Monster Hunter: The Telepathic Hunter; Ch51: The Legendary Black Dragon
April 4th, 2099. White Night Dunes Basecamp, Sekumeaya Desert. 2:00 PM.
Alex brought Beverly to the bench in the basecamp resting tent to have a seat. While her wound was completely healed, surviving from nearly dying was a tiring ordeal. "Yup, I think I'm going to need a short vacation, spend some time at my Inn," said Beverly.
"Sounds great," replied Alex.
"Um, Beverly, I just want to say thank you," said Corra. "You saved me. I don't think I could have stopped that Tigrex's charge if his focus was totally on me. Your intervention forced him to split his attack."
"Don't sweat it, Corra. As Kasai, we three are family. As long as we support each other, then even the ultimate sacrifice is a small price to pay."
Alex thought deeply about that. Beverly said that without hesitation. While there was always the possibility of the Healing Spring provided there was sufficient Chikara energy to power it, she would have also just accepted her death. Her spirit was strong. Was this part of what made an excellent Hunter?
About an hour later, after Alex, Qilin and Ismarelda had returned to carve materials from the two Tigrex corpses, the group left the White Night Dunes. First, they dropped Qilin off in N'ganga. Alex opted to accompany Beverly to Dondruma, just to make sure she got home safely. He then paid for an air trip back to Pokke.
April 12th, Guild Headquarters, Minegarde City.
After over a week of rest, playing with Emperor, relatively easy Low Rank quests for a change of pace, and even two dates with Anna, Alex had received summons from Takahashi and Juniper. He brought along Anna and Clarence just in case his ominous premonition would reveal itself.
As it stood as the three sat together across from Takahashi, Juniper and the guards, Alex was visibly quivering. "Whoa, Alex. Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?" asked Juniper with concern.
"You look like a wyvern could just burst into this room at any moment," commented Takahashi, Alex's perturbed countenance not lost on him. "Don't worry. A Kushala, Lunastra or Teostra hasn't broken into our fair city for a century and 9 decades now, not since we really got a hang of the Power of Chikara."
Alex calmed down enough to stop shaking. "Thank you for the reassurance. You see, I have been having a most dreadful premonition for over a week and several days. I spent some time taking it easier in an attempt to take my mind off of it. But now, your summon has quite frankly driven me close to the edge." Takahashi and Juniper exchanged glances. "But please, let's get started on this meeting. Is there something you wanted to inform me of?"
Takahashi assumed a nervous look. "What a strange world we live in… Okay, enough bush beating. Alex, we have received a rather unexpected… letter… from a Hunter who supposedly infiltrated the abandoned Schrade Castle." Alex immediately did not like where this was going, but he maintained composure. This was screaming red flags. "According to the letter, he encountered a… Fatalis."
"HUH, WHAT!?" voiced Alex, Anna and Clarence in unison.
Takahashi waited a moment before continuing. "The Fatalis defeated him but chose not to kill him. It is, unusually, capable of actual speech, not just telepathy." A round of gasps ensued. "Alex, the Fatalis has requested to see you. This is most probably some kind of trap, but it is also a rare opportunity to learn some information. That is why, if you are willing to go, I will accompany you."
"Ack!" Alex's head fell onto the table with a resounding 'bonk' sound. The info bomb was too much for him to handle. His mind had just crashed. He had not been paranoid, rather his survival instincts were simply going off.
Anna and Clarence turned to him in concern. "Alex? Alex!" Anna shook him gently.
It was three minutes later that Alex woke up. While asleep, Maxwell cheered him up in his dreams. "Sorry for worrying you, everyone, and wasting your time you two."
Juniper waved her hands. "No, no… This is kind of important, so we cleared at least three hours of our schedule for this."
"Wow…" Alex turned to Takahashi. "I have a feeling if I don't go, the Hunter will be killed. He is most probably a hostage. Besides, I've been looking forward to standing alongside you again, Moon Falcon."
