Disclaimer: Written by Rime. Translated by Arcana. Approved by Rime to transfer from pixiv. The characters were not owned by the writer nor the translator. Characters were borrowed from the players of MHD. To members of MHD, if there are any problems, there would be no problem in removing.
Chapter Notes:The Genealogy of Hunters 11-3: Case All Cast
Characters: Nobutuna, Falt, jack, SEVEN, Billy, Riku, Ash, Sky, Mr. Sido
Chapter Summary:
The battle had started, and it was not a battle that could end without losing something.
Against an individual monster, why did people go to hunt them in plurals? Wasn't that rude to the opponent? Because the enemy was alone, naturally a hunter should face them alone too. Indeed, they could stand in the same wield of wild nature. Fairness made the ends met there for the first time.
He didn't particularly like to fight fairly. Such acts of hero of justice, was really a story out of his range. But, it was only troublesome as a person to proceed to the hunting groups bearing various things. That, could disturb his will when he fought. Instead of thinking about many when fighting, merely for the power facing, he could concentrate more and it would be much more fun, to return with the power of limit he could hold. His consciousness would be absorbed and dispersed when he thought about his companions and the items to use.
(Probably I only haven't trained)
He noticed for the first time, that he had came to form parties and headed to hunting grounds. Using items, thinking about his friend, if these became only "common", he could surely concentrate his mind on fighting. He felt liked having known the method of hunting as a person from the beginning again. To Riku, he probably had only fought in the way same as a beast as a soloist so far. Against monsters, he faced them as monsters also.
The result of abandoning as a person. It was a result of having disturbed as a person. When he realized instinctively that he must not come back at that time, it was because of a passion which was hard to fight against. And, when he returned, it was because of something cold that walked away with the heat.
If it was seized with passion, iron and metals would melt. The earth melted too. If a person was having passion, the person would slowly be tired. It would broke as if falling apart. Because the blowing wind was cold, it came back. Like obtaining a place to take a rest.
Sometimes maybe becoming a beast. However, humans could not be anything above a human, and could not be anything below it. If he did not return back to human, he would die.
He let go of the arrow he was holding. He drew another arrow immediately. Ahead of the head he was aiming at, only one. From the point of the head to the end of the tail, he shot straight at it. Thew, the wind that ran next to his cheek was awfully hot.
"Talking about four at the same time, this is terrible...!"
Climbing onto a slightly higher rock, securing a place to stand, without a halt to the shooting arrows for the purpose of killing the enemies thoroughly, still his eyes chased the four Tigrexs rushing widely below. Though meeting up was the first aim, it was extremely rash in this situation. Even if they ran and ran, the other sides were much faster.
By shooting arrows and turning the point of the swords, they finally succeeded in separating the distances between the four Tigrexs, and was in the condition of everyone except himself facing one by one. jack with his dual swords were having a hard fight being able only to aim at its legs due to the size, and Ash, being drove to the wall, entered a defensive fight. As for Billy, dodging two Tigrexs was all he could do, and it was a situation that only an instant could he draw his weapon. His fatigue in particular, was greater than the others. It was normal because he had been running through the snow mountains.
He hit his tongue. A chill ran down his back pulling him back. It was resembled to quivering with excitement in anticipation of an adventure. He could not tell what was what anymore, the inside which was cold or warm.
"Hey it's going to be a little blinding everyone be careful!"
He shouted as he put his bow aside. He took a flash bomb out from his porch, and he fixed it quickly to the tip of an arrow, only to give it a shock. Lightbugs were said to burst into a flash of light when they died, and flash bombs were made using the habits. He thought it was a terrible story. The trick was simple. Put a bug into the half of the ball opened with an air hole, and filled the other half with water. The lightbug which was shut in the small ball alive, would be suffocated by the water overflowed from the broken wall with shock. At that time, it flashed. The time lag after throwing it, was the time for suffocation. Hunters devised items quite vulgar.
(The survival of fittest)
It was so in other words. He took his bow in his hand again, and pointed it straight into the sky. Blue could not be seen from the sky smooth and white like a pearl.
Geek, the string sounded. His arm rang. Huew, he took a deep breath. Putting strength in the relaxed muscles, oxygen disappeared from his lungs, to the limit value of painfulness, bang, the arrow shot and split opened the sky. After one beat, two beat, the world became white.
(I can't waste anymore. There will be help if the other group doesn't notice this)
In order to succeed in escaping, they could not but somehow at least defeat one or two.
One of the wyverns was turning its eyes, and it crashed badly into the rock which became his footing. The shaking rock, a running crack, instinctively he felt danger and kicked the scaffold. The earth without time to slow down, the vibration that shook directly from his legs to his organs, still he looked back holding his bow and aimed at the head of the enemy.
The pierced arrow, the splashed blood, and a roar. With a shiver, something crawled through its back. Without moving the tip of the arrow he held, he aimed at the same place once more.
"Riku!"
The voice of someone crying out, an emergent dodge to the right, but only, an ached scratched his left shoulder. Though it was shallow, it could become an element that caused him to lack in concentration in this cold. But he could not mind.
Riku rolled and his left shoulder against the earth with all he got, without minding that the wound might open. The passed wind, and what approached from the rear, was the Tigrex that Ash was facing.
He posed lowly once more without breathing. The trace of tail which passed over his head. A roar from behind, he ran and passed through the legs of another Tigrex that came charging towards him. Wounds on the smooth wyvern scales. Neither of them were among the ones they fought the other day.
"Riku, hold out"
"What,"
"Hurry!"
Puzzling over the words of Billy who was ahead of him for an instant, the moment he took a breath, his heart judged earlier than his body. He crossed his arms perpendicularly against the raised hammer. When he relaxed against the shock, his body floated in the air to the best of his ability. Overlooking the scenery, a Tigrex rushing from the rear of Billy, the body of the small human, without even the time to dodge, got dragged by the forefoot and a moan raised from the depth of his throat. The swallowed voice sank shockingly in the coolly stomach. Thump, the place he fell and a spray of snow raised, was a rocky place slightly higher than the one a while ago.
Riku gritted his teeth as he got up, and looked at the bottom. How is Billy. While the dull pain he felt when he dropped went down, he could see the figure taking distance from the Tigrex as he stood up normally as light as always. An unique smell flashed across the tip of his nose incidentally. He had felt this before at the time when he received a direct hit from the ballista, like the veil of the tender silk.
"jack, this is great..."
He had used it without missing the timing. A sense of relieve, a relief that had not been felt so far. Though it was a strange sense, the will of beast immediately hauled in his fingers. A bow to pull, the string which creaked tightly. Aiming straight at the point ahead of the sword Ash held.
Huff, the moment he breathed out. At the middle of the crown of the head, a big strike.
Without letting go of the chance when it roared, Ash charged greatly with his great sword. One step slower. At the moment he thought, Riku held another arrow all too soon. Though it was difficult, he aimed at the right eye of the wyvern.
