My Last Hunt

Level Four (15)

The Market:

The market was not extremely large when compared to the Middletown hub but it had much better weapons and all stuff related to hunting, traps, fleeces. It was a place that specifically catered to level four and above hunters, thus had better merchandise. 

The team leader even managed to buy a level five weapon. he was immensely glad to see the level five sword in his hand. 

"This fleece looks different." Qiao picked a fleece and examined it. 

The shopkeeper sheepishly laughed and hurriedly show it to him, "This one is made of an Iron Clad Monster's skin and it could fend off a level four or even level five attack." 

The shopkeeper opened his eyes wide to see the reaction of the young chaser. 

Qiao was impressed just from the name of monster, if it was genuinely made of that monster's skin then he should try buying it. After purchasing it they then returned to their lodge. 

...

The team leader was enthusiastic for the next day and he woke up early and stood first in the row to get the mission. Though it cost him his sleep waking up earlier than anyone, but it was worth it to obtain a good mission. 

He got the mission and returned in the lodge to wake up his men. Qiao was ready and checking the condition of his present weapon. 

"Get ready slackers. We have got another mission to complete today." he kicked their butt to wake them. 

They left the encampment and hurried. 

"Are we going to the eastern part?" a chaser asked the team leader; he was curious of what type of mission was assigned today to them. 

"It's again a level four and I myself don't know what kind of monster is waiting for us." he spoke with uncertainty. He shrugged his shoulders without letting out much info, because he had learned a lesson to never talk much than needed.

"Qiao, has your skin healed well after yesterday?" he asked Qiao who was silently following and looking around. He had felt more than twice that someone was keeping eyes on him. He was curious to find out who was it this time that he had offended without having to take action. 

"It has healed completely." 

A small hole which was caused by the dagger was healed after just one night's rest. It was more than a miracle. In his advanced world, not a single medicine had such effects to heal up wounds in a night. Thus, the differences in the both worlds seemed mind shocking to him. 

"Team leader, we don't want to be left behind and wish to level up with you. Or else we would have to join someone else if you left after levelling five." A spoiled chaser spoke who was seriously worried to not be left behind in levelling. Every team and team leader had different types of rules and attitude against each other so it was almost impossible to meet someone with the same brotherhood behaviour like in this team. 

"No worries, if you want to level up then work hard just like Qiao. Take his example in how he fights against monsters and what planning he comes up at the time of crisis. You have to do the same to get experience and not be left behind." Team leader lectured in his own style, especially the way he gave example of Qiao. 

The leader had thought to never listen to his instruction when he first met, but every time they were a in crisis and got seriously tangled in trouble, he had to listen him no matter what. He could not create a grudge on some random excuse as it would affect their hunting and experience collecting. The Starglow Guild had prepared few permission badges for those who wanted to travel toward Hightown at the end of Winter and this team leader wanted one of those badge. 

Moreover, he was learning many things from Qiao. Patience, his strange type of moves, his control over his actions and his reaction in tough times. 

Qiao had learned to be patient in his own world by facing many difficulties and problems. His moves come from the Martial practice he attended, which he rarely practiced in his own world because he could not support himself with proper nutritious food for practice. 

His guts and reactions were based on his strong drive and that was his younger brother. Whenever he felt that the monster was big and invulnerable, he had to pick himself up from these thoughts by thinking about his younger brother and his tough times. 

This always gave him the will power and drive to move forward. 

"You will never have the courage face to these smaller monsters, if you are not ready to face the larger demons in your mind." Qiao spoke this time. 

The team leader and other men looked at him, his face was void of any emotion nor he was looking as if he was joking. 

"What do you mean senior?" one of them asked out of curiosity. 

"It means you need strong grit and emotions which can trigger and support your strength and enthusiasm to win at any cost. It can be anything for example your family, your need to level up or your grudge to settle with a stronger hunter." he perfectly tried to explain what he was pointing. 

The chasers and the team leader looked at him with surprise. Most never had reasons as their grit as there were few who level up out of anger. Most took the help of their team and exploit the rights of lower-level chasers. They had only one reason that was be rich and live lavishly.

"Buddy, I guess I have never really given much thought to why I need to become stronger. Never has someone spoken in this precise manner as you talk like some learned level eight hunter. I heard when level eight hunters speak, they can even stop the movements of the lower levelled monsters by their strength and preciseness. It must be called something but I don't know what it is exactly." Shiguan remarked as he was highly impressed by Qiao. 

Qiao gulped. He could not speak further. What was he supposed to say in this situation? But if level eight hunters really had such qualities then it was great to hear.