NieR: MHST

by Destress98life

In a world full of monsters and hunters fighting to keep a delicate balance. A boy makes a discovery of a life time that changes his life and makes an unlikely friendship his world has never seen. Secrets are revealed and worlds expand in this journey of bonds and kinship. Pairs include 2B/9S & A2/4S. Rated M for future chapters and mild gore. (Chapter 1 rewritten.)

32. Chapter 32

Author's notes:

Happy New Year! Or it will be in a few hours as I post this chapter.

It's a bit late, I know. But you know how the holidays can keep you busy with all the celebrating and we may need a few celebrating with how the year 2020 turned out.

But with 2021 on the horizon I say we should welcome it with cheer, joy, and hope that the Year will be much better than the last.

Now I hope you enjoy this chapter and consider it my late holiday present for the year!

Here is the chapter enjoy!

---

The caverns were cold and dark. Not much light is present, even with the bioluminescence above in the ceilings and the river running parallel to the path reflecting them, nothing seemed to help in the visibility of the surroundings.

Yet despite how dim their current location was, it didn't hinder 9S and his group from traversing the caverns and heading their way to the last location the guild's investigation team arrived at. Especially when they had a monster guiding their way for the matter and making the journey much easier than going around blindly like the last time the guild's team was sent here.

"How much further?" 9S asked to his current party, composing of 2B, A2 and Rogue, who was at the front leading them through the tunnels.

All three hunters were equip with their newest weapons or armor. With 9S wearing the standard guild armor and carrying his new insect glaive made by Nargacuga materials, with it being a large bladed polearm, resembling a scythe, hence fort being dubbed the Hidden scythe.

2B was wearing her new Nargacuga set armor and wielding an upgraded version of her long sword, reinforced by the same Narga materials as 9S's. And A2, who was also wearing the standard guild armor, though strengthen by the smithy for more defense and protection, while her current weapon has changed.

Instead of the Tigrex longsword she has been known using daily, her new longsword was made by Rathian materials and dubbed the Wyverns blade Verde. The weapon forged and upgraded to be much sharper than her previous blade, and also laced with powerful poison capable of inflicting large monsters.

Even Rogue has also new equipment per say, with it being a larger saddle newly made to carry all three of the hunters with him. Making it much easier for them to ride comfortable if needed.

It's safe to say that the entire party is all set to complete the quest given to them and have prepared beforehand all the necessary items they need to aide them in their mission.

Which was to search and head for the source of the black blight currently infecting their forest, and if possible …destroy it.

With a secondary task to hunt and slay any infected monster influenced by the blight and protecting it. The latter task being the reason 9S and the rest of his party are equipped with stronger gear for any inevitable fight they will face.

"It's just around that corner, you can stop Rogue here from getting any further, and try now to look for a spot for any hidden passages." A2 said, halting the group and remembering how close they are to the spot where she and her previous party before, the twin scrivener captains and 6O, were suddenly whisked off by a Rathalos to escape a blighted Rathian.

If the blighted fire wyvern is still here in the tunnels or guarding the path to its territory, A2 then supposes it be best that they find an alternate route now, than risk getting closer to the monster and end up fighting in the caverns. She speaks her thoughts to the rest of the group.

"We shouldn't get too close to where we were last time. Less the queen of the land comes to attack us."

"Indeed. We need to be more careful too. The Rathian wouldn't be far off from leaving its territory or the black blight for the matter." 2B started, reminding them and agreeing with A2's sentiment regarding the blighted flying wyvern. "Best we caution ourselves and be more discreet at this point moving forward."

Both 9S and A2 nod their heads in agreement, with the former approaching his monstie and explaining their next course of action to him.

"Grrrr…" Rogue rumbles in agreement and proceeds to follow his rider's instructions, beginning his search for any weak openings on the walls or sense potential open paths for them to traverse. While 2B and A2 watch as 9S helps guide his monstie and continue to roam around their current area looking for something.

Eventually Rogue finds a scent and detects a weak point on one of the walls, but he had to wade a few feet in the river to get to it. He smashes his body against the stoned surface, breaking it down and revealing an open path but flooded by the river's water.

"GROAH!" He calls to 9S and the others gesturing them to hop on his back.

"I guess we got not choice but to mount up. Can't help that some of the water may be leaking down that path Rogue found." 9S said, shrugging his shoulders and wading through the river to Rogue's position and climbing on top of his back.

"I'm glad we got a monster to ride than forcing ourselves to swim." A2 commented following 9S's lead and making her way to Rogue with her sister. "Lucky the Pods are back at the settlement too with Whistill."

"I could imagine Pod 42 complaining about wading in the water. How a felyne who enjoys fishing like I do but hates water, still remains a mystery to me." 2B responded with mirth, thinking about their palicos who were left behind to stay and help Whistill fortify their home and preparing them for whatever event may transpire should something happen after their investigation.

As they all mounted Rogue preparing to leave, 2B suddenly took note of the water they were in. "Odd, the current seems to be going the opposite of our direction."

She could see the water rushing past them instead of flowing ahead of their path. Joining with the river, which 2B then only noticed now, was also heading the same direction away.

A2 noticed it too and thought the same. "Strange, I thought with us going deeper underground the water would be flowing with us."

"That or we may be approaching an incline and moving to an elevated place." 9S mused. "We are pretty close to the northern west mountain ranges from our current location. We might actually be approaching them underground and just following an underground river from its source too."

"Possibly, our destination may be inside a hollow area within the mountains that none has ever been before." 2B adds, theorizing the possibility that they may be entering an uncharted and a normally not accessible area.

"Let's gets a move on. We won't know unless we find out ourselves." A2 cuts in between the two's conversation. "If our destination is much farther than we expected then we got a lot of ground to lose."

Her sentiment was shared by Rogue, who growls in agreement. "Grrrr…"

The Deviljho monstie begins his trek on the path with his occupants on his back settling down for the ride, one that may take long depending on how fast they move. As the splashing steps echo around the caverns, the party didn't take notice of the faint sounds of roars coming ahead of them.

Unaware that there were two distinct bellows.

---

The ride carried on through the path, leading them to narrow passages and wide rooms with glowing moss, the water flowing constantly bellow Rogue's feet. At times, the monstie would feel the water get deeper, forcing him to swim and suddenly lurch to the surprise of his passengers from the sudden drop or lack of ground beneath him underwater.

At first 9S and the others were worried that Rogue wouldn't be able to swim comfortably, with them riding on his back, and because they didn't have knowledge beforehand if Deviljho's could swim. But their worries were put to rest as Rogue easily swam similar to a crocodilian, paddling his tail behind him and remaining buoyant. Leaving them to leisurely flout through the river as part of the ride.

9S found it amusing of the fact that Rogue could swim and how it easily answered the question most researchers ask about, of how Deviljho's are found in deserted islands or inlets without any land bridges for them to cross through.

They continued to ride Rogue as he swam to the end of the river, of which was a small waterfall inside the cavern. And before they had to figure out how will they proceed moving onwards, Rogue was able to locate ground for them to land that fortunately held a path he sensed will lead to their destination.

Once they got to shore, 9S notice too that the path was an approaching slope and the climb they'll take would get steeper as they move further along it. 2B called for them to rest, to give Rogue a break for carrying them and to best begin preparing for whatever would come next, feeling that the moment they exit the path they'll immediately be place in a situation to act or battle.

As they started to unpack some of their items and checking their gears, 9S couldn't help asking. "What do guys think we'll find up ahead? Besides the black blight—Or err... whatever it is being inflicted by it."

"Who knows…" A2 spoke with a shrug. "Probably that whole hidden ecosystem or underground locale, you and the twin Scrivener captains keep talking about."

"Regardless of what we find, the guild has tasked as to search for it and destroy whatever source the black blight has taken hold of." 2B adds, before flashing 9S a knowing smile. "It's a good thing we figured out how you can purge the blight. Quite a coincidence if I may add."

"Yeah, it is…" 9S agrees, especially knowing of what the guild's usual method is for clearing or purging the black blight. "If we do find a locale infected by the black blight, I'd rather have to cleanse it than burn it to the ground by our own hands with fire or Rogue's dragon breath. I mean I know we need to stop the black blight, but surely the guild knows what would happen if…"

"They'll do what they have do. That's how big of the threat the black blight is." A2 cuts in explaining. "Sure, we can talk about the negative impact to the environment or the ecological disruption to the monsters who were planning to return once the blight is destroyed, because we killed off what it was infecting. But it's even worse if the blight continues to remain, and then we might start seeing even more disastrous changes to the environment."

