"Fire Wyvern Clan, battle formation, meow!" Tonkotsu shouted without hesitation. He rallied the other cats, standing guard in front of the Mosswine's body, drawing their weapons for a hard fight against the Strange Mask Tribe.
As the Lynians bandits of the forest, the Strange Mask Tribe had always been the ones stealing from the cats—never the other way around.
So when they saw the cats trying to seize what they considered theirs, they didn't hesitate for a second and charged straight in, plunging the scene into chaos.
Sweeping attacks, charged strikes—Cat Spin Slash!
In that moment, Tonkotsu unleashed everything he'd learned during this period of training.
The massive hammer, nearly as large as his own body, swung with fierce momentum. Even the formidable Strange Mask warriors were overwhelmed, getting battered and sent flying.
Meanwhile, the supporting Grimalkynes maintained their coordinated assault with remarkable synergy. Even without the help of the Jagras, they managed to suppress the enemy with ease.
The Admiral didn't intervene in this fight. Instead, he watched Tonkotsu with great satisfaction.
"No wonder Sita's always singing his praises. At this level… even among Hunters, he could graduate and earn the title himself."
In the Admiral's eyes, Tonkotsu now possessed both the physical capabilities and the technical prowess to stand on his own. He was more than ready to debut as a proper fledgling Palico.
The only thing he lacked was real hunting experience.
But with the Research Commission preparing to deepen cooperation with the Fire Wyverns of the Ancient Tree, the training methods and combat systems for the Grimalkynes would soon undergo a shift. When that time came, cats like Tonkotsu would be the first to benefit—and rise.
However, there was one thing that gave the Admiral a bit of a headache. Over the past few days on the road, he'd heard from the cats that the Fire Wyverns of the Ancient Tree currently lacked sufficient cats. Excluding the logistical staff, there were fewer than fifty Grimalkyne warriors. This raised doubts about whether a crucial clause in the cooperation plan could actually be negotiated successfully.
As the Admiral pondered this, the group of ordinary Strange Mask Tribe members was quickly driven off, thanks to the cats' superior technique and equipment. One after another, the masked raiders dug into the ground and fled.
The supporting Grimalkynes cheered and happily gathered up the spoils of battle, clearly intending to bring them back and boast about their victory.
"Admiral, time to go, meow!"
Tonkotsu's call snapped the Admiral out of his thoughts.
He joined the cats and began climbing toward the upper levels of the Ancient Tree along a path lined with vines.
Gradually, as they ascended, the full view of the forest unfolded before them.
Through gaps in the leaves, they could occasionally catch glimpses of Fire Wyverns patrolling their territory.
"The upper levels of the Ancient Tree are Fire Wyvern territory, meow. These Fire Wyverns are young ones who've only settled here in the past two years, meow. The higher we go, the stronger they get, meow."
Tonkotsu, riding atop a Jagras, turned around to explain to the Admiral.
"Admiral, from here on, please wear your scales, or the Fire Wyverns will attack you, meow."
The Admiral nodded. After putting on the scale covering, he looked like some bumpkin fresh out of the countryside—riding a Jagras, gawking here and there at everything in sight.
While observing, he couldn't help but sigh, "This… this is the wonder of nature! What a unique landscape!"
As the group continued deeper into the upper levels of the Ancient Tree, some Grimalkynes wearing Fire Wyvern scales began to appear before the Admiral.
However, seeing how busy they were—so occupied that even upon spotting the Admiral, they didn't spare a glance—left him a little bewildered.
"Are you always this busy?"
"No, meow." Tonkotsu shook his head, also looking a bit confused.
Back when he was still living in the Ancient Tree, while it was true that some Fire Wyvern Grimalkynes were busy due to patrol duties and security, the rest shouldn't have been this occupied.
"Ah! Don't run off, meow! You can't fly yet! You shouldn't be in such a dangerous area, meow!!"
Just then, a flustered voice rang out.
Two Rathian burst through the underbrush, cheerfully chasing after a bird like a pair of free-range fowls.
Close behind them, two female Grimalkynes came scrambling on all fours, hot on their trail.
Although the Rathian hatchlings couldn't fly yet, they were growing rapidly. At this stage, they were already larger than the cats, and with their full sprint, the cats were struggling to catch up.
"What the heck are you, meow?!"
This happened to be a bend in the path, and the Admiral, who had fallen behind at the rear of the group, came face-to-face with the Rathian hatchlings—completely unprepared.
The unfamiliar creature made the hatchlings stop in their tracks and instantly show signs of hostility.
