Hunter's Choice

by C E Keene

  Throughout these preparations, Arheis began to hear the beast moving through the caves. It still sounded like a subway speeding through underground tunnels, only this time it was making even more of a racket. Its plates scraped against walls, its claws dug into the ground, and rocks fell wherever it went.

  There was a good chance they wouldn't be able to defeat it. In the back of his mind, Arheis wondered if they'd excite it so much the tremors above-ground would get even worse. But these were the phases of a major hunt. Discover the target, learn about it, then execute the kill.

  Right now, they were on the second phase. All they needed to do today was get as much information as possible about how to fight this thing. And stay alive. They definitely needed to stay alive.

  Once everything was in place, Arheis and his companions moved to the tunnel that was receiving the fewest vibrations. They waited, weapons drawn, breath curling into steam in front of them. There was no mystery about the beast’s location. The whole cave seemed to shudder and shake when it drew near, and the sound of claws and chitinous plates digging into rocks was almost deafening.

  Despite that, Arheis still jumped when the creature suddenly burst from a tunnel to the northeast of them, its nose-appendage twitching as it sniffed out the stones they'd placed as bait. At first, the Petravor followed the trail Higrem set, its large, blunted teeth crushing the rocks with what looked like very little effort. But eventually it lost interest in that, evidently singling out the higher-quality food in the center of the chamber.

  "Everyone get into position," Arheis whispered.

  They moved as quietly as possible through the tunnel, fanning out once they reached the chamber. Whatever noise was made by boots and armor was muffled by the chuffing sounds the beast was making as it searched for the stones. It would have been cute, had it come from a creature that wasn't absolutely hideous and shockingly destructive.

  With his spear in one hand and his shield raised in the other, Arheis crouched just behind the beast's head. It began to munch on the rocks Galen and Higrem placed in the way, merrily gnashing through them. Once it reached the stones, he gave the signal--lifting his spear into the air, high enough for his companions to see--before leading the charge.

  He ran at the beast, pushing off the ground to avoid its large claws, aiming his spear for the flesh behind its head.

  > You pierce Petravor for 3 points of damage (31 deflected).

  His spear scraped across impossibly hard plating, only managing a fraction of its total damage. To his right, he saw Zindar springing backward after slashing at the beast's flank. Further back, Mira was reloading her crossbow.

  They'd managed the sneak attack, but even just looking at the Petravor, Arheis could tell it'd done absolutely nothing. Nothing except piss the creature off.

  It reared back seconds after Zindar managed to leap away. Arheis was forced to use his Lightning Reflexes to dart to the side and avoid the lethal claws as they came crashing back down, but even that didn't completely spare him from harm. One of the claws clipped him, catching in his armor and raking down his back.

  > Petravor slashes you for 30 points of damage (11 evaded).

  Pain seared up his spine, culminating in a white-hot burst of agony. Fuck, that hurt. So much that he barely registered the smack of one of Mira's herb sachets hitting him, the mixture spreading across his skin.

  > You have been healed for 25 points of damage.

  > Current HP: 115/120

  He was able to take a breath after that, though it was with the bittersweet realization that he hadn't moved and was probably going to be hit even harder. Thankfully Higrem managed to distract the beast, using his massive greatsword to slice at the Petravor's face. One of its nose-tentacles was cleaved in two and it screeched, the noise expanding through the chamber before being funneled into the surrounding tunnels.

  > You have taken 12 points of damage from Petravor’s Screech.

  Seriously? Vocal damage, too? Arheis had to resist the urge to put his hands over his ears, and instead he waited until the sound subsided before he went for the beast's face. He slid under it as it thrashed, narrowly avoiding its claws before performing a Counter-Thrust upward into the Petravor's chin.

  > Your Counter-Thrust pierces Petravor for 29 points of damage (20 deflected).

  > Your Storm enchantment deals 3 points of additional water damage.

