[Five years ago…]
Obsidian is working on some kind of drone robot, looking like a bit but with some antennas strapped on it, he's using a software to design it. After a moment he stops to think
"Hey." Someone says form behind him
"Doctor?"
"I told you to call me by my name."
"Uh, Bethesda?"
"See? Its not that hard. On what project are you working?"
"Its some kind of drone that can be used for communications."
"..." Bethesda looks at it "You know what would make it better? Strapping a laser gun on it."
"...That's ridiculous."
"I mean if its for the army, then it must have something to defend itself."
"...That make sense."
Obsdian attempt to add a laser gun in the machine trough the software, at the moment that he add the weapon system, the software freezes and crash
PLONK
Obsidian slam the keyboard on the desk, a key flies away
"Calm down, did you saved?" Bethesda says
"..."
"Oh." Bethesda looks at his phone "This is the time for the lunch break, we will work on this later."
Bethesda and Obsidian are in a lunch room of the basilicom, the one for the research and development part
"So… I was wondering… It was hard to get the job?"
"Well, I had a lot of luck."
"Luck?"
"Yeah you know what is it."
"I don't believe in that concept, I think that you must be really skilled to having managed to get here."
"No, really that was luck, I just met the good person at the right moment."
"Who exactly?"
"The CPU. One time she was visiting a military base where my regiment was. When I had the occasion to talk to her about my skills in making wonders, on that case that I upgraded the old equipment, she believed me and said that I would have to meet her again once I finished my military service."
"That has nothing to do with luck, its normal that she visit one of the most prestigious elite forces in the world"
"Just the fact that I had the occasion is luck. Believe me or not, that factor is real thing. Tell me, why the software crashed earlier?"
"Maybe due to a file corruption."
"In that case you wasn't lucky... Anyway I was wondering how you managed to dodge the military service?"
"Because I was selected at the academy due to my results at the entrance exam."
"Good to know, too bad you mustn't have time to exercise."
"Oh, I'm fine."
"I'm gonna take you to a monster hunt someday with a friend of mine, it will give you a good occasion to get stronger."
"No really, no thanks."
"I'm not asking."
Previously, after some preparation the concert at Leanbox went as planed, well not really a group of male idols had to be kicked out in emergency due to a bad idea of the oracle but the candidate kinda saved the show. After that they headed to get the mascot hidden deep of the volcano of Leanbox but they were too late and a bad surprise awaited them…
CLACK CLACK
The leviathan then rise its head and roars on the group
LAVA LEVIATHAN
(Monster hunter 3 - sound of the great mountain plays)
The Lava leviathan clacks its beak two times, his smaller minions charges the group of the candidate
The group get on guard, IF engages one, she dashes and jumps on one monster, she stabs it with her two quatars and quickly removes them to continue slashing the creature
Bethesda charges and hit one of the minions with his war hammer, it drops its head on the ground giving the inventor the time quickly finish it off by crushing its skull
Nepgear charges at the leviathan...
5Pb. Attempts to play her guitar…
But one of the minions tackles her making her fall on the ground, as the monster was about to dive on her, RED jumps on it
"DON'T TOUCH THE WAIFEY!" RED yells while punching the creature
BANG
The creature that RED was on suddenly get pierced by a bullet killing it, it was Obsdian
"HEY! IT WAS TO ME TO SAVE HER!" RED Yells
"Damn she must be annoying actually." Obsidian thinks as he bolt his rifle
"Please mister monster, let it go!" Compa pleads as she strugles to kill one of the minions
The minion in question is holding the needle of the big syringe in its beak, Compa is shaking it but it doesn't let go
IF sneak up behind the minion and chop its head off
"Thanks." Compa says
in the mean time Nepgear slashes the head of the leviathan with her beam sword…
But… the monster doesn't seem very affected by the attack, in fact the sword only did a small entail in the magma armor of the beast, the beast who retaliate by charging at her
Nepgear protects herself with her sword but still falls on the ground
The leviathan as he was about to shove its beak into the Candidate torso, stops itself form doing it and looks at its surrounding
at the same moment there is IF dashing in his direction form one side, Bethesda running towards it with the hammer raised and in front there is Obsidian aiming at him
IF jumps towards the lava leviathan, Bethesda starts to strike its hammer… But suddenly the leviathan do a violent turns on itself, repealing the two makers attacks, IF got blow away by the counter-attack and almost falls of the platform, she managed to catches hersefl on a ledge, for Bethesda, he got stunned
"IFFY!" Compa yells
And she runs to IF to help her to get back on platform
Bethesda barely have the time to get back on his feet to realize that the monster is gone
"Where it went?" He asked
"Underground." RED responds
"Underground?"
