Trials of the Hunt
Knuckles lay on the ground staring at the sky, he felt like he had just been run over by a train. His head was pounding, one eye was starting to swell shut, and his whole body felt like one giant bruise. What's more he still couldn't believe what just happened. . .
Knuckles had been squaring off against Gherman when the old man gave him a sort of appraising look.
"Now Knuckles, since I'm going to be training you I need to gauge your strength. So here's what I want you to do," Gherman tapped himself on the cheek. "I want you to hit me as hard as you possibly can, like your trying to kill me. Now I understand you may be a bit reluctant, but. . ." Gherman gave Knuckles a glare that froze his blood as he snarled. "If you don't give it all you have I will know, and you will regret it!"
Now, beneath all his bluster and pride, Knuckles was a pretty softhearted guy, and he just couldn't bring himself to hit an old man with full force. So he held back a lot when he threw that first punch, that was one of the biggest mistakes he ever made.
Knuckles only had an instant to register that his punch hadn't done a thing before Gherman struck. Grabbing him by his outstretched wrist Gherman yanked Knuckles into the air swinging him over his head before bringing him down with enough force to create a Knuckles, shaped depression in the hard packed earth. Gherman wasn't finished, still hanging on to Knuckles wrist Gherman hurled the dazed echidna into the air. Jumping after his target, Gherman grabbed Knuckles spinning form by the neck before striking him in the face hard enough to send him hurtling back to earth with a thud. Landing nimbly on his feet Gherman waited for Knuckles to rise before rushing him. Sending Knuckles into the air with a vicious uppercut Gherman then waited for Knuckles to fall to waist height before he spun, kicking him sideways through a headstone ten feet away. Barely conscious, Knuckles saw Gherman walk into his field of vision to stand over him.
"Still awake are you? There might be hope for you yet, but. . ." Here Gherman lowered himself to stare right in to knuckle's eyes. "if I hadn't been holding back the lions share of my power, or if I'd been using a weapon, you'd be dead right now." Knuckles last thought before passing out was: "Why can't I feel my everything?"
As he replayed the fight in his head Knuckles wondered at the insane strength possessed by the Hunters. Knuckles could smash his way through solid steel, but Gherman had completely overpowered him. Knuckles had been trying his hardest to escape Gherman's grasp, and it was like he was trapped in a vice. Not to mention his blows felt like being kissed by a battering ram. If that was Gherman's power when he was holding back, what was he like when he was fighting for real? Knuckles shuddered when he thought about it.
Knuckle's was distracted from his worried conjecture by the sound of someone walking towards him. Slowly sitting up Knuckles saw Kagen approaching with a small ceramic pitcher and glass.
"Thought you might like a drink of water, getting the crap kicked out of you tends to work up a thirst." Kagen remarked with a smirk.
Filling the glass, Kagen offered it to Knuckles who took it, and gratefully gulped it down.
"How long was I out?" Knuckles asked once he finished drinking.
Kagen refilled his glass before answering.
"Oh, about an hour, maybe an hour and a half."
Knuckles nodded slowly as he stared at the glass of water in his hands.
"I feel like I just got run over by an entire fleet of buses, how can an old man be that strong?"
Kagen sighed, looking out at the gray emptiness that made up the Hunter's dream.
"Gherman is often referred to as 'the first Hunter' he was once actually a Scholar. He worked as a student to the two men who eventually caused the Scourge, Master Willam, and Laurence." Kagen spat out the names of Gherman's old associates with bitter hatred. "There goal was to find a way to allow humans to ascend to godhood, like the Pthumarians did millennia ago, when they transformed into the Great Ones."
"Well, what's wrong with that? Sounds like they just wanted to make everyone stronger." Knuckles asked confused.
Kagen took a deep breath before replying.
"At first. . . nothing, they studied the texts left behind by the Pthumeru, and explored the tombs and ruins that remained from their time as mortal beings." At this point Kagen's tone darkened. "But then. . ."
"Then what?" Knuckles prompted after a moment.
Kagen shook his head as if banishing an unpleasant memory.
"To make a long story short, they found a way to enhance humans to be more like the Great Ones. The process was risky, and often created horrific monsters, but when it worked. . ."
Knuckles eyes widened.
"It, made them into. . ."
Kagen nodded.
