Chapter 13: *Journey*
The battle against the Alpha Crimson Mauler was shaping up to be a spectacle unlike anything the city had seen in years. Word of its approach had sent shockwaves through the population. The air was thick with tension as people sought safety, and the defense forces scrambled to prepare. The situation was dire enough that General Dave Edwards, a renowned Level 6 Evolver from the main province, had personally come to the city’s defense. With him was Mike Holmes, his sharp, no-nonsense assistant who, despite his young age, had earned a Level 4 ranking and the respect of soldiers everywhere.
As soon as they arrived, General Edwards surveyed the city from the top of a crumbling high-rise. His calm, steady eyes were pondering the best strategy to minimize casualties. He radiated a calm assurance, like someone who had faced and triumphed in numerous conflicts. Merely being near him filled the soldiers with hope.
Mike, however, was already brimming with anticipation. His stern eyes scanned the far horizon, where the Alpha Crimson Mauler was drawing nearer with each passing second. The ground trembled with each heavy footfall of the towering creature, whose size dwarfed even the largest structures in the city. Its red, spiked armor glistened under the afternoon sun, and the beast let out a roar that shook the skies, sending a ripple of fear through everyone nearby.
“This is going to be one hell of a fight,” Mike muttered under his breath, gripping the new high-tech rifle slung over his shoulder. The weapon was a prototype designed to cause high damage using cheaper piercing bullets against creatures like the Mauler, but no one had tested it in real combat, until now.
“Mike,” General Edwards said in his deep, calm voice. “Remember, you are not alone. Collect the required data to complete your task, and focus on the battle. I’ll manage the city’s defenses and keep the collateral damage to a minimum.”
Mike nodded, his gaze locked onto the approaching monster. He knew he wasn’t going to defeat it with brute force, not at his current level. But with the right strategy and this new weapon, he could at least level the playing field.
Meanwhile, at the Hunter Base, Nix, Jeff, Liam, and Prabh were catching their breath from their own battles with the low-level monsters that had swarmed the outskirts of the city. They had just returned and were greeted by murmurs of excitement and awe from the other hunters.
“Did you hear?” one of the hunters said, voice buzzing with anticipation. “General Edwards is here. He’s brought his protégé, Mike Holmes, to take down the Alpha Crimson Mauler.”
Jeff turned to his friends, eyes wide. “Guys, do you know what that means? We can watch them fight in real-time. The Hunter’s Base has a monitoring room with all the live feeds. You want to see how real powerhouses fight?”
Nix and Liam exchanged a glance, their curiosity piqued. “Absolutely,” Nix said with a grin. “Let’s go check it out.”
But Prabh held up a hand. “I’ll meet you guys there. I need to register Ollie as my Hunter Pet first. They said it’ll only take a few minutes.”
Liam shrugged. “We’ll wait for you. No point in watching without the whole crew.”
They all agreed, and a few moments later, they found themselves in the bustling registration office. Prabh completed the process, Ollie now officially recognized as a Hunter Pet. With the massive, wombat-like creature towering beside them, they headed to the monitoring room.
As they entered, the tension in the air was palpable. Dozens of hunters were already crowded around the large screens, all eyes glued to the unfolding battle. Nix and his friends pushed their way forward for a better view, and what they saw left them speechless.
Mike stood in the middle of a vast, wrecked street, face-to-face with the Alpha Crimson Mauler. The towering beast was a nightmare made flesh, its crimson armor glistening menacingly, its massive claws ready to tear through anything in its path. At least twenty feet tall, its eyes gleamed with a cruel intelligence. Around it, smaller monsters circled, drawn to their leader’s power.
Without waiting for an invitation, the Mauler charged, its massive claws swiping at Mike with terrifying speed. Mike barely had time to roll out of the way, his body moving like a blur as the claws tore through the ground where he had just stood, sending chunks of concrete flying.
“Dammit,” he muttered, already drenched in sweat from the sheer intensity of the creature’s presence.
The monitoring room at the Hunter’s Base was dead silent as Nix, Jeff, Liam, and Prabh watched with wide eyes. This was power beyond anything they had seen. Mike wasn’t just fighting; he was surviving, dodging blows that would have killed anyone else instantly.
“He’s fast,” Jeff whispered in awe.
“But that thing is an Alpha,” Nix added, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew, deep down, that at his current level, he wouldn’t last a minute against such a creature.
Mike wasn’t done yet. He pulled the high-tech rifle from his back, the experimental weapon gleaming under the dimming light. Taking a deep breath, he steadied his aim at the Mauler’s head.
