Monster Hunter: The Telepathic Hunter; Ch46: Feather Dance of Death
Fort Ash Path Battle Area 2: Ash Path Gorge Part-1. 1:11 PM.
Alex and Takahashi went forward as Akaryuu, the Lao Shan Lung, fired a fireball at them. They unleashed a combo of slashes on Akaryu's belly, flashes of Thunder Element static occurring from Alex's attacks and splashes of Water Element from Takahashi.
"GRRR! Get away from me, you gnats!" Akaryu walked back before bringing himself down again.
"Whoa!" Alex and Takahashi went off from each side in order to avoid being crushed.
As this happened, Anna and Corra went forward to unleash attacks to Akaryuu's head. They got in what hits they could before moving clear as Akaryuu started charging forward. "Grr! I don't have time for this!"
"Well, make the time!" The next to attack was Clarence and Sakura. Doing what they could, they then did the same as Anna and Corra.
Following in this pattern was Ai and Kotaru, then Katie and Jared, and finally Jameson and Harold.
But Akaryuu brushed off all these attacks, and began to cross over to the next part of the gorge. "Everyone, let us return to the fort to heal up and then return to battle," ordered Takahashi.
"Yes, Sir!" replied everyone.
Anna and Corra got into stride with Alex. "You okay, Dear?" asked Anna, worried since Alex had decided to use the Fatalis armor for an endurance mission like this.
"I'm starving," Alex replied.
"You idiot! Food is the first thing on your mind in a situation like this!?" bellowed Corra.
Alex just laughed her off. "Sorry, can't help it. You know the Fatalis armor eats my Chikara like a delicious dinner." Corra just groaned at that.
Back in the fort, everyone only had a three minute break before the call was given to return to action.
Area 3: Ash Path Gorge Part-2.
The strategy remained largely the same as before. This time, however, the gunners pitched in from the sidelines, and Operation Anti-Dragon was authorized. A very powerful Anti-Dragon Bomb was to be placed onto Akaryuu's back. It would not kill the Elder Dragon outright, but it would do some serious damage.
As the others continued to put pressure on the ever advancing Akaryuu, Alex and Takahashi waited on a bridge-like structure over the path. It was high enough that the Elder Dragon could easily walk under it, giving easy vantage to jump onto his back.
However, when he finally got to the bridge, Akaryuu had other plans. "I wasn't born yesterday!" He stood up and unleashed a fireball at Alex and Takahashi!
"WHOA!" exclaimed the two as they jumped off. The fireball exploded against the bridge, but did not destroy it.
"Hmph! Amateurs." Akaryuu was already resuming advance. Operation Anti-Dragon was now shot.
Alex slowly got up. "Okay, this isn't good. Who knew trying not to kill a monster was so much more difficult than the alternative." Alex turned to Takahashi. "Sir Falcon, let's not wait until something bad happens. At this rate, that Elder Dragon will burst down the Fort's great gate and get away. I know it's not ideal, but let's just kill him before it's too late."
Takahashi sighed wearily. "We are being left with little other choice. I approve."
Alex nodded. He turned to all the others and telepathically relayed the change of plans to everyone.
In Area 4, everyone was attacking with the intent to really cause some harm. Of course, sensing the change, Akaryuu responded in kind. With a stomp of his feet, and a swing of his mighty tail, he injured several hunters. Many could not continue the fight, not unless they had a death wish.
Area 5: Ash Path Great Siege Area.
After dodging a pack of Ioprey in Area 6 along a path over the canyon wall, those who could still fight came onto the balcony over the great gate of the fort which restricted access to the Schrade region. Alex, Anna, Clarence, Ai, Sakura, Jameson, Harold and Takahashi stood waiting. There were four remaining gunner hunters manning the Ballista weapons.
Alex breathed laboriously. "Man, this armor is doing me no favors. No matter how much I eat, the energy cost just sees to it that I'm just barely getting by."
"Alex, maybe you should hang back," suggested Anna worriedly. "You might just be in the Heroic Failure range. Your Chikara signature feels awfully weaker than usual. You wouldn't be able to provide much more help in your state. You've already done plenty."