"Hunter's, yes, Gherman was the first person to undergo the process successfully. He doesn't hunt any longer, but he was once the greatest hunter who ever lived. He was the one who created many of the first weapons used for the hunt, and helped create the first hunter's workshop's. It was said he destroyed armies of beast's single handed, and trained some of the most legendary hunters who ever lived."
Knuckles stared at Kagen in awe, before a question occurred to him.
"Wait, if Gherman is so strong, why doesn't he hunt anymore?"
Kagen shook his head.
"That's a very personal story, I don't think it's appropriate for me to tell you, you'll need to ask him yourself."
Getting to his feet Kagen gestured to the workshop.
"We should get going, wouldn't want to miss orientation."
Knuckles and Kagen arrived at the workshop just in time to see Gherman hauling out a large wooden trunk. . Everyone was seated in a semi circle watching him, Knuckles took his seat with them trying not to wince from his injuries. Kagen chose to stand behind the group, Gherman acknowledged the two latecomers with a nod, as he spoke to everyone.
"All hunters fight with weapons, some specialize in a particular weapon, others, like Kagen, make a habit of learning to use as many weapons as possible. Regardless all hunters typically have two weapons, a gun, and a blade that they use together. Now first thing you need to know is that without a weapon you can't win a fight with a beast. Beasts are far to strong to be fought with fists, you might be able to take out a corrupted human without a weapon if your lucky, but not a true beast or kin. Hunter weapons are not like other weapons, all are enchanted to some degree. Most are simply marked with special runes, or quenched in beast blood. The finest hunter weapons go through more involved processes of enhancement, or are made out of special materials, and have more pronounced ability's."
Gherman waited a moment for his audience to absorb his words before continuing, as he opened the chest he had brought out.
"Now, almost none of you typically fights with a weapon, according to Kagen, so I will select the weapons you are to train with, Knuckles catch!"
Knuckles jumped as Gherman threw what was easily the largest sword he had ever seen at him. Knuckles let out a grunt of pain as the incredibly heavy weapon landed on his lap. Knuckles stared at the absurdly massive sword, it was almost twice his height and was so heavy he could barely lift it. Examining the weapon Knuckles glared at Gherman.
"Very funny old man, but nobody in the world could use a sword like this!"
Gherman smirked.
"Kagen, care to take that wager?"
Kagen smiled as he grabbed the sword with one hand, lifting it easily, Kagen whirled the blade around his body with incredible speed. Lunging forward he swung the blade at a patch of flowers, managing to cut only a single blossom free, then catching the flower on the flat of the blade Kagen flipped it into the air and sliced it into quarters before it struck the ground. Everyone stared in shock at Kagen as he rested the massive blade on his shoulder.
"So what do I win?" Kagen asked smugly, Knuckles huffed pretending to be unimpressed. "Relax Knuckles, it took me years to learn how to use this weapon like that, with a little time and effort I'm sure you can manage it."
Knuckles was rather surprised at the sincerity in Kagen's voice.
"You really think I can learn to use that thing?"
Kagen nodded.
"Yes I do, this weapon is Ludwig's Holy Blade, and is made for hunters who favor power over finesse, it's perfect for you. All you need to do is spend some time getting to know the weapon."
So saying Kagen pressed a small button on the swords handle, and pulled. To everyone's surprise the handle came free revealing a smaller long sword hidden inside the larger blade. Flipping the sword in the air Kagen caught it by the flat of the blade and offered the handle to Knuckles. Knuckles took hold of the long sword handle, to his surprise it still felt heavier than it should, but was far lighter than it had been. Swinging the sword experimentally Knuckles found it to be perfectly balanced. As he examined the blade closely Knuckles marveled at the craftsmanship. The blade looked old, yet there wasn't a single ding or scratch to be found. The edge of the weapon glittered in the moonlight still razor sharp even after ages of use. Along the center of the blade near the guard Knuckles noticed three indentations, two shaped like a star burst and one like a crescent moon.
"What are these for?"
"Blood gems." Kagen stated matter a factly.
Rouge's ears perked up at the word "Gems"
"Kagen you never mentioned your weapons had gems in them, shame on you, keeping a secret like that from me."
Kagen smirked at Rouge.
"Oh, so you don't mind having gems created from crystallized blood infused with arcane power?"
