Altaïr ultimately didn't get permission to take on that Arena Challenge mission featuring two Khezu simultaneously.
The reason was simple, it was a 4★ mission.
It wasn't because his swordsmanship had noticeably improved over the past month, making him a bit cocky.
He knew very well that facing two 3★ threat level monsters at once, especially Khezu, which ranks high among 3★ monsters, gave him little chance of victory.
But his goal wasn't a successful hunt, nor was it about climbing leaderboards or anything like that; he simply wanted to hone his sword skills.
For him, failing a mission wasn't unacceptable; he wasn't afraid of embarrassment, and hardly anyone in Dundorma knew him.
In the Arena, there were many staff watching, powerful hunters overseeing, and emergency medical teams ready at any moment. Even if he messed up, there likely wouldn't be any life-threatening danger.
So naturally, higher difficulty was better! What better trial opportunity than this?
Run it, run it!
The Guild Supervisor decisively rejected him.
What's with these youngsters these days?! Each one more troublesome than the last!
After tossing him an Arena Challenge mission slip for "Hunt one Khezu" and telling him to come participate in a few days, the Guild Supervisor kicked him out of the Guild Hall.
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Returning to Isis's home with some regret, Amos was preparing dinner. Altaïr quickly put away his gear and hurried into the kitchen to help.
A large pot of stewed meat, a refreshing vegetable salad, and white bread as the staple, the dishes Amos prepared were simple, but their strength lay in balanced nutrition, easy digestion, and huge portions.
When dinner was served, Isis also returned.
Just like every day recently, Isis walked in with heavy steps, bruised and battered.
After astonishingly devouring over half the food on the table, Isis took a quick shower and then wobbled back to her room.
She needed to seize every minute to rest, otherwise she couldn't endure tomorrow's training.
That devil-like old Instructor had figured out her physical limits and recovery speed within just two or three days. Altaïr glanced at the training plan he devised and immediately dismissed any thought of trying it, it would be deadly.
Amos felt somewhat heartbroken, but he didn't say anything.
Of course, he had heard of Altman, that famous old Instructor. For an old veteran retired for years to exert great effort guiding Isis, that was Isis's luck; suffering a bit more wasn't anything.
It was still early. Altaïr went to the training ground, Amos lay on the recliner reading a book, while Sajji immediately retreated to his room.
Having nothing to do, Clawdia really wanted to chat with Isis, but after circling around the latter's bedroom door, she left.
Isis had no energy to accompany her, and there had been no hunting for a long time. Clawdia was bored to the point where the whole cat felt irritable.
However, she also knew this period of training to shore up Isis's defensive weaknesses was crucial, so even if frustrated, she absolutely wouldn't disturb her. Yet she still wanted something to do to relieve boredom, so she targeted Sajji, who was also "idle with nothing to do."
During this time, Altaïr was busy practicing swordsmanship, likewise having no time to accompany Sajji, but Sajji never was a cat needing much companionship.
He shut himself in the small room, happily tinkering with screws all day.
And he wasn't just playing.
Before coming to Dundorma, Naziya's reminder made him realize that compared to the high performance of machinery itself, he should focus more on its application in actual combat.
Only then could he become a truly excellent Assist Cat, not merely a pure mechanical artisan.
Inspired by this, in the guest room at Isis's house, using the simplest tools and materials, he slowly crafted the "Rathalos Model-02."
Compared to Model-01's semi-fixed turret and Model-01's mobile artillery cart, Model-02's structure was further simplified, basically just a cannon barrel left.
This thing should now be called a portable rocket launcher...
To others, this might seem like technological regression, but Sajji didn't think so.
The Rathalos Model-02 he brought into the hunting grounds was just a bare cannon barrel with nothing but a firing mechanism. But when the hunt began, it might not remain that way, meow!
Flexibly utilizing materials found in the hunting grounds, like wood, Monster bones, and some large tree fruits...
Build a simple small cart, then place Model-02 on it, boom, mobile artillery cart, meow! Create a sturdy bunker, boom, fixed turret, meow!
Of course, just having these wasn't enough.
The power unit was the most critical core; he was trying to research some kind of miniaturized engine that could be conveniently brought into the hunting grounds like Model-02.