"She's right," Takahashi spoke up. "We wouldn't want you to end up faltering now that we are in a critical position."
"I suppose you two are right…" Alex replied. "I'll hang back, on standby. But at the first hint of trouble, I'll be thundering to your side no matter the cost."
"Then for your sake, we should try not to let it get to that point," commented Clarence.
Just then, Akaryuu came into sight, slowly and surely making his way towards the gate. "I grow tired of all your feeble interferences. Come on down, so that we may finish this. My children are counting on me, so I don't have time for any more of this nonsense!" Akaryuu sounded especially angry. This gave everyone the sinking feeling that this last stand would be for keeps. Any misstep, and someone or even more than a few of them would die.
Takahashi began to make his way down. "This is your last chance, Elder Dragon. Turn around, or we will be forced to slay you!" The others began to follow him.
Alex felt himself become even weaker than just prior. "Darn it… It's no use. I can no longer fight… Unless…" Alex suddenly got an idea, a crazy one. The more he watched the others precariously attack the Lao and dodge his mighty tail and feet, the more anxious he became about not being down there with them, and the more appealing his ridiculous idea seemed. "Huh? Whoa!" He watched with worry as Anna narrowly rolled out of the way of being crushed. "I won't let this continue." As the gunners began firing the Ballista as Akaryuu finally came into range, Alex quickly shed his armor! Now left in his favorite blue and brown zig-zag patterned clothing, he reattached Grace's hilt to his back, then hastily ate two units of Hunter Rations. "Whoa! I feel better already!"
"Hey, what are you doing!?" exclaimed one of the gunners as Alex activated Super Khezu Cloak.
"It's do or die time, so I'm seizing the day!" Alex turned to the edge. "This is everything I've got!" Alex charged and leapt over the edge. As he was falling, he noticed that Akaryuu was just under him. With a smile, he unsheathed Grace. "Chikara, don't you fail me now! Single Spirit Slash!"
"Huh?" As Akaryuu tilted his head to look up, a red line passed over his snout and his prized horn broke right off. "OW! What the!?"
Alex landed with a heavy stomp, his feet even cracking the ground slightly. "I'm not done yet!" Alex glanced at Takahashi, who despite his shock that a hunter would face an Elder Dragon unarmored, nodded his approval of what was to happen next. "Thank you, Moon Falcon. I wish things could have turned out according to plan, but we have come too far to fail now."
"YOU! THAT WAS MY HORN! YOU'RE GOING TO PAY DEARLY FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE!" Akaryuu brought down a foot in an attempt to crush Alex.
"Khezu Lightning Leap!" Alex crouched as his aura flared before jumping, swiftly avoiding being flattened. Without the 30 pounds of armor weighing him down, and with his strength heightened, Alex rose ten meters. He landed on the back of Akaryuu's neck, before the back plates and ridges.
"H-hey!? What do you think you're doing!? Get off of me!"
Alex kept a firm grip to avoid being thrown off as Akaryuu thrashed. "Alex! Be careful!" projected Anna's worried thoughts towards him.
"Caution is no longer an option, not at this point anyway!" Alex focused. "This ends now. Ha!" At an opportune moment between thrashes, Alex jumped again. He held Grace resolutely with both hands. "HAAAAA!" he roared as his red lightning cloak flared. "Chikara Focus: Thunder Element: Scarlet Thunder Power-Slash!"
A gigantic red discharge of electricity occurred as Alex's attack hit home. "GAAAAHHHH!" screamed Akaryuu. The humongous dragon reared up in pain, roaring loudly.
"Craaaaapppp!" screamed Alex as he was thrown away. He crashed back first into a wall before falling to the ground. "Oof!"
"ALEX!" exclaimed Anna as she thundered to this aid.
Akaryuu collapsed before the gate, shaking the ground and raising a giant cloud of dust. Red static crackled throughout his entire spasming body. He was paralyzed.
"Someone, activate the Dragonator!" ordered Takahashi. "Everyone else, get clear!"
