The intelligence Sid had provided contained a wealth of crucial information.
Some of it directly concerned combat and could immediately shape their tactics. For example: "The 'Demon King's' right horn is broken. Its field of vision is wider on the right, and it reacts more aggressively to enemies positioned ahead and to its right," and "The 'Demon King' is highly experienced at evading Flash Pods, rendering them ineffective."
Other details had nothing to do with combat but would prove invaluable for locating and studying their target. For example: "The 'Demon King' has no fixed territory, but it is eager to challenge other Diablos."
The Hunt itself was still a long way off, but that last piece of information alone prompted Altaïr and the others to revise their search plan immediately.
The two aerial reconnaissance units, the observation Airship and Sajji riding Hakucho, would continue with the original strategy, casting a wide net as they searched a vast area for signs of the "Demon King."
The two Hunter squads, however, would abandon their inefficient ground sweeps and instead monitor the Diablos they had already located.
It was Diablos breeding season, and their numbers in this region were far higher than usual.
Whether driven to compete for mating rights or challenge a powerful foe, the "Demon King" was bound to seek out others of its kind. This approach would be far more efficient than roaming aimlessly across the sand sea.
The teams were also reshuffled. Altaïr naturally rejoined Isis and Morgan, while Alva went with the Vanguard Hunting Party.
Altaïr possessed unusually extensive experience operating in the desert, but Alva was a veteran Royal Paleontology Scrivener who had spent thirty years roaming the wilderness. He had experience in virtually every kind of terrain.
This arrangement would improve the efficiency of both teams.
—--
Early the next morning, Altaïr, Isis, and Morgan set out aboard a small Sandship under the envious gazes of the Vanguard Hunting Party.
Across the sand sea, a Sandship traveled many times faster than anyone could on foot. Unfortunately, aside from Altaïr, no one else there seemed to know how to pilot one.
Alva, Serl, and the others could only don sandproof cloaks and dust scarves, then rely on their own two legs to cross the boundless, trackless sand sea.
At the sight, Francesca clicked her tongue several times, grabbed Pawdrick, and hurried aboard the observation Airship.
—--
Noon came.
The sky above the sand sea was so dry that not a wisp of cloud could be seen. Harsh sunlight beat down without mercy, and even cold drinks did little to make the heat bearable.
Lowering their body temperature did nothing to protect them from the sun's searing ultraviolet rays.
To prevent excessive fatigue and heatstroke, Alva called for a break beside a tall sand dune.
The Vanguard Hunting Party's three members and Alva, four grown men in all, huddled miserably within the tiny sliver of shade on the dune's leeward side, sheltering from the direct sunlight.
"What a godforsaken place!" Buck yanked off his helmet and leaned back against the scorching sand, panting heavily. "Boss, are we really going to be stuck out here for an entire month?"
Alva looked up from recording coordinates on the map and gave the Hammer user a slightly awkward smile.
In a sense, scholars like him were the chief culprits responsible for dragging Hunters into the sand sea to suffer.
"Buck," Serl said, cautioning his short-tempered companion.
"Yeah, yeah... I know. We're being paid for this!" Buck flopped onto his back with his arms spread wide, then suddenly remembered something and shot upright again.
"Mr. Alva, what if we rested during the day and traveled at night? Sure, the desert gets cold after dark, but that has to be better than roasting alive out here, right?"
"Hmm..." Alva considered the idea for a moment. "That might not work. Diablos are diurnal Monsters and dislike the cold. At night, they usually burrow into the dunes and sleep beneath sand still warm from the day. We could perhaps consider a nocturnal Hunt, but not during the tracking and observation phase."
"Fine..." Buck grumbled, lying back down in dejection.
"Wait." Serl suddenly raised a hand, signaling his companions to be quiet. "Do you hear something?"
Ignoring the searing heat, Alva pressed his ear to the sand. A few seconds later, he said, "Something is approaching from the southwest. It's moving fast, but it doesn't sound like a Large Monster. More like... a Delex, or something similar?"
"You two, stay with Mr. Alva and be ready for combat." Serl gripped his sword and shield, lowered his visor, and sprinted up the dune to look toward the source of the sound.
Then he froze.
A small Sandship was sailing toward them from the southwest.
Standing alone atop the tall dune made him extremely conspicuous. Once the people aboard noticed him, the Sandship changed course and headed straight toward him.
Was it Altaïr and the others? Had something happened, forcing them to hurry over in the Sandship and regroup?
That was Serl's natural assumption.
He soon realized he was wrong, however, because the approaching Sandship looked different from the one Altaïr's group was using.
It seemed... slightly larger?
Serl gave his companions below the dune the signal to stand down, sheathed his weapon, and slid back down the slope.
"A Sandship is coming. It isn't Altaïr's group, and I don't know who it is," he explained briefly after rejoining the others.
"Huh? A Sandship?"
Before they could fully process the news, the Sandship came bounding and gliding between the dunes into view. Within a few dozen seconds, it was almost upon them.
The Sandship was slowing down when a powerful gust of wind suddenly struck.
A familiar scream came from the vessel, now almost on top of them. It should have stopped right in front of the group, but instead accelerated and charged straight at them.
"Move!" the pilot shrieked.
Serl and his three companions scrambled to either side and dived clear. Heedless of the risk of capsizing, the Sandship swung sharply sideways and drifted to shed speed. Its steeply tilted hull became a giant shovel, flinging up a wave of yellow sand that buried all four men.
"That was close! We almost capsized!" Francesca jumped down from the Sandship and patted her chest, still shaken.
"Forget capsizing. You almost wiped out the entire Vanguard Hunting Party and the project lead, meow! I told you to furl the sails sooner, meow! You don't have the skill, yet you still insist on showing off, meow!"
"Oh, shut up! I wouldn't have messed up if that gust hadn't hit at the last second!"
As the human and Felyne bickered, Serl crawled out of the sand, covered in dust, and looked at them helplessly.
Then he froze in surprise.
Francesca was wearing a dress-like outfit resembling a Guild clerk's casual uniform, but Serl knew it was no ordinary clothing. It was a rather high-grade Armor Set, the Scholar X Set.
The armor had been specially designed by the Guild's equipment division and required a complex manufacturing process. No matter how many materials someone gathered, they could not forge a set without making enough contributions to obtain the special tickets.
Its defensive performance could not compare to heavy Hunter armor, but it offered exceptional freedom of movement (Evasion) and never hampered even the most precise actions (Precision). It was an ideal choice for scholars and Handlers working in the field.
On top of that, Francesca had brought her Great Kelbi Deershot, and even Pawdrick was equipped with Palico Armor.
What exactly was she planning?
As Serl's group clambered out of the sand one by one, Francesca noticed Buck cracking his knuckles and grinning viciously at her.
She hastily retreated to the Sandship, slapped its low gunwale twice, and called out, "Look! What is this?"
"A Sandship?" Brandley answered reflexively.
"Wrong!" Francesca lifted her chin smugly. "This is what will keep you from trudging across the desert on foot for the next month! It even has a canopy for shade. Nice and cool!" She planted one hand on her hip and pointed at the Hunters. "Now tell me, who's the boss of the Vanguard Hunting Party? Only the right answer gets you aboard!"