Global Pioener: Earth Second Chance

The next Mechanical Simosuchus did not get a chance to run very far. Andre's bolt pierced its side, followed by Mayor Deri's slash that caused the creature's body to burst into light. Several materials dropped into the shallow water and were immediately picked up by the two of them and stored in their respective inventories.

After collecting the loot, Mayor Deri was about to continue walking when he suddenly stopped near a tree. He stared at the trunk for quite some time before stepping closer and touching its bark.

Rangga, who had already walked several steps ahead, noticed.

“What's wrong, Mayor?”

He turned around and walked back.

Before he could reach Deri, a golden screen suddenly appeared in his vision.

Cinchona Bark

[TYPE: MEDICINAL PLANT]

Description: The bark of the cinchona tree, containing natural compounds that fight various infections. It is an important ingredient in the production of antibiotics and advanced medicines through the Apothecary.

Weakness: Can be harvested using a Metal Axe.

Rangga immediately quickened his pace.

Mayor Deri was still rubbing the surface of the tree trunk while examining its leaves and bark.

“I think I know what kind of tree this is... But I'm still not sure.”

Rangga immediately grinned.

“This is a cinchona tree, Mayor.”

Mayor Deri turned toward him.

“Are you serious, Mas?”

“Yeah, Mayor.”

Rangga immediately pulled out his knife and crouched beside the trunk. He slid the blade beneath a particularly thick section of bark and slowly began peeling it away, making sure to keep the harvested piece intact.

Mayor Deri watched for a moment before crouching down beside him.

“If this really is a cinchona tree, it could be useful.”

“Exactly. That's why.” Rangga continued scraping away the bark. “Let's collect as much as we can for now.”

Mayor Deri then helped peel the bark from another section. Since they did not want to damage the entire tree, they harvested only enough bark from several sides before moving on to another tree with similar characteristics.

Andre, who had just finished storing the Simosuchus loot in his inventory, finally noticed the two of them busy at the tree trunk.

He walked over while carrying his crossbow.

“What are you guys doing now?”

Rangga did not even turn around.

“Peeling a tree.”

Andre stared at the pile of bark in Deri's hands.

“What for?”

“This cinchona tree... It's for medicine.”

Andre was silent for a moment.

“Oh.”

A few seconds passed.

“So what am I supposed to do?”

Rangga pointed toward another tree with his knife.

“Help us peel it... What, you wanna keep playing hide-and-seek with crocodiles?”

Andre clicked his tongue.

“My job today is shooting crocodiles and peeling trees.”

“Better than getting peeled yourself. Hurry up and help.”

Andre immediately looked at Rangga.

“You really know how to make things sound creepy, Bang.”

Rangga chuckled, while Mayor Deri simply smiled faintly at their conversation.

Andre finally put away his crossbow and joined them. After learning what the trees they were looking for looked like, the three of them began checking the surrounding trees.

Whenever they found a cinchona tree, they would stop for a moment to harvest its bark before continuing deeper into the swamp.

Their resource gathering kept the three of them from realizing just how far they had ventured into the interior of the Swamp Island. Hunting the relatively easy Simosuchus had made their journey increasingly relaxed.

Whenever Rangga found Blood Moss, he would stop to harvest it. Meanwhile, Mayor Deri had begun recognizing cinchona trees on his own and would harvest their bark without needing to be told.

Andre, however, had a different priority.

When he spotted a cluster of swamp rice growing among the pools of water, he immediately left the other two and busied himself harvesting it.

“You guys keep taking medicine stuff.” Andre stuffed the grains of rice into his inventory. “Rice is more important... What's the point of living without rice?”

Rangga, who was crouching down and scraping Blood Moss from a tree, chuckled at that.

“Fine. You can be in charge of food supplies.”

Mayor Deri was still busy peeling cinchona bark nearby.

“Take as much as possible if there's plenty.”

“See? The Mayor gets it.”

Andre became even more enthusiastic about harvesting.

