Chapter 13: Hunt

In a flash, Hit shot to his feet. Arms zipped into a bewildering set of formations, and he settled into his serious stance. Bones and muscles creaked as Hit put everything he had into rocketing at a severely shocked Ryuu.

Onlookers became owllike as their eyes widened to their maximum.

"Nya!?

"W-what!?"

Hit punched out with everything he had. Annoyingly, Ryuu still dodged perfectly.

*Shing*

The girl stood in place. Hit's eyes darted. 'Left hook.'

Hit bobbed under the soaring fist and sent a haymaker towards her heart.

*Shing*

'Front kick' He cancelled the attack and sidestepped before returning fire with a barrage of flash fist crushes. Unfortunately, none met their mark; however, the elf had not hit him again either.

Hit dodged and sent out counters emotionlessly, it was like nothing the elf had ever dealt with. His blank expression almost looked... just like hers.

*Bam*

Hit's fist met Ryuu's forearm block as the girl managed to dissipate its energy.

Ryuu's eyes narrowed "You're strong. Far too strong."

"Hmph." Hit disengaged and sent out a roundhouse kick.

Ryuu dodged under it and kicked him herself, much more quickly this time.

"Ghk!?"

*Crash*

A flummoxed Hit was propelled into a nearby shallow wall. Red Bricks crashed down and Hit's body became buried amongst them.

"Oops." Ryuu sweated a little; she hadn't killed him, had she?

Hit patted himself down, looking none the worse for wear, and got back up. "...and this is my current body's limit. As fun as this has been, you're obviously far beyond me in terms of raw power. Your skill is ...adequate I suppose."

Ryuu balked at him. Adequate...? A level 0, unblessed human was criticizing the technique of an experienced level 4? Sure, she was fighting him hand-to-hand, and was therefore severely limited; however, she was still extremely formidable.

Ryuu hastily returned to her emotionless demeanour. Reluctantly, she had to admit that it was true... Hit had moved perfectly. Absolutely nothing was wasted, not energy, not momentum. He somehow had the air of someone who had fought infinite battles. Disregarding her superior strength and speed, his martial arts form was leagues ahead of hers. How?

Her skin crawled. Red eyes never left hers during the fight, and his body somehow reacted to her attacks no matter which blind spot she tried. His eyes also had a habit of shifting oddly. "Apologies, I should not have allowed myself to use that much strength. However, I have some questions for you."

Hit's faint air of happiness dimmed at that. Ryuu took a few steps towards him. "How is your technique so refined at your age? How are you so unusually agile and powerful without a blessing? I simply cannot believe you are unblessed. And finally..." Her expression darkened and became murderous. "...why do your attacks radiate such deadly intent?"

Hit was unfazed. "I explained before, didn't I? Any less exertion would have been an insult to you. The moment you drew first blood, I knew you were far above me." He crossed his arms and looked down at the girl. "As for my strength, why should I explain myself to someone hiding their own obviously nefarious origins?" Hit tucked his hands away and made his way inside. "You can choose to believe whatever you like regarding my status..."

When the coast was clear, everyone sighed in relief.

Ryuu covered her soft lips with a fist to hide her anger. "Tch. He ignored my questions."

'He's around a mid level 1 in terms of agility; High level 1 in strength. Not to mention those ridiculous reflexes and inhuman fighting style.'

The elf shook. Hit would be an absolute nightmare as a close-range opponent, if he was anywhere near her level. She prayed Mia and Loki were wrong about him being unblessed. She looked at the destroyed wall, brick dust wafting in the wind. That needed clearing up before Mia gave her the 'Syr treatment'. Her hands and long ears twitched; no one deserved to do four whole shifts in a row. Ryuu sniffled as the temperature dropped. The air was pristine after their match.

No purple lines cut across it, as Hit did not actually manage to land a solid blow on his opponent. Being as efficient as possible, he would not release the precious stored time energy, unless he was certain the attack would land a decisive blow. This also served the dual purpose of not showing his hand; the observers had no idea he had used time skipping.

