Episode 20: Pterosaur

Finally, finally, I found traces of humans!

Having run out from in front of the cave where the Hobgoblin was, I proceeded straight toward the valley. Because of the steep slope, I almost fell, but I grabbed tree branches to kill my momentum and jumped to the next branch. Since that was faster than running, I descended the valley in that manner like Tarzan.

I wanted to reach the road as soon as possible. That was my only thought.

Reaching the bottom of the valley, this time I climbed up jumping from branch to branch. I thought my hopping appearance was like a manga, but this superb body pulled it off.

I climbed the valley surprisingly fast even to myself and reached the road.

It was just a path of trampled earth about 2-3 meters wide with no vegetation on a gentle part of the mountain slope.

However, several ruts made by thin wheels and hoof prints were carved there, clearly leaving traces of current use.

The road stretches left and right winding around the mountain.

The direction I should proceed is toward the visible black pillar, but hundreds of new hoof prints seem to be proceeding in the same direction.

I crouched on the ground and put my ear to it to check if anyone was using this road nearby, but unfortunately, I couldn’t hear any sounds indicating such activity.

Just because a road was found doesn’t mean I can meet people immediately and easily. Such a mountain path with almost no maintenance likely has low usage frequency.

I wasn’t disheartened.

The existence of a road means it must connect to a town or village where people live. If I follow this road, I’m sure to arrive there eventually.

I start walking on the road. But inevitably, my pace quickens. Well, it can’t be helped. I can’t suppress my elated feelings.

As expected, having a road makes walking fast. Naturally, it’s completely different from walking in the forest.

After proceeding for about an hour, I heard shouting voices and sounds of things colliding. It’s coming from the other side winding around the mountain, but I don’t know what is happening.

I started running.

When approaching the end of the curving road, I saw a Pterosaur flying with a “Gyeh” cry. It’s that huge flying guy supposed to be from the dinosaur era that caught fish in the lake.

I instinctively dropped and hid. I never expected to run into that Pterosaur in a place like this. Though, I don’t know if it’s the same individual I saw at that lake.

The Pterosaur dived and disappeared toward the stream on the other side where the road continues.

After that, sounds of things colliding and screams of likely humans are heard.

To confirm what is happening, I proceed along the road carefully so as not to stand out.

Rounding the curve and overlooking the other side, I saw a wagon train being attacked by the Pterosaur in the distance. On the road curving largely inward, about 40 wagons formed a column, and the Pterosaur was clinging to the central wagon.

The wagon train took positions surrounding the Pterosaur, and many humans were responding with bows and arrows as if sandwiching it.

Humans! There are many humans!!

It’s a scene like one from a dinosaur movie, but I rejoiced at the fact that humans are there.

However, one human responding with a spear near the Pterosaur was grabbed by its foot and lifted.

The next moment, as the Pterosaur flew up, the human caught by the Pterosaur was thrown into the valley, falling while screaming. If fallen into that deep valley, survival is unlikely. At the tragic scene, my joy blew away.

I braced myself and watched the situation for a while.

The Pterosaur flying up turned in the sky and attacked the central wagon again. Arrows were shot from both sides, and although many arrows stuck in its body, it scratched the central wagon with its talons without seemingly caring.

Around the central wagon, I saw humans responding with spears from between barricades made by piling up block-like stones. However, although inflicting wounds, they weren’t fatal attacks.

Besides spears and bows and arrows, occasionally things like fireballs flew, but they didn’t seem to have enough firepower to burn the Pterosaur. When the Pterosaur flapped its large wings, both fireballs and arrows were blown away, missing their aim and neutralized.

The Pterosaur caught another human, dropped him to the valley bottom, and flew high up. Then, it repeated hit-and-run attacks, turning and diving to attack the central wagon again. Is there something the Pterosaur is targeting in the central wagon? It targets only that wagon persistently.

However, since the wagon itself is surrounded by rock blocks, it can’t lay a hand on it directly. Therefore, it is eliminating the humans attacking around it first.

While I was watching, three humans were dropped to the valley bottom.

