Greatest Streamer System

Max headed inside the forest to find the Cuckoo's nest. He left Blackie to stand by outside the forest. If he needed the Catlapu, he could call it using the whistle he got from Old Man Rig.

He followed the animal trail he found in the hope he would end up at the next at the end of it.

"This forest is too sparse. Is it because the tree is so big? I can go between them without any problem, unlike the forest in that survival game." He said as he looked around the surroundings.

— Flora in Mercenary Quest has mutated to match the world, accommodating to herbivore monsters. That's why they are big

— We have explained it before, yet did you forget?

— Heh, because the world loves big trunks a lot

— Yooo, you're so sus. Keep it down, dude

— to be fair, this will help the player swing their large weapons too compared to normal forest.

— Breeze, let me give you some advice… You better look above.

"Huh? Above?"

Trusting the chat, he looked up and was amazed. Sunlight seeped out from the large gaps in leaves. Veins connected from one tree to another, creating a makeshift bridge that a human could possibly use to cross.

The sight was otherworldly, not possible to be seen in the real world. This was why VR World was fascinating.

"That's a good one." He said, lowering his gaze, "But I have to find Altacroz quick. Lunch is just around the corner, and I don't want to miss it. I haven't had breakfast so I am quite famished."

— You skipped breakfast? Hmm, sus

— Breeze has been sus since the start. I told you he laid

— Now that's a problem. Go ahead and kill Altacroz (lol) before your stomach grumbles (lol)

— Your first step is correct. Just follow the path. I suggest you run through it

Running was a great idea. His stamina was also higher than in the real world. He would be able to find the nest fast.

'I prefer to climb the tree and find it from above, but it's impossible to climb this large trunk without any help. A rope or something would be perfect.' Max thought as he continued.

He had to cut some bushes and small branches on his way.

Based on what he read on the chat, which contained a little bit of a spoiler, Altacroz was apparently a Small-Class monster with a hardness similar to that of a Medium-Class monster. It was a perfect monster to test a mercenary that wanted to advance from hunting the small monster to the next stage.

'And they give me this mission after I can make a new weapon. Truly, this game has planned everything.'

Thinking so, he kept looking around until he found a footprint.

"Hmm?" He looked down and crouched.

The footprint was around 40 centimeters in diameter. And it showed four clawed-like hands instead of the thin bones Cuckoo had.

Seeing it, a grin appeared on Max's face. He looked forward and found similar footprints advancing to what seemed like dense vegetation. A flash of white could be seen beyond that, belonging to Cuckoos that moved around.

"It seems I found Cuckoo's nest in time." He said, grabbing his Grandmoo Tusk Sword from his back. "And their predator at the same time."

The ground trembled as soon as he did that. Sharp cries from Cuckoo could be heard from beyond that vegetation. Something that moved past was holding an egg in its mouth.

When it passed through the dense vegetation, chased by four Cuckoos, Max was able to see its shape.

Altacroz, boasting its defense, was covered in hard leather skin. Its appearance was similar to a Komodo dragon with hard spikes running across its back. The head, looking like a snake, had its long tongue slithered around a large white egg.

It was moving pretty fast for a 2 meters monster. Max looked at the sight in front of him and his eyes widened. They didn't seem to stop advancing.

'This is bad!'

"Whoa!" He exclaimed as he jumped to the side, and rolled on the ground a few times before coming to a stop.

The five monsters passed the area where he stood earlier. The ground had changed, filled with their angry footprints.

"That's bad. I will lose them."

Max immediately picked himself up, sheathed his sword, and chased after them.

Using their numbers, Cuckoos continued to chase Altacroz. Unfortunately for the large chicken monsters, the thief was too fast and they soon lost it when it crossed a river.

However, Max was able to find where Altacroz went. He jumped over a large boulder to cross the river and looked for its footprint.

"There it is."

Having wet feet meant it would leave a noticeable mark when it moved. A water trail could be seen extending into a rather dense forest ahead. He followed the trail and found a small opening leading into what seemed like a vast cave. The entrance was hidden by growing moss.

"Is that its nest?" He asked quietly as he hid himself, watching Altacroz enter the entrance with care.

— Congratulations! You have found Altacroz's nest

— That's a tiny entrance for a monster. But still large for a human regardless

— Inside that nest should be large enough for you to fight the monster, if you want to fight it inside that is

— CHOOSE, YOUNG MAN! Enter, or not Enter

"Hmm, in my opinion, it will be safer for me to bait it outside and ambush it. I mean, if I enter, then I could be ambushed and killed–"

[TrueHunter has started a mission.]

[Stream Mission: Kill Altacroz inside its nest.]

[Reward: 5,000 diamonds.]

"But that's unnecessary worry! I am a great mercenary, fearing nothing. Even if death waits for me, I shall march inside with my great sword and hunt the monster!"

Max's voice was cut off by a notification and he immediately stood up afterward. What was the difference between killing it inside or outside its nest? There was no difference, but the stream mission changed everything.

— He changed his attitude as fast as lightning.

— So he still likes money, huh? I thought he was rich already

— lololol. I am laughing, still good old Breeze

"What are you saying, guys? I am just a good, old mercenary who loves danger. Besides, there is no way Altacroz can ambush me if I am ready. I bet it's enjoying its egg snack right now."

Max rose from his hiding position and approached the nest. He entered through the entrance and found himself hunched. The entrance was a bit long, leading into an open space. There was no sign of Altacroz yet.

'Maybe it's inside?'

Just as he thought that he arrived at the open space and immediately heard a hiss from the side. Without much thinking, he grabbed his sword and put it in front of his body.

"Shit!"

A hard impact sent him flying. His back crashed against a wall, a loud crack could be heard. However, he wasn't dead yet.

"Thank god I have new armor. Still… An ambush? Really?" He complained. "It freaking sucks."

Lowering his sword, Max looked at the culprit that attacked him. He saw Altacroz crawl down the wall while hissing loudly. It approached him slowly, giving him a chance to drink the health potion in his inventory, and returned to full health.

And just as he was about to stand up, he heard another hiss from the side and had to jump. A loud crash rang in the place where he sat earlier, the ground rock was destroyed.

Only then did he notice the second Altacroz on the side, with a bulging belly and runny egg around its mouth.

"Holy moly macaroni… There are two Altacrozes."