The Rotten Vale is divided into three layers based on altitude.
The upper layer is the starting area of the Rotten Vale, consisting of intricate, circular terrain. The middle and lower layers are the regions with the densest effluvium, forming the true 'vale' of the area.
The upper layer is divided into Areas 1 through 5. Like a coiled serpent, Vespoids and Neopteron environmental creatures congregate here in large numbers.
It is also the primary territory of the Radobaan. Area 4, which serves as the Radobaan's nest, has accumulated a vast amount of animal and plant carcasses over time, forming thick, black heavy oil.
The middle layer is the area with the highest concentration of effluvium. It can be accessed via the path in Area 3 and encompasses Areas 4 through 11. This is the main habitat for monsters like Odogaron and Great Girros.
The three stepped into the Rotten Vale. Mist coiled around their ankles like venomous snakes, and the air was thick with the stench of decay.
"We need to follow the path to Area 4. Great Girros usually appear there," Vos explained. "Like Jagras, they are pack-dwelling monsters."
Leon knelt down, his fingertips tracing a patch of earth marked with mottled scratches. "There are drag marks here," he whispered. "An investigator must have been dragged away by a monster."
"No, that's a Radobaan." Vos pointed to a long trail of drag marks ahead. "Radobaan are Brute Wyverns that feed on carrion and bone. They curl their bodies and move at high speeds by rolling."
"Shouldn't we head to Area 4 first?" A smile played on Flora's lips. She looked at the crouching Leon and deliberately emphasized, "Captain?"
"..." Leon stood up awkwardly and continued walking forward without looking back.
The desolate scenery along the way left Flora, visiting the Rotten Vale for the first time, in awe, while Vos provided a constant stream of basic ecological knowledge.
Through Vos's explanation, Leon gained a general understanding of the Rotten Vale's structure. To his surprise, it seemed no hunters had discovered the existence of Vaal Hazak yet.
If every region had its signature monster, the Ancient Forest would be the Rathalos and Rathian pair, the Wildspire Waste would be Diablos, and the Rotten Vale could only be Vaal Hazak.
Even just through the screen while playing the game, Leon had felt the terror of Vaal Hazak. He wondered what it would be like to actually face it...
Moments later, the three arrived at Area 4.
Vos planted his lance in the ground, his gaze sharp as an eagle beneath his Barroth helm. "We might encounter an Odogaron next," he warned. "If we do, just follow me and run. I know how to lose it."
The three formed a wedge formation. Vos led the way with his massive shield, Leon moved nimbly in the middle, and Flora brought up the rear with her sword and shield.
After a short walk, a dumping ground for countless carcasses came into view. Shattered equipment from investigators was scattered across the ground.
"There he is!" Leon pointed toward a stone pillar entwined with vines—
An investigator lay on the ground, purple foam bubbling from his mouth. He was clearly poisoned and on the verge of death.
Leon pulled an Antidote from his pouch, stepped off a ribcage, and lunged forward.
However, at that moment—
"Guh-roar—!"
A sharp roar tore through the air like an iron hook, coming from deep within the piles of rotting corpses, accompanied by the sound of churning mud.
In that instant, Leon poured the Antidote into the investigator's mouth before drawing his dual blades and shifting into a defensive stance.
He cautiously placed a Pitfall Trap on the spot.
"It's coming!" Vos slammed his left foot down, bracing his lance and shield.
The rotten pile of bones suddenly exploded, and a monster covered in black scales leaped out from the mountain of corpses.
Its head resembled a snake's, with two prominent fangs protruding from its mouth being its most striking feature.
Great Girros!
Looking closely, the Great Girros's black scales were marked with yellow stripe-like spots, and it appeared to have gill-like organs on its neck.
Red mist drifted.
A rustling sound suddenly came from within the white bone piles.
"Hiss... hiss hiss hiss!"
"Watch out—" Leon's ears twitched, and his gaze sharpened. "There's more than one!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth.
Several dark shadows darted out from the carrion piles. Three Girros lunged into the fray. Though small, they were exceptionally agile, spitting venomous mucus and showing clear hostility toward the trio.
"They really are pack monsters!" Vos swept his lance, forcing back the nearest Girros, but one behind him took the opportunity to leap toward his shoulder.
"Get lost!" Flora swung her sword, cleaving the Girros out of mid-air as blood sprayed.
"I'll take the small ones!" Leon entered Demon Mode, his silhouette moving like the wind. His dual blades became flashes of light as he slashed horizontally and vertically at the other two Girros.