"You think it escaped?" Nepgear says
The ground seem to vibrate
The leviathan jump out of the ground under 5Bp. And Obsidian, they get projected in the air, the monster aims for Obsidian with its beak and opens it…
CLACK
But it missed him… Due to Nepgear who quickly transformed and grabbed Obsidian and 5Pb. Out of the reach of the monster, but the monsters lands on the ground and looks at the candidate...
CLACK CLACK
A yellowish light appears form the monster mouth, shorty after a lava jet exit its beak in the direction of the candidate
Nepgear dodges it by taking off, the jet goes between Obsidian and 5Pb.
"Oh shit!" Obsidian says while running away
The monster continues to use his lava jet to try to reach Purple sister, Purple sister who constantly dodges the attacks and attempts to shot occasionally the monster
IF and Compa run up to Bethesda and RED
"We can't beat that thing like that!" Compa while running up to Bethesda and RED
"Yeah, we must think about a strat to kill it."
"I-i'm more thinking for a strat to run away right now, we will think of that later! I think I have an idea..." Bethesda says
He get closer to the group and then whispers something
At the same moment the Leviathan stops attacking the candidate and it looks at 5Pb.
PEW PEW
Nepgear continues to attacks it without managing to do effective damage on it
The leviathan then charges at 5Pb., the idol gaps at the sight of the monster attacking her
"LA DELPHINUS!" IF yells
A circle of light start to form in front under the leviathan, it stops its charge upon noticing that… but it was too late, the monster is already in the circle
LA DELPHINUS
BRRRROOOOOOMMMMM
A pillar of light rise upon the monster, confused by being struck by an attack that have a nature that it doesn't understand, it roars in pains and confusion, preventing it to go further
Bethesda takes advantages of that by targeting its hind leg, while he swing his warhammer while pressing a trigger, which activate a whole mechanic-electrical system in the hammer, the opposite side of the hammer...
WOOSSSSSHHHH
...A jet engine activate in the back of the weapon...
BANG
And violently hits the leviathan, it roars in pains. RED runs past the monster and get past the idol and the scientist
"Retreat!" she yells as she runs
[Later.] (Music stops)
IF is looking around behind a large rock, the area is pretty empty, she then returns to her friends who are hiding behind it
"Shouldn't we just run away it this point?" 5Pb. asks
"The mascot is destroyed anyway." Obsidian adds
"We shouldn't." IF says
"Why?" 5Pb. asks
"If that rat didn't manage to melt it with lava that mean he must have used another way to destroy it." IF explains further
"Like… having a monster to eat it?" RED asks
"Possible." IF says
"We have to defeat it!" Nepgear says
"But… how?" Compa asks
"It fits to the monster I mentioned earlier using lava and magma as an armor, we will need your rifle Obsidian."
"What are you planing?"
"Well If the lava on the monster hasn't cooled then I can't attack it due of my hammer potentially melting but it seem to cool down pretty quick."
"Okay but how we attack it?"
"Well we shouldn't use blades weapons, don't think about using your syringe Compa, it will probably break. We will need Obsidian to head shot the monster and hope it hit the brain to kill it immediately."
"But the monster knew that I was aiming at him, that's why he dung underground and attacked me and 5Pb."
"Its a monster! They are not that smart!" RED says
"I don't see other explanations."
"Okay… Anyone have an idea?" Nepgear asks
"We should go all at the same time and beat it up!" RED says
Everyone looks at RED silently
"Now, I understand why some people are against freedom of speech." Obsidian says
"How about that we find a way to immobilize it."
"By the way, IF, that's the first time I see you using that attack what is it?"
"Oh this is..." A shine appear in IF eye "A holy magic attack that was created by la Delphinus a legendary hero form the ancient times!"
"La who?" Compa asks
[That story was made up by IF.]
"Okay, anyway but what it does? Can it blind it?" Bethesda asks
"No but really, but along hurting it it can also weaken it." IF explains
"Good to know."
Bethesda starts to pick up small rocks, he also pick a bigger one
"What you are gonna do with that?" 5Pb. asks
"Its just for the plan." Bethesda says while positioning them "Okay so focus."
