The old coachman was the only one in the caravan, besides Paine, who was also worried.
Everyone thought this trade route was very safe; the higher-ups of the merchant guild even felt that running this route only three times a year was a serious waste of resources, so this year they specifically added an extra trip before winter had even ended.
"Those fat cats don't even know how dangerous the monsters are after being hungry all winter! Their hunting range will expand a lot too!"
The old coachman, who had been driving for a lifetime, cursed in a low voice.
Unfortunately, neither he nor Paine, the leader of the caravan, could change the merchant guild's decision.
"Half a day, just another half a day and we'll be through the dangerous zone." Paine kept comforting himself in his heart.
He sat down beside the old coachman with a grim face.
It was as if only by constantly watching the Herbivore Dragons pulling the carts slightly quicken their pace under the old coachman's whip could his anxiety be slightly alleviated.
"Moo-hm!"
"Moo-woo, roar!"
"What's going on? Stop quickly!"
"What's gotten into these beasts?"
Without any warning, the entire caravan suddenly plunged into chaos, and the source of the chaos was those docile Herbivore Dragons, who had always been hardworking, enduring Whipping with only a grunt or two.
They actually started going mad collectively!
The Herbivore Dragons desperately twisted their bodies, struggling to break free from the restraints of the reins and cart shafts, and no matter how the coachmen whipped and shouted at them, they could not calm down.
A sturdy adult Herbivore Dragon even stood up on its hind legs, causing the cargo cart behind it to overturn, scattering bundles of precious furs all over the ground, covered in dust.
"What's going on?! Hayata! Hayata, where are you? Come over quickly!" Paine roared, his voice sharper than usual, indicating his inner unease.
"Mon… monsters, monsters are coming…" The old coachman's face turned as pale as if he had heatstroke, and his trembling muttering attracted Paine's attention.
"Monsters? Where are the monsters? How could there be monsters?!"
Paine shouted in exasperation; in fact, subconsciously, he made the same judgment as the old coachman, but emotionally, he was unwilling to believe it.
The old coachman jumped down from the cargo cart, his voice hoarse, "Herbivore Dragons are not easily startled, and even if startled, it's impossible for the whole team to go mad together. They must have sensed the approach of predators!"
This reason was sufficient.
Paine slapped himself hard, venting his regret while using the pain to force himself to calm down.
He jumped onto the cart shaft and, tearing his throat, commanded, "Try to soothe the Herbivore Dragons, circle all the cargo carts, everyone get inside the circle, and take out your weapons!
We have thirty people, we are many, there's no need to be afraid!"
The leader's instructions gave the panicked people a little confidence. Everyone worked together, some pulling the reins to control and soothe the Herbivore Dragons, while the rest helped push the cargo carts, and a rudimentary defensive circle slowly formed.
Paine moved quickly, patrolling back and forth.
He had no experience fighting monsters and didn't know how to react, so he could only follow the method of dealing with human bandit groups, instructing everyone to use the cargo carts to build temporary defensive fortifications.
Hayata, meanwhile, he stuffed into a pile of furs in a cargo cart within the formation, and with an unprecedentedly stern tone, ordered her not to come out no matter what happened.
All caravan members gathered together.
With their personal short swords for self-defense in hand, everyone looked at the over-a-person-high wall formed by the cargo-laden carts and gradually calmed down.
Maybe there really was no need to be so afraid?
Even if monsters really attacked, we have thirty swords, one strike each would be enough to kill a monster, right?
"Gah-ow! Goo-goo-goo-woo!"
A strange screech, similar to a bird's but deeper, came from behind a small hill not far away.
Everyone nervously looked in the direction of the screeching, and what first caught their eyes was the bright red, enormous head crest.
This was a hideous and terrifying giant creature.
Its back height exceeded two hundred centimeters, its length from head to tail was about six meters, its half-meter-long blood-red foreclaws seemed to emit a pungent bloody smell, and its bright, large head crest, like a crown, symbolized its leader status.
It was the king of the Blue Velocidrome pack—the Blue Velocidrome.
Flanked by two adult Blue Velocidromes, the Blue Velocidrome walked calmly towards the caravan, like a true king, with unhurried steps.
Within the caravan's position, several cries filled with fear and bewilderment broke out.
The Blue Velocidrome's vertical pupils, like a venomous snake's, coldly stared at the people surrounded by the cargo carts. Its sharp teeth gently rubbed between its massive jaws, like a butcher sharpening his knife, looking at a group of panicked pigs trapped in a pen.
It was merely thinking about which one to eat first.
Within the caravan's position, formed by the circled cargo carts, everyone prayed in panic.
They hoped these cargo carts were sturdy enough to become a barrier for their lives, blocking the Blue Velocidromes' advance.
Since seeing this terrifying Blue Velocidrome, almost everyone had lost the Courage to fight it, and understood why monsters were called "monsters."
If it were just ordinary Blue Velocidromes, they might still be able to resist them with their numerical advantage and the short swords in their hands.
But facing the Blue Velocidrome.
What was the difference between an iron short sword, three to four centimeters wide and barely half a meter long including the blade and handle, and a toothpick?
Just by its blue scales, faintly shimmering with a metallic luster, and its several-centimeter-thick hard keratinous hide, it was already invincible.
Soon, several Blue Velocidromes, including the Blue Velocidrome, arrived at the side of the cart formation.
The over-two-meter-high cargo carts could not completely conceal the Blue Velocidrome's tall body. Its massive head emerged from the top of a cargo cart, looking down at the terrified humans within the formation.
Boundless fear, like an invisible giant hand, tightly gripped everyone's throats, making them unable to breathe.
However, just then, the Blue Velocidrome suddenly turned and left.
Faces were filled with the wild joy of having escaped death, and many slumped to the ground as if all the Gu Tou had been drained from their bodies.
Only Paine's face was pale, his hand gripping the sword hilt so tightly that his knuckles were slightly white from the excessive force. His eyes were fixed on the direction the Blue Velocidrome had turned to leave.
Before the Blue Velocidrome turned its head, he clearly saw a hint of very human-like mockery in its scarlet vertical pupils.
As if mocking their foolishness and overestimation of themselves.
"Stand up! Pick up your weapons, quick! It hasn't—"
"Boom!"
Paine's roar was interrupted by a loud bang.
One of the cargo carts used as a wall exploded as if hit by a cannonball, sending shattered wood and goods flying in all directions.
These "walls" made of wooden planks and goods simply could not withstand the Blue Velocidrome's seemingly effortless Iron Mountain Lean.
The cart formation wall, breached by the Blue Velocidrome, was no longer a barrier protecting their lives; instead, it became a fence blocking their escape.
Several blue shadows easily swept over the tops of the other cargo carts and landed among the terrified crowd.
It was the two Blue Velocidromes following behind their leader!
Their appearance made everyone's already panicked faces turn even more despairing.
These monsters were showing off.
Even without the Blue Velocidrome destroying the cargo carts with its Iron Mountain Lean, they could still easily cross this ridiculous barrier.
The so-called defensive circle was meaningless from the start.
-------------------------
Your Power Stones are my motivation. The more you vote, the quicker I release.