I see. So I'm alone. My family's all gone, so I have nothing. In that case, I guess I am nothing.
To become something, I need someone. No. I need someone to need me. That's how I'll have worth.
I have to be someone likeable. I have to be someone friendly. I have to be someone perfect. Then, people will want to be near me, right?
If I do what they need, If I fulfil their requests, then they'll have no choice but to love me. Right?
It's not working.
Everyone's already closed off.
They've formed their own worlds. No matter how I am, they don't need me.
No matter how much I do for them, I'm non-existent. So, I need to change targets.
People who are fine don't need anyone. They don't need me.
The ones I should be helping are the ones who need others, like me. They all need a specific type of person to save them. So there's nothing wrong with me becoming that person for them, right?
This one is scared. So they need someone dependable.
It didn't work. They caught on. They don't trust me anymore. They'll never trust me anymore.
This one is withdrawn. They need someone outgoing.
It didn't work. They caught on. They don't trust me anymore. They'll never trust me anymore.
This one is outgoing. They need someone withdrawn.
It didn't work. They caught on. They don't trust me anymore. They'll never trust me anymore.
This one is brash. They need someone reserved.
It didn't work.
This one is confident. They need someone to lead.
It didn't work.
This one is unsure. They need someone to assure them.
It didn't work.
It didn't work.
It didn't work.
It didn't work.
Am I doing something wrong? I can't see what's wrong with this.
If I could have someone to save me, I'd jump at the chance. Does it matter if they're real or not? What difference does it make? What's wrong with all of you?
Why isn't it working?
This one prides himself on being strong.
All I can do is repeat until something works. So this time, I need to become someone weak.
I'll become someone for him to protect. Then everything will work out.
1327
Aron walked off.
"Wait a second!" Julia yelled, falling on deaf ears.
He took a quest and headed out. Julia quickly rushed behind him.
"Didn't I already say?" Aron asked without turning around. "I don't need you anymore. I'm… not someone who gets involved with others. So just don't bother."
"But- we're supposed to be partners. Didn't you agree?"
"...I never did. You decided that for yourself."
A few more days passed. They could almost be called empty.
Aron was relieved to be at peace again. He was a solitary existence once more, like he was comfortable being. This was all he needed.
Once again, he found himself travelling through the Jurassic Frontier. Everyday life had returned.
"Ah."
"Ah."
Once again, it was disrupted by Julia's presence.
"This wasn't on purpose, you know. I'm just here by coincidence. That's what happens when there's only one hunting ground near here."
Aron didn't respond. He just pretended not to notice her.
This annoyed Julia enough to push her further.
"Oi. What gave me away?"
"...Someone else told me."
"I see. So that's how it is, now."
"You're saying that like it's a surprise."
"Of course it is. Why would they do that?"
"Well, the one I encountered seemed to want to spare others from finding out on their own, or something like that. So that's why, I guess."
"I don't get it, though! Why does everyone leave when they find out it's fake? Is wanting to be loved that wrong? Is it wrong to not want to be on your own?"
"Isn't it creepy? Knowing that someone's acting out a personality just to appeal to you."
"But who cares if it's fake? That's what you want! That's what you need! That's your way to become complete! Why does it matter whether it's genuine or not!?"
"That's for them to answer, not me. I'm just guessing."
"Are you serious? You can't relate at all? After having the same exact reaction. Don't bullshit me just because you're stuck up your own ass on pride."
"Just to be clear, I couldn't care less. The problem was that I was weak enough to let you take advantage of me. I'm not supposed to be someone that pathetic."
"So you really don't care about others at all?"
"Of course I don't. There can only be one at the top. Anyone who says otherwise is just deluding themselves. Other people will just drag you down."
Julia was about to reply, but her voice cut off. It was only a second later that Aron noticed.
The deafening sound of footsteps. An existence demanding their attention appeared out of the trees, advancing calmly. An overwhelming royal-like presence. A mane of azure.
Even without ever having seen one before, Julia could recognise it from a glance.
"A Lunastra!"
They both switched to attacking instantly. The monster responded with a roar.
There wasn't a conscious decision made. Both hunters operated on pure instinct telling them that there was no way to run.
Aron slashed away at the monster. She went for a bite, forcing him to dodge.
Meanwhile, Julia pelted the monster with arrows covered in paralysis coating.
The relentless assault continued until the Lunastra leapt into the air, spreading her wings out.
Aron didn't let up, trying to knock her out of the air. Julia looked down for a single second and finally noticed why the monster hadn't been fighting back that much.
"The ground!" Was all that Aron heard, but it was enough for him to notice the dust covering it a few seconds before it heated up, creating a blue flame.
He rolled out of the way and took a second to process what had just happened, leaving him open to the monster charging straight into him, forcing him to guard at the last second.
He took another second to recover, before pushing forwards again. The constant rain of arrows continued.
The Lunastra spread more dust across the ground, igniting it.
"That blue stuff's dangerous… but if I can avoid it, then this thing can't do anything. I've never fought anything like this before. But… I can do this!"
Aron dashed around the fire covering the ground and raised his weapon, slamming it straight down on his target. The Lunastra jumped backwards, creating a gust of wind that knocked him back into the flames for a few seconds before he could recover.
Unphased, he closed the distance again, this time opting for a charged strike. The Lunastra was knocked out of the sky.
Aron advanced, intending to turn the fight in his favour. All he was met with was a roar, a cry for help.
An object of furious crimson crashed into the area a second later,
"This is… There's no way we can deal with a Teostra too!" Julia thought, panicked.
Aron didn't seem to process this.
She watched him. It was like his brain had cut out. He remained motionless.
A moment slowly passed by.
The activation was instant, like a bullet being fired. He charged straight for the monster, roaring at the top of his lungs.
"I'm not gonna end up like them! I'm not gonna be beneath you! I'm gonna stand at the top! I can't be beneath anything! The one who's left standing… will be me!"
The Teostra charged straight into him, knocking him back. He stood up once more, only to hit with a claw swipe. The Teostra then detonated the powder in the air, the blast knocking him even further away. Still, through a mix of stubbornness and fear, the hunter stood up again.
The Lunastra rose to its feet, immediately targeting Aron. All Julia could do was watch as the two elder dragons took turns attacking Aron, never giving him an opening.
Yet, the man didn't care. He continued to attack, no matter what. As though he wasn't even looking at the reality before him, he slashed away without concern.
Another explosion sent Aron flying backwards. By now, he was covered in blood. He still advanced carelessly.
Julia felt a shift in the air. The pair had grown tired of the man's stubbornness.
They danced around each other, spreading powder everywhere.
Aron ran forwards once again, unable to even notice the danger around him.
The monsters readied themselves.
Aron advanced forwards, ignorant.
"Not… gonna die. Gonna overcome it. You can't... kill me!"
At the last second, a hand grabbed him by the shoulder.
"Use your brain already, idiot!"
The duo slammed into the ground, setting off an explosion. The area was reduced to a hell of flames in an instant.
The pair of hunters were knocked off the cliff, tumbling into the forest below.