Chapter 13
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: In Search of the Alpha Pellicon (2)
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Leaving Rocky Creek behind, Jinwoo's journey pressed on with weary, stumbling steps.
"If I secure a Pellicon here, the rest of the trip will be a lot easier."
Pellicons had a constitution that let them endure far longer without water or food.
Beasts that ate less than horses but could run farther and faster.
And among them were the rare ones.
Alpha Pellicons!
Braver and smarter than the finest warhorses, with layers of tough feathers that offered a degree of bullet resistance.
'But they're ferocious!'
There was just one problem.
Their untamable wild nature!
That was why the Trade Federation and other gunslingers on the Eldorado Continent rode ordinary horses.
Taming a Pellicon was something only veterans attempted, per the game's lore.
Yet Jinwoo's steps didn't falter.
'In Rising West, a Pellicon is essential for progression. Faster speed, higher jumps!'
And you'd gain a brave, fierce combat companion to boot.
Most routes required securing one, nine times out of ten.
His destination was clear.
The Ascania Plains.
And the sole target waiting there.
After a grueling day of walking, an endless green sea finally stretched out before his eyes.
Vast plains reaching to the horizon.
The Ascania Plains.
Jinwoo unfolded his tattered map.
He meticulously compared the surrounding terrain to the Rising West world map in his mind.
'This mountain range's position and the river's flow... No doubt about it.'
Jinwoo navigated the plains with the familiarity of home.
No aimless wandering.
His footsteps marched straight toward one spot.
'The Alpha Pellicon herd appears reliably between 3 and 5 PM at the dry riverbed's water source. Basic strategy.'
Using the plains and nearby mountains as reference, he gauged the sun's height for a rough estimate.
Familiarity guided him across the plains until he reached the dry riverbed dotted with massive boulders.
It was still dawn. Plenty of time left.
"Alright, let's get started quick."
Jinwoo pulled out the shovel he'd prepared.
"Time to grind."
He took position dead center on the Pellicon herd's patrol route from the strategy guide and began digging.
Thud, thud, thud!
The plains soil was soft.
A few shovelfuls carved out real depth.
But going deeper took strength and time.
Sweat poured like rain, and his palms already throbbed.
After wrestling the earth for ages, Jinwoo straightened up, catching his breath in harsh gasps.
"Damn it... What is this, the army?"
A frustrated sigh escaped his lips.
"In the game, a few button presses and it's done. Now I'm digging for real."
He grumbled but didn't stop.
Knowing the strategy and executing it were worlds apart.
He silently dug deeper.
Per the Rising West guide, the pit had to be deep enough to trap an Alpha Pellicon.
Too shallow, and it'd escape immediately.
After hours of brutal struggle, a perfectly deep trap finally lay before him.
Jinwoo fashioned several nooses from the tough rope he'd gotten in Rocky Creek.
All for binding the Pellicon to prevent escape.
'Good. Now cover it with branches, then grass and soil on top...'
All preparations complete.
Jinwoo hid behind a distant boulder and waited quietly.
A hunter's patience.
The most vital virtue, in game or reality.
Time passed, and the blazing sun began tilting westward.
Right on schedule, past 3 PM.
A faint vibration rumbled through the ground from afar.
'...They're coming.'
His eyes narrowed.
Scores of dots soon appeared on the horizon.
Eldorado's native giant ostrich-like creatures: a Pellicon herd.
"Kieeeek! Kieek!"
Fierce cries full of savagery!
The massive ostriches moved in perfect unison, heading straight for this water source.
Leading them was one exceptionally imposing male.
Deep sapphire feathers, diamond-shining eyes.
The Alpha Pellicon.
'Impressive, that full blue sheen.'
Providencia Soft loved homages and parodies.
The Alpha Pellicon famously homaged a blue supersonic hedgehog from a certain famous game.
'Those devs and their tastes.'
Jinwoo clicked his tongue inwardly but held his breath.
Thud thud thud!
They approached.
His heart pounded fiercely.
Jinwoo's hands gripped the noose steadily, biding his time.
The herd approached the water source without suspicion.
The lead Alpha Pellicon stepped forward first to quench its thirst.
And placed its foot right on Jinwoo's trap.
That instant.
"Kieeeek?!"
Crunch!
The leaf-camouflaged trap collapsed.
The massive body vanished into the earth in a flash.
The other Pellicons scattered in shocked panic at the unforeseen event.
Crash!
A racket echoed from the pit!
"Kieeeek!"
The Alpha Pellicon's furious roar erupted.
The herd, grasping the situation, flared their wings threateningly and charged toward Jinwoo's hiding rock.
'No need to fight the whole herd.'
Jinwoo rose from behind the boulder, drawing his pistol.
"Scram."
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Soundless flashes struck the ground before the herd.
No explosion, but the dirt erupting like fireworks in front of them startled the Pellicons into hesitation.
Meanwhile, a desperate wail burst from the pit again.