The weapon buzzed into action, with energy crackling along its barrel. A loud thoom! followed as a focused beam of energy was released, hitting the Mauler directly in the face. The beast staggered from the impact, letting out a roar of both pain and fury.
However, the Mauler was not willing to give up so easily. It responded by swinging its tail forcefully, creating a shockwave that traveled through the city streets. Mike jumped away quickly, narrowly dodging the strike, but the Impact caused him to slide along the ground.
Nix, observing from the Hunter’s Base, tightened his fists. “How can you possibly combat such a thing?” he whispered, feeling a profound sense of insignificance.
But Mike wasn’t finished yet. Gritting his teeth, he activated the rifle’s cannon mode. This time, as the weapon charged, the energy surrounding it intensified, and the hum grew louder. Mike fired again, but this time the blast was far more powerful, striking the Mauler with such force that it staggered backward, a deep wound opening on its shoulder.
“I can’t beat you head-on,” Mike growled, “but I can wear you down!”
The Mauler let out a deafening roar, lunging at Mike once more. Its claws were a blur of death, slashing at the ground and buildings around them. But Mike was a blur himself, using his superior speed and agility to dodge the devastating attacks.
Back in the monitoring room, Nix’s friends stood in awe. “That’s a Level 4 fighting a Level 5 monster,” Liam muttered. “And it’s still not enough.”
Prabh nodded, her eyes wide. “It’s insane. The gap between levels is that huge?”
Nix’s gaze hardened as he watched Mike give everything he had to hold his ground. This is what it means to be powerful, he thought. This is the level I need to reach.
As the battle raged on, Mike came to understand that he wouldn’t be able to defeat the Alpha Crimson Mauler by himself, despite having a new weapon. However, he wasn’t aiming to eliminate the beast; he wanted to weaken it to allow the city time to recover and come together again.
From where he stood, General Edwards maintained control over the city’s defenses, minimizing collateral damage and safeguarding civilians. Nevertheless, he never took his eyes off Mike. He trusted his young assistant, believing Mike could achieve a good result.
The battle reached Its climax when Mike, exhausted and battered, unleashed the final charge of his weapon. The charged energy blast hit the Mauler with such force that it roared in agony, but even then, it refused to fall. The Alpha beast, now wounded and furious, prepared to strike the final blow.
But just as it lunged at Mike, the general’s voice boomed through the city’s loudspeakers. “All forces, prepare for counterattack! Hit it with everything you’ve got!”
The Mauler was targeted by heavy artillery, plasma cannons, and energy projectiles from every part of the city. The synchronized assault overwhelmed the Alpha Crimson Mauler. It fell with a tremendous roar, its body hitting the ground with a deafening impact.
In the monitoring room, Nix and his friends were amazed as they watched the screen display the defeated Alpha creature. The whole room cheered loudly, but Nix remained silent, his heart racing.
He looked at his friends, his eyes filled with a strong sense of determination. Someday, we will have the strength to battle in the same manner. We’ll be more than spectators.
image [https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54034147188_e55d9b9dc6_m.jpg]
His friends nodded in agreement, the weight of the battle they had just witnessed fueling their resolve. They may have been insignificant now, but this fight had shown them what was possible, and they were determined to reach that level of power.
As Nix and his friends watched the intense battle on the massive screen, a question began to form in Nix’s mind. Mike Holmes was clearly giving everything he had, using skill and strategy to hold his own against the Alpha Crimson Mauler. But Nix couldn’t help but wonder why the general himself, a powerful Level 6 Evolver, wasn’t stepping in to finish the fight faster.
Nix turned to his friends, furrowing his brow. “Why does Mike have to fight the Alpha Crimson Mauler? General Edwards is a Level 6, right? He could probably finish the monster a lot faster.”
Jeff nodded thoughtfully. "Good point. You’d think the general would want to take out a threat like that as quickly as possible."
Liam leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "Maybe he’s testing Mike. Like, giving him a chance to prove himself."
Before any of them could say more, the Concierge, a sharp, older woman who often worked behind the scenes at the Hunter Base, appeared, her presence calm but commanding. "I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation," she said with a soft smile. "And I can tell you exactly why General Edwards isn’t fighting the Alpha Crimson Mauler himself."
The group turned to her, curious.
"General Edwards is a kind and hardworking man," the Concierge explained. "He’s always appreciated those who share his values, those who work hard and are willing to face challenges head-on. He’ll help them as much as he can. But make no mistake, General Edwards isn’t a superhero. He doesn’t step in to save the day every time. He believes that no one can reach the top if they aren’t willing to climb the mountain themselves."
Nix raised an eyebrow. "So, this is like… a training battle for Mike?"