"The pitfalls and mass monster migrations are already some of these changes and signs of what's to come if don't stop it." 2B said, citing some of the previous events they had for the past month as examples of the black blights growing influence and harm.

9S nods his head, agreeing with them, and gaining more resolve to purge the blight with is kinship stone. "Then I guess, you guys can count on me to take care for the black blight."

"No pressure of course."

"We got your back, Nines."

A2 and 2B add encouragingly, with Rogue grunting the same message as theirs. 9S could only smile at their support in response.

"Thanks guys."

He then remembered an important detail. "Wait, if I'm going to heal the blight… how will we explain to the guild that we destroyed it? Or why there isn't anything scorched or burned to ashes?"

A2 was quick to answer, reassuring him. "Don't worry about that. If we do find something or whatever it is keeping the black blight strong, you'll heal it first and then we burn it for the sake of appearances when the guild's other members come to investigate. I know it may sound a waste, but if do end up finding a large infection, we won't need to risk burning everything, potentially harming the locale, and only a small portion."

"But that still depends on how far the effect of your healing goes." 2B adds. "We still don't how far, or to what extent, your kinship stone could purge the blight from our previous attempt yesterday."

"Then I guess we'll find out sooner or later. And just cross whatever bridge we need to, with whatever we learn, I suppose." 9S muses in conclusion, with the others nodding.

After a few more minutes to prepare and checking their gear, they mounted on Rogue once more for quicker travel and begin to ascend the slope to their destination.

As they journeyed on, they could feel the rise and their elevation shifting from where they once were to their current trek. Even if they were somewhere underground or inside a mountain, 9S and the others knew they are moving up the slope and heading higher to somewhere else.

When they all felt a sudden cold wind pass them, 9S took note that they may be approaching an area with an open draft for air to filter through and guessed that they are getting closer to their destination. Until Rogue sees light further ahead of their current path and swiftly makes his way towards it, with little a sense of excitement shared with his passengers of finding out what they'll see past the light.

And when they did, they were stunned at the view that behold them.

It was a valley.

A small valley inside a seemingly impossible place, carved within a mountain.

For 9S, this was something he thought he and the others wouldn't expect to find. From their vantage point it looked like the entire locale was inside a carved stone bowl. Water was pouring from various points, like or as waterfalls of various sizes from the walls, then streaming through and around the valley. Filling the many interconnected rivers they would spot at the base.

This place could probably be the source of all water for the underground rivers inside all the monster dens in Whistill forest, based on the direction of the flow going out of the valley.

Up above a part of the ceiling was absent, the center as one would notice and instead a natural skylight was in its place, raining sunlight down towards the hidden valley within the mountain.

With a little observation, 9S theorize that some of the flying wyverns could have probably flown in and out of the locale from the opening, but guessed most might have preferred using the tunnels due to the altitude and how powerful the glare of sunlight was shining down the valley. The intense light would have most probably be blinding some wyverns from flying properly. 9S also muses that they must be really high up, or something must be magnifying the sun rays for it to reach down and photosynthesize all the plant life present in the valley.

Regardless, 9S nearly found himself in awe and amazement at finding a hidden valley within a mountain. And his companions sharing similar feelings, with 2B, A2 and Rogue staring at the same scenery with wonder at the ecological marvel.

That is, they would have been in completely enamored at the sight, if it weren't for one glaring detail that was ruining the beautiful landscape.

Half of the valley was shown to be under the black blight's infection. The dark haze emitted, casting a dreadful mist and an eerie purple glow.

Starting at the opposite end of the valley from where 9S's and the others were standing. To reaching the middle and slowly overtaking the valley with its corruption. There was even a strong concentration of the haze being emitted at the center of the other end, no doubt what the group could presume is where the prime source of the black blight plaguing them is.

Staring at the blighted region, the group could say they finally found the origin of the black blight's infection of their land, after many weeks searching of it. And as of the moment, they have completed the first task of their current quest.

But there were also a few underlying presumptions being made, by each member of the group within their thoughts from their discovery.

For A2, the fact that they found the black blight's source meant that there is a chance that she'll be able to find A4 or anything left by her that would show some semblance of her passing. She knows in her gut that A4 was here before and believed that the hunter must have made her way to the valley, after she collapsed the tunnel she and Commander White were fighting in with the Black Calamity.

Added from the latter end of her thoughts, A2 knew that if A4 somehow made her way down the valley, suffice to say then it would also mean that the Black Calamity could have made its way here as well. And A2 was itching to slay it or make sure that it remained dead once and for all, for everyone's sake.

For 2B, finding the black blight source meant that they now have the chance to put an end to all the problems the blight has caused for days to the forest, its inhabitants, and the village of YoRHa. They could finally be rid of it, destroy it, or in this case with 9S's kinship stone, purge the infection by cleansing and healing the land.

She also knows that they still have to deal with whatever infected monster that would try to stop them or hinder their progress. In her head, plans and strategies were running through her mind, with deciding to prioritize slaying the infected Rathian first and maybe scope out if there are other monsters infected, slaying them too, before they try to heal the land from the black blight.

For 9S and Rogue, seeing how much the black blight has taken over, they worry if the sheer scale of the area and the infected forest life that the kinship stone has to purge would be too much for it. Both of them shared a look with each other, wondering the same and trying to figure what they could do if the kinship stone wasn't enough. They held a serious gaze towards the regions looked to be completely covered by the blight and the mass concentration of it at the other end of the valley.

A small part in 9S's mind told him the valley looked familiar, and he felt nostalgic for some reason while staring at it. With a small twinge of pain in his heart, no doubt crying for the hidden land from the black blight ravaging it.

The group of hunters, rider and monstie were about done from looking at the valley from their place and reflecting with their thoughts, gaining more resolve to finish their job. They knew that time was wasting, and they still need to head down to the forest proper and make their way to the other side of the valley to reach the black blight.

9S already began to usher Rogue to a beaten path he spotted leading to the base of the valley. That is until a shrill cry caused all four of them to tense and turn to look above.

"SKKRRRAAAAIIIHHHH!"

Rogue only had a few seconds to dodge before a large figure swooped down and nearly landed on top of them. The monstie then had to swerve off to the right and nearly slip off the edge they were standing to avoid a large fireball shot at their direction.

"GROOOOAAAHHH!" Rogue roars at the attacker, as he turns to face it with 9S, 2B and A2 staring as well against their current adversary.

They immediately recognize the monster that attack them was a Rathian, the very same one they were supposed to slay. They notice too, the changes the black blight did to its body. Its once green scales were now more purple in hue and its claws, wing talons and spikes were in much darker shade. It also glared at them with glowing purple eyes, a showing sign that it has become completely taken over by the black blight. Finally, its entire being was cloak in a thicker haze of the blight, making the monster to look more demonic than its normal animalistic appearance.

"SKRAAIHHH!" The Rathian gave a distorted roar, announcing its intention to fight. But 9S noticed that their current terrain was not ideal for them to face the wyvern queen and opt to move to a far better location to fight.

"Rogue gets us down! We can't fight here!" Rogue grunts in agreement and turns away from the Rathian and sprints off to the beaten path ahead of them.

Not one to lose its chosen prey, the Rathian chases after them, forgoing the use of its wings and instead deciding to run after Rogue and the others. It even attempts to breath out more fireballs at the group, with Rogue beginning to dodge more wyvern fire thrown at them.

A stray blast Rogue dodges passes them and hits somewhere at the top of the cavern's wall beside them. The fire ball exploding upon impact on the rocky wall and causing it to rain down stone and debris ahead of their path. One that A2 was quick to spot and calls out in warning to the group.

"Heads up, debris incoming!"

Rogue hears her and begins to weave through the falling rocks, avoiding them and smashing a couple that got too close to them for comfort. With 9S and their kinship, the Deviljho was more agile and reacting far quicker against the abrupt landslide, he even leaps up and crushes a large rock that was falling fast towards them.

While the Rathian chasing them was feeling the brunt force of the rocks smashing and pelting her scales, crying out in irritation and frustration as she continues to reach the group without losing momentum.

Rogue spots another rock falling fast towards them and catches it. But instead of crushing it like the last one, he instead chucks it behind himself, throwing the slab of stone at the Rathian and hitting it dead center on its head.

"SkRIAH!" Rathian yelps at the unexpected attack and trips, stumbling along the path, causing it to slow down and giving Rogue a chance to create more distance between them.

"Nice shot, Rogue!"

