"Senior Maki, have I... gone a little off track?" Altaïr asked hesitantly.
Maki's teaching methods were fairly wild. In short, she would demonstrate a technique, explain a few key principles, and turn him loose to practice once he had grasped the basics.
And this was what he had come up with.
Maki walked over and examined the cross-section of the severed tail on the ground.
"Well... I wouldn't say you've done it wrong." Maki's expression was difficult to read. "At its core, this technique is still Wolf's Maw.
"There's no doubt about that.
"But the Monster you're envisioning isn't a wolf. It's a ferocious Elder Dragon, so the fighting spirit it draws out is naturally more violent and harder to control.
"Your solution is fairly clever. Since it's difficult to control, you've simply stopped trying and let it burn itself out, gaining the greatest possible boost for a short time.
"Once that fighting spirit is exhausted, the effect ends on its own, sparing you the trouble of working out how to sustain it...
"From that perspective, it resembles the Great Sword's Lion's Maw, which pours all your power into a single burst."
Altaïr nodded.
Throughout his training in Beast Soul Possession, he had shared few of his ideas with Maki, yet she had still seen straight through his approach.
"A boost stronger than Wolf's Maw but weaker than Lion's Maw; a duration longer than Lion's Maw but shorter than Wolf's Maw; and you can use it with the Long Sword as well as the Dual Blades.
"Have you cobbled together an entirely new Hunter Art for me?" Maki asked half-jokingly.
"Uh, I wouldn't go that far. Your Wolf's Maw lasts for more than two minutes, Senior Maki, while mine doesn't last even one-tenth as long..."
"That's not how you measure it." Maki shook her head. "Lion's Maw only empowers a single swing. Does that make it weak?
"In fact, if the Long Sword is your primary weapon, this version of Beast Soul Possession may suit you better.
"After all, the Long Sword doesn't decide a fight with one blow like the Great Sword, nor does it unleash an endless flurry like the Dual Blades. What matters most is delivering an explosive combo at the critical moment.
"Your Beast Soul Possession may not last long, but it's more than enough for one burst of relentless offense. There's no need to force the technique to last longer."
After hearing Maki's assessment, Altaïr abandoned the idea of steering his wayward Beast Soul Possession back onto its intended path.
How many techniques had he already learned the wrong way, anyway?
Imagine it. A Monster falls or exposes a major opening. He activates Beast Soul Possession, follows with Spirit Thrust and Spirit Helm Breaker, then finishes with Spirit Release Unsurpassed Slash...
Altaïr licked his lips.
He wanted to Hunt. Not Monsters with low danger ratings, such as Arzuros, Great Izuchi, or Aknosom, but stronger prey.
Maki saw through his thoughts at a glance.
Hadn't she been exactly the same in her youth? She had wanted to challenge a Great Izuchi while she was still training under her instructor, and the moment she reached 2★, she had gone looking for trouble with 3★ Monsters such as Aknosom...
A senior had once told her to try running before she had even learned to walk.
To Kamura Hunters of her generation, however, those words carried a different meaning.
The Rampage Monsters bearing down on them would not care whether they could walk or run. If they could not learn to "run," they would die.
Without the skills honed through repeated challenges above their rank and countless brushes with death...
How could she have faced Magnamalo at 4★ without yielding an inch? How could she have joined everyone at 5★ to break Narwa the Allmother's cycle? How could she have faced a Forbidden Monster at 7★? How could she have emerged as the one who survived battle after bloody battle? Most instructors and elders believed in "steady progress" and "life first." Maki followed a creed more extreme than "run before you can walk": "If running won't kill you, run until you drop."
He wanted to challenge a powerful enemy? Good. Powerful Monsters were one thing Kamura never lacked.
"What kind of Monster do you want to challenge?" Maki's smile turned a little dangerous. "You've been a 5★ Hunter for some time now. Ordinary 5★ Monsters certainly won't interest you anymore.