"Kieeeek! Kieek!"
Terror at their leader's fall imprinted on the herd—they finally turned tail and scattered across the plains.
"No loyalty whatsoever."
Jinwoo sneered at the fleeing flock.
Now, only Jinwoo and the trapped lord of the wilds remained in the dry riverbed.
"Kruuuuek-!"
Then.
Boom!
A blue flash shot up like lightning from the 3-meter-deep pit.
"...!"
Jinwoo's eyes widened in shock. The Alpha Pellicon had launched a vertical leap with unbelievable leg strength.
Its razor claws grazed the pit's edge by a hair's breadth.
A difference of mere centimeters.
Thud!
The failed leap sent the Pellicon crashing back in.
It didn't give up.
After a brief pause to catch its breath, it kicked off again.
Thud!
Another fall.
And again.
Thud!
It thrashed wildly, leaping repeatedly.
Like blue lightning flashing underground.
Jinwoo furrowed his brow.
'Damn, dug it to guide spec and it's still this much? No ordinary beast.'
The trap was perfect.
But the prey's caliber exceeded expectations.
'At this rate, it'll escape in a few tries! In game it'd be over in one...'
Jinwoo readjusted his grip on the noose at his waist, eyes piercing the beast's movements.
No more time to just watch.
"Kruuuuekek-!"
The Alpha Pellicon surged up again.
Higher, with far more momentum than before.
Fueled by iron will to escape this time.
'Can't miss!'
Jinwoo seized the moment. His vision turned red.
Red Eye
Time slows. Precision enhanced.
In slowed time, the flailing airborne Pellicon—Jinwoo hurled the noose.
It spun through the air, perfectly snaring one leg.
Jinwoo wrapped the other end around a boulder, waiting for it to drop back.
But it exceeded expectations.
"Kieeeek-!!"
The Pellicon exploded its leg muscles against the noose and leaped clean out!
"Shit!"
The taut vine ripped free from the rock, yanking Jinwoo into the air.
"Kuh!"
Reflexively clinging tight, his body was dragged helplessly by the rampaging beast.
"Kieeeek! Kieek!"
"This won't do. One more!"
His vision reddened again. He flung another noose hastily.
This one around the neck.
The Pellicon slammed into nearby rocks and rolled on the ground to shake him off.
'Damn... Still resisting? No choice. Plan B.'
Killing intent flashed in Jinwoo's eyes.
Mid-drag, he desperately climbed the vine, finally mounting the beast's back.
"Kieeeek!"
To dislodge the rider, it bucked even wilder.
Jinwoo gritted his teeth and held on.
"Shut it, you birdbrain!"
Like a rider on a horse, he clamped its neck between his legs and found his balance.
One way to communicate with a stubborn beast.
Raw force!
Jinwoo swung without hesitation.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
His fists hammered mercilessly into the Pellicon's tough head and nape.
He resorted to harsh persuasion.
Fists not enough, he drew his pistol and gripped it backward.
"Birdbrain! Shit! Stay still! Stay still, I said!"
Pistol butt smashing its skull.
Jinwoo was determined to beat submission into this bird, even if it meant dumbing it down.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
"Kieek!"
It screeched in agony and went berserk, but
Jinwoo's assault didn't stop.
Grabbing a fistful of blue feathers, he clung tighter and bashed its head relentlessly.
"You're mine, you birdbrain!"
Jinwoo's roar echoed across the vast plains.
How much time passed?
Dozens, hundreds of punches and pistol-whips later, an end was in sight.
"Kiek... kieeeek..."
The Pellicon's movements finally slowed.
Even the lord of the wilds, with its overwhelming stamina and strength, had limits against tireless iron will.
"This is human resolve!"
Stagger.
At last, its legs buckled.
The massive body toppled sideways.
Jinwoo stayed mounted, slamming its head to the ground and pinning it from above.
"Grrr..."
It tried one final head lift in defiance, but Jinwoo allowed no gaps.
"Wanna die? Or be mine?"
"Kiek..."
After an eternity of struggle, the wild gleam faded from its eyes.
The Pellicon heaved ragged breaths in defeat.
Jinwoo was certain.
This blue Pellicon had fully acknowledged its defeat.
You have successfully tamed the Wild Lord, 'Alpha Pellicon'!
Please name your new companion.
With the system window up, Jinwoo finally rose from his battered state.
"A name, huh."
He patted the Pellicon's neck, which loomed a head taller than him.
'Does a beast need some grand name?'
Jinwoo muttered.
"From today, you're Falcon."
Falcon tilted its head at his words.
If it understood, it'd have protested that horrific lack of naming sense.
Luckily, it lacked full human speech comprehension.
"Let's ride together to the end of this godforsaken continent."
Falcon unleashed a mighty cry toward the sky.
"Kieeeek!"
A roar of loyalty to its new master echoed.
Nature's law: survival of the fittest.
The sapphire Alpha Pellicon had acknowledged the stronger one who conquered it by force.