Taking hold of the ornate chest from someone who could have been an elven princess, I immediately noticed its weight. It was like holding a ten-pound dumbbell, though I couldn’t tell if it was the box itself or whatever was inside, causing it to be so heavy. The chest was made of beautifully stained redwood and was about the size of a jewelry box with a single golden latch holding it close and two matching butterfly hinges at the back. Combined with the fascinating wood grain pattern, the chest alone must have been worth at least a gold coin or two.
After handing me the decorative box, the young elf gracefully returned to the side of the chamber, where she placed her hands behind her back as if waiting to be called upon again should the need arise. Glancing up at the chief elder, I shot Corona a questioning look about whether I should open the gift now or hold it for later. Tilting her head in confirmation, I snapped the gold latch open and looked inside with slight trepidation. I didn’t immediately know why the emotion surged in my stomach, but I was able to reflect later on. It was due to standing in front of so many important and influential people.
The inside of the chest was no less impressive than the outside. Lined top to bottom was velvet cushioning a deep shade of purple with golden accents sprinkled here and there. Sitting on the exquisite pillow was an egg-shaped jewel. The oval gemstone veritably radiated with power, with nearly imperceptible waves of energy wafting off the stone. Completely opaque, the gemstone's surface looked almost porous, though it was completely smooth to the touch. An off-white color, I picked up the egg which could have easily been mistaken for an extra-large goose egg. With it now in hand, the slow pulse of energy seemed to crash into my chest gently and my core like an ocean wave. Handing the small chest to Tallos, it was definitely the item in my hands that carried all the weight noticed earlier.
The resonance forming between the gemstone and the seat of power deep within my chest hummed and began vibrating in tune as if the egg was specially made for me. Though I could not see inside the gemstone, it felt as if the force within was constantly unfolding from one obscure shape to another endlessly. My mind was being drawn within, inviting me to unfurl the knowledge like it was some long-lost secret or deep understanding of the universe. It was an exhilarating sensation like tapping into the insatiable desire to uncover the unknowable, to delve into the darkest places in the world to discover an untold mystery buried for a millennium.
Elder Corona’s next words brought my attention away from the ovoid stone and back to the sitting elders. “What you hold in your hands is a precious gift few have ever seen, with even fewer blessed to receive one of their own. Similarly to the elven Ameliorating Spherules you purchased the day prior, your Quintessence Ovum holds a spark of potency that can only be created by an elven elder of great age. I see in your eyes you feel the pull from the seemingly boundless energy contained within, promising to unleash ancient knowledge into you. Where an amelioration sphere enhances one of your spells, the quintessence stone similarly enhances abilities and traits you possess. Unlike an amelioration token however, the quintessence ovum allows its designated user a choice. Tune your awareness into the gemstone’s depth and you will discover what I mean.”
The connection the gemstone was emitting was undeniable as if an invisible tether was forming between it and my core. Like two magnets clicking together, the invisible cord seemed to desire to lock in place. Turning my awareness within, the egg grew warm in my hands as if I were holding a heated liver pack. Probing the connection coming from the stone, a System message exploded in my view.
Congratulations! You have received a hidden reward from the ‘The High Thicket Burns...’ quest.
You have received Quintessence Ovum.
{Quintessence Ovum}. Created through a secret method known only to elven elders, this uncommonly rare item possesses a mysterious form of energy which, when used, upgrades one of the user’s racial abilities or traits. Created to be used by a single individual, this ovum can only be used by Xazorus the Hunter Killer.
Quality: Exceptional. Rarity: Epic. Type: Upgrade Item. Slot: N/A. Durability: N/A.
Effect(s): Please select one of the following options. Option 1 - Upgrade one racial ability or trait by one tier. Option 2 – Upgrades one random racial ability or trait by two tiers. Option 3 – Unknown.
“Like the fall harvest, reap the rewards of your altruism,” Elder Corona said before taking a seat behind her desk. None of the other elders spoke as they watched on, regarding me unobtrusively as they patiently waited for me to decide what to do with this incredible gift. Tallos, too, observed with admiration evident in his expression. Perhaps he knew about this type of item already, though his expression hinted he had never had the chance of seeing one in person.
