The giant mouth closed, plunging the interior of the skull into darkness.
Only two circular lights shone from the lower jaw, casting beams through the eye sockets.
"Shanshan, is this how you usually observe the outside?" Li Fan asked, looking at the sky beyond the eye sockets.
Shanshan, positioned behind the Serpent Emperor's Ballista, used its hook-scythe, wrapped in golden silk, to draw a cross on the lower jaw.
"The Black Blight Dragon's elemental attacks will definitely pour in through the eye sockets, but if you block them, you won't be able to see the outside," Li Fan voiced his concern.
Shanshan pondered for a moment, its purple compound eyes glowing. Then, it began to draw with its sharp hook-scythe.
"Using silk to suspend bone plates... Oh! Is this a mechanism to open and close the eye socket covers?" Li Fan quickly understood Shanshan's intention from the drawing.
The mechanism was similar to a lifting gate, designed to rise when observing the outside and descend for defense when elemental energy attacked.
"This idea is excellent. I can find someone more specialized to help with the fine processing of the cover plates," Li Fan said, then climbed onto the eye socket to take measurements.
"The person I need to find is about to leave, so I have to hurry back. Goodbye, Shanshan. Remember to keep a close watch for any summons."
After a hasty farewell, Li Fan leaped up and grabbed a cable.
Shanshan felt a pang of disappointment at Li Fan's hurried departure, but it was soon relieved by the thought that it was creating mechanical parts for the Ruin City.
With the sprayer at full power, the swarm of wyverns scattered. A trail of thick black smoke streaked across the sky above the Great Desert.
"That's strange, meow. The sprayer system hasn't been upgraded, but its power is getting stronger," Ferri said curiously, standing on a wooden crate and holding the rudder.
"The sediment in the fuel tank that needs cleaning is also decreasing, meow. Perhaps... the energy quality has significantly improved," Pachi speculated, and both cats looked at the giant ape sitting on a massive toilet.
The giant ape, now covered in spiky black fur, was constantly reaching its striped tail into a cargo box, retrieving a dragon-slaying fruit with red markings and placing it into its hippo-like mouth.
*Crash~*
After turning a page of an ecological report with its rough, giant paw, the giant ape casually pushed up its eyeglass frames, which lacked lenses.
As if sensing their gaze, the giant ape turned its head towards the two cats and curved its lips into a sinister smile.
"Aaaah, meow!"
Startled by the mental shock, Pachi cried out and bolted into the kitchen, escaping through a cat slide.
Ferri, needing to pilot the airship, pretended not to see and shouted into a brass horn next to the pilot's seat, hoping Dilu would come to take over.
Traveling day and night at full speed, the team reached the Star Outpost on the coast in just one day.
Since most of the facilities within the outpost were built from the materials of damaged ships, they had little dismantling value.
Apart from the mountain of cargo containers piled at the port, the overall appearance hadn't changed much.
However, the usually bustling trading area, even when viewed from high above, only showed about a dozen people still active.
"It feels so desolate, like Dundorma before the crisis," Yudora sighed, resting her hands on the ship's railing.
"There's nothing we can do. The threat from the divine realm itself and its ecological impact are simply too much for human outposts to bear," Li Fan said helplessly.
"The Starship hasn't been shut down, meow. There's smoke coming from the Mountain Cat Inn, too. It seems everyone wants to hold on until the very last moment," Dilu observed through a monocular telescope.
"The workshop chimney is also smoking. It looks like we've returned just in time."
The Huo Yan Hao descended. Since the rotating cable car had stopped running, the team had to climb to the second-floor workshop area via a rope ladder on the cliff face.
As soon as they entered, a dozen cat heads turned from behind the circular conveyor belt surrounding the furnace.
"Welcome to the Star Outpost Workshop, meow!" the Felynes in artisan outfits shouted in unison.
"Hello."
Li Fan looked around and realized that most of the salvageable items had already been taken. He asked with some concern, "Can you still accept orders?"
"Yes, meow. What would you like to craft?" a Felyne artisan asked, puffing out its chest.
"Process and shape the materials according to this," Li Fan said, handing over the design he had drawn.
The Felyne artisan took the drawing with both paws and examined it carefully. A dozen cat heads crowded around.
"Are you crafting two commemorative coins, meow?" the Felyne artisan asked, confused.
"No... well, sort of, just different sizes."
Hearing Li Fan's words, the Felyne artisan's gaze shifted down to the dimensions and material requirements.
"This... this is too big, meow! And it requires a Blazing Shell as raw material!"
"Can you make it?"
"Yes, meow! Although the Blazing Shells have been boxed, as long as the transport ship hasn't arrived, we can go to the port, unpack them, and retrieve them," the Felyne artisan said confidently.
"As fast as possible, while ensuring the thickness."
"Don't worry, meow. Although the boss has gone to Yukumo, those who remain here are all top-tier Felyne apprentices. Simple crafting like this should be no problem."
