The two monster hunters continued on their journey, following the dirt road as it meandered and twisted like a river. They occupied themselves taking on beasts and refining their skills along the way. To what end who could say but the thrill of executing a monster while perfecting their own unique fighting styles was enough to keep both moving forward. Unlike the Duvolf and Coldra, none of the beasts they hunted were of much note as they were either too weak or miniscule to truly grow from. That was at least until they encountered the monkey. Neither the knife nor shadow wielder could attest to being true ecologists, however they were still surprised to find a simian looking monster within their neck of the woods.
A Battleboon, as Valerie’s aspect informed her it was called, was not indigenous to the Gentile Kingdom and its presence was perplexing to say the least. The average Battleboon was four feet tall with crimson red fur and an elongated highly dexterous tail they typically kept wrapped around their waste when not in combat. The creatures were fascinated with conflict and would combat each other one on one to determine the strongest Battleboon within a given tribe. When encountering a warrior, they would make a show of challenging the individual to single combat and, if refused, hound their adversary until finally getting their way. It was noted that Battleboon’s were ultimately a passive monster species who would enter into a fight only seeking to improve their own prowess leaving their opponent alive if banged up. This made them a perfect sparring partner for up-and-coming warriors or adventurers who sought out the peace adjacent monsters. The Battleboon was also the symbol of the hot and dry Maroch Empire to the south, a holdover from their once rapid and ruthless conquest of the neighbouring lands.
Valerie’s head spun from the flurry of information suddenly injected into her psyche. The Aspect of the Hunt varied in how much detail it offered sometimes providing ample background information or only surface level. When the two encountered a poisonous snail, her aspect only told her it was a snail and that it was poisonous much to the their chagrin. Coming across a Battleboon left the huntress sat on the ground clutching her head and waiting for the world to stop spinning. The sudden migraine prevented either girl from approaching the creature at the moment, however like any good explorer they would nevertheless enact a thorough field survey. They were going to kill it and probably eat it.
Their future meal sat crossed legged upon a protruding rock with a flat top, both hands balled into fists with the knuckles interlocked in front of its chest. Valerie and Samantha observed the creature from a hidden vantage point waiting for it to make a move. For over an hour they watched the unmoving beast, the huntress’s headache subsiding only to be replaced with losing feeling in both her legs. Samantha nearly joined her friend’s lower half, dozing off several times and receiving a deserved knock to the head every time. It wasn’t clear if the beast was aware of their presence yet but better to not give it any clues with someone’s loud snoring.
After the second hour of yet more nothing, Valerie’s growing frustration was reaching a boiling point at the statuesque creature. Even when a bird landed on the Battleboon, did its business, and was off the primate still did not move. She tried to gleam all she could from her aspect and ascertain what it was up to, yet everything circled back to their insatiable desire for combat. The creature before them seemed to oppose that very idea and forced the huntress to question the validity of her aspect once again. Tired of waiting, she rose from her hiding spot shaking off the weariness and marched over to the monster with her knife drawn and waiting. The offending creature finally moved, opening one eye to look over its challenger which it deemed unworthy scoffing and returning to meditation. A fury like no other burned inside Valerie’s soul. This thing appeared out of nowhere, gave her the worst headache of her life, made them sit around for nothing and then turned its nose up at her. Admittedly the primate did not deliberately contribute to anything but the last point, but it didn’t matter to the huntress, the monkey had to go. Pointing her weapon at the nonchalant animal she voiced her displeasure.
“And just WHO in all the divines name do YOU think you are?!”
Looking down at Valerie, the Battleboon analysed her once again taking in her stance as well as her physique with scrutiny and intelligence she didn’t think was possible in a monster. The monkey scratched its head, let out a dissatisfied tut and tried to wave the girl off. Samantha watched the exchange from afar sucking in a breath and feeling the faintest flicker of sympathy for the monster.
“Oh no, that’s not good. That monkey has no idea what it just did.”
She imagined steam would shoot out of Valerie’s ears from the blatant disrespect. The offended party did not retaliate immediately however, rather than attack the Battleboon directly the huntress turned away from the monster flipped her knife and prepared a special throw. Before she got the chance however a voice shouted out in her direction.
