My Last Hunt

Level Four (10)

This chaser needed tough time:

The opponent team leader caught his glance when Qiao was observing this team. He critically stared him from head to toe. Till then Qiao entered the encampment and they waited for the anger of the team leader to die down before anyone speak.

It was evening now and the teams were gossiping about their adventures in the Snow Island forest while their team leader was sitting silently and the other team members got busy with their talk outside the small lodge.

"Senior Shiguan, I have a booklet, it might help in knowing about the Snow Island little bit." Qiao almost whispered, he happened to know that the team leader knew the script reading. They were currently worried and this booklet might lend some gestures where they should venture in the Snow Island for hunting or some similar hints.

It was clear that all booklets were written by learned hunters and anyone who could read them without mistake it could give big hints hidden in the script. The team leader heard, got shocked and immediately looked around to confirm that no one was evasdropping.

"Don't tell anyone else if you don't want to call trouble." he gestured him to show what was the booklet about. Qiao brought the booklet out from his fleece and showed. The team leader picked the night stone and read the title, he was intrigued and opened the cover.

He skipped the first page which was rough introduction, the second page gave the common concepts about the Middletown and all the set examples by the senior hunters. He then flipped third page and stopped. There was some typical information about the Snow Island, well it was typical but not everyone was aware. He was yet to read the full page when someone entered in the lodge and he hurriedly closed the booklet and handed Qiao covering with a cloth.

At the opposite side of the lodge a man was hearing what they talked. He could hear because he knew what place they were sitting in the lodge. He finally found something to take off from this young chaser and give him some lesson not to glance back at the seniors.

Qiao was determined to focus on the hunting and level up, all the other concerns were secondary. Even buying a weapon was secondary, with hunt he could get enough spoils and not showing generosity would help him get weapon. Just that few chasers and teams were really troublesome, with the level up, his enemies were increasing.

...

At night the watchtower got active because the seniors only guard at night to let the hunter rest. In the day, the monsters would rarely make a mess with the attack unless they gather in huge numbers and decide to destroy the whole encampment so they could rest in the day.

The team stood at the first in the row to get the mission today and they left right after. The other teams has their own business to do before leaving. The team leader led them silently toward the broken caves where the bigger monsters use to habitat but after the hunter cleared those caves, now only the level four monsters wander there.

The open part was little cold but as they cleared the distance and reached near, they could feel the ground emitting heat. It was because the monster has built a new cave under the surface. The upper part looked normal and this was the biggest hint that they were standing in the territory of Cold Night.

This monster was known for its cold traits and always remain hidden from the hunter. This specific one was level four and aiming to become level five, it's natural cycle was in the second stage and if no hunter could hunt it in the two months of winter then it would successfully advance to next level.

For such type of monster, this intense winter was blessing and they tried their best to earn advantage. While the team was here to hunt. Standing in the first in row and get mission was always advantageous in terms of finding the monster at the right place.

"Be careful, the monster has its defense stronger than the level three." Team leader warned and they stepped around to look for better spot for digging the surface.

The monster would not show up until they dig it and destroy the cave. The warmth which it emitted was almost burning their feet and it was sign that the monster got alert of their presence.

It was also a type of threat whoever wished to bother but the team was here for hunt, they were already boiling at the events of yesterday, they wouldn't leave until complete mission.

Qiao was little nervous as well as excited, hunting a new type of monster means a whole new experience in hunting and a test of their skills as a hunter, more importantly trial of guts and what type measures they would take to avoid damage in return.

The team leader gestured Qiao and one other to give them cover in case monster suddenly attack. Three of them start to dig the ground with their weapons. They did not make it from one side inside dig small holes to see the real picture of the monster before it could appear face to face.

Level three peak monster was eight feet big, they could just imagine the size of a level four monster. So it was natural to feel awful. Through the hole, a thick black monster could be seen and the warmth turned like hell.

First priority was to let go these hunters without indulging in battle which was beneficial for the attaining level, the has waited long to reach the second stage of the cycle and the third was last then it would become level five.

Till then it could adjust with whatever circumstances to accommodate and after level five it would be able to hide in the depth of big lake until reaching level seven.