In the Elder's Recess, Logan was once again focusing intently on sensing the ley-line energy while conducting in-depth research into the power of Terastal energy. He had always felt that a force which required decades of physical reinforcement and the strenuous acquisition of the world's recognition before it could truly be integrated into this world could not possibly be so simple—certainly not something that could be handled through his own rough, superficial methods.
What was more, the information fed back by the Radiant Crystal Butterflies from various large monsters also allowed Logan to perceive certain clues. Some monsters, after undergoing deep modification by Terastal energy, were actually beginning to show faint signs of wielding different elemental energies.
At any rate, judging from the current situation, neither he nor the Kulve Taroth on the opposite mountain, nor the Nergigante that had been beaten soundly by Kulve Taroth and was now recuperating within the crystalline forests of the Elder's Recess, would be leaving the area anytime soon—at least not before the emergence of Xeno'jiiva.
Given that, it was better to take advantage of this region where life energy was extraordinarily abundant, calm his mind, and seriously develop the Terastal energy that had fused with life energy.
This reclusive lifestyle, however, proved extremely frustrating for the hunter squads searching for his whereabouts across the vast Elder's Recess.
Even after exhausting a large number of Scoutflies, and despite the interference caused by the massive swarms of Radiant Crystal Butterflies that had successfully proliferated using the Bioenergy Crystals, the Scoutflies still failed to locate any trace of Logan.
Fortunately, after several days of observation, the hunters discovered that when Terastal-transformed monsters were defeated in combat, the Radiant Crystal Butterflies parasitizing the fallen side would detach from their hosts and fly off in a particular direction.
With nothing to lose, the hunter squad decided to try tracking them. Even if the Radiant Crystal Butterflies' final destination was not where Logan was, it would at least keep them from wandering around like headless flies.
After some discussion, and upon obtaining hunting permit records from the two Compilers in the squad, the hunters easily hunted down a nearly harmless Terastal-transformed Dodogama. Then, using their clutch claws to continuously traverse the dense crystalline forests of the Elder's Recess, they ultimately arrived beneath a vast range of obsidian mountains.
The sight of countless Radiant Crystal Butterflies flitting through the forest where Bioenergy Crystals and Terastal crystals interwove, and the dense energy surging toward them, struck the hunters head-on. Merely being within it, the high temperature caused by the sheer abundance of energy forced the hunters to temporarily withdraw from the area and begin searching nearby for materials to make cold drinks.
...
"Who's there?"
In a lava cave connected to the ley lines, Darren—who was collecting materials—suddenly spotted a human figure on the edge of an underground lake radiating intense heat ahead, seemingly fishing.
Judging by the build, it did not look like someone from the Strange Mask Tribe that lived in the Elder's Recess.
For a place like this to have someone other than their hunter squad was strange no matter how one looked at it. Could it be a native of the New World?
Hearing Darren's wary voice, the person fishing in the high-temperature lake slowly turned his head. When he saw Darren wearing a Radiant Fire Wyvern armor set, he seemed somewhat surprised.
He quickly put away his fishing rod, picked up the small pouch at his feet containing two lava-region specialties, and walked over as he lifted his hood.
As a Kinsect Radiant Crystal Butterfly flew out from the insect cage and came to rest above the Wyverian hunter's head, Darren lowered his guard.
According to the New World annals, the Kinsect Radiant Crystal Butterfly was the standard signature loadout of New World Insect Glaive users—it was just that he did not know which Fleet the other party belonged to.
"Fifth Fleet?"
As the two drew closer, the Wyverian hunter spoke first.
Darren nodded in reply. "And you are?"
The Wyverian hunter slowly let out a breath. Having been unable to communicate with others for years, and with the Wyverians' innate disposition, his voice carried a detached calm. "I didn't expect that after being out for so long this time, even the Fifth Fleet has already explored all the way here."
After that, the Wyverian hunter briefly introduced himself and asked Darren about the current situation on the Research Commission's side.
When he learned that the Fifth Fleet had already gone deep into the Coral Highlands and the Rotten Vale, and that Darren had come here together with the Admiral, the Wyverian hunter showed a surprised expression.
"So it turns out you can come over from the Rotten Vale side as well?"
Sensing that the Wyverian hunter's tone seemed slightly off, Darren asked at the right moment.
Only then did he learn that the Wyverian hunter had entered the Everstream from the underground lava caves of the Wildspire Waste, and then, relying on life-energy perception far beyond that of ordinary Wyverians, had forcibly navigated through the Everstream's intricate, interlacing tributaries and ultimately reached the Elder's Recess.
Such an operation was even more extreme than anything the Admiral had experienced—it could be said that it was nothing less than gambling with one's life.
And yet he had won the gamble. After emerging from the Everstream, relying solely on the combat strength of a First Fleet battle member, it was indeed possible to replenish enough supplies in the Elder's Recess to make the return journey.
Faced with Darren's astonishment, the Wyverian hunter did not think much of it. After all, to him, uncovering the secret of the Elder Crossing and fulfilling the ideals he shared with the Commander were matters more important than life itself.
"You don't need to gather supplies for cold drinks. I still have quite a bit here. However, you'll probably need to fish a bit more together with me—eating portable rations for too long will affect combat effectiveness later on."
Confronted with the Wyverian hunter's invitation, Darren opened his mouth as if to say something. But seeing the other's expressionless face, and the faint trace of expectation seemingly hidden in his eyes, he ultimately clenched his teeth and nodded.
An hour later, under the Wyverian hunter's bewildered gaze, Darren awkwardly reeled back his fishing line after yet another fish got away. Unwilling to give up, he reached once more toward the Wyverian hunter's bait pouch.
Smack!—so fast it was almost unfair.
The bait pouch was immediately pulled back by the Wyverian hunter. Ignoring Darren's resentful look, he silently put away his fishing gear.
Darren swallowed hard. He desperately wanted to say, "Just give me one more chance." But looking at the more than twenty plump, massive high-temperature fish inside the Wyverian hunter's handmade fish basket, he could not bring himself to say a single word.
From childhood to adulthood, Darren had mastered virtually every outdoor survival skill to the highest level—but fishing was the one exception.
And to make matters worse, he liked eating fish, and he liked fishing. That contradiction was especially infuriating.
Fortunately, after once going three days and three nights without catching a single fish, he had happened to meet Elu, a Palico who had left his village aspiring to become a hunter. Thanks to Elu's superb fishing skills, Darren had finally achieved freedom when it came to fish-based meals.
Outside the temporary camp in the Elder's Recess, the others—who had returned earlier—had just finished setting up a campfire and were preparing to eat something and mix cold drinks, when they saw Darren, head drooping and radiating an unnamed low-pressure aura, walking over together with the Wyverian hunter.
"T-This!!"
The Admiral widened his eyes and stood up in disbelief as he stared at the Wyverian hunter.
Under the group's slightly curious gazes, he spoke with what seemed like a choked, wavering voice: "So you bastard… you weren't dead after all!!"
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