The battles throughout the country continued.
There were losses on the hunter's side, but with the warriors leading the charge they were able to push the monsters back.
Along the way, some natives were found hiding in different places. Natasha and Natalie were able to communicate with them.
They had no idea where the monsters had come from, but it began fourteen years ago, when the attacks on the towns started.
The ones who weren't able to escape had no choice but to abandon their homes and go into hiding elsewhere.
From this, they learned an important piece of information.
The location of the monster's leader was in the middle of the country, in the ruins of the capital.
This led to the formation of a plan.
"The final strike is upon us." Fallon told the rest of the hunters "We've managed to corner our enemy here. All that's left is to ensure they don't escape. So for that purpose, I'll now explain our plan."
"We'll surround their base on all sides, slowly closing in on them. Five warriors will lead different parts of our army. Meanwhile, my squad will go to the castle and defeat their leader. Once the leader's dead, the fight should be easy from there. The only problem is if they have any monsters capable of flight left, in which case the gunners will have to knock them out of the air if they try to escape. That's all. The fight will begin at dawn. We'll send the first signal, then the ones nearby us will also send out signals, until it eventually converges at the other end of the formation."
The hunters were sorted into different teams.
Sean, Alicia and Matt were following Fa.
Ben, Natasha and Natalie were following Avery.
Alexandra, Anthony, Riko, Callum and Ed were following Raf.
Zach, Shoot and Lyra were following Aron.
Vert, Josh and Terrence were following Joseph.
Fallon's squad consisted of her warriors and a few others.
"So we all ended up in different groups?" Zach thought aloud to the other three.
They didn't need to answer. The weight of the air spoke for them.
"Oh yeah, Callum." Joseph said.
"What?"
"Don't lose an arm again. Ya only got one left."
"Why would I!? Actually, more than that, did ya think I didn't notice?"
"No, it was just a reminder. And its cause last time we had something important, ya just went off and lost one by yerself."
"That wasn't on purpose!"
"But it did happen. So just be careful this time."
"I will! Ya gotta be careful too! This is gonna be real funny when ya come back missing an arm instead of me!"
"Oh? Is that a threat?"
"I'm impressed ya can talk about shit so dumb at a time like this." Ben cut in.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Zach asked.
"Maybe. I dunno."
"I guess things like this are supposed to be serious, but that doesn't really apply much to us, does it?"
To begin with, it had just been these four. A struggle to survive together. They took on a shared sin and began a journey. Daimyo was introduced to them, followed by the rest of the monsters joining. Their memories of their first days hunting.
By now, one of them had already disappeared. Things had gotten more complicated over time. They had their own stories to manage, independent of each other. But that didn't mean the bond was broken.
The Gilmore brothers, after almost two decades together, could feel their connection. It was a name they'd taken on for themselves out of guilt, but it was what tied them together now, even apart.
"Well, there's no point getting all sentimental about something that we're always gonna have, no matter what." Ben said "So let's get going."
"Yeah." Callum replied "We've probably waited around too long anyways. If we think about it too hard then something bad's bound to happen, right?"
"Yeah, that's why I just don't think. So see ya guys when we get back."
"Wait, one thing first. I'm the leader around here, right?"
"Ya are?"
"Like, barely."
"That idea kinda got dropped a few chapters in."
"...Well I used to be, at least. So lemme give one last order before we head out."
A response of silence.
"Don't lose any arms!"
The silence turned into groaning.
"That's the joke ya went for?"
"Yeah, what else?"
After some more talking between themselves, the group finally parted ways to get ready for the battle.
Each took to their own road.
They eventually arrived at their positions.
"You know," Natalie began "I think I was kinda hoping that one of them would say they saw Eric somewhere, or that we'd even maybe find him."
"Yeah… I guess it's obvious that he wouldn't have made it, but I wanted to believe in the idea that he somehow survived anyways. He was just out here this entire time, waiting for our return."
"Pretty much. But I guess we don't have anything left here anymore. I wonder if we'll even return, once all this is over."
"No idea. Until now I just figured that once the monsters were gone, things'd return to normal, but I'm pretty sure we're a few years past that point now. We've spent almost all our lives outside of here, after all. Well… working all that out is for when we're done, right?"
"Right, so let's return alive."
Meanwhile, Ben spent his time with Plessy.
"I've got no idea what's gonna happen tomorrow. So I'll be counting on ya to have my back during it all. Let's slice em to pieces!"
The piscine wyvern let out a noise of affirmance.
