Monster Hunter Legends
The Tigrex Samurai – Chapter 2
The Head Instructor led the group down out of the temple, and into the cave that would take them into the mountains. "I hope you packed well," muttered the Head Instructor, "there have been reports of unusually vicious Tigrex in the mountains…"
Makoto began to shiver, and Kai realized he should have already drunk a hot drink to fight the cold. Pulling one out, he motioned to Makoto to do so as well. Just as he was about to drink though, Nami stopped him. "Idiot," she sighed, "you didn't realize that the Blangonga armor you made cancels out the cold, did you?" Kai put the drink back in his pack, and shuffled about. "Oh yeah…" he mumbled, smiling that he hadn't remembered. They were reaching the caves exit, and the Head Instructor stopped. He turned around to face the trio, and spoke, his voice muffled through his beard, "When you leave this cave, there is no turning back until you have slain a Tigrex, you hear? You all chose this path, and you will follow it no matter what obstacles get in your way. I will return to this cave in roughly two hours. I will now leave you to your own devices to hunt the Tigrex." And with that, he gave a short bow, which the trio returned, and left back through the cave. "Ok then, lets go…" said Makoto hesitantly, walking out into the cold wind.
The weather was not on their side today. As soon as they had walked a fair way out into the snow, the winds rose and snow began to fall in droves. The trio was quickly wading through waist high snow. "If we come across the Tigrex now," Makoto was yelling over the wind, "were screwed!" The other two just nodded and kept on grimly trudging. Time passed, and the surroundings grew darker, with only the luminous light of the moon to guide them. "Where are we Makoto?" Nami asked, with a hint of nervousness, Kai thought.
"We should be getting closer to the caverns-" Makoto began, but then stopped. He stopped moving as well, and Kai bumped into him. "Careful man, whatcha doin-"
"Sshhh!" Makoto hissed urgently. The trio stood silent, the snow falling lightly now. The wind had also settled to a gentle breexe, and a faint sound could be heard… what was it? It was a sort of low rumbling, with what sounded like heavy breathing… close-ish, but not too close… Kai tensed, looking up slowly. Above, standing triumphantly on a ledge of ice, was the most vicious looking Tigrex he had ever seen. Luckily, it hadn't seen them yet, as they where positioned just underneath the ledge where it stood. Nami saw what Kai was looking at and froze, mechanically reaching for her weapon. Kai did the same, moving into an attacking stance. Makoto did to, but stumbled with his foot and cracked a fallen icicle. The crack resounded around in the silence like a boulder crashing into a wall. The Tigrex looked down, straight at Makoto. "Oops…" was all time Makoto had to say as the Tigrex leapt down on top of him.
Luckily, the Tigrex's main body missed crushing Makoto and simply threw him far in front it. Drawing their weapons, Kai and Nami readied to strike at the flustered Tigrex, but were to slow… the Tigrex span in a full circle and flung them rolling into a rock wall. Struggling to get back up, Kai saw the Tigrex ready for another attack, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Makoto run straight at the Tigrex, directing its attention towards him. The Tigrex began to charge, but this time Makoto was ready. He dived out of its way, and pulled out his Dual Blades as it rushed past. Stunned, Kai didn't see Nami head towards the Tigrex to aid Makoto. Coming back to his senses, he readied his katana and ran after Nami. Makoto was violently striking the sides of the Tigrex, in an effort to avoid any future attacks. It noticed Kai running, and turned to face him, Nami just out of its sight. Bringing its claw back, it pushing forward and sent three blocks of ice hurtling towards Kai. Dropping to the ground, Kai felt one of the blocks fly past over his head. The Tigrex was not expecting Kai to get up, and this is when Nami brought her Hunting Horn down on its head with full force, leaving it in a dazed condition. Kai recovered and joined his friends, slashing the Tigrex's arms. Something was up, Kai could feel it, a change in the Tigrex's mood… It came out of its daze, and its eyes turned a blood red. Just as Kai realized, he shouted, "Get away!" to his friends, and they dived away from the Tigrex as it reared up… and let out a powerful, terrifying roar that threw Kai back into the snow, his blade falling from his hands. He had been thrown back by the Tigrex's roar, but his friends had been hit by the shock of its sound. It had been enraged, and when a Tigrex gets enraged its veins stand out red on its arms, making it even more terrifying. Kai watched as it turned its head towards his friends, who were still getting over its ear-splitting roar. It began to charge, and Kai felt anger rising within him, a deep, primal anger, that had to be unleashed on the one who dared to hurt his friends…
Staggering to his feet, Kai picked up his sword, and, letting out the most menacing yell he could muster, charged at the Tigrex full-pelt. The Tigrex had just finished its charge at Nami and Makoto, who were both struggling to get up, and had no idea what lunatic was yelling at it. It turned, moving into a charging position, and saw Kai, still running madly through the snow. It began its charge, knowing full well it would wipe out the human that thougt it could charge through. But the Tigrex never saw the humans eye's, blood red, and intent not on the Tigrex, but on a point behind it… At the last second, Kai stopped his yell, and, still running, leaped OVER the charging Tigrex, and landed hard, rolling, and cutting off the Tigrex's tail in the process. The Tigrex gave one, final yelp, and crashed into the rock wall, dying with its veins still standing out and its crimson eyes in shock. Kai got up, looking at his friends as they stared at him in amazement, and then in surprise. "Kai… your eyes…" Nami began, but trailed off. "What?" Kai asked, not sure what Nami was saying. "Man, you have Tigrex eyes." Makoto replied, a little uneasy. "You mean…" Kai stopped, realizing the amazing feat he had accomplished. He had figured out, without even knowing it, the Tigrex Warrior's greatest power: The Tigrex's Rage.