My Last Hunt

Headstrong Level One Chaser (part 7)

Slowly most of the chasers were coming to know that this newbie who just joined a few days ago was already level one and arrogant to the point to ignore all others. Most of them minded their own business and never bothered in the matters of others so it was rare for any higher level to trouble the newbies or favor others.

....

Just that when Qiao and Linwin were ready to make a decision to save the chaser, they heard a growl of a monster.

They looked around immediately to determine from where the sound had appeared. To appear at this certain ground would be a hellish experience for them. It was almost certain that they would be cornered by the monster.

"Go and walk on other side of the hill to inform others," Qiao ordered Linwin to take quick action. The noise just now was echoing in this region which made it difficult to pinpoint the monster's location. But they could be sure now that it was around this area.

Linwin hurried and made the specific sound for others to know that they had found the monster.

The others soon reached their place, while running madly. They had started to move as soon as they heard the voice.

Meanwhile, the chaser who was hanging down at some bush had found some hope when he thought this guy would help him. But now he was focusing on hunting down a monster first and even other were going to focus on it. He did not know how long he could continue to hand there from the bush.

The team gathered in no time and enquired from Qiao about the monster.

He told them about what happened and the roar from the monster earlier. Soon they all searched every corner and located the monster.

The monster which was hiding to save itself in a hill and did not expect to be surrounded this fast again. It had heard many people around the hill, and tried to scare them away by roaring angrily, but instead it had brought itself trouble.

It came out of the hill and was now determined to kill all the chasers now.

Its body was completely black coupled with the sharp big eyes, it could easily scare many chasers.

It slowly came out of the hill and growled again.

The reception man might have wanted to send a team of level two or three chasers but because the monster was only level one, he could not break the rule. Compared to its preciousness, the rules were stronger.

He cannot simply break them for his greed even it was for the Guild's goodness.

Looking at the surroundings and the ground they were on, the chasers would find it pretty difficult to hunt it here.

"Everyone, bind yourself with ropes to prevent yourself from falling of the mountain side. It is steep and you need to be prepared in case your attack missed." The team leader commanded all of them immediately.

They took the required precautionary steps.

The monster once again tried to escape but the team made sure not to make the same mistake as earlier team. They kept it surrounded while Qiao was also observing to find what was specialty of this monster which made it so sought after for the Guild.

One of the chasers quickly tied himself with a rope and got ready to make a move first on the gesture of the leader.

The monster did not move into a defensive stance against the potential attack, it only changed a small difference as it saw the chaser reaching near.

The chaser moved swift and landed his strike. But it was not a perfect hit and only brushed past the monster's hide. Strangely after the attack, the guy started to scream in agony as his bare hand happened to brush past the skin of the monster. It was giving him a burning pain. Despite how the dry weather appeared, the team could tell that the monster's hide was damp and was excreting some strange liquid.

The team leader heard this scream and got worried, "What is wrong?" he asked.

"I burnt my hand," the chaser voiced and reached him.

"How did you get burned?" there was no fire around, just a damp monster then how had this man burnt his hand so bad that he even threw his sword.

"Probably due to the body of the monster. It expels some strange astringent liquid." He spoke lightly, still in pain.

His revelation alarmed others, as if this was true, the hunt would be almost impossible.

At the same time, the chaser who was still hanging down on a bush was waiting for them to finish their hunt and his hands had started to ache. If the chasers took much time he should ready himself to die.

"What should we do?" the others asked.

"Keep yourself at some distance and when you attack make sure to not come in contact. Only your weapon should strike the monster and if you are not confidant then maintain your distance." the team leader advised them, but he himself doubted his own words. He knew the chasers had not reached this level of observation and agility of movement.

And he couldn't expect much from them.

Qiao remembered that he had a handkerchief in the leather bag hanging behind his back. He used it to cover his face as that was important. His overall fleece was thick and made of double skin of the animal, so it would not immediately get burned.

But his weapon was a short ranged one.

It might be a problem for him.

The others saw him preparing differently and understood, their clothing was also double layered with the animal skin.

"Wait, there is also a possibility that a wound open in the skin of the monster might splash some of the acid so everyone should be active to react and save himself," Qiao spoke out his observation. The others also nodded.

If this hunt was successful, the team leader would reach at the peak of second level which had much importance for him this way.

He was also anticipating to reach level three but it all depends if this hunt proved to be successful.

He looked at Qiao and his preparation, and knew it was going to be hard for sure.

Linwin was kept at the back for good as he might only be a burden or might even die.

Not all of them can immediately make a move at the dangerous place so it was wise to act prudent.