The wind softly whispered across the unpaved road, my bow held in my hands as my knocked arrow shifted slightly. The tall grass rippled around me as the wind danced, and a dull groaning resounded in front of me as an enormous creature walked out from the ruins of a skyscraper. It was a hulking beast of metal, made by corrupt and wild magics that now infected the lands. It was called ‘Death’s Shadow’ among hunters, and as I watched it’s gleaming red eyes glance over me I held my breath. Death’s Shadow was a fitting name for the Red Eye, usually armies of multiple nations would fight these things in order to kill them. If you were alone and encountered it, this creature would be the shadow of your death. And here I was, hunting the damn thing.
I could feel the intensity of it’s gaze, even though I was hidden in all ways- Infrared was useless on my body, and with the tall grass hiding me I might as well not exist. My breathing was so soft and slow, that it was in tune with each whisper of the wind. To a passerby I might look like a corpse standing still with an arrow knocked on it’s bow, it’s chest unmoving. That would be a lie, I still breathed the crisp air around me. I didn’t do it out of necessity, I did it to remind myself of what was lost. With each breath I would know what I was, and what became of the once peaceful world I lived in so long ago.
Tension suddenly filled the air like the crescendo of a violin, the Death’s Shadow- the Red Eye, turning as a dragon landed. Clicking my tongue against my teeth I waited, observing the two beasts. In front of me were two creatures that the living ‘gods’ feared, beings that held the power to crush all who would stand against them... well, almost all. The Red Eye, the true name of Death’s shadow, was a hulking mechanical monstrosity. It ran off of some strange fuel, it’s body capable of turning flesh, metal, and rock into the substance that let it survive. It was in the shape of a raptor, an old creature from before the days of Man and the Fall. Segmented metal plates covered it’s body, it’s joints covered in a slightly weaker but much more flexible metal. Thin wire’s trailed over it’s back as thick tanks filled with a viscous, explosive fluid rested, each tank hidden within a spike that ran down the beast’s back, ready to be launched into the air and replaced at a moment’s notice. It’s tail was long and thick, the metal sharpened and covered in runes to reinforce it’s strength and durability, the tail ending in a razor like tip with sharp spikes on the side. These spikes would inject liquid nitrogen into a body after piercing though or touching something, effectively allowing the Red Eye to shatter those who would dare try and fight it from behind. The legs of the beast were capable of smashing rocks into pebbles, and on top of that there were flame canisters in the heel of the foot so that a burst of fire could be emitted from the feet to prevent attackers from getting close. It’s ‘teeth’ were three chain’s of razor like metal that thrummed lowly, and the Red Eye’s eyes were a gleaming red as if to show it’s hostility to all life, it could see on the spectrum of heat, sound, and vision. Along it’s arms were razor like swords, and on the flanks of the creature were two rifle like weapons capable of hurling metallic projectiles at a body just under the speed of sound. This wasn’t to mention the magic capacities of the creature. The Red Eye was able to use Seventh Circle magic on a whim, it’s mind capable of taking a strain that hundreds of mages would need to shoulder. This beast would destroy countries with ease. Instead, it harvested them in order to grow stronger, like it’s kin. It was a monster that only a fool would fight.
Which said quite a bit about me I supposed, a grin creeping onto my lips.
The dragon that landed was a large ‘Western’ dragon with silvery red scales and bright golden eyes that glowed with intelligence. It’s long neck shifted as it gazed at the Red Eye, the two apex predators glaring at each other as they waited for the first move. The thick scales on the dragon were nearly impossible to cut into, and at their size they allowed for a protection that the Red Eye lacked. It was a battle between a Machine, and a Myth and I was the observer.
No. I was the hunter.
Relaxing as I drew back my bowstring I saw the opening at the base of the Red Eye’s head. It was a small gap in it’s armor- the only gap in it’s armor-, the size of a hand where it’s head met it’s neck. For a beast that was well over thirty feet tall it was an opening the size of a pinprick, and who would be foolish enough to exploit it when it was on the most dangerous part of the creature? Exhaling slowly I felt the world slow, The dragon was about to lunge at the Red Eye, suppling the distraction I needed. Loosing the arrow, I could feel the wind shiver around me, as if it was watching in anticipation of what was going to happen. Maybe it was, maybe a Living God decided to ‘grace’ me with it’s presence and observe my hunt. Smirking as the arrow flew though the air, I watched as it slipped into the only opening in the Red Eye’s armor, my hand already knocking another arrow as I felt a deep satisfaction as my target was hit.
I nodded in satisfaction as I readied myself. The small gap was a cooling vent on the Red Eye, it allowed for excess air to be pushed out of it's body, and my arrow just opened it and stabbed into the wires behind the vent. The Red Eye knew it was attacked before the dragon lunged at it. However, unable to turn around it tried to launch the missile like spikes from it’s back. It failed.