Takahashi smiled. "I see you got your Guardian Sword up to the Aqua Guardian stage. Very good. The pressure of Water increases the more there is, and two swords are better than one. However, it is my fleeting wish that we do not come into combat with the Fatalis. It will be like nothing you have ever experienced before."
Alex nodded. "Let's go." He then turned to his friends. "Anna, I…"
"I want to be there. I need to experience this. Remember, you, Ai, Kotaru and I are going to save our world from Ukanlos. We will need exposure to higher than usual Chikara signatures, so that we don't freeze on the spot when the time comes."
"I suppose you're right. Speaking of those two, we haven't had a Squad Hunt with them in quite a while. I think it's time to bring the team back together."
"What about me?" asked Clarence. Alex turned to him. "Also, don't forget that there are numerous Hunters older and more experienced than us that will also be preparing."
"Well, we will just have to cooperate. If too many of these people only think about the glory facing the "White God" and overestimate their abilities, we will surely have a repeat of the last few times it has appeared. Even the previous strongest Kasai was defeated and slain, because he tried to confront it alone. I won't make that mistake. We all won't."
"Alex, you have really matured, huh?" commented Juniper. "In a few years, you could even join us and become the youngest leader of the entire Hunter's Guild!"
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," replied Alex with an embarrassed face. "I'm still a reckless child with bad habits to break. I couldn't lead a pack of domesticated Velociprey, let alone the Guild." Everyone shared a laugh.
Takahashi stopped first. "You don't need to sell yourself short, Alex. Anyway, we'd best start planning how we will tackle our current issue."
Alex got serious. "Right!"
Hunter Stats
1. Alex Kasai (HR7)
Weapon: Aqua Guardian Long Sword (Water Element)
Armor: Kirin EX
Skills: HG Telepathy, Kasai Potential, ESP-F, Spirits Whim, Element Attack Up, All Resist, Item Usage Decline, Elder Dragon Influence
2. Anna Frost (HR7)
Weapons: Flaming Pair Dual Blades (Dragon Element)
Armor: Fatalis Blade Master (Modified, Low Rank)
Skills: Strength Up, Reckless Abandon +2, ESP, Dragon Wind Breaker, Dragon Resist, Vitality Down, Cursed Protection, Heroic Failure, Hunger Increase.
3. Clarence Scorcher (HR7)
Weapon: Fire Dragon Sword Long Sword (Dragon Element)
Armor: Rathalos 'U' Blademaster
Skills: Strength Up, Reckless Abandon +2, Thunder Damage Increase, Dragon Damage Increase
4. Takahashi Getsu (Hunter's Guild Leader, Guest Hunter)
Weapon: Atlantis Long Sword (Water Element)
Armor: Imperial Guardian Suit Blade Master + Athlete Gem Decoration
Skills: Vitality Up, Strength Up, Endurance Up, Element Attack Up, All Element Damage Increase, Heroic Failure.
April 13th. Northern Schrade Region.
The next day, the quartet had taken a medium sized blimp to a lone, large landing pad set up just a mile away from the castle. The blimp could carry eight squads and up to two tons of payload in supplies. They would go the rest of the way on foot. In the distance, they could see a hill, above which were broiling clouds, faint flashes of lightning and far away crackles of thunder.
Even at this distance, everyone could feel an unimaginably overwhelming Chikara signature. Everyone but Takahashi could barely even stand up due to the stupidly huge amount of Elder Dragon Pressure. "My word…! If we're all the… way over here… and I can't feel my legs…" observed Anna with dread. "Then…"
"I can't… even imagine… the horror that… is waiting… for us," said Clarence.
Alex looked at Takahashi. "Sir, you're not affected? Have you fought a Fatalis before?"
The leader of the Hunter's Guild turned to Alex. "I slew one. But it was young, one third the size of a full grown adult, and it left me with a love tap." Takahashi moved to a spot where everyone could see and opened up his chest piece to reveal a gnarly scar which was shaped like a hawk's talons. Everyone gasped and stared in shock. "Based on the level of pressure I'm feeling, I'd say we are dealing with one that is less than 100 years old, a drop in the bucket compared to their maximum lifespans. The one I killed was only 35 years old. That was 26 years ago."
