97. The Beast Under My Control

Rangga then moved around the Ankylosaurus from the opposite side. He searched for a position far enough to stay out of the creature’s sight before stopping behind a rock.

Deri and Fajar were already on the other side. Rangga raised one hand.

Deri saw the signal and nodded. Rangga lowered his hand then Deri and Fajar immediately moved forward.

The Ankylosaurus quickly noticed them. Its head turned, and its massive body followed, facing the two Pioneers.

Its legs lowered, and its tail, with the metal club at the end, began to move.

“It’s attacking!”

The Ankylosaurus swung its tail with all its might.

BRAAAK!

Deri and Fajar rolled backward simultaneously. The club slammed into the ground, sending dust flying.

With the Ankylosaurus’s vision obscured by dust and its attention still focused on Deri and Fajar, Rangga emerged from its blind spot.

He ran toward the creature’s body, closing the distance rapidly.

Rangga then took the metal disc out of his equipment.

“So, what do I do now?”

He stared at the device for a moment, then pressed the center of the disc with his finger.

BZZZZT...

The disc immediately vibrated, and light appeared across its surface.

Rangga had not even had time to understand what was happening when the device suddenly lifted out of his hand.

“Huh?”

The disc floated in the air, then moved on its own toward the Ankylosaurus.

It stopped directly above the creature’s head before descending and attaching itself to its neck.

Rangga watched with widened eyes.

“It went in...”

The disc glowed blue. The light grew stronger, then suddenly turned red.

BZZT!

The disc was suddenly ejected from the Ankylosaurus’s neck and landed several meters away.

Rangga fell silent.

“Huh?”

He stared at the device.

“Why did it bounce off?”

But the mechanical sound coming from the Ankylosaurus immediately made Rangga realize that his attempt had failed.

The creature’s head turned, and its gaze was now fixed directly on Rangga.

Rangga froze for a moment.

“...I’m screwed.”

The clubbed tail that had previously been resting on its right side began moving again. In an instant, the tail swept toward Rangga.

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Rangga immediately jumped to the side.

BRAK!

The club slammed into the ground right behind him. Rangga rolled away and quickly put some distance between himself and the creature before getting back to his feet.

He turned toward the metal disc that had been thrown away earlier.

Deri shouted from a distance.

“Mas Rangga! Did it work?”

Fajar joined in.

“Did it work, Bang?”

Rangga was still staring at the Ankylosaurus, which was now facing him.

“No!”

He immediately shouted.

“Tell the others to attack first!”

Deri immediately understood the situation.

“Everyone, get into position!”

The Pioneers who had been waiting immediately moved and Deri raised his shield and took position at the front.

“Don’t give it any room!”

Fajar moved up beside him, while Siska and the other archers began spreading out. Rangga himself was still the Ankylosaurus’s main target.

He slowly backed away while gripping his bow again.

The first attempt with the Hijack Device had failed. Now they had to face the Ankylosaurus the usual way again.

Fajar saw that the Ankylosaurus was still facing Rangga. He immediately charged forward and struck its head with his hammer.

BRAK!

The blow did not penetrate its protective armor, but it was enough to draw the Ankylosaurus’s attention.

Its head immediately turned toward Fajar.

“Come on, over here!”

The Ankylosaurus’s clubbed tail rose again, and Fajar immediately backed away. The club then swept forward with full force.

BRAAAK!

Fajar successfully dodged and rolled away. Dust once again scattered around them.

Rangga saw that the Ankylosaurus’s attention had shifted and immediately took advantage of the opportunity.

He ran toward the spot where the Hijack Device had been thrown.

“Good.”

Rangga picked up the metal disc and quickly stored it away again then he raised his bow once more.

They returned to the pattern they had already figured out.

Deri and Fajar maintained their position at the front, continuously luring the Ankylosaurus into attacking. The other Pioneers waited for an opening while maintaining formation.

The Ankylosaurus swung its tail again.

BRAK!

Deri and Fajar dodged.

The tail club slammed into the ground, and the Ankylosaurus began losing its balance after the full-powered attack.

Rangga immediately shouted.

“Now!”

Several explosive arrows were fired into the ground beneath its body.

Twang!

Twang!

Twang!

The arrows embedded themselves in the ground. The Ankylosaurus had just begun lowering its body when—

DUAR!

The first explosion struck from underneath, lifting its body slightly.

DUAR!

The second explosion followed.

DUAR!

The third explosion caused its massive body to lose even more balance.

The Ankylosaurus tried to plant its feet back on the ground, but its body was already tilted too far.

Rangga saw the opening.

“Keep going!”

The final explosion struck from underneath.

DUAR!

The Ankylosaurus tilted even further, nearly losing its footing completely.

The Pioneers immediately prepared themselves while Rangga raised his bow.

“Ready!”

Now they only had to wait for the Ankylosaurus to completely roll over and expose its underside.

The Ankylosaurus finally lost its balance completely. Its massive body rolled to the side before falling onto its back, its belly facing upward.

BRAK!

The ground shook when its body hit the surface and Deri immediately raised his sword.

“Attack!”

The Pioneers began moving forward to take advantage of the exposed underside. But Rangga immediately raised his hand.

“Wait.”

Everyone stopped, and Fajar, who had already raised his hammer, turned toward him.

“What now, Bang?”

Rangga did not answer. Instead, he opened his equipment and took out the Hijack Device again.

Fajar frowned.

“Bang, what are you going to do with that again?”

Rangga walked toward the Ankylosaurus, which was now lying on its back. The creature was still moving, but it was unable to turn itself over.

Rangga gripped the disc.

“Second attempt.”

He pressed the center.

BZZZZT...

The disc vibrated and lit up again. Rangga then released it.

Just like before, the device immediately lifted from his hand and floated toward the Ankylosaurus.

The disc moved over its overturned body before stopping directly at its neck. This time, it did not immediately bounce off.

A blue light appeared across its surface and grew brighter.

BZZZZZZT...

The light continued intensifying. Blue... Brighter... Then it turned white.

DENG!

A brief mechanical sound rang out, and the entire body of the Ankylosaurus, which had still been moving moments earlier, suddenly stopped.

Its legs no longer moved and Its tail no longer moved. The creature simply lay still on its back.

Rangga’s eyes widened, and a smile immediately appeared on his face.

“Yes! It worked!”

The Pioneers, who had been ready to attack all this time, instead looked at one another.

“Huh?”

Fajar lowered his hammer slightly.

“What worked?”

Deri did not answer immediately. He carefully observed the Ankylosaurus.

The creature truly was not moving and Fajar took half a step back.

“Bang... What happened to it?”

Rangga was still staring at the device now attached to the Ankylosaurus’s neck.

“Relax. I think...”

He paused for a moment.

“...it won’t attack us anymore.”