Monster Hunter: This Dragon's Built Different-Chapter 406: Preparations

In the sky, a blue comet streaked past.

Because his skeletal frame and spines were now encased in Terastal crystallization, Logan’s wings were no longer well suited to their original flapping-style flight. The added weight, along with the slightly stiffened wing membranes, gave him troubles similar to those of Bazelgeuse: gliding posed no problem, but attempting long-distance flight purely through wing flapping, like a normal Flying Wyvern, felt somewhat awkward.

Fortunately, after a period of initial maladjustment, this condition began to ease rapidly as Logan flew more and more.

Gale Wings’ ability to control airflow allowed his wing membranes, even when not especially flexible, to retain agility over short distances, while the heavy skeletal structure and scales enabled his wings to withstand far more violent turbulent airflow.

As a result, Logan’s flight style changed into the following: over short distances, like Kushala Daora, he used airflow manipulation to enhance his maneuverability.

Over long distances, he directly applied turbine-like acceleration, instantly transforming into a blue meteor that traced streak after streak across the sky.

...

The Ancient Tree Hunters’ Guild.

With Little Loren’s help, Darren had finally completed the last task. At this moment, dressed in casual clothes, he was comparing the notes in his hands—records containing various conjectures regarding the Sunblaze Dragon after its metamorphosis—while forming corresponding judgments in his mind.

According to the deductions of the scholars at the Ancient Tree research base, this round of metamorphosis of the Sunblaze Dragon should represent the true form of its species.

Based on the theory of natural mimicry and camouflage, rare and highly vigilant camouflaged organisms only fully transform into their true form after ensuring that their strength is genuinely sufficient to survive within the ecological chain.

Although they had not yet observed the Sunblaze Dragon’s post-metamorphosis combat stance or obtained comprehensive physical data, judging from the accumulated knowledge of the past, it could already be concluded that the present-day Sunblaze Dragon had likely reached the true apex even among the ecological niches that include Elder Dragons.

At the very least, in this world, there were probably not many living beings left that could pose a threat to Him.

Although, under the Hunters’ Guild’s classification of Elder Dragons, there were only ordinary Elder Dragons and "super" Elder Dragon–class Elder Dragons whose strength surpassed that of common Elder Dragons, as a frontline hunter, Darren knew very well that there were still many Elder Dragons whose strength stood above that.

It was just that Elder Dragons like that were far too rare. More often than not, they were the absolute apex creatures within a particular cultural sphere, and they were not universal. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Moreover, for ordinary people and for ninety percent of hunters, Elder Dragons were already existences that could only be yearned for from afar, and those above Elder Dragons were something the vast majority of hunters would never encounter in their entire lives, so there was no need to make a more detailed classification above Elder Dragons.

And as for Logan before his metamorphosis, in Darren’s eyes he already belonged to the very top tier of Elder Dragons. Now, after metamorphosing, with Him no longer disguising Himself, His strength had certainly undergone a leap in improvement!

"I really want to have a set of equipment forged from His materials."

Darren looked at the words in the notebook and murmured unconsciously.

Blazing Wing had already been handed over to the Smithy. Using the rare ores he and his Palico had gathered deep within the Ancient Forest during this period, as well as the quest rewards obtained from the ancient Wyverian girl, the next stage of upgrades would be carried out.

As for the armor he wore, with Little Loren’s help, in such a short time he had successfully and precisely found several leaders among those roaming Radiant Fire Wyvern groups and hunted them. Those newer and stronger materials, together with some scales Little Loren had shed while resting, could be paired together to forge an even stronger set of Radiant Fire Wyvern armor.

This was also a pretty good improvement to his strength.

"Whose materials do you want?" Mia, carrying a huge tray together with the Palico—who had a long face, with tear tracks still under its big eyes—sat down beside Darren with some curiosity and poured herself a cup of beer.

The Palico looked at the two of them already starting to dig in, then looked at its wallet, which had gone flat yet again. There was no need to think about it—after the two of them had spent all their money again, this celebratory feast after completing the quest had once more been paid for by it.

Silently gnawing on its little grilled fish, the Palico was already thinking about whether it should take on some part-time work in its spare time.

"Nothing." Although he had that thought, this was the Ancient Tree Hunters’ Guild—if others found out what he was thinking, then for those Ancient Tree hunters who could treat receiving a single scale as a reward and pass it down as a family heirloom, they would probably want nothing more than to hack him to death.

Seeing Darren avoid the question, Mia tactfully did not press further. Instead, she changed the subject and said, "That His Highness from the Ancient Tree—who would have thought He’d be cold on the outside but warm on the inside? Compared to the little Chameleos over in Astera, this His Highness is practically my dream dragon! If the Sunblaze Dragon weren’t so dazzling, His Highness would probably be even more popular on the Ancient Tree, wouldn’t He?"

"Elder Dragons... do not need recognition from other creatures. Their strength and their existence within the ecology, they..."

Faced with a remark like Mia’s, Darren really did not know how to respond. How was he supposed to follow that up?

In the end, he could only say a few dry words to ease his own awkwardness.

Elder Dragon worship—he had seen far too much of that.

As a top-tier hunter, he would not develop such thoughts himself. However, the coordination between him and Little Loren, as well as the sense of distance during their encounters, genuinely made him feel comfortable.

"By the way, I heard that Astera is about to begin the interception of Zorah Magdaros. We can make it in time on our end, right?" Perhaps noticing Darren’s awkwardness, Mia quickly shifted the topic again.

"No problem. I already asked before upgrading my equipment—timing-wise, it works. What I’m worried about is that this time we’re facing a super-colossal Elder Dragon. Over here in the New World, are the large-scale weapons really sufficient?"

Darren was somewhat concerned. For hunters, super-colossal Elder Dragons—especially one like Zorah Magdaros, which is considered among the most massive even within that category—reduce the hunter’s role to an absolute minimum.

Even if a hunter’s weapon were driven in up to the hilt, it probably would not even pierce the opponent’s scales.

Against such a creature, large-scale weapons were the true main force. Hunters could at most play a supporting role.

Mia could not answer that question either. Their understanding of the New World was still far too limited. They had been constantly running around for weapons and equipment, rarely even attending meetings. The little they knew mostly came from listening to others chat while resting at the Gathering Hub.

For a moment, both of them fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts, quietly eating.

The Felyne, who had already finished a whole fish and was licking its paws, instantly became alert.

Based on its past experience, whenever its master went quiet, it definitely meant trouble was brewing!

Quickly cover the little wallet! It really had no money left at all!!

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