At the edge of the Coral Highlands, near the cliffs, lay one of the few sources of fresh water on the plateau.
Vast pink coral thickets stretched for dozens of meters, while coral spawn drifted through the air like falling petals. The ground was carpeted with specialized barnacles, the reef walls hung with sea snails and giant shells, and clusters of wiggler eels poked out, swaying rhythmically with the wind.
A sudden gale swept through.
Annoyed, a Pink Rathian raised its head from feeding—only to see a massive Rathalos with savage, spiked features and silver-red scales soaring overhead.
The open jaws froze mid-cry, the sound cut off halfway.
It lowered its head again, continuing to feast on the Raphinos as if it had seen nothing at all.
Logan spotted a patch of blue soft coral spread thick across the ground, its bulging form brimming with stored water. He dove straight down, driving a powerful kick into the Coral Pukei-Pukei that had buried its head inside. Without sparing it a glance, he plunged headfirst into the coral, gulping down great mouthfuls.
After such a long battle, even his throat felt scorched by his own flames. Compared to food, all Logan could think about now was drinking water.
The Coral Pukei-Pukei, sent flying without warning, hit the ground with a pitiful wail. The water it had only just gulped into its pouch was violently forced back out by the impact.
It hadn't even seen who had struck it. Sudden terror swept through its heart, but its battered body refused to rise.
All it could do was pray silently—that whoever attacked it had no real interest in it, but merely wanted to seize the water source. And that, seeing it already wounded, the attacker would have no reason to pursue further.
[Glug, glug, glug—]
Logan drank deeply, forcing down so much water in one go that the soft coral collapsed inward slightly. Only then did he ease up, pulling his head free. Water splashed everywhere as he threw his head back and let out a triumphant roar.
It was then that he noticed, not far away, the Coral Pukei-Pukei curled beneath a coral outcrop, struggling weakly to rise.
Only now did he seem to realize what he had just done.
But even so, there wasn't the slightest weight on Logan's conscience.
Survival of the fittest, after all.
With not a shred of guilt, he soared into the sky once more. He'd had his fill of water—now it was time to feed. Why waste thought on a creature that could be crippled by a single kick?
After Logan flew off, it took quite a while before the Coral Pukei-Pukei finally managed to collect itself.
Stretching its still-aching wing joints, it hobbled toward the soft corals.
That fellow really had only come here to drink water—yet he had been utterly without martial virtue.
In the Coral Highlands, even when one wanted to claim a water source, at the very least both sides would roar first, and then decide whether or not to fight.
But that guy? He had simply slammed into him and sent him flying! Even if he didn't roar, just showing himself would have been enough—the Coral Pukei-Pukei would have obediently left on his own. Was there really any need to waste the effort to hit him like that?
The Coral Pukei-Pukei had no thought of trying to regain face. Shaking his head, he staggered to the coral's water outlet—only to discover that the spring was actually open! And the stored water was vanishing into thin air!
"What's going on?"
The incomprehensible sight left the Coral Pukei-Pukei frozen on the spot.
Incredulous, he leaned down, trying to see if he could stick his head in and drink—only to bump into something.
The Chameleos, which had been drinking happily, suddenly felt its head knocked and lifted it in confusion. There it saw a dazed, clueless fool staring blankly at the coral spring outlet—and then, bold beyond belief, sticking its head right in front of it to start drinking!
After a whole day of being beaten around, Chameleos was already simmering with irritation. And now even this ugly creature dared to steal water from it?!
This was beyond tolerable!
[Smack!]
With a sharp crack, the Coral Pukei-Pukei's neck twisted aside as Chameleos lashed it with its tongue, sending it flying back into the coral reef where it had just been lying, knocking it unconscious once more.
After gulping down one final mouthful of water, Chameleos raised its head proudly, then trotted off with small steps in the direction Logan had gone.
The coral spring fell silent again. Only a few Shamos, hidden within hollowed seashell nests, had witnessed everything. Now they curled into corners, trembling in fear.
Meanwhile, the Shagaru Magala, battered and wounded, returned to its original hiding place. Because several Gore Magala had gathered here, the entire area was already thick with dark miasma.
The normally colorful, crystalline landscape of the Coral Highlands now looked like a ghostly domain within this ominous haze.
As Shagaru Magala arrived, all the Gore Magala lifted their heads. Though blind, they could still sense through heat that their master's condition was far from well.
Shagaru Magala counted—it had already summoned back seven Gore Magala.
It knew all too well that today it had acted rashly. The commotion it had stirred up had been far too great, and it couldn't be sure whether the Chameleos and the Rathalos would continue pursuing it.
To be safe, it ordered the seven Gore Magala to seize the cover of night—when their camouflage would take effect—and head swiftly to the seacoast near the Great Ravine, leaving the Coral Highlands ahead of time.
As for itself, it needed to restore its strength and serve as their rearguard.
