That malicious gaze lingered for only a fleeting instant, but it was enough to set every nerve in Nymera's body on edge.
She stopped using the Wirebugs so frequently to reposition herself, instead recalling both to standby in case of emergency.
That cautious decision proved absolutely correct.
The Lagiacrus suddenly coiled its body, shielding its upper torso with the thick muscles of its tail and back. Then it tensed, its entire form contracting like a tightly wound spring.
It looked like a defensive posture, protecting its head, chest, and vitals from the Blademasters' attacks, but in reality, it was far more than that.
Fortunately, only a few days earlier, Isis and Nymera had seen a similar technique from that Mizutsune. They reacted instantly.
"It's a wide-range tail sweep! Get back!"
Hearing Isis's warning, Altaïr immediately broke off his assault and retreated. But Nymera, knowing she was the primary target, did the opposite. Instead of retreating, she advanced.
In the next second, the coiled Lagiacrus violently unleashed its attack. Its long, thick, powerful tail swept toward the approaching Gunner like an onrushing wall.
Nymera accelerated, charging straight into the attack. Just before the gigantic tail could pulverize her, she launched a Wirebug upward and, pulled by the Ironsilk, leaped into the air.
Her body spun in midair. The moment her upper body flipped downward, the Rathalos Cannon in her hands was aimed at the Lagiacrus's back as it swept past below.
Seizing an attack window of less than half a second, she thumbed the release sleeve on the Rathalos Cannon's barrel.
Several sparking special mechanisms launched from the muzzle and embedded themselves precisely in the Lagiacrus's back.
Having evaded the Lagiacrus's tail sweep with Fanning Vault, Nymera landed steadily on both feet.
What she had just planted on the Lagiacrus's back were special explosive charges called Wyvernblast. When subjected to a powerful impact, they would trigger a chain of explosions.
Since they had to be set at close range, range considerations were irrelevant. Their explosive charge was far greater than that of ordinary Bowgun Ammo, making Wyvernblast a type of special Ammo that had become popular among Gunners in recent years.
Before detonation, Wyvernblast caused no harm to the Monster whatsoever. The Lagiacrus did not even notice the extra payload on its back.
It was merely enraged that its attack had been so nimbly dodged by that fly-like pest.
It turned its head, intent on continuing the pursuit.
The frontliners, of course, would not simply allow the Monster to go after the Gunner. Altaïr and Isis immediately stepped up, forcibly intercepting the Lagiacrus and resuming their relentless suppressive onslaught.
Left with no choice, the Lagiacrus abandoned the chase. It twisted its body, sliding backward about one body length, as blinding electric light exploded all over its form.
This forced Altaïr and Isis to halt their advance.
But this time, the Lagiacrus was not simply discharging electricity in place. It opened its massive jaws and spat out several dense, solidified orbs of lightning.
These orbs of lightning did not shoot out like a typical breath attack, but instead drifted lazily through the air.
As the Lagiacrus continued discharging electricity, the orbs began to spin rapidly around its body, as if pulled by some kind of electromagnetic force.
The sight left Altaïr and the others stunned.
In Az's explanations of Lagiacrus attack patterns, he had never mentioned any such method of attack. Perhaps it could be considered this particular Lagiacrus's signature technique? Either way, this bizarre attack, with its equally bizarre principle, truly put the Hunters in a difficult position.
Altaïr, whose Armor had abysmal lightning resistance, dared not get close. Isis had stronger Defense, but her slow movements made it difficult to avoid those swaying lightning orbs. Getting hit head-on by one would certainly not be pleasant.
Jara, responsible for skirmishing attacks, prepared to move in once more.
This assault would be even more difficult than when the Lagiacrus had unleashed its wide-area lightning pillars. The lightning orbs, in particular, appeared to be directly controlled by the Lagiacrus, making them far more agile than the lightning pillars that had a few seconds' delay before erupting.
It seemed he would have to take some risks. Just as he was about to launch his charge, Nymera shouted for him to stop. "Leave it to me!"
Hadn't she set up the Wyvernblast and delayed its detonation precisely for a moment like this?
She quickly raised the weapon's muzzle, and three rounds of Flaming Ammo shot out.
However, before the Flaming Ammo could even approach the Lagiacrus, stray arcs crackling from a lightning orb circling past detonated them prematurely, bursting into several blooms of fire in the air.
The Lagiacrus was smart enough to use this method to pin down both the Blademasters' advance and the Gunner's ranged attacks.