"Meow—here I come!" With a small roar, Dumpling pounced forward carrying a specialized barrel bomb and hurled it!
BOOM!
One of the Girros was blasted onto its back.
Simultaneously, Coco played his Hunting Horn. Leon, Vos, and Flora were instantly enveloped in a faint red glow.
—Attack power slightly increased.
Biscuit and Vos worked together to pin down the Great Girros, their synergy as hunter and Felyne being top-notch.
Vos used his lance and shield to draw aggro, while Biscuit used a Light Bowgun for long-range support.
Though the battlefield was chaotic, the three humans and three Felynes each played their roles.
In terms of strength, Girros were only slightly tougher than Jagras. The main difference was their paralytic toxin.
If Jagras and Great Jagras were the lowest tier of the Ancient Forest, then Girros and Great Girros were definitely the bottom tier of the Rotten Vale.
—Undeniably beginner monsters.
[KILLED: GIRROS X3]
[EXP GAINED: 150X3]
[LEVEL: LV.7 (12550/18000)]
Leon cut down the last Girros. Before the blood could dry, heavy thuds approached.
Thump—thump—thump—!
The Great Girros leaped high into the air, its massive body slamming down like a stone hammer!
"Get back!" Vos raised his shield, bracing for the impact.
BOOM!
A loud crash echoed as the ground shook.
"What heavy force..." Vos was knocked back three steps, but managed to tank the hit.
"Roar—!" The Great Girros lashed its tail in fury, its scales scraping the ground and kicking up a storm of bone shards.
"Dumpling!" Leon commanded.
"Meow-wow!" Dumpling leaped from the flank, his barrel bomb hitting the Great Girros's neck with precision!
BOOM!
Smoke billowed, and the Great Girros staggered.
"Now!" Vos thrust his lance like a bolt of lightning, aiming straight for the gap between the monster's chest and abdomen.
"Hyah!" Flora leaped, her sword biting into the monster's eye socket as blood geysered out.
The Great Girros's head was broken, and it collapsed to the ground.
—Demon Flurry Rush!
Blade Dance!
Leon slid forward, his dual blades crossing in rapid succession, tracing a lethal 'X' pattern.
Every strike landed precisely on the Great Girros's tail!
Hiss—!
Along with a cry of agony, the Great Girros's massive body convulsed. Blood slowly flowed from its mouth, staining the ground red.
[KILLED: GREAT GIRROS]
[EXP GAINED: 600]
[LEVEL: LV.7 (13150/18000)]
"It's over." Vos shook the blood off his lance, about to turn and check on the investigator's condition.
However, in the next second—
The earth trembled quietly.
Rustle... rustle...
It was as if something gargantuan was squirming in the depths, a mix of bones grinding and the rustle of dragging cloth.
Not far away, a cloud of black mist appeared.
"What's going on?" Flora gripped her sword hilt tightly, her gaze fixed on the source of the sound.
The three Felynes seemed to sense danger; their ears flattened and their fur stood on end.
"What is that sound..." Vos frowned, staring into the far side of the black mist.
A distorted shadow emerged from the thick fog.
It approached slowly, draped in tattered shrouds. Its steps were slow and heavy, its head bowed low. Behind it trailed long strips of cloth and bone remains, looking like a rotting emperor.
Seeing this, Leon's expression turned grave instantly. He lowered his voice as much as possible, muttering, "This... this is impossible, right? We're running into it already?"
That blurred silhouette, that death-like aura, that presence that almost stained the world black!
Leon's throat tightened as he whispered the name—
"Vaal... Vaal Hazak."
"Vaal... what?" Vos was stunned. This wasn't his first time in the Rotten Vale, yet he had never encountered this.
"You know it?" Flora looked at Leon in surprise.
"Listen to me." Leon took a deep breath, his eyes locked onto the figure. He commanded, "We must—right now, immediately—retreat."
"Why?" Vos asked, confused. "It's just a slow-moving... dragon?"
"You don't understand," Leon said in a low voice. "It is the ruler of the Rotten Vale, a ghost among dragons that feeds on the dead... We are no match for it."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the figure suddenly looked up. A gaunt, cracked face of dragon bone emerged from the black mist.
Crimson eyes seemed to concentrate the resentment of thousands of dead, slowly locking onto the group.
A sudden chill ran down Leon's spine. Gritting his teeth, he forced out the words: "Run!"
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