Chapter 7
Just to let you readers know, this is basically part 1, currently working on part 2, which I hope will be up this weekend...
Compassionate Sucker,
How is Gloria doing? I hadn't heard any problems in your area, which sounds good. But considering where you're staying, I doubt you heard much news. But we got terrible news pal.
Wise Ass is currently in Val Habar infirmary, for he and we were attacked by members from the Organization of Gore, or maybe Ex-members now, after learning what happened, but the ones who attacked us were the Oi Brothers, and worse of all, they had a Black Fatalis with them. We had a long difficult battle, but in the end, we won because the Amatsumagatsuchi arrived and sent the Oi Brothers flying and the Fatalis left to go after them.
Wise Ass was badly damaged, took a direct hit to the back with a fireball, his armor was obliterated after so much damage. As for why he took the direct hit of the fireball, he protected a huntress and her creature partner, a Nargacuga. We all know Wise Ass is strong, he'll survive this, but he'll be out of commission for a time. Wise Ass wasn't the only one injured, so was Captain Vale, one of the shipmasters, he was gobbled up by a Fatalis, he was only lucky that he had a fiery proof suit underneath his armor and many barrel bombs to get of its stomach.
So me and Lovey Dovey will need to report this event to Obsessive Truth and Courageous Moron in person in Dundorma City, despite the city was attacked recently as well it seems. Don't know if the Organization of Gore caused it, if it was, than they did a damn job out of it, for we got another report that war had started on Moga Island, sounds like they sent one of their legions, don't know why the Organization of Gore want with Moga Island though. Usually Obsessive Truth or Wise Ass figure out their goal for the island after so many theories, hell I'm sure Wise Ass could tell us, he was born there after all, but he needs his rest as he heals in the infirmary.
Don't know how we're going to save Moga Island though, since Dundorma's defenses are down, the people there would be mostly focus on rebuilding their defenses that were torn down. We might be called in to help protect Moga Island, but we need more help before that even happens.
As for how we learned about what's happening in Moga Island, Guildmaster told us that Wise's older brother, the one known as Garico, had arrived to Val Habar, me and Lovey Dovey will try to learn on Garico, after all, Wise Ass didn't tell us much really, but turned out that Garico has a creature partner himself, a Great Wroggi named Veni. They plus two hunters in Guardian armors is coming with me and Lovey Dovey to Dundorma City. There were two others, ones known as Josh and Ryan; Garico said that they'd remain to look after Wise Ass. Garico claims he can trust them to keep his brother safe, but we'll have to wait and see when one of us gets back from our trip.
Till then, you know where I and Lovey Dovey will be, don't know if Courageous Moron is still in Dundorma City, unless he went off to somewhere. If he did, I'll send a falcon message after our talk with Obsessive Truth. Anyways, talk to you someday soon, and I hope Gloria is being a good gal; I do hope you got her off that gluttonous diet of hers. Oh and by the way, seems like you're not the only one with a unique creature partner, if you know what I mean by that?
Honorable Fool
The one holding a long scroll message, right armored hand on the top and the left bottom hand on the bottom, stood a hunter in Regios X blade-master armor. His current weapon was a sword and shield, a very weak and dull of a Hunter's Knife, the sword sheathed on his lower back, and the shield on his right arm. He currently had his helmet off, showing he has flat dark brown hair and goatee, and has dark brown eyes. His eyes were moving left to right slowly as he read the message.
He was sitting on a log like it was a bench, his helmet resting beside him. The area he was in was small, with a barbeque pit with his raw meat cooking for the moment, today's supper for him. The area was flat grassland with some trees and bushes about, but also had only two entrances into this small round area, a cliff that overlooks an ocean, about thirty meters drop if one dare jump from the cliff, that's close to a hundred feet really. Of course from this height, one can enjoy the view and look at the other parts of the island he was on, like the beach to the left part of the view. And the second entrance exit is a large cave, about twenty meters tall actually, it used to be smaller but its occupant made it larger. The cave was also a home for a large creature, it does have some tunnels, small tunnels for ones like Compassionate Sucker to use and crawl through.
Where his area was is unknown, it is an island that is at least several miles from the nature preserve island known as Sanctuary, the island where captured creatures are taken too to live upon. The island this hunter was on was rather small, it's more like a vacation resort-kind of place really, hardly any worth of hunting here and since this place is just miles from Sanctuary, no one bothers coming to this place.
This makes it perfect for the current resident of this island, the one who basically owns it entirely. This was its territory, and any predator that catches its scent will either flee from the area or risk getting devoured.
And so right now, with the falcon resting on an old stump, eating some bugs that the hunter had given it, just a few worms and common bugs like Yambug, Bughopper, Snakebee Larva, and one Godbug. The hunter always make sure the friendly creatures of his are fed well, hence why the falcon was more enjoying the meal instead of impatiently waiting for him to send a message back.
It was currently quiet, with the skies so bright during this late in the afternoon, hardly any clouds really. Till a large, dragon-like shape of a shadow blanket the area. The hunter was still reading, so hadn't looked up, but at least there was a lot of room in the area for the large creature to land. The falcon became nervous, frighten as it looked up.
Eventually the hunter finished reading, rolled up his scroll and looked up. He saw a large dragon-like creature coming down. The creature was a Fatalis, a really large one in fact, it looks like a traditional dragon with a long, serpentine neck and tail, along with a pair of huge wings. Its body is covered in smooth scales though, its underbelly scales were smoother too it seems. Its head features six backwards-facing horns, three on either side of its head. But unlike a Fatalis, nor some similarity it might have with a Crimson Fatalis, this Fatalis has bright pink scales with rosy pink underbelly scales. This was a Pink Fatalis, a whole new subspecies of a Fatalis it seems. This creature was both beautiful and deadly, like a rose with its thorns, so it's likely called a Rose Fatalis.
The hunter and the falcon watched as the Rose Fatalis came down to a landing in the small and yet wide flat area. First it landed on its hind-legs, but it did show something. The Rose Fatalis stood about ninety-six feet and two inches tall; this Fatalis was likely the largest of the Fatalis, most likely because of its diet. Its belly is big and bulges showing as live creatures inside tried to get out. So as it folds its wings against its back before getting onto all fours, its belly bulging outward to the sides.
"Well Gloria, I see you had a good hunt," said the hunter as he stood up, looking up to the Rose Fatalis. That's the name of the Rose Fatalis, Gloria; this elder dragon is a female.
When Gloria turned to face him, the rare elder dragoness revealed to still be eating, for there was a tail of Rathalos. Her neck was bulging and the tail wag a bit. Gloria is a glutton dragoness, she likely snatched and was just gobbling down that Rathalos on her flight back here while the ones inside her belly are likely many Ludroths and Epioths, Gloria likes seafood, and maybe some Aptonoths and Rhenoplos inside her stomach too. The Rose Fatalis had at one point in the past, likely several years that she had ate humans; in a sense Compassionate Sucker had weaned her from eating humans, so she wasn't dangerously aggressive towards humans like most Fatalis.
The Rathalos likely thought he would score a meal on the island, that's what happens with predators that dare come here. The Rathalos was at the wrong place at the wrong time, only ended up to be a meal for a larger predator.
Gloria slurped in the tail and gulped down the Rathalos, sending it down her large throat and into her big belly full of herbivores, making it bulge bigger. She licked her lips in satisfaction before letting out a burp, expelling air from her mouth and without any fresh air within her stomach, the creatures trapped inside slowly ceased in their struggles. Then she made growling noises before lowering her head down towards him. In closer view, she has red eyes, and she pressed her big snout against the small hunter. She could literally just snap him up in one single bite.
After pocketing the message into his inventory pocket, he used his right hand to rub her snout, smiling up to the eyes of the Rose Fatalis. "Yeah, missed you too, big girl," Compassionate Sucker said with a smile. "Still, it's now best for you to go take a rest on your hoard; your belly does need to digest the big meal you had."
Compassionate Sucker has been with the Rose Fatalis for years, hadn't left this island unless he was riding on Gloria's back that. Her hoard is made up of treasure of all kinds of items, armor, and weaponry, along large piles of zenis, gold and jewels. As for why she has armor and weaponry, along with bones of creatures too, whatever she can't digest, she regurgitates them and spits them out. Compassionate Sucker can be in a way, Gloria considers him a treasure and a best friend she has, so she doesn't want to lose him.
As for why she got a collection of armor and weaponry, like it was said before in the past that she ate humans. Nowadays, the only kind of humans she eats are the ones who dare hunt her, who dare come to her island without her permission and attack her. The only way a human would be safe on her island is if the human doesn't challenge her or her human vouches for them.
So Compassionate Sucker lives with her on the island, Gloria knows his friends herself too, they at times come here themselves. They always make sure to bring a lovely gift for her for each visit, just so to make her feel happy and friendly. They did make sure to help bring Compassionate Sucker's caravan over to the island, which by now was dismantled and used for construction for various things, but all of Compassionate Sucker's items were added into Gloria's cave. Her cave has its own rooms, one of which belongs to her hunter.
So the ruler of the island is Gloria herself, and her loyal hunter, Compassionate Sucker, lives with her.
Gloria made some growling noises, and her hunter, listened to her. He couldn't understand her speech, but has been practicing for years. He understood bits of her growls and purrs, but is still learning.
"Oh just a message from one of my friends," her hunter said, Gloria raised her back up, watching him pull out the scroll message. "Honorable Fool is the one who sent the message."
Gloria smiled, that one had been known to give her a full body armor suits for her hoard. Sadly that human travels with another one that Gloria dislikes, Lovey Dovey, her least favorite of Compassionate Sucker's friends, Lovey Dovey gives her strange and yet easily burnable red heart-shape items filled with chocolate candy inside, which to Gloria, looks like droppings with sweet scent smell. She nodded to her hunter, asking him to continue, wondering what the message was about.
The hunter showed a little nervous look before he said, "Some of it is bad actually, remember Wise Ass?"
Gloria smiled as she nodded, oh yes, she remember him alright. Wise Ass was her second favorite hunter, seconds after her favorite hunter, Compassionate Sucker. Of course she knows those are their nicknames, she knows their true names, too bad she can't say her hunter's name too him, well she could, but he couldn't understand her.
Anyways, she knows Wise Ass quite well, despite he rarely visits, but when he does, he brings really good presents, either books for her hunter to read to her at night, and polish oil that her hunter can use to polish her scales, making them pretty and shiny, and very rare gems, golds, and materials like Novacrystals, Pure Crystals, and Armor Stones, she got a load of Armor Stones actually.
There are other reasons, similar reasons to what she favor her hunter, but there are several things that Wise Ass couldn't do that her Compassionate Sucker can. Like for one, Wise Ass is a terrible chef while Compassionate Sucker is a fantastic chef.
She smiled down to her hunter, but slowly frowns after seeing his expression. Was there something wrong with Wise Ass?
"He was attacked and nearly killed, from the message, he's currently in Val Habar infirmary," her hunter said.
The Rose Fatalis glared and growled, now angered, who would dare try to kill one of her and her hunter's friends? Whoever dared tried to kill her favorites will perish, either torn apart by her fangs and claws, or die inside her stomach. She looked ready to take flight, her wings spread, but then stopped, recalling the fact she got a heavily filled belly now, and she doesn't know the location where Wise Ass would be.
"He's alright, and by the sounds of it from the message, the perpetrators got punished," her hunter said. "It seems he was rescued by the Elder Dragon, Amatsumagatsuchi."
Amatsu, the storm dragoness that watches over Wise Ass from far distances, Gloria knows this dragoness, there had been a few rare visits back then, but Amatsu is older than she is and keeps her own secrets. Gloria growled, wondering who the attacker was.
"As for the ones who attacked, it was the Oi brothers and surprisingly enough, they have a Fatalis with them," her hunter said as he looked up to her.
Fatalis, no added names to that obviously means it was regular black elder dragon. At least now Gloria knows it's one of her cousins who dare harm her friends, when she sees that Fatalis, oh she's already getting several of plans cooked up inside her head.
"As for another part, it seems Wise Ass's homeland is currently in a war as well," Compassionate Sucker said, he sat back down onto his log.
The information of where Wise Ass was born from, Gloria had learned from Amatsu long ago, so she scoffed, who cared about the places, they kicked hm out for befriending and grieving one of the lesser predators. She never been to Moga Island herself, but had at times wondered what they taste like there. But even so, she wouldn't bother going there unless there was a good reason for it. And thinking of islands, she wondered about the creatures on Sanctuary, she had promised to never hunt there, but often wonders how tasty they could be.
So instead of resting in her cave, she lie down fully on the ground now, squishing her gurgling bulging belly against the ground till she laid on her right side, curled up a bit. But she kept her head raised and looking down at her hunter.
"Don't really care I see," her hunter said, looking to her before getting back to work on his meat, it was still roasting over the barbeque pit, it's smell radiating from it. After adding spices to it, the smell gotten better, it sure made Gloria drooled. "Just so you know; there is a big possibility of the Lords of Dundorma deciding to send us Virtue Hunters to go save Moga Island. If that happens, I won't be back for a few days."
Gloria suddenly growled, loving her big head close to him, her eyes were much bigger than the human's head. She growled, making noises, her hunter can likely guess what she was saying.
"Sorry Gloria, but it's the duty of a Virtue Hunter, it's my duty to protect the weak and innocent," he replied. "So you can't forbid me from going if I'm ordered to do go," then he listened to her growling while he worked on his meat. "No, we can't let other humans see you. So far there has been no legends on a Rose Fatalis, you're kept secret from the humans of the world after all. Otherwise if found out, many hunters would flock here… I know you could just eat them, but too much would mean we have to leave this island and find a new place to live in."
Gloria growled, angered by that news. So what if hunters dare to come to hunt for her, she'll devour each and every single one of them who tried to fight her. If her hunter is going to be sent there; she'll follow him anyways, she'll protect her hunter. And how dare he try to disobey her when she told him she forbid him and tried to tell her that she would have to stay on the island. Time for a little punishment it seems.
