My Last Hunt

Quest For Three Stones (21)

Zunal;

Stolen Consciousness 

The infinity level of the stone was higher than one could imagine. One needed a strong will to go against its control and get rid the shadows of illusion. Qiao was currently encircled under the far-reaching rheostat; and he was not alone in this delirium. As for the capability of the stone; it was yet to reach the state of Requiem. This state can be called as the perfect state a stone could reach in stability, power and control. Since it was related with the inner demons of a hunter and it could directly attack the brain capacity then it was bound to harm the intellect of the normal hunters. 

There were two reasons as to why this stone widespread the area of control and the personal territory. First it wanted to scare the diggers or anyone who wanted to harm the stone; second the stone wanted to reach the last and powerful state called Requiem. For this it has to let the hunters trapped inside the phantasm and it slowly immerse away their consciousness. It was type of pillage of this phantasm and the longer hunters remained inside the delirium; the further it would swallow the consciousness. 

It was not that Phantasm was greedy; only it would take the right amount of consciousness and then kick away the hunter leaving him unaware as to what exactly happened with his intellect level. The biggest and worst damage in result of this which the hunter would face that if he reached the hunter king level he would not be able to master two skills which were necessary to reach the hunter monarch level. Without hunter knowing it, the phantasm takes away the stratums of the consciousness. The phantasm was deadlier yet silent. 

It was necessary for the phantasm to do this hideous job because after all it cannot keep the same state despite the chances to advance in strength. Still the delirium was picky to choose the target; others could just leave with fighting simple illusion thing. The phantasm would not bother to stop them for long but one of the hunter king and one normal low level hunter has stable consciousness hidden under the stratums of the brain and it was unwilling to let them go early. Few were excessively dumb to understand anything and then remain struck inside the delirium though delirium always wished them to leave early. 

After a long time; this phantasm met two really stronger opponents. As for rest of two it was going to use them as the click bait or carrot for rabbits; it was unclear who would be rabbit and which of them would become carrot in the end. It was harder to find geniuses as well as real opponents. The phantasm would make sure that both suffer and then the stratums of the consciousness can be stolen with ease. Though it would not be that easy but still it was one out of thousand chances where hunters such like Qiao end up inside the delirium. 

This stone can only cultivate through the consciousness of the living beings; almost all the stones which were shredded by the strongest monster bear the intellect and consciousness just like the monster; depending the level of the monster. It was pity that the hunters nowadays less focus to temper the consciousness. If the consciousness also attain levels along with the physical levels then it was hardest to reach the stratums of the brain and much like challenge for any stone which was hiding in hope to trap the targets. 

Qiao was proving exact stubborn target for the stone to immerse. All those illusions were meant to weaken his own control on his consciousness. The last one was pretty hard yet Qiao was able to stand it up despite the panic state; fortunately it was not long lasting and he was able to recover. If he happened to be the normal human with no attainment in the level up then he might have been gone half a hysterical and agitated. 

Even if anyone having the level similar to his; it might have spiked his normal senses. The stone was much powerful. Just that Qiao once came to know that the place he was surrounded, bear the characteristics of the illusion; he got cautious. But it was no more a simple illusion thing for him; the things changed into realistic for his consciousness which means he could get hurt anywhere especially in the scenario that there were other hunters confined in this place. "I might not be able to differentiate between reality and illusion in these circumstances? I have to be more careful and search the other hunter." Qiao sustained the ongoing struggle and muttered. He was speaking truth and the phantasm has clear notion of his actions. 

As long as he was able to fend off the strikes and incursions of this delirium he was safe and also his consciousness was under his control. The phantasm had worked on his twice to break in the consciousness and tear off the stratums of the brain which were like the bodyguards of the consciousness yet it failed bitterly. It was due to the reason that Qiao has long abandoned the nature of rush and impatience ever since he was sent to this unknown place. Impatience would only worsen the ongoing struggle henceforward would not bring any good in the end. So there was no use in rushing for things which needed some time to get on track. 

He knew that longer he remained trapped inside this delirium; his level up would delay too but he cannot ruin everything at this level where he was supposed to be careful than ever. The phantasm was silent for now; there were no more monsters running toward Qiao or more buildings collapsing. He has standing in the middle of the carpeted road and the only development which was visible even for a blind that everything was flaking and the green molds were appearing everywhere whether it be the buildings; it seemed that the things were growing old or dissolute. 

Qiao heaved a sigh, finally there were signs that the delirium was coming for another illusion. He put his sword in his backpack and stood straight to look around; until now his hunting sleeve which was bought according to the demands of his hunting method remained intact from any big impairment, he bought it expensive on the promise that it was stronger to even bear the attack of a sword without getting damage in return. He was looking like lone survivor who was ready for bloodshed anytime again. 

The development in the surrounding was get going and the greenery almost grew four feet for him to worry whether the greenery were turn into big boughs and then surround him leaving not a single strand of his hair to escape? It happened one of the comic which he lately read. The unknown enemy covered himself in the green forte and then confined whoever he thought his enemy.

….

The two lost hunter kings were facing each other and no one could tell what was going in their heads whether they were taking each other an enemy or just glaring for the sake of glaring. Both were unsure if it was illusion or there was someone in real in front of them. It was normal for them to think this way after facing many illusions and one of them even felt some spasms in the head so he was at the verge to collapse much less to determine either fight the enemy or let it go. "You, my friend not the every strand of grass growing on the ground happened to be enemy; what do you say?" the hunter kings thought to ask a question to confirm what he should do. 

The other hunter remained silent and then suddenly the sword came into action, one of them was in the illusion while the other was trying to agreement so one of them was kicked out of the phantasm considering that he no more has the grit to continue or wreak the consciousness to understand anything. For delirium the hunter king was useless to keep him confound. This hunter was little tricky; he just let himself feel unsteady, this way the mind would not force him to search the path for exit and he would be saved from rigid illusions. 

His trick worked very well and finally his observation proved right. The more he struggled against the illusion; the delirium comes up with harder traps. But it was not easy unless he has the stone and some information about this phantasm. He was fortunate that right after three days of getting trapped, he was able to get rid the cursed place. As for others; they could just work with their brains or give it was not his headache. He returned to the Hightown and reported that two of the hunter kings were still inside the delirium.