Monster Hunter in League of Legends

"..."

"It's hard to explain my situation in a short time. Let's order food first... oh no, let's get the medicine first."

Realizing he had arrived in Runeterra, a hint of helplessness appeared on Tarin's face. He then gestured for Nidalee to come closer.

Seeing this, Nidalee hesitated only slightly before obediently lying down in front of Tarin, revealing her unguarded, flat stomach.

Wild animals often express their submission by exposing their vulnerable bellies, and because she has now taken on a human form, Nidalee's facial expression is even clearer, revealing her smooth-lined abdomen as she endures the shame and resentment in her heart.

In the past, Tarin might have enjoyed the scenery for a while, but now, Tarin's mind was filled with thoughts of Runeterra.

To be honest, Tallinn wants to go back.

If you look closely, you'll find that although the Monster Hunter world is also full of all kinds of natural disasters, and even ancient dragons destroying ecosystems and kingdoms, most of those events only exist in ancient legends.

When people finally arrived at the Monster Hunter world that they were familiar with, the entire world had become a utopian world.

People not only trust each other, but even those from isolated places that have been cut off from the outside world for thousands of years show enthusiasm when they encounter outsiders, rather than launching attacks and rejections out of vigilance.

The Hunter's Guild will suppress and appease most of the disasters, ecological chaos, and riots caused by Elder Dragons as soon as they are discovered.

In this situation, ordinary people in the Monster Hunter world can live peacefully as long as they are willing to stay in human settlements.

But Runeterra is different.

Including the Voidlands of Icathia, and without considering kingdoms outside the official map, such as Kamavia, the homeland of the Ruined King Fryeglor, Runeterra can now be roughly divided into thirteen city-states.

Among these thirteen city-states, each city-state harbors an average of two to three major crises that could lead to the destruction of the entire city-state, and each city-state also has an average of one to two crises that could destroy the world.

For example, Demacia is well-known. Just in Tallinn, there was the invasion of the Elder Dragon and the Infernal Dragon. Several World Runes are also sealed in the Forbidden Stone Forest. Compared to that, I naively believe that Sylas is a small matter. At least in LoR, he really built a city for mages in Demacia.

And Ishtar...

Ixtal is alright, at least there isn't much description of him in the main universe.

Even so, as far as Tarin knew, there were reports of the Noxian expeditionary fleet exploring the eastern coast, the Piltover development of the northern jungles, and the western Icathia, which, although it appeared to still be in the material realm, had actually sunk into the pale purple sea of ​​the void.

This is only the external threat facing Ixtal. The internal threats also include the demigod who created and protected Ixtal for thousands of years, shielding it from disasters, and who has gradually lost the desire to communicate with his people due to sensing too much malice. And our supermodel, the quirky Qiyana with stealth, dash, slash, and crowd control abilities, is thinking about how to launch a great rebellion...

Thinking this, Tarlin couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Damn it, Mira, you're something else.

If it were in another city-state, Tallinn might have been able to survive and develop for a while.

However, Ixtal is different. Ixtal's guardian deity is the Ancient Lord Skarner, also known as the Crystal Vanguard or Scorpion. After the Battle of the Two Cities update, Ixtal is no longer depicted as the last pitiful shell-like being, but rather as a native demigod of Runeterra.

Six thousand years ago, in the lore of the game, the eastern continent was destroyed. Migrants, carrying their ancient knowledge and wisdom, set out from the forgotten lands of the far east, landing on the eastern coasts of Shurima and Valoran, and began to create civilization. Ixtal was located at the easternmost edge of Shurima. This landing is known to the historians of Runeterra as the "Great Migration."

Skarner existed in Ixtal for countless years before the Great Migration. After the Migration, he actively guided the people of Ixtal to build civilization and taught them about the elements. After the rise of Shurima and the Void Wars, Skarner went into seclusion in Ixtal's capital city, Ixorken, using his sense of leyline tremors to monitor the entire continent of Shurima and help the people of Ixtal avoid the catastrophes of the Darkin Wars and the Rune Wars.

But it is precisely because they successfully avoided these catastrophes that Skarner has now extended his leyline awareness throughout Runeterra—especially to Ixtal. Almost nothing that happens on this land escapes Skarner's notice.

However, after thinking about it carefully, Tallinn gradually relaxed.

Skarner possesses exceptional perception, but this doesn't mean his energy is limitless. According to Tarin's speculation, the individuals Skarner focuses on are likely limited to the leaders and important figures of the various city-states in Runeterra. For example, the ruling class of Ixtal, the Ixokens, and the current King of Ixtal's ten daughters…

And I am just an unknown little beast right now... They probably won't notice me that quickly, right?

Thinking this, Tallinn gradually relaxed.

Nidalee watched Tarin, who was applying smears to her body, sometimes looking serious, sometimes tense, and sometimes relaxed. Her face was full of doubt, but considering Tarin's strength and his ability to switch between human and beast like herself, she didn't say anything.

After applying the medicine, Tarin gave the remaining ointment to the other jungle cats to apply to the injured. Once Tarin was finished, Nidalee got up from the ground, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Should we maintain human form indefinitely?"

"No need. After all, we're in the wilderness. Just live the way you're used to."

Nidalee breathed a sigh of relief after receiving permission.

In her daily life, Nidalee does not like to live in human form. In the old version of the story, Nidalee was a human orphan adopted by the Paka Jungle Cat and unexpectedly gained the recognition of the Jungle Cat Spirit, which gave her the ability to transform into a Jungle Cat.

In the new version of the story, Nidalee was born as a Paka jungle cat, but accidentally transformed into human form during a crisis.