Lowering her head close to his barbeque spit, her hunter likely assumed she only smelt his dinner. Till her tongue came out, wrapped around the well-done steak off of the handles and pulled it right into her mouth. She started to chew the small thing while her hunter gawked at her.
"Oh come on, that was my dinner, I been working on it for the past thirty minutes!" Compassionate Sucker yelled as he stood up, looking at her. She was grinning as she looked down at him, her head close to him as she gulped down the meat. Then she opened her mouth wide to him and burped loudly, breathing her hot breath upon her hunter during the loud burp.
The hunter groaned and sat back down, "Punishing me for denying you, well, at least I still got more raw meats in my inventory and… hey!"
The Rose Fatalis's tongue came out and wrapped around his waist and pulled him right into her mouth. This was the true punishment she had for him, keeping him contained inside her mouth during her nap. She made sure he was comfortably lying on or under her big tongue and stayed away from the back of her throat. She then laid her head onto the ground, closing her eyes and about to take a snooze.
Compassionate Sucker groaned from within his little prison, getting covered in bits of saliva as he was now trapped inside her mouth. "It's not bedtime yet, but I take it this is the punishment," he said as he lay on where he was. Breathing on her breath, can hear the sounds of her breathing in the air through her nose and he got warm air to breathe as he laid in there.
This wasn't the first time really, she did this a lot, mostly during times of rest which usually bedtime. She keeps her favorite hunter inside her mouth, sometimes it be the other hunters she likes while Dan gets to stay outside. It's one of her ways of showing affection to her little friends, keeping them safe and warm inside her wet, saliva filled mouth.
She'll let him out later, right now is nappy time. So with her eyes closed, Gloria had went to sleep, hardly hearing the muffle sounds of Dan trying to tell her to let him back out. He eventually gave up and tried to get comfortable inside her mouth, relaxes and waits for her to let him out.
"Curses," said the hunter in Bnahabra blue clothes, Maxie Ackerson, the scientist of the Organization of Gore. Currently sitting on a flat stool at one of the tables in Val Habar Street Cook's diner, his top hat tilted to the right, his hunting horn on his back, and still his left eye was covered by his long white hair, his right blue eye currently close as he had been rubbing it with his right glove hand.
He had just learned that the rescue airship had returned; the Oi brothers were missing, the target was still alive despite taken to the infirmary. The hunter known as Silus somehow having a Chameleos as a creature partner, which makes things difficult now, as well as the girl named Ivy having a Nargacuga. Non-members of the organization having creature partners is often not a good thing, may seem difficult at times.
And worst of all, the Chameleos that's allied with the one known as Silus, Chameleos is an Elder Dragon and can easily detect frenzy. And Maxie Ackerson has been studying the frenzy and been carrying his latest experiment to test later.
But mostly the annoyance he has right now is because the Oi brothers didn't come back, he needed the Gobul's lantern for a certain experiment of his. He sighed, "Oh well, guess I need to hire Ethan to get me a Gobul's lantern."
"Oh you need a Gobul's lantern pal?" said a new voice, a male.
"Hm," Maxie hummed a bit as he turned his head to the right of him, and saw what looks like a couple, a man and a woman.
The man stood about six feet tall, and was wearing Derring Headgear, Rhenoplos Mail torso armor, Rhenoplos Braces, Kecha Faulds, and Derring Trousers, close to mismatched set of armor. He had peachy skin, and is bald and clean shaven, he has dark brown eyes. Currently on his back was a pair of dual blades known as Jaggid Shotels. The pigment colored of his mismatched set of armor was blue.
And the woman stood about five feet and ten inches tall wore Loc Lac clothes, full body set too. She had darker colored skin, lovely blue eyes and her hair was long and blondish yellow. Her weapon was a sword and shield known as the Natch Knife.
After a mere five seconds of quick thinking, Maxie could tell that the woman is likely the expert of the two, while the man seems to be an idiot who just wear mismatch of armor. But even so, he showed a polite smile and he replied, "Indeed I did, I need a Gobul's Lantern for a little project of mine."
"Kay, we can get ya one, as long that the reward is twenty-thousand zenis," the man said.
Still showing a polite smile, while he thought to himself, 'Greedy fools, I could just get Ethan to do it, or Jack, heck where is he… wait a minute, this could be perfect.' Showed a little look of surprise, he asked, "And why do you both want so much money?"
The woman smiled as she said, "We plan to get married in a few days, so we're trying to get enough money for it and our honey moon together after."
Maxie smiled, seem so genuine looking, "Ah, a wedding, such a beautiful day, an honor between two beings pledging their undying love for each other, a perfect day. Very well, how about I give you both fifty-thousand zenis?" It seems like Maxie Ackerson seem to enjoy hearing about such lovely moments like wedding days.
"Whoa really?" asked the man in surprise. "You don't need to give us that amount pal; we just need twenty-thousand."
"Why would you give us such amount for a simple Gobul's lantern?" asked the woman.
Maxie chuckled, he smiled, "Oh I enjoy weddings; it has always been a touching moment. I mostly desire an invitation to come to your wedding, and maybe host a little genre of love and togetherness."
"Oh yeah, we saw you play some songs a while ago, you were awesome man," said the male hunter, he turned to the woman. "What do you think babe, sound good?"
"Sounds great actually," she replied, smiled and nodded to him. "Oh yeah, what is your name by the way?"
"Doctor Ackerson," Maxie said, grinning as he saw their surprise faces. "But my friends call me Maxie and I'm not doing my research."
"Maxie Ackerson?" asked the woman, sounded very surprised. "Wait, you're the scientist who's working on the cure for the frenzy, right?" The man looked confused himself though, likely never heard of him.
"Indeed I am," Maxie replied, stilling grinning to the couple, his right eye blinked once.
"Who?" the man asked, still confused.
"Johnny, didn't you know that Ackerson is one of the top researchers who travels through these lands?" asked the woman. "He had made several kinds of cures that had helped people, he's a healer in a way and it's believed he's working on a cure for the frenzy." The man, Johnny, now looked surprised as she looked to the doctor. "How's your research been, Dr. Ackerson?"
"Please, call me Maxie, I'm not working not right now," Maxie replied. "And I believe I'm making a breakthrough, all I need is a Gobul's lantern; I believe it holds an ingredient that I need to perfect the cure to the frenzy. By the way, what are your names?"
"Well I'm Brooke, he's Johnny," the woman said with a bright smile, and Johnny nodded in reply. "And you don't need to give us the money, if the Gobul's lantern is what you need, we can get it for you for free."
"Right, frenzy is bad news man, the sooner the cure is made, you'll likely need the money more than us," said Johnny.
"Nonsense my dear fellows," Maxie replied with a grin. "I am a very rich man, I had many donors who been giving me money to work for the cure. I got enough money to last me and continue my research for several months to come. And speaking of such, please sit down and join me for a meal. Hunters like you both would need to fuel up for your mission; a Gobul is no easy foe and be a worthy creature to earn your money that you need."
"Whoa, thanks man, you're a real pal," Jonny replied with a smile.
"Yeah, thanks," Brooke said, smiling as she sat down beside her fiancé.
Then Maxie raised his right hand up a bit, getting one of the waiter's attentions. "Oh waiter, we would like to place an order." And as the waiter came over, suddenly another being sat down in a chair beside Maxie Ackerson, a male hunter in Mosgharl garb.
The waiter just stood by the table, confused on why the hunter just sat down at their table like that. Johnny was likely as well, he said, "Yo man, go find a different table, we were here first."
"Relax, this is Jack, my assistant," Ackerson said, getting their attention. "I often have Jack sent out to the Expedition Zones to collect herbs and any forms of materials." He turned to Jack, he said, "I been wondering where you been though, you had been late, at least you had sent a message two hours ago. You wish to join us Jack?" Jack shook his head, saying no in reply. "Ah, merely wanting to know on any assignment I got for you then. How about you go ask that hunter at the Guild Hall? The hunter known as Silus, I heard rumors that he has a young Chameleos as a creature partner. Maybe ask him a few questions?"
That may seem like a simple meeting that Maxie wants Jack to do, but the true order of mission was shrouded in those words. He and Jack has an understanding, after all, Jack is Maxie's spy. Jack was given the order to spy upon Silus and get any information from the hunter.
Jack nodded and got up from his seat, and turned and left, leaving the three still sitting at their table and the waiter waiting to ask them on what they wanted. First Maxie Ackerson asked for what he wanted, than both Johnny and Brooke asked for their orders as well. Once they got their orders, the waiter went to tell the cook their order.
"Man, can you believe it?" asked Johnny, seeing Brooke and Ackerson looking to him. "I only heard it after the ship came back, that Silus got a Chameleos with him! Isn't that awesome?"
"A little creepy though, especially those eyes," Brooke said, showed a little shiver.
Maxie chuckled a bit, "Oh it seems amazing alright, and maybe, depending if the hunter allows it, I could acquire a little blood sample. From what has been known so far that the elder dragons are immune to the frenzy, and getting a simple blood sample from one will help my research immensely."
"Now that's awesome, there is no way that dude would just say no, man, it's for a good cause," Johnny said with a smile. The waiter came back with their drinks, blessed wines.
"Merci," said Maxie as the waiter set the three glasses of blessed wines upon their table. While Johnny and Brooke seem to just looking to each other, talking about their own little conversation. As they were distracted with each other, he had put his right hand into his inventory pocket.
He pulled out a small bottle of one of his experiments that he had finished making during the afternoon. Pulling out a little dark purplish black tablet, and held it delicately while closing up the tiny bottle. After putting the bottle back into his pocket, no one else had noticed that he put the little tablet into one of the glasses of blessed wine. It sank into the liquid, and it started to dissolve within slowly, but the wine still had the same color, pinkish white opaque blessed wine.
With that, Maxie grinned as he took one of the other two pure blessed wine glasses and held it in his right hand. "Cheers my friends, for a wonderful day like today, and for your wedding in the coming days," he said with a smile.
"Cheers," said both Johnny and Brooke as they picked up their glasses and tapped each other glasses before taking a gulp.
Maxie barely had a small sip, but had watched the hunter couples drank down a big gulp each. He grinned and once they both set their glasses down, still having half amount.
Then Maxie had a thought, and he said to them, "I do have another helper, a hunter who works in the guild named Ethan, he works for the Val Habar Guildmaster. If he's free after our meal, maybe you both can get his assistance for the hunt of the Gobul."
"Huh, sounds like a good guy," Brooke said, thinking about it. Then she smiled, "Sure, what does he look like?"
"He's a blade-master, wears Aelucanth armor and carries an insect glaive," Maxie replied, smiled to them as he reached into his inventory once more and pulled out a small notebook and a feather pen and a small bottle of ink. "I'll merely write a letter, at times Ethan works for me when I need his help, mostly thanks to the Guildmaster. The Guildmaster trusts me actually, hence why he always has Ethan help me out." 'He'll just be watching you to see if my experiment works. If it's a success, then achieving the Frenzy State is possible,' he thought with a grin.
He writes down the message, which says, "Xbudi uiftf uxp, uifz'sf bo fyqfsjnfou, xifo ju ibqqfot boe uifz hfu pvu pg iboe, foe uifn boe csjoh nf uif Hpcvm't mboufso." [*The answer to this will be mention in the note at bottom of chapter.]
He folded the message and held it to Brooke, he said, "Please make sure he gets this."
"Alright," Brooke smiled as she accepted the note and put it into her pocket.
Soon the waiter brought them the tray that has their meals to the table, and Maxie paid for their meals. And as Ackerson ate his big meal slowly, the two lovely couple were eating fast and were done in a few minutes.
"Eager I see?" he asked as he looked to the two.
"Well the sooner we finish eating, the sooner we get onto our mission," Johnny said with a grin and kept on chowing down.
"Yeah, and the sooner we get the Gobul's lantern for ya, you can continue your research," Brooke said as well, smiling as she ate fast.
'Despite the fact you two are now part in my research,' Maxie thought as he grinned, then said, "Well thank you both then, eat up your fill."
Eventually by the rate they went, both Johnny and Brooke had finished eating. They both got up from their seats, Brooke said, "Well Maxie, thanks for the supper. Now then we'll go see your friend and then go get the Gobul's lantern."
As they both started to go, Maxie still enjoying his supper, he had temporary stopped to wish them luck. "Good luck my dear friends and merci to you both, hopefully see you both tonight around sunset," he said, and watched them both go.
He smiled as Johnny and Brooke waved to him as they walked away, both of them heading to the Guild Hall. As they go, he was grinning to himself, and he thought to himself, 'The fools will never realize that the Gobul's Lantern isn't for the cure, but for my project of super soldiers.' And he started to laugh mentally, he chuckled on the outside. But on the inside, he was laughing a demonic laugh.
[Listen to Majora's Laugh on YouTube]
At the citadel within the depths of Everwood, the name of the dense jungle/forest that spread out for hundreds of miles, the citadel rests in the part with several mountains about, with its own lake close to it. And thanks to the overgrowth of trees and thick vines, the citadel basically looks like a mountain.
The citadel ruins still stand strong but some parts had been destroyed or caved-in, and still it remains standing. And currently within its walls, thousands of people were currently working on it, reconstructing and returning it back into its normal state of glory.
Its halls and rooms were huge and its stairways vast, at one point it was believed that giants lived inside this building. Till it was learned from old murals and walls filled with chronicles of history, of people and monsters living together in its halls.
So far its bottom levels and vast underground levels had been rebuilt so far. And yet from the first exploration, it had showed that deep in the earth underneath the citadel ruins is an underground city. There are long tunnels and vast areas in its depths, at one point in history, in most likely sense; this citadel city was the capital of the continent.
Before the group found this citadel, it looked like to have suffered a massive battle over millennia ago. And now, the group known as the Organization of Gore, had taken hold of the citadel ruins and formed it into one of their secret bases. The citadel looks like a mountain because of the trees and vines, so well hidden at times, and the pathways to reach it are so difficult to find. So the citadel makes it one of the good places for them to use.
