The Rathalos Model-07 boasts decent firepower, a simple structure, and easy assembly. Although it requires pedaling to move, if you put in the effort, its speed is certainly not slow, and it turns flexibly. Sajji is quite satisfied with all aspects.
It even began to consider making the Model-07 the final official model, planning to only modify some details in the future, with no need for major changes or iterations.
Until the moment the shadow cast by the plummeting Duramboros enveloped it overhead, it swore.
If it could escape with its life this time, it would develop higher-speed mechanical engines and even flying gunboats, even if it died trying!
"Watch out!"
Altaïr tried to use the Slinger to fire the Clutch Claw and pull Sajji from the cannon cart. Although the sharp Clutch Claw might injure the latter, there was no time to worry about that now.
However, someone was faster than him.
A virewing shimmering with silvery light shot over like lightning and landed on the chassis of the rapidly moving cannon cart.
Nymera sprinted a few steps, then, using the cannon cart connected by Ironsilk as a pivot, began to slide.
Just like the Fanning Vault, this is also one of the Silkbind attacks commonly used by Light Bowgun users from Kamura Village. The conventional method involves anchoring the other end of the Ironsilk to the ground via the Wirebug to perform an arcing slide.
This time, Nymera anchored the Ironsilk to the high-speed cannon cart. Naturally, she couldn't slide as stably as when fixed to the ground, but her own weight simultaneously affected the cannon cart.
Realizing Nymera's intent, Sajji abruptly turned the turret, forcing the cannon cart into a sharp turn. Under the reverse pull of the Ironsilk, the cannon cart began a wide arcing change of direction, narrowly escaping the area of the Duramboros's crashing attack, drifting behind the ancient tree with an astonishingly thick trunk.
"BOOM!"
The earth trembled violently. The spot where the Duramboros landed was even smashed into a shallow pit over ten meters in diameter.
Altaïr had thought the landed Duramboros would suffer a significant period of recoil. After all, given its size and weight, the impact from falling from that height was equally tremendous for itself. It wouldn't be strange for it to plop down on the ground, unable to rise for a while.
Just then, something unexpected happened to everyone.
A black mist surged from the gaps in the skin of the Duramboros's legs and back. The moment this aura appeared, the muscles on its back and legs swelled abnormally.
The Duramboros that had crashed to the ground actually managed to stand firmly on its legs. It even converted part of the landing impact into attack momentum, violently side-tackling in the direction Sajji had previously dodged, determined to crush its target into pulp.
However, it proved that while the black mist strengthened the muscle capabilities of certain parts of the Duramboros's body, it did not enhance its reaction speed or intelligence.
Perhaps the previous high-speed spinning and aerial maneuvers had left it somewhat dizzy, its attention only able to focus on one point.
It only thought about crushing the enemy along the direction of their escape, failing to realize that Sajji had already drifted and hidden behind the giant tree with Nymera's help.
By the time it became aware of the giant tree's presence and tried to abort the Tackle's charge, it was already too late. The Duramboros slammed heavily into the giant tree, splinters and fallen leaves swirling in a violent shockwave that swept outward. Amid the hair-raising "crack," the colossal tree, fully seven or eight meters thick, was simply snapped in half by the impact.
Sajji shrieked, driving the cannon cart and dashing out just before the giant tree could topple and crush them.
The Duramboros, having knocked over the giant tree, stumbled backward several steps. Its body swayed a moment, its head shook twice, and soon it steadied itself again.
The Hunters were left dumbfounded.
A tree this thick, even a Tigrex at full-charge attack would likely smash its head bloody trying to ram it, yet this thing had just snapped it clean through with a Tackle. Was its strength not a bit too absurd?
—--
For a moment, Altaïr even considered organizing the team to retreat outright.
Never mind the average power level of monsters like the Duramboros. Just judging by this individual one, its danger level was probably not even contained by 4★; 5★ might not hold it either!
But he quickly regained his composure.
Power doesn't arise from nothing; that holds true for any living creature. If this thing's strength far surpassed ordinary Duramboros, then its rate of energy consumption must also be several times that of a normal one.
Beyond that, he noticed another detail.
