The young boy's name is Lute: a rash but passionate fellow
who aims to be the world's top Monster Rider.
Just a little further. Hang in there!
But as you can see,
even his raging passion has run dry under the blazing sun.
So hot... I need water...
So hot... Navirou needs donuts...
Hey! Don't be talking about donuts in this bone-dry desert!
That'll only dry your mouth out more!
Sorry about this. I'd've made Cool Drinks if I'd had the ingredients.
Incidentally, her drinks are incredibly bitter.
Not a problem in the slightest!
Oh! Look over there!
Thank goodness!
Whoa! It's the Oasum camp!
Hooray!
It's donut time!
Navirou sure perked right up!
Hey, wait! What about my water?!
Honestly...
Forget about donuts and water--
an unexpected ordeal awaited them here in Oasum!
This is the dawn of a whole new age!
It's almost finished, Doctor!
And I will be the one to build this new age!
"Monster Hunter Stories RIDE ON"
"Episode 22: Desert Mayday"
Donuts! Donuts!
Me first!
Who are you?
If you're gonna ask Navirou's name, give your name first!
Aaand you just told him your name.
I'm Lute.
There's something we'd like to ask the village refugees here.
We're already running short on food.
If we let any more people in...
Um... I've heard the quicksand isn't stopping.
Is it serious?
Yes. It's still swallowing up villages here and there...
...and you are?
Lilia, of the Scriveners.
I've come from Gildegaran on an exploration quest.
You mean a kid like you...?
Could you let us pass?
As you like.
Thank you very much!
Finally Navirou can eat those donuts!
That really is all you think about.
Oh, uh, they're with me.
You should have said so earlier!
Sheesh!
Mew said it.
They sure do have it rough.
Yeah. It's worse than I imagined.
But it'll all be fine now that Navirou's here!
As long as he gets his donuts, anyway.
Look, they only have limited food supplies here.
Even if you do get food or water, be sure not to overindulge.
Yeah, Navirou!
Right back at you, Lute!
Back at you!
You two never change, do you?
You again!
Noisy brats.
Eh?
Feels like we've met before.
Captain Gentor!
Huh?
The captain assigned to the Hunter's Guild. He serves the Guildmaster!
Oh!
Huh?!
Hey! What gives?!
We Hunters can handle an exploration quest just fine.
We have no need for children like you.
We can do without random Riders getting in the way of our work.
What the heck?
He won't be handing out donuts anytime soon.
Hmm. Looks like we're not entirely welcome.
Captain Gentor doesn't approve of us Riders.
Cheval!
You're late.
We've been waiting for ages!
Hi, gang!
Seconds?
Never mind.
Lute, this is Chief Nolma and Hunter Fahali,
refugees from Albrachs Village.
Chief Omna has told us about you.
Are the Riders a children's organization?
Oh, no--nothing like that.
There are old guys, and this one big Rider-- built like a rock! A real mix.
I understand you're here on an exploration quest.
Yes! And, um...
Have you heard the rumor about the black monster in the desert?
Er...
Our village... was attacked by that black monster.
So the rumor was true.
The same thing happened to our village.
Could you tell me more?
It was night, and dark, and I couldn't see very well,
but its entire body was cloaked in haze.
Captain Gentor,
did Simone of the Scriveners send those Riders?
Yes--couldn't leave well enough alone.
Riders who supposedly "form Kinship" with monsters?
And mere children at that! What can they do?
What's your take on what we heard earlier?
About the black monster?
It's got to be affected by the Black Blight.
Yeah--that's for sure.
Going by what we've heard, anyway.
Then we've got to find this monster and stop it, pronto.
Yeah. We have to defeat it.
Huh?
Because it's been taken over by the Black Blight.
Right...
But you all need to be really careful.
We don't know what kind of monster it is yet.
If it's that Nargacuga again, look out!
Or it could be something even scarier...
It's all right, Hyoro.
I'm not letting anyone get hurt.
Right!
Hmm...
If Navirou eats this much now...
What are you doing, Navi?
