Monster Hunter: The Telepathic Hunter; Ch34: The Silver Horn
Hunter Stats (Reminder)
1. Alex Kasai (HR4)
Weapon: Black Sword Sword-and-Shield (Dragon Element)
Armor: Kirin EX
Skills: Telepathy, Kasai Potential, Element Attack Up, All Resist, Item Usage Decline, Elder Dragon Influence.
2. Corra Kasai (HR4)
Weapon: Khezu Horn Hunting Horn (Thunder Element) {White, Yellow, Blue}
Armor: Khezu 'D' Blade Master
Skills: Telepathy, Kasai Potential, Recovery Level Up, Wide Area, Thunder Resist, Water Damage Increase.
3. Anna Frost (HR3)
Weapon: Black Twin Daggers Dual Blades (Dragon Element)
Armor: Kut-Ku 'D' Blade Master
Skills: Element Attack Up, Reckless Abandon, Fire Resist, Ice Damage Increase
4. Ai Shiki (HR4)
Weapon: Sakura Parasol Light Bowgun
Armor: Battle Gunner
Skills: Strength Up, Reloading Speed Up, Precision Up, Hunger Increase.
5. Kotaru Shiki (HR3)
Weapon: Khezu Shock Sword Greatsword (Thunder Element)
Armor: Garuga Blade Master
Skills: Sharpness Plus, Earplug, Reckless Abandon, Poison Resist.
6. Katie of Rekusara (HR4)
Weapon: Grenade Launcher Light Bowgun
Armor: Diablos Gunner
Skills: Vitality Down, Reckless Abandon +2, Wind Pressure Breaker, Ice Damage Increase
August 4th, 2:06 PM. Arcolis Forest and Hills, Area 5.
Corra and Kotaru rolled out of the path of a fireball. The Rathian was firing flaming projectiles every chance she got, for she had taken quite a lot of damage from Team B's assaults. However, things seemed to take a turn for the worse as Rouge the Rathalos flew into the cave.
"Vert, are you alright!?" Rouge asked.
"No! Those awful hunters broke both of my wings! I cannot fly right now!"
"Grr! They'll pay for this!"
Corra swallowed. "Everyone, let's retreat for now! It might be in our best interest!" She was already sheathing her Hunting Horn.
"I second that!" exclaimed Ai.
"You lot are not going anywhere!" Rouge did a flying leap and landed before the south exit. At the same time, Vert the Rathian charged towards the north exit, effectively trapping Team B inside the cave.
"Oh, no!" exclaimed a worried Kotaru.
"Fire Element: Fish in a Barrel Combo!" Both Wyverns began repeatedly firing flaming projectiles.
"Whoa!" The members of Team B were forced to keep on the move, lest they take direct hits. They were effectively caught in a very devastating pincer attack of fire. However, they would not be able to keep this up forever. Luckily, help was on the way.
As Alex came into the Cave from Area 4, he quickly noticed Rouge's back, the Fire Wyvern's tail swinging from side to side as it kept bombarding Team B. "Anna, this is our chance. Let's finish him."
"Roger. Go!"
The hunter couple unsheathed their weapons and got into position. "Dragon Element: Dragon's Wrath!" Alex and Anna exclaimed as they attacked.
"What the…!?" Rouge took a barrage of graceful attacks from Anna, and a powerful Jump Slice from Alex for the finish. A flash of Dragon Element static occurred on every attack. "N-noooo!" Rouge collapsed.
"Rouge!? DEAR!? NO!" exclaimed Vert.
"Alright!" exclaimed Corra.
"Let's finish this!" said Kotaru to her. Corra nodded.
The two sheathed their weapons and made an advance on the remaining Rathian. "Stay away!" Vert kept shooting fireballs but Corra and Kotaru wove around them easily. "AAHHH!" Vert tried to do a Poisonous Backflip attack. The duo rolled out of the way and unsheathed their weapons once again.
"Thunder Bash!" Corra stunned Vert into seeing stars with a horizontal bash to the head.
Kotaru was already prepared for the finishing blow. "Charged Thunder Slash!" Kotaru unleashed his attack, and that was the hunt.
"NOOOoooo…" Vert collapsed, dying.
Guild Outpost, Pokke Village. 4:00 PM.
"Great job, you three!" congratulated September as the Alex, Anaa and Corra entered the gathering hall.