The great fire on the Duramboros's back had gone out. After Sajji and Nymera jointly ignited the blaze earlier, this Duramboros had clearly shown panic, and immediately after, it used a spinning attack.
This meant the Duramboros's spinning attack likely served not only to attack them but also to extinguish the fire.
In the coming battle, whether they ignited the fire again or used some other method, they must find a way to make this Duramboros move intensely, accelerating its stamina drain.
Simultaneously, they must keep attacking the hump, hastening the loss of fat.
Once it exhausted its stored fat, what use would its strong muscles be? With insufficient energy supply, no matter how great its strength, it would have to lie down obediently.
"Keep harassing it!" Altaïr drew his Sword and Shield, shouting orders, "Destroy the hump, drain its stamina! Don't think about killing it, exhaust it!"
Isis and the others immediately grasped his intent.
Nymera called Sajji, and once again they circled around to the Duramboros's rear, a visual blind spot. As Gunners, it was best not to appear within the monster's line of sight if possible.
Both humps on the Duramboros's back had already been blasted open, revealing the yellowish fat inside.
Fat quickly melts into oil under high heat, and oil itself is excellent flammable material. With Flaming Ammo and Incendiary Rounds, they planned to find an opportunity to set the Duramboros's back ablaze once more.
Isis was about to head to the Duramboros's front, as before, to flank it with Altaïr left and right, pulling its attention back and forth.
But at that moment, Altaïr called her to stop. "Leave the front to me. You attack its legs, remember to focus on one leg!"
Isis hesitated a moment, but seeing Altaïr's firmness, she nodded vigorously and charged toward the Duramboros's legs.
Altaïr directly activated Demon Mode, accelerating his approach to the Duramboros's front.
In the earlier battle, he had noticed the Duramboros was very poor at dealing with agile, nimble opponents. Its strength was astonishing, its attack range vast, but its attack speed could hardly be called fast. Even if it suddenly erupted into attack while bolstered by that mysterious black mist, he was confident he could dodge it.
Thus, he could act independently as the front line to draw the monster's attention, freeing Isis, who was equally skilled in offense, from that role.
The two hooves were the only points supporting the Duramboros's heavy body. If he could seriously damage one, it would absolutely hinder its mobility and drastically reduce the threat.
"Hey! Over here!" Altaïr shouted loudly as he arrived in front of the Duramboros.
Still somewhat dazed, the Duramboros instinctively lowered its center of gravity, then raised its head, interlocked its horns, and charged fiercely toward him.
Altaïr had no intention of retreating at all. Instead, he charged straight at those horns.
The Duramboros never refused a head-on clash. Black energy surged in its legs as its muscular power erupted, increasing its forward charge speed by another notch.
Just as those giant curved-blade-like horns were about to skewer him, Altaïr suddenly dropped into a sliding shovel, slipping under the Duramboros's head and casually delivering a light slash to its jaw as he passed.
Sliding Slash!
He didn't find the move monotonous. Since this technique learned from Serl was effective, he naturally used it often!
The charge-missing Duramboros stumbled forward a few steps, glanced back, and immediately swung down its Tail Hammer.
However, Altaïr had no intention of slipping behind it at all. Instead, he had gone beneath its belly, the Duramboros's attack blind spot.
In contrast, Isis, who had just arrived near the legs ready to launch her assault, ended up behind it due to the Duramboros's forward charge. She nearly got hit by the Tail Hammer, breaking out in a cold sweat.
"Hey!"
"Sorry!" No time for a sincere apology. After delivering several continuous sword slashes beneath the Duramboros's chest and belly, Altaïr slid out from under the monster and returned to its front.
"It's me again, come 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.
SKILLS & TECHNIQUES
Silkbind Attacks — A category of combat techniques that make use of Ironsilk, the resilient thread produced by Wirebugs. By launching a Wirebug to anchor the silk to a surface, an object, or even a moving target, hunters can redirect their momentum for rapid repositioning, arcing slides, and other maneuvers that would be impossible under normal movement. Silkbind attacks form the backbone of the acrobatic fighting style developed in Kamura Village.
Ironsilk — The strong, elastic thread produced by Wirebugs. Beyond its use in Silkbind attacks, it serves as a versatile utility line, capable of connecting a hunter to any surface or object and transferring force in both directions.