From the crashing waves—
A massive leviathan emerged.
It crawled forward like a crocodile, supported by four powerful limbs. Its long, muscular tail swayed with slow, deliberate force, while its elongated neck flared outward like a cobra's hood. Along its armored back, deep sapphire scales shimmered under the light—lined with two rows of jagged, protruding spikes.
Larger than the Great Jagras.
Far more oppressive.
As it stepped onto land—
Each movement carried overwhelming pressure.
The Great Jagras let out a nervous roar, retreating step by step.
"…It really is a Lagiacrus."
Su Yi stared from afar, stunned.
"This thing… was supposed to be cut content…"
In early development footage of Monster Hunter: World, Lagiacrus had once been shown inhabiting flooded areas of the Ancient Forest.
Later—
Due to technical limitations—
It was removed.
But now—
In this world—
It existed.
Alive.
Dominating.
"…More and more monsters are appearing…"
Su Yi muttered, his excitement rising.
In just two days—
He had already encountered:
Anjanath.Nargacuga.Rathian.Great Jagras.Lagiacrus.
Five large monsters.
This land—
Untouched by hunters—
Was truly their paradise.
The game had limits.
Reality—
Did not.
ROAR!!
Lagiacrus lunged forward—
Tearing into an Aptonoth with terrifying ease.
The Great Jagras retreated unwillingly—
While Lagiacrus prepared to feast—
ROOOOAR!!!
A thunderous roar split the sky.
WHOOSH—!
A blazing fireball descended from above—
Exploding in front of Lagiacrus.
BOOM!!
Flames erupted violently—
Sending the already-injured Great Jagras flying.
Its scales charred black—
Its body struggling to rise.
Lagiacrus roared in fury—
Its dorsal spines crackled with blue lightning.
Electric currents surged across its body—
Entering a fully enraged state.
CRACK!!
A bolt of lightning struck—
Directly hitting the fallen Great Jagras.
The poor creature convulsed violently.
Above—
A challenger descended.
Flames flickered between its fangs.
The king of the skies—
Rathalos.
"…No way…"
Su Yi's eyes widened.
"This is straight out of a cinematic…"
Sky versus sea.
Red versus blue.
Fire versus thunder.
Natural enemies.
A clash of apex predators.
The battle erupted instantly.
Rathalos dove—
Claws extended.
Lagiacrus twisted—
Its massive body moving with surprising agility.
The strike missed.
Instead—
Rathalos seized the carcass—
Claiming the prey.
Lagiacrus retaliated—
Launching a crackling sphere of lightning.
Rathalos answered—
With a blazing fireball.
BOOM!!
Lightning and fire collided—
Sand and debris exploded outward.
With a powerful beat of its wings—
Rathalos rose through the dust—
Then ascended—
Carrying its prize.
Lagiacrus roared in frustration—
Forced to watch it escape.
In the end—
Flight decided everything.
The sky ruled the battlefield.
Lagiacrus retreated back into the sea.
And the Great Jagras—
Caught in the crossfire—
Limped away miserably.
…
"…This is it."
Su Yi stepped forward.
Scoutflies burst from his cage—
Swarming over charred scales.
Then—
They moved.
Tracking.
Guiding him deeper into the forest.
"…I can't deal with Rathalos or Lagiacrus."
"But the injured Great Jagras…"
"…That's my chance."
He followed the trail.
Broken trees.
Claw marks.
Blood stains.
All leading inward.
"…Back to its nest?"
He hesitated.
Inside a nest—
Meant confined space.
Multiple threats.
Limited escape.
Not ideal.
He had wanted—
To isolate it.
Now—
He needed another plan.
"…Wait."
A flicker of movement caught his eye.
"…A Kulu-Ya-Ku?"
A yellow-scaled bird wyvern crept toward the cave entrance.
Thin body.
Long limbs.
A natural thief.
"…Perfect."
"Lead the way."
Su Yi followed silently.
…
Inside the cave—
Warm.
Humid.
Soft glowing moss lit the darkness.
The Kulu-Ya-Ku moved confidently—
Clearly familiar with the place.
Then—
It found what it wanted.
A nest.
Packed with soil and branches.
Digging—
It uncovered an egg.
Large.
Nearly the size of a basketball.
Great Jagras eggs.
Crack!
It pecked—
Then began eating.
"…Of course."
A professional thief.
"…Wait…"
Su Yi's eyes narrowed.
Something clicked.
"…Rathian… Rathalos…"
"…Jagras eggs…"
"…Is this breeding season?"
Everything aligned.
Shared territory.
Frequent activity.
Possible nesting behavior.
"…Interesting…"
But—
Too dangerous.
Rathalos and Rathian together?
That was suicide.
"…Later."
He pushed the thought aside.
Crack!
Another egg gone.
"…Hey! Leave one for me!"
Too late.
The Kulu-Ya-Ku grabbed another egg—
And ran.
"…You greedy bastard."
Su Yi rushed forward—
Digging—
Nothing left.
"…You wiped them out?!"
Then—
The Kulu-Ya-Ku returned.
Panicked.
Running for its life.
Behind it—
A roar.
"…The owner's back."
The injured Great Jagras stormed in—
Chasing it off.
Its wounds—
Severe.
Its pack—
Trailing behind.
"…Great."
"No eggs. No isolation."
"…Did I just waste all that time?"
Su Yi moved cautiously, still searching for an opening.
…
Outside—
The Kulu-Ya-Ku emerged—
But—
CRUNCH!!
A massive jaw snapped down—
Pinning it instantly.
Then—
Violent shaking.
Slam.
Again.
And again.
Su Yi froze.
Cold sweat trickled down his back.
"…Something big…"
THUD. THUD. THUD.
Heavy footsteps approached.
Then—
Silence.
Inside the cave—
The Great Jagras roared defiantly.
"…You idiot…"
"…You're challenging that?"
From the brief glimpse—
Su Yi recognized it immediately.
Anjanath.
The forest tyrant.
The Anjanath lowered its head—
Roaring into the cave.
The Great Jagras answered.
But—
It had already lost.
Anjanath charged—
Forcing its way inside.
"…Run."
No hesitation.
Su Yi turned—
And bolted.
Behind him—
Roars erupted.
Closer.
Closer.
Light ahead—
He burst out of the forest.
Moments later—
The Great Jagras was thrown out—
Rolling violently across the ground.
Then—
Anjanath emerged.
Stretching.
Dominating.
"…Yeah."
"…You're dead."
Su Yi muttered under his breath.
Then—
It stopped.
Sniffing.
Its gaze shifted—
Toward him.
"…Oh no."
His body froze.
ROOOAR!!!
Before he could react—
CRASH!
A tree shattered behind him.
He rolled instinctively—
Turning back—
The Great Jagras lay dying.
And—
Anjanath stared directly at him.
Fury.
Recognition.
"…Wait."
"…YOU?!"
Su Yi's eyes widened.
"…You're that one from before?!"
One Dung Pod—
And this thing remembered him?!
"…Nope."
"I'm out."
He turned—
And ran.
ROOOAR!!!
Anjanath charged after him—
Fast.
Relentless.
"You psycho! If I had another Dung Pod, I'd feed you again!"
Branches snapped.
The ground trembled.
The forest—
Awakened.
Unknowingly—
They ran deeper.
And deeper.
Then—
Another roar.
A warning.
Ahead—
A green wyvern blocked the path.
Rathian.
She didn't even look at Su Yi.
Her eyes—
Locked onto Anjanath.
The two monsters—
Faced each other.
Tension—
Exploded.
Su Yi didn't stay.
He dove into the forest—
Running—
Until the roars faded into the distance.