Unlike the ineffective attacks by Altaïr and Clawdia, the assaults by Isis, Nymera, and Sajji were proceeding quite smoothly.
The enormous and bloated frame of the Duramboros granted it astonishing strength and tenacious vitality, yet simultaneously robbed it of the ability to move agilely.
Incidents like tripping over after being dazzled by Flash Pods during sharp turns were not so easily seen among Monsters of the Winged Front Leg Wyvern family, renowned for their nimble movements (like Nargacuga and Barioth). Even if they did fall, they could get back up in a relatively short time.
They wouldn't be like this Duramboros, writhing and struggling as the Hunters pounded its head for nearly half a minute before it finally found an opportunity to use its horns to prop itself up and flip back onto its feet.
Seeing the Duramboros rise, Altaïr and Nymera immediately halted their offensive, created distance, and withdrew into the Monster's blind spots.
"Moooooooooaaaaaaarrrrgh!!!"
The now steady Duramboros raised its upper body, letting out a roar similar to a bull's but countless times deeper and louder.
Amidst the bellowing that stirred up waves of air, the Duramboros swayed its body, steam rising from its towering hump.
Its already burly muscles, especially those in its legs and tail, further engorged with blood in its fury, making this Duramboros appear even larger by half a size.
Witnessing this scene, Nymera was momentarily dazed.
She had hunted a Duramboros once before and had seen a Duramboros enter a rage.
Steam rising from the hump was normal, an external manifestation of the accelerated fat burning within the hump after fully entering combat mode.
But the muscles swelling up a notch seemed a bit off. Was the Duramboros back then like this too? Or was this a variation between different individuals?
Before she could figure this out, she was snapped back to attention by Altaïr's sharp call.
"Catch!"
Coming to her senses, Nymera quickly caught the ammunition belt Altaïr tossed her.
The previous battle had lasted only a brief half-minute, but under her full-speed firing, the Flaming Ammo she carried on her person was already more than half depleted.
If not for the considerable amount of Ammo that Altaïr and Isis had each helped her carry, she would have had to consider withdrawing from the battlefield soon to return to camp and resupply.
"Thanks." Nymera slung the ammunition belt over herself, then swiftly changed magazines and pulled the bowgun bolt to complete the reload.
However, she did not immediately unleash her firepower. Instead, she lowered her multi-linked barrels, seemingly waiting for something.
This action reassured Altaïr, who was about to speak up to remind her.
The Duramboros, having been knocked to the ground and pummeled fiercely by the Hunters, appeared to be in a state of frenzied rage, but in reality, it was somewhat disoriented and dizzy.
In its confusion, it struggled to discern who exactly was the most crucial attacker, or to put it more simply, who was hitting it the hardest.
When the Duramboros was down earlier, one important reason Isis kept attacking right in its face was to block the Duramboros's line of sight, creating the illusion that all the pain throughout its body was inflicted by this creature before its eyes.
Now that the Duramboros was standing, just by turning its head it could discover that the Hunters attacking it were far more than one.
If Nymera opened fire with full force at this moment, it was highly likely to make the Duramboros realize that she was the most threatening target. Better to temporarily hide in the blind spot behind the Duramboros, wait until Isis draws its attention first, then resume the attack.
For offensive types who often fought in teams, this was a fairly basic technique, but lone wolves accustomed to fighting alone might not realize it. During their travels over the past year, they had indeed encountered some quite skilled individuals who "didn't understand the rules."
But such concerns seemed unnecessary for Nymera; whether in solo combat or cooperative hunts, she appeared to have ample experience.
Of course, there were also those with plenty of experience who just never learned their lesson.
Seeing Altaïr and Nymera temporarily retreat, with Isis facing the enemy alone, Clawdia instinctively rushed forward to help. Altaïr quickly grabbed her tail and pulled her back.
"Could you at least show a little trust in her?"
"Meow!" Clawdia turned, yanked her tail free, and snarled at Altaïr with bared fangs. But she finally regained her composure and didn't mindlessly charge forward again, instead sharpening her steel claws with a "clang-clang."
—--
Unlike Nymera and the others, who had temporarily eased their attacks, Isis had been going all out from the start.
Even when the Duramboros stood up, she didn't retreat. After raising her shield to block the shockwave from the Duramboros's roar, she continued striding forward, shouting as she swung her Gunlance down.
This nearly greedy, relentless assault successfully seized the Duramboros's attention.
The enraged giant beast lowered its body slightly, then abruptly raised its head and thrust forward. Its massive horns aimed straight ahead, as if intending to impale the Hunter.
Ready for this, Isis immediately raised her large shield, bracing it with her right arm and shoulder while charging forward simultaneously, attempting to offset the impact through a collision technique.
"Bang!"
The timing of her Defense was precise, but she still underestimated the Duramboros's strength. The immense force transmitted through the large shield made it difficult for her to even maintain her Defensive Stance, let alone further contest the Duramboros's power.
Gritting her teeth, she tensed her muscles, locked her joints, and struggled to keep the shield raised. Yet her feet couldn't help but slide backward, skidding five or six meters before barely halting her retreat.
