"Who is Huihui? Is it an Ailuros?" Xike asked, puzzled.
"Uh... sort of, Xike, how much of this crystal does headquarters have left?"
"What you're holding is all of it, meow."
"Oh, Huihui is beyond saving again," Li Fan sighed, looking at the crystal.
According to the explored regions of the Monster Hunter world, besides the continent they were currently on, there was another unknown new continent across the distant seas. Li Fan had only visited it in the game. There, passing through the Ley Line Conduits, was an area called the Elder's Recess. The energy crystals, considered rare materials in his hand, were as common as stones there, even accumulating into mountains and hills. If one were to infer from the scale difference between the game and reality, the actual reserves might be even more astonishing. Furthermore, in terms of energy density, crystalline Dragon Crystals were clearly much higher than the Hercynian Stone, which contained a large amount of impurities.
It was just that the energy properties were quite different. One emitted blue energy, the other red. The difference could be judged by sight alone. Li Fan thought of a way to save Huihui: to take it to the Elder's Recess on the new continent. This would not only solve Huihui's energy acquisition problem but might even induce adaptive mutation. However, given the current conditions, the idea was sound, but its implementation was impossible. This small amount, who would it be enough for? If Huihui saw it, she would think Li Fan was stingy. Li Fan reluctantly put the Dragon Crystal back.
To describe his current mood in three words would be unwilling, and in five words, extremely unwilling. Missing this Huihui, it seemed only a special individual, the mysterious crimson-hued Valstrax, remained. But that one, long affected by Dragon energy, was already in a semi-insane state, constantly attacking the ground indiscriminately. Wait, without the ecological support of the Towering Heaven Pagoda in the Guiding Lands, where did that Valstrax come from? After this period of contact with the Monster Hunter world, Li Fan, upon thinking of a monster, no longer considered its combat power or characteristics first, but the ecological environment that could sustain its life.
But this didn't explain it; Wen De's combat deployment clearly had no major issues.
"Researcher Li Fan, here are the seeds for the Dragon-Slaying Fruit you requested," a female researcher said, handing Li Fan a bag.
"Thank you..." Looking at the rough-skinned Dragon-Slaying Fruit seeds in the bag, a thought flashed through his mind. If Huihui couldn't survive the joint hunt, she would die in the Guiding Lands. If she survived, how would she continue to live? Dragon energy also existed in Elder Dragons... Li Fan suddenly felt a chill, but thinking along these lines, the appearance of the special individual, the mysterious crimson-hued Valstrax, was explained. These two Valstraxes were originally the same one. The severe injuries from the joint hunt, coupled with the depletion of the Hercynian Stone vein, forced Huihui to survive in another way. That is, by hunting other Elder Dragons for energy.
No wonder the Valstrax in the game had more moves and seemed more ferocious; it turned out that Huihui at this time had accumulated extremely rich combat experience. This form of Valstrax, it was likely that no hunter could fight it head-on. Li Fan felt that the Monster Hunter world would take two completely different directions depending on Huihui's survival.
Thinking of the ice element ammo and its effective range not matching the actual test, Li Fan returned to the test bench and questioned Xike.
"Ice element ammo... effective range... I don't know, meow." Xike's eyes darted towards the laboratory ceiling.
"There's nothing up here." Li Fan looked up and found nothing unusual. Xike simply turned his head to the other side. Li Fan knew that Ailuros cats were not good at lying, and Xike, not daring to look him in the eye, must know some inside story but didn't want to mention it.
"I need this crystal for my research. Can I take it?" Li Fan picked up the Dragon Crystal again.
"No, meow. This is a top-level experimental material. It requires approval from the Dean or the Deputy Head of the Research Group." Xike replied.
"Aren't you the Deputy Head?"
"That's true, meow, but this crystal is too precious unless you can explain its purpose." Li Fan pondered for a long time but couldn't come up with a reasonable use. After all, the Dragonatory hadn't figured it out yet.
"Uh... where is the explosive device stuck?" Li Fan asked.
"It's stuck at the selection of bonding materials, meow. If there isn't a suitable bonding material for the Teostra's dust, it will easily be blown away by the airflow. Without aggregation and detonation, its power is very limited," Xike said helplessly.