And as the chosen organization members, the lower rank soldiers continue their duty in reconstruction, with assigned captains and commanders around. In total numbers, fifty-six-hundred, or in more precise amount, one of the Legions of Gore, the true number of people who're part in the organization is unknown, except for the leader, generals, commanders and admirals.
There are several of ranks and duties within the organization, but in the natural order in the organization. There is the Leader, then the Commanders; Admiral is after the second rank and before Generals. Then there are the Captains, Elites, Brutes, and other lower ranks and titles, each one with several of duties and follows the orders of the Leader, Commanders, Admirals and Generals.
And right now, the leader, the Lord of Gore was in the vicinity, in one of the outer areas close to the citadel. He was just started to relax with his Gore Magala, whom was now snoozing after eating about half of the dead Chameleos.
And leaving it and going through several areas and pathways while riding on the back of a female Zinogre, was Commander Shepard, one of several commanders within the Organization of Gore. He held onto the zinogre's back, so not to fall off as she kept on running.
As they go, the zinogre, Zecora, kept her focus as she ran along the pathway through several areas and avoiding any obstacles. As she goes, she growls, "So then Shepard, I take it you're going to be busy tonight?" She sounded annoyed; she had been listening to her hunter's talk with the boss of the organization.
"Sorry Zecora," Shepard replied as he looked down at her, still holding on tight. "I know you had wanted to hunt some Jaggis together after the talk with the Lord, but I'll need to write a message for him to the one known as Myra. Once the message is sent, then we'll have enough time to do some hunting."
"I said if you were going to be busy tonight, does that mean you are or not?" she asked, sounded a little bit hopeful.
"Quite possible Zecora, the Lord had wanted me to send a message for him. He decides on who goes with him of course," Shepard replied. Zecora had started to run through the hidden pathways that are close to being difficult in navigating through, so he held on tight, his body brushed against branches of trees and she at times slamming into sides of large rocks and trees, bashing them aside and kept on going. And some Fulgurbugs were crawling about him. "And he knows our bond to each other, so I'm sure he'll let me stay here with you," and he chuckles, seeing one Fulgurbug crawling on his helmet close to the eye sockets, "And by the looks of it, you're going to need a bath tonight, so we'll be hunting close to the lake."
The zinogre groaned, "You're lucky you are my human, if it was anyone else they'll get chomped for trying. If you weren't mine, I would be wishing for you to go then. But since you are, we will still hunt together, and I'll bathe you as…"
"NOOOO!" the sound of a loud shout of a roar that came from the distance. The voice sounded like a mix between the Deviljho's roar and a human's voice. They know who it was though.
"Okay, who pissed off the cannibal?" Zecora asked, had slowed down. They were just half a mile to the citadel.
"We'll know as soon as we get there, Zecora," Shepard replied.
Their path came along what looks like a large fresh one, with two faint scents that Zecora had noticed. "Two strange smells," she said as she kept on running. "They don't bare the scent most members in the group have. One smell of human and the other is a Deviljho, a strange smell of a Deviljho though."
"There are signs of dragging," Shepard said as he looked, the pathway looked a bit wrecked as though something really big came through. This is not the usual pathway for a Deviljho to get to the citadel, so it does make sense if it was the one who made the secret pathway larger, which is going to need to be fixed, and there were drag marks, maybe a third being… there were signs of blood in the dragged path.
"There was a third, smell of a female Deviljho, her blood covers in the path," Zecora replied, and with that, got them both thinking of why the juggernaut brute had shouted.
And the moment they entered into the wide open area in front of the large entrance to the citadel, they now see why the shout, and are wishing to not be in the area, Zecora had slowed down into a halt, and if Shepard wasn't holding on, he would've been sent flying off her back.
They saw on the grassy flat area close to the front stone pathway into the citadel ruins, was a dead world-eater Deviljho. A female, and boy does she looked brutally damaged, many scars and rips all over the dead corpse, part of her tail missing and its throat ripped out. Regular Deviljhos kill each other unless they don't bare a matching scent to each other, like a pack of siblings share with each other.
Deviljho is a very large, bipedal Brute Wyvern characterized by its uniform forest green colouration and muscular upper body. Its thick hide is littered with short, jagged spines that reach a maximum height along the back and tail. Deviljho has a narrow snout with a large lower jaw, covered in multiple rows of spines spreading outwards from the teeth. It has massive, powerful hind legs, but tiny, poorly developed forelegs that it rarely utilizes. When provoked, Deviljho's back and shoulder muscles swell considerably. During this period, areas of its skin will take on a bright red colouration.
But by the looks of the corpse, this wasn't a kill for food; whoever killed the female Deviljho did it for the kill, not food. Whoever did it, had done it for the pleasure of killing another, like a hunter who snuffed out the spark of life within a creature.
And close to the female corpse, was the brute hunter in Vangis armor, Rex, along with six Deviljhos, each of those six stood about seven feet tall each, well five of them stood that tall, the sixth Deviljho was only four feet tall. They were standing close to the head of the dead twenty feet tall world-eater, each of them was crying out in despair and sadness of a loss.
The six pups were trying to nudge the female Deviljho to awake up, which she won't ever again. But the brute, Rex, who had been with his mother for over four decades, was taking it hard. The brute hunter had thrown off his helmet, showing his disfigurement face to the world. The savage cannibal was bald but with a few scars on his head, messy beard and side-burns that looks like horns of a Deviljho's jaw, actually they were fangs, shed fangs of previous Deviljhos in the past, shorten down and Rex had put them upon his face. Each fang represents one Deviljho who had broken off a tooth, each one being from each sibling. He had about fifty-three all over his chin, cheeks, and where his side-burns would be. Then there was his lower jaw, the brute had mandibular prognathism, his lower teeth were showing, like sharp little fangs. His eyes, normally brown, were bloodshot red as he grieved.
The brute hunter kept on crying, tears were actually leaking from his eyes. The savage cannibal who took pride in torturing and devouring the enemy forces, even going so far to skin them alive and cook them over a bonfire, was actually crying.
Shepard had slowly gotten off of Zecora's back, and they both slowly walked around it. Both of them made sure to keep their distance, for it is really dangerous to be close to angry Rex, but this time, he is grieving over the loss of someone so close to him, the female Deviljho was his mother, he been with her for so long, and any Deviljho that was a sibling to him and children of this world-eater, tends to act differently around Rex.
And when Shepard and Zecora were nearly close to the entrance, they saw something happening. Rex looked furious; seem to be entering in his own rage mode. For a moment, it looked he was breathing red energy, his body suddenly got bulkier and scars on his head started to show. It made the Commander confused, because it looked like the brute had entered a rage mode and somehow is breathing the dragon element. His eyes went blood red hue, not because of crying, but because of his rage, his skin had even darkened, and dark red haze surrounded his face. One would've mistaken that somehow Rex gain the powers of a Savage Deviljho.
Then to their shock, they first witness what looked like a talisman upon the chest torso of Rex's Vangis armor glowing red. Then his armor started to change, with red energy swirling around it. He even saw the helmet on the ground glowing with dark red energy.
To Shepard's shock and a bit terrified, he witnessed Rex's Vangis armor changed and transformed into Vangis X armor. Spikes started to appear across his armor while Rex's emotions were consumed in his rage, and after the transformation, he stood back up. He growled something in Deviljho's tongue, causing his siblings to look to him for a moment before he started to charge off.
He just charge out of the area, seem too had located the scent trail, and continued on running. When he collided into tall trees and large boulders, the trees break upon impact and fell down, while the boulders gotten several cracks. He was in full-blown wrath mode, in a rage-filled berserker state.
"ROAR!" he roared loudly along with growls as he kept on charging into the dense woods of Everwood rainforest.
Shepard and Zecora had watched with wide eyes when that happened, Rex's siblings didn't follow; just remain close to the dead corpse of their mother.
The zinogre growled, close to a mutter, "Did that really just happened?" Shepard only nodded slowly. "So does that mean Deception's human is…?"
"Well, Rex became the living proof of Moordryd's theory. By their bond, their mother became a spirit and had become part of his chest talisman," Shepard said slowly, remembering Moordryd's theory. "And if this is what happens when it does… I'll be sending Moordryd a report of this as well; he needs to know his theory is now proven."
Zecora gave a slow nod before she started to head over to the entrance, Shepard followed behind her. "You know what this means, right?" she growled to him as they entered.
"That it be best that you and I to stay away from Rex for the rest of the day, most likely we be going with the Lord to Val Habar," Shepard replied, and after entering, they saw what looks like chewed up bones of dead humans and a Seregios's body that was still whole, but with a few bite marks.
But there was a note on the dead Seregios, it says: "Don't eat this Seregios meat, this Seregios taste really bad, just harvest it for materials, and give me the skull later, Rex." By the look of the note, Rex was planning to drop it off at the harvester chamber. The harvesters basically cut up dead creatures and have the examiners study each type of part. So if Rex's note says that the meat tastes bad, could mean that the Seregios has some kind of poison inside it. Well at least the examiners will find out what it is once it's harvested…
Or Shepard and Zecora could take it to the morgue chamber, than again it doesn't matter, either the harvesters do their job with it or the morgue workers who'll just try to learn how the being died. So taking it to harvesters would be the likely solution.
Instead of asking Zecora, he saw some of the workers and called their attention and ordered to drag the dead Seregios to the harvester chamber. So as the workers gathered others and get some assistance from a Barroth. The eight feet tall Barroth had lumbered out of the nesting chambers, likely tired or bored, waiting to do its duty of either ramming the enemy or bulldozing with the other Barroths and other rammers.
Barroth is a large, bipedal monster characteristic of the Brute Wyvern class. It is noted for the large crown structure atop its skull, which houses its nostrils. Its body is covered in rigid plates of armoured hide that help protect it from the harsh desert environment. Barroth possesses a pair of small red eyes and a mouthful of long, peg-shaped teeth.
With its help, the Barroth helped carry the dead Seregios and followed the workers.
Zecora waited before growling, "That too but no, what I mean that whoever killed Rex's mother had really screwed up." And Shepard nodded after that.
Rex kept on charging and bashing through the Everwood areas, and growling and roaring as his charge. He was following the scent of the killers, he was out for blood. With his charging, building up momentum while in rage mode, he was becoming faster than a Savage Deviljho's speed; the adrenaline within his body hadn't even started and yet was in deep emotional pain of loss of his mother combined with rage.
He just kept on charging and bashing through obstacles that got in his way, the momentum had built up his speed. Rex had been labelled the Brute Juggernaut in the Organization of Gore, and right now, it truly fit as he kept on going, going over several miles within Everwood forest.
Till he came to a halt of a large river, the scent ended, the killers had removed their scent with water and escaped. And even if he crossed the river himself, the scent is too stale, would be gone entirely.
He growled before unleashing a loud roar in a fury, "ROAR! WHEN I FIND YOU! I SHALL TEAR YOU APART! I WILL CRUSH AND OBLITERATE YOU! I WILL TEAR OUT YOUR EYES! I WILL RIP OUT YOUR SKULLS AND DEFILE IT! NO MATTER HOW FAR YOU GO, I WILL FIND YOU AND KILL YOU! ROAR!" his roar was a mix between a human shout and his own Deviljho's roar a roar that matches the ferocity of a Savage Deviljho, and could be heard over miles.
"Rex, what happened? What got you so upset?" asked a growling noise of a Deviljho nearby. Rex whipped his head to behind him, seeing a sixteen feet tall slender build but still muscular and strong Deviljho, it was a female Deviljho.
As she walks over to the upset brute hunter, Rex still shed tears. Then he replied, but in the Deviljho language, not in the human language, "Mother Siren was killed, she was slain by a bastard who just killed her for sport."
"Oh no, I'm sorry for your loss. Did you find the humans who done it?" the female asked as she came close before lowering herself down so to look at him closely.
"No Brutalia, their scent trail had vanished," he growled, still angered. "And it wasn't just a human; it was a Deviljho who had done it, a Savage Deviljho."
Brutalia is the name of the female Deviljho, and she looked very surprised when she heard what he said. "You sure?" she asked. "Well, at least it rules out all your older siblings. But, could it be the…?"
"No, the scent of this Savage Deviljho isn't that old enough, Malefic didn't found mama Siren," he replied to her, Malefic was the name of the male Deviljho who had mated with Siren over several decades ago.
"Well, as long as you remember their scent, when you find them, I will be with you to help you," Brutalia growled, trying to help her male friend feel better.
"No Brutalia, they're mine," he replied, looking up at her. "Any allies they have will be yours and the others to feast upon."
"But what now?" she asked.
"Now, I need to call my older siblings, tonight a funeral for my mother's honor," Rex growled. "After that, we all shall…"
"Whoa man, get away from that monster!" yelled a new voice, attracting Rex and Brutalia's attention. They saw four hunters and two palicoes, a hunting party that decided to venture into Everwood, two of them are blade-masters and covered in Ludroth armor and Rhenoplos armor. While the other two gunners wore Gravios and Kecha Wacha armor clothes, the two palicoes wore Yukumo garb.
"Holy crap, that guy looks like a Deviljho!" said the second hunter.
"Well, looks like its dinner time," Brutalia said with a grin.
"You can have the fat ones, my dear," Rex replied with a grin as well.
"Oh you're too kind my love," the female Deviljho growled with a smile. And then she and Rex charged upon the group.
That group of four hunters and two palicoes were never seen again, but their screams had echoed through Everwood before they ended with the sound of bone crunch.
In the Guild Hall, the man in Mosgharl garb had been waiting there for a while. He had seen the Ethan leave with the hunter couple for an airship; he had seen two hunters who're from Moga Island, Josh and Ryan whom were asked to keep watch over Josephiroth by their friend and boss, Garico. That gunner in Duramboros X armor had left hours ago on an airship with two Guardians armored hunters, and Brandon and Devon.
