"Support!"
Altaïr shouted a low command, instantly activating Demon Mode and charging forward.
Sajji deployed the Rakna-Kadaki No. 3 on the spot, preparing to fire a One-shot Binder to restrain the Rathian. Meanwhile, Clawdia instantly entered her beastified state, following closely behind Altaïr as they rapidly breached the combat zone.
Isis was being too impulsive, no, "impulsive" didn't seem quite the right word. It would be more accurate to say she was a bit too "violent."
Wedging the Large Shield into the Monster's mouth and then shoving the Gunlance into its throat to fire a Wyvern's Fire was technically fine.
As long as the Large Shield was sturdy enough to keep from being crushed by the Monster's bite, this powerful Shelling aimed at the fragile oral cavity and throat could deal massive damage in a single blow. It wasn't even out of the question to kill it outright.
It was exactly like how Isis had quickly dispatched the Yian Kut-Ku during the Arena Challenge in Dundorma last year.
At zero or even negative distance, the power of Wyvern's Fire would be maximized. While the shockwave of the blast would also affect the Hunter, the protection from the Large Shield and the Heavy Armor meant it wouldn't result in anything too serious.
However, all of that was predicated on the Wyvern's Fire being the only thing firing.
But this Rathian, pushed to extreme fury after consecutive setbacks, had made a decision similar to Isis's, it was going to release a breath attack right against her Large Shield.
A Rathalos's breath attack is formed by igniting flammable gases stored within the Flame Sac, creating a high-temperature, high-pressure fireball inside the mouth which is then launched in a single burst. Its power is in no way inferior to a Wyvern's Fire.
Both were essentially utilizing the impact of an explosion to harm the enemy; there was no such thing as them canceling each other out.
It was like pressing the muzzles of two cannons directly against each other and firing simultaneously...
As the two bursts of flame met within the sealed space formed by the dragon's maw and the Large Shield, it was uncertain if the Rathian would be killed instantly, but it was practically guaranteed that Isis, pressed right against the "muzzle," would be sent flying.
If the Rathian didn't die in the explosion, Altaïr had to intercept it immediately to prevent it from seizing the chance to follow up.
"BOOM!"
Inside the dragon's mouth, a brilliant light flashed.
An explosion countless times louder than any previous roar shook the mountains and forests. The shockwave spreading with the roar pushed forward like an invisible wall.
Under the powerful wind pressure, Altaïr felt his body lurch violently mid-charge, nearly losing his balance.
In the midst of the blast, the Rathian's head snapped back. Just as he had predicted, Isis was sent flying along with her shield, crashing heavily onto the ground seven or eight meters away.
"I'll stop it! First aid!" Altaïr bellowed.
The moment he spoke, Clawdia, who had been trailing right behind him, deactivated her beastified state. She turned in a panic and rushed toward her master who had been blown away.
Arriving swiftly in front of the Rathian to launch an assault, Altaïr saw the beast collapse unsteadily to the ground.
Its upper and lower jaws had been completely torn apart, with the rift extending all the way down to its neck. Half of its lower jaw was missing, and a massive chunk of its upper jawbone and head plating had been blown off. From the charred wounds, dragon blood gushed out like a geothermal spring.
Its dull yellow draconic pupils were dilated and rolling back; it had clearly entered its final death throes. To ensure safety, Altaïr thrust Khanga Rebellion through the rift in its jawbone, crushing its brain. Only after confirming its death did he flick the blood from the blade, sheath the weapon, and hurry to his reckless companion's side.
"Cough..."
Isis, lying flat on the ground, spat out a mouthful of blood. Her head was spinning, her consciousness clearly hazy.
Altaïr's heart leaped into his throat.
Clawdia was busy performing a head-to-toe check. She wasn't an expert in first aid, but Shalan had once forced her to learn the basics.
"How is she?" Altaïr couldn't help but ask.
Clawdia didn't respond immediately, only speaking once she had finished her rapid assessment. "Internal organs suffered blast impact trauma, meow. Slight concussion, and there may be a bone fissure in the arm she used to hold the Large Shield, meow. But overall, there are no life-threatening injuries, meow."
Altaïr finally breathed a sigh of relief. He ordered Sajji to stand guard, then knelt down by Isis's head, helped her remove her helmet, and patted her cheek.
"Between stopping a charge attack and having a passionate exchange of fire with a Rathalos at point-blank range, are you having fun yet?"
Isis, her mind still foggy, let out a series of nonsensical whimpers.
