Night fell.
Astera was brightly lit.
Colorful banners hung in the Gathering Hub on the fourth floor.
Chefs busied themselves carrying roasted meat, fruit, and fresh beer while hunters sat around long tables. Their laughter intermingled in the air, echoing with the sound of the waves crashing against the shore in the distance.
Tonight was the welcome banquet for the Fifth Fleet.
Leon leaned against the railing, watching the newcomers from afar as they immersed themselves in the celebration—
Most of them were elite hunters from the Old World, recruited by the New World Research Commission to cross the sea.
Ramsey and Aibo were surrounded by people offering toasts and jokes, while Dumpling hit it off with a few newly arrived Felynes.
The scene was both familiar and foreign.
In the past, Leon had only watched the game's story unfold on a screen, but now he was a part of it.
'Still, now that the protagonist has arrived...'
'Does this mean that if I help Ramsey defeat Xeno'jiiva, I'll be able to return to my original world?'
And what exactly was this "unknown main quest"?
Amidst the laughter and joy, Leon thought of his old world again. He still wanted to go back...
The Commander's deep, heavy voice interrupted Leon's train of thought. He saw the man waving at him and calling out, "Leon, come here for a moment."
Leon walked over to the Commander.
The Commander placed his hands on Ramsey's shoulders and introduced him. "Ramsey is an A-List Hunter. I want you to take some time tomorrow to show him around the base and finish a small quest in the Ancient Forest."
"But I still have to hunt a Rathalos..." Leon's mind was entirely set on preparing for the Rathalos hunt, making him somewhat resistant to this sudden arrangement.
He wanted to pass the task to Flora or Vos, but he couldn't see either of them.
'Strange. Where did those two go?'
The Commander persisted. "It won't take much of your time. Just take him to practice against a Great Jagras tomorrow morning. Let the rookie see what New World monsters are like."
Leon sighed and eventually nodded, accepting the forced assignment.
He looked at Ramsey, who was currently downing a drink, fully immersed in the excitement of his arrival.
Leon recognized that look.
When he had crossed over last month, he had looked at the sky and the monsters the same way...
Everything felt brand new...
Not wanting to ruin the festive mood, Leon quietly walked up to Ramsey and said calmly, "I'll wait for you at the provisions manager tomorrow morning."
With that, he turned and left on his own.
As the noise and laughter faded, the howling sea breeze blew in with a salty tang, failing to dispel the frustration weighing on his heart.
Leon returned to his corner and watched the brightly lit Gathering Hub. His gaze fell on Ramsey, who was devouring meat and drinking heartily among the newcomers.
'Does he even need me to guide him?'
'The protagonist... The Sapphire Star...'
'The Fifth Fleet...'
At that moment, the history recorded in the archives surfaced in Leon's mind.
—The First Fleet: They landed on the New World, establishing the first outposts amidst grave danger, mapping ecological zones, and setting up the earliest camp networks.
—The Second Fleet: They brought massive amounts of supplies along with artisans and technicians to build Astera, constructing a self-sufficient production system and refining various facilities.
—The Third Fleet: Comprised mostly of scholars and researchers. As their understanding of the environment and monsters grew, the base became more sophisticated and the exploration range expanded.
—The Fourth Fleet: Consisted of hunters skilled in logistics management, focusing on stabilizing the base.
However, the Fifth Fleet—
—was here to unravel the mystery of the Elder Crossing.
The next morning, just as the first light broke.
Leon stood before his item box as usual, organizing the gear needed for the hunt. Dumpling yawned while reluctantly packing his own small bag.
He held a supply list detailing precautions, items, and traps. Even though they were only facing a Great Jagras, he had to be fully prepared.
"Yo, morning!" Ramsey strode over, clad in heavy armor with an iron Great Sword on his back, looking full of energy.
"You're quite early." Leon glanced at Ramsey without stopping his work. "Considering how much you drank last night, I'm surprised you're not late."
"I wouldn't want to miss my first battle in the New World for anything." Ramsey grinned, showing a row of white teeth. "It might be a simple quest, but it's the first time I'll swing my sword on this continent!"
"Let's go then." Leon grabbed his bag filled with potions and traps and turned toward the Gathering Hub.
Dumpling stretched, yawned, and hopped onto Leon's shoulder, complaining in a muffled voice, "Sigh... This cat wanted to sleep in today, meow—"
Leon said flatly, "Didn't you say 'three hunts a day makes a true Felyne'?"
"That's Coco's slogan, meow!" Dumpling muttered softly. "But... speaking of Coco, I feel like I haven't seen him in a while, meow..."
Leon looked thoughtful upon hearing that.
He had been so busy preparing for the Rathalos hunt that he really hadn't seen Flora for a long time...
'Where is she?'
Sensing Leon's thoughts, Dumpling lightly scratched his shoulder and whispered, "...You're not wondering if something happened to her, are you?"
"Dumpling," Leon asked, "did you see Coco last night?"
"Meow?" Dumpling tilted his head to think before shaking it. "No... didn't see him, meow... After the banquet last night, I was playing cards with my buddies, meow."
Leon nodded and said no more.
He could only suppress his worry for now as he led Ramsey and Dumpling onto the Wingdrake headed for the Ancient Forest.
Ancient Forest, Area 1.
The shadows of the trees danced, and the forest teemed with life.
Leon stood by some dense bushes, kneeling on one knee to examine the tracks on the ground. "These are Jagras footprints... just ahead... not far..."
His eyes sharpened as he visualized the Great Jagras's territory in his mind.
Ramsey panted and laughed. "Phew—looks like I need to work on my stamina. Just walking here from the camp has me exhausted."
Dumpling rolled his eyes and snorted, "Meow-nitely! Getting tired after such a short walk, how spoiled, meow."
Leon didn't laugh. He whispered, "Focus. Don't think you can get careless just because the prey is a Great Jagras..."
Hearing this, Ramsey stopped smiling and turned serious.
He unsheathed the iron Great Sword from his back. The blade glinted coldly in the morning light as he nodded. "Understood. I'll be serious from here on."
Leon nodded and took the lead into the vine-tangled path. Dumpling hopped alertly off his shoulder, quietly slipping into the bushes on one side to scout.
Before long, there was a rustle in the bushes ahead.
A low roar approached from the distance, accompanied by the sound of snapping branches and leaves, suddenly erupting in the forest.
A moment later, a Great Jagras—covered in yellow-green scales with a massive skull—burst through the trees. Its orange-red eyes stared straight at the trio, scraps of meat still dangling from its mouth.
Leon's eyes narrowed. "Remember the tactic—I'll draw its attention, you find an opening to attack. Don't get greedy. Focus on the tail first."
Ramsey replied, "Roger that!"
The moment the Great Jagras roared, Leon lunged forward. His dual blades crossed, slashing heavily at its front legs.
Ramsey followed close behind, charging with his sword!
Dumpling scrambled nimbly between the ground and tree trunks, looking for an opportunity to throw a trap or a barrel bomb.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves onto the forest floor. The fates of Leon and Ramsey were now intertwined...
Who exactly was the true Sapphire Star?