My Last Hunt

Level Three (part 26)

After waiting patiently, Qiao finally saw a target appear. He leapt at the monster when it was in range and his first attack proved successful. The monster was baffled with this sudden attack and the weapon had stabbed deeply. As the monster fell with utmost agony, it could not stand up again. 

It was not easy for Qiao though, because being alone he had put all his strength in first attack to make it fatal. His high-level weapon managed to do considerable damage but it did not give him experience any more than five points. 

Qiao sighed as he knew about this already. Quipu had explained about it to him and his aim currently was-looking for spoils and more spoils, so experience can wait for the time being. This world was completely strange as in this world people solely rely on the spoils for everything. 

For example, healing was done with the use of specific high-grade stones. But in some manners, this world was more advance as the stone which they got from water dragon could actually be used for underwater breathing. 

Qiao wanted to know more about this world to be well informed. He also wished to take few stones with him when he would return to the advance world where he belonged. He wanted to test the ability of these stones whether they could work same way in his world. 

Since he did not belong to this world, Qiao could not sense the difference or get any benefit from the difference between the breathing air as it was meant for those who bear the soul of this world. He did not sense any special energy thus, which could explain the differences of hunter who were better than normal humans.

But he had learned that there must be some difference in the air here, as the monster use this breathing air as a reference and bear stones according to their characteristics or nature of body. 

With the decades passing by, the humans were forced to hunt and learn to use these stones so the present scenario came into existence with the pace of time. 

"You are shameless just like me." Someone laughed when Qiao was gathering his spoils. He was engrossed as he carefully observed the monster and the injuries which his weapon had caused, trying to see the differences of animals of from his world and the monsters of this world. His curiosity was at its peak when someone interrupted him. 

Holding his weapon Qiao stood up immediately. A chaser was laughing while looking at him. From his appearance he was at level three as well. Levels can be predicted by observing the appearance of the chaser but not always. There were many who knew how to act weak and then suddenly appear strong revealing their strength. For most it can predicted because every level gives the strength of thousand points which shape the body, make the muscles stronger, affect the outer appearance making them look stouter yet appealing. Just as the wrestlers look handsome and strong at the same time. 

Qiao was always skinny because of his poor diet. Being lean he never looked handsome or appealing. His weak appearance always made others bully him. Though he did not see the mirror yet but if he happened to see, he will be able to distinguish what changes were brought to his appearance due to this hunting. 

"What do you mean by shameless?" Qiao asked without bringing any surprise on his face. Even if this chaser was here to hunt lower level monsters, he should not be bothering with him. 

"Oh no, it's not shamelessness. It's the need for us poor chasers, right?" he spoke friendly and corrected his words too. 

"I see, so you are also short of spoils but I don't want to collaborate with anyone." Qiao straightaway refused before this stranger before he could ask. There was no other reason for him to bother Qiao or it was what Qiao evaluated from his sudden interrupting. 

The chaser got amused to see how fast this young chaser had denied before he could even ask. No matter, even if he was a level three, the chaser felt he still needed one more person to join hands with him for hunting. 

"No worries then. I will head back and ask a zero for help, he would get experience and I will take hold on spoils." He carefreely walked away. As Qiao was in urgent need of spoils, he did not stop him. 

As he left, Qiao picked the two spoils and walked away. The place where the monster was hunted down should be immediately left in hurry because other monster would come crowding at the dead body and devour it. They could easily smell the blood and reach the spot to feast on the meat. 

There was full half day ahead still and he could hunt another monster. So Qiao chose a different direction then, in hope to find another hunt. 

A while later, he happened to see someone following him. After observing he could tell it was the same chaser from earlier. Qiao got alert as he had seen and faced incidents where such chasers decided to steal. 

Qiao pretended as if he was unaware of his presence and continued forward. He wanted to surprise the chaser this time, so when he saw a monster at some distance, he thought to face the chaser first. Using the appearance of the monster as distraction, he directly jumped toward a trunk of the tree nearby and then crossed a few more with the fastest agility and grabbed the chaser from behind, pointing his weapon at his neck. 

"Tell me why are you following?" He then questioned him grimly. 

"Ah, keep the weapon away. I don't bear any malicious intent, believe me." He yelled with fear. The weapon was right at his neck and it brought bead of sweat on his forehead to think that he has been caught. 

"I won't unless you tell me why you were following?" Qiao gnashed his teeth. He knew he has stronger enemies so it was possible that they sent someone to follow him. He had also earlier faced the situation where they had sent a guy into his team to make him face a loss.