"Indeed."

"Bitch deserve it."

Rogue welcomed his companion's compliments and spurred to get them closer to the base of the valley quickly before the Rathian recovers. They were reaching the end of the path and looked to Rogue that he might have to make a big leap.

"Hold on!" 9S said to the others, seeing the end too and knowing what his monstie was going to do.

They braced themselves as Rogue leaps off the edge and briefly soars, before quickly falling and landing roughly at the ground. Though now they find their terrain has change to rows of large trees and the forest floor. Rogue continues heading deeper in the forest, hiding them within, as he could hear the cries of the Rathian and knowing that it was still on their trail.

"SKRRAAIIHHH!" Wyvern queen bellows in rage and her roar seemed to echo the entire valley.

"It's on top of us." 2B said as she noticed, from hearing how the roar sounded and guessed that the Rathian must be flying and searching for them from the sky.

"She won't find us easily with all the trees hiding us from her view above, but it'll still be hard to fight here too, with all of them in the way." A2 pointed out, seeing how all the trees seemed to cluster close together and would probably hinder them from having to fight in a cramp space, especially with two monsters duking it out.

"GROAH!" Rogue barks picking up something with his senses and heads toward the direction he detected it.

"I think Rogue found something, right there!" 9S said pointing ahead of them as his monstie exits the forest to a clearing. One littered with burned ground and ashen trees. Rogue stops in place to let the group survey the grounds.

"This would do. We'll fight here." 2B said addressing both 9S and A2, who nod their heads in agreement, just as they hear the Rathian's cry once more.

"SKRIIAAAHH!"

Rogue pinpoints the direction of where the roar came from and faces it, while 2B and A2 dismount him and draw their longswords. 9S stays seated on top Rogue as all four of them turn to where the Rathian would come from and wait for its arrival.

"Remember the plan." 2B said, with A2 and 9S speaking of it in turn as they recall.

"Yeah, you and I focus on cutting it down a size…"

"…While me and Rogue tenderize it."

"GROAH!"

2B gives a small nod to their answers.

"…Then we finish it together." She adds before hardening her gaze at the flying wyvern rapidly descending towards them.

The Rathian lands, its weight impacting the ground with an audible crash. The wyvern with the moniker of Queen of the land glares at the group in front of it. It raises its head, taking a deep breath while it stands taller, before letting out another roar of challenge.

"SKKKKKKRRRRRRRAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIHHHH!"

This time it's roar was met with another, as Rogue bellows in acceptance and charges straight towards it with 9S in tow riding him.

"GROOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"

The Rathian decides to meet them head on and rushes towards the two, intending to out speed them and attack with a fiery bite. But at the last second Rogue pivots and delivers a tail slap, hitting the green scaled wyvern's face and sending it stumbling back, recoiling from the force of the blow.

The Rathian yelps in pain, leaving itself open for an assault.

Rogue doesn't waste a second and begins to hammer in the Rathian. He tackles it with a shoulder charge before latching his jaws on its expose underside and tears a large chunk of flesh with a single jerk of his head. The Rathian cries in pain and attempts to retaliate, flapping its wings first to get off the ground and away from Rogue, before attempting to back flip the Deviljho with its poisonous tail.

But Rogue wasn't giving the Rathian any chances and latches on to the base of its the tail, stopping it in its tracks and before the wyvern finishes its maneuver. With a little help from a surge of power spurred by 9S and their kinship, Rogue grunts before pulling and slamming the Rathian from the air back to the floor, grounding it.

"SKRIAH!"

The Rathian shrieks in shock from getting slammed before suddenly feeling itself being dragged by the tail and then roughly thrown back a few feet away from Rogue, its body crashing ungracefully to the ground once again.

The wyvern queen struggles to stand while it hears the approaching charge of Rogue and finds itself once again being pounded by the brute wyvern, this time with the Deviljho leaping to the air and crashing down on its back.

Rogue begins to stomp his feet, keeping the Rathian disoriented, but a sudden jerk of the flying wyverns sends him off her. The Rathian recovers quickly and rages on by firing a large fireball at Rogue, hitting, and enveloping both him and 9S in a massive explosion. Smoke billows from where the two stood, but the Rathian catches movement within, until two different figures rush out of the fumes.

The two being 2B and A2 with their longswords poised to attack and rushing towards the flying wyvern in a blur.

The Rathian was caught off guard from their sudden appearance and was left open to a different assault by their blades. Both 2B and A2 move as if they were dancing around the wyvern queen with their longswords slashing and drawing blood from the flying wyvern. Their weapons upgraded and forge to be sharper to pierce even the black blight strengthen hide, scales, and body of the Rathian.

Without the hinderance of their weapons bouncing off like before with the Blighted Nargacuga, 2B and A2 were having more ease in cutting through the Rath's hide, leaving lacerations and carving pieces off its scales into ribbons.

The Blighted Rathian could feel itself being shaved of blood, scales, and muscles from the numerous cuts being inflicted towards it by the two hunters.

With 2B assaulting its side, weaving through its legs, and delivering precise slashes to its vulnerable underside, even stabbing the open wound made earlier by Rogue causing the Rathian to flinch back. Leaving it vulnerable to A2 and her aerial attacks, from vaulting to the air and delivering powerful downward strikes as she falls. Creating small explosions of multiple cuts, cleaving the Rathian's scales and splattering blood from its open wounds.

Despite the two not possessing the raw power of the Deviljho attacking her earlier, the Rathian was getting overwhelmed by the hunters and knew that if the twins keep up their pace, she will soon die from blood loss or caught in a vulnerable position for her other opponents to take opportunity of.

"SKRRRIIIAAAAHHHHH!"

The Rathian makes a sudden roar that causes both 2B and A2 to cease their assault, covering their ears from the deafening sound. Giving the Rathian the opportunity to lift off the ground and get into position to back flip the two. 2B and A2 recover just as they are suddenly left open for the Rathian's attack.

But before the wyvern queen could proceed to whip them with its poisonous tail, she is suddenly interrupted again by Rogue who blast a stream of dragon breath straight at it. The elemental attacked causing it to be burned and pushed back by the dragon energy, then left awkwardly hovering and attempting to right itself in the sky.

Until 9S abruptly appears to the Rathian's peripheral vision, his glaive drawn before delivering a downward thrust with surprising strength, stabbing through the flying wyvern's side, and sending it toppling down back to the ground once again.

Briefly disoriented, the Blighted Rath shakes it off as she stands and bellows in rage towards 9S. She begins to breath out a volley of fireballs aimed at him, while he quickly vaults into the air to avoid them. The stray fireballs ended up heading towards 2B, A2, and Rogue' direction, forcing them to dodge and avoid getting blasted by fire, as more ash and soot litter the grounds.

Mid-air, 9S performs series of slashes, swinging his glaive around himself striking the Blighted Rathian's expose back, wings and tail. Before landing a distance away from the Rathian and proceeds to bring out an item from his person, slamming it into the ground.

The item expands, exploding below the earth and creating space, forming a pitfall trap.

"Now!" 9S shouts signaling the others of his placement of the trap before he dodges another fireball aimed at him.

2B and A2 immediately rush towards the Rathian as its focus was on 9S, swinging their blades and slashing its legs before the both of them vaulted off its sides to strike the wing talons. Both hunters were able break off the parts, declawing the wyvern queen's wings.

"SKRAIH!"

The Blighted Rathian bellows in rage and retaliates by swinging its tail 360, pushing 2B and A2 away but not hitting the two, as they both ducked and slip under the wyvern. The Rathian then spews more fireballs from its mouth, razing the grounds and forcing the two hunters to back off completely.

9S regroups with them and they all notice that the Rathian was close to the Pitfall trap. For a second they though it would fall for it, but the wyvern queen was quick to see their ploy, noticing the unusual object sticking off the ground.

The Rathian merely growls intending to avoid the trap behind her, giving the group no other option but to force it there. Fortunately, Rogue was quick to respond and tackles the Rathian out of nowhere, catching it off guard.

"GROOAAAHHHH!" With a roar, Rogue lunges at the Rathian's neck and attempts to push it back.

"SKRRAAAAIIIHHH!" But the blighted Rath wasn't going to be overpowered by the miniature world eater and instead leans back on its weight, causing Rogue to lose his balance, before the using the opening to swing her neck and send the brute wyvern crashing near his companion's feet.

"Rogue!" 9S called out to his monstie, who shakily stands to his feet.

"You okay?"