The Concierge nodded. "Exactly. General Edwards sees this as an opportunity for Mike to grow, to push his limits. The general’s not going to rob him of that chance. He understands, better than most, that hard work is the key to success. It’s how he got to where he is now."
Prabh tilted her head. "But if General Edwards is so powerful, why doesn’t everyone look up to him? He sounds like a hero."
The Concierge’s expression grew slightly somber. "Not everyone is as admirable as General Edwards. You see, there are always those who envy the success of others but never the hard work that goes into it. Some people have made up false stories about him. Others have even betrayed him, hoping to bring him down. They see his achievements and want them for themselves, but they never envied the work he had to put in to reach his current position."
Liam frowned. "That’s messed up. He earned everything he has."
"Exactly," the Concierge replied. "And that’s why General Edwards doesn’t do everything for others. He wants to see if they can earn their way forward too. That’s why Mike is out there, fighting that Level 5 Alpha Crimson Mauler. General Edwards knows that to truly become stronger, Mike has to face challenges like this on his own. He’ll step in if he needs to, but only if Mike has done all he can."
Nix nodded slowly, starting to understand. "So, it’s not just about power. It’s about the journey to get there."
"Exactly," the Concierge said with a smile. "Remember that, Nix. It’ll take you far."
As they turned their attention back to the screen, watching the final outcome, and remembering Mike's fight with everything he had, the gravity of the lesson began to sink in for Nix and his friends. They weren’t just watching a battle, they were watching the kind of effort it took to become someone like General Edwards. And one day, they vowed, they would be the ones climbing that mountain too.
As the Concierge continued speaking, Nix suddenly realized why she looked so familiar. "Wait a minute," he muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing as he stared at her.
Jeff noticed and leaned closer. "What’s up, Nix?"
Nix shook his head, still piecing it together. "I know her. That’s Lisa, right? She’s the one who bought the Razorhound meat from me the first time I hunted. That hunt almost killed me."
Jeff’s eyes widened. "You hunted a Razorhound, are you Crazy"
Nix just smiled and just scratched the back of his head.
Nix remembering that day vividly. He had been overconfident, and very inexperienced then, and the newly evolved Razorhound had pushed him to his limit. Its sharp claws and incredible speed were almost too much for him, and he barely survived the battle. Even though he had won, thanks to his spiky armor, he was left with serious injuries. He dragged the Razorhound’s carcass back to the city and ended up selling its meat to Lisa for 100 coin.
Lisa had been kind to him, giving him a fair price even though she could’ve haggled him down. But Nix ended up spending almost all of the 100 coin on a healing pod to recover from the wounds the Razorhound had left on him.
"Yeah," Nix continued, "I sold the Razorhound meat to her. I thought I made some good coin until I had to spend most of it on a healing pod to patch myself up."
Lisa overheard their conversation and smiled knowingly. "You did well that day, Nix. I remember it clearly. Most young hunters wouldn’t have survived an encounter with a Razorhound, especially one that had just evolved. You showed grit."
Nix scratched the back of his head, feeling a little embarrassed. "Yeah, but it nearly killed me. And I ended up broke again after paying for the pod."
Lisa chuckled softly. "That’s how it starts for most hunters. You risk your life, earn your coin, and then spend it on staying alive. But over time, if you keep working hard, things change. You start earning more, getting stronger, and those healing pod visits become less frequent."
Nix nodded. "I guess that’s what General Edwards believes too, huh? That it’s not just about power but about how you handle the struggle along the way."
"Exactly," Lisa replied. "He sees potential in those who work hard and face the challenges head-on, just like you did with that Razorhound. It’s the same lesson Mike is learning right now against the Alpha Crimson Mauler."
Nix glanced back at the screen, watching their victory. Remembering Mike's fierce battle against the towering beast. The young assistant who fought with everything he had, and though it was clear he couldn’t match the raw power of the Alpha Crimson Mauler, his determination and skill were evident.
As Nix watched, he couldn’t help but think back to his own struggles, his battles with the monsters of South Novice Mountain, his close encounters with death, and the small victories that kept him going. Watching Mike, Nix felt the same fire burning inside him. He had come a long way, but there was still much further to go.
Jeff, Liam, and Prabh all seemed to share the same feeling as they watched the fight in silence. The realization hit them hard: they were just starting their journey, and the battles ahead would only get tougher.
But now, after hearing Lisa’s words and seeing Mike’s determination, Nix knew one thing for sure, they would keep climbing. One day, they would be the ones standing on the front-lines, ready to face any challenge, no matter how powerful the enemy.