Interrupting the charge did not mean the danger had passed. The two Felynes who had leaped from Rathalos Model-10 moments earlier had no time to catch their breath before rushing back into the attack to divert the Chaotic Gore Magala's attention.
Clawdia cried, "Meow!" and activated Beast Mode. Steel claws raised, she charged forward, flipped through the air like a whirlwind, landed on the Gore Magala's back, and began raking it furiously.
Sajji deployed and secured the Rakna-Kadaki Model-5. Seizing the opening created when the explosion halted the Chaotic Gore Magala, he fired the One-shot Binder without hesitation.
The massive, barbed ballista bolt drilled into the Gore Magala's flank and lodged deep in its flesh. As the rope pulled taut, it restricted the Monster's movements and kept it from breaking free for the moment.
The Gunners' fire had never let up.
A team with two Gunners was not especially common, but Morgan or Nymera alone might not have provided enough firepower to suppress the Chaotic Gore Magala effectively.
Morgan was about to load Spread Ammo and temporarily take the front line again when he heard a sharp whistle.
After drinking a potion and taking a few breaths, Isis had no time even to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth. She hefted her Large Shield Gunlance once more, ready to rejoin the fight.
The Palamutes served more as "transport" than hunting partners and were too intimidated by the Chaotic Gore Magala's Elder Dragon-like presence to approach. Hibiki, however, answered her whistle immediately, sprinting over and carrying her back into the fray.
With the others covering him, Altaïr finally managed to suppress the confusion caused by the acute Frenzy Virus flare-up for the moment and downed two bottles of medicine.
His voice came out hoarse. "Careful! It's gradually getting used to its body and abilities!"
Before he had even finished speaking, the Chaotic Gore Magala endured the Gunners' suppressive fire and Isis's assault, twisted its head around, bit down on the One-shot Binder lodged in its flank, and jerked viciously.
It tore away the One-shot Binder along with a large mass of flesh and what looked like a length of intestine.
It did not care what harm this caused. Its death was already inevitable. As for the pain?
Its failed metamorphosis had left its body twisted, subjecting it to flesh-rending agony every moment. Its sense of pain had long since gone numb.
It wanted only to destroy everything.
The Chaotic Gore Magala beat its wings without pause, scattering Frenzy Virus and scale powder. At the same time, violet-black energy flared between its teeth.
It was gathering power for another breath attack like the previous one.
The earlier fighting had taught it that fangs and claws alone could not threaten the Hunters effectively. Only energy attacks that detonated the Frenzy Virus could deliver a true killing blow.
"Fall back!" Altaïr roared.
After being caught by such attacks repeatedly, the Hunters no longer underestimated the threat of that violet-black energy.
Altaïr sprinted at full speed to get clear, while Isis used Storm Retreat several times in succession, opening a gap of several dozen meters in an instant.
The violet-black breath struck the ground before the Chaotic Gore Magala, split apart, and burst, once again setting off a vast chain of explosions.
This time, because they had reacted in advance, no one was caught in the blast.
By then, however, the concentration of Frenzy Virus across the battlefield had risen high enough that an ordinary person could become infected after only a few breaths.
Thanks to their Wystones, even if Isis and the others were infected, they could at least keep the virus from flaring up. Their condition remained relatively normal.
Altaïr's condition, however, was rapidly deteriorating. His immune system was unlike an ordinary person's, and he was already infected with the Frenzy Virus.
The restlessness he had previously forced down through sheer will resurfaced, erupting even more violently than before.
Under those conditions, willpower alone could no longer contain it. His only option was to give himself over to that restless urge through battle and slaughter, then overcome it.
Isis and the others had also noticed that something was wrong with Altaïr.
Isis desperately wanted to tell him to withdraw from the fight, but she could not force the words out.
She was not confident that she could hold off the Chaotic Gore Magala alone. If Altaïr left, their formation would almost certainly collapse.
As for withdrawing from the battle and abandoning the Hunt, not one of them had even considered it.
They did not know that the Chaotic Gore Magala had only a few days left to live. They still believed its failed metamorphosis had primarily been caused by their interference.
If they let it escape and recover, who knew whether it might resume its metamorphosis and become a fully mature Shagaru Magala?