"Hiya, Miss September!" replied Alex jovially. "This was without a doubt our hardest challenge yet. I would not want to have faced those Fire Wyverns solo. No way."
"They were just as troublesome and powerful as I remember," said Corra.
"Please hurry, and give us our stars. I would like to get some rest," said Anna.
"If I were in your place, I guess I would be in a hurry, too," said September with a knowing smile.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Anna asked.
September took out four stars. Three green Rank Five Stars, and one yellow Rank Four Star. "Once again, congratulations on a job well done, you three! And Anna, for your bravery in taking on two Five Star Threat Level monsters at once, even while on a group hunt, the Guild awards you a double Rank-Up!"
"Whoa!" exclaimed Alex and Anna in unison. Corra just smirked. The trio received their stars one by one, and placed them into their Guild Card booklets.
"Wow Anna, even the Guild recognizes how strong you have become," commented Alex. "You've certainly earned this!"
"Thanks, Alex." Anna smiled at him. "Well, I'd better get home. Mathew was pretty worried when I left. I gotta show him I came back in one piece."
"You do that." Alex turned to Corra. "Hey, Corra. Wanna share some dinner with me?"
Corra appeared to have a jump scare. "Huh!? Alex, what are you doing asking me that out of the blue!?"
"Huh? What a reaction… Corra, you make it sound as if I were hitting on you or something. Is a celebration of our exploits really too much to ask for? I thought we were becoming a bit closer as family members… But I guess I thought wrong. Fine, suit yourself." Alex turned to the door and began to leave. "See you next time, Miss September…" Alex stopped. "Say, where is Patricia?"
September suddenly looked uneasy. "Patricia… went out to tend to her sick older brother… who is a Hunter."
"Huh!? Patricia has a brother!? He's sick!?" The reason why Alex was surprised was that it was unheard of for hunters to be held back by rudimentary sicknesses. Nothing short of long poisoning or grave injuries from monsters could hold them down in the dumps. "I'd better go see her, but after I get some rest and some food."
"That may be best. I'm sure she will appreciate it," said September with a smile.
"Okay, Alex. I'll join you this time," said Corra.
Alex turned to her. "Alright! Let's go!"
At Alex's home, in the kitchen, he and Corra shared a gourmet meal from Apple.
Morning, August 5th.
Patricia actually did not own a house in Pokke, rather she often lodged with September. She and her brother lived in a small port to the east of Pokke, on the coast of the Leviathan Ocean. Alex, Anna and Corra took a boat from the river at the Farm down to this port. Alex had made a short stop to this port back when he was accompanying Sanchez and Sam to Rekusara.
After a bit of asking around, the trio arrived at their destination. Alex knocked on the front door. "Hello? Anyone home?"
A few seconds later, the door opened. "Huh? Alex? Anna? Corra, too!? You all came to see me?"
"Of course!" replied Alex. "September filled us in. Can we come in? How's your brother?"
Patricia opened the door wider, and bade everyone to come inside. "He's not doing well at all. The doctors don't know what's wrong with him." Patricia led the trio to a room. In quite a big bed lay a man with blazing red hair. One hand was clutching his chest, and the other held his head. He seemed to be in massive discomfort, to say the least, as evidenced by his occasional groans of pain.
"Whoa. This looks like a bad case of Cephalos Neurotoxicity," said Corra. Everyone else gasped. "What? I used to treat all of Maxwell's ailments back in the day. I learned a thing or two in order to be useful to him."
"Wow," was all Alex could say.
"Anyway, Patricia, did he take any quest to a desert recently?" Corra asked.
"Why, yes he did in fact," replied Patricia. "He and his friends were hunting Cephalos. I think he did get the worst of their attacks."
"That explains it. Thank goodness it's not too late." Corra turned to Alex and Anna. "You two, we need to get some desert Pink Cactus Juice in order to make a Herbal Medicine. It's the only type of antidote that can cure his illness. Are you up for a quick trip to the White Night Dunes right now?"
"You bet!" exclaimed Alex, who then turned to Patricia. "Don't worry, Patricia-chan! We'll get this done in no time at all. Your brother will be well by the end of the day!"
"I'm in," said Anna.
"Thank you, everyone," said Patrica.
