Including the flagship, the Hozan-maru, all the Sandships were being pulled by the One-shot Binder ropes, slowly approaching the Jhen Mohran.
The helmsmen were fully focused on controlling their rudders, carefully managing the distance between their respective ships and the Jhen Mohran.
They had to keep the ropes taut, which would not only make it easier for the hunters to climb but also exert some reverse pull on the Jhen Mohran, slowing it down and further draining its stamina. At the same time, they had to avoid pulling too hard and enraging the Jhen Mohran.
If the beast decided to do a panic roll right now, the fleet would likely suffer catastrophic losses.
When only a dozen or so meters remained between the small Sandship and the Jhen Mohran, Asa stopped advancing and focused all his efforts on stabilizing the vessel.
"Go! If there's danger, jump into the sand sea immediately. It's fine even if you have to cut your safety rope, just don't die. I'll come pick you up!"
Asa was being his usual jinxing self, but Altaïr and the others had no time to bicker with him.
Tightening the straps on his weapon, Serl, as the senior hunter, was the first to grab the rope and begin climbing hand over foot.
Altaïr followed close behind. After practicing repeatedly during this period, his climbing speed had increased significantly, and his movements could be described as nimble, but he still couldn't compare to Serl.
He was only halfway up when Serl's hand had already gripped the end of the One-shot Binder's shaft.
Planting his foot in a nearby crevice in the rock carapace, Serl leaped up and reached out to grab another piece of Ballista Ammo that could serve as a foothold.
Then, like an agile ape, he bounded between the protrusions, cracks, and footholds formed by the Ballista Ammo on the Jhen Mohran's rock carapace, rapidly scaling its back.
Altaïr carefully memorized Serl's climbing route.
Besides the necessary physical strength, the most important thing for rock climbing was experience. If he had to find his own path, he could eventually make it to the top, but it would be slow.
The route his senior, Serl, had chosen was clearly better, and there was no shame in following him.
Across the twelve Sandships and the flagship Hozan-maru, more than twenty hunters were currently making the climb.
Aside from two unlucky fellows who fell when the Ballista Ammo they were using as a handhold came loose, the vast majority of hunters successfully scaled the Jhen Mohran's back.
Without needing much communication, everyone spread out, each looking for a wound to attack.
Altaïr also saw a few people who weren't even carrying weapons. Instead, each had a massive bomb, almost as tall as a person, strapped to their back.
Those were Anti-dragon Bombs, specially prepared for colossal Elder Dragons like the Jhen Mohran. The explosives packed inside were different from those in ordinary Barrel Bombs; not only were they more powerful, but they also seemed capable of inflicting some kind of special energy damage.
These giant bombs were carefully set aside by the hunters.
They needed to use their weapons to widen the crevices in the Jhen Mohran's carapace and the wounds cracked open by cannon fire, then stuff the bombs into these spots to inflict maximum damage.
A fierce-looking, bald, and burly man even looked like he wanted to shove the giant bomb in his arms into the Jhen Mohran's blowhole, but his companion quickly stopped him.
If they were going to do that, they could only do it right before retreating. Otherwise, if the Jhen Mohran noticed its "nostril" was blocked, who knew how it would react? Altaïr found a protrusion covered in mineral crystals and began striking it with his Sword and Shield, producing a series of clangs.
These metallic crystals were the special minerals highly sought after by merchants. Knocking off just a few pieces to take back would earn a good deal of money.
But such an act would be looked down upon by his companions. Everyone else is fighting for their lives, and you're secretly lining your own pockets?
So Altaïr didn't pick up the minerals he had broken off. Instead, he let them fall into the sand sea. After the battle, the Guild would send out personnel specifically to collect them.
The main reason he wasn't attacking the wounds blasted open by the cannons like the other hunters was that his weapon wasn't quite "up to snuff."
The hunters participating in the Mounting Operation were primarily Blademasters with heavy weapons, using Great Swords, Hammers, or Charge Blades... weapons of enormous size and astonishing destructive power.
As for the few light weapon users, they chose weapons that focused on "elemental" effects.
