Monster Hunter in League of Legends

Nidalee's foster mother tried to drive away the flesh-toothed beast hunters, but was wounded by swords and spears and fell to the ground.

Just as the flesh-toothed beast was about to finish off the elderly jungle cat, Nidalee burst out of the bushes, letting out a roar of grief and rage.

Her sharp teeth and claws tore her enemies apart, so they brought out even stronger weapons to deal with her.

It was at this moment that Nidalee became human for the first time.

She grabbed the hunters' weapons with her bare hands and, with the speed of a cat and the dexterity of a human, returned them all.

Upon seeing this, the flesh-toothed beasts let out low growls and hisses, and Nidalee discovered that she could actually understand their language—

"They called me Vastaya Shari...and then they ran away in fear."

Nidalee said quietly, "That's all I know. After that, my foster mother died and entrusted the tribe to me. My brothers and sisters were puzzled by my appearance, but they remembered my scent... and so I became the leader. But that's all I know."

She paused, then, looking confused, asked, "So, I'm Vastaya Shrine...?"

"You? Vastaya Sherry?"

Upon hearing this, Tarin was also taken aback. Then, the Odogaron chuckled slightly hoarsely and explained, "Haha, you can hardly be considered a Vastaya Shairi. At most, you're just a shapeshifter."

"The so-called Vastaya Shari are beings that emerged from the fusion of some ancient ancestors and the spiritual realm in the distant primordial land of Ionia 9000 years ago."

"And those so-called Vastaya are just hybrids born from the union of a Vastaya shari with beast-like features and humans."

"...Huh?" Upon hearing this, Nidalee couldn't help but look confused.

Clearly, having come from the wilderness, she knew nothing about the origins of the so-called Vastaya.

She wasn't even a native wild animal of this Paka jungle cat pack.

Seeing this, Tallinn continued to explain calmly:

"Because of the power of the Vastaya Shari, the ancient Vastaya usually possessed power and magical talent far exceeding that of ordinary life. However, as time passed, the mystery in their bloodline gradually faded, and some Vastaya gradually transformed into pure beast forms, but still retained power and wisdom far exceeding that of ordinary beasts."

Upon hearing this, Nidalee fell silent for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "So... this is why you want to... take the Paka Jungle Cat as your follower?"

I guess so.

Tarlin shook his head. He hadn't had any similar thoughts at first; he simply accepted the task because the system had issued it, and that was all.

Now it seems there was a reason why the system issued the mission. Aside from having a playable character like Nidalee in League of Legends, the Paka jungle cat race itself far surpasses ordinary beast packs.

However, it was obviously inconvenient to talk about the system, so Tarlin explained slowly:

"Most felines are solitary, but the Paka jungle cat is able to overcome this natural feline habit and live in groups while cooperating closely and intimately. This is a gift from its ancestral bloodline."

Hearing Tarin's words, Nidalee nodded thoughtfully, then asked with some curiosity:

"So... my ability is a kind of atavism?"

"Perhaps, but more so because you inherently possess this potential."

Tallinn calmly shook his head and said:

"Most Vastaya races living in places where magic is scarce will gradually degenerate. Some will degenerate into Vastaya, who are half-human and half-beast, similar to flesh-toothed beasts, while others will become pure wild beasts."

Upon hearing this, Nidalee nodded thoughtfully and followed Tarin. Before long, the two arrived at the Paka jungle cat's den.

It was a cave located halfway up the mountain. Just as they arrived, three adult Paka jungle cats emerged from the bushes, wearing rock-faced masks, their eyes filled with worry as they looked at Nidalee.

Nidalee let out a low growl in response. The jungle cats then seemed to realize something, exchanged bewildered glances, and then all turned their gazes toward Tarlin, bowing their heads and prostrating themselves on the ground in submission, making way for him.

"Tell me about the situation with the herd."

Tallinn raised his chin.

Upon hearing Tarin's words, Nidalee's eyes revealed a complex mix of emotions, but she ultimately nodded obediently and said, "The current pack consists of seventeen adult cats, ten young cats, and thirteen cubs."

To be honest, even now, Nidalee remains mostly wary of Tarlin. But there's no way around it; Tarlin's power is the only truth in this wilderness, and that's precisely why Nidalee chooses to obey.

Beyond the sheer power of the intimidating presence, what's even more important is the state of mind, thought process, and knowledge that Tarin displayed during Nidalee's conversations—a state drastically different from that of beasts.

Raised by a jungle cat foster mother since she was a cub, Nidalee has never been involved in so-called human society.

Even the ability to understand human language was only acquired after learning to transform—like a kind of inheritance.

In this situation, he encountered his first shapeshifter who seemed to be from a civilization and was similar to himself?

Is that how it's put? Transformer.

This made it hard for Nidalee not to be curious about and interested in Tarlin.

However, this curiosity and attention have nothing to do with the human tendency to like or care; it is simply the natural human desire for knowledge.

Upon hearing Nidalee's words, Tarin nodded thoughtfully, then exclaimed, "What an extraordinary race!"

Cheetahs have a unique social structure. Male cheetahs typically form alliances of 2-3 individuals, rarely going alone and almost never raising cubs. Female cheetahs, on the other hand, are mostly solitary, raising their cubs alone and not forming packs. When the two groups encounter each other, except during estrus, there will be no interaction or hostility.

Between female leopards, there is absolutely no friendship, no cooperation, and no sharing. Even female leopards with cubs will hide their cubs beforehand, then follow another female to the opposite side and engage in a fight, pulling each other's fur until one leaves the territory.