Jack had been listening in, spying and heard the conversation such as Garico dropping a bombshell that he was the older brother of Josephiroth. And basically ignored Zane's questions before taking an airship, heading Dundorma, which is a good thing.
By now, as he was sitting on a bench, pretending to be reading one of the new monster books, keeping it to his face. The reason he does so, is because Silus had just came in, with the Chameleos pup. He pretended to be reading, at times just poke his masked covered eyes over the book, keeping an eye on the duo.
He waited for them to exit the building, pretending as he turned the page in the book while reading. But then came a very quiet groan, he had noticed and listened to Silus talking to a strange girl. He listened to their conversation, and had a good look of the girl.
Her eyes look quite intimidating; one was deep red while the other was light gold. For some strange reason, it felt like he was in the presence of the Lord of Gore himself, maybe this girl has the same aura as him? She has lightly tan skin, and has blonde hair that goes down to her shoulders. As for the armor, well, it's rather weird, kinda reminds him of that Nephilim type of armor, or was it called Storge X armor? It's rather hard to tell, for it was gold with white wings out of her back. Still, she has that kind of feeling that reminds him too much of the Lord of Gore.
'Is she a cousin to the boss?' Jack thought to himself, and continued to pretend to be reading while he listened to them.
He heard her say to Silus, kept his eyes to the book, just listen to their conversation. "So you're the one, huh." Then for a moment of silence, she continued after, "Looks like father shouldn't have been worried about a thing." Once more, just another moment of silence before she continued, "My name is Malinda, sorry if this seemed creepy but my father wanted me to scout you."
Jack took a little quick look to see and saw Silas taking hold of her hand and shook it before he heard Silus ask, "For what?"
When he saw what looks like a demonic smile from the girl, even if it was towards Silus, boy it was scary. Jack quickly looked into his pages of the book, turned a page while reading, pretending to be so focus into it. He heard her say to Silus, "That's something you're not allowed to know."
'Smart girl, and yet I'm starting to like the Lord better. Of course he always wear a helmet, man what a creepy smile,' Jack thought as he continued to listen.
"Well," he heard the girl say to Silus. "I best be off, father says I need to give my visiting brother a message for my mother about her taking too much time."
"Where is your father?"
He then heard the Chameleos growling, Jack didn't peek but still listened. "Why on Heaven's Mount of course."
Jack slowly took a peek, and watched the girl leave. He thought to himself, 'Her father is at Heaven's Mountain? Could she really be related to Lord of Gore? Because if she is, could explain why the Lord wants to keep his main base close to Heaven's Mountain, be close to his family I guess.'
He then watched Silus and the Chameleos leave the Guild Hall, and with that. The Mosgharl grabbed spy closed his book and put it into his pocket. He got up from his seat, and went out the building as well.
After stepping out, he looked to where that hunter and Chameleos were. Once he spotted them, he started to follow them, making sure to keep fifteen to twenty feet of distance between himself and them. He could tell that by the direction he was heading, was to the healer's infirmary, most likely to visit his injured friend.
At one point after several minutes of walking, he saw his targets walked into the alleyway. Jack groaned, 'Not good, I could easily be spotted if I go in there, and people would see me if I go on the roof… oh I know.' He grinned and kept on walking.
As he neared the alleyway, instead of entering, he first looked like he was about to pass on through. As he goes, he walked by a few people, waved hello and nodded. Getting attention from several others who see him and wave back, some of them even complimented his clothes.
Then when he came to the alleyway, before entering first, he pretending to walk passes it till he stopped. He pretends to hear something, and muttered, "What was that?" Made sure it was loud enough for one or two people to hear.
He turned to look into the alleyway, and walked on in. After going further within it, the last thing he saw before stars flash before his eyes and then blackness was some kind of stone that hit his forehead.
It had been ten minutes later that he was awaken by what looks like a young boy, likely a beginning hunter for he wore leather garb and a hunter's knife. He wasn't alone; there was another, an older boy wearing Ioprey armor, and he was carrying a sword and shield too, called a Hydra's Bite.
The older boy looked like he was reading a piece of paper, while the young one tried to awaken. "Sir, wake up," he said, trying to awaken him.
Considering his mask is still on tight, only he can remove his own mask, so his face was still hidden. He groaned, and slowly sat up, "Ugh… what happened?"
"You were knocked out," the boy said. "Your attacker left a note."
The older one looked down at him, and he said, "It was that guy with that Chameleos; they left the alleyway before we came in and saw you. Were you spying on him?"
"Spying?" asked Jack, pretending to be surprise. "The reason why I came into this alleyway was because I heard a noise. I had thought that there was something to check, like maybe a lost animal that snuck into the city, or maybe some kind of trinket fell onto the ground."
"Well that hunter left this," the older hunter handed the note down to Jack. He accepted it while he tried to stand back up; the young hunter helped him up.
Jack checked the note, and saw that it was a warning from Silus, trying to him to stop spying on him, or he will gather some friends and teach him a lesson. "Okay, this guy must be paranoid and just attack someone who was only checking the alley," Jack said, the two hunters nodded, believing him. Then Jack thought to himself, 'Ah such sweet, innocent young hunters, so easy to manipulate. But Silus, you just brought yourself to the top ten people on my shit list.'
He groaned as he rubbed his forehead, the young hunter said, "We should get you to the healer infirmary."
"Nah it's alright, I get hit in the head several times," Jack replied. After the young hunter asked again, Jack nodded. "Yeah, just wish I could build up immunity for head knocks."
The older hunter chuckled, "Well anyways, everyone needs to know about this. You were just attacked; we need to get the Guild Guards to arrest that punk." The younger hunter nodded to the older one.
'If only that was so easy,' thought Jack, thinking quickly he said to them, "That was Silus right?" They nodded; they did learn he's the one who got the Chameleos for a partner. "Heard that he gotten the Chameleos as a partner, approved by Val Habar Guildmaster, those guys would just side with Silus."
"Whoa, that's true actually," the younger hunter said, he looked up to the older hunter. "What if that hunter attacks anyone because he wants to protect his Chameleos? Wouldn't that mean he's a danger for Val Habar."
The older hunter nodded, "Especially with that Chameleos whom can spit acid, as long as they're both here, Val Habar isn't safe."
"I agree with you both," Jack nodded to them. "At first, I thought it was really cool that one can actually befriend a Chameleos. But the hunter is willing to attack another because of paranoia? In honesty, I think they're better off in some wild someplace."
"Yeah," the older hunter replied. "But it still best to spread the word to everyone, to be careful of that hunter and his Chameleos," he then looked to the younger hunter. "Go to mom and dad little bro, they can help spread the word."
Jack secretly grinned underneath his mask, thinking an evil scheme that would make Silus and his Chameleos hated in Val Habar. He then said to them, "After you both spread the word, how about you both come to me and help smuggle that hunter to elsewhere. The Chameleos would be sure to follow him, and then they both are outside Val Habar and everyone would be happy."
"That sounds like a plan, let's go big brother," said the younger hunter, and he ran off, heading out the alleyway.
"Wait up little bro," called the older hunter as he went to follow.
Jack was still grinning under his helmet, thinking to himself, 'Such sweet innocent children, it's a shame that they must die tonight.' And he started to laugh in his mind, laughing a demonic laugh mentally of his own.
[Listen to Evil Laugh #2 on YouTube]
In the Healer Infirmary, two hunters had been ordered to leave the room of the current patient still resting. The nurse telling Josh and Ryan to exit the room, for their visiting time is over temporary, since she needs to check on the patient.
"Why couldn't she just do so while we sit and wait?" asked Josh as he walked down the hall with Ryan, Josh was still wearing his Obituary armor. Ryan walked behind him, wearing his Uragaan armor; Ryan was carrying a deck of cards and was currently shuffling them.
They been inside the infirmary for over an hour or two, ever since their friend and leader, Garico, had left on an airship with Veni and the two Guild Guards, heading to Dundorma City with two other hunters. Garico was worried for his younger brother and had his friends to keep watch over him.
"They're just doing what they think is right," Ryan replied, they arrived to the main room, the waiting room. There were several people within the room, they both kept on walking, and Ryan put the deck of cards into his inventory. "Say, didn't the guys say the Elemental Force of Wind got a caravan and two palicoes?"
"They did, and they likely know the history of Josephiroth ever since he left the island," Josh replied, they both neared the exit, they were about to walk through, but in came the hunter in molten Tigrex armor, Silus. Both of them allowed Silus to come into the main room first before they both exited out the building.
As they came out of the building and then stood by the entrance, they not noticing there was someone hidden in the shadows, the Chameleos known as Kage was in camouflaged, had to stay outside the building while Silus had to go in.
"So then, where would the Elemental Force of Wind's caravan be?" Ryan asked, while the Chameleos watched them wondering if they had meant the 'Child of the Wind'.
"Likely at the caravan parking lot," Josh replied with a shrug. "We go meet the palicoes, then come back tonight, Joseph will awaken by nightfall, no doubt about that."
Kage suddenly looked confused, thinking these two might be idiots or something. After all, Joseph was taken down by the elder dragoness of death, he was lucky to be alive.
"Depending if he's the right Josephiroth," Ryan stated. "If he is just like his brothers, than his natural element will heal him. And air is after all, plentiful," he chuckled, as they both started to walk away.
As the two hunters walk away, Kage was thinking of what he just heard, 'Can that trapper really heal so fast by just using wind?'
Then he remembered the conversation between Amatsu and Fate that Amatsu been explaining that Joseph was one of the few chosen long ago by another, chosen before Ceadeus. The Elder Dragoness calling him the Child of the Wind.
Then it all just clicked in his mind, recalling some old tales he learned from other chameleos, from the older one. The tale of the Elemental Knights, humans who serve the King of the Elder Dragons; it is said in the tale that each human embodies an element of nature; earth, fire, water, and air. Their duty is fight back against the darkness of chaos, the warriors who fight against the frenzy. Each one seem to bear the scent of their element, like one would smell of a burning flame in the volcano despite being in the rain, one would smell like a cool breeze, same for water smelling like rain and earth smelling like soil. It is believed that the elements their part of heals them. So many things part of the tale; at times it's just tales, fable. Heck it wasn't really a history tale, it was more like a fantasy story that existed for well over a millennia.
But hearing from those two hunters talking about it, it sounded like Josephiroth and his brothers are the ones. And then recalling their scent, Josephiroth smelled like a cool breeze, at first Kage thought the human keeps himself clean regularly. Then recalling seeing the gunner with a Great Wroggi, he had the smell of fresh soil of the earth and plant life.
Oh how Kage wished his human can understand his language, so he could tell him of the story. Maybe he can tell those two pups that are partnered to those two kids, maybe. So right now, he waited, staying camouflaged at where he was.
The airship that was carrying the crewmembers that piloted the vessel was nearing the landing docks in Dundorma City. The ones who're riding this transport were Brandon, Devon, two Guardian armored Guild Guards, and Garico with his shy and nervous Great Wroggi, Veni.
There had been a few times during the trip that Brandon and Devon tried to talk to Garico, but every time they tried, the Great Wroggi gets really nervous, causing the Duramboros X armored gunner to try to comfort her.
So as the airship came down to the landing docks, and with that, the four hunters and one gunner along with the Great Wroggi got to see the vast city of Dundorma. Total estimation of the population is unknown, but it's the capital city of the continent, it has about a million people residing in it. It was both vast, large buildings, like a noble kingdom in the middle, it was so beautiful.
Except for one thing, it looked like the south entrance in the city was wrecked up in an attack. Many buildings were destroyed as though there was an attack that had happened. Many people are helping out about, helping others and doing construction work, volunteers and there were other hunters about.
"What happened here?" asked Garico, hoping whatever did happened here didn't cause a block to him and his comrades in getting help for his home.
"The city was attacked early in the previous morning, reports said three Gravios attacked," Brandon replied, looking at all the damage. "South wall defenses are damaged; it's going to take a while to rebuild the defenses."
"Isn't everyone pitching in to help?" asked one of the Guild Guards from Moga Island.
"Not a lot of people cared, it's mostly the construction workers who're assigned to their job," Devon replied. "There are a few volunteers, but it's mostly because the people are scared. From the report, they said fourteen people were killed in the attack."
"They're scared and not helping out?" asked the gunner, confused by that.
"A lot of people flock here because of its defenses to the outside world," Devon said. "So yeah, they mostly wanted to live a normal life away from creatures out there."
"And looks like you're in luck, Garico," Brandon said, gaining their attention. "By the looks of it, one of the nobles is waiting for our arrival, Lord Kyle is his name, just be respectful, and don't lie please."
"Okay," Garico replied, looking confused, of course his expression is hidden underneath his helmet.
Once the airship had landed, two crewmembers went and put down a ramp from the ship and down onto the dock. Brandon and Devon let the others get off the airship first, so Garico came down the ramp and called Veni to follow him, the Great Wroggi slowly followed behind him. Once Veni was beside her gunner, the two guild guards came off the ramp, and then following behind them were Brandon and Devon.
While ahead of the five humans and the Great Wroggi, there stood a male blade-master, standing six feet tall, slender build, and is wearing Star Knight Armor, this must be Lord Kyle. And behind him were four guards dressed in red Guardian Z.
"Ah hello Kyle, good to see you again," Devon smiled as he walked over to the Star Knight Hunter.
"Quiet Devon," Kyle replied, his Guardian Z guards seem to look nervous as they saw the Great Wroggi, and each one of them was carrying lances and shields. He remain calm, so regal looking, he had the aura of nobility. He was looking at Brandon, "I got your report, is this one?" He turned to Garico and Veni.
"Yeah, he's the one who's here to ask for help," Brandon nodded.
Kyle turned to Garico, "Your desired meeting with the Nobles will be held tomorrow morning. Do not be late, and keep your creature partner with you at all times. If it causes trouble, we'll be forced to arrest you and it and put you into solitary confinement. Am I clear?"