"Is that so... How about the Zinogre's liquid explosive minerals? Not only is the viscosity and adhesion strong, but once the temperature drops, it will explode on its own, even saving the detonation mechanism." Di Lu's eyes lit up, but she quickly sighed, "Your idea is great, meow, but it requires continuous heating and is too unstable. It should at least be a substance that can be extracted as material."
"Then use the Great Jaggi's heavy crude dragon oil. I heard that after Dondurma was attacked, there were many un-detonated oil stains left on the city walls. That stuff is black and sticky, and its properties should be much more stable than liquid explosive minerals."
"Heavy crude dragon oil! Thank you so much, meow! Are you a material scholar?" Xike exclaimed.
"Sort of. I'm currently researching crystalline materials, but the lack of new materials is bothering me," Li Fan said, wiping the Dragon Crystal with his sleeve. Xike looked at Li Fan, then at the crystal. The two cat paws fidgeted uncomfortably, and finally, with eyes closed, said, "Then take it for research, Material Scholar Li Fan!"
"Thank you very much, Deputy Head Xike. If there are any research results in the future, I will mention them prominently in the research report."
"You're welcome, meow... Where did he go?" When Xike opened his eyes, he saw only the laboratory door ajar.
Li Fan returned to the Firebreak and entered his cabin to write a combat plan, only emerging for dinner.
"You look... rather invigorated?" At the dinner table, Eudora, watching Li Fan eat quickly, couldn't help but be curious.
"Yes, I think Huihui might be capturable, but the first step is to participate in the battle at the top of the tower."
"This... means the team is going to the top of the Towering Heaven Pagoda for a decisive battle with Valstrax!"
"That's right, but not the team," Li Fan replied.
Eudora's gaze deepened, and she asked, "Are you afraid I'll be a burden?"
"How many people on this continent wouldn't be a burden? I just don't want the team members to be in danger," Li Fan explained.
"I see. So, your plan doesn't include me and Di Lu at all." Eudora sighed.
"Uh... I do, meow! Li Fan even gave me a targeted training plan," Di Lu said, raising a cat paw.
"Ah!!!" Eudora let out a scream and slammed her hands on the table.
"Calm down... Di Lu is small and won't attract Valstrax's targeted attacks. Even if she goes, she'll be safer," Li Fan explained.
"No matter what! I'm going," Eudora declared.
"Aren't you afraid of an accident before even seeing Kushala Daora?" Li Fan tried to persuade her.
Eudora said seriously, "Facing an Elder Dragon is an excellent opportunity for a hunter to test themselves! If I don't even have the chance to feel the gap, even if I truly face Kushala Daora, I can only be an observer."
Judging the outcome by feeling, Li Fan thought Eudora hadn't changed at all. xxs1
"Alright, then tomorrow I'll sign up as a team," Li Fan conceded.
"You agreed so easily?" Eudora asked, somewhat surprised.
"Actually, I've already planned your and Zan Zan's coordinated combat strategy. It was only out of safety concerns that I had to make modifications," Li Fan revealed.
"So... I'm actually important?" Eudora smiled brightly.
"Yes, very important. Get some good sleep after dinner. There's a lot of preparation to do tomorrow," Li Fan confirmed.
The next morning, in the main hall of the Dragonatory Headquarters. At the registration counter for the Towering Heaven Pagoda operation, Todd was patiently explaining to the young hunter in front of him.
"Intermediate hunters cannot register. I'm sorry. If you truly wish to participate in the Valstrax joint hunt, you can try registering with the ground combat group next door."
"Guild Master Todd, I am the top hunter known as the Berna King of Slicing! I am exactly the person you are recruiting. Just send me to the Towering Heaven Pagoda, and I will surely turn the tide and slay Valstrax on the spot," the young male hunter said with great confidence.
"However, in your recent hunting records, you failed to complete the six quests to hunt the Blangonga." Todd said with a helpless expression.
"Those little Blangongas are too annoying," the young man explained.
"I was also attacked by little Blangongas while doing ecological research in the snowy mountains. I can understand your feelings, but according to the standards given by the Dragonatory, you really cannot complete the registration."