"GROAH!" Rogue barks in reply, before growling and aiming his rapidly developing rage towards the blighted Rathian. The group stares at the flying wyvern who was pawing it's clawed feet on the ground, a clear sign it was going to charge at the group. The Rathian was only a couple of feet away from the Trap.

2B and A2 share look before glancing together at 9S, who nods back at them. A silent message conveyed between the three, before 9S turns to Rogue.

"Rogue I'll take point." 9S told his monstie, who briefly raises his eyes in question. 9S simply gives Rogue a knowing look, reassuring the Deviljho. Before both them form up at the front, facing the Rathian, with 2B and A2 right behind them.

"GRROOOAAAAAAHHH!"

With a roar, Rogue and 9S charge straight ahead. The Blighted Rathian responds first by shooting a fireball that Rogue counters with a dragon breath, resulting to a small explosion as the two elements meet. 9S pole vaults over and descends from the sky towards the Rathian, striking its head stunning it briefly, before successfully mounting its back.

"SKRIIAAAAHH!"

The Blighted Rathian begins to buck and thrash to dislodge 9S, but he holds firm and begins to stab her with his carving knife. Distracted, the others move in to attack and aiming at areas to disorient it further.

2B slashed the Rathian's neck, as A2 dash under it and strike its left leg, then Rogue finishes with a full body slam at the wyvern's midsection, making it stumble closer to the pitfall trap. 9S finishes the job, by drawing his glaive and leaps towards the Rathian's head, delivering a series of strikes, and ending with heavy blow that sends it toppling down.

The Rathian yelps, feeling its legs suddenly give out under it and found its lower half buried. Trapped, panic courses through within the flying wyvern, knowing of the hunters and monster approaching to finish her off. Realizing that it couldn't handle these opponents by herself, the Rathian makes a desperate call.

"SKRKRKRKRKRIEIEIEIEIEIOAOAOAOAOAOAHHHHH—UARK!"

Rogue cuts the Rathian off, slamming his foot on top of its head silencing it. He prepares to slam his jaws on its neck, while 9S, 2B and A2 suddenly paused from hearing the Rathian's different cry. Something about it was unsettling and screamed danger.

9S for one, suddenly had the urge to call Rogue to stop his assault. "Rogue wait—"

"SKREEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"

A loud and different cry cuts 9S off. And with others, he suddenly turns his attention above, eyes widening at the other approaching wyvern.

Who dives down and swoops Rogue off the Rathian, catching the brute wyvern off guard.

"ROGUE!" 9S cries out as he watches his monstie begin to struggle under the grasp of their new opponent. With the others taking note of what it was.

"That's… a Rathalos."

"A Black Blighted Rathalos."

Both 2B and A2 tensed from recognizing the new wyvern and dread knowing that it was also infected with the black blight. Especially when the wyvern with the disputed title of 'King of the Skies' was clearly changed as drastically as its female counterpart.

Seeing that its once red like scales are now darker with a violent purple hue. With some of its black scales, claws, and foot talons holding Rogue, seemed to glow an eerie violet against the large volume of black haze surrounding its being. Even the dark marking of its wings looked distorted. While its mouth is glowing and breathing out violet colored fire instead of the normal orange and yellow.

With Rogue still struggling under its grasp and its mate relatively safe, the Blighted Rathalos eyes his opponents before delivering a distorted roar.

"SKKKKKRREEEEEOOOOOOOOOAAAAHHHH!"

9S, 2B and A2, had to cover their ears from the loud roar that assaulted their ears, giving the Blighted Rathalos the opening to fire a fireball point blank in front of them and sending them flying off their feet with cries of pain.

Rogue eyes widen at the sight of his companions getting knocked back and growls in anger.

"GRRROOOAAAHHH!" With a defiant roar, Rogue angles his head to deliver a vicious bite on the Rathalos' foot. Successfully chomping down near its shin.

"SKREOAH!" The Rathalos yelps in pain and drops down to the ground in retaliation, the action forcing Rogue's jaws off its foot and pinning him under its claws instead. The Rathalos glares at the Brute wyvern and begins to apply more pressure on to the monstie's body, slowly starting to crush Rogue and making him gasp for air.

Rogue started to make some choking and startling sounds of panic, feeling the weight of the larger flying wyvern begin to squeeze him and his lungs. But he defiantly tries to resist the crushing force and attempts to use his strength to fight and push back. Yet the Rathalos responds with adding more pressure and digging its talons deeper on Rogue's side, making him roar in pain.

For moment Rogue thought he'll have more of a struggle ahead to get loose, until he heard 9S shout towards the Rathalos.

"Get off of him!" The Rathalos cocks its head at the source of the shout, just as 9S vaults and slams his glaive down on its head. Putting a lot of strength and even used his rider style technique, 9S delivered a heavy slash that eliciting a painful growl from the wyvern, forcing it to step back and off of Rogue.

"SKKRREEOOAAHH!" The Rathalos roars in defiance but 9S ignores it and launches himself over the fire king wyvern and mounts it. He begins to attack the Rathalos half haphazardly, forgoing the use of his hunting knife and instead swing his glaive around and trying to cut through its thick scales as much as possible.

The flying wyvern reacts bucking and swinging its body around to dislodge 9S, while roaring in frustration.

"SKRREEEEOOOAAAAAHHHH!"

"You! Gotta try harder than that!" 9S shouts in defiance, before driving down the scythe like blade of his Nargacuga insect glaive on the Rathalos back once more.

"SKREEOOAAAHH!"

While not having any leverage to attack properly, 9S was still able to balance and ride the Rathalos despite its thrashing. Also knowing he at least still be able to act as a nuisance to the Rathalos. It was showing with how aggravated the flying wyvern was, thrashing around and trying to fling him off.

While the blighted Rathalos was distracted, Rogue slowly got up and watched as his rider continued to distract the flying wyvern. He was about to head over to assist, until he felt a sudden weightiness in his head and feeling a bit weakened. He must have made an audible groan because not second later he heard 2B calling to him in worry.

"Rogue, you're poisoned." She was already rushing to Rogue side and saw some of the brute wyvern's wounds from the Rathalos grasping him bleeding not just blood, but also a purple liquid, which she knew was poison.

2B immediately brought out from her pouch an antidote and begin to splash Rogue's wounds, before moving to his mouth.

"Rogue open wide." She ordered, with the monstie complying, seeing that whatever 2B was doing was helping him recover and lose the weight he was feeling in his head. Opening his jaws, he felt a strange liquid being poured to his mouth and liked the taste, licking his maw in delight.

2B watched as Rogue shakes his head briefly, waving off his dizziness. She was glad that he was feeling better, since they may need his support now more than ever.

Turning her attention back to the two flying wyverns, 2B could see the Rathian was still recovering and trying to get out of the pitfall trap, while the Rathalos was being ridden by 9S, who fortunately was keeping it distracted by mercilessly attacking its back with his glaive. Though how long would 9S be able to hold on and keep its attention, 2B wasn't sure.

They need to deal with either one of the Raths first, before focusing on the other but while still keeping both sides occupied. It would be much harder to fight both flying wyverns once at the same time and knowing how well Rathians and Rathalos could coordinate together.

2B decides it might be best to split into two pairs and have one group finishes the Rathian off and the other support 9S with the Rathalos. She then spots A2, who has recovered, approaching her view, and muttering a few curses at the Rathalos.

"I hate when they do that. ****ing fire blasting when you're deaf." A2 swipes off a little soothe and ash from her armor, while still looking relatively unharmed and rather mildly irritated.

"You can pay it back later, after we deal with the Rathian first. 9S is already keeping the Rathalos distracted, but we don't have much time if he could keep it that way." 2B said informing her sister of the situation, before giving their plan of attack.

She turns to Rogue and points, directing his attention to 9S and Rathalos. "Rogue go help 9S and try to keep that Rathalos grounded as possible. We can't let it fly off and give it an advantage over us."

"GROAAH!" Rogue roars in acceptance and then swiftly runs to help his rider against the blighted fire wyvern. Leaving 2B and A2, who begin to make their way to the Rathian.

"We need to finish the Rathian quickly and then join them, before the situation escalates."

"Obviously, but then again we weren't expecting to face a Rathalos...or we should have? Why do I feel we made a rookie mistake." A2 said, a bit frustrated that they should have known the Rathian wasn't alone and as a pair of Raths, they were the likely reason to why all the monsters fled the hidden valley they discovered.

A2 couldn't help commenting out her thoughts sarcasticaslly, while brandishing her longsword. "I mean what are the odds that a pair of raths would get infected by the black blight and be the reason to why all those monsters left in the first place?"