These Gore Magala were still too weak. If they didn't leave early, and Logan and the others caught up, Shagaru Magala would have to split its focus to protect them. Should they all die, wouldn't its entire journey to the New World have been for nothing?
And all the blows it had taken along the way—wouldn't those have been suffered in vain?
After giving the order, Shagaru Magala lowered itself to recover its stamina. Though reluctant, the Gore Magala, subdued by its scale dust and bound as its thralls, could raise little thought of resistance now. They could only quietly sense the outside temperature, waiting for the night to fall.
That night, under the cover of darkness, the seven Gore Magala flew out of the lair, heading toward the seacoast near the Great Ravine.
That same night, at the base of the Coral Highlands, above the Rotten Vale, the last Gore Magala struggling to keep pace was ensnared by the terrifying effluvium. In its final moments, it stretched out its wings and claws in vain, collapsing against an ancient seashell fossil.
The massive body of the Vaal Hazak loomed faintly within the miasma as it passed by the fallen Gore Magala.
When the miasma dispersed, all that remained was a shriveled, blackened corpse.
That night, Logan, full and satisfied, claimed the nest thick with soft coral after watching a sulking Paolumu retreat in frustration.
Chameleos crept up onto the vine mesh above the nest, sprawled out as if it were a hammock, and soon drifted into a drowsy slumber.
The next morning, at the edge of the Coral Highlands, close to the Great Ravine—
Temperatures blazed like the arrival of a scorching sun, and waves of blue flames surged across the sky. The seven Gore Magala's charred bodies plummeted heavily into the abyss.
One red and one blue, two colossal lion-like silhouettes crossed paths in midair, flying tirelessly in the same direction.
Across the Coral Highlands, dense vapor rose in defiance of natural law. When Logan awoke, his scales were already soaked through, dripping with beads of water.
Chameleos stood on all fours, shaking itself violently until every drop was flung away, then flapped its wings to clear away the lingering moisture clinging to them.
The result was that Logan, on the lower level, was forced to endure a sudden "indoor rainstorm."
[Boom!]
A violent blaze erupted, instantly evaporating the dampness from Logan's body—and in the process also scorching away the vines above.
With a startled cry, Chameleos fell without warning.
Just about to let out a scolding cry at Logan for making such a racket and causing it to fall, Chameleos instead caught sight of the fury burning in Logan's eyes.
"Gwa!"
In an instant, it caved, turning invisible on the spot and darting out of the lair.
Logan drew in a deep breath, silently repeating to himself not to waste energy bickering with such a thick-headed fool. Only after a struggle did he manage to suppress his anger.
Flying out of the nest, however, he noticed something strange: the Raphinos that usually gathered among the coral clusters were nowhere to be seen. The surroundings were eerily quiet, and even the small endemic creatures were scarce.
Sensing that something was wrong, Logan suddenly heard Chameleos's cry.
At that moment, Chameleos was flying through the air, its invisibility undone, urgently calling to Logan from the side—urging him to hurry and follow.
Curious, Logan spread his wings and gave chase.
Chameleos seemed to have detected something. It kept flying rapidly in one direction, and all the while it recklessly released clouds of its poisonous mist.
In the southeastern corner of the Coral Highlands, near the Great Ravine's exit into the Wildspire Waste, and not far from the sea—
Because of the overwhelming spread of Frenzy Virus, this place had already become a dead zone.
The Shagaru Magala entered its Frenzied state. It not only detonated the Frenzy Virus scale dust ahead, but also triggered toxic traps in a chain of Frenzy explosions.
Amid the string of blasts, the scarred body of the Nergigante burst through, eyes glowing red, braving the flames and shockwaves head-on.
Black spikes shattered across its body, only to regrow instantly under deliberate stimulation.
[Boom!]
Rocks exploded outward as Nergigante's forelimbs slammed deep into the ground, launching volleys of black spikes like deadly knives.
Shagaru Magala twisted aside to evade, pressing one forelimb onto the rampaging Nergigante, then clenched its wing-claws into fists and hammered down on its back.
With a crisp crack of bone, the freshly grown white spikes on Nergigante's wings snapped apart, and the remaining force still sent its body crashing down hard.
But in the very next moment, Nergigante surged with strength—its massive horns thrusting upward to knock Shagaru Magala away. Under its exaggerated regeneration, the injuries healed instantly, and new spikes erupted once more.
A crushing blow at close range staggered Shagaru Magala.
Just then—
A thunderous boom split the sky! Kirin made its dazzling entrance!
Without wasting words, the blue horn atop its head drew down the lightning of heaven, striking Shagaru Magala with brutal force.
The dragon tried to dodge, but at its feet, water had somehow pooled unnoticed. Electric current coursed through the puddle, linking with the lightning from the sky, and in an instant, the collision exploded!
From the black haze, Namielle slowly emerged. Its immense, dreamlike wings shimmered as if lined with neon lights—mysterious, graceful, and awe-inspiring.
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