Navirou's drawing up a plan for how many donuts to eat, and when,
while he's out on this quest!
'Cause if he eats 'em all at once, they'll be gone!
Oh, Navi! I'm super impressed right now!
Why's that?
Well, before this,
you were all, "Navirou eats donuts because they're there!"
You'd just scarf 'em up, regardless of the consequences!
Eh? Is that a huge compliment Navirou hears?!
Woohoo!
Navirou got a compliment! Navirou got a compliment!
--Yeah, that's not really a compliment. --Navirou! Got! A! Compliment!
What are you doing?
Getting ready to head out on our quest, obviously.
Yeah, that's right!
And just what can you Riders do, hmm?
We can't stand by and let a monster put humans in danger.
Captain!
Hmm?
The advance party's under monster attack!
What?!
They were investigating the quicksand when a Cephadrome appeared.
And it's a Blighted one!
A Blighted Cephadrome...
If so, it may very well attack the village, too.
Let's go.
Wait!
Cephadrome practically swims through sand.
Once it dives in, you can't tell where it'll surface.
And if it's Blighted, too...
This calls for a strategy meeting!
Hmph. You're book-smart, anyway.
But all that knowledge is useless on the battlefield!
Huh?
Stay put right here if you don't want to get hurt.
Stock up on anti-Cephadrome weapons!
Don't forget the Sonic Bombs!
Sir!
Okay--we should get going, too.
Yeah.
Captain, our preparations are complete.
All right--move out!
I'll take us there.
Ha, ha, ha, ha!
Ha, ha-ha, ha, ha--ha, ha!
Weapons and Sonic Bombs?
Why, those are nothing more than garbage!
Put trash in its place!
Huh?
Hey, aren't those the guys we rescued earlier?
Yeah.
N-Navirou's fur is standing on end!
And just who are you?
I've got 50 years of monster research under my belt!
I'll use my genius brains to shut this situation down in no time.
We're here to help!
Help?
The only thing you need to defeat a monster is brains!
And those...
...those require a top-notch, genius-level inventive mind!
Right?
Hey! That was my line!
Excuse me... Are you a comedy team?
I am Dr. Manelger!
I'm his assistant, Itsy-Bits!
A doctor and his assistant?
Where have I heard of them before...?
Unfortunately, we're busy.
Feel free to chat all you want with these Riders here.
Let's go!
Yes, sir!
Come on, gang.
Yeah!
Urk! Wait! Navirou's coming, too!
Hey! Wait up!
Sir! Look!
Hmm?
It's him.
Ride On!
Rathian!
We don't know where or when that black monster will show up.
Be careful, everyone!
Yes, sir!
Same goes for you pesky Riders there.
Pesky?! How rude!
Still, that must mean he's worried about us.
Guy's awkward, all right!
Hey, Navirou... Why was your fur standing on end earlier?
It's a mystery to Navirou, too.
But... it's like... he's getting a bad vibe.
Oh, well, then we'll be fine!
Your intuition hasn't been right once!
You mean your intuition!
Yours!
But I've got a bad feeling about this, too.
Something's coming.
Watch out, gang!
Ah! Quicksand!
Here we go!
Stay sharp, everyone!
Don't get sucked in!
It's the Cephadrome!
The black monster?
We can't tell yet. It's too hard to see in the sand!
But if we defeat it... the quicksand will stop.
Team! Ready your weapons!
You kids stand back!
Captain!
Man, I can't believe that captain guy!
Just jumps in and faces monsters with no regard for his own safety!
Such foolish, awkward battles
will come to an end as the new age dawns!
Humans will soon be able to picture a peaceful, shining future
where no one will ever have to dirty a hand!
Gah! Where'd it go? Show yourself, Cephadrome!
Look out!
Captain!
Stay back!
Cheval!
Right!
Ride On!
Basarios!
Ride On!
Rathian!
Sir, those Riders--!
Hmph! Let them be.
Cheval! You handle the Cephadrome!
I'm on it!
Captain!
Never mind me!