  Better, but not the kind of damage he needed to be doing. Not the kind of damage he should be doing, considering he'd just upgraded his augments and had enchanted his spear with the most obvious element.

  Worse than that, the creature wasn't stupid. It protected its face after those two strikes, tucking it down, lashing out with its claws, throwing its weight toward anyone who got too close.

  It wasn't fast. Honestly it was probably one of the slowest beasts he'd ever fought. But every hit that connected sent his companions flying. Galen was knocked clean across the chamber by a particularly nasty hip check he'd just barely been in range for. Zindar was thrown nearly to the ceiling when he tried to strike at the beast from above, only managing to escape certain damage by twisting his body in midair and using his own momentum to change his trajectory.

  "This isn't getting us anywhere!" Higrem yelled, having to block an attack with his sword.

  Higrem pushed, the beast pushed back and won. The Juggernaut was sent to the ground, and Arheis could see what was coming before it happened. He rushed to defend the man, throwing his shield in front of him and bracing. It felt like two tons of weight slammed down on him at once. His shield buckled, the ground beneath him cracked, and the shock of the hit made his bones rattle.

  > Petravor slams you for 30 points of damage (11 deflected).

  His shoulder ached, pain spearing through his arm. It was all Arheis could do to hold on to his shield, and he still couldn't move with any alacrity. Higrem had to return the favor, practically tackling him to the side so they could both avoid the next attack as the Petravor pounded its front feet into the ground.

  "We're barely doing any damage to it," Higrem said through gritted teeth. "We need to get the hell out of here."

  He was right. The supposed elemental weakness just wasn't one, and they couldn't break through that armor plating. They needed to regroup and figure out some other tactics. But first they needed to make it back to the lift alive.

  "Everyone head for the southeast tunnel!" Arheis yelled, his voice cut off by an answering roar from the Petravor.

  He scrambled to his feet, grabbing his spear and ignoring the sharp pain whenever he closed his hand around something. Across from him, he saw Mira helping Galen, Zindar close behind. All five of them hurried to the designated tunnel, deftly sidestepping the Pruvari-made trap Zindar had set up.

  It would've been an exaggeration to say the Petravor followed at their heels. It was far too slow for that. It lumbered along, more space being created between it and the Hunters, but Arheis was under no illusions that they were safe. He kept everyone moving, only bothering to look over his shoulder when the beast entered the tunnel.

  It plowed through the opening, its deadly claws digging into the ground, propelling it forward with much greater speed. But the instant its body passed over the sensors, Arheis heard a faint sound. Faint to him, apparently not so faint to the Petravor. It screeched in pain, ducking its head down, thrashing as it tried to avoid the agony it was under.

  As it writhed, Arheis noticed something that might make this whole expedition worth it. The plates began to separate from the body, the flesh beneath swelling and creating opportunities to get in damage.

  He didn't try it now. It would have been reckless, and he'd promised Mira he wasn't going to be that reckless anymore. But he filed that information away and jerked his head toward the opposite end of the tunnel.

  "Let's hurry and get back. We have a lot of work to do."

  20

  That night, after licking their wounds and compiling their information, Arheis and his party m
et with the Prince-Regent again.

  The six of them sat in a large, opulent parlor that boasted the same rich purple carpet as the rest of the castle while also having the most comfortable, garishly bright red chairs Arheis had ever experienced in his life. The whole room was ridiculous, and the only truly sensible thing was the fireplace and the sideboard that was stocked with a variety of wines and spirits.

  Everyone had a drink in hand, which went a long way toward improving the overall mood.

  "I'm glad you were able to escape," the prince said, his brows pinching together, a frown bringing out the lines around his mouth. "I could send some Guild support with you next time, but I'm worried that's not the real issue here."

  Arheis might have been offended by that, but the reality of his low level wasn't lost to him. Iskaral's Guild was so established there were likely Hunters who'd been ranking up for years. Decades, even. He had nothing on that kind of experience.