Hunter Stats
1. Alex Kasai (HR5)
Weapon: Plesioth Fin Swords Dual Blades (Water Element)
Armor: Cephalos Blade Master
Skills: Telepathy, Kasai Potential, Heat Negate, Cold Increase, Hunger Halved, Water Resist.
2. Anna Frost (HR5)
Weapon: Snow Poison Dual Blade (Ice Element, Poison Attribute)
Armor: Cephalos Blade Master
Skills: Heat Negate, Cold Increase, Hunger Halved, Water Resist.
3. Corra Kasai (HR5)
Weapon: Khezu Horn Hunting Horn (Thunder Element) {White, Yellow, Blue}
Armor: Khezu 'D' Blade Master
Skills: Telepathy, Kasai Potential, Recovery Level Up, Wide Area, Thunder Resist, Water Damage Increase.
Basecamp, White Night Dunes, Sekumeaya Desert. 11:04 AM.
"Alex, let me lead. I know exactly where to go to find the Pink Cactus."
"Roger, Corra!" replied Alex.
"Let's get started," said Anna.
With their pre-hunt checklist complete, the trio set out. Corra played White-White on her Hunting Horn, so that the group could move quickly under the power of the Movement Speed Up buff. Corra led the group to Area 2. As they were passing through Area 3, Alex picked up something.
"Huh!? Whoa!"
"What is it, Alex?" asked Anna.
"I'm sensing a very powerful signature. I don't even have the Detect Skill, but I can feel it from all the way over here. I haven't sensed something this strong since I fought Tigrex!"
"We may have a fight on our hands before we can get the Pink Cactus," remarked Corra. "Let's go. Patricia's brother does not have forever. His condition will get worse by tonight if he doesn't get the Herbal Medicine."
"Roger!" replied Alex.
White Night Dunes Area 2.
This area was a small area within the rocky mountains west of the sandy plain of Area 3. There was plenty of shade to keep the area cool, too. To the left was a ledge that could be used by Gunners to keep them out of harm's way. Of course, the horn of a Monoblos or twain horns of a Diablos could still reach them if they were not being careful.
Imagine the trio's surprise at the sight of a Monoblos in this area. But it was not just any Monoblos. No, it was the rare, fabled White Monoblos.
"No way! This is the source of the signature!?" Alex swallowed, but then a pang of excitement began to surface within him. "Hey, we can kill two birds with one stone!"
In Alex's excitement, he made the mistake of giving away the team's presence. "What the!?" The White Monoblos turned to them. "D-d-darn it! And here I thought today was a safe day!"
"Way to go, you idiot!" exclaimed Corra as she unsheathed her Hunting Horn. "We had the element of surprise, and you blew it!"
Anna took out her blades. "Whatever, let's just get this over with."
"Sorry, everyone," apologized Alex as he drew his weapons. "And sorry to you, too, White Monoblos. This is a rare opportunity, and though I am pressed for time, I can't let this go to waste! We challenge you!"
"My name is Shirow, and I will not be looked down upon!" Shirow let out an ear-splitting roar. Everyone covered their ears for a brief moment. Shirow took the opportunity to charge.
"Grr…! Darn you and that annoying roar of yours!" Alex went to the front of the group, just as Anna and Corra tried to get out of the way. "Thunder Element: Khezu Cloak!" Absolutely nothing happened, for some odd reason, and Alex took a hit to the left of his abdomen. "AAAHH!" He was sent flying out of the area back into Area 3.
"ALEX!" Anna cried as she went on for an attack. "You'll pay for that, you beast!"
Corra stood rigid, trying to analyze what she just witnessed. "Alex tried to use his special technique, but randomly failed and got hit. That's never happened before, at least as far as I have heard. Is there something wrong with his Chikara?"
"What are you spacing out for, Corra!?" yelled Anna as she dodged a swipe of Shirow's tail. "Help me out, here!" She did a dual thrust on the desert wyvern's nearest leg, then ran out of range of Shirow' counterattack.
"Uh, right!" Corra quickly went into Recital Mode.
"What! You have some nerve!" Shirow charged at Corra.
"Tch! Give me a break!" Corra was forced to stop and get out of the way, unable to pull off a song in such a limited time.
Area 3.