"I fear there was a high probability from the beginning." 2B replied with equal mirth, thinking the same that they should have expected facing a Rathalos too when engaging with a Rathian. She hopes that she was able to pack some flash bombs to use on hand, while gripping her own own blade tightly on the other. "Regardless, this shouldn't be too big of a problem for us. We can take them."

"Yeah, I know we can. We got two badass hunters and a crazy Rider with a Deviljho. We got this." A2 said with confidence, which 2B couldn't help but smirk in reply.

The Rathian then sees the two fast approaching her. Fortunately for the wyvern queen of the land, she was able to shake loose the soil burying her lower half, enough to get out of the pitfall trap with a flap of her wings.

Now free and its mate taking care of the Deviljho and other pesky human, the Rathian faces against 2B and A2. Charging at the hunters with a roar as they quickly swing their long swords to meet it.

"SKRIIIAAAAHHH!"

Meanwhile, 9S continues to ride the Blighted Rathalos like a bucking bronco and attacking it with his glaive, twirling it to slash and cut its back.

"SKKRRREEEEOOOOAAAAAHHH!" The Rathalos continues to roar in frustration, knocking down trees with the violent thrashing of its body and movement. It flaps its wings and takes to hovering in the air, beginning to swing its body with more vigor to shake 9S loose.

The change in movement and mobility of the Rathalos forces 9S to sheath his glaive and begin to cling on the wyvern's body tightly to not fall off.

Rogue spots this and fires a dragon breath at the Rathalos to get its attention, thought the blast strays and misses the Rathalos head slightly.

"SKRRR!" Growling indignantly, the Blighted Rathalos chooses to swoop down and swipe Rogue with its claws to maimed the Deviljho, who avoided the attack easily and proceeds to fire more draconic beams at the wyvern.

While 9S, preoccupied on staying on and unable to attack with his glaive or hunting knife, decides to think of a way to assist Rogue and bring down the Rathalos.

"GROAH!"

"SKREOAH!"

Both Rogue and the Blighted Rathalos bellow at each other, while exchanging elemental attacks. The two monsters were throwing burst of dragon energy and fireballs at each other, filling the air of surrounding battlefield with red embers and red lighting, adding more ash and soothe on the forest floor.

"GAH!" 9S had to duck as the Rathalos swerves down, avoiding another Dragon breath, while unleashing a massive fireball in retaliation at Rogue, who is blasted off his feet and sending careening off towards a row of trees.

"ROGUE!" 9S cries out to his monstie, as he is sent crashing down and pinned by a couple of trees falling on top of him.

The Rathalos makes a move to finished Rogue off with another fireball, but 9S deciding that enough was enough, leaps towards the fire wyverns head and jams his hunting knife near the corner of its eyes.

"SKREEEEAAAAOOOOHH!" The Rathalos shrieks in surprise, canceling its attack and letting the built-up fire in its throat burst out uselessly from its maw. The purple flames nearly scorching the boy dangling on its head.

"HRAAAAAAHHH!"

Not letting up, 9S proceeds to get a footing on the fire wyvern's head and begins to stab the Rathalos face and attempting to disorient it. But the king of the skies was getting tired of him being a nuisance and decides to deal with him much more seriously.

With another flap of its wings, the Rathalos jerks and lifts itself higher from the ground and begins to soar, nearly letting 9S fall off from its head.

"Woah, woah!" His perch on the Rathalos head was beginning to be unstable and with an awkward leap, 9S jumps back and grabs the flying wyverns back again to mount it. Just in time, as the Rathalos lunges to bite him, missing him by an inch.

Regardless if 9S was back to his original position, the Rathalos had its sole attention on him and focused on trying to dislodge him from its back, flying higher and higher to the ceiling of the hidden valley they were in.

"GRROOOOAAAHHHH!" Bursting out of the pile of trees on top of him, Rogue roars out back in challenge but found himself too late as he watches the Rathalos retreat and fly further away with 9S still on its back.

For a moment, the monstie stares helplessly before his legs start to move and follow the direction 9S and the blighted Rath were heading. Until the cry of the other fire wyvern caught his attention.

Rogue turns and sees from a few distance away from him the Blighted Rathian being pushed back by 2B and A2. They were cutting through the Rathians defenses and Rogue could see the many wounds and slash marks littering its body, but the wyvern queen was still fighting back and resisting them greatly.

The emerald scaled wyvern shot another consecutive volley of fireballs that forced 2B and A2 to dodge briefly, before taking to the air and back flipping to whip its tail to push them further back.

Both 2B and A2 retaliated with an upward slash of their swords as the Rathian lands, before simultaneously sheathing their blades and then unleashing a quick draw strike at both of the wyvern queen's side, stunning and forcing it to step back in range to Rogue.

While knowing the two hunters could handle themselves and could probably finish the fight on their own, Rogue knew that they had other pressing matters to attend to, which is his runaway rider flying off with the blighted Rathalos in urgent need of support.

Thus, the Deviljho monstie didn't hesitate to leap to the air and slam down on the Rathian's back with a roar.

"GROOOAAAAHHH!"

"SKRIAH!"

The Rathian lurched and crashed to the ground due to the sudden weight of Rogue before he proceeds to lift his jaws high up and then slamming it down on the flying wyvern's neck. The Rathian cries in pain, screeching at the sudden force and pressure Rogue was inflicting while pinning her down.

With the opening given to them, 2B and A2 rushed in, stabbing their long swords onto the Rathian' heads and eliciting even more painful roars from the flying wyvern. Their blades helped in pinning the Rathian down, until Rogue suddenly pulls, his strong grip tugging and snapping the Rathian's neck and ending its life swiftly.

Before any of them could bask in success of their recent kill, Rogue immediately moves away from the Rathian and barks at 2B and A2.

"GROAH!"

"Rogue where's 9S?" 2B asked the monstie worryingly. Noticing 9S's absence and Rogue's agitated state.

Rogue simply points his head high to the direction of the ceiling of the hidden valley, his eyes staring at a rapidly moving purplish red blot with fire occasionally spewing around it. A2 noticed it as well and realizes what it was, knowing exactly what was happening to 9S and the Rathalos.

"Oh, you got to be kidding me… Being dragged off by a monster again?! Really?!" She cried out incredulously.

Rogue then approaches the two hunters and leans down for them to get on his back. Not wasting a second and knowing what do next, 2B and A2 mount the Deviljho, who proceeds to run towards 9S and the direction the Blighted Rathalos.

"Faster Rogue! We need to catch up to them!" 2B says as she keeps her eyes focus on the blighted Rathalos, while Rogue drives himself to move quicker for his Rider's sake.

The sounds of fireballs being shot, and distorted roars heard, were both motivating and worrying the Deviljho.

---

"When I'm going to hatch a flying monstie, its going to be a Seregios! And not a plain old overrated Rathalos like you!" 9S shouts, his voice fighting through the howling wind.

His words—surprisingly—aggravating the Blighted Rath as it flies through the air with him clinging on its back.

"SKKKRRREEEEEOOOOOAAAAAHHHHH!?"

The red scaled wyvern reacts strongly by suddenly barrel rolling in the air and then performing even more knee jerking movements as it flies. 9S holds on for his dear life, while decisively trying to find a way to get out of his current situation.

The Rathalos looked to be taking them nearer to the area with high concentration of the black blight. Below them the tree line turned dark and the black haze being emitted looked to be suffocating.

Fortunately for those on the ground, 2B, A2 and Rogue were not feeling any ill effect from traversing the blighted forest floor, but the black haze was making it harder for them to keep an eye on 9S.

"SKREEEAAAOOOOHH!" The Blighted Rathalos screeches again, picking up speed and forcing 9S to look ahead. His eyes widen in panic seeing that the Rathalos has flown them to the opposite end of the valley and is flying straight towards the stone wall with alarming speed.

It was sheer luck and instinct that made 9S suddenly let go of his perch on the Rathalos' back and jump straight towards its tail before the flying wyvern slams itself against the wall. Barely escaping from getting himself crushed between the stone wall and the Rathalos, with monster instead injuring itself from its reckless act.

Angered the blighted Rathalos eyes 9S latching on his tail and begins to whip its appendage around, attempting to shake the boy off it the old fashion way.

"WOAH! WOAH! WOAH!" 9S grips harder on the tail, nearly losing his hold. He felt his stamina was draining too, from staying on the monster for quite a bit and he doesn't know how much longer can he keep clinging on the Rathalos.