"Clear as crystal sir," Garico replied with a nod, could tell that no matter if he tried to argue for the meeting to be sooner. The set time for the meeting won't change; it'll likely just annoy the Noble Lord.
"Good, and Brandon, you come with me, I want a full detail report. That is all," Kyle said as he looked to the others.
"Yes sir," Brandon replied, and then he looked to Devon. "Behave Devon, I'll see you later," then he went and follow Lord Kyle and the four guards that went with the noble before.
"Well, looks like you four are stuck with me," Devon said with a grin, looking at the two Guild Guards, Garico and Veni. Of course he wore his helmet still, so his expression is unknown.
"Well, is there a hotel for us to stay in?" asked one of the guild guards.
"For you guys, yep," Devon nodded. "But for Veni, nope, after what happened to the city, a lot of people would be nervous around creatures like her. So, best bet," he looked at each of them. "You guys are stay at my place, or Brandon's place, depending on when he gets back, so how about a tour?"
"Sure," Garico said slowly, he looking at the pink pigmented Zamtrios armored hunter.
"Great, then follow me!" Devon replied cheerfully and started to walk off. Garico followed behind with Veni behind him, and the two blue guardian armored guild guards right behind them.
As they go to the central area that looks like a market place, there were several humans working about. When they saw the Great Wroggi, many of them gained nervous and spiteful looks.
Devon seems to just ignore them as he led the group around in the city, walking by a construction site. But as they neared one part, where a group of seven people were collecting samples and putting them into bags.
"What are they doing?" asked one of the guild guards.
Devon seems to be surprised for a moment, he turned to the group. "Wait; don't tell me you guys on Moga Island don't have Guild CSI Team, right?" Guild CSI, Crime Scene Investigators, a group of people who works at the Guild when there's a crime within the city that had happened, when a human killed another human. Most cities and villages have their own Guild, meaning they have their own Guild CSI Teams.
"Oh we do, well some of them have survived during the attack anyways," said one of the guild guards. "But why are they collecting evidence? Didn't you guys say that it was because of three Gravios that attacked?"
"Yeah, but here's one little detail," Devon said as he leaned close. "It is rumored that the three Gravios were brought here, and targeted a specific person. Now normally Gravios don't do that, unless they were following orders by their human partners."
The gunner nodded slowly, "Kay, which makes sense."
"Indeed it does, and after the three Gravios attacked, wrecked up the place, they left," Devon said. "And if it is true, that the Gravios did came in with the aid of humans. Then that's likely enough for Lord Chinook to have evidence and pass out a new law, having creature partners to be illegal and the hunters would be imprisoned. Lord Chinook had been trying to get that law to happen in the past few years; he needed the other Lords to agree with him first."
After hearing that, Garico stood close to Veni, whom was trying to cuddle close to her gunner. "Well, I hope that doesn't happen," he said, likely already views Lord Chinook as the enemy, being protective of his Great Wroggi.
"Big wishes on that to never happen, otherwise we're screwed," said one of his guild guards.
Devon tilted his head, sign of confusion. "I understand Garico with his Veni, but why you-"
**"Oh wow, a Great Wroggi!" said a new voice, a male. "Hey Martin, come over here!"
Devon and the others turned and saw a man, slender and yet muscular build coming over. He stood five feet and ten inches tall, and he wore leather hiking boots, wearing white short pants with pockets, and a long-sleeve sweater with black stripes running across the sides and the sleeves were rolled up to the biceps. He has tan skin, spiked brown hair and light brown eyes.
"Really Chris, where is it?" called the second voice, the group turning and saw the other who was helping the construction workers in rebuilding the wall. After he stopped, taking a temporary, break, he saw the one who is known as Chris whom was coming over to the group. "You're right, there is one!" And he rushed on over.
The second man stand six feet and four inches tall, and he wore matching boots to Chris, same color of short pants, and he wore a blue long-sleeve sweater and it has black stripes running across the sides too, the sleeves rolled up to the biceps as well. He too has tan skin; he has blond-brownish hair and big blue eyes. This must be Martin.
"This is so amazing, finally we get to see a Great Wroggi," said Martin as he came over to Chris. They both were coming closer, thinking that the Great Wroggi was tame for it was standing close to the hunters.
Till Veni had a scared looks and hid behind Garico, while the gunner stood in front and glared at the two.
Noticing the fear look, and the gunner stand in front of it, protecting the Great Wroggi, both humans had stopped. They held their hands in front of them; palm outward and smiled sheepishly and taking a step back.
"Oops sorry, we were just a bit excited to see a Great Wroggi, especially for one who isn't living in its natural habitat," Chris said.
"Yeah, we're sorry," Martin nodded. "It's just that we're never got the chance to have a close up check with a Great Wroggi before."
"Well at least you apologized, but please refrain from doing so again," Garico said as he looked to them. "Veni is very wary of strangers. Anyways, who're you two?"
"Oh we're the Kratt Brothers," Martin replied, smiling. "I'm Martin, and this is my younger brother, Chris."
"Yeah, and we're Nature Rangers," Chris said. "A job of which we find creatures of all sorts, learn about them and record them in our journals. Our goal is to make a handbook on creatures and how to be friends with them. We also protect creatures from people who try to use and abuse them."
"Well that'd be a good use for beginning monster tamers," said one of the guild guards.
"Yeah, and no doubt there are hunters who would use monsters for entertainment," said the other guild guard.
"Yeah, it's our job," Martin replied with a smile. "We used to protect creatures from bad guys, but ever since we came here some years ago, we ended up getting new jobs."
"Yeah, back then we were known as Wild Kratts," Chris said. "Anyways, what are your names?"
"I'm Garico, and this is Veni," the gunner replied and used his right hand to rub the Great Wroggi's snout.
"Aw it's so cute," Martin said as he looked at the Great Wroggi. "So adorable," and Garico replied.
"We're just guild guards, you'll just forget about seeing us because of how many we are around," said one of the guild guards, the other nodded.
"But even so, I'm Ed and he's Eddy," said the left Guild Guard and indicated to Eddy.
Chris nodded to them, than he realized as he looked to the Duramboros X armored gunner. "Wait, did you say your name is Garico?" he asked, and Garico nodded. "Say, do you have a younger brother name Joseph, sometimes called Josephiroth?"
"Yeah," Garico nodded. "He's my younger brother, and he's currently in Val Habar infirmary, I hope he'll be alright."
"Knew it," Chris replied with a smile, but froze. "Wait…"
"Wait, did you say he's in the infirmary? What happened to him? Is he okay?" asked Martin, looking worried as he turned to Devon.
"Oh he's alive, his armor was destroyed though, but he's still alive," Devon replied, considering he was there. "He protected a girl name Ivy and her Nargacuga from a deadly fireball from a Fatalis."
"Whoa, a girl has a Nargacuga? And he encountered a Fatalis? I only read about that dragon in books," Chris said, looking surprised.
"Cool, a Nargacuga, one of the best flying cats around," Martin said with a smile. Ed said the Nargacuga is a Flying Wyvern, but was ignored. "But still, it's good to know that he's alright. We'll likely go visit on the next airship then, just to make sure." And Chris nodded.
Then Chris recalled, "Wait a second, his Nerscylla S Armor was wrecked up? Dang, that was his only one right?" And Devon nodded at that. "Which means he's going to need a new one, how about getting a G-Rank version, a Nerscylla Z for him, stronger defenses and body armor," he mentioned.
Devon nodded, "Josephiroth never truly accepted the G-Rank, but it's allowed for G-Rank hunters like us to go gather materials for it." Seeing them looking at him, "What, I don't bother wearing G-Rank armor, I prefer my normal Zamtrios armor.
'Nerscylla, Zamtrios? What are those?' thought Garico, confused of what those are. But he said, "Well then, I'm G-Rank, and me and Veni are good in teamwork. And since he's my brother, I will be getting the armor for him."
"And we'll help, we did a bit of study on the Shrouded Nerscylla," Chris said.
Martin nodded, "Yeah, a Shrouded Nerscylla lives in the Dunes or Everwood, only comes out at night."
"Well, with plans like that," Devon said. "Since we still have time, let's get ourselves ready and head on out to an airship and go to the Dunes and capture a Shrouded Nerscylla."
"Alright, where's the market?" asked Garico.
In the next hour, nearing the time of sunset now, during that hour, Devon and the Kratt Brothers showed Garico and his group to the market place. And they each gathered and bought items that they needed. Then they headed to the Guild Hall of Dundorma City, and managed to get the capture mission for a Shrouded Nerscylla in the Dunes.
So, as of right now, Garico, Veni, the two Guild Guards, Devon, Chris and Martin were on an airship, while its crewmembers were getting ready to set sail.
Garico remain close to Veni throughout the time as they were on the airship, and eventually its shipmaster ordered his crew to raise the airship to take flight.
As it happens, Devon remembered his unanswered question and went over to Garico, the Guild Guards went to relax in the hull of the ship and the Kratt Brothers were stretching, but they could hear him ask a question to Garico, "So then, before the Kratt Brothers rudely interrupted before. Why were the Guild Guards so concerned about the law that Lord Chinook try to make real?"
Veni was relaxing on her side, so Garico was sitting beside her, petting her head slowly. Garico looked up to Devon, and he said, "It's because that if it weren't for the creatures on Moga Island, we would've been dead yesterday."
"Huh?" asked Martin.
"What do you mean?" asked Chris as the two came over. They both sat down with them, Devon sat down in a meditation position as well.
"Well, it's sort of a long story," Garico replied.
"It's a long trip, once we arrive, it'll be night time," Devon replied.
"Okay then…" Garico said, trying to relax. He groaned a bit, "Well, you can say it started around four years ago."
"Wait, was it around the time when Joseph left Moga Island?" asked Martin, frowning a bit, Garico looked at him in surprise.
"He told us after we became best friends," Chris said and Martin nodded.
Garico sighed, "Yeah, it was kinda like he was banished from Moga City because of everyone was so upset about him being friends with a Great Jaggi. But, the other people had gained interest at the idea of taming monsters. The one who actually knew about taming them was Joey, and since he had left without telling anyone. So, there were several people who got injured for trying, but a lot of people didn't give up. Like me and my brothers. And after so long, we each kinda succeeded in taming and becoming friends with creatures." He continued to pet Veni's head, "Veni here is my first friend I had made. Or more sense, I adopted her."
"Really?" asked Martin, smiling as he looked.
"Yeah, I found her in Flooded Forest," Garico said with a nod. "Her pack was killed and she was only a hatchling when I found her. I adopted her, I took her home and raised her, she been with me ever since then."
"Aw that's cute," Chris said, smiled. "And that's a creature rescue."
"Anyways, after that, my brother, Albertis, he went hunting a Lagiacrus on the island," Garico replied. "What he told me, he nearly killed the Lagiacrus, the reason why he didn't, and he saw that the Lagiacrus had a nest of its own, it was a mother, and she had eggs, Lagiacrus babies that were watching him. He said that he couldn't end her, didn't want to deprive them from their mother. So, he healed her with potions and left, and next hour, the Lagiacrus came to him and greeted him. Allowed her babies to go near him and my brother showed that he was alright with them by throwing his weapon away. After that, he basically tamed the Lagiacrus and made friends with its family."
"Aw, those babies must be so adorable," Martin smiled, imagining an image of Lagiacrus babies in his head.
"Then there is my brother, Andracus," Garico continued, still rubbing Veni's head as he does. "He told me that he was doing a gathering mission, and had encountered hunters stealing eggs from a Rathian and Rathalos nest. Considering what had happened years ago, my eldest brother said he thought to earn forgiveness by protecting the nest. He stopped the other hunters and returned the egg; he told me that the Rathian and Rathalos were thankful after they tried to harm him."
After hearing it, Devon finally spoke up, "You and your brothers did the same thing Joseph did to his old friend Jarl, huh? What happened next?"
"Well, eventually we became G-Rank hunters ourselves, but even then, we managed to get the Guild of Moga Island to declare one part of the island as a small sanctuary for the creatures, after he saw and met the creatures we had befriended," Garico said. "And throughout the years, thanks to me and my brothers, we helped other hunters to learn on how to befriend creatures as well. There had been a few hunters who were against this, but it happened anyways. Andracus and a few hunters had constructed a large nest tower for the flying wyverns to roost in and have their eggs; it's mostly filled with Rathians, Rathalos, Qurupecos and Barioths. Albertis had help from others to make a large nesting cavern that requires swimming in the depths of the ocean for the Ludroths, and Lagiacrus, and had helped make underground caverns a home for some Gigginoxes. While I, with the help of Veni, had made friends with the packs of Wroggis, Baggis, Jaggis, and Iodromes, and along with help from other hunters, like Ed and Eddy, we made some areas a home for Barroths, Duramboros, and other large creatures. Many of them are quite friendly with us Moga Islanders, and without the, we would've likely died in the first attack by the enemy that goes by the name, Legion of Gore."
"Well, I'm sure Joey will be proud when he hears it from you," Chris said and Martin nodded.
"Yeah, but now I really want to go to Moga Island, to meet all those creatures, oh it be a grand adventure," Martin said with a smile.
Garico chuckled, "Well, I need all the help I can get to save my homeland. And I get the feeling I need my brother as well." He turned to them, "So anyways, what does the Shrouded Nerscylla look like?"
"Oh a giant spider," Chris replied with a smile, didn't even noticed that Garico froze. "Uh, you okay?"
"Spider?" asked Garico, sounded very scared before he fainted. Veni looked to him with worry and cuddle close to her hunter.
"Something tells me he has the same fear as Brandon does," Martin said, looking at the fainted gunner.
Devon chuckled, "Oh this is going to be fun when we land." He was already getting some ideas in mind already, till he remembered. "Say Kratts," he said, getting their attention. "It's been a few months since we last met. So how are Zack, Donita, and Gourmand?"
"Oh they're fine as usual, I think," Chris said before he started to think for a moment.
"Well Donita is showing off some new fashionable armor designs to the public," Martin replied, he looking to Devon. "She still cursing Dabio once a day about wrecking Aviva's portal device that got all of us stuck here."