Everyone leans in to see and then Bethesda explains his plan
"We will launch an ambush on the monster, first, We firstly get buffed by 5Pb. Guitar skills then someone is gonna bait the monster here. Second step, IF is gonna weaken it with magic then I break the other legs of the monster, RED is gonna help me with that. And the final step, once Obsidian is gonna have a clear view of its head, he will shot it, if that isn't enough then Compa is gonna stab the head wound with her syringe."
"that's good since I filled it with toxin." Compa says
"Amazing!" Bethesda responds
The others people are pretty shocked by hearing that
"You… are sure that you're the nurse?" 5Pb. Comments
"And what I do?" Nepgear asks
"You will be the bait." Bethesda says
"What?!" Nepgear reacts
"We can't use Gear as a bait!" RED protests
"Why tough? She survived to a battleship rail gun. Pretty sure she can also survive some lava jet." Bethesda responds
"Battleship rail gun?" Obsidian asks
"Yeah I will explain later." Bethesda responds and then turns to Nepgear "Do you trust me?"
"I'm sorry but that's hard to trust you now." Nepgear responds "Especially since he was gaslighting me… Maybe Neptune was right."
"I think we can trust Beth on that." Compa says
"I'm sure you will be fine." IF adds
"...If you say so… I will do it!" Nepgear responds while clenching her hands
"Ah nice! So let's put it into execution!"
[Later.]
The leviathan limps due to the damage done to its hind leg it walks to a Fenrir with an orange fur, the wolf monster growl and bark at the leviathan
CLACK CLACK
The Leviathan uses lava jet on the fenrir, that's super effective. The fenrir is literally roasted by the attack, the Leviathan walks to it and start eating the corpse of the fenrir. Shortly after some others way smaller leviathan who also comes eating it
One of the small leviathan looks a the limping leg of the big one
Clack Clack Clack?
The smaller leviathan clacks his beak to the bigger one about his injury
CLACK CLACK CLACK
The big one clacks back trying to reassure him
Clack Clack
CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK
The smaller leviathan returns to eating, the big one observe the surrounding
PEW
A laser beam hits her head, the monster looks up and see a girl flying over her with a strange weapon, its the same girl that she attacked earlier
ROAAAAAARRRRR
The monster roars
CLACK CLA-
As the monster charged up its lava jet, he get kicked in the head by winged girl, the girl whom land past the leviathan and starts to runs away
The leviathan looks at the girls, she then looks at the others smaller leviathan
CLACK CLACK… CLACK CLACK CLACK
Two strong clacking, the others leviathan digs and jumps underground, the big one starts to chase the girl
After some pursuit the leviathan manage to catch up the girl… Who is just standing in front near a tall stone formation
The girl knows that the monster is approaching, she gets her phone
"Its here, right in front of the stone structure." She says to the phone
At the same moment IF is hiding behind the rocky formation with her phone
"Okay… Step two." IF responds
The guild agent put back the phone in one of her phone cases on the belt of her vest, she get out of her hide out and looks directly at the monster, she raise her hand
LA DELPHINUS
A circle forms under the monster, it looks at it...
BBBRRRROOOOOMMMM
As the pillar of light risen, the monster avoided the attack by jumping backwards, the Leviathan looks at IF
CLACK CLACK
The Leviathan spits a lava jet towards IF
IF rolls down to dodges the attack, and closely manage to do so and still scratches herself due to the sharps rocks on the ground, but immediately after the monster charges IF, she gets her quatars and get ready to brace…
CRACK
But… Suddenly something stops the monster and it roars, IF leans to look and see Bethesda that just finished swinging his warhammer on the other hind leg of the Leviathan
RED shortly comes after "Ready Hiroi?" She says to her dragon who just respond by a nod
R.E.D
Red throws a disc to the creature, the disc suddenly becomes big enough for RED, she runs and jump on the disc and stands on it while it spins towards its target, before it reach it, the girl standing on it grabs multiples "toys" and she spins on herself, once it reached the front leg of the creature, the spin of the disc + the toys provokes severe damage on the left leg… But its not finished because the disc then flies over the monster and attacks the other leg… She then comes back to attack the back of the monster and finally jumps away form the disc, in mid air, Hiroi aims for the monster and unleashes a fire breath on the monster (no need to precise its not very effective on this kind of monster tough), RED rises over her and strikes the monster with it
The monster collapses on the ground while roaring, its now finally immobilized, it attempts desperately to moves its legs, its still manage to dive its head underground but don't manage to reach the lava level
"Its still alive?!" RED asks
"I starting to wonder if we are fighting a leviathan or a tank." Bethesda comments
On the top of the rock formation, Obsidian is standing by with his rifle, he can finally aims for creature
L.A.T.S
Lava Leviathan: Neck (20%)
Lava Leviathan: Neck (20%)
"That's incredibly low. Freaking unreliable system." Obsidian thinks "But… maybe I can hit it once?" He shakes his head "No. I can't rely on something like luck."
