They barely escaped, sliding back into the hollow interior of the tree as the wind howled above them.
"…That was close…"
Kulu sat there looking depressed, its shoulders slumped.
"…Still thinking about eggs?"
"Gaa…"
Su Yi sighed. "…Fine. Let's get you something better."
Kulu suddenly perked up, pointing upward excitedly.
Su Yi followed its gaze.
"…A nest?"
It was suspended high above, tangled within thick vines and almost completely hidden.
"…Wingdrake nest?"
Too high for Kulu to reach.
"…Got it."
Su Yi fired his hookshot upward and was pulled into the nest. Landing lightly, he looked around—then paused.
"…Wait."
There were four small eggs.
And—
One large egg.
"…That's not normal."
His scoutflies activated, swirling faintly as information connected.
"…Pukei-Pukei."
Nest parasitism.
Like cuckoos—
But far worse.
The hatchling would eliminate the others, claiming all the resources for itself.
"…Brutal…"
Su Yi paused briefly, then glanced at the eggs again.
"…Says the guy stealing all of them."
"…Whatever."
"All mine."
Back at camp, he quickly prepared a simple meal—steamed egg custard.
Kulu devoured it happily, completely satisfied.
"…You really don't care about taste, huh…"
After eating, Su Yi opened his system panel.
"…New tasks?"
Slay Anjanath.Capture Nargacuga.Repel Kushala Daora.
"…Yeah, no."
He wiped imaginary tears.
"…All impossible."
The rewards, however—
Advanced Balls.
Dragon Vein Fragments.
"…Tempting…"
But still—
"…Not dying today."
"Take it slow," he muttered. "One step at a time."
He released his partners, letting the familiar warmth of their presence settle the atmosphere. Everything returned to a calm routine—crafting items, preparing tools, organizing supplies.
Time passed.
The wind gradually faded.
The storm lifted.
Golden light filtered back through the forest.
Su Yi stepped outside and looked around carefully.
The barrier—
Was gone.
"…Finally."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"…Time to go back."