"Speaking of that, any reply from your ole team?" Devon asked, looking to them, they shook their heads in saying no, "No luck huh, just have to wait several more days."
"Or months, or years," Chris said with a sigh. "But we know Aviva will continue to try to get us back, so we'll be patient."
"As always," Martin nodded, then he smiled, "oh and Gourmand had come by a week ago, serving a new recipe of his, some kind of Zamtrios sushi."
"Still rather hard to believe you guys said they were villains in your world," Devon said, looking to them, no one else appeared to be listening to their conversation, and Garico was still unconscious.
"Oh yeah," Chris nodded, smiled. "This world gave them new perspectives in life, especially how dangerous it is out there at times."
Then Martin realized, he smiled, "Oh and Zack had been working on a new project of his."
"Oh, what is the current project of the leading constructor on technology?" asked Devon.
"Well, he's trying to construct an airship, one that doesn't need those blimps," Martin said. "Still working on the power sources though..."
"But we did saw the designs of it, it's going to be a big one, and will be for you guys and our allies to use to get to anywhere in the world," Chris said. "But till then, he is still working on the power source."
"Heh, hopefully it can be used more than just carrying the Virtue Hunters," Devon replied with a chuckle, crossing his arms. "After all, we are supposed to be secret."
"Considering how much you blab it out, I doubt it be secret for long," Martin said, looking at Devon.
"And when that happens, I can already tell what would happen when the others found out who blabbed the most," Chris said with a smirk, looking at Devon.
"By the time that happens, I'll be keeping my distance," Devon replied. "Maybe I'll move to a vacation resort somewhere and spend my time on a beach with the ladies."
"Depending if the others don't catch you first," Martin chuckled, and the trio continued on talking as their airship continue its flight through the skies, heading to the dunes.
"Please stop Johnny!" begged Brooke as she tried to block a slash from her fiancé dual blades with her shield. "Darling, stop, please!" She begged and shed tears as she kept on blocking her lover's blades.
"RAH!" yelled Johnny, his body radiating blackish purple aura, his eyes glowing red as he breathed out the blackish purple smoke. He was in frenzy, it happened about ten minutes ago.
Right now, in area seven, Brooke had been trying to defend herself from her lover's blades with her sword and shield.
She, Johnny and Ethan had started there mission over fifteen minutes ago, and they came to area seven, planning to jump off the cliffs and down the waterfall so to hunt the Gobul.
Ten minutes ago, Johnny had suddenly fainted. Brooke remained with him while Ethan went and leaped off the cliff and dived down into the waterfall.
Seven minutes ago, Johnny's body burst with the frenzy energy. Awaken and started attacking his fiancé in frenzy, and so in the past seven minutes, Brooke has been busy trying to block her lover's attacks and tried to awaken him from the frenzy.
She had been shedding tears as she tried to block his blows, begging him to remember. During one moment of blocking, she spotted Ethan coming back into the area. He was carrying the Gobul's lantern, which means he succeeded.
"Ethan! Help me please! My fiancé is out of control!" she called to him.
The Aelucanth armored hunter seems to ignore and went to lean against the tree, and put the Gobul's lantern into his pocket. His Kinsect bug taking a comfy spot on his shoulder.
As she tried to call for him, he then said, "No one survives the frenzy, it's either you kill him or he kills you. You decide."
"What?" she asked, sounded shock, than she screamed as Frenzy Johnny stabbed her in the gut with his right dual blade. With that, she fell onto the ground; she whimpered "My love?"
Her plea was silence as Frenzy Johnny went upon her like a wild animal, stabbing parts of her body in a frenzy state, tearing her apart.
But he started to slow down, the aura around him started to dissipate. His eyes were slowly returning to normal, and when that happened, he dropped his blades and fell onto his hands and knees. His armor covered in the blood of his lover and so were his blades.
He groaned, "What happened?"
'So Maxie's experiment worked, the frenzy state lasted for at least ten minutes,' Ethan thought to himself.
Johnny soon realized as he saw his dead fiancé underneath him and the blood covering his body. He looked terrified, "What happened? Brooke? Brooke?! Please no!" He started to shed tears as he looked at his lover's face, which was split into the two. "No… I killed her."
"Indeed you did," Ethan said, his arms crossed. Johnny turned to him; Ethan pretended to had just come into the area, no longer leaning close. "What did she do to invite your wrath?" he asked as he walked over to him, holding his glaive at the ready and his Kinsect on his left arm.
"I-I don't remember!" Johnny grieved, shedding tears as he tried to stand up but collapse onto the ground. "I would never kill my love!"
"And yet you did," Ethan said, glaring. "You murdered her, and now you are under-arrest."
"I-I… I can't live without her," Johnny grieved, he looked to Ethan. "Please kill me so I can be with her."
"Death is too sweet of a mercy for a monster such as you," Ethan said. "Hands behind your back and get onto the ground now!"
"If you won't kill me," Johnny cried. "Then I'll kill myself!" He got up and went to reach for the blade, but Ethan went to block him. Ethan swung his glaive hard and whacked Johnny like a golf-club.
He hit him so hard that Johnny went flying over the cliff, he screamed as he fell.
"Whoops," Ethan muttered. "Oh well, he's dinner for the Gobul." Then he turned and looked down at the dead corpse of Brooke, "But even so, it's not like anyone would notice you both are missing."
He chuckled and turned to leave, heading to the exit out of the area, heading back to base camp. While he goes, he can already tell that the aerial watchers who do their duty by assisting hunters when they finished a mission, had likely saw the murder happen, but because of the distance, they never saw what caused Johnny to kill his girlfriend.
While down below in area six, as Johnny floated in the waters, hardly moving. He didn't even swim away, he just wanted to drown. Then he saw the Gobul coming into his line of sight, a big twelve feet tall one and it was missing a lantern.
Johnny only floated there, no weapons, just given up. And with that, the Gobul spotted him as an easy meal, and swam right at him with its mouth wide open.
The Star Knight Armored hunter led the way with Brandon walking behind him and the four Guardian Z armored guards following behind the dual. They were walking in the central noble district, a fortress part of the city, large fancy areas and tall buildings and stairways. There are several people whose job was to keep the buildings and roads clean.
To regular people and including nobles, this central district of Dundorma was the heart of the vast city. Many decisions made by the Nobles who ruled the city and the continent in the whole, to any place that holds a Guild, gets their laws made from this district.
But to the people whom serve as guardians in the land, like the Virtue Hunters, and outlaws that have their WANTED posters on some walls and billboards, view it as a simple district of the city that only has better defenses. Nearly most of the nobles view themselves as royalty compared to the outside of the central district, which is rather disgusting when one thinks about, very few nobles never view them as such and see each and every being as equals.
The truth of the place is well-known to many individuals, like the Obsessive Truth. He knows that this place is only the people who make the laws for the people to live by; the true heart of any kingdom is the people in the whole, the civilization. Sadly, to most people, they view the district like as though it was a heavenly place where only G-Ranks and nobility and rich people can get into, sure it holds certain privileges, but it is only just a central district.
And yet people try to make the place look so perfect, a garden-like area with trees with blossoms upon, fountains with a fancy statue of majestic warriors in the past. All because the people see is an art and they see it as the fanciest place and a paradise where they wanted to live in.
The laws here that are made are meant to help the civilization of the whole to feel safe and peaceful, and the ones who make the laws are the top five nobles, the Council. And Lord Kyle is not a council member, for he is one of the members of the Virtue Hunters, a group of six people who are in the role of Guardians, protectors of the people across the land.
There are more than just six people, but these six are the top members. To get into the rank of the Virtue Hunters has to embody one of the six virtues, and take time to train and learn before they could reach the very rank of the Virtue Hunters.
At times people would see them on high pedestals even though they never seen their faces except for a few who knew them. Expecting more, seeing them like saints of guardians to the whole, but one must remember.
'We're only human,' thought Kyle with annoyance, seeing some people within the city bow to him. For him, the Obsessive Truth; had been known to wear the armor of the Star Knight and walk with such grace and nobility. And he was the unluckiest one of the six Virtue Hunters, for nearly every one of Dundorma City knows exactly who he is.
To the people, they were saints. To them, they view themselves as regular people who just have different roles, hence at times why they never showed their faces, or whenever they do they try to blend in with most of the populace. Most of the Virtue Hunters got off it easy, all except Kyle, he was born a noble, he was raised in the city and is a sole guardian to it as a Virtue Hunter, so many people know when the Virtue Hunter of Truth is sighted and would bow in respect, which they unknowingly had done only made him feel depress at times.
Then there are the fanatics, the people who just get so clouded in their beliefs, the dangerous kind of people who put them on way too high on the pedestals. Even they try to get people to call them with names like Wise Mind, Honorable Rule, Compassionate Soul, Loving Heart, Courageous Warrior, and Honest Truth. Those fanatics often deny that the Virtue Hunters true nicknames are a mix of good and the bad.
And so as of right now, the group kept on going. The civilians bowing in respect towards the Obsessive Truth, they not noticing Brandon or assuming he is a squire or someone that the Virtue Hunter is going to interrogate, considering the four guards walking with them.
Many people even cheered after bowing and talked in whispers, of excitement of seeing him. Which is quite annoying, it makes them seem amazing and famous, and often attract people who wanted to join into their ranks because they wanted to become famous, they are annoying. Nobles try to bribe their way in with money, hunters with G-Ranks try to do the most difficult missions just trying to get in; they just seem to ignore what the Virtue Hunters stand for.
Ignoring the crowd of civilians, the group neared one of the large buildings, a tower in the northern part of the district. The tower is round in appearance; the tower itself was a hundred feet tall, which thirty meters tall to be precise. Inside the tower have at least six floors, and maybe it has underground basements. Around the building there were some beautiful trees, its front entrance has a seven feet tall doorway and space between it and six pillars that holds the balcony above it. The same appearance are on each side of the round circle like a square, the doors at the south, north, east and west side.***
As Lord Kyle enters the doorway with Brandon walking behind him, two guards followed behind while the other two went and stood at either side of the doorway. On the inside, after entering, the two guards went and stood on either side of the doorway as well.
Kyle and Brandon kept on walking, going through the central chamber that looks like a huge meeting chamber. It was close to being empty, just a few guards doing their duties and working about. In the center of the room stood a monolith, obsidian black monument with six lines on it, they're the codes of the Virtue Hunters. The codes are memorized to the hunters, so what they said were:
A Virtue Hunter is sworn to valour,
His or her heart knows only their virtue,
His or her weapon defends the helpless,
His or her might upholds the weak,
His or her word speaks only truth,
His or her wrath undoes the wicked.
Kyle and Brandon walk past the monument in the center of the room and headed to the stairway that heads upwards. They headed up onto the second floor, kept on walking as they got off on the second floor and went up a second set of stairway and went on up to the third, than the fourth, than the fifth.
[Listen to Celestial Temple from Spyro on YouTube]
Till eventually they arrive to the fifth floor, it didn't have a stairway that leads up to the sixth floor, for there wasn't just one, there were six stairways, each one with its own doorway and a symbol of a virtue on them. Each doorway has two statue pillars on each side, pillars statues of creatures.
As for the central chamber, it had a fancy floor pattern with mainly black as its color. In the center of the room stood a square monument statue, the bottom part stood seven feet tall and made of white marble stone, each side of the square pillar had a reflecting mirror. Than on top of it stood a statue of a Kirin, in stance it was five feet tall and raising its front hooves and head held high and its horn pointing upwards.
And there was only one desk in the back of the room, and there sitting in a comfy chair was the assistant to the Virtue Hunters. The one who assists them with their reports, or more precise, the assistant helps Kyle.
The assistant was a young woman, slender build and she wore armor instead of clothing that most helpers, lecturers and maidens wear as workers in the guild. She is a blade-master and she wore Tigrex armor. She has light-tan skin, and her eyes are moderate cyan colored, and her hair is crimson red with yellow stripes in them. She stood about five feet and seven inches tall, and on her back are her weapons, her Tigrex Claws. After she stood up from her seat and moved around her desk, she was carrying a folder with reports in them as she walked over to them, she was about to say something.
"Hey Sunny, how you been?" Brandon asked as he smiled to her.
Her name or well currently nickname was Sunny; she frowned and rolled her eyes as she came over to the two hunters. "I'm fine, and it's Sunset Shimmer, not Sunny." That is her actual name. ****
"Relax Sunset, just saying it in the short way," Brandon replied, he smiled sheepishly to her.
The six feet tall Star Knight armored hunter was taking off his helmet, once it was off it revealed that he is clean shaven, has blue eyes and has long red spiky hair that flowed out once the helmet was off.
He held it underneath his right arm as he looked down at Sunset, he asked, "Got any new reports, Sunset?"
She nodded with a smile and she looked down at the reports, "I got a few, one of the guards was asking on where you wanted the Gravios's tail to be put."
Kyle groaned as he pinched his nose with his left armored hand in annoyance, he said, "Thought I had told them to give it to the CSI division, are they done with it?"
"Yeah, it was just a regular tail you cut-off from that one Gravios," Sunset said.
Brandon looked to Kyle, "You were there when the Gravios attacked?"
"We arrived about ten minutes after the three Gravios were causing destruction," Sunset said, looking at him. "We were too late, from what we had seen, the three Gravios wasn't causing destruction because they were angry, they were after someone."
Brandon asked, "Who?"
"Don't know, because of the destruction those creatures had caused, it's rather difficult to tell who was their target," Kyle stated as the three of them walked over to Sunset's desk. "But I get the feeling the Gravios were merely a decoy for something."
"And before you could ask who, we don't know who would cause this disaster," Sunset said as she held the report to Brandon. He took hold of it and started reading it.
As Brandon read the report on the attack that happened, Kyle turned to Sunset, "After the Gravios attacked, did any aerial watchers located where those creatures fled too?"
