Monster Hunter: The Telepathic Hunter; Ch21: Commander in the Flames
Hunter Stats (Reminder)
1. Alex Kasai (HR3)
Weapon: Kut-Ku Starve II Bow (Scatter Shot, Fire Element)
Armor: Cephalos Gunner
Skills: Telepathy: Kasai Potential, Heat Negate, Cold Increase, Hunger Halved, Water Resist
2. Anna Frost (HR2)
Weapon: Giaprey Claws Plus Dual Blades (Ice Element)
Armor: Cephalos Blade Master
Skills: Heat Negate, Cold Increase, Hunger Halved, Water Resist
3. Kotaru Shiki (HR2)
Weapon: Bone Katana Shark Long sword
Armor: Kut-ku Blade Master + Expert Gem Decoration
Skills: Vitality Up, Strength Up, Fire Resist, Water Damage Increase, Reckless Abandon
March 1st, 2098. Area 7, South Elde District, The Volcanic Belt. 1:03 PM.
The smoke cleared to reveal the bleeding and exposed stomach area underneath the Basarios. This same Basarios was looking at Alex, the perpetrator of the damage to his glorious armor, with a death glare.
"You're going to regret this, Kasai scum! Let's see how you like it when the fire is on you!" The Basarios opened his jaw wide at Alex. Alex's eyes widened at the clearly visible fire building up the wyvern's gullet.
"Alex, don't just stand there! MOVE!" exclaimed Kotaru, having been warned by Ai beforehand of the devastating attack the rock wyvern was charging up.
"Fire Element: Heat Ray!" A swirling lava-colored beam of light issued forth at incredible speed.
"WHOA!" Alex made the foolhardy choice of hitting the deck. "GAAAAHHHH!" He screamed as his back was singed for just a moment.
"ALEEEEXXX!" exclaimed Anna as she charged. While the Basarios was recovering from his attack, she executed a dual thrust into his exposed belly area, scoring massive damage.
The Basarios roared as it reeled in pain and shook himself to fling Anna away from him. He then turned and ran into the lava on the side, quickly disappearing to make his escape to another area.
Kotaru went over to where Alex lay. "Hey, man. Are you alright? How are you feeling?"
"Do I... look alright...? I've... never... felt worse. And, I... actually... can't get up..."
"Since when did you get so reckless?" said Anna as she drew near. "C'mon, Kotaru. Help me bring him back to base camp. We'll have to call for the Felyne Service. Our payment is going to be cut by one third." Anna sighed.
"Come on, big guy. Up you go!" Kotaru took Alex's legs while Anna took his arms.
"I'm sorry I let you guys down," said Alex sadly.
"Don't sweat it man. At least you scored that opening damage. It shouldn't be too hard for Anna and I to wrap this up by ourselves."
Alex smiled weakly. "I may have gotten my second Rank-Up before you, but you do have several months more experience than me. And Anna. Remember what I told you. You're strong. Stronger than you know."
Anna blushed. "Thanks for the reassurance. Now, how about you save your energy? Don't forget, we have a whole boat ride to go through on the way home."
"Ugh, don't even remind me… I feel sick just thinking about it…"
"Probably should not have told him that. Way to rub salt on a man who is already down," Anna whispered to herself.
At Base Camp, once Alex was safely in the care of Guild Service Felynes, Anna and Kotaru left to resume the mission.
"Try to get some rest, okay!? We'll be back soon!" Anna was shouting.
"It would be great if you guys brought me some ore on your way back!" Alex shouted back. He had given his pickaxe to Kotaru. Talk about being a slave driver. "Ow…"
"Sir, please don't strain yourself," said a Felyne Nurse. "You're lucky you were only grazed, but I wouldn't agitate the injury if I were in your boots."
"Yes, ma'am." Alex had his Helmet, Gauntlets and Chest piece taken off, and from his torso upwards was bandaged. He was resting on the Felyne's Transporter Cart. "I really need to up my game. Now, those two are in there… together… alone…" Alex shook his head. Although Alex and Anna worked closely as comrades, he never once thought romantically of her. He viewed her as somewhat of a sister. Well, she already was his "Sister-In-Arms", so to speak. It wasn't uncommon for Hunters to marry Hunters. His parents, Alexander and Miriam, had met on the job. He himself knew that much, or little. He only remembered one sentence that his mother told him that always stuck to him. He could and would never forget it.
"Only those with a clear heart, a strong will, and a passionate spirit can become great Hunters. Those are the most important qualities that clients look for in any Hunter."