This means that Nidalee actually lives in the form of a Paka jungle cat most of the time, rather than in human form.

Once they were in the wilderness and had finished applying the medicine, to prevent any predators that might be lurking in the darkness, Tarin transformed into the form of a Odogaron and said to Nidalee, "Take me to your lair."

Upon hearing Tarin's request, Nidalee did not resist, but simply nodded. She then let out a low growl and led the pack back to their lair.

On the way, the Paka jungle cat indeed displayed intelligence far beyond that of ordinary wild animals. It did not exhibit the startled behavior that people usually associate with felines. More often than not, it acted like a monkey in leopard skin... like a golden monkey, not the kind from Mount Emei.

However, their intelligence is not as diverse as that of real humans, and their thinking is still mainly based on the instincts of wild animals.

However, this is not bad either, as the Paka jungle cat race did indeed have a glorious past.

Nidalee's ability to freely switch between human and beast forms also comes from the shapeshifting abilities of her beast ancestors.

However, compared to the terrifying power of her ancestors who could freely wield and control the power of two domains, Nidalee at this stage is at best a shapeshifter.

As Tarin led the way, Nidalee had recovered considerably thanks to the herbs. In fact, even with the herbs, the injuries inflicted by the Odogaron wouldn't heal so quickly. However, Nidalee's vitality was clearly different from other Paka jungle cats; she was not only larger but also had a stronger life force.

Thinking this, Tarin also remembered the Paka jungle cat whose neck he had bitten off in the previous battle, and then asked bluntly:

"I killed your people, what are you thinking now?"

Although it is in the form of a dragon, this does not prevent Tarin from speaking in a human voice.

However, it was clear that Nidalee had not yet mastered this advanced technology, and a simple roar would hardly convey a precise meaning. So, after a brief silence, she transformed back into human form and explained, "I can speak in my Paka Jungle Cat form... but I'm not feeling well."

Tallinn nodded in understanding.

Seeing this, Nidalee also silently breathed a sigh of relief—although Tarin appeared calm, it didn't mean Nidalee could relax. In fact, this was the first time Nidalee had encountered a creature with shapeshifting abilities like herself.

This made Nidalee feel not only wary but also somewhat curious when facing Tarlin.

The terrifying, manic state of Tarin during the battle still lingered in Nidalee's mind, so she was filled with many concerns.

Now that Tarin had given permission, Nidalee followed Tarin to his side.

Because of the limitations of her stride in human form, Nidalee whistled after receiving Tarin's permission, then mounted a female leopard and followed beside Tarin. After a brief moment of silence and contemplation, she said:

"I... am a little sad, but that's all."

"Oh? Why?" Tarin asked, "Isn't he one of your people?"

"We are children of the wilderness, and the continuation and survival of our people is our primary concern." Nidalee appeared calm. "We hunt weaker creatures for food, but we are also hunted by stronger predators. This is the natural cycle of life, the rule of the wilderness, and no one can break it."

Upon hearing this, Tallinn nodded thoughtfully and said, "A simple and profound truth."

Upon hearing Tarlin's words, Nidalee remained silent for a moment before asking, "And what about you? Why did you step into this forest?"

"To build my own herd."

Tarlin said quietly, "And your people possess sufficient wisdom and potential, so I have decided to make you my servants. I will protect you, and you must obey me and fight for me. You can also understand it as... a unique symbiotic relationship."

Upon hearing this, Nidalee nodded thoughtfully: "If that's the case, we will obey you."

As they walked, Tarin and Nidalee remained silent the entire way, but Tarin, through the Odogaron's powerful sense of smell, still sensed the complex emotions swirling in Nidalee's heart—

Pheromones, chemical substances secreted by an organism, can be sensed by other individuals of similar organisms and elicit specific physiological and behavioral responses, playing an important role in communication between animals.

Perhaps due to the ecological mixing of humans and Odogaron, as well as the evolution of pheromones brought about by the Great Jagras and the Great Paralysis, Tarlin is exceptionally sensitive to pheromones.

The essence of the effect of the term "[Intimidation of the Great Ferocious Jackal Dragon]" is to achieve mental and physiological intimidation of other creatures through the secretion of special general-purpose pheromones.

In Nidalee, Tarlin sensed a jumble of thoughts, as well as inner turmoil and curiosity.

Thinking it over, Tarlin said, "I will protect you, so feel free to ask me any questions. I will answer them as long as it's possible."

Nidalee was slightly taken aback, somewhat surprised that Tarin had sensed her inner thoughts, but then she pursed her lips and asked:

"I...I want to know, what am I? Why can I become human like you...You are the first person I have met with this ability."

Hearing Nidalee's question, Tarin nodded in understanding and then said, "Think back, when was the first time you transformed?"

Upon hearing this, Nidalee's thoughts drifted back to a distant afternoon.

Nidalee is not a native Paka jungle cat. In the beginning, Nidalee was just an abandoned cub.

Its echoing cries in the forest attracted the most ferocious feline in the forest—the Paka jungle cat.

It was a Paka jungle cat mother wandering in the forest with her kittens. After discovering Nidalee, perhaps because of a familiar scent, or perhaps simply because of maternal instinct, the jungle cat foster mother took Nidalee in and raised her.

As Nidalee grew older, some abnormalities gradually appeared in her body.

Its furry claws will suddenly turn into bare hands and feet exposed to the air, and its sharp teeth will turn into blunt molars.

Then, during a summer downpour, she encountered the Flesh-toothed Beast for the first time—a member of the same kind as Rengar, the "Lion Dog".

Every season, these Vastaya hunters venture into the forests to hunt, seeking trophies that will bring them glory and demonstrate their power.