And now? Including the young and cubs, this group of Paka jungle cats has as many as forty members, which is almost unimaginable in the wild.

Let alone forty, even seven or eight adult cheetahs would be virtually nonexistent in the wild, because resources are simply insufficient.

However, this also shows that although the Paka jungle cat wears animal skins, its actual social structure is completely different from that of felines, and it has the potential to be more powerful.

Unfortunately, in most cases, the decline of the Vastaya bloodline is irreversible.

Leaving aside places like Ixtal, even in Ionia, where the veil between the material and spiritual realms is so thin that all things possess a spirit and magic is so abundant that even mortals can use it to some extent, the Vastayan people there are also troubled by the gradual loss of primal magic in their blood.

Thinking this, Tarlin also glanced at his system.

If one were to become the lord of a dragon pack... then there should also be the ability to make other beasts become one's own kin, right?

Similar to dragon-like creatures in fantasy novels.

Seeing Tarin deep in thought, Nidalee, after a moment of silence, tentatively asked, "What...is your purpose?"

"Um?"

Tallinn shifted his focus away from the system.

"What did you say?"

"...Your purpose."

Nidalee reiterated, "With such immense power, why did you choose to make our people your servants? Clearly, in terms of strength, you are far superior to my people, aren't you?"

"Because this world is on the verge of collapse," Tallinn replied.

"On the verge of death?" Upon hearing Tarin's words, Nidalee was slightly taken aback, then said with a look of suspicion, "What are you talking about? There aren't that many dangers in this world. The most dangerous enemy I've encountered, apart from those flesh-toothed beasts, is you."

"That's because you can't see it," Tarin shook his head.

Because this might be the LoR universe, which shares the same worldview as the main League of Legends universe, Tarin is well aware that, aside from the previously mentioned risks of rebellion from Piltover, Noxus, Void, and within Ixtal, there are also the Protoss's fall, the Second Darkin War, the Curse of Ruined King, Mordekaiser's return, and even the storylines of skin universes like Dark Star...

Upon hearing Tarin's words, Nidalee merely revealed a bewilderment untouched by the taint of knowledge.

After a moment's hesitation, Nidalee asked, "You're not lying to me, are you? And if you are... how did you know?"

After a moment of silence, Tallinn came up with the best answer.

"Yes, because I am a prophet."

Tarin gave a thumbs-up expressionlessly, then belatedly realized that he was still in beast form. So he simply transformed back into human form, hung the Odogaron armor mask behind his head, and revealed his human face.

Handsome, but not overly delicate. With sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, his features are deep and defined. Although his gaze gives a somewhat indifferent impression, one can clearly sense a hidden wildness, giving a first impression of being heroic, silent, reserved, yet sharp and fierce.

Although this wasn't Nidalee's first time encountering humans—she had seen many Ixtal hunters.

But undeniably, this was the first time Nidalee had observed a human being so closely.

Unable to resist staring at it for a while, Nidalee nodded thoughtfully.

Although she didn't have a clear understanding of human beauty, Nidalee didn't feel uncomfortable.

But if Nidalee really had to choose for herself... indeed, Tarin in his Odogaron form was more in line with Nidalee's aesthetic.

Brutal, ferocious, powerful, possessing unparalleled madness in battle, yet always maintaining composure.

In comparison, the human form... is small and not as attractive as the ferocious and terrifying beast form.

However, Nidalee was clearly more concerned with what Tarin said than with her appearance.

prophet.

"Prophet..." Nidalee silently chewed on the word, as memories surged in her mind, and some information about the prophet emerged from her inherited memories. Then, a hint of surprise gradually appeared in her gaze as she looked at Tarin.

"Are you a prophet?"

Seeing Nidalee's surprised expression, Tarin raised an eyebrow and then asked, "Since you have inherited memories... doesn't it contain any information about this world?"

"No," Nidalee shook her head and said, "These memories weren't all injected into my mind at once, but rather they came up naturally when I needed to use them."

Nidalee paused for a moment before continuing, "Just like when I faced the attack from the flesh-toothed beast hunters, I wanted to kill them and understand what they were saying. So, I naturally learned how to fight in different forms and understood the words those flesh-toothed beasts spoke."

"But apart from that... at least from what I sense, most of the memories of these bloodlines are about how to fight and how to survive."

Upon hearing this, Tallinn nodded in understanding.

The bloodline of most Vastaya people is degenerating year by year, so it is understandable that Nidalee's inherited memories are incomplete.

No wonder Nidalee's inherited memories don't even know what her ancestor Vastaya Shari was... Compared to the origins of these species from ten thousand years ago, how to survive to the next tomorrow is what wild creatures need to consider.

However, this also gives Tallinn the right to continue pretending to be a veteran.

As Nidalee gathered more and more information about the identity of the "Prophet" in her mind, her surprise grew.

Tallinn was not surprised by this.

In a world without supernatural powers, prophets still represent heaven, gods, and the will of their ancestors.

In a world where extraordinary powers truly exist, the prophet represents even more.

At least now, when Nidalee looks at Tarlin, her gaze contains not only wariness and curiosity, but also a complex mix of respect and suspicion.

Thinking about it, Nidalee asked, "How can you prove you're a prophet?"

"I saw fragments of the past and the future," Tallinn replied, shaking his head. "As for what it proves... believe it if you want, or don't if you don't."

"In short, it is because I have seen some not-so-pleasant futures that I want to do what I can to change something... well, at least so that I, and those who love me, and those I love, can survive those future disasters."

"That's why I will unite all forces that can be united."