Through their annual confrontations, humanity had gained a rather deep understanding of the Jhen Mohran species. They knew it was unaccustomed to extreme cold and frost, and as an Elder Dragon species, Dragon Element energy was also quite effective against it.
Therefore, for the other Dual Blades and Sword and Shield users, Ice and Dragon Element weapons were also excellent choices.
Just like Senior Serl, who used a "Sharkutter" blade crafted from Zamtrios materials.
But Altaïr, who had just been promoted to 2★, only had a Hunter's Dagger.
Wielding these, it was difficult to inflict any effective damage even when striking the Jhen Mohran's wounds. From that perspective, it really didn't matter whether he was in this battle or not.
Not long after he joined the fleet, the fleet Admiral had told him this directly.
Unable to accept being a disposable accessory, Altaïr had specifically sought out Madam Marydan for advice on the matter. She had offered him two suggestions.
The first was to carry the bombs. That was a job of pure physical labor that didn't even require a weapon, so it naturally didn't matter what he had.
Altaïr was willing to be this "porter," but the fleet Admiral had mercilessly rejected him.
Not just anyone was qualified to carry the bombs. A single Anti-dragon Bomb weighed more than a fully armed hunter.
The few chosen to carry the bombs had to be strong, able-bodied hunters with extensive climbing experience, right? Otherwise, if their hand slipped halfway up and they fell with the Anti-dragon Bomb, it would be no laughing matter.
Altaïr barely met the "strong and able-bodied" requirement, but he clearly didn't meet the standard for "extensive climbing experience." The fleet Admiral refused to entrust such an important task to him.
In that case, the only thing left for him to do was the last suggestion from Madam Marydan.
The indigestible minerals inside the Jhen Mohran would be secreted from its back, forming special mineral deposits. The organs that secreted these minerals were glands similar to human sweat glands.
Attacking these might irritate the Jhen Mohran, possibly with surprisingly effective results. At worst, he could knock off a few more special ore chunks, which would at least help generate income for the Sandship fleet.
It still didn't sound like a critical job, but he was already quite happy just to be able to help in a tangible way.
Altaïr diligently hacked away at the gland encased in mineral crystals. He felt a twinge of regret. Why hadn't he brought a pickaxe?
Smashing ore with that would probably be more efficient than hacking at it with a Carving Knife. Fortunately, these clustered crystals weren't as tough as ore in a mineral vein. Under his diligent striking, they flaked off layer by layer, gradually revealing the gland hidden beneath.
Altaïr shook his wrist, which was sore and numb from the vibrations. Then, he gripped his blade's hilt again, aimed for the center of the gland where it wasn't covered by tough hide, and made a tentative thrust.
To be honest, he was quite worried that if he stabbed it, the Jhen Mohran would react violently and throw all the Hunters off with a shudder.
But as it turned out, he was overthinking it.
The center of the gland wasn't covered by tough hide or rock carapace and was indeed relatively soft, but when all was said and done, it was just a slightly larger cutaneous gland.
Constantly swimming at the bottom of the sand sea had long since made the Jhen Mohran's surface senses extremely dull. The heavy weapon Hunters were hacking away at its bleeding wounds without much of a reaction, so naturally, what he was doing wouldn't be a big problem either.
He suddenly started to understand. All that talk about "making the Jhen Mohran itchy" and "it might have a miraculous effect" was just Madam Marydan pulling his leg.
If it truly had a miraculous effect, the fleet Admiral would have long since assigned other Hunters to focus on these spots.
No wonder the fleet Admiral had agreed so readily after hearing Madam Marydan's suggestion. It turned out they just wanted him to do some mining.
Those two old-timers...
At this thought, Altaïr couldn't help but purse his lips.
It was natural to feel disappointed, but he didn't stop his attacks because of it. Instead, he swung his sword with even greater force.
It was only right that others didn't have high expectations for him when his strength was lacking. Rather than complaining, it was better to get the job done beautifully.
"It's not often you get to use an Elder Dragon as a training dummy," Altaïr comforted himself.
"Sigh..."