This Isn't a Kulu-Ya-Ku's Belly, It's a Big Stomach

Because of his hair's tension, massive muscles, rugged appearance, and his uniquely strong preference for fighting barehanded among hunters skilled with all manner of weapons, the Great Commander had earned the nickname "Golden Lion." Some enthusiasts had even developed a MOD that replaced an actual Golden Lion's model with the Great Commander's.

But this was not merely appearance-based mockery. To some extent, it was recognition of the Great Commander's overall strength.

Even the Great Commander himself had said that he felt a sense of familiarity whenever he saw a Golden Lion.

"Golden Lion" was actually the Chinese translation used domestically. Its original name was Sanskrit and meant "king." To those unfamiliar with Monster Hunter World ecology, the name could be somewhat misleading, making them think it was some mutated lion-like monster. In reality, it belonged to the Beast Species, and its appearance and habits were closer to those of a primate, specifically a gorilla.

Do not let its classification as a Beast Species fool you. Its ecology was even harder to observe than that of some Elder Dragons. It possessed tremendous destructive power, remained an ecological mystery, could contend with stronger creatures occupying many Ecological Niches—even Elder Dragons—and had a peculiar transformation ability comparable to becoming a Super Saiyan.

The king of the Beast Species, in every sense of the word.

This also indirectly proved just how fitting the Great Commander's "Golden Lion that gained sentience" nickname was. After all, names could be wrong, but nicknames never were.

Still, when it came to combat talent, the Great Commander was actually quite similar to Kulu-Ya-Ku in certain respects.

This was demonstrated in the Golden Lion versus Kirin cutscene in Monster Hunter World.

That cutscene alone successfully explained how the Golden Lion's Frenzied ecology came about, as well as the Great Commander's