Hunting the Duramboros had taken only a single day. Even including the time spent scouting and preparing beforehand, it had been a mere two days in total.
Waiting for the Guild's response, however, had taken several times longer. Nearly a week had passed since that evening the hunt concluded...
Altaïr and his teammates took turns guarding the unconscious Duramboros to ensure it wasn't attacked by other predators. To prevent it from waking from its stupor, they had administered several additional doses of Tranq Ammo over the days.
These potent tranquilizers used for capturing Large Monsters were inherently toxic. After multiple applications, combined with its severe injuries and the long period without food or water, the Duramboros's vital signs were growing increasingly faint.
Left with no choice, they had used up all their Lifepowder to slightly alleviate its injuries. Even so, in two or three days at most, this once-mighty "Hammer of Nature" would succumb to weakness and die in its sleep.
—--
Late at night on the sixth day after the hunt, by the campfire in the forest.
Isis sat with her knees hugged to her chest, staring blankly at the Duramboros's massive body, its breathing so shallow the rise and fall of its chest was barely visible.
Altaïr walked over with a yawn. "Time's up. I'm taking over the shift, go get some sleep."
Isis didn't move. She stared at the Duramboros for a while longer before suddenly speaking up. "If I hadn't been so greedy that day and insisted on carving off some hump meat to eat, maybe it could have held on for two more days."
Hearing the conflict in her voice, Altaïr couldn't help but chuckle. "Come off it. Instead of regretting those few small slices of meat, you should regret not firing one less shell during the fight."
"It's not the same thing."
"It's no different." Altaïr sat down across the campfire. "We'll wait two more days. If the Guild people haven't arrived by then, we'll slaughter it before it draws its last breath.
Whether it's for the meat or collecting materials, it's always better to get them from a fresh carcass.
I want another few bites of that hump fat myself. I might not get another chance like this in my lifetime."
"Is that really okay?" Isis said sheepishly. "What if the Guild people show up while we're halfway through bleeding it out?"
"Then you won't eat any?"
"That's impossible."
The two joked back and forth, the flickering campfire light dispelling the melancholy unique to the middle of the night.
Mentioning food always energized Isis; she suddenly lost her desire to sleep and lingered by the fire, discussing with Altaïr other ways to cook hump fat.
The way she looked at the Duramboros was no longer with guilt, but with anticipation.
Unfortunately, the Guild did not give them that chance.
In the latter half of the night, a massive shadow blotted out the starry sky. Altaïr, who had been sitting by the fire maintaining his weapon, thought a Large Flying Wyvern was attacking. He scrambled to his feet and shouted a warning.
When Isis and Nymera rushed out of the simple tent, they looked up to see a massive airship of staggering proportions.
As the airship slowly descended to the level of the forest canopy, the presence of a reference point allowed Altaïr to realize with shock that the vessel's hull alone, not counting the gas bag, exceeded fifty meters in length. Never mind aircraft; even among oceangoing vessels, ships of such scale were exceedingly rare.
The airship did not touch down completely. When it was roughly twenty meters above the forest floor, several thick cables were tossed down from the deck.
Nimble sailors slid down the ropes to the ground, securing the cables firmly with sets of heavy-duty metal ground stakes to bring the airship into a stable, low-altitude hover.
An aircraft of this massive scale could not land fully, as it would have difficulty taking off again; this was the only way it could make a temporary stop in the wild.
Once the airship was steady, a rope ladder was dropped, and a short figure climbed down with an agility that defied his age.
Altaïr waved, greeting the man with a smile. "Professor, long time no see!"
However, the old Wyverian acted as if he hadn't seen him at all, nor heard his greeting, as he went scurrying over to the dying Duramboros.
Another young figure followed close behind him, similarly ignoring Altaïr and the others, sprinting headlong toward the Duramboros.
Altaïr lowered his hand helplessly. Having spent some time with them, he understood the personalities of this master and apprentice and wasn't about to be offended by such a small thing.
"Get the medical team over here now! This fellow is down to its last breath! This is an extremely rare research specimen; we absolutely cannot let it die here!"
After a brief inspection of the Duramboros's condition, the Professor shouted up toward the large airship suspended in midair.
His voice was full of vigor, not at all inferior to Isis's.
A number of people dressed in scholar's robes began descending from the large airship one after another, swarming around the Duramboros.
Some were setting up lighting, some were measuring the Duramboros's dimensions, others were snapping photos incessantly with portable cameras, and some were using thick tubes to pour something down the Duramboros's throat, likely some kind of medicine.
The once quiet woodland by the stream became a hub of bustling noise.
Aside from the scholars and medics, Altaïr noticed several Hunters, who were presumably there as guards.
He had originally thought the Professor was a bit slow; even with a generous estimate, it was only a two-day trip from here to Dundorma by airship, meaning a four-day round trip. The Professor hadn't arrived until the sixth day, which felt like he was dragging his feet.