In truth, Altaïr understood that the final Wyvern's Fire couldn't exactly be called a mistake. Isis's shelling storing power and the Rathian's breath attack preparation had begun almost simultaneously; in fact, the activation of Isis's Wyvern's Fire was even a fraction of a second faster.
In that situation, she couldn't have pulled her shield out of the Rathian's mouth, nor could she have let go of her weapon and turned to run. Maintaining a defensive stance and trading fire was arguably her only viable option.
But why are you so obsessed with wrestling Monsters and shoving your Gunlance into their mouths for a Wyvern's Fire?
If you just stayed steady, maneuvered, and looked for openings to launch a focused assault, couldn't you have suppressed the opponent just the same?
Well, such things were easier said than done.
He admitted that even if it were him, when facing a Monster within his "capabilities" like a Rathian, he wouldn't be able to resist the urge to use Helm Breaker once he reached the red Spirit Gauge stat, rather than slowly grinding the opponent down with Crimson Blade Slash and spirit blade.
But that didn't stop him from nitpicking from the perspective of a bystander.
Having Clawdia lift Isis's head slightly, Altaïr pinched Isis's cheeks to force her mouth open and poured a bottle of Mega Potion inside.
Holding her head, Clawdia grumbled in a low voice, "I should write a letter to your family telling them about your magnificent feat: charging to stop a charge attack, wrestling inside a dragon's maw, and trading Wyvern's Fire for a breath attack at zero distance to achieve a Rathian speed-kill, meow..."
Isis, who had been dazed just a second ago, suddenly snapped her eyes open. She instinctively tried to bolt upright and scream "Don't!", but the medicine being poured down her throat went into her windpipe instead. "Pfft-ha!" She sprayed it all over Altaïr's face.
Back at Metapetatto, they took Isis to the physician to re-examine her injuries. Once they confirmed there was no cause for alarm beyond needing a couple of days of rest, Altaïr and the others were finally able to put their hearts at ease.
They had carved plenty of materials from the Rathian. Because it was a speed-kill, the Rathian had almost no wounds on its body other than its mangled head. Consequently, the quantity and quality of the retrieved materials were quite good, though unfortunately, they didn't manage to carve any rare materials like a Ruby.
Isis had no need for Rathian materials. Although the old smith had once recommended the Rathian Gunlance to her, it was a weapon biased toward shelling, which didn't fit her combat style, making it unnecessary to forge. Altaïr, on the other hand, placed an order for a Wyvern Blade "Verde", a very classic Poison Element Long Sword.
Since it wasn't a rare weapon that was particularly difficult to craft, there was naturally no need to involve the old smith; the workshop owner happily took the commission.
However, the Large Shield Isis had sent in for repairs due to minor damage had the old smith fuming, his whiskers bristling.
It wasn't that he was angry at Isis for her violent handling of the equipment; as a barrier for Defense, a shield's sole requirement was to be sturdy enough, and any amount of rough use was to be expected.
He simply felt he had lost face.
A shield I personally forged using Glavenus materials, damaged during its very first use, and against a mere Rathian at that?!
If word got out, wouldn't it ruin my reputation?
Faced with the strange looks from his son and grandson, as if asking "Old man, have you still got it?", the old smith, who had intended to rest for a while, stepped up once more. He vowed to restore the shield perfectly and reinforce it thoroughly.
Checking injuries, re-dressing wounds, ordering the new weapon, and sending the shield for repairs... having completed this series of tasks, Altaïr and Isis returned to the Guild Hall to finalize their quest settlement.
Next, they planned to take a few days off to recuperate, mainly because Isis's injuries needed time to heal, and her Large Shield would also take some time to repair.
Isis dragged Altaïr to the Tavern Area and ordered a table full of meat; for her, this was the best way to speed up the healing process.
After a quick meal to fill his belly, Altaïr excused himself on the grounds of wanting an early rest and returned to his room alone.
First, he took out his notepad and jotted down the questions that had arisen while reading those swordsmanship insights over the past few days, summarizing them into specific inquiries.
Then, he produced a sheet of stationery, dipped a quill into ink, and began to write a letter.
[To my mentor, Amos:
Greetings from a student a thousand miles away.
While practicing my swordsmanship, I have come across a few questions...]
After clearly listing the swordsmanship problems he had summarized during this period, Altaïr hesitated for a half-second before continuing to write.
[Additionally, Isis has been a bit restless lately...]
(Translated by yourtl.app)