Bai Chen took a moment to assess everyone's condition.
Thanks to his position near the edge of the battlefield—essentially playing the role of an on-field observer—he'd only sustained minor scrapes.
His stamina was nearly drained, but with a short rest, he'd recover.
Nergigante, on the other hand, had borne the brunt of the fight as the vanguard. The level gap against the Sea Wyvern had taken a toll, and she'd been battered heavily.
Still, with her Extreme Regeneration skill, her recovery speed was monstrous—she'd be back to full strength soon enough.
Zinogre had it the worst. He'd taken the full blast of the Sea Wyvern's dying counterattack head-on.
Judging by his current state, he was sitting at barely half his usual vitality—but a few healing potions and a day's rest would have him back in top form.
As for the Rock wyvern and Tinkatuff—they'd barely been involved in the close-range combat, so neither suffered any significant damage.
The Sea Wyvern, as expected of a five-star mission target, had been the strongest lower-rank monster Bai Chen had ever faced. But the rewards matched the effort.
Even ignoring the three skills extracted from its body, the system's rewards alone were more than generous:
80,000 Skill Proficiency Points
1 Rare Rank 7 Skill Enhancement Stone
1 Universal Energy Storage Stone
He examined the last item carefully.
[Universal Energy Storage Stone Lv 1]
It can store any form of energy. Capacity can be expanded by feeding it ores. Maximum level: Lv 10.
Bai Chen's eyes lit up.
His first thought was immediate—
"I can use this to store the Galar Region's Dynamax Energy!"
Just like the Z-Power of Alola, the Galar Region had its own unique energy source — the mysterious Galar Particles that enabled Dynamax and even the rarer Gigantamax transformations.
It was a power Bai Chen had always coveted, but its use had been limited to Galar's environment — only areas with high Galar particle density allowed the transformation.
Now, with this stone...
He could absorb and carry that energy anywhere.
Even in the Monster Hunter world.
"Perfect," Bai Chen murmured, smirking. "Once I'm back, I'll head straight for Galar and get myself a Dynamax Band."
He made that silent vow, then turned his attention to the next task.
Contacting the Felyne transport crew took time — and moving a creature the size of a Sea Wyvern wasn't exactly easy. After several hours of effort, Bai Chen managed to haul the creature to a spot accessible by the Palico carts.
Once the Sea Dragon was safely secured, Bai Chen called over the Smith.
"You go back to the Star Haven base with the Felynes," he instructed. "When you get there, start working on my new gear. And if I'm not back within three days—report to the Commander and have them send a rescue team."
This wasn't just caution—it was strategy.
Unlike ordinary hunters' Link Stones, his Bond Stone worked on an entirely different level. Once a link was formed, both sides could sense each other's presence, even across vast distances.
And since Bai Chen was about to visit the Ancient Wyvernian's hidden village—potentially walking into a trap—leaving a failsafe behind was only logical.
"Yama!" the Smith nodded firmly, her tone serious. "You can count on me."
"Good. I'll be back soon," Bai Chen assured her.
After all, if the rumor of a true Elder Dragon egg turned out to be real, there was no way he could ignore it.
Watching the Felynes and the Smith depart, Bai Chen turned back toward the forest.
Before long, a familiar short figure emerged from between the trees — the same Ancient Wyvernian elder who had once guided him.
The other eleven observers had already returned to their settlement. This one had stayed behind as his guide.
"How far to your village from here?" Bai Chen asked.
"Roughly twenty kilometers north," the elder replied.
Bai Chen followed the direction indicated. Beyond that lay the untouched wilderness—territory even the Star Haven researchers had never charted.
No wonder the Wyvernians chose to hide there.
He summoned Zinogre from his capture ball. The wolf-dragon knelt, his saddle perfectly adjusted from their earlier rides.
"We'll make better time this way."
The elder hesitated at first, visibly nervous as Bai Chen helped him climb onto the front of the saddle. But when Zinogre started to run—his gait smooth, his steps powerful—the elder's fear melted into awe.
Bai Chen could feel the man's heart pounding with exhilaration.
"Heh," Bai Chen mused quietly, "guess the old guy's always wanted to know what it's like to ride a dragon."
If this elder's reaction was any indication, then the Ancient Wyvernian's relationship with monsters wasn't one of hostility — but cautious respect.
The journey through the wild terrain took nearly an hour.
The path was treacherous — towering stone pillars, steep ridges, and unending mountain trails. Without Zinogre's superior jumping ability, it might have taken half a day.
At last, they reached mid-mountain.
The elder pointed toward the west.
"That way."
As they moved on, the faint roar of falling water reached Bai Chen's ears.
The closer they came, the louder it grew.
And then—
A massive waterfall came into view, plunging straight down a sheer cliff face.
Even Bai Chen, who'd seen his share of impossible landscapes, felt his head spin at the sight. The fall had to be at least 1,500 meters high, the cliff walls smooth as polished steel, not a single foothold in sight.
The elder reluctantly climbed down from Zinogre's back.
"From here, we continue on foot," he said.
"Got it." Bai Chen dismounted and gave Zinogre a fond pat. "You did well. Take a rest."
He recalled the beast back into his capture ball, leaving only Nergigante perched on his shoulder.
Even after seeing it multiple times, the elder still couldn't hide his wonder at the device.
"Great Dragon Knight," the elder said solemnly, "please, follow me."
They approached the waterfall's base — and then turned toward the rock wall beside it.
The elder reached out, fingers tracing across the smooth stone until they found a specific groove.
He pressed inward.
Click.
A hidden mechanism was activated, and a section of the cliff slid open, revealing a dark passageway.
Dim crystals embedded in the walls emitted a faint blue glow, illuminating the narrow corridor within.
Without hesitation, the elder stepped inside to lead the way.
Bai Chen took a deep breath, then followed.
Whatever awaited him in the Ancient Wyvernians Village, he was ready.
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