Chapter 3: A Fateful Encounter

Turel was awakened earlier than he normally would by a commotion outside the Inn. He glanced out the window looking at the morning daylight," Eight o'clock? Damn who would get up at this ungodly hour?"

Despite this fact, he arose, got together his baggage (consisting of his sword, armor, and other amenities), played the Inn-keeper and headed outside into the fray.

The streets were alive with the typical activity you would see in a city, but the most notable was the gossip that was going around. He listened in on a group of young women heading out into the square.

"I hear that the Royal Hunters just got back from catching a wyvern, one of those pest ones, what were they called?" asked one girl.

Her friend responded," Which one? The burrowing ones?"

"No, the ones with the red eyes, you know they can make light with their nose."

The third girl chimed in,"Ohhhh, a Gypceros!"

It was true, unlike just about every other wyvern species, Gypceros have no trouble surviving in this world where hunting had become a pastime. Most people kill the monster just for fun, and then don't even use the parts, leaving it there to rot, or even poisoning it to kill off even more life. Rathalos, Rathian, Gravios, Diablos, Monoblos, Kut Ku's, Plesioth; they will all die out. Species like Gypceros however will survive for many years. They are specialized to trick and deceive any attackers. Stretching tail, blood red eyes when angered to scare, nearly limitless energy, playing opossum, and a blinding light to stun enemies; all of this specialization will insure that they will live on many years longer than other wyverns. Unless that is, action was taken to preserve these amazing creatures.

Turel followed the girls toward a large mass of people crowding around the square. He left his luggage in a dark corner, taking only his sword, and pushed his way through the crowd. They were being kept a safe distance away from the "cargo" by a group of guards and three hunters. These three were obviously the Royal Hunters that he had heard about, the official hunters who were given orders directly by the King, the best of the best. If Cyrus couldn't come through for him, getting into their ranks would be his best chance of finding her. They consisted of a tall blonde man wielding a Crimson War Pike, clad in Los armor, a stocky gunner with jet black hair, sporting Titan Launcher and Gravios armor, and a dark haired woman wielding a Sieglinde and sporting Chain and Steel armor, she was obviously the leader.

The Gypceros was uneasy, the tranquilizers must have just worn off, as it seemed to just be waking up, but it already was showing nervousness from so many people. The two male hunters left, Turel made out something about "informing the guards to help bring in the cargo", leaving the lone woman alone along with some weak guards. Already there was a build of jeers and shouts toward the creature, which grew more uneasy as it got louder. What happened next was hard to remember. All that can really be said was that something was thrown at the rope-bound animal which set it off.

In an enraged panic, the Gypceros summoned forth its unbelievable energy and strength, fueled by a chemical similar to adrenalin, known only as power extract. The animal easily tore through the ropes that help it, and it charged into the crowd of people, sending some sprawling. The civilians scattered and fled, along with the guards," Idiots." He said in anger as he drew his blade.

As the people fled, it left only him and the Gypceros, its glowing eyes staring him down. He charged it, as he did he heard a low hissing sound, signifying that it was drawing poison into its mouth. He dodged out of the of this, spinning around he hit the Gyp with a side swipe, cutting deep into its chest. It countered this with a swipe from its tail, which he ducked under quickly and rolled away. It turned to try and charge him when their battle was interrupted by something falling onto the animal.

The female hunter from before jumped from the rooftops, landing on its back. She raised the blade over her head, and stabbed downward deep into its back. The Gypceros let out a loud cry of pain and collapsed onto the ground, she jumped off as this happened and turned to face the carcass.

Turel walked to its side and watched her, she took a glance at him before kneeling down to grab the stone mounted on its head. Its eye turned to look at her. Before she could take more than a step back, it thrashed about trying to quickly regain its footing. Turel sprung in, shoving her out of the way and brought up his blade, blocking the bone-crushing bite inches away from his skull. One quick swing cut deep into its throat, killing the animal as it flopped lifelessly to the ground.

He turned to the woman, who was walking over to him...and past him. She grabbed the Gyp's "horn" and pulled it off easily. Turel noted how muscular her upper body was, not a surprise given her weapon of choice. She began to peel back the flesh around it, revealing a brightly shining Nova Crystal.

"You know, for a hunter of your stature, I thought you would have known about the Gypceros' death feint." Turel said to her.

"I had everything under control, had you not stepped in I would have killed it myself." she stated blandly. He walked up to her, too close for personal comfort.

"Not from what I saw."

"Be that as it may, you had no right to stick your neck into Royal Hunter business. I've never even seen you here before, what makes you think that you are better than me?", but before he could respond, the other two hunters showed up with some castle guards, she didn't even spare him a second glance before walking off, ordering the guards to clean up the carcass. Turel didn't care though, he walked back off down the street to retrieve his gear, tossing the Nova Crystal up and down, talking to himself," I wonder how long it will take until she notices?"