"ROGUE! 2B! A2! If you guys could here me! I need some assistance!"

Right at that moment, the three individuals he called for burst out of the forest and spots him and the Blighted Rathalos still locked in their aerial 'scuffle'.

"GROOOAAAHHH!" Rogue calls out in worry, but his roars were left unheard as the Rathalos growls and its thrashing kept his rider's attention.

"We need to get up there!" 2B said, eyeing and turning to look at their surroundings for anything that could help them reach 9S.

"How?! There's nothing here that could help us get to them. They're too high up for us to reach without throwing ourselves in the air!" A2 points out to their dismay but giving Rogue an idea.

"GROAH!" Rogue bellows catching 2B and A2's attention. He turns his head to look at them before pointing his snout to his tail, who he waves at them for emphasis.

Both hunters stared at Rogue with confusion, not sure what he was doing for moment before a second later they suddenly realize what he was implying. Both 2B and A2 shared incredulous and yet thoughtful looks.

A2 smirks, while 2B beams a bit with pride.

"This is going to be crazy… You're not joking, are you?" A2 couldn't help asking.

"I don't think he is. You're really are your rider's monstie, Rogue." 2B answers while patting the monstie's side.

Rogue simply growls in appreciation at their words before he goes into a position and lines a perfect shot aiming towards the Rathalos. A2 moves back and then latches herself at Rogue's tail, while 2B observes the movements of the Rathalos.

"Aim for the wings." She says as her sister prepares for this unorthodox and insane stunt she was going to pull.

"Got it." A2 paused for second with an unsure expression. "Hey, are we sure about this?"

"Not exactly, but we'll be okay." 2B replies with noncommittal shrug, she was unsure herself but what other options did they have. A2 nods briefly and steels her expression.

"Well, good luck I guess. And don't keep us waiting." A2 says while patting Rogue's tail telling him that she was ready. "Launch me!"

Rogue shifts and moves, feeling the flexibility of his tail and the amount of power he's going to put in it. With a roar, Rogue spins in a 360 motion before he slingshots A2 to the air with a whip of his tail.

"Heeellll YYYeeeeaaaahhh!" A2 shouts in excitement souring through the air, her trajectory towards the Rathalos was true and Rogue's aim was precise. Drawing her longsword, she delivers a powerful blow, mix with the force of Rogue's throw and the speed and velocity she was soaring.

She strikes through the Blighted Rathalos right wing, slicing off its right-wing tips cleanly and cleaving slightly of its wing membrane in two from her dash. Her descent scends her straight to the wall, but A2's momentum was lessened from hitting the Rathalos, making her able to control and maneuver her fall. She hits the wall with less impact than expected and slides down gracefully and briefly meets 9S's eyes and salutes him.

"SKREEOOAAAHH!" The blighted Rathalos shrieks in pain, the sudden attack forcing it to awkwardly descend and fly lower. 9S on the other hand was surprise from witnessing A2's sudden appearance, but before he could process it, he braces himself as the Rathalos jerks again moving to face the direction where A2 came from, as it attempts to regain stability to fly.

When suddenly 2B comes flying in like a cannonball, her longsword also drawn and striking the Rathalos neck with another powerful and vicious blow like A2's. Blood and shards of scales and carapaces from the monster fly off as 2B descends.

"SKREOAH!" The Rathalos was stunned shock from the second attack, promptly losing its concentration on flying and ungracefully crashes to the ground, flopping helplessly as both 2B and 9S leap away from it.

The two of them land safely as their adversary attempts to get it's bearing back, while Rogue and A2 regroups with them just in time.

"Hye you guys okay?" 9S asked, seeing that everyone was here.

"GROAH!"

"All good."

"Yeah, how about you?"

"Doing okay. Thanks for the save by the way." 9S said to the three. "Pretty crazy, but effective of you guys throwing yourselves against the Rathalos."

"Unexpected, but it was the only option we had to ground that Rathalos." 2B replied back to 9S, with A2 cheerfully adding.

"Yeah, and you can thank your monstie for the insane plan."

9S was genuinely surprise hearing this. "Really? Well, I guess some part of me is rubbing off on you, huh Rogue?"

2B and A2 chuckled in good gesture, as Rogue could only look sheepish as he could, for a Deviljho, under his rider's praise and growls softly at him.

They all turn their attention back to the Blighted Rathalos after they hear it snarl and growl threateningly. It uses it forewings to prop itself upright, before flapping and raising them high in the sky briefly as it stood taller.

"SKrrrr…" The Blighted Rathalos makes another low growl, glaring at 9S, 2B, A2, and Rouge. It then roars to the sky, with purple fire being released from its mouth, a showing sign that it was enraged.

"SKRREEEOOAAAAHHH!"

Staring back at the Blighted Rathalos' threat display, the group draw their weapons ready to face the fire wyvern. Their current surroundings being the forest area infected by the black blight, was adding a menacing and dreadful atmosphere for what would be a heavy confrontation against a malevolent force that must be stopped. A bit fitting, since the Rathalos was the only thing left standing in their way before they could purge the Black blight and start healing everything it has infected in the forest.

The Blighted Rathalos roars as it charges, its clawed talons tearing the soil as it runs toward the group.

They meet it head on, with 9S and Rogue heading straight first towards it. The Rathalos breaths out a fire ball shooting from its mouth, which Rogue counters with his dragon breath, meeting the flaming projectile head on with a stream of dragon energy. The two elemental attacks collide and explode upon contact, creating a cloud of smoke.

"SKREEAAOH!" The blighted Rathalos burst out of the haze with a fiery maw, but the flying wyvern is met by an aerial 9S above it, who pole vaulted to the air with his glaive. 9S then slams down a heavy blow, slashing the Rathalos' head, causing the blighted wyvern to flinch and step back from the surprising force of the attack.

Rogue barrels in from the opening given to him by 9S and shoulder tackles the blighted Rathalos right in its torso, pushing back and disorienting the flying wyvern further.

The Rathalos made to retaliate but it then felt stinging pain from its sides, as 2B and A2 dashed under it slashing their blades on its body and delivering quick cuts to its exposed abdomen.

Rogue then charged ahead with jaws wide open and bites down on the blighted Raths' left forewing, in between its upper and lower arms, pulling the wyvern away before it could focus on 2B and A2. He then clamps down harder with more force, causing a sickening crunch, breaking the bones as the Rathalos screams in pain.

"SKREEEEAAAAAAHHH!"

9S descends once again from the sky, and with an extra boost from his insect glaives pumping out pressurizes air, thrusts down with greater speed on the Blighted Rathalos neck, aiming to the same spot 2B attacked earlier. Cleaving more scales and drawing more blood from the flying wyvern as it stumbles back to Rogue who head butts it to 2B and A2.

The two hunters then rush in once more, their movements akin to dancing around the blighted Rath with a series of quick strikes and slashes, cutting up the rest of its body. A2 makes her way to its broken limb and shreds its left-wing membrane, leaving now both of its wings in poor condition for flight. The Rathalos flinches, making the mistake of lowering itself, which 2B uses the opening to follow up with powerful diagonal cut on its wounded neck, injuring it further.

Growling in response, the Rathalos has had enough from being slugged around and getting sliced up, it makes a bold move to shoot a fire ball point blank on the ground in front of itself, blasting 2B and A2 off their feet and away from it. 9S and Rogue made to try to counterattack, charging at the Rathalos, but the flying wyvern intercepted them with a quick spin of tail.

Both boy and monstie where caught by the Rathalos' swinging appendage and were both sent flying by the powerful blow to the tree line, crashing and upturning several trees cushioning them.

The flying wyvern then saw 2B and A2 were quick to recover and were rushing back towards it. Its mouth flares and meets them head on, forcing the two to dodge from it swiping its head with a flaming bite against them. The blighted Rath left trails of fire as it swung its head recklessly and attempting to close its jaws on the two hunters.

2B dodges one quick lunge and then leaps towards the Rathalos head, using it as platform to jump higher and over the flying wyvern. She then drops, performing a powerful helm splitter striking its back and letting an explosion of cuts off behind the Rathalos. A2 follows dashing under the wyvern and delivers to quick strikes on its knees before finishing off with an overhead slash, cutting the scale on its stomach and near the base of its neck.

"SKREEEAAOOOHHH!" The Rathalos roars and then does a tailspin, forcing both 2B and A2 back, and giving itself room to breathe from their assaults. Before charging straight at them, not wanting them recover.