Thus, combining the idea of artillery carts/turrets with a simple transmission device...
Wow, meow!
A hunting-ground-special version Rathalos-style tank could take shape, meow!
Of course, the idea was beautiful, but as the core engine, especially a sufficiently miniaturized one, wasn't easy to make.
Handcrafting purely was impossible; heat processing couldn't be done. Even borrowing equipment from a professional workshop, machining precision hardly met requirements.
Blueprints, materials, fuel, all big problems. While he pondered deeply without any leads...
Clawdia dragged him out of the room.
"Even for an Assist Cat, it's not enough to just bury your head fiddling with various mechanical contraptions, meow!" Clawdia's opening line left Sajji somewhat stunned.
Clawdia crossed her arms, her tone stern like an Instructor, "Tracking Monsters through scent and traces, moving silently, luring Monsters, plus basic emergency aid, do you know all these, meow?"
Clawdia's somewhat condescending attitude annoyed Sajji. Did she really think Sajji was a clueless novice who knew nothing, meow?
Sajji also puffed out his belly, crossed his arms, and the two cats stood facing each other, their bellies almost touching.
"I also grew up in the wild, meow. Before becoming a Palico, I worked with the Loc Lac Rangers. What you mentioned, of course I've mastered, meow," Sajji said coldly.
Meanwhile, he secretly added in his heart, though temporarily limited to desert terrain, meow.
Hearing this, Clawdia paused, her ears, inheriting Grimalkyne bloodline, sharper and longer than ordinary Felyne ears, dropped, murmuring, "You know all that, meow? Then sorry, offended, meow."
Thought she could indulge in being an Instructor, meow.
Sajji: "..."
What exactly did this guy come here for, meow?
Clawdia paced back and forth a few times. Just as Sajji grew impatient and wanted to return to his room, Clawdia suddenly turned to him and said:
"Our masters are busy training; we can't lag behind, meow. Continuing like this for a long time, hunting skills will rust, meow. Want to form a Meownster Hunters team, meow?"
"Meow?" Sajji tilted his head, "Meownster Hunters, meow?"
He had some understanding of so-called Meownster Hunters, but not very detailed.
Meownster Hunters originated from Guild-affiliated Palico teams.
Due to advantages like small size, stealthiness, and strong survival ability, the Guild specially trained a batch of Palicos for dangerous Monster reconnaissance, luring, etc.
These Palicos didn't need to partner with Hunters; operating alone or forming teams with other Palicos, they could accomplish tasks splendidly.
Over recent years, with the number of Felyne choosing to become Palicos continuously increasing, calls to allow Palicos to hunt independently from Hunters also grew louder.
Approved by Guild higher-ups, "Meownster Hunters" thus emerged.
Simply put, it allowed Palicos to register with the Guild like Hunters, form teams, and complete various missions.
"You mean, just us two go hunting, meow?" Sajji confirmed.
Honestly, he felt somewhat tempted. The engine couldn't be completed short-term, but "Rathalos Model-02" needed practical testing; handcrafting artillery carts in hunting grounds also required hands-on practice.
"Yes, meow," Clawdia nodded her little head, "But there's another issue, meow. Only Palicos registered with the Guild can form Meownster Hunters teams, meow. Have you registered, meow?"
"No, meow," Sajji shook his head decisively, "Meownster Hunters aren't popular in the Great Desert region, meow. Few Palicos specially register, meow.
You, meow? Didn't you hunt a Tobi-Kadachi alone in the New World, meow? You should be registered, meow?"
Clawdia somewhat guiltily shifted her gaze, "No, no, meow. That time was just, just self-defense, meow!"
Sajji: "..."
Just then, a frivolous, lazy voice entered their ears, "Two confused little kittens, need meow to guide you, meow?"
(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.
CONCEPTS & SYSTEMS
Meownster Hunters — A Guild-sanctioned program allowing Palicos to register independently and form their own hunting teams, separate from any human Hunter partner. Born from the growing number of Felynes choosing the Palico path, it lets these small companions take on missions, conduct reconnaissance, and complete hunts entirely on their own terms.