Disclaimer: All rights belong to their respective owners, I only wish to write a story.
Fighting has always been a staple in history. We fight to protect the things we love, value, and are loyal to. For better or worse, fighting, or conflict has been the method that most organisms engage in throughout history for one reason or another.
Of course, fighting is also a means for survival.
Not much is recorded of the time before the current four Goddesses, but the little history that is recorded shows that people of that time were in a constant state of strife. Unlike the days now where our safety is pretty much guaranteed. Resources in general were in short supply and caused many conflicts to occur. A completely opposite way of life with the Goddesses now protecting us. Just by knowing that little, you can say that the only reason humanity lives is because of the Goddesses.
It might not be the same, but hunting has given me survival experience to a degree. I had to learn the hard way that swinging around a sword isn't as simple as anime or games make it look like. The guild taught me basic stances and combat practice sessions to prepare for my new career. I was given the standard hunting equipment, a sword that I broke very quickly, leather armor that got ripped as fast the sword breaking, and they gave me some tips about specific monsters and that was about it. After that, I had to learn everything on my own. First hand.
The scars that litter my body are prime example of the incidents I've had over time. Improper stitching show themselves with large scars to smaller scar ratios in the quality of the stitches. Some scars are embarrassing to admit, but there's one on my right arm when I nicked myself in a cave. Still no idea how that happened. Those were some embarrassing times until I was able to find a style that suited me. No offence to the Guild's teaching, but it was rather lack luster for the job it promotes. You'd think they'd teach someone better since they'd want the hunters to come back. I eventually ended up going for short swords in favor over the larger long swords the Guild had taught me with. The speed that the short sword gave me fit me more than the long sword. I eventually grew into a hit and run strategy, darting in and out of combat to avoid getting hurt. The first time I came home with wounds terrified my mother, and she nearly cut me off from being a hunter right then and there. She's partly the reason I developed my current fighting style. Of course, none of this really is helping me in my current situation.
The wolves have been circling around me for a while now, poking and prodding my defense. This style of fighting is really catching me off guard, usually monsters tend to be straight forward and charge right at me. They're taking their time with me, and it's really making my usual method of fighting really ineffective. Suddenly, one of them darts in on me, and in the time, I make to counter attack the first, the second makes their attempt to overwhelm me. I manage to double back and avoid their attack altogether, but I couldn't get out unscathed. A long but deep cut is left on my side penetrating my armor and drawing blood. These wolves are no joke, this cut is only a little of their power. I really can't afford to let these wolves get close enough for a solid hit. It'll be the end of me.
I was able to bring the fight from the thick forest to a small clearing to give me space to fight, but it's looking like a losing battle so far. I haven't been able to land an impactful hit yet, and I've just been getting hit like this throughout the fight. Luckily, the cut just now was only the first to start bleeding as much as it is but the longer this goes on, the sloppier I'll get from the blood loss. This is slowly becoming a war of attrition, and I'm sure it's one that I'm bound to lose.
I'm not sure what to do. If I go after one of them, the other will retaliate with my back turned. If I keep defending, I'll just slowly become weak enough for them to take me down regardless of my defense. My short sword isn't exactly a strong one either. In my haste to get out in the field, I didn't put much thought into quality of my sword and I'm already seeing the results of my lapse of judgement. I can already feel the blade start to crumble from the stress of their attacks. I can't think of anything to get out of this situation and I know I don't have much time. I might just have to try my luck and do something reckless to try to change the tide of the battle.
*Grrrr* Well now might be the time to put that thought into action!
The wolf in front of me bent slightly before it pounced upon me bearing claw and fangs. Knowing that the wolf behind me would follow up, I bought my sword up horizontally to receive the wolf but rolled out of the way before he could land on me. The second wolf, already mid pounce, wasn't prepared for me dash forward and stick my sword through its head from under. It gave a whine, and then pixelated, signifying its death. I quickly pivoted at the sound of the other wolf giving a bark and tried dodging to the side as I knew I wouldn't be able to react fast enough to receive the wolf's attack.
I feel a sting on my right side but ignore the pain in favor of getting into stance against the wolf.
A chill silence passes between us as we stare each other down. Waiting. Whoever strikes first may very well be the winner. I'm not sure how deep the cut the wolf gave me, but I have a feeling this face off is my last chance to come out on top in this fight. Man, if a Goddess felt like bestowing me with some sort of power, now would be the time for it!
Me and the wolf been standing off here, me staring at it silently and it growling lowly. Aside from its growling it's so quiet that I can feel my heart frantically pump blood through my veins. I've likely suffered worse damage than I think, but I don't have time to think about it I have to get through. I must end this here and now. I decide to take the initiative and slowly nudge myself towards the wolf. The wolf responds in kind and begins to move closer as well. I can feel the wound that the wolf gave me ooze blood now, and I know now is the time.
Surprisingly, the wolf decided to make its move first and lunged at me. I didn't expect the attack so suddenly, but I was able to move before I toke the full force of a giant wolf. A sharp sting on my right shoulder blade sends my nerves ablaze in pain, but I ignore it in favor of going after the wolf and tossing a haphazard horizontal slice at it, granting me the sweet sound of it yelping and backing off.
I can feel my right shoulder screaming in pain. My arm shaking uncontrollably making it difficult to maintain my grip on my sword, let alone get into stance. The wolf is limping as it circles me, apparently not willingly to give up it's hunt regardless of its injuries. Guy doesn't know when to quit, I guess. Ugh, these injuries make me wish Gamindustri really was video game like. At least all of this wouldn't hurt so damn much.
