a safe distance, waiting for an opening.
The land shark tracked Newt with wary eyes, leaving itself vulnerable. Though Nord could easily strike it from the side, he chose to observe,
allowing Newt to gain hunting experience.
For a while, Newt and the land shark kept each other at bay.
Then,
The end came swiftly.
Newt, mid-flight, suddenly changed his path.
This caught the experienced land shark off-guard.
Newt dove from above with speed, wings tucked.
Momentum from his spiraling descent combined with his attack, turning speed into raw power. His sharp talons pierced the earth-colored scales, tearing into flesh.
The land shark had no time to react, pinned to the ground and silenced as Newt’s jaw clamped down on its vital point.
It continued like this.
Through multiple encounters with land shark packs, Newt honed his combat skills.
By the time the last one was slain, Newt could handle packs alone.
Despite his playful gestures for Nord’s praise afterward, betraying his youth, Newt had become a full-fledged hunter.
The innate hunting prowess of a “wyvern” was beginning to bloom, only half a year after his birth.