Humans seem to basically have only primitive weapons like spears and bows and arrows. I don’t know what the occasionally flying fireballs are, but either way, they don’t seem very effective.

The Pterosaur’s power is overwhelming, and it feels like the humans are barely holding on while taking casualties.

What surprised me is that every human’s physical ability is considerably inferior to mine, or rather, they look no different from general Earthlings. With this, humans would feel like nothing more than annoying insects to the Pterosaur.

The Pterosaur’s presence was so intense I was captivated by it, but looking over the whole scene, both sides of the wagon train are being attacked by packs of animals likely wolves, and fighting is taking place there too.

The animals likely wolves are shaped like wolves but have leopard print patterns, with white rings covering their black fur bodies.

It feels somewhat comical, but let’s call them leopard-print wolves for now.

There are 10 leopard-print wolves each at the front and rear, fighting several humans holding swords.

Humans are fighting at a ratio of one against three leopard-print wolves, but they seem to be struggling. Their movements are quite slow and look weak. It feels like they are somehow holding on thanks to the barricades like rock blocks.

The Pterosaur is targeting the wagon, and the leopard-print wolves seem to be targeting humans.

They don’t seem to be coordinating; judging by the battle, it feels like the leopard-print wolf packs joined the fight later while the Pterosaur was attacking the wagon train.

Looking at the arrows stuck in the Pterosaur, they seem to have been fighting for quite some time, but the leopard-print wolves seem to have just started fighting, with no casualties and few humans responding, suggesting as much.

“Alright!”

Deciding, I ready the halberd and start running. Naturally, to join the fight. Humans I finally found. I can’t just keep watching here.

Honestly, I’m not confident I can defeat that Pterosaur, but repelling it would be a job well done.

Also, I thought that by joining the fight in an emergency, they would accept me even dressed strangely like a primitive man.

“Ooooohhhhhh!!!”

I charge into the battlefield while roaring to attract attention.

It’s not my style, but I don’t want to be recognized as an enemy, so it’s to let them know a helper has arrived.

First, heading toward the leopard-print wolf pack, I take a form to pincer them with the wagon train humans.

Three leopard-print wolves noticing me come toward me. They emit reasonable Pressure, but compared to the Hobgoblin I fought earlier, it’s not much.

Since three leopard-print wolves jumped at me all at once, I run the spearhead horizontally as if sweeping with the halberd.

The three neatly align in the air and Space Move upward to the left to dodge the halberd, but predicting that, I apply Telekinesis to my arms to forcibly reverse and accelerate the halberd.

The axe part of the halberd slices open the lower abdomens of the three leopard-print wolves simultaneously.

Blood spurts from the wide-open lower abdomens simultaneously with intestines popping out, and the three fall to the ground as is.

The three scream and roll on the ground, unable to stand up. They won’t die immediately, but since they can’t move, I leave them and head to the next prey.

Recognizing me as a strong enemy, the remaining seven stopped attacking the wagon train and came toward me.

The cornered man looked relieved, but when I signaled with my eyes and gestured to thrust with the spear, he nodded and thrust his spear into the ass of one leopard-print wolf.

“Yelp!”

Surprised by the unexpected attack, one jumped up, and the other six all focused on that one. Taking that opening, I closed the distance, swung the halberd through, and crushed the noses and eyes of three.

Those three writhed while screaming, and the other three jumped back to regain posture.

The one stabbed in the ass went mad with rage and headed toward the man, but handling one seems fine; the man nods at me while readying his spear.

I was somewhat anxious if the signal got through well, but it seems okay.

Probably the same species as Lusine; for now, I seem to have been accepted. Relieved to have passed one hurdle, I head toward the remaining three.

I emit somewhat strong Pressure to intimidate the three leopard-print wolves.

The bodies of the three tremble greatly, but perhaps angry that their companions were killed, they charge straight without hesitation.

When I sweep the halberd horizontally, like a rehash of before, the three simultaneously Space Move their bodies upward to the left to dodge.