Knowing my right arm won't be of much use, I switch my sword to my left and get into a stance of sort. I've never used my left side for anything, so it feels clunky and awkward to use it for this purpose. Not like I've got much choice. The wolf does nothing to prevent me from making the switch, and merely watches me with its sharp eyes. My vision blurs, and I can feel myself stumble as I lose consciousness for a second before righting myself back into position. My heart beats loudly in my head as it works overtime to maintain my body.
I need to finish this now before it's too late.
But I can't move. It's taking everything I have to keep myself from face planting the ground right now. Just thinking about trying to move is futile. I absolutely won't be able to move as I am right now.
This really might be it. I just might die here.
From the day I became a hunter, death was a topic that was engraved in me. I was taught by the guild and learned by experience that being a hunter could spell death at any second. Early close calls called for me to learn basic first aid and herbs in the wild. I've never come close to dying. I've tried my hardest to return home with as little damage done to me as possible. If I died, it would be the nail in the coffin for my mother after all. Although, I think in my time as a hunter, I've grown cocky. After all, someone like me has been able to survive as a hunter by myself. I learned a lot, and became strong, but the Dragon had been a reality check for me. It reminded me that death was around any corner. That it could come and claim me at any second. It just might today. There isn't an unknown Goddess Candidate with me today. In fact, no one even knows I'm out here. My mom might have an idea, but not an exact location. It's just me and this wolf. Blade and tooth. Blood for blood.
I must survive this. There's no other options. I still have goals to meet. I need to stay by my mother's side,I want to fix the broken relationship I have with Kasumi, and I want to keep being Noire's friend. There is no other option. Survival is the only one.
As if sensing my resolve, the wolf makes this his time to pounce, and I feel my life flash before my eyes. Me and my family spending time together when I was young. Meeting Kasumi and the ensuing memories we'd form, good or bad. My father dying. Me and Kasumi growing apart then her reappearance. Becoming a hunter and meeting Noire.
Suddenly, fueled by these thoughts, I'm able to muster whatever little energy in my body to move forwards to meet the wolf head on. For a moment, I envision myself out maneuvering the wolf and cleaving it clean in half. Me falling backwards onto the ground, spent, bloody, and victorious. I'd wake up twelve or so hours later, see the hundreds of messages from my mother and Noire, and walk home.
But fate thought otherwise.
The wolf, taught by my reckless acts throughout the fight, decided to forego its own safety and crash straight into my sword. I felt my blade buckle and explode against the wolf's skull as I got knocked back. In a panic, I look towards my left to see the shimmering pieces of my blade under the moonlight, destroyed, just like my odds of victory. The wolf is already upon me, and right before the wolf is able to bring its mouth down upon me, I close my eyes and accept my coming doom and my mind fades to the abyss...
*Pop*
Noire
This feels like such an unproductive day. Since I cleared most of the day's work to have time for Adam, I've done absolutely nothing but lounge the Basilicom doing absolutely nothing. Right now, I'm just lying on the couch flicking through channels to pass the time. The little bit of work I had for the morning didn't last long, and Uni was out doing something with Nepgear.
All throughout today I've had Adam on my mind. It isn't from a crush or anything, I'm just worried. I mean, it's not like its possible to get a crush on someone so soon right? All the research I've been doing on it proves otherwise. Totally impossible. Besides, he's human, it's physically impossible for such a relationship to ever happen. I don't even know why I'm bothering thinking about this. I'm just worried about him after all. It's perfectly normal to worry over a f-friend.
I should send him a text, ask how he is. I've stopped myself all day from so, but I think enough time has passed to ask him. Really, I don't think it'd be much of a bother to send him one text at least. Let him know that I'm worried and would like to see if he's available tomorrow. Even though he did say he would be, it'd be nice to make sure he is. After all, who knows what he's done today. He could have another obligation he suddenly gained throughout the day. Yea. That sounds reasonable. Get my worries done and over with. Ask about tomorrow. That's it. Perfect.
With plan in mind, I sit up and grab my phone from the nearby night stand. Unlocking my phone and doing the necessary taps to get to me and Adam's chat and begin to type out my message. Now, I just need to word it in a way not to seem clingy, but not detached, but clearly showing my worry, but not too much as to make him think I'm desperate. Easy.
"Hey Adam! Just wanted to check in on you. Everything alright with you? I just wanted to che-"
Agh!
Suddenly a sharp feeling, almost like a lightning-based attack hit me.
It…the shares? The sharicite is flowing shares away from me and Uni! What the…its flowing out of the city! I have to see what's going on. This could potentially be life threatening for me and Uni, or even Gamindustri itself! If another enemy has shown itself, I need to tell the others, but I should confirm the situation before I throw everyone into a panic.
As I transformed and flew out of the Basilicom as fast as I could, I couldn't help but feel a pain in my heart. Something was telling me that something was horribly wrong. That someone I really care for is in trouble, and that very thought made me fly faster.
I just really hope it's something like Arfoire.
A/N: I'd say I'm sorry but it probably wouldn't matter. Been busy, moving and a trip and stuff. Great stuff really.
I feel really bad for taking this long, but this chapter has been rewritten multiple times and even now I'm not entirely satisfied with it. Pretty lame really. Makes me tempted to upload one of the previous versions somewhere so you guys can see how far this chapter came from. If anyone would be interested in that, lemme know.
Enough about that for now, this story hit 100 followers! Never thought this would do so well, so thank you everyone who gave this story the time of day!
The next chapter is actually nearly done, I've worked on it in between working on this one since it constantly frustrated me. It's gonna be a long one too! Again, thank you for reading! Have a great morning/afternoon/night!