I kept a steady breath as I stared down the slightly maimed Burnt Scale, my blade measured up to its face as it levitated on the shoreline. The Mark was growling furiously, seemingly trying to pump itself up. I began my approach, keeping my guard up and my nerves steeled. The Burnt Scale snarled in anger, warning me to back off. I ignored its threats and pressed forward, getting ready to strike. I lifted my left hand from my weapon and called upon the power of electricity.
"Thunder!" The bolt of lightning shot from my fingers and struck the mutant fish for the second time in a row, but it didn't do as much damage as before. The Mark attacked, throwing itself at me and snapping its powerful teeth. I blocked the furious attack, the Mark's molten red teeth biting down on my Kotetsu. I headbutted the creature, making it release its hold, but it lashed out again and slapped me across the face with one of its fins. My face burned as blood trickled from my new and old wounds, the Burnt Scale prepared for another strike. Its body began to convulse again, but I rolled out of the way as another glob of bodily fluid splattered over the sand and retaliated with a special attack of my own. I ran up and slashed downwards, brought my sword to my left and struck with two hammering blows with the flat. I held my weapon with my right hand as I leaned back and thrust the blade forward, stabbing through the Burnt Scale's jaw, tearing it out the left and hammering the beast across the side of the face.
It appeared dazed and unable to strike, so I attacked again, holding the Kotetsu with both hands, I brought the katana behind my back and struck with all my might. Blood splashed across my face as the blade connected with the beasts exposed throat, my face unexpectedly exploded with agony. I let out a cry of anger and pain, retreating back from the mutilated enemy as its blood poured onto the sand. I stabbed my weapon into the ground and began to furiously wipe the blood from my face, the burning more intense and painful by the second. I shot a glance at my enemy and it was already upon me, ramming into my stomach at near blinding speeds. I instantly vomited on the Mark as I was flung away, landing hard against the unforgiving sand. I shakily pushed myself back to my feet, wiping my mouth of the mix of puke and blood and realized, in horror, that I had no weapon. I looked directly at the Mark and watched as the bloody maw almost smirked at me, like it could taste my fear.
I conjured two thunder spells and took cover behind a palm tree as the Mark levitated further from the shoreline. My face continued to burn with agony when I realized I was poisoned and also realized that I had threw down my bag. TO THIS DAY, I have no clue WHY I did, but I'm pretty sure it came down to over-confidence. I bolted from my hiding spot and the Burnt Scale charged, so I let loose one of my Thunder spells, hitting it square in the face. Like before it did little, but it was enough for me to reach my bag and dodge an incoming ram. Still running, I dug into my bag and withdrew an antidote and drank it and the burning subsided. I chucked the bottle and dug out a Hi-Potion and drank with gusto, the pain in my body getting numbed. I stopped dead in my tracks, whirled around and dropped to ground as the Burnt Scale sailed over my head. I made a mad dash for my weapon, my legs aching with every step. Retrieving my weapon, I put up an offensive stance. I was done fucking around, I was not happy camper and something was going to pay dearly. The Burnt Scale was going to be that something.
The Mark threw itself at me again as I marched towards it, whipping its fins at me. I quickly ducked and stabbed upwards, completely impaling the Burnt Scale as I drove upwards and the weight of it pushed down, allowing me to completely skewer the overgrown fish. Throwing the beast to the ground and freeing my weapon, I then proceeded to slash the beast relentlessly, blood spraying with every blow and reduced the beast to sushi within a matter of seconds. I panted as delivered the final blow, stabbing it directly through the head and completely killing it. Relief washed over me as I fell back in pure exhaustion, panting and sweating like no tomorrow.
"It's...about...fucking...time...you died...Goddamn..." I released my weapon and just laid there in the sun, letting the sea breeze cooling me off. I continued to revel in my victory, realizing how close I came to dying. But that's what I liked about hunting. Not knowing whether or not it'll be your last battle, which is why I fought like every battle like it was my last. It not only kept me alive, but it proved I could take care of myself. I had to prove to the clan that I was ready for anything, to get the big assignments, to prove myself even more with enemies more powerful than the Burnt Scale! After resting for awhile, I got up, retrieved my canteen and gulped several mouthfuls down, belching as the refreshing liquid rested in my gullet. I picked up my weapon, sheathed it and proceeded to rip large scales off the Marks body, as prove of kill and as my own trophy. The scales were jet black and shined in the sun like a crystal. Putting my proof in my bag, I headed back to Rabanastre.
Arriving through the way I came, I headed over to Leo, who was still waiting by the Life Crystal. I walked over to him and attempted to converse with him, but he was sleeping.
"Hey." I said.
"Go away..."
"HEY! WAKE UP!" I raised my voice, making his eyes shoot open and stare me dead in the eye. "I'm back."
"And?"
"It is dead."I show him my proof and he leaped up and nearly tackled me from sheer excitement.
"Oh thank you so much! I owe you so much, man!"
"Hey, you don't owe me anything besides my reward."
"R-right!" He turned around, dug into a bag I hadn't noticed until then and withdrew several gil coins and a small, sliver and orange dagger. "3000 gil and a Gladius, my friend." He said with a smile.
"Thank you. You be careful the next time you go hunting."
"I will! And you as well!" Leo got up and ran off with his bag, leaving me at the Crystal. I touched the blue, glowing object and felt my wounds seal with its usual, bizarre and tingling sensation. "Time to report back." I said to myself, my next place of business being the office of Montblanc. As I arrived at the clan house, things were quiet. More quiet than usual. Yeah there were people there, but something just seemed off. The people were looking sad. I looked to Bansats usual spot, but he was not there. I looked at Monid, who was sitting with his adopted child and he looked...angry.
"What happened?"
"You didn't hear?"
"No. What happened?"
"It'd be better if the boss told you. Just... leave me be..." I walked up the stairs and knocked at Montblanc's office, intent on finding out about what happened. "Come in." I entered the small room and saw the Moogle working away at files.
"I heard about the Burnt Scale. Good work."
"Thank you." I replied. "Why is everyone so...depressing all the sudden?" I asked, sitting down in one of the chairs in front of his desk.
"After you left, Bansat accepted a petition for a Mutant Behemoth in Giza Plains the locals referred to as Ogre. A few hours later, a Nomad returned in his place, saying he had been slain on the battlefield," Montblanc dug in his pocket, "this is all that remains of him." A large, plated necklace dropped onto the desk, the horror of the situation hitting me like a brick wall. Bansat was a well respected member of the clan and also my friend, he showed me the ropes when I was a beginner and I would always be thankful to him for that.
"Where is it?"
"Shaylum. We all cared about Bansat, but you can't run out there and get yourself killed. Think of your parents. I don't like having to knock on someones door, saying their son was slain by some monstrosity he had no chance of fighting in the first place." I 'tch'd' at the 'no chance' part.
"What do we do then?"
"We wait. I'll have my sources gather as much intel on this beast as they can before we strike. Trust me, he will be avenged."
"I understand." This is what I didn't like. Being helpless while a friend was slaughtered by a merciless beast, not being able to strike down those that cause us grief...
"Go home, you smell terrible and you're getting blood on my new chairs."
"Okay." I left without another word, each step on the way out heavy and sad. I returned to my apartment, unlocked the door, opened the door, entered, closed the door and locked it behind me. I placed my katana by the door and dropped my stuff on the table before getting some clothes and taking a long shower. When I got out, I cleaned my Kotetsu and its sheath, put away my money and kept the Gladius on the table, unsure how I would orient a dagger into my fighting style.
My apologies if the fighting scenes are a little repetitive, I'll try to add a little more variety to the fighting later on. Please Review!