Rouge gave Kagen a blank look.
"Their made of what now?"
Kagen's smirk widened.
"Crystallized blood, no one is sure exactly why they form, but blood gems mostly form in the organs of beasts and kin."
Rouge made a disgusted face.
"They form inside organs? That sounds both disgusting, and really painful."
Kagen shrugged, having long ago become indifferent to the nauseating power of spilled guts.
"Oddly the gems don't seem to cause any pain to the beasts their found in, we have no idea why though. We do know that the various types of gems all form in a particular part of the body."
Taking his Chikage from the sheath, Kagen pointed to one of the three gems embedded in the blade. The gems were small, none larger than a pinky fingernail, and were varying shades of red. Two of the gems looked star shaped at first, but on closer inspection more strongly resembled bloody snowflakes. The last gem was triangular and a much darker red than the others.
"The snowflake gems, are 'Radial' gems, they are the most common and form in the heart. The triangle gems are unimaginatively called 'Triangular' gems, are found in the kidneys, and are the second most common. The remaining kinds of gems are: 'Waning' gems shaped like a crescent moon, 'Circle' gems that are used in firearms, and finally 'Droplet' gems that work with any weapon."
Rouge nodded.
"I'm almost afraid to ask but where are those last three found?"
"Well, waning gems are the third most common, and form in the brain. Circle gems form in the eyes, and are very rare, but the rarest is the droplet gems. Droplet gems are not found in organs, no one is totally sure how they form, but they are thought to be the tears of the Great Ones."
Rouge and the others looked at Kagen in disbelief.
"Wait, their tears? How is that possible?" Rouge asked.
Kagen shrugged.
"I don't know, but droplet gems can work with any weapon, regardless of which gem slots the weapon was made with."
Rouge was about to ask another question but was interrupted by Gherman clearing his throat.
"Excuse me Kagen, but if your quite done jumping ahead with the lesson plan, I'd like to continue."
"Oh, sorry Gherman, didn't mean to go on for so long."
Gherman gave a curt nod as he continued.
"Very well, Amy, Kagen tells me you use a large hammer in combat, is that correct?"
"Yes sir." Amy replied, a little nervous that Gherman was talking to her directly.
"Then I know the perfect weapon for you."
Amy and the others stared in shock as Gherman displayed the weapon. It was a massive hammer with a head formed by what looked to be a solid block of gray stone covered in strange runes. Tossing it in front of Amy the hammer impacted the earth with enough force to shake the ground slightly. Amy stared at the weapon apprehensively.
"That is the Kirkhammer, a weapon of the healing church, with it even the mightiest beast can be crushed like an ant." German explained.
Amy glanced at the handle, which seemed to be divided into two parts, the first part was a solid looking metal shaft about 18 inches long. Then the last foot of the handle changed to resemble that of the sword Knuckles had received. Looking closely Amy noticed an all but invisible seam that separated the two handle styles, as well as a small indentation that looked like a button. Amy attempted to lift the hammer, but was only able to get it a few inches off the ground for a second or two before having to drop it again. Unwilling to give up completely Amy pressed the button she noticed and gave a solid tug. Smirking Amy examined the sword she had pulled free, it was almost identical to the one Kagen had pulled from inside the weapon Knuckles had been given.
"Very well done Amy, you already learned how to unlock the Kirkhammer's primary weapon form." Gherman observed happily.
"Can all hunter weapons turn into swords?" Sonic wondered aloud.
"Swords specifically no, but all hunter weapons have two forms a primary weapon form, and a 'Trick' form." Gherman explained.
"You mean like the blade of blood thing Kagen can do with that sword?" Shadow asked pointing to the Chikage.
Gherman smiled.
"So you saw that eh? Yes exactly like that, though that trick has a rather high price tag on it."
Rouge looked at Kagen, concern flashing across her face.
"What kind of price?" She asked trying to keep her tone level, because considering what Kagen had told her about being a hunter, Rouge could easily imagine all sorts of horrible possibility's. Gherman however seemed unconcerned.
"Oh, it continually draws blood from it's user, hold it's trick form too long, and it will drink you dry."