Of course, Alex was much too young at the time to understand it. Even now, he only had a superficial grasp of the saying. Do I have these qualities? Well, I'm not too sure about my heart, and my will still needs some work, but I should be able to say I'm a passionate person. I guess I have a long way to go before I become a great Hunter.
Meanwhile, at the time Alex was having his introspection, in Area 4 Anna and Kotaru were nearing the conclusion of the quest. It had not taken them long to track down the rugged juvenile Rock Wyvern. They somehow worked well together as they carefully but resolutely dodged the Basarios's attacks and landed their own, steadily scoring damage.
"Okay, Anna! We've got him on the ropes!" exclaimed Kotaru as he dodged the wyvern's charge. "Let's keep pushing until he gives way!"
"Roger!" replied Anna as she slashed the Basarios' right leg as it skidded past her. It faltered slightly, before turning to her and roaring. "Why don't you show me your special attack!" Anna taunted.
"ROAR!" The Basarios seemed to obey as it began charging the attack. However, just as Anna rolled out of the attack's path, only black smoke came out of the wyvern's mouth.
Kotaru gasped in happy shock. "He is very low on vitality! If he were a Gravios, he might have still been able to pull it off, but he's only a juvenile after all." Kotaru looked at his sword, which was glowing red. It had been fully charged for a while now, but he was saving it for when he really needed to use it. "I think the conditions have been met. It's time to end this." Kotaru charged at the Wyvern.
The Basarios started to charge, but then just gave up. It was very tired. "Roar…"
"Take this. Reckless Abandon!" The sword glowed an even brighter red. "Spirit Sword Attack!" Upon nearing the wyvern, Kotaru slashed the exposed stomach several times at inhuman speed. His sword's shimmering white form cleaved through easily like a hot knife through butter. With a final cry, the juvenile rock wyvern collapsed. "Yeah!" cheered Kotaru. However, as a last act of contention, a purple fog was released, which Kotaru breathed in and started coughing. "Gah, poison!"
"Kotaru!" Anna ran to his aid, Antidote in hand. "Here. Drink this." She fed him the vial slowly. Thankfully, Basarios' toxic gas was not as fast acting as Ioprey, Gypceros or Rathalos poison. Its main ingredient was sulfur obtained from the volcanic rock the wyvern ate. Within minutes, Kotaru was fine.
"Thank you, Anna. I knew about that ability, but I didn't expect him to try it right at the end like this." Kotaru looked at the wyvern, which was very dead at this point. "We've done it. Let's carve him up and then get to mining for Alex so that we can get the heck out of here." He took out a Cold drink to replace the one he drank several minutes ago.
"Right. Let's get to work."
Back at Base Camp, Alex was alone. Their job done, the Felynes had left.
"I wonder how they are doing?" said Alex to himself as he did some stretches. He was feeling a lot better, enough to even stand, although his back was still in slight pain. "It's been a while since they left. Perhaps they've already won and are on their way back." Alex tried to do a difficult position, and suddenly lost his balance. "Whoa!" In his attempt to save his fall, he wobbled towards the sea. Finally, he landed on his hands. "Aahh–owww! Man, that smarts!" He sighed. "They told me to rest, and look at me now, tumbling around like a fool…" Alex suddenly noticed that his necklace ornament was glowing. "Huh?" He eased himself into a sitting position, on the sand, and took off the necklace to study it. It dimmed slightly. "Huh? What?" He brought it closer to him, and it grew brighter again. "I've never noticed it doing this before. What is up with this thing?" In truth, Alex had never taken it off of him ever since Viridia placed it on him. He ate with it, bathed with it, hunted with it, you name it. This was the first time he truly appreciated it. "It does look pretty. Hey, I wonder." Alex looked at the sea, and a small thought came to him. He held the necklace towards the sea. As if reacting, the dragonite triangle glowed even brighter. "It seems to be reacting to the ocean." Alex got up and started walking. Then, as a wave washed past his feet, he suddenly felt rejuvenated. The lingering pain in his back vanished, and then the ornament stopped glowing. "Whoa! I feel so much better! It looks like I've discovered a new Kasai ability! I can heal myself with water!" Alex replaced the necklace to its rightful place. Thank you, Viridia. He turned to the boat. "I'd better go surprise them. I'll use Telepathy to figure out where they are." Alex quickly put on the rest of his armor, followed by his bow. "Just in case."
Back in Area 4, Anna and Kotaru had found disaster. Or rather, disaster that found the two!
Clack, clack, clack, clack!
"Huh!? What is that sound!?" Kotaru was alarmed. He looked around.
