(Cue- Oppression V2- Dynasty Warriors 3)
-The Story-
The Hunt has raged ever since the Woodlands, for a beast of bane and hell named Redeye.
Its gaze can turn people to stone, its appearance is terrifying. Its carnage… vicious.
H'aanit and the Brave Adventurers must hunt this beast and stop it, and cure the victims that Redeye petrified.
The hunt must end in Marsalim, today.
(end song)
"Art thou ready, Ishihara?" H'annit asked.
"Yes. I have prepared for this moment since I came here. Though, this beast is very tenacious. Taking it down will require a complex tactic." David said.
"I see. You are a strategic man." H'aanit said.
"While his strategies are not always perfect, they've gotten us out of more dire situations than we can count." Ming said.
"There was also something else I noticed. This Redeye...from what I feel from its essence when we examined the petrified victims… It's not an ordinary beast. More like...it was a human turned into a monster against his will." David said.
"So what art thine thinking about doing to this beast?" H'aanit asked.
"I might have an idea. Sectonia, I will need your help for this one." David said. "The main assault force will split into two groups. The first group will weaken Redeye just enough for you to use your Stardust Breaker technique to free the poor soul. However, if Z'aanta's notes are anything to go by, Redeye is persistent. Once the lingering essence reforms, the second assault group will chase it down while everyone else scatters around and cut off any possible escape routes."
"And if Sectonia's attack doesn't work, and we have to actually finish him off?" Colette asked.
"...Then at least we can spare him of pain." David said.
"Alright. We'll go with your plan, David. You in, H'aanit?" Zelos asked.
"Verily. I offer my bow and Linde offers her claws." H'aanit said.
"Shh...we're close to its lair." Hawkins said as they approached a cave in the sands. Venturing down into them, they came across petrified soldiers. "Seems they were down here hunting the beast as well."
"So many soldiers petrified…." Colette said.
"I know… Tragic sight." Tapu Fini said.
"Stay close….I can tell it's near." H'aanit said as they heard an inhuman roar as approaching them was a black mass with a human like head but its limbs were in different positions on its body, the only colorful thing about it were its piercing red eyes.
"This is definitely what I saw in Stonegard...this is Redeye." Hawkins said. "Like I told you...it's no beast...it's an abomination."
"He's right. This creature...it does not acten like any of the monsters I have seen. It's something that doesn't belong with nature." H'aanit said.
"Please….kill….me." a voice echoed in Sectonia and David's minds.
"That voice…" David said. "What's it trying to tell us?"
"I have...harmed many beyond my control. I cannot...live like this. I am man...please...kill me." the voice said once more.
"No… We're going to save you, no matter what it takes!" David said. "Get ready, everybody."
Redeye roared as he charged, splitting the Brave Adventurers up.
"Initiate Plan A!" Teba said as he fired arrows at Redeye. "Zelos, Colette!"
"Judgment!" The two Chosens called as beams of light fell from high up.
"Raarrr!" Redeye roared as it lunged at them and pinned them to the ground.
"A little help here!" Zelos said.
"Linde, go!" H'aanit said as Linde pounced on Redeye and tackled him away.
"Sectonia, now!" Zelos said.
"Got it!" Sectonia said going into Lavender God Mode and forming a ball of light in her hand.
"Aaaarrr….RAAAAGH!" Redeye said.
"Lavender God's…." Sectonia said as she crushed the ball and threw the particles at Redeye. "...Stardust Breaker!"
Redeye roared as a spirit was soon seen leaving its body.
"Thank you." it said.
"Phew… We managed to pull it off." Sectonia said.
"Be on your guard. It's not over yet." David said.
"You removed the soul...that's not a good thing." Hawkins said as Redeye started to move quickly and attacking all in its path. "It's acting on pure instinct. Even after losing the soul, the body now acts like any animal in a desperate situation...and attacking anything that moves." Hawkins said.
"We definitely cannot let it go now." Lloyd said.
"At least now...neither of you will feel no guilt when finishing the beast." H'aanit said.
"I agree." Hawkins said. "Straw Man's Card!" he said as his sword generated numerous amounts of straw before forming a monsterous being with nail claws.
"Here goes!" David said going to Sapphire God Mode: The Honorable. "This is the end of the line, Redeye!"
The beast then came and charged at both of them at once.
"You will not escape alive!" Hawkins said as the straw monster he conjured rushed Redeye and pierced its nails into its body.
"The final blow! Sapphire God's…" David said as energy charged into his sword. "...Radiant Hawk!" he said as he sent a slash towards Redeye which took the form of a hawk.
The slash cut right through Redeye as it roared in pain as its body collapsed into ashes.
"Did...did we do it?" Kaede asked.
"Looks like it." Kokichi said as the stone soldiers were returning to flesh.
"I...I couldn't…" David said before the spirit put a hand on David.
"This was not your fault, child. It was mine." he said.
"Who...who are you anyway?" David asked.
"Graham Crossford...an apothecary. I traveled this land for many years but then a disease came upon my love. I tried to cure her but...I arrived too late. But...then I met a woman who promised she could revive her. But it was a lie. She tried to use me as a vessel. But I resisted and my body twisted into that form you saw." he said.
"This woman...was she dressed in black with long black hair?" Hawkins asked.
"Yes." Graham said.
"Lyblac…" Hawkins said. "Seems she was using me too. She didn't care what happened to you...she wanted me to get you off this world one way or the other."
"Lyblac… Torturing souls like yours the way she's doing it. I swear to you… She's not getting away with this." David said.
"Well said, Demon Hunter." a voice said as David suddenly was in a black void.
"What the…? Who is this? Where am I?" David asked.
"I am Draefendi, the huntress. You have proven yourself quite the hunter." the voice said.
"A hunt goddess?" David asked. "You humble me, but I couldn't restore Graham to his former self."
"On the contrary, you did amazingly. True his body was beyond saving, but you freed his soul. Besides...I feel as though you benefit more from doing...and you seek the woman known as Lyblac." Draefendi said.
"Yes. I cannot forgive the things she has done." David said.
"Then your hunt continues. Go to the Ruins of Hornburg, and there you shall find Lyblac...and using your new gifts to your advantage." Draefendi said as a bow and arrow appeared on David. "You now wield the powers of a hunter."
"Thank you, though...I'm not sure if a bow suits me." David said.
"Fear not, these techniques are also just as effective with your pistols." Draefendi said. "Now...it is time to head off."
"David? You okay?" Ramona asked when David sees he's back with the others.
"Y-yes. I'm fine. But… it's not over yet." David said as he raised his sword. "Our next quarry…" he said pointing outside the cave. "...is in Hornburg!"
To be concluded in Final Chapter...