Cancel
"5Pb. Can you play for me? Just to help me getting more precise" He says to 5Pb.
5Pb. Who was behind Obsidian responds by starting to do a guitar riff, but before she could finishes it, a smaller leviathan jumps on her
"AAH!" she yelps while falling on the ground
The idol is blocked by the weight of the monster, 5Pb. Is sure not very strong physically and certainly didn't expect that there would be another smaller leviathan
So the monster takes advantage and attempts to target her neck, it dive its beak on the idol...
BANG
...A bullet went trough the monster neck and fled right over 5Pb. The creature falls on the ground next to 5Pb. blood leaving its body, She manage to push it on the side that she see Obsidian bolting the rifle
"You used the microchip?" She asks
"Yeah. Don't worry I still have one charge left. Are you okay?" Obsidian says
"I-I'm fine." The idol gets up and start to play her guitar riff
"HEY! Hurry up!" IF yells near the stone formation, next to the Leviathan
Obsidian takes an aim and breathes
L.A.T.S
Lava Leviathan: Neck (30%)
"Only 10 more? that's even less then..." Obsidian thinks, he closes his eyes… "...Luck. Bethesda, maybe you was right about it. Let's test it."
CONFIRM
(The start of Mountain - Mississippi queen plays)
Obsidian pull the trigger, it release at lever inside of the gun which provoke the hammer to go forward and hit the back of the 50cal casing, it set the gunpowder on fire, and due to it being compressed, it explodes and propels the bullet out of the gun barrel, the bullet flies
BANG (Mississippi queen!)
The bullet hit the monster in the neck (You know what I mean!)
(Music stops immediately after.) The monster wiggle a little
Bethesda looks at the wound "It looks like it did some damage but it haven't killed it."
"Compa!" IF says
"Yes?"
"We will need your syringe."
"Okay dokey! Where I have to use it?" Compa asks "Wait, why it is imitating an ostrich?"
"guess it knows that its screwed." Bethesda says
Compa have her gigantic syringe in hands, she climbs on the monster back, it reacts by shaking itself to attempt to get her out, she see the wound and get ready to sting it to stop its suffering, she hover it but...
"I can't aim the wound." Compa says
IF comes on the monster and goes to Compa she put her hands on the syringe, one on the opposite side of Compa hand on the barrel and the other one is one the plunger, which is being held by Compa, which mean she's sorta holding her hand which cause
"Iffy?" Compa is a bit confused
"I'll help you." IF says
"Eh lewd." RED comments
They slowly put the syringe into the wound
"Steady." Compa says
Once its stabilized, they push the plunger, the monster suddenly rises its head out of the ground and starts screeching, it fires lava jets as it shakes its head in every direction
Compa and IF jumps out of the back of the leviathan and get down. The others quickly get back behind the rock formation
A minute after the monster stop spitting lava jets and drops its head on the ground, it have two spasms before stopping moving
The group gather at the corpse of the monster
"Phew, it wasn't an easy hunt!" IF says
"So, if the monster have the disc how we retrieve it?" 5Pb.
"Looks like we would have to cut it up."
"That would be pretty slow especially when its an armored monster like that." Obsidian says
"Someone is calling me." 5Pb. Says and get a bit away form the group
"Wait… Bethesda you can absorb dragon souls right?" Nepgear says
"Yeah. But its a leviathan not a dragon." Bethesda responds
"I think I know what you are meaning gear. Aren't leviathans are in the same species families than dragon and wyverns?" IF says
The inventor snaps his fingers "Oh nice! Well I will try but its not guarantee that it work."
"It would be a good occasion for us to see what it looks like."