The pursuing cats quickly rushed forward to stand in front of the Rathian hatchlings, drawing the boomerangs from their backs, and glaring warily at the Admiral.
Seeing how fiercely these Grimalkynes were protecting the hatchlings, the Admiral had no time to process what they were trying to convey. He simply stared, eyes wide with disbelief.
'No way... I was just wondering, and now you're seriously telling me—you Grimalkynes are actually raising Fire Wyvern hatchlings?!'
The Admiral felt like his entire worldview had been flipped on its head once again. Since when did the vicious and fiercely protective Fire Wyverns allow their young to interact so closely with other species?
"Meow! Who are you? Why do you have one of our identity scales?!"
Seeing the Admiral frozen in place, the two cats exchanged glances. One of them let out a sharp meow, then quickly left with the two Rathian hatchlings in tow, leaving the other behind to confront him.
"Meow? What are you doing, meow?"
At that moment, Tonkotsu—having noticed the Admiral had stopped—returned to check what was going on. He was puzzled to find a Grimalkyne squaring off against the Admiral.
The Grimalkyne relaxed a little upon seeing Tonkotsu.
Though there had been many changes, the identity scale from the Fire Wyvern Grimalkyne Tribe on the Admiral couldn't possibly be fake.
After some explanation, the Grimalkyne finally understood that the Admiral was a guest from the Research Commission.
Apologizing with a hint of embarrassment, it quickly excused itself under the pretense of needing to care for the Fire Wyvern hatchlings.
"Taking care of Fire Wyvern hatchlings…"
After Tonkotsu translated, both man and cat fell silent.
One was simply in disbelief at how insane this world was—Cats taking care of Fire Wyvern hatchlings?!
The other was lost in thought, wondering if it had been away from its tribe for too long, unable to keep up with how fast things were progressing.
Back when it had left, the Fire Wyvern Tribe at the Ancient Tree hadn't even been established yet. In its mind, the Grimalkynes and the Fire Wyverns had only a cold, professional relationship—cooperative, but distant.
And now, in just half a year, they were caring for hatchlings?
The thought sent Tonkotsu's imagination spiraling.
In the future, when the Fire Wyvern boss and his mate had hatchlings, he—Tonkotsu—would lead a Grimalkyne guard squad, watching over those young ones day and night, guarding them fiercely.
He would watch the boss's hatchlings grow, day by day, until the day they were strong enough to stand on their own—and then, with tears in his eyes, watch them leave the Ancient Tree.
Just imagining it got the little cat all worked up!
And so, both the Admiral and Tonkotsu stood there in a daze for quite a while—until the Jagras, getting impatient, let out a couple of low growls that snapped them out of it.
"Uh, let's get going, meow! We're almost there!"
The Admiral looked at Tonkotsu's flustered back, still confused as to what had just happened.
Before long, they caught up with the group. Following a narrow path, they finally arrived outside Logan's nest.
The Jagras came to a halt. Guided by the Fire Wyvern Grimalkynes who came out to meet them, they turned and headed off toward the pen.
"This is Boss Fire Wyvern's nest, meow. The entrance to our Fire Wyvern Grimalkyne home is deeper inside the den, meow."
The Admiral nodded and refrained from entering Logan's nest out of respect.
Even though they had once shared a good relationship—and the Admiral often referred to Logan and his mate as "Fire Wyvern friends"—it still wasn't appropriate to enter a wyvern's nest uninvited, friend or not.
Just then, a gust of wind hit. The Admiral steadied himself, and a massive, metallic-toned dark green figure appeared before him.
Aki eyed him curiously.
Though his outfit had changed, she immediately recognized who he was.
"Well, long time no see!"
That familiar greeting. Aki glanced at the Admiral, who was waving and smiling, then looked around—there was no sign of that cat who was so good at grilling meat.
"Long time no see, meow!" Tonkotsu bowed deeply to Aki, a hint of excitement in his voice.
Aki lifted her head slightly in acknowledgment, then walked into the nest on her own.
At that moment, the Fire Wyvern Grimalkyne leader stepped out, leaning on his staff.
"You've changed a lot, meow... Tonkotsu."
"Father, meow! I'm back, meow!"
Tonkotsu's eyes welled up with tears. Seeing the look of approval in the Fire Wyvern Grimalkyne leader's eyes, he wiped his face with a paw.
Acting as interpreter, Tonkotsu introduced the Admiral and the Fire Wyvern Grimalkyne leader to one another.
Afterward, he led the Admiral around the edge of Logan's nest, through a narrow corridor near the wall, and arrived at the Grimalkyne settlement.
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