(It's certainly going to flinch if I shot it)
The accelerated concentration, the fingers creaked, and he could feel the overflowed blood that became unable to bear the resistance. Pain. The sense that the skins on the fingers were gradually coming off. He took a breath, still the point he aimed at what matched, and an arrow hit so as to broke the balance of both arms by force.
Passing through the eye, though he could not shoot the eyeball, the eyes of the Tigrex moved its eyes towards him, and a sword pierced deeply into the undulating soft neck.
Because the great sword had weight, it gave effects next to instant death to the opponent. It was a weapon that rarely entered the vital parts when used in solo, but the offensive ability was more than anything in party plays. If a gap could be made, even if it was against a wyvern that had some extent of strength to spare, one blow could have carry it away.
A roar sounded. It was a voice that could have shake the ground, still the spray of overflowed blood was lost, and he could see a large quantity of blood poured over the red hair. He could he Ash protecting his eyes.
"Jump backwards!"
Matching to the shouts of jack, Ash jumped with his eyes closed from blood. The trace of the calmed down forefoot passed through Ash's forelock, once again, the reverse forefoot went into motion to the brink of death.
That was surely, the strong will to fight till the end of creatures.
"Once more!"
It was a voice that Riku never thought would come out from himself. In response to the voice that surely arrived, the shadow jumped backwards greatly once again. The forefoot that swung wide scooped out snow, and then slowly, fell down to the front.
With a wipe, Ash knocked down the blood of the wyvern which was stuck to his face, and put his sword back. Looking ahead as he then started running, Riku chuckled unintentionally. As expected, Ash was a G-rank hunter too. At one of the Tigrexs that was fawning at Billy, he released a single blow in succession at it's tail.
The Tigrex which was twitching in convulsions was not dead yet. Blood would choke in its throat sometime soon, and it would die from suffocation. As Riku thought of how wide was the size of the wyvern's trachea, he looked at a stone that was within an easy reach. It was in a right size that he could carry.
He put away the bow and picked it up. Lifting it up by laying emphasis on his legs, Riku then threw the stone at the head of the Tigrex will all his strength. The height was perfect, and it became a blow with better weight than Billy's hammer.
That was particularly, not mischievous urge at all. As long as there was no conviction that the enemy was dead, he could not be off guard. Not to mention, he did not want to see the Tigrex that could only fight die slowly as it struggled against the pain in it's throat. The opponents were creatures, they would think of pain scary and would also feel hard. If they were opponents who exchanged blades and fangs, still.
Victory should be given to oneself with the complete death of the enemy... What called, capture, may possibly, be humiliation above all to monsters, torture to them above everything, he thought. The captured monsters would just be killed in the form of using poison and anesthesia slowly. He wondered what kind of pain would that be. He wondered whether they would feel the anesthesia. However with the body of human that had no way of knowing about that, speaking of what was possible for them to do was merciless violence and death that existed ahead.
.
To hunters, the absolute, true victory was to kill them. One would not become a hunter if he or she did not have something important to carry.
.
The sound of the impact, the stone that fell, seeing the disheveled and destroyed head, he took breath. He took out his bow immediately. Another Tigrex plunged into the rock of footing. It's front legs were dyed in red, and by the steps of that wyvern which barked, jack was carving it's hind leg with his dual swords.
(It's angry)
Quite so. Though he did not know whether they were brothers or sisters, but the creature that shared a life together till then was killed, there was no creature that would not enrage.
But still, even they themselves could not be lose anyone also.
Towards that back, Riku shot arrows continuously. As they were reflected by the hard scales many times, still without minding about it, the arrowhead pierced the skin. He shot the arrows as that they would overlap. The swords of jack who continued to strike obstinately made an effect, and the steps of roaring wyvern which fought became unsteady.
The swords of demon brandished on the head of the Tigrex that fell and stirred up a cloud of snow. Though it wouldn't be attacks with weight reaching to the bones, the arms that continued slashing continued to chip the forehead, lips, and cheeks of the opponent. Wyvern scales falling in large drops, penetrating more into the skins, flesh, large quantity of falling blood.
(I think dual swords are relatively cruel weapons)
That reminded Riku that jack had said so sometime.
(When it's against large-sized monsters, long-range weapons deal fatal injuries. Because the length of the blades are short, it's hard to reach the internal organs and they may not reach monsters with heights. By focusing the attacks at one point at the steps to make it fall, penetrating at the weak point obstinately is the only method... Crushing the small bones, tearing the blood vessels. By just that much, vulgar scars will be left)
Though they were weapons which he thought about efficiency and took them in his hands, jack realized it when he started to face large-sized opponents which he rarely fought against other than main quests. Braving his breath, he said.
(I can feel the flow of breathing and the blood of the opponent really close. Attacking it... or should I say, hurting it, the sense of killing it is very near. I cannot let it die instantly)
But I think I probably won't stop using it
... Riku wondered what kind of will did he have to give those words.
The face of the wyvern trying to lift itself was bloody. From the wyvern skin and scales which seemed to be hanging down and peeled off, blood streamed down slowly without an end, and the snow was covered in red. At the moment it roared, cracks appeared at the side of its cheek. Bitter blood, still the roaring wyvern was beautiful.
He would not do any stupid imitations to admire it. More arrows were shot straightly at the broken cheeks. Crawling into the stomach of the barking wyvern in pain, jack wielded his swords and the sounds overlapped with the cool air. At the moment Riku put an arrow to the bow once more, the footing collapsed completely. If he looked towards the shock unintentionally, he could hear Billy shouting something from a distant. A shadow. Though he could not see the figure, it would probably charge towards him.
The shaking scaffold, with the unstable center of gravity, his body judged fast, he kicked the scaffold and flew distantly. Without regards to the collapsing rock, the rushing Tigrex turned around suddenly, and showed it's fangs toward Billy. Another one of the wyverns plunged in from the right-hand side in the same way. A voice of Ash. The only place for Billy near the wall to avoid was the rear. But, when he moved behind, the wyvern should stop.
"jack!"
He kicked into the chin of the swaying wyvern with all he got. From the stomach of the wyvern that daunted for only an instant, a person of high stature jumped out. At the same time he pulled up an arrow from the quiver, he hammered it into the muzzle. With a slash, he pierced to arrow in the chipped scales deeply unexpectedly.
"Billy's side!"
"...!"
He knew that the wall was aimed, the interval of the two flocking monsters. But, could he escape from the wriggling red feet? He could see Billy grimaced, and slightly hardened his body to enter a defense position. Ash ran. jack put away his swords, he parted with the arrow without pulling it up, and Riku took another new arrow from the quiver, sliding in between jack who was taking out lifepowder and the Tigrex, a sound of impact. An echoing sound, the sound of the snow becoming hollow, from the crooked white earth, he could see a big shadow, but he could not see the figure of Billy. To the cheek of the Tigrex that turned its face towards him, he let go of a single strike in order to flinch it. Gently, something white and soft grazed the tip of his nose. A sharp sound appeared, and Ash was holding his sword in front of Billy who fell down. One of them trailed after Billy, it's fangs were stuck in the wall and would not come out. The other one changed the direction of the dash so that it was blocked by the sword. Billy stood up. He was alright. The moment he thought, a chill crawled up his back. With the bow in his left hand and jack behind him, in order to push him away together, Riku jumped.