But the border of the tree line suddenly explodes as 9S and Rogue return to the fray. With the former mounted on the latter, and the monstie holding a large blighted uprooted tree trunk, muffling his monstrous bellow.

"GRRMMMM!"

"Let's do this Rogue!" 9S shouts in command, with them stomping towards the blighted Rathalos together. Rogue leaps forwards and slams the tree trunk to the Rathalos head. Wood splinters and explodes off from the powerful blow as the Rathalos roars painfully in response.

"SKREEAAAOOOHH!"

Rogue continues to swing his wooden weapon more, not letting up and striking the Rathalos repeatedly. Slamming its head, wings, body and even smashing its back, breaking off the armored carapace and scales. Forcing it to retreat, as more of the tree trunk is used and broken off until there was nothing left but a single block of wood.

As a finisher, Rogue then with greater force, performs a powerful unorthodox uppercut, right on the Rathalos lower jaws. Knocking some off its teeth out as spittle and blood are coughed out by the fire wyvern, with it bitting its tongue out of reflex, while the wooden block used by Rogue completely explodes/shatters entirely from the blow.

The blighted Rathalos felt its entire body lurched, tumbling, and rolling back from the power of the strike. Feeling some splinters on its face as it meets the ground ungracefully. It lands in a heap with its wings tattered up and struggles to get back up, feeling dazed and its broken forewing not helping it stand or having something to lean on. It could feel the subtle stress its other winged forearm was experience for putting all of its weight on its slightly less uninjured limb.

The Rath pants in exhaustion, blood dripping from its wounds, feeling its entire body drained and the pain from its injuries. Its body was screaming for it to cease and retreat, but the black blight corrupting its mind was urging back to fight. There was a brief conflict of thoughts against instinct that proved to be the blighted Rath's downfall.

Distracted and drained from the fight, the Rathalos failed to sense Rogue and 9S appear suddenly closer to it. 9S swung his glaive striking its head, making the Rathalos rear back in reflex and unfortunately exposing its damaged neck to Rogue who bites it with crushing force.

One second, the Rathalos felt the heat of its fire sac and the searing pain on its throat. The next second it felt the sudden absence of its flesh and blood being ripped out under it.

"SKR—gurg—leluggel—"

Blood and fluid flows out freely as the Blighted Rathalos gurgles and chokes from its own liquids. Its body feeling a sudden weakness and drunkenly trying to stay up from the shock it felt, until 2B and A2 rushed in with a shared war cry.

"HAAAHHH!"

The two hunters stab their longswords towards the exposed and glowing fire sac simultaneously in sync, driving their blade further in once hitting their mark. Before pulling out and leaping away as the fire sac ignites and flames explode, spreading and covering the Rathalos head.

The Blighted Rathalos couldn't even roar as its entire maw is engulf by fire and its bodily liquids catching on fire from the impromptu detonation of its fire sac. It could only flail and flop helplessly on the ground, until all the life it had left was gone.

With one last move of its tail, the blighted Rathalos lies limp on the ground, slain.

9S and the others waited for minute or so, seeing if this was the end and nothing else will occur. But moments later nothing else happened and Rogue roars to the sky in triumphant.

"GRROOOOAAAAAHHHHHH!"

2B, 9S and A2 all shared victorious expressions and smiling that they slayed the two fire wyverns, despite the initial shock of finding the pair.

They only had one last thing to do and that is to take care of the blight…

"OH my gosh… Thank the gods its over." 9S said slumping down from his position on Rogue, who promptly drops to ground as well in exhaustion.

…After a small break.

Both 2B and A2 thought of it, seeing how tasking their fight was and didn't mind a few minutes to recuperate despite their current blighted surroundings. The two soon joined 9S and Rogue, with the former already preparing a few potions and healing items to take care of their injuries.

---

A few minutes passed…

9S, 2B and A2 were once again riding Rogue, exploring the blighted terrain they found themselves in from the Blighted Rathalos leading them there. Yet, they were not wandering around aimlessly, instead moving alongside the wall of the large cavern holding the hidden valley and heading towards the place where the large black haze is concentrated and emitting the dark purple glow brightest among the rest of the hidden locale.

They spotted it a while ago after resting and found it near their previous location. It was probably what they were looking for, the nest of the blighted Raths and where the Black blight has rooted itself initially.

Rogue steadily brought them closer, until he stopped less he approach the thick haze of the black blight appearing right in front of them and obstructing the path ahead.

"Grrrr…" Rogue rumbles in slight discomfort, not liking the idea of venturing further. But 9S gently pats his side to calm him.

"It's okay, Rogue. Nothing's going to happen while I'm here. My kinship stone will take care all of it once we reach the source."

Rogue glances behind him to see the reassuring and encouraging smiles of his rider and their companions. He nods his head and begins to move further, entering the dark haze.

From there, their trek became sightly unnerving as their vision is clouded by the black blight and the overall malevolent ambience they were feeling as they move in deeper within the haze. They couldn't see the trees or the wall they were following beside them, from how thick the haze was. They even began to cling to each other just for the slight comfort that they could still feel each other despite the growing dimness of their sight.

9S would continue to give Rogue gentle pats and the monstie rumbling in return, making sure all of them were still on him.

A little bit later did their entire surroundings became pitch black, but not entirely if it weren't for the intense deep violent glow they spotted in the center of the black void space it has rooted on. Rogue made a beeline towards it, not caring what he was stepping on or if he couldn't see the ground. He knew like the others with him that they've found the black blight's source.

Each step forward, the intensity of the glow grows stronger as the feeling of dread, cold, and corruption congregates. The negative effects of the black blight felt like needles pricking their skin and chilling their bones. 2B and A2 felt slight trepidation as they got closer, willing their body not to succumb to the effects and the feelings of discomfort from the blight. 9S felt a deep pit opening in his stomach, born from the intense emotions arising within him from looking at the dark violent glow. It was either fear or sadness that came with surprising rage, a mesh of emotions he couldn't properly explain which is the dominant one protruding in his heart.

He didn't dwell on them too long and got over it with the help of 2B holding him from behind, feeling her warmth and security, and Rogue, who's determination and resolve was felt through their kinship. It helped him pushed back the fear and trepidation he felt as they got closer, and gave more resolve to face the black blight.

9S knew what he needed to do, and he would gladly purge the blight, finishing it once and for all. And there were people counting on him to do so.

The entire village was banking on them to come back completing their mission, and the entirety of Whistill forest too, like Whistill's tribes and the monsters living in the woods.

Deeming that they were close enough, 9S stopped Rogue from moving closer and slowly dismounted his monstie, leaving 2B and A2 sitting back at the saddle.

"9S?" 2B asked, feeling him move out from her arms and seeing his dark silhouette dropped down from Rogue and began to step forward to the dark violet light ahead of them.

"What are you doing?" A2 questioned as well, seeing 9S was going alone and was about to dismount from Rogue to join him, until he made a wave of his hand to stop either of them from following.

"Its okay I got this. I know what to do." 9S called out to them, walking only a couple of steps in front of them and faces the black blight.

Rogue, 2B and A2, felt a bit unease of letting 9S go alone but reluctantly stayed back and tried not to disturb him. He was the only one who could heal the blight, so they decided to put their faith and trust in him to do so.

And their belief in him was probably the reason why 9S felt so calm despite standing before the black blight and being nearly blinded by the violet glow it was emitting. He could have sworn the glow intensified when he got closer, as if the blight recognized the kind of threat he was towards it.

The thought of himself scaring the black blight made 9S smirk and feeling more confident of his ability to purge it.

Thrusting his hands like how he did it the day before with 2B, remembering what to do with his thoughts and willed the kinship stone on his choker to unleash its power against the blight. 9S put all of his focus on the violet light in front of him and wish the light of his own kinship stone would envelop it instead.

The execution went far more fluidly than he expected, as a bright blue shine explodes from the blue gem on his choker.

It was a blast of light that was both incredible and intense. 9S and the others had to close their eyes, less they risk themselves getting blinded accidently, from the brighter light of the kinship stone, yet they all felt amazed from how a small stone let loose so much light.

What felt like a long period was in actuality a brief moment, as a second later the intense blue disappeared and instead light from the cave's opening and natural source shines over their location once more, after being blanketed for so long by darkness.

9S, 2B, A2 and Rogue had to adjust their eyesight from the change, blinking and slowly regaining their sight. Once their eyes open, they were surprise seeing the thick black haze covering and obscuring them before was gone, with the black blight's presence also somehow disappearing, vanishing entirely as if the effects they felt seconds ago didn't occur.