Ryuu shook her head and fixed Bell with a cautionary glare. "You should avoid that man, Mr Cranel. He's far too dangerous."

Bell scratched his chin. "...Are you sure, Miss Ryuu? Mr Hit might be scary, but he went out of his way to spar with me and handed out some really useful advice." The boy put a hand in his pocket as if to imitate his antisocial opponent. "Plus... he obviously doesn't really like talking to people...hehe."

Realising what he had been addressed as, Bell took his hand back out and pointed it at the maiden. "A-also I told you that if I'm calling you Miss Ryuu, you should call me Bell!"

Ryuu relaxed; the boy was soothing to her. "As you wish... Bell.

*Gulp*

Hit enjoyed a relatively relaxing dinner; he was currently nursing a mug of beer in his usual spot. Mama Mia was rubbing her hands together at the thought of charging him double tomorrow. Thankfully, the ogre was busy helping May in the kitchen, so couldn't bother him too much.

His other nuisance had no such issue.

"So, what were you up to today, before your big fight, Hit?" Syr beamed at him with her hands held behind her back.

"None of your business." Hit didn't even open his eyes.

"Awwww! Don't be mean, Mr Hit! You said you were going to join a familia didn't you? Any choices so far?" The girl's eyes glinted.

Hit tapped the mug, impatiently. "No. An advisor is making a list".

"So, you registered at the guild huh? Good idea. I can give you some advice!" The girl became even more determined.

Hit grumbled. He had said too much.

"You're ridiculously strong, so you should pick one of the major ones like the Freya or Loki familias. They'd let you right in!" The waitress seemed to emphasise her words, as if trying to sway Hit's decision.

Hit shook his head. "This isn't something to be taken lightly, extensive research is required. I never want to be at a god's mercy ever again."

Syr fixed him with a faux angry look. "Still lying to me, hmm? I thought you didn't have a blessing."

Hit looked up. It appeared as though countless shadows screamed behind him as they were extinguished by a hazy white light. "You do not have to be part of a familia to suffer a god's wrath."

Hit scowled at the memory. "I'm no longer going to allow myself to be a tool to anyone."

Syr took on a genuinely concerned look. She held out a hand, hesitantly, towards his shoulder before pulling it back. The concerned girl left Hit to his own devices.

...

Recovering from his bad mood, Hit was chomping at the bit as he tucked into bed after an overpriced dinner.

Ryuu's glacial eyes flashed through Hit's mind. 'To think, a falna unlocks your potential to such a degree. That woman could have annihilated that cow... or me... with a leisurely strike.'

Ryuu's murderous gaze flickered in his head. 'She was also... oddly similar to me... She has the air of a killer.'

Hit's dreamy look vanished as it dawned upon him that he was fawning over strength comparable to literal insects in his world.

He threw the covers over his head. 'Dammit. All this time here has made me forget what actual strength is.'

Nevertheless, Hit went to sleep a very happy and excited boy. Not too long now, and he could begin his next mission: Spy on everyone.

A cockerel called as the new day's sun shone over Orario. Banners and bunting hung all across the great city and streets were cleared for the immense crowds that would flood the city later today. It was the annual monsterphilia, a festival where the Ganesha familia tamed monsters at the Amphitheatron colosseum in the far East of the city.

Hit walked into guild bright and early and went up to his target. As usual, he let them know of his presence.

*Cough* *cough*

Eina Tulle looked up from her large stack of paperwork and saw a familiar face. "Oh! Hello again, Mr Hit. I suppose you're here for your list of suitable familia?"

"Correct" Hit nodded. He had his head turned to the side, looking around the room. He was focusing much more on the adventures today, after having first-hand experience with how strong they could get.

"One moment please." A bit of rummaging later, and the businesswoman handed Hit a rather short list of what must be familia names.