.
He was supposed to have.
.
The right arm failed to get out in time, the piece of snow which approached suddenly, his body turned over as to be repelled. It was not snow. What stoled, was probably, because it was near, the something.
.
A bark.
.
The sound surely echoed inward. Putting one beat, the pain came and rummaged in his head, as if to torn from the feet to the head at a stretch. Therefore he sound only, came to his mind. The breath vomited out, the touch of the internal organs shrinking, still his body obeyed his mind, and it was the same as the will of beasts to prostrate humans.
Putting distance from the wyvern he dragged jack and his bow, then in one single blow, in spite of everything, he hold his bow. It was a damage just right after the recovery, he was not able to take the benefit of the lifepowder. There was no feeling. However, he understood.
The arrow in the very front. The center of point of the bow shook in pain. He gritted his teeth and pulled his right hand by force. The arrow which split open the air and flew, pierced deeply into the throat of the Tigrex that was going to roar.
Struggling in the pain of the arrow which struck, the Tigrex struggled with his forefoot to take that off somehow from the deep of it's throat. In the middle, Riku bayed deeply once more. A greasy sweat came off.
"Riku!"
"...,"
It did not become words
... Right arm, from the wrist to the elbow, there was not feeling. His own arm which was distorted and warped. It swelled in a moment, and became purple.
.
The bone of the right arm was broken.
The white sky shined strongly and further white. The moment they noticed, all the members began to run towards the direction of the light. Among the promises decided at first, the act of calling for help would be adapted if there were more than three enemies. Furthermore, appealing by flash bomb could be called an exceptional case. It was either having to fight in a small place, or the number of enemies were more than three.
"Mr.! Prepare for potions and emergency medicines!"
"I'm always ready! jack has handed me some lifepowder also!"
"SEVEN! Confirm whether where there anyone injured before entering the battle, if there is, pick him up immediately and put distance!"
"I'll charge in if there's none!"
"Falt! From the top!"
"I'll take separate actions when we enter the battle area! I'm going assist after getting onto a higher place!"
"Sky! If your legs can go forward go ahead!"
"Roger! Before that everyone stop!"
Ding-dong, a light sound came from the hunting horn he held. A sound resounded. Though it would only continue for a little time, but running effect was still required in order to run through. It would be good if they could reached slightly earlier.
"...I seriously feel lucky to have pull out Sky..."
Muttering a sentence, Nobutuna tapped on his shoulder as he passed him and ran through. Sky looked surprised for an instant and he laughed. Tap, tap, his shoulder was clapped. In the end, he received thanks from all the members in that way. Started to run.
The white snow wave, the voice of a bird sounding distantly. Still without a change, the snow mountains were quiet. The wind that blew from far away played a low melody. The sounds of the footsteps were wider. The breaths were white. The respiratory sound of each other echoed.
In that way, they ran for dozens of minutes.
"...Nobutuna! Can you hear! I'm taking separate actions!"
"Don't push yourself too hard! If you think you can't handle it, meet up with us as soon as possible!"
"Got it!"
The shouts that resounded, some kind of signs was different from a while ago. Falt headed for the hills and left the party. The running speed accelerated. They could see it. The other side of the snow. A roar. There were some loud footsteps. Shutting up his worrying thoughts, he lean forward from a small elevated hill and looked down at the place.
"...One has been subdued!"
"I can only see Billy and Ash!"
Riku! jack! Answer us if you're here!"
A loud voice replied Nobutuna's shout, he nodded and pulled out his long sword.
"Three remains! One of them is wounded! SEVEN! Go and finish it! Mr.! Assist jack! Sky support Billy, running effect will be fine, fatigue will be accumulated later! Let's go!"
Nobutuna went down the slope in a breath without waiting for an answer, and he passed through the side of Ash who was fighting against a pair of fangs with his weapon. His sword tore up and cut down the forefoot of the opponent gently, and blood scattered on the snow.
"Battle time!"
"Thirty minutes haven't even passed yet!"
"Wonderful! And you are able to one!"
"Because it's wounded! It just doesn't leave the battle area!"
Light fatigue was floating on the laughing profile. Ash shook his head, trying to shake off the wet hair in blood sticking to his cheeks. It was good that the scattering drops were the victim's blood.
"What about the flashbomb!"
"The snow is soft! We can't use it carelessly cause the ground is slippery! Riku threw it a while ago, and it only stopped the movement of these guys for a while! All of them got dizzy and acted violently, the footing is narrow, the topography changed!"
"Understood! Let's finish the hunting with all our efforts!"
"Okay!"
He tried to send the uneasiness away from his mind, but it did not go along well. He wanted to know the present condition, the replying voices themselves alone were a help. Nobutuna strongly grasped the handle.
(...What happened, jack)
He did not hear his voice since then. A word of safety that reached once, then. Injuries.
What is happening, at your side, jack.
Confirming the swollen arm, he imagined an appropriate cure in his head, and jack cut his breath down there. Probably, the considerably natural attack was received in a focalization to this arm only. It was close to completely broken, and he could not deny the possibility that the bones inside the arm was broken in pieces.
It was easy to recover as it was. But, in that case, the arm could not move. If the bones could not be grouped in the original proper form, the fasting-acting potions would just accelerate the spontaneous cure, and the possibility of being in this distorted condition was high.
The worst, he could not pull a bow anymore. The danger to life was low, but it was painful to lose a gunner in this situation. In the only present battle, jack understood the mind of the enemies dispersed by the gunners well.
"jack"
"I'm thinking"
"We don't have that time, for the time being, just go"
"Do not say anything stupid"
"I won't die. I'll stay still. Keep a little away. I'm a burden, tell Nobutuna so"
The voice was low. The spitted out breathing mixed with words grazed, and probably the world was spinning around in the eyes of Riku. Pain was such a thing. Still he had the strength to hold it down and speak.
"When attacks can not be avoided, we can only rely on your recovery. Mr., seems to have come, but I think he cannot be put together with you who's familiar with the timing to use"
"..."
"I'm fine. I'm good at ascertaining times that would kill and times that won't"
He pushed his chest as if to overcome it. jack hesitated for an instant, still he turned around and Riku confirmed that he had began to run in his warped view.
It was as he said. He was really a drag. A deplorable thing.
(...It hurts)
A pain that could freeze his back ran just by moving his finger-tips a little only. The pain accumulated so as to move if he moved. With a sigh, he looked up. One shadow came over in the way of arriving at the last minute.
"...It got me"
"How did jack judge it"
"It seems to by the injury as I thought. Mr. don't have to mind to, and head over back to that side. I'm, going to stay away."
I will only hinder everyone. The words he muttered echoed inside him. A drag. A burden.
"...Painkiller. It's soothing. Do not act rashly"
"..."
"It's an injury that can be cured. You won't die"
"I know."
.
A hindrance.
.
(...In a place like this)
Am I going to stand aside alone, and watch my friends fight?
