第１７８２堀：新大陸の魔物たち (Part2)
The footage was captured by Tori and her team the moment they first encountered the monsters.
It was filmed from a drone overhead, providing a crisp, clear record from the moments before the engagement through the heat of the battle, but...
"At this rate, we’ll never get a read on their natural behavior," Hivia remarked.
"Well, they are in the middle of a northward migration," Narjia replied.
She had a point. It’s impossible to observe "normal" behavior when they’re in the middle of a trek. Still, looking at the enlarged image of the scorpion on screen, its pincers and tail stinger looked positively lethal. As for the plant-like monster that resembled a cactus, it didn't look so much like a humanoid as it did a doll.
...Wait? It looks a bit like... no, that’s not right. It doesn't look like that at all. After all, it’s throwing punches—it’s definitely a power-type.
"I understand your sentiment as a researcher, Hivia, but for now, let’s focus on compiling their attack patterns and countermeasures. And the toxins, too."
"True, true. With a form like that, who knows what they’re packing? How’s the toxin analysis coming along?"
"I’ve already requested the hospital to look into it. Though, they’re mostly interested in whether they can convert it into medical applications."
"And the results?"
"No, not yet..."
Just as she began to answer, someone entered the laboratory.
This was a high-security area within Weed; only a select few should have been able to enter. I turned my gaze toward the entrance, wondering who it could be.
"Sorry to keep you waiting! Here is the toxin composition report!"
The person who walked in was none other than Riel.
Well, Riel was Yuki’s personal attendant and had been working as a nurse-in-training under Rurua, so it wasn't entirely out of place for her to be here.
"Are you sure you should be here? What about Yuki’s work?"
"Of course. I’ve been instructed to assist with the investigation of the New Continent’s monsters. Ever since Tori and the others started defeating and capturing them, it’s been incredibly busy. I’ve been working alongside Rurua-sama, analyzing the toxin components and drafting the reports. So, I came here to provide a detailed explanation."
I see. Riel had come to explain the nature of the toxins to us.
We knew a little bit about the subject, but we were no match for a medical professional. Our expertise lay in monster ecology, after all.
"That’s perfect timing. We were just discussing how the toxin analysis was still underway. Could you share the results with us?"
"Certainly. First, please take a look at this."
She handed out documents, much like Zargis had done earlier. Once she saw we had received them, Riel began to speak.
"Please refer to the materials in your hands. I have marked the monsters that were found to contain toxic components with a circle in the side column."
I scanned the document, and sure enough, there were circles next to several monster names.
So, these are the ones that carry poison...?
"Wait, it’s not just the scorpion? There are ten other types here?"
As Hivia noted, there were quite a few monsters confirmed to carry toxins.
"I only mentioned the monsters specific to the wilderness earlier, but there are actually quite a few that are poisonous. You have your snake types, spiders, lizards—the usual suspects—and some of the plant types as well. Ah, it seems that cactus is included, too."
"Huh. So that bizarre monster is poisonous, too? Are the thorns all coated in it?"
"Yes, that’s correct. It’s a mild paralytic toxin, but since it’s on every single thorn, if you ingest a large enough dose, you won't be able to move."
Covered head-to-toe in thorns, each one tipped with a mild paralytic.
If you get hit by that, it’s obvious you’ll end up immobilized.
They were more dangerous than I had anticipated. Simply taking a hit could lead to death.
"We can prepare antidotes, but there’s no time to administer them in the middle of a fight. We’ll just have to rely on the basic rule: don't get hit."
"How long does it last?"
"That depends on the dosage. It varies by individual and their natural resistance, but as a rough estimate, if you're struck by one of its arms, you’ll likely lose control of your movement for about ten seconds. And in the middle of a battle, being sluggish for ten seconds is..."
"Fatal, indeed."
As Agil said, if you underestimate them, it will cost you your life.
And so, we continued to gather information on the poisonous monsters.
Paralytic toxins were surprisingly terrifying. Neurotoxins are also paralytic, but those are the nasty ones that can stop your breathing and the like.
Regardless, it was a stark reminder that nature is a fearsome thing.