These youngsters are Riders,
continuing their quest to find blackened Kinship Ores
and stop the Black Blight, spreading across the world.
Lute parts ways with his friend Cheval,
after having grown up together as brothers.
Lute, wanting to take a closer look at himself,
undergoes a trial at the Tower of Illusion
and learns what the power of Kinship really is.
Your father wore this armor when he was about your age.
My father did?
Lute inherits a suit of armor from his late father,
and, taking to heart the feelings within that armor,
continues his journey.
"Monster Hunter Stories RIDE ON"
"Episode 40: Brachydios the Destroyer"
Got a sec?
Mister Reverto? Is something wrong?
Oh? Rathalos gear, eh?
My dad left me that.
I see. Use it with care.
Yep!
Anyway, Lute... I'd like you to help me with a quest.
A quest?
Unfortunately, we're busy putting an end to the Black Blight.
As it turns out, it seems the target monster in this particular quest
has been afflicted with the Black Blight.
It's Blighted?
Hmm...
A Blighted monster?
That's right. A real tough customer tearing up the Babda Rainforest.
We should dispatch a Rider--
That won't be necessary.
I've left this entirely to Reverto.
Captain Simone!
But won't we need the purifying power of the Kinship Stone
if the monster's Blighted?
Yes--which is why he's likely bringing Lute with him.
But I'd like Reverto to put this matter to rest.
Why are you tagging along, Popola?
I can't have Reverto flying solo on this one.
Sheesh. Always sticking your nose in.
So there's a Blighted monster around these parts?
Yeah.
According to the Scriveners, that is.
Hmm?
Mister? What is it?
What's that?
A road, in the jungle!
That there is a monster path.
A monster path?
A path formed by large monsters as they pass through.
A pretty big monster must've made this one, going by the width.
Right.
It would've come through here a few days ago.
Then wouldn't it be a long way off by now?
Probably, yeah.
Huh?
The Black Blight's spreading out here, too.
Oooh, what a weird haze.
Eh? What's this?
Some kind of nectar?
Stop!
Watch yourselves.
That's a Brachydios slime mold.
Brachydios?
But don't those live in volcanic regions?
Rarely, a Brachydios will adapt to live in another habitat...
...but not this one.
Eh?
This one's from a volcano.
Being afflicted with the Black Blight,
it probably doesn't even know its natural habitat anymore.
How can you tell?
I hadn't mentioned it,
but this is a tempered monster I've been after for years:
Brachydios the Destroyer.
Brachydios the Destroyer?
A tempered monster?
Yes. Very occasionally,
a tremendously powerful monster may crop up within the same species.
A tremendously powerful monster... Is it immortal?
No living thing is immortal, of course.
But the average Hunter cannot possibly defeat it at that level.
The Guild gives these extra-dangerous monsters special names,
and sets up quests with an abundance of caution.
The Hunters have come to call them "tempered monsters."
That's why it has to be Reverto.
Well, yes, but... they have a history, those two.
They do?
The Guild named it "Brachydios the Destroyer."
The Hunters who tried slaying it were defeated, one after another.
I was just starting out when I first encountered it.
Hot-blooded as I was,
I took on a tempered monster to make a name for myself--
that Brachy, in fact.
Wait up, Brachy...!
I'm... still...
I faced him time and time again.
But every single time I did...
...he totally wrecked me.
I haven't... lost yet...
Bra... chy...!
That day marked a turning point. Brachy vanished.
There was no word of any other Hunter finishing it off.
I'd wondered about it all this time.
That's one mighty monster if it's even too much for you.
Even a regular Brachydios is nothing to sneeze at.
But a tempered Brachydios?
Right. I couldn't land a single blow.
When I saw its eyes,
I felt like it was saying something.
Huh? Like what?
"Surpass me."
That's a pretty Rider-y thing for you to say, mister.
Well, that's what I picked up on, anyway.
A monster talking to a Hunter, eh?
Mew know that doesn't happen.
I think it does.
I mean, monsters have minds, too.
And, like, I can see it happening with you, Reverto.
Maybe so.
But now there's no way to be sure.
Huh?
That beast's been stricken with the Black Blight.
It's not "Brachydios the Destroyer"--not anymore.
So even tough monsters like that can be Blighted...
I've got to settle things between us.
The Captain of the Scriveners has given me that opportunity.
You mean Simone?
Yeah. She knows what we have between us.
That's why she asked me to slay it.
But I only agreed to accept the quest if I could bring you along.
Huh?
You need a Rider along to purify it, after all.
Well, I guess. But you two can just watch.
This quest is my job.
But...
I'm the one who'll take down that monster--that Brachydios.
It's close.
But...
The monster path ends here.
Shh! Be very quiet!
We walked straight into its trap.
So this is a tempered monster?
Brachydios the Destroyer...
"The Blighted Brachydios"
Long time no see.
Ride On!
Rathalos!
You stand back!
Reverto!
This here is my quarry!
It's no use!
Reverto!
Reverto's in a bad way!
Reverto?!
I told you: this is between me and Brachy.
