My Last Hunt

Quest For Three Stones (32)

Bagel; 

Not letting the weaknesses ruin the present

Just when Qiao thought that he could no more endure it; the words of the hunter king brought a strand of hope he saw in front and sure enough there appeared line under the sight where he could see that the splitting or slithering was no more visible; nearly fifty further cradle jumps would help them land safely at the other side of the first defense stage. It gave him strength to keep fighting against the attacks of the stone. Once stubborn always stubborn; he picked the level six peak stone gotten from the stronger monster and held in his hand. 

According to his observation if a stone was able to emit the aura and brag the strength then definitely there was chance that the hunter who happen to hunt it from the monster could use it according to his will; this was what he witnessed the hunter king doing the same. Though there was sliver of modification but his theory does not differ much. He held the stone firmly in his hand; he was holding so much firmly that blood oozed out from his palm. He was thinking something which he heard from the other hunters and currently it could help him. 

There were piles of information which he gathered from various hunters. His blood touched the stone and it got activated unknowingly; being in a tense situation he was unable to feel that his palm got hurt and few drops of blood fell dripping continuously. Since the stone got activated; its aura started to spread to recognize the master. When Qiao felt that a certain aura was lingering which differ from the two other stones; he looked at his hand. He was in a perilous situation to express his astonishment; he was hurt and all his concentration was focus to fight against the attacks. 

The first stratum was damaged and it would be horrible turning point if his attention got divided. There was not a single part of his forehead which remained intact at this moment; most of the cracks were bleeding and his face was dyeing red with the several lines of blood trickling down. The stone was emitting a glow of golden shades when it recognized the present condition of the master; the golden shades travelled through his hand to his forehead. It was higher level healing stone by means of rare characteristics ever found in the Azzura continent. 

The specific monster of level six peak appeared in the lake after few decades and it was natural for this stone to harness enough power. Since the monster wanted to become strongest hence all the learning of the monster was part of stone as well. The monster was sure that it was enough powerful consequently if it was forced to fight and get inured it could heal in minimum time possible. But the fate brought Qiao to confront this monster to wash away the long entwined dreams. 

This struggle was going on and also the distance was correspondingly coming to its end and the hunter king who was critically looking at the situation; actually his breathing stopped when he saw the present condition of the young hunter. There was high chance that the young hunter would admit defeat; it was already much to his endurance and his level. In fact; he was thinking to escape in case he was left alive and alone. It would be impossible to tackle the defense as well as attacks at the same time. That's why he was willing to bet all his treasures to keep this young hunter alive and get going. 

Both their lives were depending on each other hence he could bet anything much less a high level stone. He has many stones to spend but if the live got wasted then there was nothing except to regret. There were only few cradle jumps remaining when Qiao staggered; his whole body shook with the last strand of strength and fortunately the golden glow reached his forehead at the same time. The aura started healing and the fading glint of life in his eyes returned back. His previous jump which was failed attempt in consequence of his fading life caused his feet to miss the part of the ground; fortunately the spawned stone created a support and Qiao meantime reverted back to life to concern what was in front. 

He jumped one last and reached the other side and fell on the hard ground. His condition was not good so do the condition of the stone which was attacking his consciousness with all the might. The two stones controlled by the hunter king returned back to the master while the stone which was emitting golden glow remained active. 

Though the cracks remained the same however Qiao opened his eyes and he was looking better. "The burden of life is harder than the fear of death; hell." He tried to stand up by saying what he always wondered in his advanced world. "Kid; you are beyond my expectations and now I believe we will reach the damn stone." The hunter king spoke determined by looking toward few miles ahead where he could feel the stronger aura of the stone. "It won't be that easy. One of my stratums of consciousness is damaged." Qiao told; it was unclear if he was feeling dejected or he was determined, probably no more expressions could come on his face in this situation where he was constantly being hammered by the invisible aura. 

"Oh is it?" the hunter king bent and sat beside him to check his condition since he learned simple illusions therefore he could clip the sort of damage. No-win situation would be unacceptable for him after reaching this far. He held the wrist of the young hunter and his aura travelled through the blood vessels to reach the brain. Within few moments; he was able to tell the level of damage. 

The young hunter was speaking truth and his inner condition seemed facing chaos. He immediately reverted back his aura when his aura rammed with the invisible force. It was too strong for him to imagine. The hunter king was speechless. He hurriedly searched through all the stones in his possession to help the young hunter. It was a pity that the hunters usually prefer to keep the attack type or defense type stones. The other stones were traded in the market to avoid the pile of useless stones in their personal pouch. Now there were number of stones on the ground for the hunter king to choose superior one which could help in this situation. 

Unfortunately his team was not able to get the right stone to battle against the delirium. It was something similar that the soldiers were forced to check the borderline whereas they were also heaving empty weapons along with them to not shoot bullets not even when it needed because it would break some shitty law of borderline; hopeless senders and helpless soldiers. "This one might help." The hunter king picked a stone of level seven; it was luck that this stone was still with him despite the hunter king once tried to trade it in the market but the bargain ended up failed. 

It was a defense type stone with the characteristics of capturing the inner attacks; though it was not exactly the same however can be classified with those stones of illusion's bandits since it does not directly can help to heal the damage but it could create a defense against the damage as for as it could endure the attack of the enemy. The hunter king dripped a drop of blood on the stone and then spawned for the command. The stone ported next instant to fulfill the command. 

It crossed the threshold through the cracks in the forehead and reached the consciousness. Qiao felt a wave of something powerful clashing; how could the enemy stone let the damage remain safe; would not all the efforts go to dustbin? Qiao was alarmed and stood up immediately gesturing to move toward the rocky hill. He cannot tell whether the level seven stone would bring any good but apparently the attention of the enemy was distracted. As long as he kept his journey forward; he could end up the suffering. The hunter king nodded and this time he chose to walk in front of the young hunter. 

He cannot tell about the second stage of defense so it was rudimentary obligation to face whatever attack comes first. By walking in front the young hunter would be under safe zone as he was already being attacked ruthlessly. Currently there were again two active stones. One of them belongs to hunter king and the other belong to Qiao though he was not giving attention to it intentionally. He knew that his curiosity would jolt his senses and distract him. There would be much time in understanding the curiosity later if he was able to save his life first.