Isis was very concerned about Amos's statement that "the Great Sword might not be unsuitable for you."
Amos only told her that her current physical fitness wasn't strong enough, and recklessly trying some moves wasn't just about easily getting injured, it could very likely lead to direct death.
He urged her to calm down and focus on practicing her Gunlance.
When she could steadily block attacks from monsters like Tigrex and Diablos, as she did against Velocidrome, then she could consider picking up the Great Sword again, learning some special techniques, or forging her own unique path.
Altaïr, listening beside them, felt his teeth ache.
He also used the Great Sword. In his impression, the defensive moves of the Great Sword only included the sword stance block, but that clearly wasn't what Amos meant by "some moves."
Considering Isis's father's identity, were these moves from legendary Great Sword users?
If Isis's physical fitness wasn't even sufficient, that meant those moves had extremely high thresholds, and correspondingly, their upper limits should be astonishingly high.
He wondered if he had any chance to learn them.
In terms of physical fitness, he knew he couldn't catch up to Isis in this lifetime, but he had confidence in his skills and coordination.
When he had the chance to witness those moves in the future, he might be able to modify them specifically, using technique to compensate for his lack of physical fitness, creating new moves suitable for himself.
Of course, the premise for all this was also that his own physical fitness and skills needed to be raised to a higher level; otherwise, any ideas would just be empty talk.
Having figured this out, Altaïr began training even more desperately. Amos even had to demand that he leave enough rest time for himself to avoid excessive physical burden and hidden injuries.
—--
Isis, on the second day, dragged Francesca and sneaked off to the Hunter Training Camp.
According to Amos's original idea, he intended to let Isis grow naturally, slowly.
She was barely eighteen, her body development hadn't fully ended. Even without any extra training, in four, five, or six years, her physical fitness would naturally rise two more levels.
But he underestimated the attraction of "picking up the Great Sword again" for Isis.
If she could meet the physical requirements faster through targeted training, she was willing to invest time and sweat.
"I understand the reasoning, so why drag me along?" Francesca, pulled out of bed early in the morning by Isis, was confused.
You want to go to the training camp to burn youth and sweat, what does that have to do with Francesca?
"Because I graduated long ago," Isis chuckled. "Things like asking the Instructor to help design a training plan, borrowing facilities and equipment, it's always a bit awkward.
Francesca, your face is thicker, help me plead a bit."
"...Well, thanks for the compliment."
Francesca gritted her teeth, then her expression turned serious. "But seriously, asking the Instructor to help design a training plan should be fine, but borrowing training camp facilities and equipment, don't even think about it.
My mom won't open that loophole, no one can, otherwise every few days some hunters would go to the training camp to freeload, and those restless trainees wouldn't be able to train."
"That's true..."
As they talked, they unknowingly arrived at the training camp entrance.
There were several people at the entrance, noisy and arguing, seemingly in some dispute. Isis and Francesca exchanged glances and quietly walked over, since watching drama is human nature.
"Let, me, go... I want, to go in..."
A girl with dark circles, looking only fifteen or sixteen, was trying to push into the Hunter Training Camp gate.
There was also a middle-aged couple, likely the girl's parents, tightly gripping her arms, preventing her from going.
Whether it was willpower igniting potential or something else, the girl, though not short, definitely not tall or strong, erupted with strength far beyond normal.
The middle-aged couple couldn't hold her back; she dragged them, inch by inch, forward.
As she gritted her teeth and advanced, she squeezed words from between them, "You think, my Cello, was practiced for nothing!"
"Damn!"
A woman with six or seven similarities to the girl's appearance, likely her mother, also gritted her teeth. "Damn, we should have let you practice violin..."
The girl dragged the two, step by step, to the training camp entrance, but found her path blocked.
That was a middle-aged lady wearing the Instructor's specialized Hunter set, full of imposing presence. Seeing Francesca and Isis sneaking closer like thieves, she turned and glared angrily at them.
The two ducked their heads and stopped.
"Mom came so early today? Really?" Francesca muttered under her breath.
Turning back, the lady reached out and tapped the girl's head who had walked up to her. "I'm the head Instructor of the training camp, also the supervisor. You can call me Lady Gael.
Little girl, I can see you really want to enter the training camp, but sorry, becoming a hunter isn't something decided impulsively.
Before you convince your parents, the training camp gate won't open for you."
After hearing the lady's words, the girl relaxed her strength.
Her mother seized the chance to quickly hug her arm, and her father also gave Lady Gael a grateful look.
Though the girl stopped struggling, her expression remained firm. "I must become a hunter, this is my lifelong pursuit and dream!"
"Nonsense!" the girl's father angrily shouted. "You never mentioned 'hunter' from childhood to now!
Learning tuba with me, violin with your mother, then inexplicably choosing Cello, when did you ever say you wanted to be a hunter?"
"Because I confirmed my dream yesterday!" the girl didn't back down. "Those soft symphonies are completely wasting my time!"
The girl's mother, also a musician, grew angry. "How dare you slander music like this, the lightness and elegance of violin, the steadiness and grandeur of Cello, the tuba..."
"It's weak! I want fiercer! More explosive sounds!" the girl's voice carried fervor. "Like cannons! 'Bang!' blowing monster heads apart!"
"...?"
The bystanders, including the experienced Lady Gael, all had expressions of "What's wrong with this kid?"
Struggling fiercely, the girl's peripheral glance accidentally swept over Isis standing not far away.
Though the latter's armor was completely different from what she saw in the Arena yesterday, the girl instantly recognized her identity, this was the hunter from yesterday!
Her expression instantly became excited. Struggling free from her parents' grip, she dashed a few steps to Isis, grabbed the still bewildered Isis's hand, and shook it vigorously several times.
"It's you! No, you! Your performance yesterday was amazing! It showed me the direction of my life!
Blasting! Explosions! The crisp sound of bones breaking! The screams of monsters at death! This is the sound I'm pursuing!"
"...Ah?"
Facing the fervent girl, Isis wasn't just confused; she was even a bit scared.
This wasn't about strength; normal people are scared when they see crazy people.
Meanwhile, the girl's parents' gaze toward Isis became dangerous.
Their daughter, though usually somewhat decadent, lazy, sarcastic, neurotic, was overall a good girl!
Her musical sense was outstanding, her stamina ample; her Cello teacher called her a promising talent.
But after going to watch an Arena match yesterday, everything changed. She told them she decided to be a hunter, to perform with monster skulls and such.
They thought she was joking, but who knew she'd run straight to the training camp early this morning; they almost couldn't catch up.
Seeing the girl pulling Isis, getting more excited, her whole body swaying uncontrollably back and forth.
And more bystanders passing by, even trainees sneaking out from the training camp to watch.
Gael exhaled heavily.
"Hah... Don't argue here anymore. Come to my office, properly explain what's going on."
(Translated by yourtl.app)
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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.
MONSTERS
Diablos — A large Flying Wyvern known for its twin curved horns and extremely aggressive temperament. It inhabits desert regions and is considered one of the most physically imposing monsters a hunter can face, capable of burrowing underground and charging at devastating speed. It is commonly used as a benchmark for measuring a hunter's defensive capabilities.