He stared at the running shadow that carried two small bottles to him. One for drinking and one of applying. Probably, they wouldn't work for even one hour. If he said that the effect itself was for soothing, they should not any something very strong. Even if he became sleepy after the effect of paralyze passed, he would only die in the snow mountains.
He did not regret protecting jack. He judged that jack was the pivot. He also had the technique as a trap master. It did not make ends met for a soloist, but it may be said that it was packed with abilities that were need in order to survive in party play. The number of opponents were many, as long as those individuals were strong individually, in order to make up one's powers as humans, he was a character filled with every science. It was certainly himself if he could not recover there. Therefore, there was no regret.
.
But, still, he had guts.
.
Riku opened a small bottle. He drank it up in one gulp, and pulled the cork of another with his mouth quickly. The liquids streaming down his bare arm flowed into the small wounds on his skin, though the acute pain was sounding hard, he bit his lips. He took off the cover of the back of the hand, and attached all the possible parts to his right arm. Because of the different points, not all the parts could come under. Moving slightly, he wondered whether where there anything that could fix it. Blinded by his consciousness, his endured and bit inside his mouth.
Zak, a spray of snow. He held his breath when he saw a shadow came in.
"...Billy"
"Are you alright"
"Do you have something like string?"
"String..."
"It's broken. I'm going to fix it"
After blinking for a second, Billy confirmed the swelling which he saw from the gap of the armors. Putting away his weapon quickly, he took out his carving knife in silence. Thinking of what to do, he then cut his hair from the root.
"Use it as you like"
"...You're so manly-–"
"Seems like you still have room to spare if you can talk like that"
"It's me"
"You're right"
He had no intention at all to just make his bow a probably noticed that he was trying to do something. What he could do in this situation, it was reckless, but he had no choice but to stay still.
The shadow ran off, Riku had thought of taking off the white skin that tied the hair up, but he would not have such a hard time if it was possible. He just tighten his arm steadily. The severe pain shook his consciousness, he circled it around three winds as hard as possible, and tied it to the remaining of his armors. He picked up his bow.
Then he just looked up at the rock behind him. It was slightly low, but he could climb upon from behind without using his arms. He took a deep breath. The darting surrounding, the established battle area. Bottles of paralysis should still be left.
(I sorry Nobu-chan)
Though it's kind of hurts, it's strangely, fun.
(Sorry. You can shout at me afterwards)
It was absolutely too unpleasant to accept such a humiliating things to be a burden, as one of the hunters. Then, he would rather die.
He clenched his jaw. Prepared for pain. He held his bow. If his left arm which became bare also broke, he would not be able to recover completely. On the rock with little height, he would certainly die even if he received a single blow. Because it was not an order from the guild, there was no Felyne tag, it would not be possible for him to be saved.
But that probably, was same to everyone.
Pulling an arrow from the quiver, he held his breath, the running pain, he opened his eyes wide.
The sound of arrow was not different from the ones before. With will and power, that arrow pierced straight and hit the head of the roaring wyvern like a flash of light.
SEVEN's lance pierced the chest of one of the Tigrexs, and he saw the giatn body collapsed as it spitted out blood. Two of them remaining, and both of them were in a state suffering little wounds, seeing their companions slaughtered in front of their eyes, and their bodies became bright red as they enraged. Annoyed by the arrows pouring down and the arms aimed at their claws, the wyverns roared over and over again. Every time, Nobutuna with earplugs effect had to kicked into many places here and there. Killing instants of carelessness and chances as much as possible, he support more than attacking all the time. It was the best shortcut to it, to let a person who could do it, do it as much as possible.
Concentrating at a point, giving order to Ash and SEVEN who could defend with their weapons to carry out feint operation on one of them, the rest of the members knocked the other one to the ground a dozen of minutes ago. Innumerable arrows were pierced on the back of the Tigrex, it's hind legs became bloody, the head which was hammered many times deformed a little. Still the Tigrex did not fall down.
(It only takes a little more)
Both the wounds and fatigues of all the members were accelerating. The breath of Billy who wielded his weapon at the frontline for a long time was rough. The arms of Ash were appealing their limit also, the actions of defense and evasion became slightly slower. Among the members that participated in the battle from the start, it was only the arrows of Riku that fell from the sky, stayed precise without changing.
(It may be better to think about withdrawal)
Escape was not possible anymore. Nobutuna had no intention to chase them far too at all, and it would not be a mistake even if he picked that choice. However if they finished one more of them here, he could see with his eyes that it would be easier to achieve their aim.
Should we overdo it, or keep our strength? It was not something to think while wielding a weapon, but his mind wavered.
(Still it is scary, if any of the companion die. It is painful, to lose something important)
The fear from that time came from the deep. A wish. Shiver. He could not forget. Though all the members were alive now, if then, the enemies in front joined with others.
If the number further increased, he would certainly appeal for withdrawal. But, not all the members had the strength to evade from the Tigrexs whose physical strengths were left to the maximum. If they planned for an escape, someone must remain to keep the attention.
What if.
(Oh, it's only things like these!)
By any chance, what if the person that kept the attention, lost his life.
He could not choose anyone. Not to mention he could not become so. If he himself was gone, the eyes to make sure of the hunting group for picking the right decision would be gone.
His long sword was honest for the slight hesitation, the wielding of his blade became soft, the weight of arms were shallow, the attacks towards the opponent melted. He held his breath and swung his arm once more powerfully. Bitter blood, a roar, as it bled from many places slowly, still the Tigrex chomped with its fangs.
It leaped to the front, and he could see Mr. enduring the bite with his small shield in the edge of his eyes. Holding deeply the short sword, he striked straightly across the area of its stomach. If he pulled the blow that half entered the stomach out immediately, blood gushed out like a fountain from the furiously angry wyvern. He clenched his jaw, and just before he was going to slash at there once more.
"Riku!"
Mr. shouted. His mind was on the voice for an instant. Surprise and scream was blurred on the voice. Mr. looked up at Riku who was shooting the bow and shook his head.
"I'm fine just attack! It only takes a little more!"
"No! You can't, move,"
"It doesn't matter! Just a little more Mr.! You have to keep on attacking it before my bottles of paralysis ran out!"
The figure gritted his teeth and held his sword aloft. What, is with that conversation just now. Nobutuna had a bad feeling. Slashing with the grasped sword in one hand continuously, Mr. was somewhat bitting his lips with a face which seemed to cry. Without moving away from the head, the sword was wielded hurriedly. This is dangerous. If you don't stop and evade to either left or right, you can't judge it's next attack.
Mr. At the moment he was going to shout, the wyvern opened his jaw greatly. Alarm, ran, sweat, the held sword was not to protect himself.
"...!"
A scream did not sound.
The sword cut into the cheek, and the yelling Tigrex jerked greatly in pain. It was going to shake it's head again and again, but the sword entered deeply so that it could not be done. The sword drew arcs in the air many times.
Mr. Sido who was blown off, dropped from the wall to the ground, slowly. Something echoed like a cough. Something like blood, scattered from his lips.
"Mr.!"