Bethesda get a device jammer, he reduce the power of it to avoid interrupting the idol call. He then Enable the device and take a breath, the monster body start to quickly disintegrate, only leaving the bone and appears on Bethesda before disappearing
"Just… Wow." RED says
Nepgear points at what used to be the stomach of the monster "Hey! The disc is here!" she says
The mascot is laying there but its in a very bad state… Nepgear pick it up and they lean to see it
"Its seem to be at the same time molten and partially dissolved." Obsidian states on the appearance of the mascot
"What do we do now?" Compa asks
"We must find a way to repair it." IF says
"Uh… g-guys and girls we must go!" 5Pb. Says
The idol seem panicked
"What's wrong?" IF asks
"C-Chika wants to see us! S-s-something terrible happened!" 5Pb. Explains further
"It seem to be VERY BAD. Let's not waste time here." Nepgear says
The group then get back to the car and immediately leaves the Underverse and head back to Leanbox city. RED is still in the trunk but this time its opened for not her to suffocate again
"So can you explain us?"IF asks
"I-i don't know what happened… She just told us to come over." Responds 5Pb.
"Guess I will call the oracle by myself..." Bethesda says while getting his phone
"What do you think happened?" Compa comments
"Nothing good for sure." IF responds
"So?" Purple sister says while flying next to Bethesda
"Visibly she can't respond. It must be something that get her very busy." He responds
"Maybe we might have something on the radio." Obsidian says while turning the radio on "There must be a news broadcast."
He changes the frequency and the voice of a woman is heard
"Today at Leanbox city, a protest quickly descended into extreme violence..."
Everyone when hearing that looks at each others, some in confusion, some in shock
"We don't know the number of death and injuries yet, but estimates says that there is a dozens of victims in the ranks of the protesters and the police."
"The police too? It must have been really violent then." 5Pb. comments
"Its not a protest at this point." Nepgear says
everyone looks at her
"That's at best a riot, at worse… The start of a civil war." she continues
"Eh, I think the chances of civil war are pretty low." IF comments
"I don't think so… The situation is pretty bad here. An uprising wouldn't be that surprising." Obsidian says
The group then manage to reach Leanbox, it look like there was a guerrilla in some areas of the city, they look at the Basilicom in the distance…
"Uh… wasn't the light of the building was green before?" IF asks
Upon hearing that they look closely and see a red light instead of the usual red one, Bethesda starts sweating
"Damn. This wasn't a protest at all."
"Thanks doctor obvious." IF says
[Later…]
They eventually made it to the Basilicom, they walk to the main entrance but is blocked by six guards armed with assault rifles looking like XM-8's
"HALT! The city is under an emergency state. Only Basilicom and Guilds members are allowed to enter." One of the guards says
Bethesda shows his guild card "We have been called over by Chika herself."
"Hey isn't that the war criminal?" another guard whispers
"Its just something that have been claimed by the ASIC, don't take it seriously." He whispers backwards
"Hey!" A voice says
The door is slightly opened, Cave opened it form the interior
"I know them. Let them pass." She says to the guards
The guards steps away form the door, and the group of makers and the Candidate walks in, they head to meeting room. Cave knocks on the door
"Come in!" A voice says form inside
They enter the room
"So, why you called us over?" Nepgear asks
"There was a violent riot, and we needed help to control it… But we took it back into control. that's why I couldn't respond to your call." Chika explains
"You could at least excuse yourself." Bethesda comments
"Anyway, so you got the mascot? We should be fine if its not destroyed." The oracle then asks ignoring Bethesda
"Question." RED asks
"Yes?"
"What happen if the Leanboxian mascot is destroyed?"
"The task of the mascot was to bring prosperity to Leanbox, as long its still fine, Leanbox will not collapse."
Nepgear touch her fingers "A-about the mascot…."
Nepgear tell to Chika what happened, the oracle eyes widens and then she passes out…
PLONK
And hit the ground, everyone looks at her
"Miss Chika! Are you okay?!" Nepgear yells
"Don't worry, she must be acting." Bethesda says
"I don't think she's acting." Cave responds
They look at her again
"Chika?" Bethesda asks
[5 minutes later…]
Chika opens her eyes
"Ah finally." someone says
She gets back up "Sorry I passed out upon hearing that, for real. This is a disaster. The destruction of the mascot will cause chaos and the riot that happened earlier is only a taste of what is to come." Chika says
"What will happen?" Compa asks
"War. A civil one." Cave responds
"Okay, I see that its mainly due to the mascot but what happened during the riot?" IF asks
"We don't have a lot of information for now but we know that the was a protest that started to be more and more violent which forced the police to repress it more violently, maybe too violently. The protesters must have been frightened and started to pull out weapons and fire against the police, guess the rest." Chika explains
"...So what do we do now?"