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

1. Freya Familia

2. Loki Familia

3. Aphrodite Familia

4. Apollo Familia

5. Dionysus Familia

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

"I tried to meet your criteria as much as I could..." Eina held up a fist and began to count her fingers as she went along. "...ones who delve deep in the dungeon; ones who have large training facilities; and ones who have enlisted a magic expert." She pushed up her glasses, making her look quite refined. "This restricts your choices to mostly larger familias, as they need both ample supplies, and many high level adventurers to delve so deeply. They would also need to be well-established to possess a large building for training facilities. If you're looking for an expert in magic, you won't find anyone in the world better than Lady Riveria Ljos Alf of the Loki familia. Of course, all the ones I have listed have high level mages and magic equipment for beginners."

The prodigy continued to lecture Hit; she truly was passionate about the subject. "In case you're wondering about ones I overlooked, the large Goibniu and Hephaestus familias were obviously off the table, being crafting familia. ...The Ganesha familia ticked some boxes, but members are required to act as guards for the city in shifts, and don't engage in dungeon dives very often. The Demeter familia is also large, but wasn't included for a similar reason, as members often work in the fields to manage Orario's crops and livestock."

Eina looked a bit sad next, as if she wished she could recommend them. "The very promising Takemikazuchi familia delves into the dungeon, but not too deeply, since they're rather small. Also, I wouldn't call any member a magic expert; they focus more on eastern martial arts. Their leader is kind and fair: a stellar god."

Hit perked up a bit at the mention of martial arts. 'Hm. Interesting, I'll have to do some spy... reconnaissance on them some time. For now, I'll leave them alone, I'm not looking to work on my form, as if they could further it.'

The advisor's confident demeanour faded once she spoke next. "Your last request is rather tricky though... all gods have their peculiarities. You're protected by law and all gods must treat their members well and meet certain guidelines..."

Hit finished the sentence for her. "...but those are rarely ever enforced".

Eina nodded sadly. "Yes, I'm afraid so. Familia matters are tightly guarded secrets."

Hit brought the conversation back on track. "What were those 'peculiarities'?"

Eina crossed her arms. "Well... the gods descended to have fun, so they can get carried away sometimes. For example, Loki can get a little... Overly affectionate with her female members..."

Hit frowned at that. 'That small deity molests her children? Revolting. They seemed to get along fine though; I couldn't sense any tension... Although, I do remember that the green haired elf hit her. Something to ask about when I visit for my payment.'

Eina continued "...the same can be said for Aphrodite. Apollo has a love for grandeur so can be a tad overwhelming. I actually don't know much about Dionysus' personality... He seems like a kind, respectful god. They may be a smaller familia, but they own a large estate, and Filvis Challis is an excellent mage. Finally, Goddess Freya... Hm."

Eina's ears twitched and she looked about, before speaking in a quiet tone. "She brings out the best in her members but can be obsessive."

Her brown hair waved about as she stood up straight again. "Overall, I would say you fit best in the Loki familia. She can get a bit 'handsy' and cause trouble when drunk, but she loves all her members dearly and would never harm them, I assure you."

Hit gazed at the woman, shocked. 'She really has gone all out with this search. I honestly expected to get a vague list with no explanation.'

"What do I owe you?" Hit reached for his coin pouch instinctively, information was the most valuable commodity in his past life, but realised too late that he was flat broke.

Eina waved him off with a smile. "Oh, I'm being paid by the hour. Don't worry Mr Hit. Besides, I love this part of my work."

Hit relaxed and was about to move off, but Eina caught his attention once more. "Pardon me, Mr Hit, but might you know someone called... Bell Cranel?"

Hit blinked. "A flighty white-haired kid?"

Eina smiled beatifically. "Yes! He's a very new adventurer under my care. I wanted to thank you for giving him a lesson the other day, he's taking his training much more seriously now." She chuckled at the memory of a starry-eyed boy. "He admires you greatly. Although, I'm not sure what you could have taught him, being unblessed."