Sunset nodded, "Yeah, the creatures headed to an underground tunnel, leading to what is a catacomb. So far there has no decree for hunters to go hunt there, if only the council members allowed it instead of not doing it." That's a problem with the council, five nobles do a vote, and three people voted against it.
"Are they still arguing about it?" Kyle asked and Sunset nodded. "Well at least the opening slot for the meeting tomorrow had been reserved for Garico."
Sunset nodded but looked confused, "So who's Garico anyways?" She reaches through her reports, "All I got from the reports from the shipmaster is that he's a G-Rank gunner and he currently has a Great Wroggi with him, Noble Chinook is not going to be happy about that."
"Garico is Josephiroth's older brother," Brandon said as he kept on reading the report.
Sunset's eyes widen a bit, she looked surprised, "Huh, well that's a first then, had thought his brothers stayed on that island unless for hunting expeditions. Where's he right now, maybe I'll go and meet him and see what he's like."
"He's currently with Devon, and considering they're new in the city they'd be staying here on the second or third floor," Brandon replied as he had finished reading the report and handed it back to Sunset.
"You spent the time with him on the trip here, noticing anything off about him?" asked Kyle, turning to Brandon.
"Nothing really, except he cares about his Great Wroggi very much, I believe he called her Veni," Brandon replied. "And he didn't talk much during the trip, always stayed by Veni's side, when I or Devon came closer, Veni would flinch and hide behind the gunner in fear."
"Okay, so it's a shy one," Sunset said as she went and put the reports onto her desk. "But even so, what was the purpose of them coming here?"
"You didn't get the falcon report?" asked Brandon, he looked to them in surprise. Both Kyle and Sunset looked at him with frowns; Brandon quickly reminded that they had a busy time and likely are still busy. "Oh sorry, the reason they're here is because Moga Island is under attacked."
Sunset looked surprised while Kyle only blinked, Kyle didn't say anything right after. So Sunset asked, "That's bad news, but is it true?"
"He fully believes so," Brandon replied. "And by that, I'm very much sure it is true. And especially on who's attacking. I had seen the symbol that Garico showed, the demonic G symbol."
"The Organization of Gore," Kyle said in annoyance, facing away from them. He went and stood near the monolith in the middle, looking at the mirror. "Most likely a legion, and if the report is correct, than that could explain why the Gravios attacked here."
Sunset thought of the same thing after he said that, she asked, "You thinking that the secretive terrorist group had somehow sent three Gravios to attack the city, weakening its defenses till the point Dundorma City would be more focusing on rebuilding said defenses instead of sending troops to go save Moga Island?" Seeing Kyle nodded, she continued, "Well, it's plausible, but what do they want with Moga Island anyways?"
"Don't know," Brandon replied with a shrug. "It's just another field area with a hunting zone, and it's so far out in the ocean, so what they want is likely a mystery…"
"The ruins!" interrupted Kyle, stopping Brandon as he turned to the duo. "There are underwater ruins on Moga Island, and as I recall from Joseph's story, at times a Ceadeus nests in the underwater ruins. And there are lost chronicles of histories there as well."
"Knowledge is power," Sunset replied with a small nod. "They're likely after something there, and to get to the ruins, they would have to wreck the island, digging down or swim into its depths. But the islanders would get in the way."
Brandon smiled, "Good to know there's a second wise one here just in case if Joseph kicks the bucket."
Sunset blushes a little, but then looked confused, she asked, "What do you mean by that?"
"Didn't get the report for that one too huh?" asked Brandon before he shook his head and sighed. "We were attacked in the Flooded Forest…"
"Joseph went with you to that place, had thought he's scared of the water?" asked Sunset, looking confused by that.
"He went there to help a friend of his," Brandon continued. "Anyways, in Flooded Forest, I and Devon were working as crewmembers to Captain Vale's vessel. Till eventually some disasters happen, you'll likely learn more from the report when it arrives. But anyways, we were attacked by the Oi Brothers and their Fatalis."
Sunset's eyes widen in surprise, "Was he injured badly?"
"He used himself as a shield to protect a girl," Brandon replied, and Kyle gave a nod of approval, it's basically part of the code of the Virtue Hunters. "We got lucky because we were saved by the Storm Dragon, Amatsumagatsuchi, and with that, we went back to Val Habar."
"So the Storm Dragon interfered because Joseph's life was in danger?" asked Kyle, right eyebrow raised. "Thought so, had seen that dragon in the distance a few times; I think that dragon is Joseph's guardian for some reason."
"But why?" asked Sunset, looking at them both. "What is the connection between them?"
"The wind?" suggested Brandon, pointing it out. "Amatsumagatsuchi is the Storm Dragon, and Joseph did say that in his past, he was the Elemental Force of the Wind."
"That can't be the connection," Kyle frowned as he looked at them. "Many hunters would add an element to their name does not mean that they're the right one for it."
"Well it could be," Sunset said, gaining their attention. "Think about it, what was the reason Joseph told us when he and his brothers named themselves the Elemental Force in his history?"
"That for strangest of things, they each heal because of a specific element?" Brandon suggested; Kyle merely shook his head.
"They're only quicker to heal compared to the others, few people are like that," Kyle said. "Maybe there is something recorded in the annuals of history, I shall go check the library then." He turned and started to walk away, heading to the stairway to the bottom floor. "You can continue your current duties, Sunset Shimmer, if anything important comes up, either come to me or Brandon."
"Yes sir," Sunset replied as she went and sit down in her chair behind her desk.
"Eh, I'll just be in my room, doing a few bits of my own study," Brandon said, he started to head over to the doorway with the symbol of Honor above it. "And likely change into a much better suit of armor then what I have now." He was still wearing his Artian armor of course.
And with that, Sunset Shimmer was alone in the central room once more, she working on the reports and other duties. For a temporary moment, she looked to the mirror on the monolith from where she sat. She chuckled, "Must admit, this is pretty much a better lifestyle than I had before."
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As the sun set, Josh and Ryan chose to stay with the two palicoes at Josephiroth's caravan. Josh was helping Nala in cleaning around and feeding Nappa, while Ryan spent the time napping with Sasha within the caravan.
And after the sunset, nearly everyone in one part of Val Habar were getting ready for bed, hardly anyone noticed a large airship coming into the docks.
[If you had not read the story: "Times to Remember", please go read it!]
The large airship that belongs to Myra had come down to the docks of Val Habar, and with that the crewmembers of her vessel lowered down a ramp that's big enough for its largest occupant to come off. First Myra walked off her vessel, following behind her were her two loyal bodyguards, and both are as quiet as thy followed.
Then following behind them were her most valuable soldier, Cain, and following behind him was his partner, the World-Eater, Khan. As they walk off the ramp together, the crewmembers remain behind to keep the ship prepared whenever Myra decides to come back.
By their appearance, the leader, Myra, she wore Lunastra Z armor and is a blade-master, she carried her Gunlance. Her hair is long and reaches the shoulders in length, started as dark brown and at the end of her hair is dyed blue. Her eyes are yellow and she has very pale skin.
The two guards that followed behind her in unison, both of them were blade-masters, both males and they wore Teostra Z armor, they both carry lances.
And lastly, Cain, the partner to the Deviljho that walks beside them after they came off the ramp and onto the docks behind the others, Cain wore full body Seregios armor.
There are several bars in Val Habar, it is a big place, but Myra wasn't given the name of one. But it seems like whoever this Lord of Gore was, he had sent someone to help lead her to the right place. For standing at the docks was a man in Bnahabra clothes, with long white hair that reaches his shoulders and covered the left side of his face, and a top hat on his head. And his hunting horn on his back.
As she neared, the man bowed in respect, merely grinning, it seems he shows respect to his betters. But Myra had noticed Khan looking timid, or more precise, the world-eater Deviljho is wary, he detected something off about this man and is trying to keep his distance from the human.
While to Khan, he smelled it, this man standing before them had frenzy. It's faint, but it clings to his very body. It's like he was a poisonous toad to the touch, that kind of smell.
"Hello milady, it is lovely to meet you, my name is Maxie Ackerson," Maxie said, grinning to her, the look as though he sees her as an amusing. "I am the leading researcher on the frenzy, but as for right now, your guide to my lord's desired restaurant, the Purgatory."
"Then please stop wasting my time and lead us to where it is," Myra said, looking to him.
"It will be a pleasure milady," he replied with a chuckle. "Please follow me," he said as he turned around and started to walk away.
Myra followed behind with her two bodyguards, Cain and Khan. Khan had kept his focus upon the researcher, being prepared for anything if he tried to do something, Cain remain beside his partner.
As five of them follow the researcher, Myra and Cain got a bad feeling about the man they're following behind. It's like a feeling of someone that needs to be avoided. Especially with Khan appearing to keep his distance from him, which often means one thing, the only thing Khan worries of is the frenzy, so this man they're following has it.
Yet no frenzy smoke or aura radiate from the being before them, but even so, frenzy is dangerous, so it's wise to be careful of this being.
And Maxie was leading them away from the central areas of Val Habar, and considering the time of the night, the louds thuds of the Deviljho's footsteps could only disturb the lightest of sleepers. And if there were a few people out at night, most of the civilians who're still awake and see the large brute wyvern would back away and keep their eyes on the creature, even if Khan was walking beside a human.
As they go, Maxie spoke out, "By the way, that is an interesting creature you people have with you." He turned to look at Myra with his right eye as he kept on walking. Hearing no reply from except for the growl from the Deviljho, he spoke, "Appearance of a world-eater but is not one, the scent of him is unique, as though he was used as an experiment, likely with hormones I believe. And his eyes show intelligence, a very well developed brain no doubt. A unique Deviljho, quite the opposite compared to a savage kind, close to gentleness, but still a killer. Increase of intelligence, close or by par in human levels."
Myra merely looked at him while Khan growled looks like the scientist is very smart. "And how did you guess that?" she asked.
Maxie kept on walking with them following behind, "It wasn't a guess milady." He chuckle, "It's easy to spot the difference, but one of the key details is that he reminds me great as a colleague of mine, a Brute Juggernaut that goes by the name Rex. Your Deviljho has the intelligence of a human, while Rex has the power of a Savage Deviljho. In some ways, your Deviljho is an equal to Rex, and I would love to watch a little battle between the two, just to see who's stronger."
The fool obviously believes this Rex can match Khan's strength, she replied, "If your friend is at the meeting, we shall see." She believes Khan will win easily.
"Ah but he won't be," Maxie chuckled as he kept on walking. "He and his many siblings are performing a funeral tonight, for their beloved mother had perished. Oh well, at least whoever killed her had made sure to leave parts that can be harvested for later experiments." And he chuckled right after.
Khan felt a little shiver go down his spine, the feeling of this mad man experiment the frenzy upon a dead Deviljho's remains would him in some way, considering Khan did killed that Deviljho. Khan temporary looked to his partner for a moment before glaring at the researcher.
"Ah, here we are," Maxie stated as the group he led had arrived to what looks like a large warehouse.
The building is rather large, the front of it looks like a tavern, it had the name on the roof, and it was called Purgatory. It looked large on the front, especially the large doors and sounds of people and creatures inside, loud noises. And at times humans come and go into the tavern. Behind and connected to the tavern was the large warehouse that looked like it was design to hold a lot more than just tavern supply, maybe it was a home to the owners of the tavern?
Maxie continued to lead them, not towards the front entrance, but around the building. When they neared the back, seeing some torchlight, they had also saw two humans standing in the back, both of them standing in front of a large gate, and for some strange reasons, two levers; one behind each guard. Both men are blade-masters and are currently wearing Rhenoplos armor. They didn't flinch when they saw Khan as the group arrived.
Maxie looked at both of them, he said politely, "Gentlemen, please open the door for the nice lady."
Both of the guards merely look at the group, before each of them used their armored hands and gripped the central large doors and slowly slide them away from each other. The group sees the inside of the building, which was a small area, where basically had only enough room for the group, minus Maxie Ackerson. There was no connection to the tavern, and for some reason, around the insides of the room was fences, metal fences.
"Please go stand inside, I will meet with you shortly," Maxie said to them with a smile. Then ignoring Myra looking at him in annoyance, he was walking away, likely heading to the front entrance.
Myra still looked annoyed, but then told Cain and Khan to go in first, if it was indeed a trap, Khan can wreck up the place. So first Khan headed into the building. His loud footsteps making thuds sound, the floor didn't break underneath his weight. Once he was inside, Cain followed behind. There were no signs of traps, so they looked to Myra. With that, she and her guards step into the building, and thus the room inside was basically full.
"Best hold on tight," said one of Rhenoplos armored guards as they started to slide the doors back into place, nearly closing.
"To what?" ask Cain.
"Hug your Deviljho, he's the heaviest," said the other guard before the doors closed tight.
Once the doors closed, Myra was likely already annoyed. She waited for a moment before deciding to tell Khan to break down the doors.
To the outside, both guards went to stand at their usual places, but simultaneously, they each grab the levers. The levers were angling downward, they both pulled down in unison, and sounds of gears working on the inside.
Just as Khan about to hit the doors, in a mere second, the floor beneath them seems to go downward. It was enough to alert them for a moment, thinking fast, Khan sat down and allowed Cain and Myra to hug his legs. Myra's guards weren't so lucky because they're not allowed too.
The floor fell downward, not fast but it felt like a free-fall. Thanks to holding onto Khan, they still had their feet on the floor, but it felt like if they let go they'd be flying into the air, just like the guards were, they were off the floor about three feet.
The floor they were on happens to be an elevator, and it went down thirty meters of stone and dirt, obviously left the building above. Eventually, thanks to the railing, Khan didn't slide off, but eventually the floor came into open air down below. At each corner of the floor showed four sets of huge rope, large ropes that looks like they were made from Shrouded Nerscylla silk, much stronger than regular Nerscylla silk.
When they came into the open air, it seem like the elevator came to a halt in the air. Sounds of the two guards landing on their butts on the floor, what was with the sudden halt?