Turning to Stella, I was about to ask for her advice between the three options when she gently shook her head. “The choice is yours, and yours alone. There is no wrong decision here.”
Taking a deep breath, I returned my awareness to the radiating stone which seemed to grow lighter as time passed. It brings with it a choice, you’ve got that right, I internalized before contemplating the three options. Either I could designate a trait or ability to upgrade, or it could allow the System to choose randomly. The item description indicated it would upgrade whatever was picked by one ‘tier,’ which was something I hadn’t contemplated before. I would want to ask Stella later if she knew which tier had, but I put the thought to the back of my mind.
If I allowed the System to select one at random, it would grant an improvement of twice as much power compared to choosing one myself. The final option truly grabbed my imagination. In a way I could not articulate, the unknown beckoned to me as if promising I would learn a secret lost to time. Reading the third option one more time, the tether connecting my core to the egg seemed to flex. I didn’t know how to describe it. It appeared to constrict ever so slightly before relaxing an instant later as if it never happened.
Concentrating on the egg, though it could not be seen by the eyes, I once more sensed something moving inside the opaque gemstone, twisting and unfolding over and over. The impression was like an animated origami sculpture folding into new shapes from one moment to the next. It was moldable, promising something not often seen in this world. It’s the best way I could describe it.
Stella made it clear the choice was mine, though a part of me still wanted me to ask her before I decided which tier each of my abilities and traits already had. Was it like a rarity tier or something else? Then again, perhaps it didn’t matter. If it was a rarity tier, then I suspected my empowered aegis was pretty high up there, at least epic, if not higher. Pulling up my character screen, I decided to look at my choices.
Traits:
Abilities:
Mind & Matter
Darkvision
Exalted Acceleration
Clear Headed II
Adaptability
Spell Strike
Keen Senses
Empowered Aegis (Upgraded)
Wraith Form
Somehow, looking over the list, I instinctively knew picking a few was not an option. Exalted acceleration was first among those. This particular trait had been formed with the unique bond I shared with Stella. I got the impression such an intimate bond could not be transformed by such a simple item, no matter how powerful it was. While the quintessence gem held no power to enhance this particular trait, a flutter in my chest hinted that one day it would upgrade on its own. It was an encouraging thought as our bond allowed me to grow stronger with each new level I attained.
Similarly, my empowered aegis could not be upgraded. Heck, it already carried the ‘upgraded’ tag, so it made sense. Thus, the quintessence stone held no power to enhance it further. Thinking back to when the ability upgraded, it had been from a System reward when I hit the reputation threshold of five million viewers, a feat that still boggled my mind. With empowered aegis being my most powerful defensive and lifesaving ability, I may have chosen to upgrade it one more tier had it been an option.
Surprisingly, my clearheaded ability felt dim in my mind when I considered it and the quintessence upgrade. It was already listed as being at a second level, having been bumped in power from a different reputation achievement, so perhaps the stone simply couldn’t bump things up one more level. Clearheaded was an important defensive trait, allowing me to ignore most mind-altering effects and wholly ignore stuns. Once more, I moved on.
With the awareness of what could not be chosen, I was left with the following options: Mind & Matter, Adaptability, Keen Senses, Wraith Form, Darkvision, and Spell Strike. I paused as I considered the last option, Spell Strike. The last time I could upgrade an ability it had been listed as an ‘ineligible’ option. I had ultimately had my clearheaded trait enhanced, but I was curious why Spell Strike could be upgraded here. Doubting I would ever figure out all the unique intricacies of the System, I put the thought out of my mind. Focusing on what I could do, I prompted my character screen for further information about each of the available abilities and traits. Perhaps there would be a clear winner if I went down the route of manually choosing to upgrade one.
Darkvision (Ability) – Grants the ability to change vision to allow sight in near-total darkness. Maximum vision in low light is 300 feet. Maximum vision in near-darkness is 100 feet.
