Carlos gave no particular response to the Field Master's words. The New World was a mystery to everyone—an unknown land.
Even though they had been here for nearly ten years, what was the true nature of this continent? Aside from the fact that the monsters were stronger, what else made it special?
Every landscape here held an undeniable allure, and Carlos had already decided—he would dedicate his entire life to this land.
Once the misunderstanding had been cleared up, the big-hearted Admiral warmly joined the Fire Wyvern Grimalkynes for a meal. With such a glutton joining in, the Felynes working in the canteen immediately sprang back into action.
By evening, after a good rest had relieved most of their fatigue, the Fire Wyvern Grimalkynes began negotiations with the Research Commission—with Sita translating for them.
Unlike other Grimalkyne tribes, the Fire Wyvern Grimalkynes didn’t struggle for survival or food. That’s why they had no interest in exchanging goods via Meowcarts like the others.
What they wanted was deep cooperation with the Research Commission!
“I see... So it’s not just about supplies. You want to undergo hunter training and become Palicoes?”
The Admiral folded his arms, nodding seriously.
These cats that Sita referred to as Fire Wyvern Grimalkynes really were something else.
So far, the Commission had only established shallow partnerships with a few other groups—like the Bugcage Tribe on the outskirts of the Ancient Forest, and the Wasteland Guardians in the Wildspire Waste.
But those connections were limited. The Lynians of the New World were generally wary of outsiders. Even after so many missions together, their cooperation was mostly limited to Meowcart runs and basic rewards. Nothing more.
Back in the Old World, humans, some Lynians, and Wyverians could almost be seen as a unified whole. They lived together, worked together, and built villages, towns, and even nations side by side.
They formed one interwoven community of shared fate.
That’s why the Commission approached the Lynians of the New World with an attitude of goodwill—seeking friendship, cooperation, and even integration.
But results had been scarce.
And yet today, this group of Fire Wyvern Grimalkynes—who had only just met them for the first time, and had come from the depths of the Ancient Forest—had already expressed a desire for deep collaboration.
Should he say… it’s exactly what you’d expect from a tribe that coexisted with Fire Wyverns?
Their courage was on a whole different level.
“I’ll approve the Palico training! But you’d better be sure—becoming a Palico isn’t like being a support Felyne. The training is extremely tough. And even then, there’s no guarantee you’ll succeed.”
The First Fleet was made up of elite hunters, and even the Felynes accompanying them were all top-tier—standouts among their own kind.
Yet there was only one true Palico—Sita.
Due to racial limitations, it was already extremely difficult for Lynians to undergo hunter training at all.
Perseverance, talent, sweat, and luck—none of these could be missing!
“Meow! Don’t worry—we’ll give it everything we’ve got!”
One of the Fire Wyvern Grimalkyne warriors stepped forward immediately. The four who had come today were the strongest, most ambitious, and most gifted of their entire tribe. No matter how grueling the training, they would push through.
All for the Fire Wyvern Boss!!
“Hahaha! That’s the spirit!”
The Admiral was the kind of person who loved driven individuals. Say what you will—just that unwavering determination alone had already raised his opinion of them. Whatever had led to their conviction, he respected that attitude.
“Alright, next question. Since we’re planning to work together, let’s talk about how exactly we’ll cooperate.”
Carlos cut in at just the right time, shifting the conversation away from the topic of training. Since the Admiral had already given his approval, there was no need to dwell on that any longer. What he truly cared about was what these Fire Wyvern Grimalkynes could bring to the Research Commission—and what the Commission would need to give in return.
Only by setting clear expectations from the very beginning could they ensure a smoother relationship going forward.
Tonight was destined to be a sleepless one. In the modest quarters of the ship’s cabin, the sound of meowing echoed nonstop.
The next day, the Admiral officially announced the existence of the Fire Wyvern Grimalkynes to everyone at the base. He also made part of the cooperation agreement public, letting everyone know that they now had new allies in the New World.
It was an excellent start. The members of the First Fleet were delighted.
However, regarding the symbiotic relationship between the Fire Wyvern Grimalkynes and the Fire Wyverns, the leadership decided not to disclose it for the time being. At least not until they had a clearer understanding of what kind of impact this relationship might have on the Research Commission. Only then would they formulate a proper response.
From that day on, the four Fire Wyvern Grimalkyne warriors settled down at Astera. They began their Palico training while waiting for their gear to be forged.
...
In the sky, the sun hung high, its heat intense—but for Logan and Aki, the temperature was just right.
With their eyes closed, they sprawled out beside a small stream, basking in the sunlight. Around them, the Fire Wyvern Grimalkynes held up handmade brushes, carefully cleaning the scales on their backs.
As Fire Wyverns, Logan and Aki were unusually fond of cleanliness.
After finishing a meal, if there was a nearby water source, they would actively wash themselves—rather than simply curling their tongues to slurp away the bloodstains and call it done.