Alex shakily stood back up. There was a bleeding gash on the side of his abdomen, where the wyvern's horn had shredded through his armor. "Darn it… Why didn't the Khezu Cloak activate? I was unable to dodge and counter like I planned to because of that…" He drank a Mega Potion, causing the bleeding to stop. "I'll have to assume I can't use it right now for whatever reason. Probably, my Lightning Step won't work either. I won't make the same mistake twice. Anyway, Anna and Corra need my help." Alex stooped to pick up his Fin Swords, and then charged forth. "Water Element: Water Cutters!" A thin and sharp coating of water enveloped his blades. "At least this works! HAAA!"
"Take this! Thunder Bash!" There was a massive flash of Thunder Element sparks as Corra struck Shirow's side.
Just as Shirow slid to the side from the force, Alex came charging in yelling a war-cry. "Your horn and tail are mine! Water Element: Plesioth's Vertical Straight Line!" Alex jumped and did a downward dual power slash with both blades held close together. With a grand splash of water, half of Shirow's Tail was easily chopped right off!
"AAAHHH! W-why you!" Shirow did a 180 and tried to attack with his horn like a sword. While still in mid-air, Alex parried the blow with his force sent him back on the ground, landing hard on his feet.
"I'm not done yet! Plesioth's Horizontal Sweep!" Alex jumped again while spinning, and unleashed a powerful slash to Shirow's nose, nearly instantly breaking off the silver horn! "Did it!" Upon landing, Alex ran away to the more open space, where Anna was.
"My… My prized horn! You'll pay! You'll all pay!" Shirow began to dig into the ground.
"Are you okay, Alex? You took a big hit before," said Anna with worry.
"I drank a Mega Potion, so I'm fine. More importantly, it's time for your own special move. Let's finish this together when he resurfaces."
"Okay."
"Don't forget about me!" said Corra as she came near. "And you. You got sent flying, and then you come back charging in like a Bulldrome." Alex forgot how to breathe for a short second. "Oh yeah, that's taboo around you. Anyway." Corra looked forward.
"Fine by me. Make yourselves easy targets!" The ground rumbled as a sandy disturbance appeared and began advancing.
But Corra was already prepared in Recital Mode. She had a very special song mind to play. "White, Yellow, Yellow! Let the SuperSonic Waves ring out!" A loud 'PING!' sound went off.
"RAAARGH! My EARS!" Shirow plunged out of the ground prematurely.
"Dual Blades Power Up!" Alex and Anna exclaimed before shooting forward. "Dual Dance of Water and Ice!" The Hunter Couple exclaimed. Just as Shirow landed disadvantageously on his back, hurting his rather useless wings, Alex and Anna unleashed their assault, racking up boat loads of damage.
"Finishing move! Ice Element: Sudden Chill of the Sleeping Winter!" There was a massive release of ice as Anna delivered a devastating final attack ending with plunging her blades into the wyvern's exposed chest, just like she did against Blanco the Blangonga.
"Nooo… I lost…" Shirow slowly died.
"Woot! We did it!" cheered Alex.
"Thank goodness…" Corra wiped her face. "You two! You can carve him up while I go collect the Pink Cactus. Then we can get out of here!"
"Sounds good to me," replied Anna, catching her breath. "This took quite a bit out of me."
"Just wait here." Corra sheathed her Hunting Horn and proceeded to make her way to Area 7.
Alex took out his carving knife. "C'mon, Anna. Let's get to work! With these White Monoblos Mats, Vance will finally be able to make the modified Fatalis Armor for us!"
"That's wonderful." Anna took out her own knife. As the two went about their business, Alex's helmet fell off.
"Huh? Oh, you." Alex stopped and turned to pick it up.
Anna glanced at him, and began to stare in shock. "A-a-a-Alex! Your hair… It's… It's… IT'S…!"
Alex looked at her with worry due to her tone. "What is it? Is there something wrong!?"
"Your hair has returned to being fully blue," was the answer.
"Whaaaat!?" Alex rubbed his hair frantically, before calming himself down. "This could mean a few things, such as the possibility that I have lost my extra affinity to the Thunder Element. That would explain why I couldn't use Khezu Cloak earlier. This means I have to use Grace or my Kirin armor from now on if I want to use it anymore. Talk about a bummer."
"Whoa. You're taking this pretty well, Alex. I thought you would be more sad," said Anna.
"I am sad!" Alex moped.
"ALEX! PLEASE! COME HELP ME! AAAAAHHH!"