“Say the thing!”
With a defeated sigh, she said the thing.
“Turnabout Slash.”
The primate looked at the unwanted guest with curiosity and then befuddlement as the girl made her statement with clear resignation. She launched her weapon past the monster who watching it fly somewhere far into the distance. A shiver down its spine alerted the monkey to danger and in a flash it leapt from the rock just as a knife, spinning like a buzzsaw, came hurtling passed. Valerie caught her weapon with practiced ease and glanced back at the monkey now perched on a trees branch. The pairs eyes met and a dangerous gleam entered their collective gaze.
Following the Coldra hunt, Valerie had begun to practice throwing with her main weapon more often. Having a powerful projectile was a great opener or finisher during their hunts and if she got it just right she could have it be both. With her aspect assisting her she managed to figure out a special move Samantha dubbed: Turnabout Slash. It was a seemingly impossible move that any sane person would dissuade her from attempting, however the huntress was not surrounded by the sane, her travelling companion encouraging the outlandish manoeuvre. After a series of missed shots and more than a few mornings spent searching for her lost weapon, Valerie was eventually able to perfect ‘Turnabout Slash’. By carefully angling her throw and infusing her aspect of the knife she was able to force the blade into a spin that would travel a short distance before returning back to its master. This move had inevitably caused the huntress to gain a few new scars along her palms, but the payoff was worth it. Unfortunately, she struggled to use the move effectively while in motion and could only pull it off at a complete stop with ample time to prepare. She also had to announce her skill before using it, mainly for her companions sake, although saying it felt right like when a wizard chants a spell. She ofcourse didn’t believe the makeshift magic would kill the primate so easily but still wanted to show the monster she was more than its initial assessment. Given the hungry look in the Battleboon’s eyes as well as exposing its teeth she had more than proved herself worth its attention.
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The monster in question disappeared from sight as it circled the tree tops leaping from branch to branch testing their weight and smacking the bark. Eventually the monkey found one it liked standing atop the tree limb and letting out an excited howl. Valerie watched in shocked amazement as the simian took a martial artist stance and delivered a powerful chop severing the branch from its parent with just a bare hand. As both limb and monster fell, the beast smashed the branch against the tree ridding it of twigs and leaves alike. Landing with a roll the Battleboon arose wielding a two-metre-long crude staff that it flourished with a twirl. Snickering in delight the monkey beckoned its opponent with a casual wave. The call to arms was answered instantly as Valerie rushed forward, her knife aimed straight at the monsters throat. Just before reaching her target, huntress’s world was suddenly flipped upside down as she was flung over the beast, her back landing hard against the earth. Laughing raucously the monkey taunted its fallen foe even smacking its behind for added effect. Valerie never hated anyone in her life, she despised monsters but that was natural, encouraged even. She fought with her uncle but they were family, it came with the job. She got annoyed at Samantha but relied on her just as much if not more for challenging her patience. This monkey however, she hadn’t known it existed until a few hours ago and already she could think of nothing more than making it her life’s mission to eradicate its entire species. Rising back to her feet, she towered over the diminutive monkey yet this only seemed to goad the creature further. The Battleboon jabbed the butt of its makeshift staff into the ground before climbing the length to overtake Valerie blowing raspberries and making rude sounds at the infuriated huntress. Something snapped in her at that moment.
“SAMANTHA! This thing is mine! Make sure it doesn’t escape.”
She loudly announced, her words echoing out and causing a flock of birds to flee.
“Encircle?”
“and Entrap.”
The code name was one of several manoeuvre’s the travelling pair came up with on the road. Well Valerie came up with and Samantha nicknamed. It was intended to be a purely defensive manoeuvre meant to, as the name would imply, keep threat contained. The other far more frequent use was to keep the huntress’s prey from running. The none-the-wiser primate was unbothered, lazily picking at its nose until it froze at the sight of a series of black chains appearing all around the combatants. The chains fed out from the surrounding tree shadows, interlocking and wrapping around one another to create an inescapable ring of dark ominous links. It was not a perfect dome and if the entrapped party possessed the ability to fly they could easily escape although they would quickly find themselves being mercilessly hunted down.