"Moo-roar!"
Seeing its opponent still standing, the Duramboros growled, turned around, lifted its meteor-hammer-like huge Tail Hammer, and slammed it down.
Just from the heavy, air-tearing sound of the Tail Hammer swinging through the air as the Duramboros turned, Isis knew this was an attack she absolutely could not block head-on.
Fortunately, the Duramboros's attack movements weren't fast. She had enough time to react, so she opted for the safest approach: stepping back to create distance.
"Boom!"
The boulder-like Tail Hammer smashed into the ground two or three meters in front of Isis. The ground trembled so violently that Isis nearly lost her footing. Around the impact point, over a dozen spiderweb-like cracks spread across the earth.
This guy was surprisingly strong.
Isis swung her Gunlance to perform a Quick Reload, then raised her shield and charged toward the Duramboros at full speed.
Against a Monster with such immense strength, staying far out of its reach was one method; sticking close to prevent it from fully extending its attacks was another. The most dangerous distance was that awkward in-between range. If that fully swung tail hammer landed a direct hit, even someone wearing the high defense Basarios armor would likely be shattered to pieces.
Returning to the front of the Duramboros, Isis swung her Gunlance down with all her might while simultaneously squeezing the trigger repeatedly, firing off all the Shells she had just reloaded in one burst.
The Duramboros completely ignored her attacks. Turning around, it pushed off with its hind hooves and charged forward once more.
Perhaps it was an illusion, but from the corner of her eye, Isis vaguely saw what seemed like a faint, illusory layer of black mist swirling around the Duramboros's hind leg.
The moment this familiar-looking wisp of black mist appeared, the Duramboros's hind leg explosively increased its force, and the speed of its lowered-head charge suddenly accelerated.
It was too late to dodge the attack now. The previous collision had made Isis realize that even using the Insta-Block technique, she couldn't completely withstand the Duramboros's charge head-on, let alone this attack, whose force was clearly stronger than before.
Therefore, she didn't choose to clash directly again. Instead, while steadying the shield in front of her, she kicked off and leaped backward, attempting to dissipate the impact as much as possible this way.
"Boom!"
The horn left a shallow dent in the alloy great shield. Having given up on a frontal defense, Isis was sent flying, shield and all, landing and tumbling once on the ground before barely managing to shed that tremendous force.
Gritting her teeth to endure the churning upheaval in her organs, Isis quickly rose to her feet, her gaze locked firmly on her opponent, a hint of blood seeping from her nose.
The two who had originally planned to act only after Isis secured the Duramboros's attention now also sensed something was wrong.
This Duramboros's attack power exceeded expectations. Even Isis couldn't withstand it head-on, so they could no longer proceed according to the original plan. They had to share the pressure for the frontliner!
Altaïr immediately grabbed Clawdia and rushed into the Duramboros's line of sight, trying to divert its attention. Nymera also raised her barrel, continuously squeezing the trigger, beginning covering fire.
"Something's off!" Nymera shouted while moving and firing. "Speed, explosive power! This guy isn't an ordinary Duramboros!"
The finer details didn't need explanation. She believed Altaïr must have also noticed the moment the Duramboros suddenly burst with increased force.
Altaïr, carrying Clawdia, had already run in front of the Duramboros. Before it could pursue Isis further, he forcefully threw Clawdia at its face.
"Meow?!"
"Disrupt it!"
With a startled cry, Clawdia landed on the Duramboros's head and immediately reacted. She let out a low roar, a crimson fighting spirit igniting in her eyes, and a faint, almost imperceptible black mist enveloped her face.
Activating Beast Mode, Clawdia brandished her steel claws and unleashed a frenzy of wild slashes at the Duramboros's forehead.
ps. Players who've played X should have guessed what it is. For those who haven't, no worries, it will be explained later.
The Hyper state is arguably the most ambiguous (or perhaps perfunctory?) setting across the series. I will attempt to provide some rationalization and supplementary setting explanations.
(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
Duramboros — A colossal Brute Wyvern and herbivore, distinguished by its twin brow horns, enormous dorsal humps, and a massive tail shaped like a stone hammer. The humps store dense reserves of fat and nutrients, which the Duramboros burns rapidly when enraged to fuel sudden surges in speed and raw power. Its preferred weapon is that great tail club, capable of pulverizing the ground and sending shockwaves through the earth with a single swing.
Barioth — A swift and predatory Flying Wyvern built for life in extreme cold. Its white fur allows it to blend into blizzard conditions, while large amber tusks and specially adapted scales on its limbs let it grip and sprint across ice with ease. Among the most agile large wyverns in frigid environments, Barioth is considered an apex predator of the frozen reaches it inhabits.
CONCEPTS & SYSTEMS
Hyper State — A poorly understood phenomenon in which certain monsters enter a state of extreme agitation, their physical capabilities dramatically amplified beyond normal enraged levels. The most visible sign is a black vapor that gathers around specific body parts, marking them as sites of concentrated and dangerous power. The mist shifts over the course of a fight, and attacks from a mist-shrouded limb carry significantly greater force than those from unaffected parts. The cause of the Hyper State remains unknown.