Alex found some bearing and stood up. "I wasn't even born yet!"
Takahashi turned to Anna and Clarence. "You two, just focus on your breathing and try to relax. If you can't withstand this, then you might have to stay here."
Hearing that gave Anna some motivation. With a struggle, she got to her feet, her hands clenched into tight fists. "I've come… this far… I have no… intention of… backing out now."
"Well… said!" commented Clarence as he got up next. He was visibly shaking, but after a few deep breaths he seemingly got it together. "Let's not… waste any time. I'll gradually get used to it as we move along."
"Alright. Be ready for anything," said Takahashi.
Abandoned Schrade Castle.
The quartet arrived at the imposing main gate of the castle. There were four walls surrounding the inside. The weather above was worse now that they were right under it. Oddly, the clouds were weird colors such as dark purple and brownish reds and oranges. Macha's Sun was completely blocked out, creating a dark and foreboding atmosphere. Also, the humongous signature had curiously vanished.
"Tread carefully, everyone," cautioned Takahashi. "To the right of the courtyard we are about to enter is a barracks. We can unload some of our supplies before we begin our investigation."
"Acknowledged," replied the others quietly.
The gate was not locked. While it was law to avoid this castle without express permission, human curiosity was a thing and the Guild could not stop every single idiot who decided to tempt fate. The group quickly went into the courtyard and towards the barracks. The huge inner courtyard was split in half by a wall with two gates and an outpost in the center. Unloading and organizing their supplies was a smooth operation.
"I can sense a small Chikara signature," announced Alex when the group was done. "It must be the Hunter. He is somewhere further in the castle."
"I suspect that once we move towards him, the Fatalis will notice and make its appearance," replied Takahashi. Anna and Clarence just nodded.
Steeling their conviction, the quartet left the barracks and began towards the inner castle. It was then that the powerful Elder Dragon Pressure suddenly returned, even stronger now that the group was within the castle. Alex, Anna and Clarence dropped to their hands and knees, while even Takahashi dropped to one knee.
"Whoa! It's back! It's SO much stronger this time!" exclaimed Alex. HG Telepathy warned him of danger. "Huh?" Alex struggled to look up at the sky above the castle's main building. With a loud crack of thunder, a dark dragon rose into view carried by strong black and violet wings. Its underside and the tips of its four horns were pale. Alex recognized the color scheme due to the similarity to his Modified Fatalis armor.
The Legendary Black Dragon flew over to their side of the castle and eased down into landing. Standing on his hind legs, the dragon towered over the quartet by three and a half meters. Its long neck brought its head down to glower menacingly at the group while its long tail swished from side to side idli without so much as a care in the world. Snout to tail, it was about twenty-six meters long. Yellow, slitted eyes looked into Alex as if beholding his very soul. "Well, what have we here?"
Somehow, Alex found the courage to speak. "H-hello, Mr. Fatalis, Sir. I have come as you have requested…" was what he managed.
"Clearly, in the face of my power, speaking like a human is too much for you to handle, so we'll use this method instead. My family has been observing you for some time, Alex Kasai." The dragon did a short glance at Takahashi, before focusing on Alex again. "I see you brought the leader of the Hunter's Guild. A move most unwise, but I shall let it slide. Command your comrades to leave us and I will at least promise not to harm them. I am only interested in you right now."
"Anna, Clarence… I don't like it anymore than you do, but you heard him," said Takahashi. The two looked at him in shock. "Listen, we are lucky that this Fatalis is so merciful. Let us not escalate the situation, and leave well enough alone."
The group found themselves able to stand as the Fatalis controlled and relaxed his Chikara signature. Anna turned to Alex. "Will you be alright, Dear?"
"I can't claim to know what will happen from here on out, so I can't promise anything this time. Just wait for me."
Anna understood the situation well. "Alright. Just, don't be reckless."
"Be cautious," said Clarence. The trio then retreated to the gates of the Castle and outside. The gates mysteriously closed behind them by some unseen force.
Alex gulped as caught Anna mouthing "I love you" before she was out of sight.
