The Vajra Ape

The Golden-Bearded Mastiff was a Tier 8 Ferocious Beast.

Each Golden-Bearded Mastiff had at most six whiskers, and they could lose some in battle. Damaged whiskers didn't count, of course, so each person would have to hunt at least three Golden-Bearded Mastiffs to gather enough whiskers to meet the trial's requirements.

Not to mention, Golden-Bearded Mastiffs were pack beasts.

"This trial's going to be tough. The Starlight Forest is a gathering place for High-Tier Ferocious Beasts, and Golden-Bearded Mastiffs aren't the only ones there," Chen said worriedly.

Guen, on the other hand, was fired up.

"Last time, the trial was to obtain materials from a Tier 9 Ferocious Beast. This time, it's a Tier 8 beast. The difficulty isn't much different, but I'm up for it." Guen grinned.

Chen could only smile wryly.

The map provided by the Military was crude. It only marked a few places where Golden-Bearded Mastiffs might be found and the location of Stardew Valley, and even then, it was drawn in rough lines that barely helped with navigation.

Guen glanced at it and put it away.

"Come on. We'll figure things out when we get there."

The crowd surged toward the Starlight Forest.

"Hey, Guen, Chen, want to come with us?" A middle-aged man rode over on a lion-like Ferocious Beast and invited them.

"Uncle Jack." Guen and Chen smiled and nodded.

"Good. We're all from the same town, so we'll have a better chance against the Golden-Bearded Mastiffs if we stick together. Let's go. It'll be safer on the way, too." Uncle Jack hadn't been surprised that Guen and Chen had accepted his invitation.

The pack-dwelling Tier 8 Golden-Bearded Mastiffs were actually more dangerous than Tier 9 Ferocious Beasts.

Of the 421 people here, only a little over a hundred were originally from Double Moon Town. Most had come from nearby villages to take part in the trial.

And even among people from the same town, some were closer than others. Uncle Jack and Guen were on good terms.

Uncle Jack had also contacted five others he knew well, forming a party of eight. Without wasting any more time, they set out along the route on the map.

Although the map was crude, nobody would get lost. A squad of Empire Soldiers was stationed every three miles along the way. Their job was to watch the participants and make sure they were heading to the Starlight Forest as required.

The trial route and location had both been set. If anyone tried to get clever and change course, or obtain Golden Whiskers through other means, the trial would lose its purpose.

So soldiers were stationed along the route to mark the trial's boundaries. But the closer they got to the depths of the Starlight Forest, the fewer soldiers there were.

The Starlight Forest was a lair where Ferocious Beasts gathered. The Empire Soldiers had an average combat strength barely reaching the middle tier, so they could only observe the participants from a distance using trained flying beasts.

Three days later.

"Hmph!"

Guen punched a python in its weak spot, and its muscles burst apart. It couldn't withstand his blow.

"Just a Tier 4 Ferocious Beast, and it still dares to block our way?" Guen raised an eyebrow and lunged at the other pythons.

A group of Green-Striped Pythons had dared to block their path. Their leader, a Tier 6 Python, was being pummeled by several people.

The weakest among them was at Tier 6, while the strongest, Uncle Jack and a Bald Man, were both at Tier 8.

"Don't let your guard down," Uncle Jack said in a low voice. "Green-Striped Pythons may travel in packs, but we have high-tier mounts like the Diamond Unicorn and the Mad Lion. The pythons still dared to attack us, so I think someone's causing trouble behind the scenes. Be careful. The Starlight Forest is full of Ferocious Beasts. Green-Striped Pythons are among the lowest tier here; the forest is mostly home to High-Tier Ferocious Beasts. If we get surrounded, we'll be in danger too."

"Understood," Guen and the others replied at once.

They quickly dealt with the Green-Striped Pythons and continued on their way.

Uncle Jack gave Guen and Chen a serious warning. "This is your first trial. The rest of us have done it twice. Setti here is already on his third."

Uncle Jack pointed at the Bald Man.

"The Jungle Trial itself is challenging, but that's not the biggest threat. Ferocious Beasts are just strong animals. Even if they have some intelligence at this level, they're still pretty stupid overall. The people you need to watch out for most are the other participants."

"The other participants?" Guen and Chen asked, puzzled.

"That's right, the other participants." Setti came over too. "Do you know what makes Ferocious Beasts so strong?"

"Strength?"

"Physique."

"Exactly. Guen's right—it's their physique. A Tier 6 Ferocious Beast is bigger than a human and has a sturdier body. Humans are too fragile. Unlike Ferocious Beasts, they won't keep fighting for long if you stab them in the head. So some participants who can't hunt Golden Whiskers themselves might target other participants who can and simply steal them." Setti's expression turned grave. "We have to be careful around the other participants. One moment of carelessness, and we could be ambushed. To be honest, you and Chen aren't very strong. But since this is your first time, your top priority should be staying safe."

Guen grew serious too.

Human bodies really were fragile.

Even a strong person could be defeated by someone weaker.

Poison, hidden weapons, and countless other tricks could all be used.

It was all because the human body was fragile. A blow to a vital spot usually meant severe injury or death, while Ferocious Beasts could struggle on for a long time even after being hit in one.

"Don't worry. You have us," Uncle Jack said with a smile, exchanging a glance with Setti.

When the sky fell, the tallest would hold it up.

After encountering the Green-Striped Pythons, everyone became more cautious on the journey.

Two days later, the group couldn't help paling when they saw a Vajra Ape charging toward them in the distance.

It was a Tier 9 Ferocious Beast!

Over thirty meters tall, it was covered in black fur with a faint golden sheen.

Every step made the earth seem to shake, yet it was incredibly fast. It covered hundreds of meters in a single stride and was suddenly right in front of them.

It was clearly heading straight for Guen and the others.

"It's a peak-stage Vajra Ape, too." Uncle Jack's expression changed at once.

A Vajra Ape's fur was black. If it turned golden, that meant it was beginning to transform into a Super Tier beast. The Vajra Ape before them had only a few golden hairs, but that was enough to show it wasn't an ordinary one.

If it were an ordinary Vajra Ape, they might have been able to deal with it. But one that was already transforming toward Super Tier...

"Split up! Someone's got their eye on us and wants to use the trial as an opportunity to get revenge!" Uncle Jack looked grim. Participants did attack each other during the trial, but usually while hunting or after obtaining trial items. Anyone attacking them now could only be seeking deliberate revenge.

"You go on ahead. Setti and I will draw the Vajra Ape away. Meet us at the second Golden-Bearded Mastiff site in four days!" Uncle Jack shouted. Then he and Setti urged their mounts forward and charged straight at the Vajra Ape.

"Take care, Uncle Jack." Guen knew how urgent the situation was and retreated at once.

But the Horned Boar Beast trembled, barely able to run.

The Horned Boar Beast was only a Low Tier Ferocious Beast. Just the aura of a beast at the peak was enough to crush its will to resist.

"Damn it!"

Guen had no choice but to abandon his mount. He hit the ground and sprinted off in a chosen direction.