Monster Hunter: Tales of Rojoneko
Ch.2- Velocidromes are Wyverns
Some would think that flash bombs are not that major of an issue. They are wrong, all of them. The brightness that was shed by the detonation of said bomb not only left the victim completely blind, but it caused a severe migraine that could drive a man to insanity. After the bomb had gone off, the Velociprey and I had gone blind for a good minute or two. Who knew what was happening.
In the midst of my blind confusion, I felt a hand grasp my left arm. It pulled me towards it. I stumbled a bit and fell.
"What happened to you! The bomb goes off and you decide to look right at it?" The hand turned out to be Drake. "We even told you to look away! Sigh, oh well. Look, when you can see again, I want you to take this tool her and set it up. It's an electric trap. All you have to do is place it on the ground, close the clamps, and flip the switch on. Let us know when you set it up. Got it?"
"Yeah" I replied. I didn't really understand, however I did feel that I could figure it out as I go. He placed an object in my hand and I heard him run off. It must have been the trap. I wish I could have seen the fight. Drake was a lance user. Not only were the weapons visually stunning, but they were effective in combat. I wanted to see one in action, but I'm blind for now. And Reto, he had...
"The stick!" I exclaimed to my self. I began to rub my eyes. After a bit of blinking and rubbing, my vision began to return. I stood up and began to examine the trap. It was a simple piece of machinery.
Running over to the sound of Velociprey yelps, I found my self looking at something most extraordinary. Reto was combating the Velociprey with the stick! For every movement the monster made, he predicted and immediately punished it with a backhand to the face. The stick was for aggravating it. It would lunge, he would dodge. He slaps its face, it tries to bite. He sidesteps and then slaps it again. Then he would poke it with the stick. This was not only insulting, but by the volume of the slap, it seemed painful. Drake was off in the distance. He was running at the preoccupied Velocidrome at full force. His Paladin Lance, glimmering a sterling silver in the sun, turned a dark crimson as it rammed into the side of the Velocidrome. It penetrated but not far due to the rough surface of both his lance and it's scales. That's it, the monster is done for. I turned to pack my things when I herd a loud "THWAK!" I turned to see. Drake knocked over. The injured monster had hit him in the chest with his tail. There was a massive wound in its body, how is it able to move let alone fight? Velocidromes are considered weak monsters. I can not even imagine the resilience of stronger monsters. It attempted to bite Drake with its massive jaw and teeth, but Reto was quick. He had anticipated the follow up and rolled to the other side of the monster. He positioned the stick for entry and jabbed it into the Velocidrome's open wound, all in a mere 3 seconds. The monster halted its assault and began to scream in agony. The sheer pain in its cries made me shiver. Reto, using his strength, began to lift the Velocidrome into the air. He threw it over his shoulder using the stick as a leverage. That it didn't break was surprise enough. The monster was incapacitated. Drake took this chance to drive his lance into the monsters belly. Now was my chance to get in on the action. I ran over and unsheathed my sword while swinging it in one fell swoop. The result was a stiffened body of a Velociprey in front of me, and the head in another. The blood sprayed over myself and the others and it began to flood out of the opening.
"I killed it! Not bad for a newbie huh?"
"Fool!" Began Reto, "If we had captured it we could have salvaged more materials!"
"Why not just come back for it later?" I asked. He began to pull out a knife.
"Because other creatures would have eaten him on return. Capturing it preserves its body. If monsters think he's alive, they would leave it alone, unless it's a Flying Wyvern. Besides, capturing it would keep it in prime condition for an expert to carve it. We damaged it a little too much, but you removed its head. That is much worse." Reto declared as he began cutting the Velocidrome. Mental note, capturing it yields better rewards.
"Don't be too hard on him. Did you see the way he decapitated the Velocidrome?" Pointed out Drake.
"Hmm... you are correct." Reto began. He pulled out a towel and began cleaning his armor. We all followed suit. "Fine." He continued again. "I will admit, that was excellent form. Although the end result was not very satisfactory, to unsheathe a longsword, whilst a vertical slash, and successfully hitting your target in a vital area on your first try is rather impressive. You also saw an opportunity, and tool it. That is a good trait to have for a Long Sword user. Are you going to stay this path?"
"I think I might. It suits me." was my response. I grinned. A hunter had complimented me, and I successfully killed my first monster. This mission did not turn out as horrendously as it would seem to have,
After wiping and eating the two began to carve. Drake wanted the material, Reto did it to educate me. But we also needed to prove the completion of the quest, so we carved some of its hide to confirm later. After cutting the hide we began to explore its insides. Reto showed me where to make the first incision. He ran the knife from the throat down to the... genitals. Organs and fresh blood poured out. He began to remove shattered bones, damaged organs, the works. Only unscathed bones, organs, hide, etc can be used or sold. The areas we penetrated, the bones we shattered, and opened organs were thrown out. I ended up taking a few small bones, a fang, and a bit of its hide. The others carried what fit in their bags. We began to walk back to the guild hall.
'That was great!" I began in relief. "The mission is over!"
"It wasn't bad. Well, you're an official hunter now. Congratulations!" Reto informed me.
"Thanks! I can't wait to begin hunting Wyverns!" I proclaimed.
They stopped in their tracks and began to laugh.
"You idiot, 'dromes and 'prey ARE Wyverns!" they said in unison.
I got home exhausted. I thought today was a rough day. But tomorrow would be even worse... and years later, who knew all hell would break loose. All thanks to one Kushala Daora, and a little village called Rojoneko...