Today, on a whim, Logan suddenly thought that he, too, could use a proper cleaning—so he shared his idea with the Grimalkynes.
And that led to the scene before them.
He had to admit—basking in the sun while letting the cats scrub his scales felt surprisingly pleasant.
“Rooaaar~”
Several sharp roars echoed from above. Logan looked up and saw five massive Tempered Rathalos flying toward the Ancient Tree, calling out beneath its canopy layer.
Sensing the change in atmosphere, the Grimalkynes quickly leapt off his back. After watching Logan and Aki take flight, they wiped the sweat from their foreheads, gathered their things, and began the walk back.
As Logan drew closer with a few beats of his wings, he finally recognized the five Tempered Rathalos.
They were among those who had followed the Black Flame King to the Elder’s Recess.
But now, their scales had lost their former luster, and many bore scars that couldn’t be healed.
Judging from this, it seemed the Black Flame King had failed.
Even after venturing into the Elder’s Recess, he had not been able to surpass the limits of his lifespan—and those who had followed him there had suffered heavy losses alongside him.
After all, four pairs of Tempered Rathalos had gone together back then. Now, only five had returned—and all of them were wounded. That alone spoke volumes about the dangers of the Elder’s Recess.
Soon, drawn by the roars, several other Rathalos flew out to meet them. The battle erupted at once.
Even though the returnees had once roosted in the Ancient Tree, too much time had passed. To reclaim their place, they had to challenge it anew.
The outcome was clear. Tempered means tempered. And these were the ones who had managed to survive in the Elder’s Recess for so long. Though injured, their combat prowess was even more fearsome than before.
Interestingly enough, the three Tempered Rathalos who had stayed behind at the Ancient Tree seemed... less than thrilled to welcome their “old comrades” home.
The ones most affected by the return of these few Tempered Rathalos were not the other Rathalos forced to relocate after being defeated, but rather the Grimalkyne tribe living in the canopy layer.
As the group responsible for maintaining hygiene and standing guard around the Rathalos couples’ nests near the canopy, the Grimalkyne had directly lost three client couples due to the return of these five Tempered Rathalos.
It wasn't that the Grimalkyne hadn’t tried to communicate with the returning Rathalos.
Unfortunately, perhaps because of their unpleasant experiences at the Elder’s Recess, the Tempered Rathalos had become even more irritable and emotionally unstable.
The Grimalkyne merely approached the edge of one of their nests—without even entering—when they were immediately attacked. No matter how much goodwill they showed, it was ignored. At one point, the attacks even pursued them deep into the canopy.
Fortunately, although the Grimalkyne had coexisted peacefully with the Rathalos for the past few years, they had never lost their basic vigilance.
The moment a Tempered Rathalos showed any sign of aggression, they bolted without hesitation—avoiding any serious injuries in the process.
However, this situation ended up bothering the other Rathalos who had grown accustomed to the Grimalkynes’ services.
The nests of the returning Tempered Rathalos were located very close to the Grimalkyne habitat. Still shaken from their ordeal in the Elder’s Recess, these wyverns flew frequent patrols over their nests each day, severely disrupting the Grimalkynes’ mobility.
Having grown used to clean nests, food scraps being cleaned up by others, and being able to rest without sleeping with one eye open—the sudden return to “pre-liberation” conditions came as a shock. Their quality of life dropped drastically.
The Grimalkyne now only visited every few days and could no longer maintain round-the-clock watch near the nests. Usually, they would just clean up the area, collect some shed scales and leftover meat, and rush back home while the Tempered Rathalos were out hunting.
Over time, the Rathalos couples who had grown used to their services began to feel itchy all over—like bugs crawling under their scales. It was deeply uncomfortable.
Yet because of the obvious disparity in strength, and due to the rules of the Rathalos in the Ancient Tree, they could only endure for a while.
But endurance doesn’t last forever—and eventually, the breaking point arrived. The spark? A seemingly minor incident.
That day, a group of Grimalkyne had just finished cleaning the nest of the Tempered Rathalos couple they regularly served. Carrying some shed scales and chunks of meat, they were heading home.
On the way back, they passed near the territory of one of the returning Tempered Rathalos and were spotted by it—having returned from foraging earlier than expected.
With no other option, the Grimalkyne fled from its attack, retreating once more into the nest of the Rathalos couple they had just served, hoping to find refuge there.
But perhaps due to its ingrained response from its time at the Elder’s Recess, the pursuing Tempered Rathalos launched a full-on chase, following them straight into the other couple’s territory—right beneath their noses—and continued attacking the Grimalkyne there.
That was the last straw.
It was one thing to block the paths and lower their quality of life—but barging in and attacking the little ones right in front of them?
Couldn’t it see the Rathalos scales hanging from their necks, soaked in the scent of their bonded couple?
So you just charge in and start attacking like this place is your own nest, huh?
Without hesitation, the Rathalos couple struck back, launching a two-on-one assault against the Tempered Rathalos that had lost its mate.
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