Following the guidance of the Scoutflies, Su Yi climbed along the massive roots of the Ancient Tree, using thick vines coiled around the trunk as footholds.
"…Even injured, it ran this far."
"That thing really doesn't know when to quit."
With a flick of his wrist, he fired the Slinger.
The grappling hook shot out—
Latched—
And pulled him upward onto the trunk.
…
Water flowed within the Ancient Tree's immense structure.
Rainwater seeped through layers of wood and soil, forming countless hidden channels. These streams converged, flowing downward—feeding the forest below…
And eventually—
The sea.
Right now—
A narrow stream trickled past his feet.
Inside the tree—
Layer upon layer—
A complete ecosystem.
Plants.
Insects.
Life everywhere.
It felt less like a tree—
And more like a world of its own.
…
"Something's coming, meow!"
Lushui's warning cut through the silence.
At the same moment—
The Scoutflies abruptly retreated into their cage.
Su Yi froze.
Then slowly stepped back—
Cold sweat trailing down his spine.
From a side passage—
A figure emerged.
Light blue scales.
White fur interwoven along its body.
Moving silently—
Like a predator stalking its prey.
"…Tobi-Kadachi."
Su Yi's heart tightened.
A monster from Monster Hunter: World.
At least—
This one usually didn't attack unless provoked.
At a branching path—
They met.
The Tobi-Kadachi paused.
Its snake-like head tilted slightly.
Vertical pupils—
Locked onto Su Yi.
Tension filled the air.
Watching.
Measuring.
…
Su Yi slowly stepped aside.
Yielding the path.
The Tobi-Kadachi moved forward—
Eyes never leaving him—
Until—
Distance widened.
And it disappeared into the dense foliage.
…
"…Haa…"
Su Yi exhaled slowly.
Even if it usually didn't attack—
There were no guarantees.
At that distance—
If it had lunged—
He wouldn't have had time to react.
Its padded claws muffled every sound.
Its presence—
Silent.
Like a jaguar in the jungle.
Deadly.
Invisible.
Thankfully—
It hadn't considered him prey.
…
After that encounter—
He continued climbing.
Higher.
Deeper.
The interior opened up.
A hollow core—
Spiraling wooden paths winding upward—
Like a living tower.
"…It's still going up?"
Su Yi frowned.
"Kulu-Ya-Ku nests shouldn't be this high…"
"This is Rathalos territory."
Why would it come here?
Risking everything?
"…What are you planning…?"
No answer.
Only unease.
…
As he climbed—
Wingdrakes rested quietly along the branches.
Ahead—
An opening in the trunk revealed the outside world.
"Lushui—come here!"
"Look at this!"
"Coming, meow!"
They stood side by side—
Looking out.
…
Below them—
An endless sea of green.
Forests stretching beyond the horizon.
Clearings dotted with grazing herbivores.
Lakes reflecting the sky.
Streams weaving through the land.
To the south—
The vast ocean.
To the east—
Astera, built from massive ships along cliffs and reefs.
Waterfalls turned giant waterwheels—
Energy flowing throughout the settlement.
Beyond that—
The Wildspire Waste.
To the north—
Towering cliffs carved like blades.
Deep valleys.
Hidden canyons.
Within them—
The Coral Highlands.
The Rotten Vale.
A layered world—
Stacked upon itself.
And further beyond—
The Elder's Recess.
Where power gathered.
Where the land itself converged.
The end of the Everstream.
…
In a single glance—
Half the New World revealed itself.
The wind brushed against his face.
The sky stretched endlessly.
His thoughts—
Cleared.
…
"Lushui."
"Have you ever seen something like this?"
"…No, meow."
His eyes sparkled—
Trying to take it all in.
"I've only ever been in the lower forest…"
"So this… this is the Ancient Forest…!"
He bounced excitedly.
"That's Astera, meow!"
"That's the Wildspire Waste!"
"And up north—it's completely different!"
"What's over there?! And there?! And there?!"
His paws pointed in every direction—
Curiosity overflowing.
…
A world—
Too vast to comprehend.
And Su Yi—
Felt the same.
…
"This is just the beginning."
He smiled.
"I promised you."
"We'll explore it all."
"Meow!!"
Lushui leapt—
Filled with excitement.
The deserts of the Wildspire.
The abyss of the Rotten Vale.
The sky forests of the Coral Highlands.
The crystal lands of the Elder's Recess.
The frozen frontiers.
The distant islands.
One day—
They would see everything.
…
But for now—
Reality returned.
The Kulu-Ya-Ku.
Its trail—
Still led upward.
Too high.
Too dangerous.
"…What are you doing up there…?"
…
ROOOAR!!!
A deafening roar shattered the moment.
Su Yi moved carefully to the opening—
Looking out.
A Rathian flew past—
Heading toward the canopy.
"…What happened?"
Another roar—
From above.
Then—
A realization struck him.
"…Don't tell me…"
"That Kulu-Ya-Ku…"
"…is trying to steal a Rathalos egg?!"
Even he was stunned.
Who would be insane enough to try that?
…
ROOOAR!!!
Explosions echoed above.
Flames flickered through the canopy.
Chaos.
"…It got caught…"
Just as he was about to retreat—
A yellow blur burst from the upper passage—
Running straight toward him.
"…Kulu-Ya-Ku?!"
And in its arms—
A massive egg.
…
"…No way."
It actually succeeded.
…
One day—
He would return here.
Climb this tree again.
Walk the desert.
See the Coral Highlands.
Stand at the edge of the world.
And maybe—
With someone beside him—
Go even further.
…
This journey—
Had only just begun.