He could not rush up to rush up. The Tigrex stared straight at the root of the present pain. The slavered jaw hung open, the sword that stuck to it, straight towards the point, the direction of the charge, Nobutuna started running. It was a reflex action.
.
Because, who was the one that gave him the words?
(Congratulation, Nobutuna)
We, are going with you.
.
"Mr.!"
.
The body that ran out, a shadow that jumped straightly between him and the Tigrex, after barking a light roar, before that one step, was no doubt a garge attack, a shock, there was no place to evade by the wall, when he noticed it was already too late to dodge.
.
Sounds were made, numerous arrows pierced through the back.
Suddenly, the charge of the Tigrex, stopped.
"It's paralyzed! Everyone attack!"
"Nobutuna! Bring Mr. to a safe place!"
"Let's finish it! Falt, aim at the head and throat!"
Voices of Riku and jack sounded through, and Billy leaped out in an unbelievable jump. The swung down hammer buried Mr.'s sword deeply into the face, and was swung down onto the skull more strongly. As dull sounds echoed from every places, carrying the unconscious body, Nobutuna carried Mr. to the back of the rocky place where Riku was.
He checked his breathing and examined the wounds. A glance at the flank. Blood overflowed. Deep.
"...Riku, do you have something like a string"
"Yeah. Nobutuna, that fold, can I tear it?"
"Do it from the back"
"Okay"
Emergency tools could not catch up with it. Cloth of Khezu was often used for medical business, it was the most suitable for hemostatic. Winding up the wound with herbs soaked in potion and lifecrystal, he covered with a cloth and tied it up with a string. Softly, a sense streamed down his finger tip. He frowned. Hair.
"...Riku, what is this"
"Billy's hair"
"...Why?"
"I've been using it till a while ago"
"For what!"
He turned back unintentionally and looked up to him who was standing. Riku laughed thinly and did not pay attention. Sweat streamed down his cheeks. Rough breathing, Mr. opened his eyes a little.
"Leave it later"
"Riku,"
"Stop the bleeding, hurry. Mr. probably has painkillers"
When he turned around, Nobutuna could see the arm that sounded the shadow when he turned the quiver. Pieces of armors that scattered here and there. There was no help for it because the string to turn off was gone.
Both arms were already defenseless. The swelled arm drew an arrow.
"Riku! Quit it!"
A sound like the ground rumbling came from below. We did it, there's only one more left! Falt is guiding it, from the back! Among the voices exchanging, the trace of a fluttering bow over at the rocky place. A sound. In the same way as Falt, Rilu held his bow totally without any affectation. A paralysis bottle fell and buried among the snow. The last one.
Thump, the ground rumbled again, and a big big shadow fell.
The bow shooting on the other side of the rock, attached a paint pin and point it at the wing. The Tigrex that flew up confirmed the safely of its companion through commuting with voices.
"...Ah, okay. I'm ready for you to be mad at"
He who looked back chuckled strangely weak.
"But, treatment his wounds, first, Nobu-chan. Because, I can't do it"
Because he was able to his right arm twitching, he bore the scream by clenching his jaw. Nobutuna then, held the side of Mr. who just repeated breathing lightly.
.
(Though I've told, everyone, to survive)
.
He understood. Because Mr. held out, because Riku pulled his bow by that arm, the subjugation of three Tigrexs succeeded miraculously.
He understood that the fights afterward would become much easier.
.
Oh, after all, still will anything that may be lost, exist?
Clear away, jack said lowly and pulled Riku who acted rashly to the shades of the rock. They could accompanied by imagination what he was going to do, with a cloth and a splint for fixation in his hand. As expected, a terrible groan went up by one minute later. With the bitten cloth, there was no echo, but they could understand enough the scream of pain.
"...Though it's disappointing, he has abused it for a considerable time. I don't know whether he can participate in the next fight"
"...Why didn't anybody stop him?"
"...I didn't think that he would do so"
Whisper of Mr. blurred with pain, bitter confession of Nobutuna, and lastly Billy's voice that answered, something was stuck in the backside stickily. As the treatments were carried out for all members, his scream continued vacantly all the time.
"That guy is a hunter also. I think he understood whom will be troubled if his arm is sacrificed..."
"...Why..."
The grazed voice, if Riku's arm was then broken, the curtain of his life as a hunter would fall. It was fatal for him who made living as a soloist. Nobutuna knew that he had a family to protect, therefore he didn't want to let him overdo it.
"... But, we're able to kill three Tigrexs. Four of them, in total... If it continues like this, after half more, we should be able to achieve our aim."
"...Even, so,"
"We have seven people left. If we move in a group, the possibility that we cannot subdue is lower"
"..."
Tsk, a sharp pound with the tongue. Looking at Sky who was aside unintentionally, SEVEN was surprised at the look. Crooked eyebrows, still eyes, anger floated.
.
"We don't have the time to be so whiny here!"
.
For the violent language spitted out, his usual calmness and courteousness could not be found at all.
.
"Even he should understand, if we can defeat even one more, the possibility of saving will be larger! Instead of hanging around in the snow mountains and wasting supplies, it's better to precisely defeat them at the moment they bowl together! We don't have much time and supplies, shouldn't we understand and do it?"
Didn't he act rashly for us, didn't he entrust it to us, with the right arm that is broken, a higher possibility to survive!
"Even that person is somehow or other a hunter? We aren't alone, we're moving as a group! For the person who judged so, why, what, nonsense!"
"...Sky,"
"Please stand up, Nobutuna-san... You are the leader"
.
(It is frightening if a friend die. It is painful to lose something important.)
.
Hey, what are you afraid of?
Picking what is able to hold superiority for the decision, for the aim that we're going to achieve even sacrificing our bodies, what kind of value do you see in it?
Saving others by sacrificing yourself, even if thanked, in the memories that will be forgotten little by little after all, what kind of wish do you held?
Are the possibility of having big compensation in self-satisfaction, and the future ahead scary?
.
Is this, an excuse?
Is it my ego, to think of never wanting to lose anything to you?
.
Wasn't it your fault that you were being worried about.
.
Nobutuna recalled the words that someone said sometime ago.
(Wasn't it because you are too weak)
Because you held neither the strength to kill, the wisdom to deceive, nor the readiness to betray.
.
(Because, I am weak,)
.
It was scary that his friends would die. It was painful to lose something important. The fear was equaled to despair. He was frightened. Surely he was afraid.
.
(Is this, weakness,)
.
Do you have the strength to kill a person?
.
The scream from the rock shade vanished.
.
"...Let's return to the camp first. Someone lend Mr. a hand"
.
He stood up.
He pretended not to hear the screams for help from his heart.
They left the base camp before the effect of the paint disappeared. Anyway if they did not defeat one more enemy, the wounds of Mr. and the injuries of Riku would be fulminant. It was unreliable to let them go them from the snow mountains by themselves. The Tigrexs may appeared, and by any chance when there was a snowstorm, they wouldn't be able to set up even a simple camp.
They were lucky to have found the Tigrex they were chasing before it noticed them.
"...Five of them..."
The hoarse voice of Falt could be heard.
