[Redhelm Arzuros successfully subdued!]
[Beginning Pokémonization...]
[Pokémonization complete!]
[Redhelm Arzuros's information is as follows:]
Redhelm Arzuros
Level: 59 (Quasi-Elite Four Tier)
Type: Fighting / Dark
Ability: Bloodthirsty (After dealing damage to an opponent, Attack +2 stages, and Defense, Sp. Atk, Sp. Def, and Speed +1 stage each.)
Exclusive Moves: Power Claw Swing, Charge Claw, Jumping Claw, Triple Claw, Claw Wave.
Base Stats:
HP: 120Attack: 160Defense: 80Sp. Atk: 80Sp. Def: 80Speed: 80
Total: 600
"A powerful ability and a great stat distribution. Excellent," Zhang nodded in satisfaction, extremely pleased with his new Pokémon.
Next, he looked over its moves. He skipped past the standard attacks like Power Claw Swing and went straight to the status move, Claw Wave.
Claw Wave
Category: Status
Effect: The user enters a frenzied state. When it swings its claws, it unleashes a seven-meter-long wave of energy, dealing 80 base power of Fighting-type physical damage to the opponent.
"A nice buffing skill. Much stronger than a regular Arzuros," Zhang noted. He then released his Escuregot to heal the Redhelm Arzuros. After it was fully recovered, he recalled all his Pokémon. Just as he was about to leave on his Arcanine, a voice called out from a distance.
"Are you a hunter?" A young man with a great sword strapped to his back was running towards him from the far end of the road, moving with impressive speed.
Unknown Hunter
Level: 57 (Quasi-Elite Four Tier)
"A hunter at the quasi-Elite Four tier is a rare sight," Zhang thought, guiding his Arcanine to meet the man.
"Are you a hunter from Kamura Village?" the young hunter asked, his eyes fixed uncertainly on Zhang's Arcanine. He had heard that Kamura hunters used Palamutes as mounts, but this creature was far larger than the legends described. He suspected it might be a monster itself.
"That's right," Zhang confirmed with a slight nod.
"Then did you see a crimson Arzuros? The caravan here was attacked by one, and I came to hunt it."
"That crimson Arzuros has already been taken care of by me. You don't have to worry," Zhang said with a gentle smile.
"That's good to hear," the young hunter sighed in relief. The Redhelm Arzuros was a notoriously bloodthirsty monster that would attack people even when it wasn't hungry, unlike normal monsters that only hunted for food. Because of this, the Hunter's Guild would dispatch hunters to deal with them immediately upon a sighting.
"My name is Aenor, a hunter from the Wycademy, originally from Bherna Village," he introduced himself. "If you ever come to hunt near Bherna, please look me up. I'd be happy to join you. Alright, I should get back and report to the Guild. See you later!" With a wave, Aenor ran off.
"Bherna Village?" Zhang's eyes flashed with recognition. In the game Monster Hunter Generations, the player's hunter was based in Bherna Village. "No wonder there's a Redhelm Arzuros here. This must be within Bherna's sphere of influence."
It suddenly made sense. In Monster Hunter Rise, there were no Redhelm Arzuros around Kamura Village. But this was a real world. He could leave Kamura and travel to other regions to hunt monsters not found there.
"Once I reach the Elite Four tier, I have to visit Bherna Village," he resolved. "My favorite monster, Glavenus, lives around there. Its ecological rank is one level higher than Rathalos, so it should be at the Elite Four tier. I'll go once I'm strong enough." With that thought, Zhang mounted his Arcanine and departed.
Back in Kamura Village, Zhang returned to the guild office.
"From the look on your face, I take it you succeeded," Hinoa said with a smile.
"That's right. I subdued the Nargacuga, and on the way back, I also captured a Redhelm Arzuros," Zhang confirmed.
"A Redhelm Arzuros?" Hinoa's brow furrowed. "Those are incredibly ferocious monsters. Can they really be tamed?" She looked at him in disbelief.
"Of course," Zhang grinned.
"Zhang, you're really amazing," Hinoa said, looking at him with a touch of adoration.
"Naturally," he replied, feeling a little puffed up by her praise. "By the way, Hinoa, do you know of any monsters that are large, have a lot of meat, and are on the same level as a Rathalos?" He remembered that his food supply problem was still unsolved.
"Large and a lot of meat?" Hinoa found the request odd. "That's a strange one. Let me see." She picked up the quest postings and began to sift through them. After a moment, she pulled out a specific quest and handed it to him.
Quest: Hunt the Steel Entanglement Beast
Mission Briefing: For unknown reasons, the "Steel Entanglement Beast," a monster unique to the distant Kingdom of Elgado, has appeared in the Flooded Forest. Please hunt this foreign monster as soon as possible to prevent unforeseen ecological damage.
Reward: 32,000z
"One of the Three Lords of the Kingdom, the Steel Entanglement Beast?" Zhang's brows furrowed slightly. It was a monster unique to Elgado, so how did it end up in the Flooded Forest?
"Forget it, not my problem," he shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it. He wasn't a researcher from the Argosy; his job was to hunt, not to figure out the reasons. The Steel Entanglement Beast's strength was comparable to a Rathalos, so he wasn't afraid. After all, among the Three Lords, it was known to be the most straightforward opponent.
The Three Lords of the Kingdom were a trio of monsters unique to Elgado, consisting of the Ice Wolf Dragon, the Silver Dragon, and the Steel Entanglement Beast. The Ice Wolf Dragon's ecological niche was the same as Glavenus's, a tier higher than Rathalos and the Steel Entanglement Beast, putting it at the Elite Four level. As for the Silver Dragon, it was a terrifying creature even more dangerous than some Elder Dragons.
"Zhang, you're not leaving again right away, are you?" Hinoa asked, a hint of resentment in her voice.
"Of course not. Didn't you say you wanted to treat me to dinner?" he said with a smile. "I'll go after we eat. And I'll come hang out with you again in the evening."
"That's more like it," Hinoa smiled, then stretched and stepped away from her post. "Let's go, Zhang. I'm treating you to dinner." She beckoned to him and walked outside.
Zhang stood up and followed her. As they stepped out of the guild hall, cherry blossom petals drifted down on the wind, landing on their hair and shoulders.
"So pretty," Hinoa said happily, raising a hand to catch a petal.
"It really is," Zhang agreed, raising his own hand to catch a few.