The Rathalos.
He had already rehearsed his tactics dozens of times in his head—from weapon preparation to the starting position and escape routes. Every step had to be flawless.
This was no longer just an ordinary hunt; it was a challenge that would lead Leon into a completely new territory.
For a novice hunter, successfully hunting a "Rath" couple was a significant milestone.
To prepare for this crucial hunt, Leon went to the Ecological Research Center early in the morning to gather more intelligence.
Having successfully escorted three scholars in a previous mission, he had earned a considerable amount of trust within the center.
A researcher wearing glasses pulled out a thick volume titled 'Flying Wyvern Research Manual.' He patted the cover and mused, "You say you're going after a Rathalos? Hmm... then you'd better listen closely..."
The researcher explained while tapping on the illustrations and notes on the page with his pen.
"A Rathalos's claws contain potent venom. The chance of being poisoned after a scratch is extremely high. You must remember to bring Antidotes."
Leon immediately wrote "Venomous Claws" in his hunter's notes, drawing a skull and crossbones next to it.
Another elderly scholar pushed up his glasses and added, "Its roar can directly interrupt a hunter's movements... You should wear equipment with the Earplugs skill."
'Earplugs...' Leon murmured softly, taking his pen and drawing three heavy lines under the word "Earplugs."
"Before a wyvern takes flight, you can use Flash Pods to bring it down... but if you use them too often, the effect will diminish."
"Oh, and Rathalos liver oil is very fragrant; it's a favorite of the Royal Culinary Association..."
This comment elicited laughter from several researchers.
Leon simply smiled and quickly flipped to another page of his notebook, continuing to record information on the Rathalos.
...
Back at the hut, Leon continued organizing his notes.
He looked down at the pages of intelligence and muttered, "Dragon-element weapons, armor with Earplugs, Flash Pods, Antidotes... I can't afford to miss any of these..."
After asking around, Leon discovered that there was only one piece of equipment he could currently craft that provided Earplugs: the "Alloy Mail."
The heavy and rugged design wasn't suitable for high-mobility combat, but it would at least protect his ears from being shattered by roars.
As for a suitable weapon, he didn't have one ready yet...
Leon looked at the crafting list and realized he was still missing a water-element weapon.
To be prepared for any eventuality, he decided to hunt a Jyuratodus first to forge the "Muddy Shwom" and practice his skills in the process.
"It looks like I'll have to head back to the Wildspire Waste." Leon closed his notebook and tucked it into his pouch.
The Jyuratodus was also the first monster Leon had encountered that lived in swampy pools. Although its thick coating of mud-covered scales was a headache, it had a fatal weakness—
Thunder.
Leon walked to his equipment box and pulled out the "Pulsar Hatchets" crafted from Tobi-Kadachi materials.
It was the perfect time to test his new weapon.
Leon packed his gear and shouldered the Pulsar Hatchets, preparing to set out. But before he could step over the threshold, a furry figure suddenly lunged out.
"Meow! Newbie! Are you going out on a hunt? Let me come along! I'll make that mud-fish cry for its mama, meow!" Dumpling waved its bone club, the small backpack on its back clattering.
Leon blinked, then looked down into Dumpling's bright eyes, a slight smile forming on his lips.
"My target this time is a Jyuratodus. It's good at spitting mud, and the terrain is terrible," Leon said with mock seriousness. "Your fur was just cleaned last time; if you go on this trip, it'll probably get all knotted again."
Dumpling froze and looked down at its freshly groomed belly fur, a look of hesitation crossing its face.
"And..." Leon lowered his voice as if sharing a secret. "This time, I might need to use a bait strategy. You're so cute—what if the Jyuratodus swallows you in one bite?"
"Being cute is my fatal weakness, meow..." Dumpling held its head and crouched on the ground in dejection, its ears drooping.
Leon patted Dumpling's head and laughed. "When I get back, I'll bring you some Jyuratodus meat to grill. I hear if it's grilled just right, it has a subtle, earthy flavor."
"Meow!!" Dumpling looked up, its eyes instantly lighting up with excitement. "You'd better not forget, meow!"
Leon then turned and headed for the Wildspire Waste.
...
High noon.
Leon boarded the Wingdrake bound for the Wildspire Waste. Looking down from high above, the landscape of the waste remained as oppressive as ever.
"Jyuratodus usually appear near the pools at dawn or dusk..." Recalling the researcher's advice, Leon moved toward the area marked on his map.
The sun was blazing, turning the waste into a steamer. With every step on the loose soil, his feet slipped half an inch.
Leon reached a pool and crouched down to observe.
The water was murky, with grey-black mud constantly bubbling up. In the distance, strings of bubbles rose to the surface from time to time.
"Found you." Leon's gaze sharpened. He stepped into the pool and waded toward the bubbles.
Soon, a large coelacanth-like creature with legs appeared. Its body was covered in clay-colored carapaces and scales, and half of it was buried in the silt.
It was actually sleeping?
Leon approached for a closer look. The Jyuratodus's lower jaw had a double-layered structure with plate-like teeth.
The Jyuratodus lay low in the silt, its body covered in wet scales. Its lower jaw opened and closed slightly every now and then, making a creaking, grinding sound.
Its nostrils suddenly twitched as if it had caught a scent of something unusual.
Leon moved silently to the Jyuratodus's side and slowly crouched down to set a Shock Trap.
The next second—
Click!
The trap triggered instantly, sending a circular ripple of yellow electricity through the mud.
The Jyuratodus let out a low roar, its muscles twitching violently as it churned up large amounts of muddy water.
Leon raised his Pulsar Hatchets and entered Demon Mode.
Blade Dance! Blade Dance! Blade Dance!
After several rounds of heavy blows, fine cracks appeared in the carapace on the Jyuratodus's tail. Each strike of the Pulsar Hatchets was accompanied by the crackling sound of electricity.
Thunder followed the splashing mud, striking the water's surface and triggering several bright yellow ripples.
"Now's my chance!" Leon's eyes narrowed. While the Jyuratodus was still paralyzed, he swung his hatchets in a fierce diagonal slash toward the exposed gills on its right side.
The Jyuratodus recoiled in pain, its entire body jerking. In its frantic struggle, it sent mud flying everywhere. The electric light gradually faded; the paralysis had worn off.
It leaped up instantly, twisting its body to whip up a spiraling wave of mud!
Seeing this, Leon quickly jumped back.
His feet carved two deep grooves in the mud as he sidestepped the mud attack, which was laced with broken stones.
Utilizing the effect of the Shock Trap, Leon had dealt considerable damage to the Jyuratodus.
However, in the marshy pools, the Jyuratodus was too agile. It dove directly back into the water, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Leon scanned his surroundings alertly. After the surface churned, it fell into a brief silence.
He held his breath and slowly backed away, his fingers gripping the Pulsar Hatchets tightly. Sunlight filtered through the rising water vapor onto his face, and sweat dripped from his brow.
Suddenly!
A mound of mud abruptly rose from the center of the pool.
In the next instant.
Enveloped in mud, the Jyuratodus burst forth from the water, lunging directly toward Leon!