Without the thick haze, 9S then saw what the black blight supposedly corrupted and was surprise at what he just healed. It was a mass of roots all twisted and tangled together, digging on the walls, grounds and extending to the ceilings. What more at the base, was a small spring feeding the roots water so crystal clear that it reminded of him of the small river he saw with Rogue, when they ventured further in the discovered path they found inside the collector's den.

He surmise the intense violent glow was from the spring reflecting the black blight's corrupted light from the roots. And the mass of roots themselves could be the progenitors of all the roots found infected in the monster dens, which they discovered in the past by them and the guild. This was no doubt the source of the black blight plaguing them and why it went unnoticed due to it being hidden in the valley, then spreading underground first and for quite a while to boot.

But now with them purged of the black blight, the rest of the other roots with infections would follow, probably weakening some areas still affected, but would eventually cease to exist or be healed as well.

9S felt joy and success at the thought and what he just accomplished together with 2B, A2, and Rogue, since defeating the blight at its source is a significant act in saving Whistill forest as whole.

He turned around expecting the others sharing the same feeling of jubilation with him, but instead found them staring at their current surrounding that he began to stare at as well, seeing what it was now without the veil of the black blight.

They stood around what appears to be an old battlefield that one could guessed occurred years before, with the fainted scars and wounds from an intense fight still littering the ground. Craters filled the clearing that it was sheer luck, Rogue didn't fall or trip into any one of them when the haze was obstructing their view. Bones of what appears to have come from slain monsters were present, all old and in state of decomposition slowly being grinded to the ground by time and wear and tear.

But what was most prominent in their surroundings, were the numerous black thorns or rather spikes that were stabbed and embedded on the ground and on the skeletons present. Litters of them scattered haphazardly, the view created being a sort of chaotic field of death and deadly spines to avoid.

A jolt of fear and panic suddenly came upon 9S as he continues to stare at the black thorns, but a sudden sound by Rogue brought his focus back to 2B and the others.

"GROAH!"

2B and A2 have dismounted Rogue and were approaching him, somehow getting over their shock at the field, noticing him instead and seemingly congratulating him from purging the blight.

"Nines! You did it." 2B exclaimed, running towards him with a smile he eagerly returns.

"Yeah, I did. Looks like a I purge the literally roots of all evil."

"You sure did." A2 commented, whistling at the sight of the many roots and the spring present in front of them. "Hopefully, we did right and that was the source of the blight we extinguish. Now we just need to burn those suckers just to not arouse suspicion."

"Yeah…" 9S said, before looking at the horizon and grimacing a bit seeing that there were still signs of the black blight in the area. The black haze was still present in further areas. "But it looks like I didn't get the entire valley."

"Well, it's the entire valley, maybe its too much for even your kinship stone." 2B pointed out. "We'll still be able to manage them, but I think we still need to leave them out for now and show them to the guild as proof that the black blight indeed rooted themselves here."

"Oh, I see your point. It would be strange and suspicious that all the blight magically disappeared when we arrived and took care of it without burning half the valley." 9S said in understanding, agreeing with 2B.

"Especially when it did magically disappear because of your sparkling stone and your kinship with a certain Deviljho we need to keep a secret." A2 adds in good humor, which the others respond chuckling in kind.

"Still… I wasn't expecting to see this..." 9S gestured to the ruined landscape they were currently standing. "Behind the haze when the black blight was purged."

"Agreed… This is probably where the Black Calamity made first contact and must have fought several monsters here before infecting the roots." 2B shares the same sentiment, bringing up a hypothetical guess of where they are.

A2 ponders on their words and infers something else. "Or this place could be where it stood last. It looks like a nest and…"

She glanced around looking for something, a large skeleton or corpse that would entail the Black calamity was slain by A4 or even a sign of the passed hunter herself, if possible.

"GRROOOAAAAHH!"

Rogue bellows at them, somehow stealthy moving around without them noticing. He was calling them to a certain spot and was digging something off the ground with his feet. They quickly moved to his side, as he soon got a hold of something within his jaws.

When Rogue turned to face them, he had weary expression, looking at first at 9S and somehow conveying a message that made the boy look on worryingly at A2 and 2B. The twin's noticed the exchange before Rogue timidly approached A2 first, bumping his snout in a comforting gesture before nudging at her hands.

Knowing what he was asking, A2 brought them up, palms turned for Rogue to place the item he was holding in his jaws. The moment Rogue's head moved out of her line sight to see what he dropped on her hands, A2 made a small gasp at what it was.

"T-This is…" A2 couldn't find the words.

Even 2B, who looked over to see, brought her hand to muffle her own gasp and masking her own shock.

Shakily, A2 softly made a request.

"9S, can we… just for a bit, look around and—"

"Yeah. I'll go with Rogue and check the entire area right now." He didn't need to hear A2 finish and just immediately got on Rogue, with the monstie knowing instantly what they needed to do.

"I'll be back and bring… anything I can find." 9S said, watching both A2 and 2B worriedly, seeing them eye the item in the former's hand.

It was a hunter's carving knife. Still sheathed and whole. But unique in design.

Both turned to him, their expressions unreadable yet 9S could still tell the storm of emotions hiding behind their stoic masks.

"We'll take care of this area." 2B said, giving him a reassuring nod.

"Just stay safe okay…" A2 added, clutching the carving knife harder in her hands. "And call us for… anything, okay."

"Okay." 9S nods, before Rogue begins to sprint away from the twins.

Both of them knowing that the two needed space right now. Though, unable to help himself, 9S turned his head briefly to look back at them.

He saw A2 crying in 2B's arms, with the latter shaking and attempting to hold back her own tears.

---

Author's notes:

And that's that! I hope this ending doesn't count as a cliffhanger, but if it does, just know the next chapter will come out in later January.

So once again I hope you guys have a Happy New Year! And I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and my late holiday present!

See you in the next chapter and enjoy the omake!

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Omake

(A Sister's regret; A Brother's promise)

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"I taught I could do everything…"

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"…Maybe even do the impossible…"

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"I shouldn't have fooled myself in believing that…"

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"…Seeing all the promises I've broken with you."

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"I just hope… One day. One day, I could get to see you again…"

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"And see how much you've grown…"

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"I'm sorry, if couldn't keep the last promise I made with you…"

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"I really wanted to keep it…"

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"I really wanted to take you with me this time…"

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"But I couldn't… I was… too reckless…"

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"…I don't think I'm coming home this time…"

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"I'm sorry baby brother… I-I'm so… sorry…"

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"…We won't be flying together anymore…"

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"…Or go out and play in the fields…"

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"…Nor can we sneak in the chief's home and play with his old-world things he likes to keep…"

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"…I won't be able to tell you the rest of the things I saw in the outside world…"

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"…Dad was right you know… he was right about everything… both the good and the bad he told me before…"

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"I wish I could have told you all of them too… so at least you'd know…"

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"I-I'm sorry… Again I'm so sorry…"

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"I've been… a horrible sister, for breaking my promise yet again…"

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"But at least… you won't have to worry anymore…"

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"…This will be the last promise I'll ever break…"

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"…Isn't that right, 4S?"

---

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"I don't care how many promises you've broken…"

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"I just want to know where you are…"

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"I still want to meet the people you've told me… the friends you taught I could be with…"

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"…A2, 2B, 9S…"

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"There's still so many things I want to tell you about… all the things I learned and hoped to show you..."

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"And I don't care how I…"

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"Or what… state you'd…"

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"Just… I-I'm going to look for you… No matter what…"

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"It's just…"

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"…I-I just…"

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"…J-Just… need to know…"

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"B-Big sis… where did you go?"

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"…W-Why, did you disappear?"

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"WHY DIDN'T YOU COME BACK?!"

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"…why?"

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"Why, wouldn't the guild say anything?!"

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"…You could have told us…"

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"Or at least you could have told me…"

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"…I taught we always told each other everything, right?"

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"…"

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"I'm going to make one last promise with you… one I'm going to keep."

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"I promise. I'm going to find you… search for whatever trace left of you…"

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"I'm going out to learn everything of what happened… and why you left so abruptly that day…"

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"…Mom's okay with it, just so you know… but the village…"

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"Well, if you're worried of how I'll get away from the village, don't be…"

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"I got wings of my own now… And I wished, I could say I can finally fly with you… but…"

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"…"

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"E-Either way… it's going to take while before I'm going to be airborne…"

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"Since I'm just getting started with my training and…"

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"Well…"

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"…The egg just hatched."