Not happening!
Run!
I will save you!
"The Blighted Cephadrome"
Rathi! Go!
Now, Lute!
Roger!
Yes!
Hooray for the sweet co-op between Lute and Cheval!
You bet!
All set, Cheval!
Got it!
Now, Rathi--go!
Cheval! You okay?!
Now this is our time to shine, sir!
Watch as an era ends--burn this moment into your memory!
A Barroth!
But that's...
From earlier!
What is all this?
What's with that Barroth?
Don't worry, folks!
The Barroth will not attack us!
The device on its body there lets us do this:
Freeze!
Down!
It's docile!
Have you tamed a monster?!
There's a receiver on that Barroth!
What in blazes have you done?!
We should defeat monsters with monsters!
Why, we needn't be troubled in the slightest.
Go!
The controls are simple: the monster moves with the press of a button.
I-It can't be...
Making the impossible possible. That's what research is all about!
Research? What research?! You're controlling monsters!
Isn't that what you Riders do?
Huh?
He may be right.
We have the means to control monsters by Riding On.
It's not the same, Cheval!
We have Kinship binding us to our Monsties!
Oh? So you get into reckless battles with monsters,
putting lots of Hunters into harm's way--
and you're okay with that?
That's not what I'm saying!
And we are not fighting a reckless battle!
Sir, these folks still don't get it at all!
Worry not. The Cephadrome will come back.
And when you find yourselves in danger,
you'll be looking to us to rescue you!
And when that happens...
...it'll be the dawn of a whole new age!
That is my line!
See? Watch out, folks!
If you want our help, beg Dr. Manelger for it!
Well?
I'll fight--again!
Ride On!
Rathian!
Cheval! Let's go together!
I can handle it myself!
Cheval?
Hey! Cheval!
Use your breath, Rathi!
Those blasts aren't landing at all, sir!
Silence!
Huh?
We might just be able to witness
the true power of that Kinship Stone!
Eh?
Cheval?
Kinship Attack: Scorching Slice!
That's Cheval's and Rathi's Kinship Attack!
So that's a Rider...
Did he get it?
Looks that way.
Amazing...
Sir, that kid just beat the Cephadrome!
Way to ruin our big moment.
I knew it! So that is the power of the Kinship Stone!
It's just what I'd hoped for--no, more!
That was fantastic, Cheval! You beat that Cephadrome!
Were you okay out there, Cheval?
Yeah.
What the--
Hey, Professor! What's going on?
Stop that thing!
Itsy-Bits, stop it, if you would.
I'd like to, but I can't seem to control it!
Say what now?
Give me that!
Ah!
I see what the problem is, sir!
Look! The receiver--it's cracked!
What?!
It blew up!
What can you expect? It was still under development.
This is still within expectations.
Such things happen during the evolutionary process!
This is no laughing matter!
What are you going to do about it?
Yeah! What?
I-I-It's coming this way!
I knew it...
I should have defeated that Barroth!
Huh?
"Monstie Manual"
The Monstie Manual!
"Monstie Manual"
Navirou here will fill you in on some Monsties!
Get your Media Trigger smartphone app ready!
And you've got your egg with you, right?
Okay, time to form Kinship with your Monstie Egg!
And now, the moment of new life: awaken!
"Monstie:"
Our Monstie this time is Cephadrome!
"Cephadrome"
"Type: Power"
This leader of the Cephalos is one size larger than the rest!
"Species: Piscine Wyvern"
"Overall Length: 313.5 cm"
It's not every day you see a monster that can swim through the desert.
"Overall Height: 176.2 cm"
"Leg Size: 54.4 cm"
They rely on their fins to paralyze prey, too!
What Monstie will hatch for us next time?
"Next Episode Preview"
Lute here!
Dan and the other senior Riders have arrived at the site
of our Cephadrome fight!
Somehow we'd managed to slay it with Rathian's powers,
but then that shows up!
"The Horned Wyvern's Lament"
Next time: "The Horned Wyvern's Lament"!
Ride On!