"A 6★ Monster should be about right. You're only looking to test a new technique, so don't go picking a fight with anything rated 7★ or higher and get yourself killed."
Altaïr put away his Iron Sword and gave Maki an odd look.
His first thought was that she had to be mocking him. Otherwise, what could she possibly mean by, "You're only testing a technique, so don't get yourself killed fighting anything rated 7★ or higher"?
Only after their eyes met and he studied her expression did Altaïr realize that she was serious.
She genuinely agreed with him. She was even recommending that he challenge a 6★ Monster.
"Wouldn't that be against the rules?" Altaïr asked, though anyone could see the eagerness in his eyes.
"Kamura Village's rules are relatively loose, but a 5★ Hunter still can't accept High Rank quests directly.
"However, it's a different matter if I register the quest.
"I don't know whether other places allow High Rank Hunters to bring a 5★ Hunter along against a 6★ Monster, but Kamura does.
"Let me make one thing clear. You're the one who wants to challenge a 6★ Monster, so I won't lift a finger, even if you find yourself in mortal danger or suffer crippling injuries.
"Training is pointless if you go in counting on someone else to save you." Maki delivered those ruthless words with a smile.
Altaïr struck a fist into his palm. "I couldn't ask for anything better."
"Then take this." Maki pulled a quest form from inside her clothing and handed it to him.
The sight caught Altaïr off guard. "You prepared this in advance?"
"No." Maki shook her head. "It came from the first time we met the other day. I was at Physician Yan's for treatment, and he gave me this commission.
"I was planning to handle it when I found the time, but then you came along and wouldn't leave me alone. The timing works out nicely, so I'll hand it over to you."
Altaïr accepted the form.
Slaying Quest: Espinas Sleeping in the Jungle (★★★★★★). Quest Objective: Hunt 1 Espinas. Quest Location: Jungle. Quest Time Limit: 10 days. Reward: 23,400.
Possible Monsters: Nargacuga, Bishaten, Royal Ludroth, Wroggi.
Traveling physician Yan: To collect the poison I need for my medicine, please hunt the Espinas as soon as possible. This Monster is normally docile, but when enraged, it attacks with potent poison, paralysis, and fire. The quest is therefore extremely dangerous. Please do not let your guard down...
Just like that, a High Rank quest form had fallen into his hands.
Altaïr carefully tore a sub-ticket from the form and slipped it into his notebook; it served as proof that he had joined the quest.
After putting away his notes, Altaïr looked up at Maki. "Senior Maki, I need to return to the village and make some preparations. I mainly need to stock up on Antidotes and other medicine, as well as traps..."
Maki waved him off as though swatting a mosquito. "Go on, then. If you want to learn about Espinas's elemental weaknesses or vulnerable parts, ask around at the Gathering Hub.
"Oh, and you'll find a portly old Wyverian riding a young Tetsucabra there. That's Guild Master Hojo, the Guild's quest broker. Talk to him about registering the quest. Whatever you do, don't approach the twin receptionists, especially the one with two bows in her hair. It'll only cause trouble. Got it?"
The warning made little sense, but Altaïr committed Maki's words to memory and jogged all the way back toward the village.
—--
When he returned to the village and passed the Training Area, familiar shouts nearby brought him to a halt. After a moment's thought, he went inside.
Since he was about to leave on a Hunt, he at least had to let her know.
Noticing his approach, Isis set down her training weapon and turned toward him, her face and body slick with sweat.
Altaïr took out the quest form and showed it to her. "I'm preparing to Hunt in the Jungle, with Senior Maki leading the party."
Isis stared at the six stars on the form for a moment. Then her eyebrows shot up.
The words already on Altaïr's lips, "I came back to let you know," abruptly became, "I came back specifically to ask you. Want to come along?"
Only then did the storm in Isis's expression clear.
"Let's go!"
P.S. The Hunter who accepts a quest receives the complete quest form, while anyone joining receives half of a form torn along the dotted line, as though both copies came from the same document.
(Translated by yourtl.app)