If the Felyne artisans could handle complex weapons like the Charge Blade, crafting two oversized discs would be a piece of cake.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
"Fifth-term Captain, can we make a request, meow?" the Felyne artisan tentatively asked.
"Go ahead."
"We don't know what they're for, meow, but can we put the mark of the Star Felyne Artisan Guild on these two commemorative coins?"
"Whatever you want, as long as the specifications remain unchanged. You can do whatever you like."
"Thank you so much, meow! Everyone, let's get to work!"
With a shout from the Felyne artisan, the cats scattered, clearly dividing the preparatory tasks.
Three days later, the delivery day arrived.
Using these to cover the Serpent King Dragon's eye sockets... the art style is too surprising... Li Fan was a bit speechless seeing the two discs with giant paw prints on their surfaces.
"They're so beautiful, meow!" Dilu exclaimed, clearly delighted.
"Heh heh, impressive, aren't they, meow?" the Felyne artisan said proudly, covered in soot.
The cat-paw discs were lifted together and attached to several descending hooks. The Huo Yan Hao began to slowly ascend.
"The sea! It's the Guild's fleet!" a hunter gazing out at the sea suddenly exclaimed.
The team looked over and saw eight massive ships bearing the Guild's flags approaching the port.
"Sigh~ It's finally time to leave, meow," the Felyne artisan, who had been so excited moments before, now drooped its ears.
"Don't be discouraged. Perhaps you'll be back soon," Li Fan said.
"Really, meow?" The Felyne artisan's eyes lit up.
"Of course. The Fifth-term Captain never lies."
Li Fan wasn't just comforting them. The Black Blight Dragon was a true homebody. Even if they won this battle, it would return to the volcanic regions of the mainland. Humans would still be able to return to their lives, but no one could say what the New World's ecosystem would look like by then.
"Workshop Felynes, hurry to the port for evacuation! Board the ships and head to the designated Felyne cabins... It's the Captain!" Aiden, who was guiding the evacuation, said with some surprise.
"Thank you for your hard work, Aiden."
"Captain! The Guild's fleet has arrived, please board as soon as possible." Aiden reminded him.
"We have our own airship for immediate evacuation," Li Fan pointed to the Huo Yan Hao in the sky.
"Alright, Captain, please be careful. The Guild's fleet won't be staying long. I still have to notify the Felynes at the Mountain Cat Inn. I'll be going ahead," Aiden said and ran off.
"Sigh~ I promised to meet Apo on the ship, I hope she understands me." Yudora didn't want to break her promise, but fighting the Black Blight Dragon was too insane, far beyond the conventional understanding of the Monster Hunter world, and she couldn't reveal it.
"It's okay. As long as the Huo Yan Hao catches up to the fleet, everyone will assume we've evacuated too, so they won't worry too much," Li Fan reassured her.
Before long, the Guild's ships sailed rapidly away from the port one by one. The Huo Yan Hao, on the other hand, headed in the opposite direction, towards the Great Desert.
Two days passed. The Serpent King Dragon's skull, lying on the sand, had its eye sockets fitted with two circular cover plates. Shanshan gently pulled the silk threads with its hook-scythe, raising two giant coins with paw prints. When released, the giant coins dropped to the nasal bone, completely sealing the empty eye sockets. The interior of the skull was now pitch black, but its defensive capabilities were fully maximized. After several attempts, Li Fan felt that the opening and closing mechanism was perfectly installed. The only problem was that the Serpent King Dragon skull, with its cat-paw pattern on the eye sockets, had completely lost its previous eerie and terrifying deterrence. Instead, it gave off a rather cute feeling.
"It doesn't matter. Whether it's cat paws or dog heads, as long as it can resist elemental attacks, it's effective... Shanshan, turn on the lights. I need to get out."
*Clang~ Creak~*
The two giant coins were raised, the upper jaw lifted, and Li Fan emerged from the Serpent King Dragon's mouth onto the sandy ground.
"Pachi."
Pachi, with an anxious expression, trembled when its name was called.
"This is my Poké Ball shoulder strap. Kuku, Yeye, and the other team members are inside. This is a breeding record, detailing the personalities and preferences of the team members. If you get confused, you can use these records as a reference. From now on, you are the captain of the Huo Yan Hao."
"You won't separate, will you, meow?" Pachi clenched its paws.
"It'll be fine with Huihui there. I'm only doing this in case of the worst-case scenario."
"I don't want to be separated from you, meow~" Pachi cried and hugged Li Fan's leg.
"Trust me, it'll be fine. If we can save Xiao Ming this time, then in the near future, we might be able to find out where your master truly went." Li Fan still didn't know what information the Lao Shan Long would bring to the Black Blight Dragon. However, since it was displayed as an event on the 3DS, its appearance and threat to the world was almost certain. If there was one benefit, it was that many mysteries related to the Black Blight Dragon would be solved.
