Monster Hunter Legends

The Tigrex's Rage – Chapter 1

Up in the mountains of Pokke, lies the temple of the Tigrex Samurai. All hunters know this. Many have sought guidance and help against the Tigrex – and all have been given the same answer, "Fight it as though YOU are the Tigrex – fight it with all the rage and power it would against you."

In Kai's case, this was more than a metaphor to not let up in attacking. He was the Tigrex Warrior – he had the Tigrex's rage, power and speed. Over ten years, he had honed these abilities with no hints or help, other than an old book given to the elders by on of his ancestors. It had listed the abilities, but it was Kai who had to figure out their meaning. Now, sparring with his friend Makoto, it was a match to remember. The Head Samurai against the Tigrex Warrior, in a Kendo final. In his helmet, Makoto grinned and bowed to Kai. On the other side of the square, Kai's face was set, and he returned the bow. Many of the junior Samurai where gathered, to watch along with their teachers. The other kendoka that had been knocked out earlier in the tournament had left. They had important things to do. Kai and Makoto where now into the match, circling each other. Kai made a feint, but Makoto didn't fall for it. Seeing an opening, Makoto went for the strike. Too late, he realized it had been Kai's intention to leave an opening. Kai span quickly and got a small strike on Makoto's glove – the point was his. Coming back to the centre, Kai was now grinning. At the signal, Makoto went straight forward with a kihon strike and got Kai heavily on the helmet. It was Makoto's point, but he was given a warning. Kai had lost his grin, and was now prepared. A half point to a full point… on more full hit and Makoto would win.

But Kai knew Makoto too well – his friend got cocky. Kai went into a defensive stance as Makoto tried to land strike after strike, but to no avail. Pushing backwards suddenly, Kai got a full point on Makoto's chest plate. It was a close match – one more point each to finish it. Kai rushed Makoto, but Makoto pushed back. Kai tried to break away, but in an unseen move, Makoto tripped Kai and got a full strike on the way down. The crowd cheered, and Makoto held out his hand to Kai. Kai grinned and stood up, shaking his friends hand. Afterwards, in the hallway out of the dojo, Nami stopped them. "Well done, both of you!" she said happily. Nami was the Hunting Administrator now, which meant she was gone on quests and Guild involved matters a lot. Makoto and Kai hadn't seen in her in a while, so they where surprised how she knew about the tournament. "I got back last night! I just didn't want to wake you guys up, and then I was really tired in the morning." She told them at a nearby table. "So, was it a big hunt this time, or Guild matters?" asked Makoto. "Guild matters. But it was very irritating – we went all the way to Dondruma, then they didn't even give us enough of what we came for!"

"What DID you go for in the first place? You didn't tell us…" asked Kai.

"Well… the elders and I where trying to get more hunter exchange with Pokke, but their Guild Master didn't know how, so we went to Dondruma, and then they told us we couldn't have any hunters." Nami explained.

"Well that hardly seems fair." Said Makoto.

At that moment, a messenger ran through the room, barging past a few people out towards the elder's hall. "What was that about?" asked an elderly Samurai from a nearby table. "D'you reckon we should go find out?" asked Nami, in a curious tone. "Ok. But it better not get us in trouble." Walking towards the elder's hall, they noticed that other Samurai were headed there too. The door was already open, as the messenger had left it like that when he rushed in. The elders had been expecting someone to follow, and had allowed the boy a moment of rest before he told them the message. Samurai slowly filled into the hall, and were talking away until the Grand Elder put up his hand for silence. "Now. Speak, messenger."

"…Ok. I have news, from the Moga region. The Barioth Knights, have had both their Monster Warriors assassinated. There were no witnesses to the event, but the Knight's report states: 'a guard on patrol found the son's body. He had been slashed in the neck, and was next to a wounded watchman who had fallen', err, it gets a bit gruesome, shall I continue?"

"Please do."

"Ok…'there was blood near the Citadel wall, and on further inspection, blood was also found trailed in the snow'," at this someone in the hall gasped. "A knife was also found, of unknown origin, further out in the snow. As we have found the son, we believe this to be the father's blood. No sign was found of the body, but he is presumed buried in the ice from the blizzard of that night.' That is the message, Grand Elder."

Everyone in the hall was silent. The Grand Elder spoke. "This is grave indeed. Everyone who is NOT part of the group of elders, please leave this room."

People began to leave the room, and those that were part of the group of elders moved towards the Grand Elder. "How will we handle this situation?" said Makoto, trying to make light of what had happened. "There are two ways, young Samurai. We can go and speak directly to the Guild, or we can talk with the Nargacuga clan."

"Grand Elder, why the Nargacuga clan?" this was Kai's old sensei, who had retired to become an elder a few years ago.

"It strikes me as curious, that in the years that we lost our first Tigrex Warrior, the Narga Clan have had no contact with us, save for hunting."

"I believe, Grand Elder, that it was assumed to be a Narga Clan assassin that killed my father." Said Kai, eager to have input on the matter.

"Yes, that was what was assumed. But we cannot make assumptions without evidence Kai. I know you are eager for the truth, but we cannot risk attacking the Narga Clan, not now."

"Well then at least let me speak with them! Send me to the Great Forest, Grand Elder, and I will find out what is going on! We have done NOTHING about the Narga Clan for TEN YEARS!" Kai roared, fuming.

The Grand Elder looked at Kai, as though he was judging him. Kai kept his gaze steady, trying to look confident. "I will talk this over with the other elders. Until then, you will go about your normal day." Said the Grand Elder, motioning for Kai to leave. Kai stood still, until Makoto nodded to his friend to leave. As Kai reached the hall's door, he turned back and said "I hope you make the right decision."