Back to the guards up top, they were counting ten seconds in unison during the drop, when they reach seven, they both lift the levers upwards, not exactly straight upwards, just to halfway. They both chuckled before very slowly push the levers downward, it took about five minutes before the levers are back to pointing downward.
Back at the elevator floor, as Myra's guards groaned and rubbing their sore butts before standing up. Khan growling in annoyance, likely didn't like the free-fall but at least Myra and Cain were alright. And in the background they heard… roars of cheering from both humans and creatures and sounds of battle raging below.
Moving over to the railing after letting go of Khan, both Myra and Cain looked down below, so did Khan. And they see while the elevator was slowly lowering downward, the place they see look like a huge underground ruins, like an ancient underground fortress.
Hidden ruins that appear to be hidden underneath Val Habar, it being unknown to the world above, and throughout the large, square-like chamber were several pillars. The ruins seem to appear as a huge place; around one-hundred feet deep in height so it's definitely a big drop, as well as it looked like a coliseum in the middle of the area. There were some stairways about the area and hidden tunnels that lead to elsewhere. Across the walls like many hidden level of floors showed balcony areas with seats and tables. Each floor must have twenty feet in height, so besides the ground floor, there were four hidden floor levels in the walls, and heck each balcony looked big enough to hold large creatures.
Eventually the elevator floor has fully lowered down to the ground level, and they saw the Maxie Ackerson waiting. He was smiling at the group as though nothing was wrong.
"Had a lovely trip together down the elevator?" asked Maxie, seem to ignore their looks of annoyances.
"How did you get down here so quick?" asked Cain, looking at the researcher in annoyance.
"I took the scenic route," Maxie replied with a smile. "And there are only three routes down to the underground coliseum of Val Habar, the true Purgatory. The route you used is a nice elevator trip; I took the hidden stairway that most people used, mainly so to avoid walking into Val Habar, the other entrance stairway is the backdoor of the tavern up top."
Myra looked at him in annoyance, but before she could say anything, sounds of roars and cheers rang through the area, drowning her words.
To Khan, he noticed a scent, the scent of blood and death, and the voices from other creatures roaring out, and humans shouting. The smell of death is thick here.
The group looked ahead of Maxie Ackerson, and see that the central area of the large chamber looks like a wide whole arena, it was the size of a regular desert/water arenas. Around the hole were rails, and many humans and creatures stood around it and cheering.
Around the room was what looks like huge dining areas with large tables and seats for both humans and monsters. Hell there was even a bar that looks design for both humans and creatures, and there appears to be a stage for music players.
Many faces of the humans in the area are recognizable as outlaws and criminals, thieves and killers.
And hearing the sounds of a sudden scream from within the hole, and then the group heard from what is like the announcer using a megaphone.
"Damn! That newbie didn't last long against him! Give a cheer for Brutarius the Diablos!" spoke the announcer. Many creatures roared in a cheer, and some humans groaned in annoyance while several others cheered as well, signs of people exchanging money, bets.
"What is this place?" asked Myra, turning to Maxie Ackerson.
"The true Purgatory, milady," Maxie replied with a smile. "A place where no Guild law exist, only one law exists and it is in the arena. That law is, only one being can get out of the arena alive. So a warning, if all of you go in there together, I'm going to bet on your Deviljho for the win."
Well that was good to know, but it didn't exactly fully answer her question. "I meant, what was this place before it was used like this kind of event?" she asked, looking at him.
"Ah, a little history lesson," Maxie smiled as he turned and started to walk away, allowing the group to follow him. "In the past, during the age of what was believed to be the golden era between humans and monsters, this was a temple in the honor the elder dragon of the desert, the Dah'ren Mohran. Its skeleton of old lines the very roof, if you look up that is."
The group do so, and they saw there was a skeleton that lines the room, and appears that the skull of it is used as a balcony high up top.
"That balcony is reserved for my Lord only, and he has not arrived," Maxie continued, looking at the group. "So enjoy the show, if you have the money, order food and wine you desire and enjoy the entertainment. And if your Deviljho is interested to take part of a match, merely wait for an announcer call for a volunteer from the audience. I bid you adieu, for now." And with that, he walked away.
Considering how many people there were in the crowd, Maxie Ackerson was lost from their sight; hell Khan couldn't detect his smell or the sense of frenzy. But there were signs of other monsters with the people and melynxs seem to move away from another.
The group remain together, Myra's guards remaining close by to her. And by the looks of things, any balconies are good seats to view the arena below. So Myra walked over to the rails with her two guards behind her, Cain and Khan followed behind the three of them.
At the sight of Khan, many humans, melynxs and monsters backed away, allowing them to view the inside of the huge ring.
The arena is thirty meters in a diameter, nearly close to a circle. And within, at least twenty meters down into the hole. Within the arena hole is roughly four stone pillars, each pillar at one side in the arena hole, the pillars were three meters diameter, with cracks and some vines, good for climbing, but the height of the pillars were between ten feet to fifty feet tall. The floor of the arena were covered in desert sand, the center of the arena hole is a five meter hole with a steel grate. And as for the entrances, there were two entrances, on north and south sides of the holes, both of which are ten meters tall steel doors.
In a way, it looks like a much better arena compared to ones used in other places. And it seems the workers here make sure no bodies are left in the ring, for currently a Diablos was exiting the arena through the south gates.
The Diablos stood about ten feet tall in height; Diablos are large, bipedal wyverns with powerful armor plating covering much of their body. Their most noteworthy feature is a pair of massive, solid horns above their eyes. Diablos also possess a pair of tusk-like fangs and a large, spiny neck frill. Their tail ends with a heavy, studded club that can be used to ward off attackers. Diablos stand on a pair of stocky, wide-set legs and possess a broad upper body complete with thick, muscular wings.
That must be the one the announcer called, Brutarius. And Myra nearly didn't saw where the dead newbie was when the Diablos was exiting the arena. The newbie the announcer called was a hunter in Rathian armor, and currently his corpse is stuck on the left horn on the Diablos, the horn piercing through the dead hunter's armored chest. As for the hunter's weapon, a well, there was no sighting of it, so it must've fell down into the grate hole in the middle.
"Now the arena is cleared for the next round!" called the announcer, Myra saw the man, who wore Leather armor and carrying the megaphone, speaking through it. "And now, who shall be taking part for the next match?"
Then sounds of the doors to the north side of the arena opening, and coming into the arena came two Savage Deviljhos. Its standard appearance and abilities are the same as that of a normal Deviljho in rage mode. When enraged, it has a dark red haze surrounding its face, eyes turn into a blood red hue and skin changes to a light brownish color. Both of them are twenty feet tall.
"Well now," the announcer spoke in glee. "It looks like the brothers are finally going to decide on who is stronger, Agony or Despair!"
The names of the two Savage Deviljhos within the arena, both of them went and stood on either side of the arenas. Both of them were growling at each other.
To Khan, he likely smirked down at the two brutes; he could easily handle these two. And Myra and Cain know it, but to watch a match of two brothers, two Savage Deviljhos siblings are a usual thing, when they fight for who claim the territory, even at one point, to kill each other. It is the way to show who is the strongest and the weakest are left to perish.
"Now then, before the fight begin, who dare take part into the ring and fight against the two brothers?" called the announcer, he looked at everyone here watching the arena. "Which one of you wants to take part?" He seemed to look at Khan for a moment.
Khan grinned, oh he wants to join into this fight, just to kill those two weak brutes and show everyone here the true meaning of agony and despair that those two are likely inferior to do. And since it was allowed, Khan was about to leap in.
That is, until he had stopped and watched as someone had jumped from one of the high balconies and coming to land on the center part of the arena. Sounds of thud and metal clang as the being landed on the grate, revealing a male blade-master covered in red Zamtrios Z armor. The man had no weapons in his armored hands, but it looks like his Zamtrios Z armored gauntlets were made differently, it had blades attached the left gauntlet, like large claws for slashing and stabbing.
A human would dare take part in the battle between two Savage Deviljhos, must be one very crazy human who is suicidal. But Khan was annoyed that this human had stolen his chance. He would've leaped in, but Cain hand stopped him, likely wanted to see if this hunter was good enough.
The announcer announced, "Oh my, it looks like the Champion of Purgatory had decided to take part in this match. Cheer for one of the Elites of the Organization, Shredder!"
The two Savage Deviljhos suddenly looked worried as they looked at the hunter; they had seen this man fight before. They temporary looked at each other and silently agreed to tag-team each other first to remove the being.
"People, take your bets!" the announcer called forth.
Not doing any bets, despite the feeling that it is a likely win for either Agony or Despair, the group didn't do anything. But it did sure confuse them when they heard the humans taking bets on the Shredder to win.
Hell by the looks of it, Shredder isn't carrying any weapons!
Shredder stood in his own fighting pose, then he spoke loudly towards his enemies, "Say farewell to each other while you still can. For none of you will not leave here alive!"
The two Savage Deviljhos growled, both of them glaring down at the human between them. They chose to team up to remove the armored man.
"The fool," Cain muttered as he crossed his arms, looking down into the arena. "But it would still be entertaining." And that Myra can agree with, she does enjoy these kinds of events, death matches.
"With that, no one else, fighters begin!" yelled the announcer, causing the battle to begin.
The two Savage Deviljhos started to circle around the Shredder, who didn't move. But he spoke in a commanding tone, with the sense of finality. He said, "Those who are not with me are against me and I crush anyone who stands against me!"
And both Savage Deviljhos charged upon the Elite, while the crowds above cheered 'FIGHT' over and over, and monsters roaring out too. Myra and her group continued to watch as the fight was about to begin.
Within Silus's newly expanded caravan, his new caravan was basically larger compared to the regular kind. For reason of such is that it has an added room, one that is meant for a creature partner, especially one such as the Chameleos, Kage.
Silus was sleeping on his bed, and his palico partner, Lucky, was sleeping in the cat-bed. Considering all was quiet, except for Silus, appearing to be sweating, squirming and muttering something as he slept.
Till suddenly his eyes open wide in fright and he sat up, he nearly screamed in fright. He gasps a bit, now wide awake. He looked around from where he sat, first seeing Kage sleeping soundly in his bedroom, and then seeing Lucky sleeping on his bed.
He whipped his head when he heard the sound of the floor board bend, he saw that there were intruders inside his caravan. And one of them he recognized instantly.
The gunner in Mosgharl garb, in the darkness, only his evil smiling pumpkin face glowing in the dark, like a demon hidden in the shadows. And he was holding his light bowgun in his hands, it was Great Kelbi Deershot, it's like a slingshot-like weapon.
"Nighty night," the gunner said and he pulled the trigger, firing a tranquilizer pellet.
It smacked Silus hard in the head, knocking him out cold because of the force of the shot and the tranquilizer powder that covers the pellet was breathed in when he gasped after the hit.
Lucky had waked up to the sound, and nearly shouted before the gunner fired a second tranquilizer pellet, hitting Lucky right on the nose, knocking him out cold. Lucky was likely going to have a bruise on his nose while Silus got a bruise on his forehead.
Behind the gunner were two blade-master brothers who are assisting him to capture Silus and Lucky. As the two brothers went to tie up the two knocked out occupants. The gunner quietly moved over to the added room, and looked in, and saw nothing in there. He assumed the Chameleos likely went out on a nightly hunt.
He turned around to the two brothers; both of them had tied Silus and Lucky back-to-back. He quietly whispered, "Good, now to the small lookout blimp and we take them straight to Everfree. The Chameleos will follow his scent there." It's one of those scouting ships that people uses to fly over areas and wait to be called by hunters down in the areas when they captured a creature or an emergency of sorts.
"Right, let's go," replied the younger hunter and the two boys carried the knocked out duo to the exit of the caravan. And the gunner followed behind the duo, not noticing a glare from the invisible creature.
Kage was wide awake, had woken up at the same time Lucky did. The only reason he didn't attack the intruders was because there was the risk of harming his human as well. And so for now, he quietly follows the bad men, and waited the opportunity to rescue his Silus.
Late at night, at the healer infirmary, the only ones there that were still wide awake were the nurses and felyne healers. As well as a janitor doing cleaning in the halls, it was a nice, quiet night.
In room seventeen, the pro-trapper still slept on his bed. His arms and legs were covered in casts, he still wore clothes like his undershirt and short pants, which people tend to mistaken as chakra at times instead of underneath clothes. And terrible scabs that covered parts of his body and because of the cold wind coming through the window, a nurse had put a blanket over his sleeping form, so only his head was exposed.
For a moment of quietness, except a cold breeze that flowed over his head a bit. His eyes suddenly snapped wide open.
*NOTE: "Watch these two, they're an experiment, when it happens and they get out of hand, end them and bring me the Gobul's lantern."
**NOTE: These two characters are going to appear in a mini-episode, their own little story of how they came about in the Monster Hunter world. Know that the story of those two being in is called: Wild Hunters. A short story of a little history that I'll be writing to pass the time of waiting for the others to write their parts, I'll be waiting for CG to write his part after this chapter is posted along with the second part.
***NOTE: One day I might draw a sketch of the building and its interior, so it is easy and be detailed and know what it looks like. Don't know if I do or not, maybe one day.
****NOTE: If you know who she is, than know that one day in the future there be another crossover story idea of mine, a little connection for later on, maybe or maybe not, at least I got it listed. It going to be a second mini-episode after the one called: Wild Hunters.
HOLY DAMN! This is the second chapter that I had written with longer pages of a long chapter. And this is only like part 1 of a chapter, reason I stop here is because it felt like it was going to get much longer. So it's long enough for now man.
And oh! I also plan to write little mini-episodes of the Monster Trapper, like some history background of characters like Josephiroth, Sasha, Nala, and all the others. And some crossover stories, so if you recognize any characters that had appeared in this chapter, they're more of background characters of course.
Hey you reader fans, you liking this story so far, than please review on what you like about this chapter. And don't forget to read these two authors' stories:
Cosmic Guardian's story: Lupi Della Caccia!
The Blue Tigrex's story: Times to Remember!
Happy reading everyone!