  Still…

  "I don't know how strong the last generations were, but this one is definitely the strongest creature I've faced in terms of raw power."

  Zindar and Mira both nodded, with Mira adding, "Us too."

  "My ears are still ringing from being flung across that chamber," Galen said with a small smile.

  Higrem was the only one who didn't seem to agree, but he also didn't argue the point. Not surprising, considering he was only here because he wanted to prove himself. If this job was handed off to the Guild, he'd have no chance to do that.

  "We made a breakthrough toward the end," Arheis said, exchanging a glance with Galen. "It's weak to high-frequency sounds. The plates on its body separate and leave enough room that we can actually get some attacks in."

  "Well that's good news," the prince said, raising his goblet of wine in salute. "How did you generate that kind of sound?"

  "A Pruvari-made trap I found in the market," Zindar said. He was smiling, obviously pleased with the find, but his ears drooped just seconds later. "We'll probably have to get more from De’shal."

  "I've not had a chance to send the envoy I mentioned," Eadric said, "but I will do so first thing in the morning."

  "At some point we'll need to go back and check on Treyous, too," Mira said, giving Zindar a look of sympathy. "Maybe opinions will have changed."

  "I doubt it," the Pruvari said.

  Eadric looked curiously at Zindar, and Arheis quickly cut in to prevent him from asking for details.

  "In the meantime, we need to make preparations. Now that we know what we're dealing with, it would be a good idea to train some, and use what we find to make new armor and augments."

  All of them needed far better protection than they currently had. It was ridiculous how easy it was for the Petravor to take off large chunks of health.

  "We'd like to take on some Guild bounties," Higrem finally piped up, "but we'll need authorization."

  "You'll have it," the prince promised. "I'll send word to the Guild Matron tonight so there's no delay, and I'll provide you with a guard, just in case."

  That seemed… excessive. Why would they need a guard just to register with Iskaral's Guild? Then again, the Hall was apparently locked down tight, and without absolute proof of the prince's word, they might not budge.

  So long as it got them in, Arheis wasn't really bothered by the extra measures taken.

  Though their main business wrapped up fairly soon after they gave their report, Eadric kept them there for several hours more. They chatted and drank and generally enjoyed their time with the man. So much so that Arheis began to grow confident in their eventual plan. All they needed to do was talk to Eadric about the damage the crystals could do. He would understand.

  At this point, Arheis couldn't imagine a world in which he wouldn't.

  The next morning, the five of them woke early, broke their fast at the inn, then headed over to the Hunters’ Hall. Sergei, one of Eadric's royal guards, was already waiting for them. His helmet was tucked under one arm and he bowed to them, a flail clanking at his waist.

  "I've been instructed by His Highness to take you directly to Guild Matron Ylsa."

  The man turned and--without any further preamble--started toward the gates of what Arheis could only describe as a military-grade compound.

  The Guild Hall of Iskaral was surrounded by a tall stone wall, with iron spires poking up from the top. A gate was the only sensible way in, two men in uniform guarding the ornate, iron-wrought patterns that formed the shape of some kind of beast.

  "These Hunters are here to register," Sergei proclaimed in a thick accent.

  "We're not open to new registrants," one of the men said.

  "This is by order of His Highness Prince Eadric, and it is not up for negotiation." The guard handed over the decree and the Hunter blanched. "Matron Ylsa is expecting them."

  "She didn't say anything about it to us," the other Hunter growled.

  His companion jabbed him quickly in the side. "Shut your mouth before you get us thrown in jail."

  That seemed like an extreme reaction, but it worked, so Arheis wasn't going to question the prince's influence.

  The gates were opened via a mechanism both Hunters had to operate that moved the dragon-beasts' tails. When Arheis stepped through, he was immediately greeted by a sight he hadn't expected.

  Despite the size of the place and the walls, he'd imagined little more than a Guild Hall inside. Maybe a few small facilities for Hunters, but nothing more.