I reverse, accelerate, and cut back just like before. Two had their lower abdomens sliced open and fell to the ground spilling intestines, but only one Space Moved further upward to dodge.

“Hoh!”

This one is probably the pack boss. Its ability seems a level higher.

Landing, the boss glares at me while growling. While mad with rage over its companions being done in, it forms a Field preparing for attack.

It seems to surround its body with a Field, but since the directionality isn’t visible, I can’t predict what it will do.

I wrap a Field around my body to interfere with the boss’s Field.

The boss dashes fiercely, crawling on the ground to charge. Surprised by speed exceeding expectations, but it’s still within assumptions.

I thrust out the halberd as if stabbing the ground. But the boss slips through and passes my side.

Passing behind me, the boss kicks the mountain slope in front, reverses, and attacks my back.

Turning around, I swing the halberd horizontally, but here the boss activates the Field to Space Move while dodging the halberd, biting at my throat.

I didn’t expect it to launch a two-stage feint using the mountain slope to reverse and Space Movement.

Completely caught off guard, but thanks to preparing to disrupt the Field, I barely managed to deviate the leopard-print wolf boss’s trajectory slightly.

Accelerating my legs, I grab the boss’s tail as we pass. Or rather, I grabbed the tail when I instinctively put my hand out.

I nearly fell being pulled in the boss’s direction, but I pulled the tail with brute force and slammed it onto the ground.

“Gyaiiin!”

I lost balance and fell too, but the boss slammed its body in a weird posture, unable to breathe. The leopard-print wolf boss struggles in agony.

I stand up, pick up the dropped halberd, thrust it into the boss’s head, and finish it off. A black mist appeared and vanished.

Somehow annihilating the leopard-print wolves, the man hugged me.

“#$%&%0%&'”0#$#&%0!!!”

I don’t understand what he’s saying, but from his excited state, he’s probably saying things like “Saved” or “Good kill.”

I’m not happy at all being hugged by an old man, but since he seems to think of me as an ally, let’s say it’s good.

Looking toward where the man was earlier, one leopard-print wolf is dead, so he seems to have defeated it safely.

Looking closely, two injured men are crouching in the back, perhaps bitten by leopard-print wolves. I see, I understand why this man is moved. It was truly touch-and-go.

I pointed at the crouching men and signaled the man with my eyes.

The man nodded and ran to the men shouting “‘%%$&’%&%'”. Probably calling a doctor or relief person.

I looked at the five leopard-print wolves with ripped bellies. Still alive, but barely breathing. I ignored them and turned my eyes to the Pterosaur.

The Pterosaur was still attacking the wagons, and another person was dropped into the valley.

I wonder how many have been sacrificed; I can endure somewhat not seeing them die directly, but it’s tragic beyond measure.

I picked up a stone about the size of a baseball and threw it at the Pterosaur with all my might.

The Pterosaur dodged the stone easily with movement unbecoming its size. I intended to surprise it from a blind spot, but it didn’t work at all. Unlike humans and carnivores, its eyes are on the sides like birds and herbivores, so its field of vision must be wide.

Judging by the Pterosaur’s movement, I don’t think it controls fine movements by flapping.

I recall seeing an explanation somewhere that Pterosaurs supposed to have existed on Earth moved through the air mainly by gliding rather than flapping.

However, this Pterosaur moves finely in the air and ascends by flapping without gliding aid.

Probably, the nerve bundles forming the Field are extremely developed, or it might possess separate organs assisting the nerve bundles. It must be flying freely using that ability. A more troublesome opponent than I thought.

The wagon train people continue attacking the Pterosaur with bows, but almost no effect is seen. It feels like one in 5-6 arrows barely sticking is good.

Probing with the Field sense, just as I avoid leeches and insects, the Pterosaur also creates spatial distortions with the Field. However, that ability is vastly greater, almost neutralizing arrow attacks.

However, when attacking wagons, that Field is deactivated and concentrated on the talons. Used when destroying wagons or grabbing humans and barricade blocks to discard them. Otherwise, it probably couldn’t lift them.