However, Anna looked up, and her eyes grew small. "Uh, what the heck is that thing!?"
Kotaru followed her pointing finger, and then his own eyes paled. "Oh, Aptonoth dung! Hit the deck!" Kotaru grabbed Anna's other hand and pulled her away. At that moment, the giant blue carapaceon hanging from the ceiling dropped down. For a shell, the sharp looking crab sported the skull of a Gravios on its back. It raised its forward claws, which were more like folded scythes, while standing on the other four legs. Its face was shaped similarly to a horn, with two dark blue eyes, and a pair of antennae longer than a Daimyo Hermitaur's.
"Why now!?" Kotaru was trembling in fear.
"I'll ask you again, what is this thing!?" demanded Anna, also quite scared.
"It's… a Shogun Ceanataur. Famed as the "Devil's Scythe," they are ferocious carapaceons who do not take prisoners. We need to get out of here, like yesterday fast!"
"You had me at Ceanataur!" Anna took a hold of the hand Kotaru still had on hers. "C'mon! He's coming for us!" Anna began to run, and Kotaru got into high gear in her wake.
"Pit-choo!" The Ceanataur vocalized as it began to give chase. It had its sights set on these intruding Hunters as its next meal. Humans provided far more nutrients than volcanic bedrock, it must have been thinking.
"Whoa!" exclaimed Anna as five Ceanataur juveniles rose up out of the ground in an ambush, blocking the escape route. "Darn! This isn't good!" Anna released Kotaru and quickly drew out her blades.
"We're going to have to fight our way out…" Kotaru drew his long sword. He turned around to see that the Shogun had caught up. To be blunt, it was not recommended for HR2 Hunters to take on Shoguns, unless it was for their Rank-Up and they were properly prepared. Anna and Kotaru were clearly not prepared. They had only signed up for a Basarios today. They were already low on supplies. They were just wrapping up, after all. "Now that it's come to this, I don't have a choice. Anna, I won't let anything happen to you, or Alex might hurt me!"
"Why don't you worry about the looming threat in the present, first!" Anna was already slashing at the juveniles. She dodged whenever they tried to spit poison at her. "What is it today with monsters and poison!?"
Kotaru strafted to the right as the Shogun dug its left claw into the spot he just was. "Take this!" He did a downwards powerslash. As expected, his attack bounced off, leaving him open. The Shogun tried to capitalize and thrusted its right claw with the inner blade extended. Kotaru was just barely able to prevent a lethal wound. "GAAAHHH!" The claw easily breached his Kut-Ku chest piece, damaging a lung.
"KOTARUUU!" exclaimed the voice of Alex. He quickly let loose a series of shots if only to distract the remaining juveniles, catching their attention. Anna took her cue.
"Ice Element: Dual Ice Slash!" Because the usually folded blade of the claw was weaker armor wise than the rest of the exoskeleton, Anna was able to break it.
"SCREEEHHH!" the Shogun vocalized in pain, pulling back the broken claw. Frothy bubbles now oozed from its mouth.
"It's enraged!" Alex wasted no time in putting away his bow. Even if this would cost whatever bit of stamina he gained from his full heal, he needed to use that technique. "Sorry, guys, but playtime is over. Thunder Element: Khezu Cloak!" Empowered in his lightning aura, Alex dashed past the Ceanataurs towards his comrades. "C'mon, guys! You'll only feel a light shock, but this is the fastest way out of this mess!" Alex took heavy Kotaru into his arms, and bade heavy Anna to climb onto his back. "Hurry!"
"Okay!" She knew the urgency and complied immediately. Alex took off just as the Shogun was about to bear hug everyone with its claws in a scissor-like attack.
"Come back here, cowards!" said the Shogun angrily as it watched the trio flee at Bulldrome Charge speeds.
A few minutes later saw Anna and Alex trying to stabilize Kotaru. They were already out on the sea, sailing back towards Jumbo Village. For the first time in his life, Alex was not bothered by the trip. All of his focus was on making sure his best friend did not die on his watch. They had managed to cover the wounds with a cloth and tightly secure it with bandaging that the Felyne service had left behind. Anna did her best to apply a steady pressure to the area, in hopes of slowing down the bleeding. Of course, there was internal bleeding to worry about, but there was nothing they could do about that. It was up to Kotaru to hold out for as long as he could until he could be brought to professionals.
"Don't you dare at any time think about giving up on us!" Alex was saying every once in a while. "You… don't have our permission! You have to live!"
"I'll try…" Kotaru would reply sometimes.