  What he saw instead was an entire town built into the center of Iskaral. The Guild Hall did take center stage, with those same beasts carved into granite statues that guarded the stairs, and a rose with ample thorns painted onto an archway above the entrance. But outside of that crucial monument there existed a sprawling space at least as big as Lacerda.

  Arheis could hear the sound of a bellows working as smoke rose from a forge. No, make that two forges, both right next to each other, armor and weapons gleaming in the early morning sun. There were several shops fanning outward from there, their signs painted to denote their wares. One seemed to be a jeweler of some kind, another a leatherworker, and yet another had a bone and hide painted on its sign, leading Arheis to assume it was a place to trade in materials.

  Past the shops were buildings he couldn't see, as well as what looked like an amphitheater built behind the Hall. On the other side, a series of buildings without signs, all of them identical to one another. Living quarters, maybe? That was his best guess, since there was a massive outdoor kitchen close by, the scent of freshly baked bread and salted meats drifting over to the main pathway.

  "This is insane," Higrem mouthed, his excitement obvious.

  They were led toward the Guild Hall, its large doors opened by the Hunters who'd guarded the gate. If the Guild Hall in Lacerda was a cozy lodge, this one was a trophy Hunter's paradise. The walls were absolutely lined with excess that almost rivaled the castle’s. Only this excess came in the form of mounted beast heads, whole stuffed creatures, and paintings depicting various showdowns.

  The main room was split into two sections, with a fireplace on one side and large, comfortable-looking chairs arranged before it. The other side hosted a number of long tables that currently seated several Hunters who were eating porridge and chatting with one another.

  All of them were wearing uniforms: a black tabard over gray shirts and dark breeches, the tabard featuring the same crimson rose and thorns that was painted above the Hall. The same rose that decorated the borders of a painting that was placed at the first landing, above the stairs that divided the room.

  It depicted a woman standing toe-to-toe with the same dragon-like beast that featured throughout the metal architecture, a weighted whip in her hands.

  "And I thought Dalhurst’s Guild Hall was excessive," Mira muttered.

  Arheis had been surprised when she agreed to come with them, but during the night more tremors wracked Iskaral. By the time the morning came, even Mira had seen the value in it. If she was regist
ered here, she'd have better access to experience and funds to help put an end to that menace once and for all.

  "The Matron's Den is at the top of those stairs," a young Hunter said.

  One of Arheis' brows crept upward at that. He'd already gathered from the painting and the depiction of those dragon-beasts that this woman held herself in high esteem, but naming her chambers seemed a bit much.

  He followed Eadric's guard, though, getting a better look at the painting once they reached the landing. The woman pictured looked impossibly small next to that beast, but imposing nonetheless.

  Climbing another set of stairs, they were brought before a large wooden door into which was carved yet another rose, this one's thorns even longer than the previous depictions.

  "The Hunters sent by His Highness are here to see you, Matron," Sergei said after knocking.

  "Send them in."

  The voice that answered was stern, touched by the slightest hint of an accent that reminded him of a headmistress at some prestigious academy. When the door opened, Arheis could see that it definitely matched the woman who greeted them.

  She was short, yes. It was probably her most noticeable attribute before the rest of her took over and made her seem as tall as a mountain. Lean, corded muscle was packed into an athletic frame, particularly visible in the way her arms currently crossed over her chest. Her face was like stone, her lips set into a line that seemed like it'd been etched into her face, her gray eyes observing them with detached indifference. Inky black hair was tied back into a severe bun, not a strand left out of place. And her attire proved the symbols used in the rest of the Hall had originated with her, as her vest-like jerkin was emblazoned with the same rose, only this one dripped blood from the thorns. Her bare upper arms were decorated with a bramble of tattoos that furthered the rose motif. Skin-tight, black leather breeches, gloves, and knee-high boots completed the look, giving her an appearance that was half punk rock, half military general.