"Yessir!"
As all of this was going on in the background, Anna helped Alex to his feet. "You crazy idiot! You could have killed me with worry!" she berated him. "That was so reckless, even by your standards!"
"Sorry… about… that," replied Alex weakly.
"NOOOOO!" screamed Akaryuu for the last time as four giant spikes protruded out of the sides of the gate to pierce through him.
"Hurray… We won…" cheered Alex half-heartedly.
"Come on. Let's get you inside so that you can take a rest."
"That sounds… great." Alex passed out, and the two almost fell over. They were caught by Clarence and Takahashi, who had just ran over to them.
"He alright?" asked Clarence.
"He's just unconscious," said Takahashi. He smiled. "That was some bravery he showed today."
"Same old Alex," commented Ai.
"Anna, why don't you carve off some materials from the Lao. Sir Takahashi and I will take Alex back to the fort. I'm sure Alex would be bummed out from not getting Lao Shan mats, otherwise."
"Okay. Take good care of him," replied Anna.
"Of course. Alex is a hero now," said Takahashi. "Even I don't know how much trouble he just saved us. No one died, at the very least. That's already better than we could have hoped for." Anna smiled at that.
Hunter Stats
Alex Kasai (HR7)
Weapon: Guardian Sword Long Sword
Armor: Kut-ku 'S' Blade Master + Expert Gem Decoration
Skills: HG Telepathy, Kasai Potential, Vitality Up, Strength Up, Fire Resist, Water Damage Increase, Reckless Abandon +1.
March 26th, 2099. Bateyubatom Great Forest Basecamp, East Continent.
Four days after the successful Lao Shan Lung siege battle at Fort Ash Path, Alex was on his first proper G-Rank hunt. His target was a Hypnocatrice, a Bird Wyvern known for putting its opponents to sleep before either finishing them off or making its escape.
Alex's new weapon was a gift from Takahashi. It was the first stage out of four of the Atlantis Long Sword line. From at least the third stage, the Aqua Guardian Long Sword, Alex would finally be able to use Water Element empowered Spirit Sword Attacks.
"Okay, my pre-hunt checklist is complete. Time to head out. But first…" With a grimace, Alex took out a bottle of Psychoserum. "HG Telepathy could work as well, but this is slightly faster. Bottoms up!" Alex downed the vial. "Ugh, after all this time, I'm still not used to this awful taste. Still, I can't complain about its effectiveness. Let's go."
Alex went out into the forest, starting with Area 6, towards the fairly reasonable Chikara signature he was able to pick up. However, as he got closer Alex realized a problem. The signature was surely in Area 5, one of the currently forbidden zones to him.
"Urk… This could be troublesome. But, I think I'll have to take the risk. If anything really bad happens, I'll just pull out the Super Khezu Cloak and hightail it. Okay, here goes."
Keeping a sharp eye on his surroundings, Alex ventured into Area 5. Upon arrival, the first thing he noticed was a big, rust-colored bird-like creature surrounded by three Velociprey. Those guys are nuts if they think they can take that thing on.
True to Alex's assertion, after letting out a shrill cry, the Bird Wyvern flicked its head to spit out a giant pearl colored ball of fluid which sent the Velociprey in front of it promptly to sleep upon splattering it.
I gotta watch out for that, thought Alex as the two remaining Velociprey were summarily put out of commission. He began to approach cautiously, one hand kept on the hilt of his sword. "Hi, there. I know this seems like a bad time, but I have some business with you."
The Bird Wyvern turned to Alex. "Another human here to slay one of my kind for our feathers? What is this, you're the fourth one this week! Argh!" She sounded very agitated. "I hate fighting, so I'm afraid that I'll have to reject your "business." Catch me if you can!" Without further ado, the Hypnocatrice jumped into the air and took off towards another area.
Alex was left speechless. "Did that monster just…!?"
This was the first time any monster had fled from him almost on sight. Besides pacifistic Herbivores, every other foe so far had faced him, regardless of his Hunter Rank. Monsters did not rightly care about how strong a human or wyverian was. You poked the tiger, you got the roar and the claw. You trampled the snake, you got the fang. You disturbed the hive, you got the Vespoid stings. Kill or be killed; the law of the wild on Planet Macha.