"Alright." The young man dejectedly took back his registration form and left.
"Next hunter... Li Fan?" When Li Fan submitted the Blazing Shell, it was through Todd's introduction that he entered the Dragonatory.
"Guild Master Todd, why are you at the reception counter?" Li Fan asked curiously.
"Because the recruitment targets are top hunters, the Dragonatory must give them corresponding respect, so the Dean assigned me to receive them," Todd explained.
"I see. I'm here to register," Li Fan said. Eudora and Di Lu waved at Todd and greeted him.
Such a dangerous mission as the Towering Heaven Pagoda operation, Li Fan thought it unlikely that someone other than the person themselves could register.
"Uh... are you really going?" Todd looked troubled.
"Yes, aren't senior hunters allowed to register? I remember it was mentioned in the meeting," Li Fan asked curiously.
"I admire this courage. Alright, your qualifications as hunters are beyond question, and you are certainly qualified. Let me first explain the process and remuneration."
"Okay." Li Fan listened intently.
"After registration, the Guild representative and the Dean will review it. The seven senior hunters who have already registered have not passed the review."
"So strict?" Eudora said in surprise.
"The main issue is equipment. Generally, senior hunters' equipment reaching a 4-star level is considered very high. However, according to the Guild representative and the Dean, without a full set of 5-star weapons and armor, both defense and offense cannot meet the standards. Unless combat power is exceptionally outstanding, they will not be considered," Todd explained.
"Fortunately, the team's equipment meets the standard," Eudora said with relief.
"Another standard is the recorded hunting history. In this regard, the team is perfect. Therefore, I personally infer that you are likely the first team to pass the review," Todd said, picking up a document from the counter and introducing, "As for remuneration, regardless of any circumstances, participants will receive a reward of 300,000z and a 5-star armor of their choice. These will be distributed before the battle. After that..."
Todd paused and continued, "If the Valstrax Towering Heaven Pagoda operation objective is achieved, any Dragonatory participants who are not deceased will be promoted to Chief Hunter. Deceased personnel will be sent back to their homeland for burial, with the highest standards for their graves. Their names will be inscribed on the Dragonatory's Pioneer Stone and the Hunter's Soul Monument at the Dondurma Hunter Headquarters."
"Chief Hunter? Is that similar to a Guild 7-star hunter?" Eudora asked curiously.
"The evaluation of a Dragonatory Chief Hunter is higher," Todd emphasized.
"Understood. Then let's register," Li Fan confirmed.
Todd sighed helplessly and took out a document for the team to sign.
"Actually, with your talent, if you didn't rush into missions, in a few more years, you would definitely become a very accomplished hunter team," Todd couldn't help but advise even after they had finished signing.
I wish I could, but if Huihui's hunt is unsuccessful and she mutates into a Ruiner Nergigante, everyone will suffer, Li Fan thought to himself. In fact, neither the Hunter's Guild nor the Dragonatory could have such foresight. Even Li Fan, who had experienced the game's plot, had only reached this conclusion through repeated deductions combined with real-world ecological conditions.
"The team also considered it for a long time before making this decision," Li Fan replied.
"Alright then. The recruitment of top hunters has not progressed, and everyone is anxious. The review results will be out soon," Todd said, turning the reception counter sign to closed and quickly submitting the paperwork.
The team didn't waste time and went to the headquarters' blacksmith workshop to look through the armor catalog.
"I don't feel like there's much to replace..." Eudora said after flipping through for a long time, placing the armor catalog on the table. Li Fan and Di Lu, looking at it together, were quite engrossed.
"The Diablos chest armor looks so cool, meow!" Di Lu pointed at a drawing.
"It looks heavy, and the activated ability is defensive performance, which is useless to me. And this assimilation effect... it shouldn't involve headbutting walls, right?" Li Fan said as he turned the page.
"What beautiful armor, meow!"
"The Rielle spider chest armor... the activated ability is increased reload speed." Li Fan looked at the armor catalog and began to think. When the Rielle spider weaves silk, its tentacles are extremely flexible. Perhaps this ability's activation makes the action of reloading bullets with both hands faster. It felt like a waste to only use this ability for reloading. Soon, an idea popped into Li Fan's mind.