The number of wyverns defeated was four. The number in front of them was five. Though the area had kept a perfect space, it was necessary to enter a confused fighting situation. They could not predict how much damage could be brought to the mountains if the wyverns were increased by one.
"Two... Or at least one, can we carve them"
"They are completely surrounding the wounded one... I think it's waiting for recovery"
Tensed whispers came and went in strain. The feeling of wanting to flick the tongue was bore. If it was possible to carve the wounded one, it would be leave to someone in solo, and the rest of the members would face the four wyverns. Nobutuna looked around, there was no footing that could be used to strike from above.
"...Five at the same time, let's fight while looking at the situation for a while. Reduce the number from this battle area... There's no help but it's an important point"
A metallic sound rang slightly, the sound of each other holding onto the handle of their weapons. He tried to chase the uneasiness from his mind with all his might. If he said the words, let's go, it meant saying, let's die once again, to them.
He took a deep breath. He endured the trembling voice by laying emphasis on his stomach.
"jack, Sky, there's no need to fight at the front. Watch the injuries of the members and the fighting rhythm well. Aim at certainty. SEVEN, Ash, defense first. Do not attack recklessly. Falt, aimed at their crowns from their backs. Billy, I'm sorry, but I'll have you fight in the most forefront with me"
"There's no need for you to. Me alone will be enough"
Hearing the returned words, worries ran about for an instant. He thought whether had he detected the instability of his heart, but Billy continued in a calm voice.
"You'll be fine after me. If the leader is gone, we definitely won't be able to make sure of our aim... Cause I'm going to act violently, so don't worry"
"...Billy,"
"Though I want to say that, it will be better to be in the van solo. It's just my selfishness"
The right hand shook lightly, and everyone peeled their eyes, still Billy just smiled thinly that could be understood.
"... They are the perfect enemies for me to lose control of myself."
Pop, a soft sound was made when he pulled the cork, the liquid inside was not power juice. He drank it down in a gulp without an interval for the others to stop him, the aura around him, changed from human into a beast.
"...Nobutuna"
"..."
.
"Do not loss yourself... It will be alright"
.
He who turned around looked with a smile, and someone said something.
.
SEVEN and Ash who had been his long acquaintances followed the back that started running, without being at loss. Taking out the bow immediately, Falt started to run too. Poisonously purple liquid scattered on all the heads by diffusion, and incidentally all the Tigrexs looked up. The melody from Sky's hunting horn, strengthened the legs of all members.
.
(Do not loss yourself)
Billy, am I lost?
What am I doubting about?
.
"Nobutuna! Let's move!"
"..., okay!"
A worn-out voice, he ran in pursuit of jack's back. A figure that dashed into the herd of Tigrexs that posed all at once, the fatigue was supposed to be increasing, still Billy wielded his hammer.
The lance that pierced straight, the fluttering great sword, and under storms of arrows that poured from above, Sky ran passed. Why, everyone hesitated for a while, but when the swinging horn swung down at the place following the hammer, the woundless wyvern flinched backwards. Swinging around the front of the horn once again to mow down from the side, it knocked onto the cheek of the opponent.
"Blunt instrument is scary!"
"It's convenient!"
The voice replying to the bounding voice of SEVEN, the attacks of all members accelerated. Running enough in the center, Nobutuna waved his long sword. He slashed at the lower stomach from the side, but the stained of the little blood was not deep. He wield his blade once more. Because there was a possibility that it may not came out after the stab, he did not use it frequently. The overlapped wounds deepened, and the quantity of bleeding slowly increased. The wyvern scales rubbed against his cheek, and scratched against his skin.
Wang, something passed through his body. In front of the wounded Tigrex, Sky played his hunting horn. The roar wyvern which rounded it's body like a puzzled cat, then moved backwards. It was high frequency. Sky continued to play his horn. He changed all neatly into attacks as he swung around, rearranging it, he aimed at the head. He could see that the bleeding of the enemy increased.
Still it was hard to say that it was a well fight. Though the Tigrexs were separating little by little, the number of attacks increased but not a single blow given was fatal. Anyway, they must at least send one of them out of this battle area.
Wang, wang, showing that the effect of the resounding high frequency, was the moment the Tigrexs separated away for several ten meters. The wounded Tigrex that flew away suddenly, glided ahead down a low slope. The event was in just several minutes. It meant that the strength of that Tigrex was just before it ran out.
(Should we chase, or should we not chase,)
Nobutuna recalled the words telling him not to be lost.
"Sky!"
"I'll go after it!"
Appealing the determination that hid behind in the back, Sky slid down the snow immediately after the reply. Turning around, he waved his sword. A deep laceration was cut onto the tail, and the Tigrex barked in pain. A dash from the back, when he was going to evade, the fold split making a sound. In spite of the drawn out sense, he turned around. The scattered red and blood, an instant of breathing, something made a sound from the rear. He stepped forward to cut the flying lump of snow with a flash. Making sure that the roaring Tigrex was charging at him in the same direction, he performed a swipe with his sound as he stepped back. He could not breath properly.
Something sounded on his side. Like a splashing red light, a hammer was swung straight down. He did not when did it reached his back, as if to destroy the big jaw of the Tigrex that opened widely, Billy hit onto it's forehead and knocked it down to the ground with his hammer. Crack, with a strange sound, it's lower jaw was distorted. The scream was distorted, and the eyes of the wavering Tigrex could be seemed as if filled with sorrow.
(...Oh,)
With a splat, a drop of tear was shed.
The wyvern tears were surely fell from the eyes, but the properties were different from the water cried from humans. It would crystallized when it fell and came in contact with the air, it would become a globe completely and enshrined when it reached the ground. The color and taste would varies according to the character of the wyvern, and there were also sizes that could be as big as a fist of a human. Because the meaning of the stones varied according to the color, it was very popular among females. The engage ring of wyvern tears was dwelled with magic, and it was said so that it meant walking together with love for eternity, but to hunters they were "falling gems" that were easy to obtain.
Not much was known about why would wyverns shed tears, and the studies did not advance either. It was said that it would drop when some special actions were taken, but the truth was not confirmed.
The tear that dropped onto the snow was surprisingly in a transparent thin purple, and he remembered one end of his memory about the story Sakura talked about happily. If he was right, the meaning of the stone seemed to be "do not take away from me".
He felt that the fallen tears of Tigrex were always red. For all the time, he always felt that they were red. Like blood. Like burning.
He eluded his sword aside and held a blow from the claws that brandished. Evading skillfully from the lance that charged from the side, and large shadow stepped backwards lightly and landed. Shaking off the pierced arrows, a roar rose. Holding onto his long sword once again, the color of blood shined in the white gently.
"...The running effect, has passed"
"Though Billy can still go on for a long long while"
"It's a protracted fight... SEVEN, don't overdo it"
"Saying so, Nobu-chan seems to be the one overdoing the most"
His profile was laughed. But, there was nothing to spare.
The tear of a little while ago strangely flickered. Nobutuna shook his head. His mind returned to the front. He pretended not to see the long sword trembling. He stepped forward once again.
