However, in truth, the demon was real.
That demon's name was—Gaismagorm!
Hundreds of years ago, Gaismagorm led a swarm of Qurio to carve massive tunnels toward the surface, preparing to invade the Old World.
At that moment, a Malzeno sensed the enemy encroaching upon its territory, and the two Elder Dragons engaged in a fierce struggle.
The battle between the two shook the very foundations of the earth.
Ultimately, the Malzeno succeeded in driving Gaismagorm back.
However, Gaismagorm did not perish.
It remained hidden within the depths, and as it retreated, a portion of the Qurio that shared its symbiotic bond transferred themselves onto the Malzeno.
This caused the Malzeno's temperament to become exceptionally violent, leading it to attack humans. Though it was not as perfect a host for the Qurio as Gaismagorm, the two eventually achieved a balance for survival.
Because no one knew of Gaismagorm's existence, the people blamed the Malzeno for the massive sinkholes and the diseases brought by the Qurio.
The Malzeno became the ultimate scapegoat...
Leon was well aware of the story behind the Malzeno, but he was completely at a loss as to why it had appeared in the New World.
Clearly, it was a monster from Monster Hunter Rise; it felt as though the worlds were blending together.
But then he thought—
This was a real world. Kokoto, Jumbo, Pokke, Moga, Yukumo, Naguri, Cathar, Bherna, and Kamura... they all likely existed somewhere.
It was only because Leon was currently in the New World that he had not yet had the chance to visit those places.
The Malzeno was a quintessential four-legged, two-winged Elder Dragon with a slender, elegant frame. Its body was covered in silver scales, with crimson fur formed by clusters of Qurio on its chest, forelimbs, and wrists. Its mouth resembled a sharp beak.
Two golden horns reached toward the sky from its head, and fan-like fin organs sat on either side of its neck. It possessed massive wing membranes and a long, slender tail ending in three conical shells that could open and close to grasp prey, known as the 'Tri-tail.'
The Malzeno's physical prowess was extraordinary, capable of ultra-high-speed movement. Its foreclaws and tail could easily shatter the ground, while its tail tip and wing claws were designed for piercing prey. It could even use its wings to kick up boulders and gale-force winds to strike distant foes.
It could release crimson Dragon-element energy through its breath or tail. After absorbing enough life force, it would enter the 'Bloodening' state, further enhancing its body and drastically increasing its strength, speed, and control over Dragon energy.
While Leon's knowledge of the Malzeno wasn't exhaustive, he knew enough. He quickly reviewed the strategies in his mind.
First, its weak points were the head and forelegs.
Furthermore, a Malzeno's attacks could inflict the player with Bloodblight. Under the effects of Bloodblight, health recovery items would be half as effective, and one could only regain health by continuously attacking the monster.
Finally, he had to be wary of its 'teleportation.'
As for its other attack patterns, Leon would have to observe them mid-fight to see if they matched the game.
...
Within the ravine, the wind moaned softly, as if playing a dirge for the impending struggle to the death.
Leon's gaze was as sharp and cold as the Decimation Claws in his hands. He knew that the Elder Dragon before him was not just a legendary 'Lord,' but a symbol of raw power.
He whispered, "Dumpling, we're hunting together this time. You're on support."
"Meow! That guy looks like a real handful!" Dumpling had already drawn his drumsticks, ready to play at a moment's notice.
Before the words had even settled—
Boom!
A violent gale swept toward them. Leon dodged instinctively, rolling away just as a wind blade tore the rock in front of him in two.
At that moment, the air in the ravine seemed to solidify.
Leon stood up quickly, crossing his dual blades in front of him as he slowly backed away.
Dumpling stood at his side, his fur standing on end and his body coiled like a spring, his eyes locked onto the Malzeno ahead.
In that instant, the Malzeno moved.
Without any warning, the massive shadow spread its wings, kicking up a whirlwind of grit and debris.
The next second.
The Malzeno reared its head, tucked its wings close, and blood-red patterns surfaced on its chest as it let out a heaven-shaking roar.
"ROARRRR—!!"
Leon's eardrums throbbed with sudden pain. The powerful roar hit his nerves like a sledgehammer. He could only grit his teeth and endure, but Dumpling was driven to his knees, shaking his head in a struggle to stay conscious.
"I need to create some distance first!" Leon leapt upward, firing his Clutch Claw to pull himself onto a nearby cliff ledge. His blades cleared their sheaths, carving two crimson arcs through the air.
The Malzeno's gaze followed him instantly as it lunged forward with a snapping bite.
Leon dodged to the side by a hair's breadth, but then he noticed something—
The monster's movement hadn't stopped.
'Teleport?!'
Swirls of black mist appeared, and the Malzeno vanished from its position, reappearing behind Leon in the next heartbeat to slam its wings down.
"Dumpling, watch out—!" Leon spun around, his twin blades meeting the force of the wing in mid-air. He barely managed to block half the strength of the blow, but the impact still sent him flying back into the rock wall.
Dumpling launched himself like a cannonball, his large club swinging directly at the Malzeno's face.
The Malzeno shuddered, and several Qurio took flight, swarming toward Leon and Dumpling.
In the nick of time, Leon grabbed Dumpling and performed a series of rapid slides, trying to put distance between them and the Elder Dragon.
However, the Malzeno showed no sign of stopping. It lunged again, charging straight for Leon.
The next second, the spear-like Tri-tail whipped around from the other side. Leon blocked reflexively but was sent tumbling by the massive impact.
The moment he hit the ground, a black-and-red breath attack followed immediately.
'Damn... the pressure is way too high...' Leon tossed Dumpling behind a massive boulder and took the breath attack head-on.
Assigning points...
[ATTRIBUTES: STRENGTH 52, AGILITY 38, VITALITY 36, PERCEPTION 35. (UNASSIGNED POINTS: 31)]
[VITALITY +1, CURRENT 37]
[UNASSIGNED POINTS: 30]
The sound of the stat allocation echoed in Leon's mind like a resonant temple bell.
The skin scorched by the breath attack healed instantly as scorching life force surged through his meridians.
Leon stood before the Malzeno, completely unscathed.
The Malzeno seemed wary, actually halting its assault.
In their first exchange, Leon hadn't gained the slightest advantage. He was well aware that the Malzeno hadn't even exerted its full strength yet; it was merely testing him.
However, Leon could confirm that the Malzeno's moves were consistent with the game. His own speed was enough to dodge, but the only disadvantage was the health recovery penalty from Bloodblight, which would make it impossible to maintain Demon Mode.
Dumpling climbed onto a rock and began beating his drum. A grand melody reached Leon's ears, and a faint red glow enveloped his body.
Seeing that the Malzeno wasn't moving, Leon quickly pulled out his Hunting Essentials from his Spatial Ring and drank them in order—
His attack, defense, and health were bolstered once more.
"Come on... time for round two..." Leon gripped his Decimation Claws tightly, his gaze as sharp as a blade.
The Malzeno roared at the sky, as if in response.
The two sides faced each other, their killing intent colliding in the air.
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