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I knew from long observations just how it would react, and this wasn’t the first time I’ve fought a Red Eye. With my first arrow inside the metal beast, it would be paralyzed for a few breaths of time. More then enough to send another into the chink in it’s neck and set the very fluids that ran the machine ablaze. Today, I would kill a Red Eye with it’s own blood. Feeling the sudden heat from my arrow as it burst into flame, the rune on the tip of it eagerly feeding on the magic I had given, I watched once more. The dragon had lunged at the Red Eye, tackling it to the ground. The harsh screech of metal on stone and scale echoed in the empty ruin's around us, and opening it’s mouth the dragon exhaled a long stream of pure white fire onto the Red Eye, the gout of fire rushing into it’s head and face, making the solid metal glow a superheated white. Nodding at the reptile’s tactics I almost clapped, and in a way I did. I let my arrow loose, knowing it would hit it’s mark. The dragon was trying to melt the Red Eye into slag, a good idea if it weren’t for the fact that the damn thing would use the heat to fuel the very magic it ran off and reinforce it’s body. Thanks to the metal that served as it's skin, the Red Eye was able to turn most attacks into it's own strength. It's insides, however, were much less protected from attacks. My arrow, a small flickering flame moving as fast as the wind, slipped into the hole in the Red Eye’s neck. Slamming myself flat to the ground, I covered my head and waited, counting silently to myself.
One. The dragon disengaged as it saw my arrow, leaping backwards and into the air as the Red Eye twitched, the paralysis wearing off.
Two, the dragon swept through the air, several ton’s of muscle and flesh rippling as it moved behind a ruined building to take cover.
Three, the Red Eye burst at the seams. Fire rippled from it’s body as the metal that protected it kept the explosion contained within, the explosive capsules taking to the flame with loud booms, and the Red Eye’s tail cracking as the Nitrogen inside bubbled from the heat, the sudden increase in pressure warping the metal. The fire within the beast streamed out of the hole in it’s neck like a waterfall, creating a harsh, shrill sound similar to a tea kettle boiling. The Red Eye’s eye’s dimmed, its core melting under the heat and abuse of the explosives within it’s body, the fire leaking out of it’s chainsaw like teeth before stopping, the beast laying still on the ground, it’s body bloated and cracked from the force that had just ripped though it. With another loud screeching whistle, the Red Eye's body burst, shards of superheated metal cutting though the air and stone as a tear the size of a doorway opened up on it's belly. Another loud crack echoed as a tear opened on it's back, the beast's metal skin tearing though the walls of the ruins around it as an explosion of fire consumed it.
Waiting for the fire to settle down I nodded happily, stretching as I walked over to the fallen metal monster. I lost two arrows on it, so I wanted to get the metal to get the items to make sure I could make them again... and maybe upgrade some of my equipment, but I would need to get a cart to carry the stuff back to town. Hearing a loud thud, I looked over, seeing the dragon land and smiled, waving to the creature. Exhaling though it’s nose, the reptile gazed at me, it’s voice a deep rumbling from it’s throat. “Well, That marks the end of a Red Eye. You are the only being in the world who would dare hunt them Wanderer.” I chuckled at my title and shrugged, “They should be killed. The more they harvest, the stronger they get.” Ripping out a glowing core from the Red Eye, I nodded and placed it in a small pouch at my side.
Rumbling as magic filled the air, the dragon shrunk, his body twisting and contorting in ways beyond human knowledge. The reptile seemed to gain an abstract shapelessness for a few moments before taking a more human form. Thick horns rose proudly from the back of his head, and scales covered his arms. Tossing him a robe from my pack I sighed as he walked over. We were traveling together, and with the Red Eye dead we would separate when we returned to town as our goal would be finished. The dragon’s family was killed by the machine, and I was hunting them to give the living races a chance to grow stronger. Starting to move, the soft sounds of my feet echoed in the silent ruins around us, each building a reminder as to the future that was stolen from Mankind. A reminder of the future we had to make in a new world where chaos reigned. Thinking back, I smiled softly, remembering the beginning, remembering the Fall.
Shaking my head to disperse memories of a past that didn’t matter, I continued onwards. The town of Gear Hall was about three days of walking, and while I could fly there on the dragon’s back, their race was so prideful that even asking such a thing was considered an insult punishable by death. So with three days ahead of walking ahead of me I started on my long trek back to town. The dragon following behind me in silence for a few moments before finally speaking. "Wanderer, Why do you hunt these creatures? With your skill you could live anywhere, even be a king if you wanted." I chuckled at the complement of my skill and shrugged, gazing at the sky sadly. It seemed to be the only thing as unchanging as I was. "Would you believe I remember the Fall?" Seeing the startled expression on the dragon's face I nodded. "It's a long story, but if you want to hear it then I have three days to tell it." With an eager nod, the dragon walked next to me, surprise evident on his face as my mind drifted to the world I once lived in.