There were many songs and legends and poetries entwined about wyverns. Wyverns were enemies of humans, friends of humans, bread of humans and dreams of humans since ancient times. The flying figure of wyverns in the sky, could be seen as gods by people. The overwhelming power that wyvern wielded, could be seen as devils by people. Howling of wyverns could be seen as a far-off illusion plateau, the marriage of wyverns could be seen as abundant harvest. In the world, at the individuals further bigger than themselves, it could be seen as various meanings and laws of nature by people.
Hunters were born, until the fact that humans could surpass wyverns was clarified, wyverns were the storm, the waves, the flame, and the ground. There were not monsters to people, but a part of the big big nature.
Probably it did not change even till now. But, what had changed, was that people had only been trying to surpass nature. Humans were only trying to protect themselves from the nature. And surely even that, was a part of the nature. The whole world was a part of the nature, and all the lives were a part of it.
You must not hate them.
They were only living as they were.
Humans actually lived the way as they were.
But humans, longed for the way they wanted to be.
He thought that people trying to surpass the nature, was because they wanted to live more than anything.
He thought that because they wanted to look at what existed ahead.
People stopped living as they were, and longed to live the way they wanted to be.
Protruding from the law of the world, running away from it, in their hands were blades and wisdom.
With blades and wisdom, people fought the nature.
With an awfully clear sound, something that ran down from there, became the rhyme of the world and remained by all means. Boring the law of nature, people thought, searching for the way expected, people played music.
He reached his hand out, to the horn.
His body did not move. He understood that he was drifting. The trembling fingertips touched the musical instrument he loved. He must stand. He lifted his body. He tried to get onto his knees. He opened his eyes.
The world merely accepted the protruded ones. The world did not change, and did not stop being the way as it was. It did not blame the ones that ran away. As if that struggling was one of the laws of nature, he said nothing. Humans stared at the world which was there as it was, looked for the world they wanted, and looked back the oneself whom was there, and stared at the world that was there as it was again.
Sounds, were born in that way.
Words, were born in that way too.
The pain was far. The veiled view closed twice and thrice. When he noticed that he was blinking, the focus matched slowly. In front of him, was big dark gold. From the gap of the wyvern scales, the red went down gently.
The world would never give up, on creatures called human-that-became-strong. It could not be gotten rid of, but in the end, it was the same as continuing to consider them as a part of the law. By every method, the world came in contact with people in every way, still the world was considered as natural.
Wyverns too, surely, were so.
It was bait to them. Because swords were point at them, because their places were taken away from them, because they were killed, they began to turn their fangs to hunters. It was balanced by strength for strength, in that way, it shook, in a different way of the strength of each person.
People wished for the way they wanted to be themselves.
That surely, was the worst self-interest, the best will, the lowest ambition, and the first dream.
The large body that did not move. A sense of calling off. He knew that he defeated it. He wondered about why was he swaying that much. His head was in pain. Everything in front of him was shaking. The horn. He must play his horn.
(Everyone, is fighting,)
The small flute which was attached to his waist. Will it reach them, though he was worrying, the trembling fingers obediently took it in his hand. He put it to his lips. The transparent sky-blue sound, rose gently.
The violent attack from the bloody struggling wyvern, was certainly it's life itself. In the same way as he stood opposite to it with every effort, it was certainly it's life itself.
The ones that lived as the way they were, and the ones that wished for the way they wanted, distinction was not needed for those strengths.
The pain was far. He could not feel anything. He did not notice the blood along his cheeks. By the bitter taste that descended to his lips, he recalled what he wanted to do.
Phew, a transparent sky-blue sound.
Lightly, the fell wide hair shook, and with a plop, the health flue dropped onto the snow.
Have you once imagined losing somebody?
The feeling that crawled on the body sloppily, bitter fret and something unspeakable that waved deeply. Someone who was beside you till yesterday, a close friend, family and lover. Have you ever thought seriously that, he or she might not be in this world anymore in an hour?
Hunter was an occupation like that. Somebody always died somewhere. All would be over if relaxed no matter how strong. There were also situation that one could not but ran away without being able to protect a fellow or a friend.
.
..."If"
...If the world of supposition always "really existed" in the head of a person.
"If it fell onto oneself"
.
Hunters always assumed it, and lived side by side with what's called the worst situation. They might die tomorrow. Somebody they knew might die tomorrow. They might lose a limp. They might be eaten by the faced monsters. They could took weapons in their hands, simply because what-if the possibility was taken as the true reality. They could protect someone.
The party called hunting group, was dependent by giving all the possibilities of "what-if" to the leader. What's called a group was basically structured like that. All the members would move unconditionally by the orders of the leader, by keeping that unity, they pushed on towards the aim. The leader would no doubt, took the responsibilities for the orders, and in cases if someone among the members died and wounded, the leader would took the responsibility after all. Talking about beating around the bush, eventually, if the life was not handed to the leader, a hunting group was not formed.
The members must choose a person that deserved as a leader to keep their lives. The leader also, must promise to fulfill it by all means. In the pledge of established trust, by any chance, the given life was spoiled, even if it was gotten from the dead, it could not be blamed on the leader. It was given to him. Then it was all. Because it was the result of putting too much confidence in the leader's ability that could not reply to the expectation, it could not be but said as the natural consequence. The obstacles to the leader, was only the distrust from other members.
People who was fear of distrust could not be the leader. Sometimes overcame by the opinions of the members, the leader must sometimes walk the way he or she believed in. It could not be said as a compliment if he or she was not appropriate to endure the distrust from people, the suspicion, and the contempt.
How about him?
Was he afraid of distrust, suspicion, and contempt?
What he was afraid of, was not something that small. It was not himself which could not answer, the weight of his friends' lives he carried.
He was probably purely afraid of,
.
..."If"
...If the world of supposition always "really existed" in the head of a person.
"If it fell onto oneself"
.
It was unimaginably sad, when he imagined that they were gone.
He heard the battle distantly. All was heavy, from his fingertips to the tips of his toes. The inside that shivered and rotated. Bop, bop, bop, bop, the heart resounded in quick steps. Something echoed distantly in the depths of his ears. Keen, keen, the trace of something that sounded thinly and distantly was troublesome and irritating.
As he thought, he heard the voice of someone distantly. The sound of arms, and something cutting the wind. A different voice. His consciousness did not become clear. A voice called many times. A roar. The cold ground vibrated gently. The cold ground. The snowy white ground. Coldness.
"...! ...!"
Somebody, was calling.
Being called, meant being required.
If he was needed, he would move.
In that way, he was created.
"Nobutuna... Nobutuna! Open your eyes! You can't, don't fall! Nobutuna!"
He could hear it clearly. Something hardened inside his throat. He tried to spit it out by knocking his lungs by force. On the pure white ground, something small in bright red scattered. A taste of rust in his month. There was a cut on the backside of his cheek.
"Nobutuna! Can you stand!"
"...u,"
"jack! He's safe! Can you come over somehow!"
Voices came one after another, the voices he was used to. He knew that Ash and SEVEN were standing in front defending with their weapons, but his fingers did not move. His whole body was numbed by something. Thump, thump, the ground rumbled. The fingers of somebody touched his cheeks. The lifted chin, something streamed down and the back of his month was strangely soaked with it, he shook unconsciously.