For the first time, Valerie saw fear in the creature, yet she knew it wasn’t from her or even being locked into their arena. It was the chains themselves, every time an animal noticed Samantha or her shadows an instinctual terror overtook them. Only the truly brave or truly stupid were immune to its effects. Letting out a mad laugh, she struck while the primate searched for an exit. Her uncle always stressed a fight against a monster was one were only the victor survives, and sportsmanship was for people who didn’t want to live. Leaping at the fear-stricken monkey Valerie’s knife grazed its temple, the beast barely dodging out of the way. Flipping backwards, the Battleboon reset its stance and pointed a slightly shaking staff at the grinning warrior before it. Even if the fear wasn’t directed at her, she would revel in the dumb creatures uncertainty. Its cocky attitude was long gone yet Valerie had only just begun.
“What’s wrong? Scared?”
She asked enjoying the animals wavering bravado. Re-entering melee, Valerie quickly found herself in a game of tug of war with the beast despite its frightened state. Every advancement was met with ardent resistance, every strike encountering a near impenetrable defence. The staff was only simple wood yet the monkey pivoted and parried with such immense skill the huntress found herself unable to cut either the weapon or its wielder. She however was taking bash after bash from the staff, it never seemed to stay in one place and moved like lightning striking her joints or any exposed flesh the monkey could see. While its attacks were plentiful their strength was lacking and Valerie was able to power through or block the hits. Training with Samantha’s chains improved her reflexes when it came to quick or sudden attacks and she could almost predict where the monkey would strike next. The two combatant’s bout ultimately came down to a battle of attrition, one side lythe and quick while the other was tough and unrelenting. A true contest of offense against defence with neither side gaining real ground.
Samantha watched her friend battle the monkey for over three hours with neither one backing down. She sat atop of hammock of chains trying her best not to fall asleep, if she did the ring surrounding them would dissipate and the battle would expand outwards. She was not completely bored as there had been thrilling moments such as when Valerie’s knife was knocked from her hand clattering to the ground. The Battleboon tried to capitalize on the momentary disarmament only to be forced to block a wild haymaker from slugging the creatures face. Forced back, the primate was incapable of stopping Valerie from collecting her knife and continuing the fight as if nothing had changed. Something was changing however, bruises were forming along the huntress’s arms and face while the monkey grew tired and clumsy. The extensive and uninterrupted beat down was coming to an end and the two fighters were nearing their breaking points. The match concluded when Valerie unleashed a rage filled and painful sounding roar headbutting her opponent in the process. The first clean hit the Battleboon had received since the fight began, it looked like it would shrug of the blow until one leg stumbled then another and finally the simian rocked back and fell with a pathetic thud. The staff it held rolled away its ends splintered and broken from the many strikes received and blocked. Breathing heavily, uncontested winner screamed up at the heavens, victory igniting her soul. Then she immediately fell back as well letting the cool and soft earth embrace her tired frame. Neither combatant could see the other yet they both wore triumphant smiles. One at experiencing a fight like never before and the other for teaching the dumb monkey a lesson.
Samantha rubbed her eyes glancing at both fallen combatants unsure what happened as she looked away for a split second. She wanted to call no fair and demand the two go again so she could watch properly then quickly dismissed the idea. Any longer and they would be duking it out in the moonlight and her shadows would of no use. Speaking of, she dismissed her chains breaking the arena down to a simple wooded area again. Descending upon the pair she looked down at her friend.
“Val? You dead?”
A coughing whoop was all she got in reply. Possibly not dead, the shadow user surmised. Turning to the Battleboon next, Samantha could see it was soundly asleep, a content smile still wrinkling its face. Shrugging she picked up her friends knife from her limp hand and walked over to the monkey intending to finish the hunt. Before she could, a hurried voice interrupted the easy kill.
“Miss, if you would kindly wait just a second before doing anything too hasty.”
Turning slowly, Samantha found a tall chiselled man standing not far off with his hands held up innocently. The intruder took in the whole scene before him and spoke again his confident tone masking his worries.
“How much will it cost for you not to kill my mentor?”