As for weapons, Ted uses a heavy weapon called a Gunlance.
This peculiar weapon is somewhere between a "spear" and a "firearm"; in form, it is quite similar to a Lance, both being long-range weapons used in conjunction with a large shield.
However, unlike the Lance which purely pursues piercing power, the Gunlance has an explosive module hidden within its barrel, allowing it to blast monsters at close range, thereby dealing considerable damage.
Initially, this weapon was classified as a type of Lance, until a core mechanism called the Dragonator, whose principle mimicked a Flying Wyvern's breath, was developed.
The Dragonator, in short, is a powerful artillery device; its single-shot destructive capability can only be matched by a Great Sword's Charged Slash, though it requires a long cooling period after use.
The heavy and massive Gunlance body, powerful recoil, and rather complex Attack methods make the Gunlance highly demanding on the user's physical fitness and combat skills.
Ted is undoubtedly an excellent Gunlance User.
Numerous successful hunting experiences are the best proof, and the ostentatious Gunlance on his back further serves as a footnote for him.
The muzzle, formed by four sharp claws, looks full of deterrence, and the Gunlance body and shield use a large number of blue and yellow scales and carapaces; judging by the size of the scales, the materials for this Gunlance must have come from some large Flying Wyvern.
Noticing Gordon looking at his weapon, Ted burst out laughing and said proudly, "Aha! Brother Gordon, you have good taste!
This 'Gunlance' was crafted from the materials of a 'Tigrex'! That was truly a fierce big fellow. See this scar on my face? Heh heh, that's what he left.
Just a little, just a little, and my head would have been split in half by him. Of course, This Daddy was the ultimate victor! Hahahahaha!"
"Is it the Tigrex, known as the 'Absolute Strongest'?" Even facing Ted's boasting, Gordon did not hide his longing and envy in the slightest.
That's a Tigrex! A ferocious Flying Wyvern that is no less, and perhaps even more, formidable than a Rathalos!
"If we get a chance later, I'll let you hear his roar. Don't be too startled!" Ted proudly lifted his chin, his scarred bald head reflecting a greasy sheen in the sunlight.
"Don't wait!"
Gordon looked around for a moment.
Suddenly, having found something, he pointed to a slow-moving figure on the distant beach and excitedly urged, "Shield Crab! There's a Shield Crab there! Brother Ted, why don't we go blast it?"
Although almost thirty, Ted, with his still youthful and impulsive personality, immediately excitedly started walking when Gordon found him a target.
"Let's go, let's go, let's go! Don't let it get away!"
Gordon also immediately followed with a strange laugh; sometimes, a man's happiness is that simple.
Two fully armed, burly men, whose weapons and equipment probably weighed over two hundred kilograms, ran wildly on the beach, giggling foolishly, leaving two sets of footprints half a palm deep.
The Shield Crab, wading in the tide, filtering algae and plankton brought by the sea onto the beach, noticed the ground vibrations and strange noises from afar, and vigilantly raised its head.
This is a giant crab, or rather, a hermit crab, almost as tall as a person.
Its body is dark red, and on its back, like carrying a shield, it carries a large skull; judging by its shape, it should belong to a type of Herbivore Dragon called 'Hard-Shelled Dragon'—this special habit of carrying large animal skulls to protect its soft abdomen is precisely the origin of the 'Shield Crab' species name.
The giant pincers, characteristic of crabs, were as sharp as scissors and were clacking threateningly at this moment, looking quite intimidating.
Gordon and his companions wouldn't be so easily scared.
Ted rushed to within three or four meters of the Shield Crab, stepped forward, his left arm holding the Gunlance almost directly pointing at the Shield Crab's face, while the large shield on his right arm was held in front of him, protecting himself while also stabilizing the Gunlance.
"The Dragonator is coming!"
With Ted's loud roar, fire began to gather at the muzzle of the Gunlance.
The Shield Crab, still somewhat dazed, raised its claws high, and just as it was about to assume an attacking posture, a colossal roar, like that of a furious beast, exploded in a sweeping inferno.
"Boom, boom, boom..."
Red-hot cooling rods popped out from the Gunlance's body, emitting a soft "hissing" sound.
As the smoke gradually dispersed under the sea breeze, the Shield Crab's shattered corpse was revealed to the Hunters—most of its dark red body had vanished, and the remaining shell was covered in charring and blast marks.
Even the large shield-like Hard-Shelled Dragon skull behind it was blown tens of meters away onto the beach by the Dragonator's residual force, still emitting wisps of smoke.
"Wow! Awesome!" After a few seconds of stunned silence, Gordon suddenly raised his arms high and cheered loudly.
Ted, meanwhile, thrust his cooling Gunlance and large shield into the sand, put his hands on his hips, and burst into laughter, looking up at the sky, "Hahaha! See, Brother Gordon, that's the power of the Dragonator!"
The two of them laughed and shouted like madmen for a good while before remembering that they hadn't carved anything yet.
Looking at the charred remains, their smiles froze on their faces.
"This... for a small monster like a Shield Crab, isn't the Dragonator's power a bit excessive?" Gordon felt that he must have been influenced by the brain-damaged Ted; how else could he have become so silly?
"Uh, maybe." Ted had the same thought.
"By the way, in this state, is it still possible to collect crab roe?"
"Probably not, it's all burnt..."
"A bit wasteful, should we take it easier next time?"
"Hmm."
If it were in the past, fulfilling mission requirements would certainly be the top priority.
But this time, Gordon and Ted put the task of hunting Shield Crabs and collecting premium crab roe last, and even found a righteous excuse for this slacking behavior.
They called it: "This is to prepare the freshest crab roe for the client!"
At this moment, Ted, engrossed in fishing, was squatting at a fishing spot on a reef, holding a fishing rod, waiting for the nimble fish in the clear water to bite.
Gordon watched for a few minutes, then lost interest.
This Daddy's fishing skills were really poor; his oily bald head was so close to the water, and he had probably tied ten or so earthworms to the hook at once, tangled up like an octopus. He had no idea what kind of stupid fish would bite.
"Brother Ted, I'm going to look around for other good stuff." Gordon, not very interested in grilled fish, greeted him, preparing to go for a walk by himself.
Ted didn't even turn his head, waving his hand to indicate that he could play around freely.
Gordon didn't go too far, mainly because, on the way from the Hunting Camp to this fishing spot with Ted, he had noticed several mining veins and bone collection points.
To craft the Burst Blade and Refined Ore Set, his ore materials were almost depleted, so now that he had the opportunity, he naturally wanted to replenish his stock.
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