Rouge briefly had a horrible vision of Kagen as a shriveled corpse before reason reasserted itself. If Kagen had been using the Chikage this long without dying, it was unlikely he would become careless now. Rouge was about to ask Kagen why he never mentioned that his weapon could kill him, when Gherman pulled a cloth wrapped item from the chest and threw it to her. Catching the item Rouge glanced at Kagen who gave her an encouraging nod. Removing the yellowed cloth Rouge was surprised to find herself holding what was either a shorter than average sword, or a longer than average dagger. It was about a foot and a half long not counting the handle, the blade vaguely reminded her of a pair of scissors, and a second later she understood why. The weapon was actually two blades that seemed to be stuck flat against each other. The blades looked slightly tarnished, but as she turned the weapon she noticed a bluish shine that she wasn't certain if it was real or a trick of the light. Rouge was surprised at how strongly the blades were joined, she had assumed it was done with magnets, but no matter how she tried she couldn't separate them, the blades acted like they were welded together.
"Hold the weapon overhead and will the blades to separate." Kagen advised.
Feeling slightly silly Rouge held the blade up and thought about the blades sliding apart. To her surprise the two blades separated with a faint sound of metal sliding across metal. Once more Rouge was reminded of scissors, as the two blades were now forming an upside down 'V' with only the area at the tips still joined.
"Now simply pull them apart."
Following Kagen's prompt, Rouge pulled the two blades in opposite directions separating them with a "Chink" sound. Now Rouge saw both blades were long curved daggers, one being slightly straighter with a hook-like quality, and the other having a longer more graceful curved appearance.
"The Blades of Mercy, signature weapon of the Hunters of Hunters, I figured you would want something light and fast, so as not to impede your ability to fly. Those blades are special, forged of Siderite, metal from the stars said to contain the same magic that empowers the Great Ones." Gherman said proudly.
Rouge nodded.
"How do I reconnect them?"
"Just touch the blade tips together and will them to reconnect."
Once again Rouge did as Kagen suggested, and the two blades slid back together automatically.
"Of course she get's a weapon that's easy." Knuckles muttered to himself.
Rouge pretended not to have heard as she gave the weapon an experimental swing.
"I love it, thank you Gherman."
Gherman smirked.
"Don't thank me yet, you still need to learn how to use it, now, next up is you Sonic."
Sonic nodded as Gherman presented him with what appeared to be a folded up farming sickle. Sonic glanced at the weapon in his hand with a perplexed expression.
"Um, is this for fighting or harvesting wheat?" He joked.
Gherman smiled.
"Heh, funny thing is that the Beasthunters Saif really is derived from a farming tool. But it's advantage is that when you use that spinning attack your so fond of, you can use this to enhance it."
Sonic gave Gherman a questioning look.
"How do I do that?"
"When it's folded up like this, just hold it out in front of you when you spin. Right now it's in it's trick form" Gherman pointed to a small lever on the handle. "just use that lever give it a jerk and it will revert to it's initial form."
Sonic pressed the lever and with a snap of his wrist the weapon unfolded to resemble an oddly curved ax.
"Cool." Sonic remarked, pressing the lever and returning the Saif to it's trick form with another flick of his wrist.
Gherman nodded, before turning to look at Tails and Cosmo.
"Now then, you two were a little tricky to find weapons for, but I think I found the ones that will best suit you."
Gherman held out two weapons, one looked like a mace with a smooth metal sphere for the head, the other was a gentlemen's cane with a pointed end. He handed the mace to Tails, while Cosmo was handed the cane.
"Uh, Mr. Gherman?" Tails said.
"Yes?"
"Well what's so special about these? They don't look nearly as dangerous as the other weapons." Tails tone wasn't disappointed, just curious, and Gherman admired that Tails was not judging the weapons out of hand.
"Kagen, why don't you answer the lad's question."
Kagen nodded, stepping forward he gently retrieved the mace from Tails. Stepping back Kagen flicked his wrist sharply, and everyone present, save Gherman, gasped. The head of the mace was engulfed in arcs of electricity. As Kagen swung the weapon the smell of ozone filled the air and the mace head gave off a constant angry hiss. Deactivating the weapon Kagen handed it back to Tails, who took it with an expression of child like wonder.
"The Tonitrus, a fitting weapon for an inventor, don't you think?" Gherman said with smirk.
As Tails examined his new weapon, Cosmo approached Kagen.
"Excuse me mister Kagen, but can you show me what mine can do?"