"You must find a way to fix the mascot, anyway possible! Just repair it."
"We might know someone at Lowee that can help us with that." Bethesda says
"You're talking about the guy with weird mushrooms?" Nepgear asks
"Yes." the inventor confirms
"Unfortunately for you, will have to stay with us for sure now." Chika says
"Wait, what?!" IF responds
"He didn't told you, did he?" The oracle says
"Not a big surprise." Cave comments
"He told me, but only me." Nepgear responds
"I… Was a bit pissed when Chika told me that." Bethesda responds
"Just for that? What that mean? You are not happy to leave your harem behind?" Chika responds
"..." No one responds for around a minute
"What?" Bethesda then responds
Cave turns to Chika "Chika."
"Yes, Cave?" Chika responds
"What the fuck, Chika?"
"Hey! There is only one person allowed to have a harem and its not him!" RED complaints
Bethesda speaks up "Exactly. Unlike her I don't have time for this bullshi-"
"Anyway! what do we do?" Nepgear says interrupting Bethesda
"Go fix the mascot and save my Vert, but do it quick. Leanbox will be less devastated by the incoming conflict. I'm immediately calling histoire about-" Chika responds
The N-gear rings, Nepgear pick it up
"Histoire?"
"Nepgear, what's your progress on the Leanboxian mascot?"
"It..."
Chika looks who she is talking to and snatches the N-gear form Nepgear hands
"Hey!"
"The mascot got destroyed."
"Oh. This is very bad."
"Yeah. Also we have to keep the Inventor."
"Why that? We clearly agreed that he would work with us until the ASIC is dismantled."
"The destruction of the mascot have a gigantic chance to provoke a civil war, today there was an incredibly violent riot."
"...Okay but we still want to be able to communicate with him."
"Sure."
She then give backs the gaming device to Nepgear
[An hour later.]
The sun is setting on Leanbox. Our group is now on the roof the Basilicom, they are talking until a Planeptune Vertidragon lands on the roof a few minutes later
Nepgear sighs "looks like its time to say goodbye, again."
"Yep… take care of yourselves. We never know, maybe this is the last time we are seeing each others." Bethesda says
"Yeah, you too. But don't be too dramatic." IF responds
"Goodbye Beth." Compa says
"Be cautious out there." Obsidian says to 5Pb.
"I-i will!" 5Pb. Responds
And then: Nepgear, IF, Compa, RED and their new party member 5Pb. turns back and go to the tilt rotor, they enters inside, the door closes and it takes off: heading to the north-west
Bethesda glances to Obsidian and says "I never payed attention to how cute you and 5Pb. Are together."
"Stop saying such things. We are just friends." Obsidian responds
Cave chuckles
"Lady!" Someone yells behind them
They turn back to see a panicked staff member
"Whats wrong?" Chika asks
"The political opposition denounced the actions of violence. According to them, it was unjustified and now they are inciting the people to revolt! This is a very shortened version but its basically what they are saying." The staff explains
A short silence ensue, only a southern breeze can be heard, Chika takes a breath and responds...
"So it begins."
Inventor tale volume 6: When Bethesda comes marching home
THE END
This volume took time to make because a big part of the volume was a bit improvised (and also that i'm and still pretty busy with life), i originally planed the start and the end but further i made the chapters i slowly diverged off the plans, the ending was supposed to be pretty different and more similar to the game, one of the reasons is to put forward the domino effect of the capture of Linda (but well its not the first time that there is a domino effect in this fanfic). There is also others reasons for this ending but it will be developed in the volume 7.
I mentioned in the previous chapter that the monster in the Underverse is a Agnaktor form monster hunter, the other monster i thought about were:
- The Lavasioth (the big lava fish that is not very intimidating or really threatening)
- The Akantor (Even if the party is pretty strong, they wouldn't even have managed to beat something like that at this point)
- Teostra and Brachidios (same issue of the Akantor
- The Gravios (In the Lore of monster hunter, the gravios is pretty docile, unless its threatened)
So the choice was a monster that would be dangerous and aggressive but not to the point to be unbeatable by our team, the choice of the Agnaktor seemed good to me, a leviathan, i also love that it form a magma armor by cooling down lava, it gave what i think to be a pretty tactical fight
Before starting making the next volume i will make the Relic extra, i will give further information about the volume 7 in the end of the extra.
I can't really tell the amount of time that it will take.