But seeing it now, the fact that the Professor could assemble such a complete team in just two days meant his efficiency was actually off the charts.
After getting the fieldwork roughly organized, the Professor strode toward them. Accompanying him was a very young-looking Wyverian scholar.
"Thank you for your hard work. This Duramboros is a precious research subject," the Professor said, first offering them his thanks before pointing to the genial-looking Wyverian youth.
"This is the Field Team Leader of the Wycademy's Soaratorium. It is thanks to them that we were able to arrive in time. I was originally busy trying to commission a large cargo Airship; an ordinary cargo vessel couldn't possibly carry a Monster of this size. As it happened, the team from the Wycademy was passing through Dundorma for resupply, so I asked them to come and help."
"You are too kind. Such a rare research specimen is something we would also give anything to obtain," the Wyverian youth replied with a polite smile before shaking hands with Altaïr and the others.
"The Soaratorium aerial research lab..." Altaïr repeated the term, then suddenly it clicked. "The Wycademy's aerial research lab? This Airship... is it that famous 'Soaratorium'?!"
The Wyverian youth nodded with a smile.
Now, not only Altaïr, but also Isis and the others couldn't help but fix their gazes once more upon the massive vessel hovering in mid-air.
Even those who paid no mind to scientific research had more or less heard of the Soaratorium's reputation and the legends surrounding it.
In the last twenty or thirty years, this Airship's flight paths had covered nearly the entire Old World. It was a "celebrity ship" of such caliber that whenever it docked at a city's port, it would draw crowds of citizens rushing to catch a glimpse.
Sajji's eyes were practically glowing.
The Soaratorium. This was the pinnacle of mechanical engineering in the modern age. He had long dreamed of seeing it with his own eyes, and who would have thought he'd suddenly encounter it like this!
*Maybe there's even a chance to board it and travel together for a while, meow! I wonder if they'll let me visit the engine room, meow!*
Isis, meanwhile, took a few extra glances at the Wyverian youth.
The Field Team Leader of the Wycademy's Soaratorium, silver-white short hair, and the age matched up as well. She had heard Francesca and Pawdrick mention him before; she was a bit curious because of certain rumors regarding his interpersonal relationships...
"By the way, Professor," Altaïr remembered some official business. "Our hunting quest has a Subquest to bring back an intact Tail Hammer. Can we..."
"No," the Professor refused decisively. "As compensation, we can pay double whatever the Subquest reward was."
Altaïr felt helpless; they hadn't gone through the trouble of taking this quest for the sake of a small reward, but rather to build connections.
Fortunately, the Professor wasn't a stiff-necked person. After Altaïr briefly explained the situation, he obtained permission for the workshop owner and his team to observe the tail hammer up close.
However, they would have to come to Dundorma themselves.
With the official business concluded, Altaïr tentatively asked a question that had been eating at his curiosity for days. "Professor, that Duramboros... what exactly was going on with it? And what caused that black mist to form?"
Altaïr was prepared for the Professor to decline to answer; after all, not all information was suitable for public disclosure.
To his surprise, however, the Professor gave a very direct answer: "That phenomenon is known as the 'Hyper state.' Why? Are you interested?"
(Translated by yourtl.app)
─────────────────────────────────────────
TL NOTES — LORE SECTION
Some terms and creatures referenced in this story may be unfamiliar to readers new to the Monster Hunter universe. The following entries provide additional context.
PLACES
Soaratorium — The Wycademy's legendary aerial research vessel, considered the pinnacle of modern mechanical engineering. Originally constructed to study the Elder Dragon Valstrax and the enigmatic Ruined Pinnacle, it has since traveled to nearly every corner of the known world over the past several decades, serving as a mobile laboratory and base of operations for the Wycademy's field research teams. Its sheer scale and reputation make it a celebrity attraction wherever it docks.
CONCEPTS & SYSTEMS
Hyper State — A mysterious phenomenon in which a monster's physical capabilities are dramatically enhanced beyond normal limits. Afflicted monsters emit a dark energy that causes localized muscle hypertrophy, increased aggression, and heightened resilience to damage. The source and mechanism behind the Hyper State remain a subject of academic study within the Hunter's Guild and scholarly institutions.
INSTITUTIONS
Wycademy — A prestigious academic institution dedicated to the study of monsters, ecosystems, and the natural world. The Wycademy deploys field research teams across the world, often working in conjunction with the Hunter's Guild to document newly discovered phenomena. Their flagship research vessel, the Soaratorium, serves as their most prominent symbol.
CHARACTERS
Hymel — A young Wyverian scholar serving as Field Team Leader aboard the Soaratorium. Known in certain circles as a "Wyventurer," he combines academic expertise with hands-on fieldwork. Silver-haired and genial in manner, he is apparently acquainted with several of the story's recurring characters.