So, arrow attacks become effective only at that time.

That said, they are mostly blocked by the sturdy skin under the feathers, and it seems to think of them only as thorns sticking.

How can I deal an effective blow?

In the first place, is it an opponent defeatable with primitive weapons like bows and spears?

Spreading wings nearly 20 meters and attacking wagons, it looks like watching a kaiju movie.

The wagons, about the same size as one-box cars, seem like miniatures.

That said, looking only at the body without wings, it’s smaller and slenderer than the Sabertooth Tiger.

I find one possibility.

While I was thinking of a strategy, the last man fighting with a spear in front of the Pterosaur was caught and thrown.

He luckily fell beside a wagon, but seems to have fainted. Incidentally, the spear he held fell and rolled between wagons.

The Pterosaur starts moving the rock barricade guarding the wagon. With the annoying spear user gone, it can concentrate on its objective.

Archers shoot arrows, but they barely stick or bounce off. Someone shoots fire from a stick, but even that is like a drop in the bucket.

I was slightly curious about what weapon the stick was, but ignore it now.

I picked up four stones about the size of baseballs and threw three of them at the Pterosaur in order.

“Uoooooooohhhhhhhh!!!”

Simultaneously with finishing throwing, I roared and started running, jumping onto a wagon roof and running along the roofs toward the Pterosaur.

When I jumped onto the roof, I saw many people hiding in the shadows of the wagons.

People readying bows, holding swords, holding sticks, evacuating—many humans looked at me with surprised faces.

I immediately returned my gaze to the Pterosaur and sent Will to the stones I threw.

The first stone had its trajectory diverted but slightly disturbed the Pterosaur’s Field, and the second stone broke through the Field but was dodged by the Pterosaur’s movement.

The third stone tracked the dodging Pterosaur passing through the place where the Field was disturbed. Although the stone hit, almost all its momentum was killed, and it bounced off the skin easily.

I threw the fourth stone, sending Will to slide it and fly the same trajectory as the third stone. It closes in on the Pterosaur without losing momentum.

Judging it dangerous, the Pterosaur flapped and Space Moved its body to dodge. Losing balance at that time and nearly falling, the Pterosaur flapped its wings greatly and soared high into the sky.

I stuck the halberd into the wagon roof, jumped down from the wagon once, and picked up the spear dropped by the man. That spear was the simplest construction, made only of a spearhead and shaft. Weight is about half compared to the halberd.

Taking a run-up, accelerating muscles with Will while mustering all my strength, I threw the picked-up spear at the soaring Pterosaur.

Furthermore, I sent the strongest Will to accelerate the spear.

Pain throbbed deep in my nape, and a numbing sensation pierced my spinal cord.

The spear increases speed rapidly and closes in on the Pterosaur.

However, the Pterosaur, having adjusted its posture while flying, dodges easily.

The spear was dodged, but still continued flying while accelerating almost straight up, disappearing from view.

The Pterosaur flying up high turned and dived again to approach.

I took out two golf-ball-sized stones from my pochette and threw them at the descending Pterosaur.

Simultaneously, I climbed onto the wagon roof again, grabbed the halberd, ran to the central wagon, and waited for the Pterosaur there.

“$% &$ $%’&%&$#&$#”#!!!”

When I took position on the roof of the central wagon, a middle-aged balding man hiding beside it yelled something at me.

I didn’t understand what he was saying, so I decided to ignore him. No time to deal with him.

The two stones I threw had their trajectories changed by the descending Pterosaur and split left and right. I sent Will to those two stones to fly in a large circle.

Pain shoots through deep in my nape again, but I endure it.

The Pterosaur closing in close spread its wings wide to decelerate and directed its huge and vicious talons. Having wings spread at point-blank range right in front, I’m surprised and overwhelmed by its size again.

Tremendous wind pressure and Pressure assault me, nearly blowing my body away. The strength of the Pressure is on par with the Sabertooth Tiger.

Goosebumps rise all over my body and I shudder, but I hold strong spirit, plant my feet, and catch the approaching talons with the halberd.