One Shagaru Magala was trouble enough. If a second appeared, no one knew what the rapidly spreading epidemic might become.
Therefore, no matter the risk, they had to stop this Chaotic Gore Magala here.
"It's exhausted. Try to pin it down!" Altaïr forced out through clenched teeth. After unleashing the breath projectile that had caused the widespread explosions, the Chaotic Gore Magala was drooling at the corners of its mouth and breathing in ragged gasps.
There was no better option. He had to keep pressing the attack and try to overcome the renewed Frenzy Virus flare-up in the middle of battle.
Then turn that power to his own use.
"Wait for me to create an opening!" Isis shouted as she swung her Gunlance through a Quick Reload. She pointed the muzzle behind her and launched into Blast Dash, charging her opponent despite the risk that the Gore Magala might seize the opening to counterattack.
She carefully controlled the distance of the dash and stayed as close to the ground as possible, minimizing the risk of being swatted out of the air.
Fortunately, the Chaotic Gore Magala was also in poor condition after unleashing several powerful attacks in succession. It tried to intercept her with a claw swipe, but the movement came a beat too late.
Isis seized the opening and closed in.
With no time to think about anything else, Isis roared and launched an all-out assault.
For a moment, the exhausted Chaotic Gore Magala was actually suppressed, retreating step by step before Isis's reckless advance.
Nymera and Morgan also abandoned any thought of maintaining a safe distance and moved perilously close.
Nymera trained her sights on the Chaotic Gore Magala's left wing, which had failed to complete its metamorphosis.
Sheets of Flaming Ammo poured out, setting the already tattered black wing membrane ablaze.
Blademasters held the advantage in close-quarters combat. Together, Altaïr and Isis had every chance of suppressing their opponent.
But the Chaotic Gore Magala repeatedly beat its wings to leap backward and create distance, breaking the Hunters' suppression. Whenever the Blademasters tried to close in again, it unleashed devastating energy attacks.
Both Isis and Altaïr had been wounded that way.
If they could destroy one wing and deny it the ability to fly, the battle would surely become much easier.
Morgan, the other Gunner, understood Nymera's intent. He loaded Spread Ammo again, moved into close quarters on the Gore Magala's left, and unleashed a relentless barrage. Scorched brittle by the flames, the wing was blasted full of holes.
While his companions suppressed the Monster, Altaïr, in poor condition after his Frenzy Virus infection flared up, made his way laboriously to the front of the Chaotic Gore Magala.
He gave a low shout and swung his blade down, but an indescribable sense that something was wrong pervaded everything.
It felt as though an invisible force bound his entire body. Both the flow of his fighting spirit and the movements of his limbs felt utterly unnatural.
Was the Frenzy Virus flare-up causing it?
Apparently not. The Frenzy Virus had also flared up when he fought the infected Zinogre, but he had felt no such restraint then.
With his thoughts chaotic and restless, Altaïr could barely think clearly. It took him several seconds to realize what was truly binding him.
He grabbed the Wystone hanging against his chest, faintly glowing and even a little hot to the touch, and pulled hard enough to snap the cord.
He casually tossed the Wystone aside. Sure enough, the invisible force restraining him vanished.
With no Wystone suppressing it, the Frenzy Virus erupted completely. Deeper, denser purple-black markings surfaced across his skin, his eyes turned entirely crimson, and wisps of dark purple aura rose from his body.
A garbled, eerie chuckle squeezed from his throat.
No wonder Lady Maki never wore a Wystone. Before the Frenzy Virus flared up, it offered protection. Once the virus did erupt and had to be overcome and turned to the Hunter's own use, however, the Wystone became nothing but an obstacle.
After deflecting the Gore Magala's counterattack with Insta-Block and swinging her Gunlance to force its claws aside, Isis turned her head, her tension unmistakable.
"A-are you all right?"
Altaïr drew a deep breath, feeling power surge through him even as his body hovered on the verge of collapse, with no recoverable health left. He smiled, and something about it was clearly wrong.
"I'm fine. I've never felt better..."
* * *
YourTL.app translated this chapter and can translate novels for readers when an English version is not available.