The relaxed atmosphere suddenly changed when a mechanical screech echoed from behind the trees.

KRRRRAAAAK—!

Rangga's hand immediately stopped moving and he turned toward the sound.

Something was moving between the trees filling the swamp.

The murky water rippled whenever its massive feet struck the ground. Branches were pushed aside as a mechanical creature far larger than a Simosuchus emerged from behind the trees.

The creature immediately turned its head toward Rangga.

Rangga's eyes widened, and a golden screen appeared before him.

MECHANICAL BARYONYX

[TYPE: MECHANICAL CARNIVORE]

Description: A semi-aquatic mechanical carnivore that inhabits rivers and swamps. It relies on its running speed to chase prey on land, while the massive claws on both of its arms are used to hook and restrain targets, preventing them from escaping. Its long snout is equipped with powerful jaws capable of incapacitating prey once it has been caught.

Weakness: Vulnerable for a brief moment after failing a hooking attack. The mechanisms in its forelimbs require a short time to return to their original position before they can attack again.

Drops:

Bio Filtration Membrane

Enzyme Gel

Bio Catalyst

Rangga had barely finished reading when the Baryonyx raised its head.

“HEY!”

The creature immediately charged.

BRASH! BRASH! BRASH!

Swamp water flew in every direction as its massive body charged straight toward Rangga.

“DAMN!”

Rangga threw himself to the side.

CRASH!

The Baryonyx's long jaws missed him and instead clamped down on the tree behind him.

KRAAAK!

Rangga, who had fallen face-first into the ground, immediately looked back, his eyes widening again.

The Baryonyx pulled the tree straight out of the ground with the strength of its jaws. Its roots came up with the mud before the creature whipped its head and slammed the tree to the side.

CRASH!

Mayor Deri and Andre immediately turned toward the commotion.

Deri froze for a moment when he saw the massive mechanical dinosaur standing only a few meters from Rangga.

But his military training quickly took over.

The cinchona bark in his hands was immediately dropped. He drew his sword, raised his shield, and charged forward.

Andre was still standing among the swamp rice, holding several stalks of rice in one hand.

His mouth was slightly open.

Only a few minutes ago, he had learned that the creatures resembling crocodiles were actually cowards and would run away when attacked.

This one was different.

This one had just pulled a tree out of the ground with its mouth.

“Mayor, hold it while backing up!”

Rangga quickly got back to his feet, and Mayor Deri was already standing in front of him.

The Baryonyx released the tree from its jaws before charging with its long snout.

Mayor Deri did not try to block the attack head-on.

Instead, he angled his shield.

DANG!

The Baryonyx's snout slammed into the shield and slid off to the side along its angled surface.

Mayor Deri immediately counterattacked.

“HYAAH!”

He swung his sword with all his strength at the creature's jaw.

CLANG!

A powerful vibration traveled up his arm. Mayor Deri's sword was knocked backward, but he did not lose his grip.

“It's incredibly hard! Fall back, Mayor!”

Rangga had already drawn his bow.

THUS!

The first arrow flew toward one of the Baryonyx's arms.

THUS!

A second arrow followed, but the Baryonyx instinctively raised both arms.

TAK! CLANG!

Its hooked claws knocked both arrows aside, and Rangga immediately understood what he had just seen.

Its arms were its weakness.

After a failed arm attack, there was an opening—but now was not the time to explain.

“Keep backing up, Mayor!”

Mayor Deri slowly retreated while keeping his shield raised in front of him.

Rangga drew another arrow, then glanced toward Andre.

But Andre was still standing in the same spot.

Frozen.

His crossbow was still hanging from his hands.

“NDRE!”

Andre flinched, and Rangga practically glared at him.

“HEY! HELP US! SHOOT IT, HURRY UP! DON'T JUST STAND THERE!”

Andre tightened his grip around his crossbow.

But his eyes remained fixed on the Mechanical Baryonyx standing before them.