Reverto!
Navirou can't watch!
Ride On!
Rathalos!
C'mon, Ratha!
Ooh! And in your Rathalos gear!
I feel stronger somehow!
Let's go, Ratha!
Let's show 'em what we're made of, Ratha--fly!
Sky-High Dive!
What the heck? It's acting funny!
Be careful, Lute!
The Brachydios jumped!
Huh?
Lute!
Stay with us, Lute!
What now? What does Navirou do?!
Eeek!
Brachy! Wait!
Wait! Please, wait!
Don't leave!
Where am I?
Lute...
Who's that?
Lute.
Dad?
That gear... It suits you.
Yeah!
But... I lost.
And with a Kinship Attack, no less.
Listen, Lute.
A Rider's Kinship Attack can vary in strength depending on their Kinship
with that monster.
Huh?
You must feel that Kinship.
Then, trust in it.
Feel my Kinship... and trust in it?
Lute... Kinship will never go away...
Feel your Kinship.
Dad? Wait! Dad!
Dad...
Ah, Lute--you're awake.
Thank goodness!
Oh, er, I...
Were you dreaming?
Uh-huh.
My dad--he...
Your father may well have protected you with that armor of yours.
Not a scratch on mew.
What about Brachydios the Destroyer?
Beats me. Went off somewhere.
Oh.
Guess we failed that quest.
Reverto's outmatched, Ratha's Sky-High Dive doesn't work...
We didn't stand a chance.
That's right.
Go on home, now. You, too, Popola.
Reverto!
What are you gonna do, mister?
I'm going to finish this.
That's crazy talk! You're obsessed with that Brachy!
Yeah.
Brachy... is the same as me.
You and Brachydios the Destroyer, the same?
But you don't secrete any weird exploding juice.
That's not what he means.
Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me.
In the same way Brachy told me to surpass it,
I feel like I'm talking right back.
That we're past "hunter" and "hunted," neither Hunter nor monster.
We're simply beasts.
Like the "be the forest, be the beast" thing you talked about before.
Yeah.
Everything in this world may have started out as one.
Ohhh, Navirou gets it. Yep, yep, yep.
Turns out...
...Brachy was talking to me earlier.
And now--now I can believe the intention deep in its eyes.
It was telling me:
"Defeat me."
I believe in your Kinship with that Brachydios, mister.
My Kinship? With Brachy?
Riders aren't the only ones who form Kinship.
Hunters can form Kinship with monsters, too--
I know it.
So you keep on fighting to your heart's content!
Are... Are you sure?
However! If you get in a pinch, I'm taking over.
I'll be counting on you.
Now just a second here!
Sky-High Dive doesn't work! How are you going to fight this thing?
That's right! Mew ought to return to Gildegaran first!
We can stop it with the power of Kinship!
Wha-a-at?!
It's left the jungle?
It might be Blighted,
but it could be looking for someplace like its volcanic home
with what little mind it has left.
Brachydios... the Destroyer...
Sorry I left you hanging, Brachy.
Reverto's so calm and collected!
Yeah! Think he can pull it off?
Sure feels like this could be it!
What's going on?
That light!
Reverto!
Brachy...
Ride On!
Rathalos!
Let's do this, Ratha!
Lute! Now!
Onward, Ratha!
Brachydios the Destroyer!
I will stop you--and the Black Blight!
My Kinship with Ratha will stop you!
You've got Kinship with Navirou, too!
And with my dad...
All this Kinship will be my strength!
What's that light?!
Now!
That's a sky-er, higher Sky-High Dive!
Why, that's there's a Sky Extreme!
"Two Kinships, joined together:
the hunter is become the rider.
Where there is Kinship, there is light;
where there is no Kinship, only darkness.
The Black Dread, born of the darkness,
will stain earth as blackest jet."
That's from the mural of Redan, isn't it.
Yes, and it has me thinking:
The Black Blight isn't just the Riders' problem.
It's a problem for Hunters to face, too-- indeed, all humans must.
I'm sure Reverto will understand its meaning.
And that's why you gave him this quest?
The Black Blight is disappearing!
Brachydios the Destroyer...
You were my finest friend.
Reverto...
Mister... is this okay, what we did?
Yeah.
So Hunters can form Kinship with monsters, too.
Uh-huh.
Thanks to you,
I think I might know what you meant
about Riders and Hunters being the same.
We've got to stop them: the Black Blight...
...and your friend, too.
Yeah.
"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 Brachydios!
"Brachydios"
"Type: Power"
It deals ultra-effective blows with its giant front legs--like a boxer!
"Species: Brute Wyvern"
"Overall Length: 354.8 cm"
"Overall Height: 140.0 cm"
And its exploding slime-mold attack is a real doozy!
"Leg Size: 44.6 cm"
No wonder Reverto had his eye on this tempered monster!
What Monstie will hatch for us next time?
"Next Episode Preview"
Cheval sent Rathi away...
Is that really what you want as your Monstie, Cheval?
Next time: "The Nargacuga Returns"!
"The Nargacuga Returns"
Ride On!