At another part of the formation, the gunners waited around.
"Do ya think we've got this?" Matt asked Klaus.
The Diablos shook his head.
"Wait, that's not the answer I wanted to hear."
Klaus looked at him like he was asking too much.
"Ya usually just charge forward without a care, if ya can't do that now then imagine how I feel! Well… not that I can blame ya. Ok, so we're both unsure then. Great."
Alicia talked to Ayano.
"Let's crush them without mercy. Maybe Sean'll finally be impressed then."
Ayano didn't seem to care much for that, but she was at least glad that Alicia didn't seem too worried about things.
Sean and Azure sat there without words, simply staring at the empty city that would soon become a battleground.
Ed only laughed at the sight, accompanied by Revel. He yelled out things like "This will be a fitting stage for our last battle!" in an attempt to get himself ready for what was to come.
Callum just tried to get to sleep, Sanchez by his side.
Alexandra continued her training with Zino into the night.
Riko and Anthony looked out at the city.
"Don't worry. Tomorrow, I'll keep you safe tomorrow." Anthony told him.
"Huh? That's my line."
"No, it's mine."
"But I'm the one who can block attacks. So of course I'm gonna be the one protecting you."
"But you're also an idiot who takes damage for no reason because he doesn't care about his own life. So I'll be the one protecting here."
"But you'll end up doing the same thing!"
"Fine then, how about we both just protect each other!?"
"Sounds great! I'd be glad! But I'm still gonna protect you more!"
"Oh? We'll see about that."
Wave was just trying to sleep.
"Are you worried, nya?" Shoot asked Lyra.
"Not really."
"...Well I can't say I'm surprised. Yeah, that's good, nya."
"Is it? I'm just treating this the same as always."
"Yeah, it is. Most of the rest are scared outta their minds, nya. Let's just keep going like always. That'll be fine."
"Mm. I guess."
Zach sat resting against Zappy's mane.
"I wonder how things are gonna turn out… it still feels uneasy."
Zappy tried to reassure him.
"Good point. Nothing we can do now. Let's just focus on ourselves."
Josh waited with Frost, isolated from the rest.
"This time for sure… I'll pay back my debts."
This left the final six waiting for it to begin.
"I wonder why Fallon didn't just have us all charge the castle." Joseph wondered.
"She said it was to keep them from escaping, right?" Terrence replied.
"Yeah but, having all the aura users go makes more sense right? She already brought eight with her anyways. Wait, more than that, what's with those normal hunters she brought with her? They seemed… weird."
"They're assassins." Vert answered "Orphans the guild took in and trained themselves, for whatever missions can't be trusted with regular people. The types without much emotion, or independent thought."
She continued her thoughts.
"Fallon showing up really sacred me… I thought I was gonna end up being brought back. But I guess she just forgot my face. Right now they're all probably waiting in the darkness, only thinking about the mission. If I hadn't met everyone… then I'd surely be a part of that darkness too. What a weird feeling."
"Huh?" Terrence asked, snapping her back into reality. "How do you know that?"
"Don't worry about it."
"Anyways," Joseph said, trying to change the subject before Terrence uncovered too much "So ya didn't end up encountering Aron after all, huh?"
"Yeah. I guess things worked out in that regard. But that's not important for now, cause I don't care about him. How do you think things are gonna go tomorrow?"
"No idea." Vert replied.
"It'll be fine," Joseph boldly proclaimed "I'm here, after all."
"That really doesn't change much." Vert replied.
"Yeah… what are you planning to do?" Terrence asked.
"Can't have shit here. Well whatever, we've just gotta do it."
"Yeah."
"Yeah. Alright, both of you idiots, listen cause I'm the only gonna say this once."
"What?" Joseph and Terrence both asked in unison.
"Don't get yourselves killed out there."
"Yeah. Thanks." Terrence replied.
"Wait, don't just drop it like that." Joseph told him "With characters like her, ya gotta savour the one scene where they show genuine affection."
"Oh, I see. Why though?"
"Cause it's so rare, of course. It's the gradual buildup from completely hating you to only pretending to."
"It's not gonna be pretending for much longer if you keep acting like this." Vert told him.
"So it was pretending?"
"...And with that it's all back to normal, you've restarted things. Anyways, it's way too late, and I'm not going into a battle tired, so night."
"Good night." Terrence replied.
"Night." Joseph replied.
"I should probably go too." Terrence said.
"Sure. Night."
That left just Joseph and Nargy.
The Nargacuga was already asleep, not having the energy to move anymore.