Kagen nodded accepting the cane from Cosmo's outstretched hand.
"The Threaded Cane" Kagen remarked as he twirled the weapon in his hand. "a weapon of finesse and of class."
Here Kagen pressed a button hidden in the handle, causing the haft to reveal it's zigzagging trick form. Kagen didn't miss a beat, swinging the weapon it showed the haft segments to be blades connected by a wire. The viewers watched in awe as Kagen demonstrated the weapon's power. The whip sang through the air as if it was alive, twisting and arcing in an elaborate dance of flashing metal. When Kagen stopped swinging the whip retracted back into itself and he returned the weapon to it's cane form with a flourish, before placing it in Cosmos still outstretched hand.
"That was amazing." Cosmo breathed out.
"Until you see what it can do to people." Shadow mumbled, remembering what that same weapon had done to Riggman's officers. He doubted he'd ever forget the sight of those dismembered corpses. Shadow snapped out of his thoughts as Gherman finally turned to him.
"Ah, last but not least. . . Shadow, they say that a hunters favored weapon reflects their inner self. Kagen told me the story of your origin Shadow, out of all of your friends you are the one who is most like a hunter."
"How so?" Shadow asked, his eye's narrowed.
"You understand true pain and loss, in fact you remind me almost exactly of Kagen not long after he first became a hunter."
Everyone turned to stare at Kagen and Shadow in shock.
"So," Gherman continued, reaching into the chest, and pulling out something wrapped in black silk. " for a warrior steeped in pain, a weapon born of it."
Everyone except Kagen gasped in horror at what Gherman reveled beneath the silk wrapping. The weapon resembled a misshapen club, pitched black it's very appearance seemed wrong, like it was made of something utterly inimical to the natural order of things. Shadow hesitated a moment before grabbing the weapon. Holding it Shadow suppressed a shudder, whatever this club was made of it wasn't wood. The surface was like some kind of leather, but it was hard like bone and smooth like metal.
"What, is this?" Shadow asked, suspecting he wasn't going to like the answer.
Gherman nodded to Kagen who stepped forward, and with a stone faced expression took the weapon.
"Try not to scream." Kagen said seriously, as he activated the weapons trick form without waiting for a response.
Amy and Cosmo, did scream as the true nature of the "Weapon" was revealed. Rouge covered her mouth horrified, Sonic, Tails and Knuckles looked at the weapon with expressions of loathing and disgust, while Shadow struggled not to betray how disturbed he really was. The thing they had thought was a club was alive! What could only be described as a clawed finger uncurled from the club to rest faintly twitching at it's side.
"The Amygdalan Arm, created from the hand of a Great One it retains a vile sort of life, but through the will of a hunter it serves our cause." Kagen stated emotionlessly.
Kagen demonstrated his point by swinging the weapon, the clawed finger snapping out seemingly of it's own accord seeking to rend and tear flesh. Kagen returned the weapon to it's club state and offered it back to Shadow.
"I would rather fight bare handed, how can you even stand holding that thing?!" Shadow stated in disgust.
Kagen was unmoved.
"If this is all it takes to break your resolve then leave, because this is nothing compared to the monster it is made from. If you wish to be a hunter, you must not balk at the unpleasant, or the terrible. A hunter must learn to stare at impossibility and horror, and remain unmoved!"
Shadow glared into Kagen's eyes for a moment, he saw no sign of fear or disgust, to him the arm was just another weapon. Steeling himself Shadow took the weapon from Kagen, suppressing his feelings of revulsion. Giving Shadow a curt nod of approval Kagen turned to the others.
"That goes for all of you, you must all be ready to face the horrors of the hunt. I have waded through pools of blood waist deep, fought in lightless tombs filled with undead abominations, ripped the organs from monsters fifty times my size. I have seen children torn limb from limb, men and women turned into twisted monsters, I have killed former comrades consumed by madness, I have even destroyed the gods I once revered!" Kagen glared into the eyes of every person present."If you don't think you can stomach that, then speak now!" Kagen waited for a full thirty seconds, no one spoke. "Very well, then from this moment forward you are never to complain about anything you may find disturbing during training, do so and I will return you to Mobius as a failure! Do I make my self clear?!"
Everyone nodded their understanding.
"Good, then let your training begin."