My Last Hunt

Quest For Three Stones (17)

Zunal;

The team outside the barrier was tired after long chase yet the hunter still escaped from them. They were mad at this and thought to bring trouble for the hunters inside it; carefully selected sharp monster which was tough for a normal team to handle for hunt, they triggered it and then ruse toward the en route supposed barrier. They knew the characteristics of the monster and intentionally awakened from the slumber. This unique monster was residing under the rocky hill and the team brought it out just to create trouble for others. They themselves left the forest by now and were sure about the plight of the hunters by now. 

The monster would have really carried distress for them all but the other side of the barrier was a different trap set by the wicked hunter. Since the monster was running blindly; it took one of the hunter along and ended up at the other side of the barrier. It was entirely different part of this continent and probably none of the tribes living at the first part of the forest had had been there ever. The hunter kings called it Phantasm Land and no one ever tried to venture it until now except few who were adventurous. 

It was no doubt that they were bold enough to venture there for the sake of dare but it was also truth that few of them got lost in the phantasm because of the hallucination characteristics of this place. This monster dragged Qiao in the phantasm and it was completely different from the wilderness. When Qiao got some courage to bring out his sword; the sight in front of him was weirdly changed. Perhaps the monster lost him or he lost the monster; or none of the option was feasible. 

There were skyscrapers where he was standing currently; it was the same advanced world from where he was dragged in the different world. He was dumbstruck blinking his eyes several times; it was unbelievable however all those things he witnessed in the world nothing seemed impossible now. The road where he was standing gave the impression of endless path. It was completely odd because he could not hear or see people in surrounding. If he was really in his advanced world then according to it; the cities never sleep even at night rather this place seemed haunted. 

There was nothing except the silence; he walked toward a building to check whether there was someone he could ask about or investigate. The building was all empty; there was no one at the reception, not even some voices of any visitor. It was strange as well as weird. At least a human should appear to let him know where exactly he was presently. When he was inside the building; he heard some noises outside and hurriedly came at the exit to see, the echo sent him flying because he was not expecting the monster instead of human to welcome him. 

The attack of the monster resulted Qiao crashing against the reception. The monster again disappeared as if it was not there before. Qiao stood up to see where the monster ran away however after much struggle he was still standing without a hint of the situation. It was more than strange that the monster which dragged him here was appearing and disappearing. How could it possible to simply blink an eye and change the real time and location unless he was mistaken. But what was the missing concept? He was standing in the middle of the big buildings and the monster suddenly attacked out of somewhere. 

Either the skyscrapers changed their location and transported to the world where he was confined or the monsters transported to the advanced world still where the humans were? This means there was something amiss in this concept. Both possibilities were entirely hilarious to believe and out of the option for Qiao to consider it, then comes the monster; where exactly it disappeared? Suppose he does not believe then what else he could think or any other option to trace the surrounding. He took a deep breath and twitched his brows. If these skyscrapers cannot answer then what about the ground; it would definitely tell something. 

He tapped his feet on the ground and surprisingly it did not make sound like one tapping on the concrete road instead it felt soft milled ground and grass. Now he looked toward the skyscrapers stunned; this was all illusion? He was thunderstruck at this revelation. What a bad day to end up in such a situation where he was ready to believe that he somehow returned back to his advanced world, how feverish he got for few moments? He laughed thinking this, it turned out an illusion. 

Now he was no more in the illusion anymore but to look for the monster in this meanie deception could be troublesome. Qiao focused his senses to listen any voice of Wuza or the huntress but he could not. This means he has to wreak his brains to get out of this illusion. Thinking that perhaps standing at the same place would not bring any good to him; Qiao started walking in hope to listen any sound made by the monster or some other human. For some time it remained the same and monster also did not show up. It was nervy to walk aimlessly. 

After some time when he was bored; few aggressive monsters started to appear from the near skyscraper and they were running toward Qiao. He felt that his heart came in his mouth to see this sight out of the blue. Until now he was accustomed with the silence as well as no one attacking so when number of monsters suddenly appeared, he ran madly to save himself first. He cannot make another illusion that the monsters were not rung toward him, letting himself believe it meant that he no more loved his life nonetheless it was not true and it never could be a truth; he still loved his life much despite all the dangers he has to go through further. 

If he stopped caring his life then how on earth he was supposed to save himself and his young one. The monsters were groaning which added to the fear and they were like formed a deep grudge against him to not spare any part of his body if they surrounded. Coming into this strange world; it was the first ever that he felt his throat was parched with dryness and he was not supposed to slow down either.

When he thought that he could no more keep it going and he was reaching to his limits; the monsters disappeared suddenly. Qiao felt the silence and tripped on the ground while trying to look behind. From the pace and the impact, he almost rolled on the ground too far. When he saw that there was no one behind; he was speechless at his own condition. Where did the monsters suddenly disappear? He was sitting on the ground shaking his head. All these weird things were directed to him and he was clueless what to do.

The previous monster did not appear again and that pack of monster's was nowhere. Qiao pinched himself to believe that he was serene and conscious. He took his sword in his hand and furiously charged at something invisible then swayed his sword in the empty air and surprisingly heard groaning of a monster. 'Did the sword met the monster?' he asked absentmindedly. The monster which dragged Qiao here was also lost in the Phantasma.

Only those monsters live in this Phantasm were familiar how to get through but those which do not belong here were helpless equally. His sword showed a path and the monster saw the hunter who caused it to end up in this worrisome place.

The monster spotted the hunter and furiously charged at him. Qiao finally met the real attack again but when he was about to land the sword on the monster, it disappeared and instead there was a human under the tip of the sword. Qiao barely stopped and stepped back with the worry. The human was none other the gym guy whom he always wanted to revenge but never happen such a day came where he could return back some kicks at his butt.

But why he was here out of the blue? And why under the tip of his sword? If he was a little late then the sword might have pierced through the skull. "Stand up you fool." Qiao gestured him. He was not planning to kill him but the gym guy faded while walking away from him. He did not speak anything but groaned like a monster. Qiao saw this and firmly gripped his sword. It was no more simple things going around and he was not in some easy situation, he was clear about it and little worried. The situation was getting tense with the time.