The pressure came back on as soon as the gates were shut, but just low enough that Alex could still stand. "Before we continue, allow me to tell you this. Crush any notion about you being able to defeat me here and now. I called you here for a bit of a tradition that we Fatalis started to uphold after the first 49 years of the Hunter's Guild's existence."
"Huh? Uh… Okay…" Alex did not know what to think about that, so he decided to let the Elder Dragon explain.
"As you have learned, it was we Fatalis that granted you humans and wyverians the power of Chikara some 299 years ago. Your kind's punishment had lasted long enough. Of Course, the Ukanlos and Akantor clans still take it upon themselves to… 'balance out' your advancements, as extreme as their methods are." Alex just nodded. "Every ten years before the Ukanlos' awakening, give or take, we Fatalis evaluate the hunters of this continent and choose the most promising. We test their strength and resolve."
"Wait, what? Ten years? If that is the case, and you've called me here for that, then why me and why so close? There is less than a year before the next Ukanlos attack."
"Unfortunately for you, our previous "chosen one" has gotten himself killed just recently. His name was Yagura Kaminari, an HR9 level Hunter. He was defeated by a Gold Rathian." Alex gasped. "I will admit, there are a few choices currently that might be or even are better than you, but none of them share the same drive as you have and he had. Plus, if you pass my test, you will prove yourself above them anyway."
"Um, so… what happens if I pass this… 'test' of yours?"
The Fatalis adjusted his wings for a few seconds before answering. "You'll have to understand, while we Fatalis are not gods, we are exceedingly powerful collectively and rule over this world. We do whatever we want on whim, so long as we don't interfere too much with the balance of the ecosystem. That would be bad for everything, including us. The Ukanlos, however, don't care about that all that much. If they had their way, our world would be trapped in a never ending ice age with only the creatures that can withstand the cold being left." Alex grimaced exceedingly. "The Ukanlos are cursed with absurdly inefficient metabolisms, thankfully, which is why they are forced to sleep as long as they do. But when they are awake, only devastation is to be expected. The only solution is that they are slain or stalled long enough to go back to sleep. Once asleep, they protect themselves in a bubble of sturdy ice empowered by their Ice Element Mastery."
"Wow… Just wow."
"So, we Fatalis offer a gift to those we find worthy. We can provide you with a Limited Skill called Twin Wall Exchange. What this skill does depends on what foe you face. Against certain Flying Wyverns, all Elder Dragons, and the First Wall Akantor, you will have greatly increased attack power in exchange for severely reduced Dragon Element Resistance. Against Ukanlos, you will have majorly increased resistance to Ice Element attacks and a minor attack power increase, in exchange for a severe case of Heroic Failure if you become too injured. Against every other type of foe, this Skill will not activate."
Alex looked down at the ground. This power sounds amazing on paper, but it is quite a gamble. I think… I'll have to refuse, even if I pass this test. I'm not sure, though. Breaking from his thoughts, Alex looked back at the Fatalis. "Um, can you tell me your name?"
"You ask that only now? You're a weird one," the Fatalis replied in a chuckling tone. "My real name is too complicated for you to pronounce, so to save yourself the embarrassment, call me Kibatodos."
He wants me to call him Walrus!?, thought Alex. "How about Kiba for short?"
"Fine. I take back what I said; you aren't weird, just interesting."
"Uh, thanks… So, anyway, about this 'test' of yours..."
"Give me everything you got, and try to survive for ten minutes." Kiba flexed his wings before getting off into flight, hovering straight up.
"Oh, we're starting right away, just like that?" Alex jumped back as a fireball fell down and exploded in the spot he just was. "I'll take that as a yes."
Kiba came down as Alex drew out his Aqua Guardian, and got into his self taught stance. "That was just a greeting. From here on out, I will really try to kill you. So prepare yourself and fight valiantly."
"That's some greeting… Well, let's get this over with."
Author Note:
I'm not sure where I was going with this one. To those of you who find all of the exposition dump a bit over the top, please take it all with a grain of salt. A mountain-sized grain, that is.