"Nobutuna... You can't, drink it,"
"...Mis, ter,"
"It's fine, just drink it,... Please,"
Without pressing his stomach with one hand, he could see little blood dripping from the wound. The lips which were about to become blue, the shaking fingers sounded the glass bottle held towards the lips. He opened his mouth without being able to think. The potion without much left dropped green into the white.
(It's scary, Mr.)
If I pray to live the way as we are, it feels like that someone will die.
(I'm scared,)
I'm not hesitating, Billy. I'm, scared.
I'm scared that you guys will be gone.
I'm scared that, I will be the one that killed you.
Don, don, don, the vibration still continued. On the other side of the two people holding their weapons in front, was a black shadow. The figure that charged again and again, was probably, a Tigrex.
What was it, that cut the wind from behind him. The sound overlapped. The sound of a bowgun. Rough breathing. Mr, push it into his throat already by force. The voice that whisper was weak. The voice of Riku. If I do that it's going to jam-packed his throat and he'll suffocate. The voice of Mr. answering, was somewhere weal.
(Oh, everyone, is going to die,)
I must stand.
However, as if his body was numb, he could not move.
A roar raised from Ash who was in front suddenly. The shoved lance skewed through the chin of the opponent to it's head, that was fatal. But, when the fangs that pierced into the middle of the wrist deeply was withdrew, blood gushed out. Ash collapsed with the head that fell, and the absolute physiological convulsions could be seen on his back. In large drops, blood overflew though the fangs were still intact. The snow turned red.
(I must stand,)
I must get up, I must go.
(Even if, I'm scared,)
He could not step forward because of the fear of losing. His confused brain could not make the right decision on what actions to take.
From the back of the defeated Tigrex, another one jumped out suddenly. SEVEN blocked and received it with the shield all by himself. Gradually, human beings did not have what it took to match with the great physical strength of the giant creature. Though the corpse became an obstacle and slowed the progress, gradually the marks SEVEN left on the snow became longer.
(I must stand up,)
Though I'm scared, why do I stand?
(Scared,)
.
"Shut up!"
.
The tense cold air vibrated.
"What's so scary! Get up if you want to stand! What are you doing being miserable!"
Pain ran through the back. From the fatigue, various wounds, and that one blow just now, nothing could be felt from the left arm. Blood overflowed as if jumping out from the flesh. Without being able to touch what was pierced as a hemostatic, his palm was dyed in red-hot.
"We don't have the time to trouble messily! It's not the time to hesitate! We followed because it's you! Because it is you, we followed!"
(Because, it's me,)
"If you tell us not to die we won't die! Even if you tell us to die we won't die! You all know, that you are scared all that time, everyone noticed! Therefore, because you fear for us, we,"
(Because you think about us,)
"Fight!"
You must know, if you are a hunter.
"We'll only die if we don't fight!"
(What if I fail...?)
(You will only die)
At first, what was weapons for.
Weapons, were the result of escaping from the death of oneself and others, the only will in order to fight, left in the hands of people.
The will to fight in order to escape.
(Who is the one that hold the long sword in his hand)
That probably,
(The sword is one's hands, feet, words, furthermore replacement of one's hearts, one's mirror, and also oneself.)
But, it was only a story for it.
When figure of the two person in front was cut down, the moment they disappeared from the very front.
Supposed, and, finally.
The fear inside him, faded away.
"Ooooooohhhhhhhh!"
The small human body protruded, like a beast crawling. The sharp blade faced straightly at the charging Tigrex, to pierce through, to scoop out, it dented into the large opened jaw and he slashed aside without leaving a gap. Without turning and without breaking, a flash ran merely straightly. The great body stopped for an instant by the excessive sharpness that torn up it's throat, a black and red shadow jumped into the air, as if to fly upwards and above the shadow that collapsed within a moment.
Something flew from the point of the bowgun held by a broken arm, within that instant, the feeling of being shot in the back from the rear, he grasped the long sword by both his hands with the rising power. Finishing through on the snowy ground, without any hesitation, without being at a loss, the linear trace, slashing greatly the large stomach that moved in front of his eyes, bitter blood, gushed out from the deep open wound, without knowing what happened, nothing mattered, and then the Tigrex fell.
"Everyone assist!"
The shout that sounded was the voice of Billy who was supposed to have lost control. He grasped firmly the long sword with both his hands and brandished as if laughing at the sky, and cut the big body along with the earth. The broken organs, the blood that gushed out from the jaw made someone red, he could not see, though he could not see, he could only see the enemy clearly!
We'll only die if we don't fight.
All of us, are going to remain the way we are and die only.
(What am I longing for,)
Who do I long for,
(What do I wish for!)
The big body that stayed in the pouring arrows, the daunting throat was being aimed at reflectively, like a beast, like a wyvern, weapons broke in as if to take it all away. A scream, a roar, the red eyes of the Tigrex turned, the chill that climbed his back without feeling even fear, could rather be said as a pleasant feeling.
One flash, the wind he felt on his back was shockingly refreshing, and even the pouring red blood was dear. Though the wyvern glared at him till the last when it fell, he only returned it a glance, and Nobutuna kicked the ground. Impulse. Like a lamentation. Agitation. Like a delight.
Yes, I longed for.
I just only, wished to live.
He could see Billy jumped greatly towards the head of another Tigrex which turned it's head to this direction like being invited. Many places of the body were dyed purple, but the present Nobutuna could only see the enemies. The last of them, with the eyes that scowled at this side passionately, and in fury, the will, the strength of the wyvern!
The roar that gushed out from the depths of the throat, with the same above will of the last wyvern standing and barking, the song was sang.
The held long sword, the unbreakable will, the held up hope, and for the aim that could be seen solidly, to the weak self in between straightly, he pushed out with all his power, the blade.
Deeply, without giving the time for the jaw to close, the blade pierced in to the deep till the handle in a stretch. He could feel the tepid breath and fluid of the Tigrex on his cheeks, the smell of blood, surely it responded to the wounded flesh, stopped, stayed, ended, to the will that broke off in the middle, like a promise that must be tied by all means, he pulled it out in a stretch.
The collapsing big shadow, in the middle of the confused breathing, mixed with the sound of wind in the silent snow mountains, the due wounds gently was healed. He was stunned, by the transparent sky-blue feeling that pulled his body. Amazed.
His arm was numb. There was no sense. Though the very front was bright and veiled. Like a tsunami running through his whole body, the scream of blood. Delight.
"...Nobutuna!"
The voice of Falt, and he looked up.
He could see Billy who was standing a little before him, collapsed without a sound, and fell onto the snow.
Author's Note:
It's fictional. The first half was Riku's turn, and latter half was troubled leader's turn. I like hunting scenes. But it became difficult when I started to think about the attack patterns of Tigrex.
Translator's Note:
Thanks for reading! ( • w • ) Still fighting scenes weren't easy... I've changed the translation style a bit... though there's not much difference... haha XD