MHGA Chapter 326 – The Intellect of Gore Magala
"What kind of answer are you expecting?"
Kairo Retsu responded bluntly to Altair, "It's the source of the Frenzy Virus. Its very existence is a severe threat to the ecosystem."
His expression remained calm, as if harboring no hostility toward Gore Magala, and he simply continued, "As long as it exists, it will continue to emit the Frenzy Virus endlessly, infecting all living beings within its range... That's the reason."
"To uphold the laws of nature and maintain ecological balance—for the preservation of the environment and the continuation of civilization—we hunters, by our own will, under the name of Monster Hunter, will completely hunt down the source of the Frenzy Virus!"
Kairo raised his head and stared fearlessly at the Military Uniform Princess and the massive Gore Magala shielding her. "That's my reason! That is what a hunter must do!"
"…Born to be shackled by such fate and malice, even though it was capable of developing intelligence." Altair seemed somewhat disappointed. "Whether it's the gods of this world or humans of any other, they always give rise to inexplicable malice."
"It possesses its own intellect. I will let it weave its own story within the tale I dwell in."
The Military Uniform Princess swept her gaze over the surroundings, clearly aware of the completed Birdcage surrounding her. "For the gods watching all of this—only such a story can truly make their hearts race, unable to look away."
"I know what you've done."
Altair said this calmly.
Elsewhere, Gore Magala, Seregia, Alice, and the other constructs and hunters were fiercely engaged in battle. But Altair faced Kairo directly with serenity.
"I've seen the story you wrote... about Gore Magala."
She continued, "You revealed its story to the gods of this world, didn't you?"
During their previous collaboration, upon learning that Gore Magala had made contact with Altair, Kairo—as a representative of Monster Hunter—submitted its story to the official creators as a part of the crossover project.
Information and backstory about Gore Magala had long since appeared on the internet in the creators' world.
Gore Magala, a monster that had strayed into this world—and Kairo Retsu, the hunter pursuing it—this was the premise under which Kairo entered Altair's battlefield.
"Born into a cycle of fate, lacking sight, sensing the world only through a network woven of scale dust, possessing no other means of exploration." Altair spoke as if reciting lines. "But what are you hiding? The story you brought isn't complete, is it?"
"Its molting—its struggle—what were they for?" Altair stared intently at Kairo. "Its restraint—what purpose does it serve?"
The Military Uniform Princess looked down at Kairo from above. "Don't the gods want to see it too? The follow-up to the secret you hid about it?"
"Stop talking to her! We need to find a way to take her down!" Seregia shouted, still locked in combat with Gore Magala like a bullfighter in a coliseum.
Dodging the beast's relentless attacks with her mecha, she lured Gore Magala away, causing it to destroy several buildings in its path.
Though her counterattacks inflicted some damage, the wounds on Gore Magala's body healed at a terrifying pace.
Finally, she devised a tactic—luring Gore Magala to strike in Altair's direction. At the last moment, Seregia dodged aside.
Gore Magala's massive forelimb, aimed at Altair, suddenly halted less than half a meter away. It seemed to realize something—and simply stopped beside Altair.
It let out a thunderous roar toward Kairo Retsu, then turned and roared in another direction, as if issuing a warning.
Then, facing a different direction yet again, Gore Magala let out a third intimidating roar, now directly at Laios's location.
Altair, without further words, initiated her attack.
A barrage of floating military sabers materialized midair, bombarding Kairo and Naofumi Iwatani below. Meanwhile, Altair herself lunged toward Seregia in pursuit.
"I'll assist them."
Himmel moved with a serious expression, weaving between the towering buildings, ready to use his sword techniques to create openings for his allies.
Gore Magala followed closely behind Altair, scale dust scattering from its wings. With wings spread wide, it rammed toward the massive robot piloted by Rui Kanoya, who was engaged in battle with Alice.
On another front, Yuuya Mirokuji was dueling his own protagonist in fierce combat.
Though intense battles erupted throughout the Birdcage, one man's thoughts drifted elsewhere.
Leos—carrying a Switch Axe—had painstakingly climbed to the tallest building in the Birdcage. Using binoculars, he continuously monitored the combat unfolding below.
Especially… the numerous suspicious behaviors of Gore Magala that caught his eye.
Why is Gore Magala helping Altair?
The same question stirred within Laios as it had in Kairo's heart.
As an Elder Dragon juvenile and constant emitter of the Frenzy Virus, Gore Magala—until now—had never been documented forming any close bond with other beings.
And yet… not only did it remain close to Altair's side, it even displayed clearly protective behavior toward her.
"I remember from the records… Gore Magala itself is also susceptible to the Frenzy Virus." Laios held his binoculars in one hand, scribbling notes with the other.
"Could it be… that Altair used her Holopsicon to suppress the effects of the Frenzy Virus?" He scratched his head. "And also…"
Laios had noticed that Gore Magala's attacks consistently avoided hitting Altair.
That meant it could not only recognize Altair, but had the rationality to consciously control its attacks.
"Is this really Gore Magala? And if it can identify Altair, does that mean she's already infected with its scale dust? But still… too many irregularities…"
Laios kept pondering, until Gore Magala's earlier roar at Kairo broke his train of thought.
Then, he noticed that after roaring in another direction… Gore Magala issued a third threatening roar—this time aimed directly toward him.
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