"Master... Okay, meow. I'll take good care of the team members and the Huo Yan Hao, and wait for you to come back!" Pachi thought of that vague image, wiped away its tears, and its eyes became resolute.
"Yes, let's depart as soon as possible. With Baolie and Kuku and Yeye, it's enough to guarantee safe navigation. Once we catch up to the Guild's fleet, no monster will dare to attack the Huo Yan Hao," Li Fan instructed.
Waving goodbye to the cats, the Huo Yan Hao gradually moved away, disappearing into the horizon. A gust of wind and sand blew, and the two humans and one cat, feeling somewhat lonely, began to plan their next move.
"Where do we go next?" Yudora asked, a little lost. Both human outposts were now deserted, and the combat deployment was almost complete. The team could go anywhere, yet it felt like they had nowhere to go.
"First, we'll assemble the Monster Squad, and then we'll hide in the Hoarfrost Reach for final combat training," Li Fan stated his plan.
"Aren't we going to fight in the Elder's Recess? Xiao Ming has home-field advantage there," Yudora inquired.
"If the Black Blight Dragon lands on the coast, excluding the vertical瘴气 Valley, there are only three buffer zones between it and the Elder's Recess. If we use the Hoarfrost Reach, plus the distance across the sea, the buffer zones will increase to five, providing many observation opportunities. And most importantly, the Hoarfrost Reach is closer to our strongest ally," Li Fan explained.
"Who is our strongest ally, meow?" Dilu asked curiously.
"A giant red dragon."
"Did you summon it?" Yudora asked, curious.
"No, it volunteered to participate."
"Alright, what are we taking to leave here now?" Yudora asked, looking at the endless desert.
"First, we'll take Shanshan's subway to the Elder's Recess, and then we'll cross the sea with Huihui."
"Ugh."
"Ugh, meow."
Yudora and Dilu both sighed.
"Don't be like that. Huihui will be sad if she sees it."
"Then why don't we just fly directly to the Hoarfrost Reach?" Yudora's gaze sharpened, feeling that since they had to suffer, they might as well get it over with in one go.
"No."
"Why?"
Li Fan, responsible for the shield and heat insulation, shook his head. "I can't endure this distance."
"Alright..."
Not long after, the team entered the Serpent King Dragon's skull.
*Squelch~ Squelch~*
Shanshan used its sticky silk to strap the three passengers in.
*Rumble~ Rumble~ Rumble...*
The giant serpent ruin city burrowed into the underground tunnel and set off.
"You know, it's quite smooth," Yudora said in surprise, stuck to the upper jaw.
"It's just a bit dark, meow," Dilu said fearfully.
"I'll have the light bulb... ah, the light bulb was given to Pachi. Then we'll use guiding insects for illumination." Li Fan slightly loosened the silk threads and extended a hand to open the insect cage. The dark skull was illuminated.
*Rumble~ Rumble~ Rumble...*
Through the eye sockets, they saw the soil rapidly receding above them. The two humans and one cat then realized they were traveling underground at ultra-high speed.
Two days later, the giant serpent ruin city emerged from a massive crater on the surface of the Elder's Recess. The blinding sunlight quickly woke the sleeping team.
After putting Xiao Ming into the ball and telling the Barroth to hide in the convergence zone and not come out, the team took Huihui to the Hoarfrost Reach. As for Shanshan, it attempted to travel by opening an underwater tunnel. Since the participating teams would leave large training traces on the surface, making them easily identifiable from high above, Huihui quickly located their current position. The team landed on the snow and saw Zhanzhan confronting Bingbingzi. Despite feeling unwell, they quickly rushed over. Zhanzhan was currently biting its tail blade and forging it. Bingbingzi, on the other hand, was watching with a cold expression.
Seeing Li Fan run over, Bingbingzi exhaled a smooth ice wall. After checking its appearance, it shattered the ice wall with a claw.
"No fighting!" Li Fan shouted to the two dragons.
*Wooo~ Woooo...*
Zhanzhan had its tail blade in its mouth, so its roar was unintelligible. Bingbingzi, wearing ear protectors, didn't hear the shout.
*Clang~*
The tail blade was swung out of its mouth, and the molten material dripped onto the snow, sending up wisps of white mist. Zhanzhan turned its body and pointed its tail blade at Bingbingzi.
*Ska~*
With a crisp cracking sound, a faint blue mist emerged from Bingbingzi's body. The swirling blue mist wrapped around the tail blade, rapidly cooling it. Ice-like patterns soon appeared on the surface of the tail blade. The newly forged tail blade immediately took on a metallic texture.
*Ao~*
Zhanzhan let out a low growl, expressing its gratitude to Bingbingzi, and then put its tail blade back into its mouth to forge it again.
"So they weren't fighting, but collaborating..."
Zhao Lala reminds you: Please remember to collect after reading.