Chapter 96

I stepped into the miasma, holding the [Pickaxe (Special)] and headed towards the center. Thanks to the hood of the [Hermit's Robe], I wouldn't be detected.

The miasma was murky, and I couldn't see ahead.

I had to be careful not to get too close to the center and be noticed, so I stopped at a reasonable distance and started digging the hole.

According to Karigano, the [Poison Chicken] is about the size of a single-story house.

My goal was to dig a hole big enough to fit its large body. When I stabbed the pickaxe into the sand, it cut through in a perfect square. Normally, digging in the desert would just fill back up, but the [Pickaxe (Special)] did the job well, and the hole didn't collapse.

I remembered digging an underground passage to Shurtem's mansion in the same way.

"Depth, good. Size, good."

I looked up from the bottom of the hole to check. This should be enough to fit the [Poison Chicken].

So, I hopped out of the hole and headed towards the center of the miasma. The miasma made it hard to see, but gradually, a figure began to appear—

"Whoa... This is... the Poison Chicken..."

It had purple feathers and a bright red comb. Its legs turned into green scales, and it had a long tail.

It was about 10 meters tall. It looked like what a dinosaur might have been.

It seemed to be sleeping, with its legs folded and crouched on the ground.

I walked up to the [Poison Chicken] and suddenly took off my hood.

"Poison Chicken."

The [Poison Chicken] opened its eyes in surprise at my words. Its red eyes gleamed as they locked onto me. It quickly stood up and extended its sharp talons on its hind legs, ready to kick. Indeed, it was a kick.

"It won't hit me."

I jumped back to dodge. The [Poison Chicken] didn't expect me to avoid it and opened its eyes wide for a moment. Then, it ruffled its feathers and lowered its head.

Looking at its hind legs, it seemed to be firmly planting its feet in the sand. This was...

"Charge!"

Knowing the [Poison Chicken]'s movements, I jumped to the right. The [Poison Chicken] charged straight to where I had been and stabbed its sharp beak into the ground. It seemed to combine a charge with a peck.

It didn't seem to be very agile and couldn't keep up with my [Jump].

With this attack, my plan should work!

"Where are you looking? Over here!"

I learned from the [Water Snake] that some monsters understand human language. The Earth Dragon that attacked Carries seemed to understand Giral's words.

So, I thought the [Poison Chicken], which seemed to be as strong, would understand my words.

In other words, if I provoked it...

"Kweh!"

Its red eyes gleamed even more intensely.

Yes, it was angry. Being woken up by me and then provoked like this, it would be angry.

The [Poison Chicken] lowered its head again and put more force into its hind legs. This time, it was scraping the sand with its hind legs, gathering more power for a stronger charge.

It stared at me intently, aiming. Then—

"Kweee!"

With a roar, it charged at me.

Having gathered its strength, it was faster than the first time. Not only that, but a burst of miasma erupted from its body.

It must use the miasma to immobilize its enemies and then blow them away with a charge. But the miasma doesn't affect me. Moreover, if it charges straight at me, I can just jump to dodge.

I could always avoid it.

That's why I waited until the last possible moment for the [Poison Chicken]'s charge to hit.

—It will hit.

The [Poison Chicken] must have thought so. It believed I would be immobilized by the miasma and become an easy target.

Its red eyes narrowed in a victorious smile. But it was too confident!

"Jump!"

After fully attracting the [Poison Chicken]'s attention, I jumped back.

Then—

"Kweh?"

—The [Poison Chicken], with its momentum, fell into the hole with a surprised look on its face.

"Here!"

The [Poison Chicken] fell into the hole I had dug. I stood at the edge, having lured it there.

I jumped to the opposite side of the hole and pointed at the [Poison Chicken]. Just falling into the hole wouldn't stop it from escaping, so...

"Sand! Sand, sand, sand, sand, sand!"

I started pouring sand from my item box, aiming for the [Poison Chicken]'s neck. The sand was placed in a square shape, separating its head from the rest of its body.

The [Poison Chicken], not expecting a hole in the middle of the desert or to fall into it, was stunned.

Finally, it seemed to realize its neck was getting tight. But it was too late!

"Kweh...! Kweeeeee!"

The [Poison Chicken tried to escape the hole by flapping its large wings. But its body below the neck was already buried in the sand.

It roared and tried to move its head, surely flapping and kicking its buried body. But...

"Kweh... Kuh..."

Struggling was pointless. The more it struggled, the more it sank into the sand, like quicksand. Realizing this, the [Poison Chicken] stopped roaring and hung its head in defeat.

"Capture, success!"

Perfect...! It was a perfect capture operation!

I couldn't help but exclaim "Whoa!" at how well it went.

Capturing large monsters is best done with traps!

If I had fought the [Poison Chicken] normally, the miasma would have caused too much damage. So, I decided to trap it and immobilize it.

In the game, I used to create traps to defeat large monsters. There were even guides online on how to build traps specifically for certain monsters using construction skills.

In any case, the [Poison Chicken] couldn't move or escape.

And I still had a secret plan!

As it was, Samyue and Karigano couldn't come here because the miasma was too thick.

"Remove, miasma."

After capturing the [Poison Chicken], I needed to remove the miasma. Once the miasma was gone, Samyue and Karigano could approach.

The method was—

"Recovery Potion, shower!"

—To pour the [Recovery Potion (Divine)] over the [Poison Chicken]'s body!