Hit quirked a brow. 'Lesson? Oh, she must be referring to the beating I administered.'

"I made a promise to him, nothing more. He is persistent, I'll give him that".

Eina giggled, nearly throwing off her glasses. "Hihi... Yes, he's always getting into trouble... and going to places I explicitly tell him not to". Her laughter died out into frustration towards the end.

"You cannot surpass your limits unless you push yourself over the edge." Hit would never have gone anywhere, had he not strayed from the normal path.

The cautious woman took on a pensive look. "Yes... he's rushing to reach something, or more accurately someone." Eina had a sad smile as if remembering an old partner. Her mouth formed an 'o' as she seemed to realise something else. She shifted nervously, making her body bob up and down a bit. "There is... another familia I could recommend... But it only fits your last criterion. It's the Hestia familia, and only has one member... Bell Cranel. I know it doesn't sound very appealing, but Hestia is, by far, one of the sweetest and most humble gods in Orario. She loves her only child, with all her heart."

Eina desperately wished the older boy would take her suggestion. Her little white-haired charge was taking too many risks... He was going to die if he kept this up.

"I refuse. My goal is to get stronger; I don't have time to babysit." Hit dashed her hopes away.

Eina sagged a little in disappointment. "I-I see. Forgive me, I shouldn't have pressured you like that. C-could I ask you to continue looking over him?"

Hit's eyelids drooped. He really wanted to go sp... perform reconnaissance. 'Hmmm... Just say something vague.'

"If he wants some advice, send him my way. But only if he's progressed from the last time."

Eina brightened at that. "Thank you! I'll be sure to do so!"

Hit picked up the paper and stuffed it in a pocket, keeping his hand tucked with it. "I'll be back again tomorrow to register fully".

Eina smiled and waved. "Until then. Goodbye, Mr Hit".

A group of men surrounded a poor defenceless damsel. She wore very little, and they were reaching for her retreating form.

"Lady Aphrodite, please Marry me! I can't live without you!"

"Don't listen to that liar! I'm your one and only soulmate!"

"My love is all you need, my goddess! Ask for anything and I'll devote my life to finding it!"

"I made it to the 15th floor yesterday, Goddess! My love for you kept me going!"

A woman wearing a pink belly dancer outfit was being attacked from all sides. Silky blond hair reached past her waist and various pieces of jewellery glittered on her ears and neck. "Now, now boys! There's plenty of my love to go around... Why don't we all go on a fun date together!"

The group of teens prayed to her, tears streaming down their faces.

"""Oh, Goddess, We love you!"""

A tree ruffled as something leapt away, frantically.

'No way. No way in hell. I've heard enough about love for several lifetimes from universe 2, thank you very much.' A rotund Ribrianne and her screeching backup dancers sang an annoying ballad in Hit's head.

A tick mark sprouted on it. 'Dammit, I thought I repressed those memories. Why the hell did that girl recommend these infatuated fools?'

Hit stopped at his next target: an immense beige mansion with a fountain at the front. Pristine grass surrounded it from all angles; spying would be difficult.

Hit clutched at his head. 'That was not the best start. It was just a massive reverse harem. Well... there were a couple women fawning from the sidelines... drooling.'

Hit grabbed the sheet of paper in his pocket and crossed off Aphrodite. 'It's likely they only have any strong members since the lovesick fools throw caution to the wind to impress that love God. That must be it.'

"Alright... Next is Apollo. It certainly looks grand."

Apart from the stoic guards at the gates, there was very little activity. The majority of its inhabitants were likely at the festival, colosseum, or dungeon. Although, it was still a bit early.

Hit analysed the area in a flash and effortlessly scampered through a hedge near the back, gliding through the shadows. He stopped near an open window on the first floor and pressed himself against the wall. Straining his ears, a pompous voice echoed from within. A time-skip infused glance quickly allowed Hit to take in everything in the room, before diving back down.