Alex sighed. "I'd better get back to work, especially while I still have a lock on her."
So it was that Alex spent a little more than forty minutes chasing the flighty Hypnocatrice across the Great Forest, from zone to zone. Finally, in the center area of the forest, enough was enough. "Grr! You annoying, persistent blockhead! Fine! You leave me with no other choice!" The Bird Wyvern flapped her wings frustratedly and screeched loudly.
"Listen, it's nothing personal. I don't like my current quest any more than you do, but a job is a job." Alex's current client was the supposedly "Selfish Princess" of Jio Wandoreo, the city near the Metape Wet Jungle and Jio Telado Marsh. "Let's fight. If you win, I'll be dead and out of your feathers, so what do you have to lose?"
"You make it sound so simple…"
"Okay, I'll make it fair for you. I won't use the full scope of my abilities for this match. How does that sound?"
"Grr! Now you're looking down on me! How disrespectful! Do whatever you please! Let's just get this over with! I am Nemura!" Nemura the Hypnocatrice began hopping towards Alex.
"Here goes!" Alex dodged as Nemura tried to kick him with her powerful feet. He unsheathed his sword and did a diagonal slash, hitting the long tail and leaving a shallow cut.
"Ow! Why, you, little!" Nemura turned to Alex and hopped forward, trying to stick him with her sharp beak.
Thanks to the danger sense, Alex was able to roll and avoid. "Hi-ya!" He quickly counter-attacked with a horizontal slash, hitting one of the wings.
A sequence ensued of the Bird Wyvern trying to peck, kick and generally land a hit on Alex, with Alex occasionally getting in some damage. Gradually, Nemura became more and more frustrated, until…
"Aah! Why don't you hold still, you slippery fish!"
"That is actually the best insult I have ever received," replied Alex with a smile as he dodged yet another kick.
"Grr! I'm ending this now! It's time to do what I should have done at the start!"
Alex prepared himself for whatever the Bird Wyvern was going to do. Nemura did taunt in an eerily similar fashion to a Yian Kut-ku or Garuga. Alex stood his ground. Nemura took her cue, and began rising up into the air. "Wait, you're running away again?" Alex, cut off guard by this, went forward.
"Dummy!" Nemura dropped out of the sky. Alex simply jumped back on reflex, but Nemura was already implementing step two. "Take this!" She spat out her sleep fluid.
"Oh, no!" Alex to a direct hit, and instantly became very drowsy. "Urrr… I'm… so… sleepy…" Alex began to wobble unstably. "Must… fight… it." Alex tried slapping himself, but that did not work. He dropped to his knees. "Darn… it… drifting…"
"I've got you now. For all the trouble and pain you've caused me, I think I'll end you." Nemura began approaching Alex.
"There's one thing I can try…" Alex willed himself to take out his carving knife. "Here's to… the top of… the list of… reckless things… I'll do… HA!" Alex plunged the knife into his left thigh! "AAHHH!"
"W-what!? Are you for real!?" Nemura was bewildered by this display.
Alex shook his head. "Okay, this smarts… But I'm wide awake now!" Alex got up with only a wince. "This is nothing compared to what you were probably about to do to me. Now, it's time to end this. Reckless Abandon!" Alex held a firm grip on his sword as he went forward.
"No! Stop right there!" Nemura tried to spit out her sleep fluid again but Alex proved too fast. "AAAAHHHH!" With a critical slash to under her briefly exposed neck, that was the battle.
Alex stepped back as Nemura collapsed. Yeesh… This has to be the closest to death I've come in quite a while. Hypnocatrice are no joke…. Now, before anything else, I should tend to my leg. Alex took a few minutes to patch himself up, then he proceeded to carve materials and the special feathers from the defeated G-Rank Bird Wyvern.
Great Forest Basecamp.
"Okay, time to go deliver these... in person." Alex patted his Hunter Pack.