Attack! King of the Skies!

Uh, okay...

Keep your shoulders steady.

I'm trying...

Almost there. Just a little longer.

Okay...

Done. You can put me down now.

(Panting)

Got some good samples this time.

I have a suggestion, Yato.

Go ahead.

Maybe—

Tweezers.

Here. Anyway—

Sealing tape.

Here. Um—

Not that one, the blue one. Watch the category.

Okay...

So, what was it you wanted to say?

I was just thinking, maybe we could request a ladder the next time we go on a field mission?

Denied. Carrying too much weight reduces mobility, making it harder to deal with unexpected situations.

Check this sample too. Let's hope we find something this time.

Mhm.

What would you need a ladder for anyway?

...Forget it.

Initial tests reveal no active Originium particles, just like before.

Still nothing... How many samples have we collected?

Air, soil, organisms, surfaces... 23 samples from 17 locations in total.

And we found nothing in any of them?

Nope.

Strange.

Maybe the rain from a couple of days ago affected the detection of active Originium particles.

Did you notice anything unusual along the way?

What about those broken and charred trees?

Probably struck by lightning in the storm... If that could be called unusual, then we'd be dealing with a fire-breathing monster on a rampage.

I don't want to call this a waste of time, but it is seeming like gathering more samples wouldn't be the most efficient way to go about this.

Let's change our methodology. What do you think about interviewing the local Infected directly?

Tracing their movements could really help in determining the source of the Originium. But there's something we should keep in mind.

The hilly terrain limits the contact that these villages have with the outside. The locals may not be very cooperative.

I'll persuade them.

The most recent suspected case came from Roka Village, at the bottom of this hill. Let's head there first.

Oh, huh. They reported the case directly to Rhodes Island and requested medical aid? That's rare.

Pay attention on the way down. There might be something we missed.

(Presses the recording button)

Captain's audio log number one.

0737 hours, sunny, northern Soubo mountain range, Higashi.

This is Yato, captain of Rhodes Island Operations Team A4, responding to Oripathy cases in the region along with Operator Noir Corne.

There have recently been multiple cases suspected to be infection by Oripathy. We believe there to have been an abnormal spread of airborne Originium particles. We have not eliminated the possibility that this phenomenon is manmade.

We are currently on the outskirts of the forests of Soubo. We have completed a preliminary survey of the local environment and collected some samples, but have yet to find anything unusua—

Yato! Over here! I found something!

Pausing.

What is it? Er... is this what you found?

Some bugs under a pile of dried leaves?

Waterfly larvae.

And?

Uh... it seemed strange when I first saw them, but now I've forgotten why.

Well, bring it up again when you remember... We have yet to find anything unusual and are continuing our investigation. End audio log.

Oh, I remember now!

What is it?

I asked Mint to recommend me a few books because the Doctor said I should read more. One of them was 'The Originium Slug's Guide to Terran Wildlife,' which was fun because it had a lot of pictures in it.

Get to the point.

It talked about the habitats of waterflies. Did you know that they always lay their eggs in puddles?

The larvae grow up in the puddles, and fly away when they're adults.

You mean...?

Nothing but leaves here. No puddles.

Can waterfly larvae survive in damp environments?

The book didn't say.

Wait... there are bushes around here, but pretty evenly distributed.

So why are there so many leaves in this particular area?

We should dig them up.

......

......

Fine, I'll do it.

This is...

Whoa, it's huge.

Did that book mention anything about this, Corne?

Do fowlbeasts grow this big in the mountains of Higashi?

I don't remember.

These claw marks are massive... similar to a fowlbeast's talons in shape, but nearly the same length as my sword, leaving deep indentations in the ground.

A creature that can leave marks like these must be the size of a house.

Ceobe would be over the moons... One of these could feed her for days.

Corne, test tube.

Here. Don't forget your safety protocols.

(Collects a sample from the scratches)

There, run a test.

Yato...

You got something?

Active Originium particles detected.

So that's what it was.

What the—?!

Yato...

A massive creature... No records of similar claw marks, nor eyewitness reports from the surrounding areas. Did it just appear out of nowhere?

Mrow!

Yato, there's a F—*cough*

No, we can't assume it was an animal. What would a fowlbeast that large even look like?

And where did the Originium particles come from?

Could it be... those leaves were...?

Mrow!

Stop making those noises, Corne.

We need to record the scratches. Bring the equipment.

Yato...

That wasn't me...

What the heck is that, Yato?

How would I know?

Stay back, keep your distance!

Some kind of local Feline variant?

Hard to say. I've never seen a Feline like that before.

It's the Rathalos!

Another one!

Careful! They could be aggressive!

Be ready for battle!

Hold on... look at their movements, Yato.

(Dances)

Rathalos! Rathalos!

They're dancing... they don't look hostile.

Hey! Who are you? Are you Felines? Do you understand what I'm saying?

They don't seem to be Felines... are they non-sapient?

What did they say again?

I'm not sure... something about the scratches? Or the creature that left them?

Who are mew calling non-sapient, you rude, horned lass!

(Points towards the scratches on the ground)

It's coming!

It can talk! It can talk!

I think he just called you rude, Yato.

It's coming? What's coming?

Never seen gear like this...

Hey! The yellow one just picked up our equipment!

It's running away!

Smithy! Stop!

The other one's running too!

After them!

Run away!

How are they so fast?

Don't ask me!

Run! The Rathalos is coming!

I think they're saying that...

Something is coming...

Corne!

Roger!

Get ready!