The brief snapshot in time revealed the presence of a tall handsome man wearing a grey suit and red cape. A laurel wreath rested on his bright ginger locks. He was standing in the centre of the room, ordering several tired looking people around. "You! Stand over there! And you! Crouch down a bit." His loud voice sounded out once more.

Hit closed his eyes and listened. Some shuffling followed the man's demands, presumably the others following his orders.

"Marvelous, absolutely stunning! I knew this would look brilliant on you, Hyakinthos! Thank you all! Now go out and show everyone how amazing you all are!"

"""Yes Lord!"""

Hit recognised the danger and dashed away. Just in time too, as the adventurers finally relaxed and walked about the room, a relief to their stiff joints.

'I'm lucky they were all focused on their obscene God.' Hit became utterly enraged as he remembered that pompous creature. 'He's just treating them like dolls, tools, toys. I will never, ever be a pawn for the gods again. I swear on my soul.'

Hit had not recovered fully from the tournament of destroyers; Champa had shown his true nature at the end as a crooked slave master. Apollo was the kind of person Hit despised the most.

The god was quite materialistic and sought out anyone who caught his eye: men and women alike. He was currently outfitting his most prized adventurers for the festival and was running a little late. However, he truly did love his children. Hit's rage had completely blocked out his positive words at the end, and he had not seen the expressions of reverence and thankfulness on his adventurers' faces.

Back on his tree, Hit crossed out the Apollo familia. The paper ripped a little as he overdid it a bit. 'Maybe I'll use him as target practice if I ever choose to challenge a god here.'

…

Shadows danced as a crowd walked past an alley. A purple haired boy hid under a box and peeked out into an entrance to a nearby building.

Hit had found the Dionysus estate: a stately home on the main road to the dungeon, a prime real estate position. He could not see anyone inside, except for plainly dressed secretaries and maids. Hit huffed as he sat in place. 'I should have asked Eina for a description of these gods. Apollo and Aphrodite were referred to as 'Goddess' and 'lord' by their children, facilitating matters. Who knows where this 'Dionysus' is... The other two were dressed gaudily so they should be similarly garbed.'

On cue, two people approached the entrance. The taller one had a noble appearance: he wore a lavender coat and a white ruffled neck collar. An entrancing visage peered out from medium blond hair. A black-haired elf marched behind him, pure white skin dazzling those around her. She wore a frilly white dress with blue accents, complemented by a sapphire tiara on her head.

The man unlocked the door and opened it for her. "Please, after you, dear Filvis".

"Thank you". The beauty stepped in, and her partner locked the door after them.

Hit would have been a little jealous of the 'man's' clothes, had he not seen what was beneath the surface. 'That thing definitely wasn't mortal; it was almost certainly Dionysus.'

The taller being had an 'uncanny valley' effect on Hit's astute senses. It was like someone carved off a friend's face and stapled it to theirs. A visceral, evil being stared from beneath the flesh mask, hungrily biding its time. It made Hit feel slimy just looking at his sickly-sweet smile. 'Something's really, really off about that guy. His little friend didn't feel much better either.'

Hit rarely sensed anything like this, only from serial killers who enjoyed mutilating their victims like cattle. They did not even deserve to be called mortals at that point.

A snake slithered through the cracks of Hit's hiding place box, flicking its tongue out as he raised the container and ran deeper into the alley. 'Ok. To sum up, we have a pervert, a slave master, and a monster beyond compare. Brilliant.'

'…That just leaves the short redheaded pervert and my stalker. Hmmm...' Hit could see a white obelisk peeking through the rooftops above. How would he get all the way up there, avoid the guards, and spy on what must be one of, if not the, strongest familias in Orario? Without a more useful time skip, or vital intel, it was a nearly impenetrable fortress. The next best thing was to not overcomplicate matters and just walk in the front entrance as a customer.

Hit looked up at the sky, it must have been three or four hours since his mission began. The festivities were in full swing. '…Back towards the guild I go.'

Author's Notes

Snake? Snake!? Snaaaaaaaaake!