For Altaïr as he was now, hunting a Rathian was hardly difficult.
That remained true even with a rookie weapon whose Sharpness and power fell far short of the standard, and even with every technique forbidden, including Demon Mode, the core of Dual Blades combat.
It would only take a little longer... Well, a lot longer.
The irritating part was that Lady Maki remained crouched on a tree branch, offering unsolicited advice the entire time.
Things like, "Did you skip a meal? If one slash can't cut through a Rathian's scales, how can you call yourself a High Rank Hunter?" Or, "Strike down the middle! Isn't using Roundslash and Demon Flurry Rush to reposition one of the basics?" And, "Is your Dual Blades technique really that ugly without Demon Mode?"
Already short-tempered under the effects of the Frenzy Virus, Altaïr roared in fury. He could hardly lash out at Lady Maki, so he took his anger out on the Rathian before him, a Monster doomed to be hacked to pieces.
A faint smile touched Maki's lips as she watched from her perch.
She was doing it on purpose. To overcome the Frenzy Virus through personal strength alone, he first had to learn to harness that agitation and rage.
Until now, Altaïr had only tried to suppress and control it.
But Maki wanted him to unleash that rage completely. Only after the Frenzy Virus had fully activated should he think about suppressing and controlling it. That way, he would not be caught off guard if the Frenzy Virus suddenly erupted during a real battle.
It did not take Altaïr long to realize this.
Lady Maki was not usually talkative. Her sudden barrage of mockery naturally had a purpose.
Once he understood her intent, Maki's words could no longer stir his emotions so easily. He pressed the attack more aggressively, hoping the pressure of the Monster's counterattacks would keep his mind keyed up.
Noticing the change in Altaïr's fighting style, Maki clicked her tongue.
Why did he have to be so perceptive? He was no fun at all.
She stopped needling him. Continuing now would only distract Altaïr.
But she did not merely watch. From time to time, she offered a few pointers based on the situation, reminding Altaïr not to be led astray by that alien, frenzied urge to attack and explaining how to adjust his "qi" to adapt to and exploit the Frenzy Virus's influence.
He could not have learned these techniques and insights from anyone else. After all, besides Maki, finding someone who had overcome the Frenzy Virus by sheer force of will, turned its power to personal use, and done so without relying on a Wystone was nearly impossible.
Likewise, only Altaïr, whose constitution resembled Maki's, could learn from that experience.
Anyone else would need either a Wystone to help suppress the infection or equipment and Talismans forged from Gore Magala or Shagaru Magala materials to make the Frenzy Virus more "docile." Without such aid, overcoming it was nearly impossible.
Before the infection could be overcome, the invading Frenzy Virus and the immune system's fierce counterattack would wreck the body.
Crouched on the branch, Maki watched the young Hunter wield his Dual Blades, narrowly evade the Rathian's attacks time after time, and gradually suppress the Frenzy Virus amid their back-and-forth struggle. The sight left her deeply moved.
This kid was far too much like her younger self...
More than one person had already approached her in private to ask whether the young man was a blood relative.
If Maki had not known for a fact that she had never spent more than half a year away from Kamura Village, even she might have had trouble explaining the resemblance.
The battle stretched from nightfall into the small hours of the morning.
The Rathian wailed and hobbled away, desperate to escape that terrifying two-legged creature.
Its body had long since been riddled with wounds. From head to tail tip, barely a single patch of hide remained intact. It looked as though it had been cut a thousand times, battered and bleeding all over.
Altaïr did not pursue. Instead, he sheathed the Kamura Iron Dual Blades, whose edges were now jagged as saws and whose blades had warped severely, and let the pitiful Rathian escape.
His eyes, once bloodshot, frenzied, and hideously contorted, had returned to normal. Even the purplish-black markings that had surfaced on his skin where the virus had accumulated were completely gone.
Apart from a few faint purplish-red veins beneath his lower eyelids, he showed no outward signs of an active Frenzy Virus infection.
Maki jumped down from the tree. "That should do it. Overcoming the infection took a little longer this time, but you'll get faster with practice.
"It's like swimming. Once your body learns how, it never forgets."
"Thank you for your guidance." Altaïr bowed formally to Maki, his gratitude sincere.
Maki waved it off. It was nothing worth thanking her for.
Then something seemed to occur to her. Trying to sound casual, she asked, "Oh, right. That Radiant Dragon you hunted before sounded rather interesting. Was that really the only one?"
Altaïr's mouth twitched.
As a "kindred spirit," he knew exactly why Maki was asking.
If a second Radiant Dragon existed anywhere in the world, even in the distant New World, she would go all the way there to have a "chat" with it.
"We can't be completely certain. According to the Royal Academy scholars, it was an entirely unknown species of Elder Dragon skilled at concealment. Other individuals may still be alive somewhere in the world, but no one knows where."
Altaïr answered carefully. "At the time, the scholars feared an epidemic like the one caused by the Frenzy Virus. They immediately incinerated the Radiant Dragon's carcass so thoroughly that not even a single sample remained."
"I see." Disappointment flickered in Maki's eyes.
Though now over forty, she was still in the prime of her strength. Yet the grievous injury she had suffered in her youth while confronting the "Forbidden" had left hidden wounds that never fully healed, to say nothing of everything else lurking inside her body...
She could feel that her body was locked in an exceptionally precarious balance.
She was still vigorous and full of life, but Yan had told her that in ten years, perhaps even sooner, her physical strength would begin to wane with age and that balance would break.
When that happened, her body, already riddled with ailments, would suffer a catastrophic collapse in function.
Only Yan knew about this. She had not even told Hinoa or Minoto.
She shouldered every burden herself because she hoped to preserve more of Kamura Village's rising generation while she could still fight.
Maki had already accepted that fate, but the microorganisms' ability to coalesce, reorganize, and transform into living flesh offered a glimmer of hope that her hidden wounds might be healed.
Unfortunately, luck did not seem to be on her side...
Altaïr saw the gravity in Maki's eyes. Though he could not guess the reason, he could tell that the microorganisms from the Radiant Dragon meant far more to her than a mere "tool for growing stronger."
Silence lingered between them for several seconds.
Just as Maki steadied herself and prepared to suggest returning to the Red Stronghold, Altaïr spoke.
"There might be another method worth trying." Altaïr looked up at Maki. "I have no idea what the odds of success are, but if it fails, we won't have lost anything."
"What?" Maki asked reflexively, not quite following.
Altaïr drew his Carving Knife and cut open his palm. "Back then, the microorganisms entered my body and took root when blood carrying them came into contact with my skin.
"In that respect, they're similar to the Frenzy Virus. Both can be transmitted through blood.
"Perhaps we could try transferring them by bringing blood into contact with an open wound. After all, according to the Director and her colleagues, neither of our immune systems defends against these foreign entities.
"As long as even a tiny number of microorganisms pass to you through my blood and take root in your body, they should have no trouble multiplying.
"Of course, there are risks, including infection and rejection. It depends on whether you're willing to take that chance."
Maki had frozen at Altaïr's act of "self-harm," but an odd smile now touched her face.
She had never once considered this approach...
As for the risks, after everything she had already endured, could this even be called one?
With that thought, Maki cast aside her hesitation. She drew a throwing knife and cut open her own palm just as he had.
"Come on. Let's try it."
* * *
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