Nymera's eyes narrowed. She decisively removed the Flaming Ammo magazine and pressed two rounds of Sticky Ammo into the breech.
Sticky Ammo had large, thick shells and very low loading capacity, but her reload speed was more than enough to compensate.
Her eyes swept over the scene, rapidly analyzing the positions and velocities of the lightning orbs as she reloaded in a flash and fired continuously.
After three or four consecutive shots, the impact of the Sticky Ammo explosions dispersed one of the lightning orbs, creating a gap in the ring of lightning orbiting the Lagiacrus's body.
Nymera seized the window, sending two more Sticky Ammo rounds through. They slipped past the intercepting lightning orbs and arcs, landing between the sparkling electric spines on the Lagiacrus's back.
Altaïr, waiting at the side, saw this and decisively began his charge.
After a brief delay, the two Sticky Ammo rounds detonated with a thunderous blast, setting off the dormant Wyvernblast charges and triggering a chain of explosions.
Amid agonized howls, the lightning arcs wreathing the Lagiacrus's body dissipated. The spinning, drifting lightning orbs lost their force and flew off in all directions, and the Hunters dodged them with ease.
Realizing the danger, the Lagiacrus endured the searing pain on its back and forcibly activated its electrical organs, discharging once more.
Just as sparks of lightning began to flash and leap, Altaïr, who had started his charge moments earlier, had already reached its feet.
Facing an opponent about to cloak itself in lightning arcs once again, Altaïr decisively thrust his sword forward. The blade, wreathed in crimson Spirit Gauge energy, sank deep into the side of the Lagiacrus's neck.
Immediately afterward, he used the momentum of his sprint and charge to vault into the air, twisting his body mid-flight to adjust his posture, pouring all his pent-up Spirit Gauge energy and strength into the coming strike.
A crimson blade arc sliced through the air, leaving a dense, unbroken trail of light.
In a flash, Khanga Rebellion, its glow fading as the Spirit Gauge was spent, cleaved all the way down to the ground.
In the next second, a massive, incredibly deep wound burst open across the Lagiacrus's neck.
A great spray of blood gushed out, staining the pebbled shallows of the creek red.
"GROOAARRR!!"
The Lagiacrus, tensing its entire body to build up electricity, was suddenly struck by this Spirit Helm Breaker. Its muscles convulsed, and the lightning that had just begun to surface instantly scattered.
Under the violent spasms of its limbs, the Lagiacrus's balance broke, and it collapsed to the ground with a howl.
Facing the downed Monster, no extra shout or command was needed. The Hunters immediately closed in.
Having exhausted his Spirit Gauge, Altaïr decisively repositioned, yielding the prime attack spot, the head and neck, to Isis, who was rushing in with a "HYAAAAAAH!"
The chain of fierce attacks jokingly called a "Gymnastic" routine erupted.
Altaïr himself moved to the Lagiacrus's flank, using Demon Mode and Crimson Blade Slash to swing his blade at full speed, rapidly building his Spirit Gauge again.
Nymera was, of course, firing with all her might. Jara had also reached the wound on the Lagiacrus's shoulder, relentlessly swinging his Insect Glaive to widen the gash.
Clawdia was the most terrifying. Her designated role in this fight was as the main aquatic combatant, so during the land battle, she focused on conserving stamina and had not participated much in the earlier fighting.
This was nearly unbearable for Clawdia, whose aggression rivaled Altaïr's.
Seeing the Monster down, she could finally cut loose and unleash a full assault. Without a word, she drew her steel claws, activated Beast Mode, and darted forward in a flash, burrowing straight into the wound Altaïr had just cleaved open.
Flesh and blood flew. In almost an instant, her entire coat was soaked crimson.
Even Hibiki, carrying his double-bladed chain sickle in his mouth, was attacking the Lagiacrus's hind legs and tail. Aside from Mochi, who never participated in combat and lacked the ability to do so, the only one on the battlefield who had not joined the siege was Sajji.
Watching the howling Lagiacrus under the group's assault, he stealthily distanced himself from the battle, sneaking away with a cat's quiet steps toward the only pass that served as the canyon's entrance.
He slapped down a proximity-triggered Barrel Bomb. After a moment's thought, he slapped down another one.
After hastily camouflaging them with the pebbles scattered everywhere, he carefully released the safety catches on both bombs.
(Translated by yourtl.app)