"Ya tired, huh? Well, yer not alone in that feeling. Just one more fight left, then we can head back. It'll all be over by tomorrow."
He didn't answer, still resting. Joseph continued in his thoughts.
"And just one more chance… to find him, before everything ends."
The sun finally rose. The monsters hadn't made a single move on the formation during the night, as if waiting for their attackers.
Signals went up, the siege began.
The hunters closed in on the castle. Fallon's group ran ahead, straight into the castle.
Monsters emerged, all running in different directions.
Fallon's group cut through the ones in their path, reaching the entrance of the castle.
They advanced, finding even more monsters inside, trying to prevent them from reaching the top.
The warriors readied themselves, before charging towards the group.
Raf's group advanced forwards, before seeing a large group of monsters trying to get past them.
Raf noticed the ones flying through the air and immediately went to pursue, without concern for the ones who he was supposed to be leading.
Feeling a decrease in power, they braced themselves, unable to escape the enemy's charge anymore.
Riko, Anthony, Wave, Alexandra, Zino, Callum, Sanchez, Ed and Revel prepared themselves with all the mental determination they could muster, desperately trying to not get swept away by the wave of opposition.
Fa's group continued forwards, fighting their way through the monsters.
Azure suddenly looked to the sky, prompting Sean to follow.
A storm flew through the clouds, crashing down, leading to a booming voice.
"Frugalitas of the generals of Armageddon. That is the name of the one who will be taking your life today."
The storm parted for a second, revealing a Kushala Daora, before only growing stronger, as if to swallow the hunters whole.
Ben, Plessy, Natasha and Aki continued to fight off every monster they saw, while Natalie and Frega supported them.
Suddenly, a circle of flame tore through the battlefield, taking out several hunters nearby. It came to a halt, roaring.
After the roar came a single word, showing it was one of the higher up ones.
"Disciplinas!"
Taking it to be the enemy's name, Ben readied himself, before noticing the other two.
Natalie and Natasha both trembled. Whether it was with fear or anticipation, he was unsure. But the thing he could be sure of was that they recognised this Glavenus from somewhere.
Aron continued to cut through monsters, one at a time. They attempted to overwhelm him, but he was barely able to resist them.
Two forces crashed down next to him.
"You are one of the abnormal humans, correct?"
"One of the ones who poses a threat to us."
"One of the ones we must eliminate."
Aron didn't bother answering, he just waited for one of them to move. The two Seregios continued talking.
"I am Severitas."
"And I am Clementia."
"Surprised? Usually Seregios fight anything, especially each other, but we have realised that that's beneath us."
"Yes. While it's a shame that some of our siblings have gotten too hasty and been lost, us generals understand the importance of sticking together."
"As family, we cannot be defeated."
"Especially by the likes of you, completely on your own."
"So just give up and die." They said in unison.
"It always goes wrong when more than one gets involved." Aron thought to himself.
Zach, Zappy, Lyra, Shoot and Chante continued fighting.
A sudden fireball hit the ground nearby, burning some of the other hunters.
"Bow down! Lament your misfortune! For I, Auctoritas, the true king, shall be the one judging your fates!"
"Looks like an annoying one showed up." Lyra muttered, as the Silver Rathalos roared.
Joseph's group walked through the streets, leading them up a slope. Despite the battle, it was quiet, creating an uneasy feeling.
Nargy's ears picked something up. Joseph sensed it a second later. Not through hearing it, but through some other sense. It told him to pay attention.
Rumbling was heard as it grew closer. A full squad of monsters. And leading them was…
The one that the boy had spent all these years searching for.
Joseph gripped his blade tightly, as if to confirm he was still in reality.
As if to confirm that this blade forged for revenge had finally reached its purpose.
The two forces had been drawn to one another, sensing the other's presence.
"I knew it… I knew that this would be the place where I'd find ya again. I knew ya'd be here somewhere. Ya sure kept me waiting."
"Sorry, sorry. Joined this army and all, you know? They even made me a general, gave me the name Virtas and anything. But I'm sure you don't care about that, not even for a second."
"Ya got that right. Ya don't need one. Yer just the bastard I gotta take revenge on. So let's finish what we started already!"
The Molten Tigrex roared.
The rest looked on.
Terrence was lost. Josh seemed vaguely sad. Vert showed concern. Nargy showed fear.
Joseph let out a battle cry and rushed towards his target, while Virtas roared and rushed towards his.
In the heart of that almost abandoned country, two souls clashed.
TO BE CONTINUED