But taking it head-on would break it, so I parry it slidingly.

When parrying, I shift so the talons don’t touch my body as much as possible, but I barely dodge responding with full power.

The tips of powerful sharp claws graze my face by a hair. I nearly freeze with fear, but desperately endure.

Thinking I dodged the Pterosaur’s left foot, the right foot attack comes immediately. The Pterosaur skillfully hovers in the air while attacking with left and right feet.

Even a graze of the talon tip gouges out flesh massively, so I can’t get hit no matter what. I muster all my strength to deflect the Pterosaur’s feet with the halberd.

The Pterosaur’s hovering time is limited; it should fly up to attack again.

The Pterosaur’s feet withdraw, and the pressure weakens suddenly.

This is the moment!

I launch a rush of thrusts with the halberd at the Pterosaur’s feet. Fine wounds are carved into the Pterosaur’s feet.

The Pterosaur’s consciousness is fully directed at its feet.

Probing presence by spreading the Field like a net, the two stones I threw earlier were returning in a circle. sending Will to them, I direct them to hit the Pterosaur from left and right.

The Pterosaur notices the stones approaching from left and right while clad in a Field.

The Pterosaur tries to fly up, but I stab the halberd into its foot to suppress movement.

The Pterosaur deploys a Field to divert the trajectories of the stones approaching from left and right.

I anticipated that. The two stones are dummies to deceive the Pterosaur’s eyes.

I release the Will controlling the stones, leaving them to fly with their momentum.

And I confirm the spear falling from far above. This spear is the main attack.

Consciousness captured by the halberd at its feet and stones approaching from left and right, the Pterosaur hasn’t noticed the spear falling from above. I can tell from the presence of the Pterosaur’s Field too.

I send Will to the falling and approaching spear to correct its trajectory, accelerating it further at the end.

After bouncing off the stones flying from left and right with wings, the Pterosaur finally seemed to notice the spear’s presence, but it was too late.

The spear falling straight at high speed pierced the middle of the Pterosaur’s back, passed through its body, and dug into the mountain slope below.

“Gyeaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!”

For an instant, the Pterosaur’s movement stopped, and the next moment it raised a death agony scream, blood spurting from the belly where the spear pierced through.

Realizing its death, the Pterosaur emitted and slammed Pressure filled with tremendous hatred at the end.

Black mist rose from its whole body, wrapped around my body, and vanished.

In that instant, I felt invited to a dark, cold world of darkness, wrapped in despair.

The Pterosaur fell slowly into the valley, and I watched it go while trembling all over.

Strength left me, and I slumped on the spot as if my legs gave out.

Doing so for a while, sounds of things shaking and peep peep cries were heard from inside the wagon I was on.

Ah, I see… so that’s it…

That Pterosaur came to save its kidnapped child…

And I…

“”” Waaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!! “””

Surprised by the result of what I did, cheers erupted and enveloped me.

I vaguely saw many people running toward where I was with bouncing smiles.

Centering on the balding old man who yelled at me earlier, several people are calling out. Many others are thrusting out arms and raising voices.

Ah, I recognized everyone is happy. I watched like it was someone else’s affair.

“#$%&’$()#()’#$#%&!!!”

A young woman climbed onto the wagon where I was and hugged me. I don’t understand what she’s saying, but she is certainly excited and happy.

Exposure isn’t high, but the woman’s softness is transmitted, and a good smell stimulates my nostrils.

I hugged the woman.

A woman! A woman! A woman!

Woman! Woman!! Woman!!!

The sexual impulse after the fierce battle wells up!

A woman I have yearned for, sought, and desired ceaselessly is in my arms!

The sexual desire that had been piling up explodes!!!

I ceased to be myself, becoming an incarnation of lust, and pushed the woman down.

“&$’$&!”

The woman seemed surprised, but driven by the piercing impulse, I followed my own desires.

“%’#$% %’$%&%$&’$%#$!!!”

The woman shouted something while resisting and hitting my back.

But I didn’t give a damn about that.

“Hiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!”

My memory cut off here.