Keen Senses (Trait) – Grants enhanced visual and auditory acuity.
Adaptability (Trait) – Grants a 10% bonus to all attribute scores to represent your varied and adaptable nature.
Mind & Matter (Trait) – Through the combination of your elvish and human heritage, you are equally suited to both the mental and the physical. You are versatile. You are capable of advancing far in either of these pursuits. Grants a 10% bonus to experience earned towards the advancement of all skills, abilities, and spells.
Spell Strike (Ability) - your damage over time effects can now critically hit.
Wraith Form (Trait) – At the moment of death, when the Hunter’s health points reach zero, this form will automatically be triggered. While in wraith form, the Hunter will take on the characteristics of an undead version of himself, meaning, but not limited to, increased resistance to most forms of attacks and an increase in base attributes. At the moment of transformation, health, mana, and stamina will be replenished by 50% of normal maximums. Additionally, any ongoing determinantal effect will be removed.
Immediately, Darkvision and Keen Senses went out the window. Neither was a good choice and while I appreciated the advantages each brought, the upgrade was better spent elsewhere. Adaptability could be nice as I assumed it would simply increase the percentile bonus offered to all my attributes. Yet, it still wouldn’t be my first pick. The same went for Mind & Matter. Mind & Matter essentially increased my leveling speed, which certainly made a difference in allowing me to bridge the gap from when I started to the inevitable showdown with Duke, which was quickly approaching. As a long-term trait, it was fantastic, even more so when I eventually ascended to a higher world, but neither was the right choice today.
So, I was left with my tier three Hunter trait, Wraith Form, and Spell Strike. Between the ability to be able to fight on and potentially survive after receiving a killing blow or increasing my damage potential, the choice between the two was obvious. Yet even though the wraith form trait was the apparent choice, I hesitated. Once more, as I trained my awareness on the gem’s item description, the third ‘unknown’ option seemed to call out. My core resonated with the invisible tether, so it was not something I wanted to ignore.
Two options: either manually upgrade my wraith form, hoping it would be more useful than at the moment of my death, or the nameless path afforded by the third option. In the end, I went with my gut. Or, more specifically, I went with the sensation felt within the core of my power. I choose the unknown.
You have selected Option 3 – Unknown. Please confirm this selection. Do you wish to continue? Y/N.
For several long seconds, I simply studied the prompt as it hovered in my vision, awaiting my confirmation. Closing my eyes, the world around me became blanketed in darkness, and I blocked out all external stimuli. Bringing my awareness to my core, I saw my spherical core as it slowly rotated with bursts of electric frost swirling around what appeared to be a black hole. It harbored all the magical might contained within me. Though it gave no additional outward sign, a subtle feeling settled there. My core felt… content. That black hole welcomed the unknown, the promise of adventure, friendship, and connection. My decision solidified, and I opened my eyes, selecting ‘yes.’
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
The moment I selected the prompt, the intangible cord connecting my core with the egg instantly grew taut, transforming from a thin ribbon into an unbreakable cable. A transfer between the two started slowly but quickly ramped up in power. Pulses of energy, much like from a three-thousand-volt electrified fence, crashed in waves from the gemstone to slam through my hand and into my chest. With each second, the pulses grew more rapid until, before long, it felt like I was being hit by a mini-gun. Against the onslaught of energy pouring into me, I was forced to close my eyes. Though the egg felt like I was holding onto an electric fence, powerful enough to keep even a massive twenty-two hundred Shire horses at bay, my body didn’t so much as twitch at the influx of energy. Perhaps only Stella truly knew what was happening inside me as the quintessence stone transferred all of its power into me.
As the oval gem threw everything it had into our connection, my mind’s eye once more peered at my core to see what was happening. The moment my awareness returned to the dark sphere, I witnessed thousands of lightning bolts crashing into the black hole’s surface. My core looked like a Tesla coil on steroids with how rapidly the bolts of energy struck repeatedly in an ever-increasing wave. With each pulse, something began taking shape underneath the event horizon of my core. I had no clear picture of what it was, but as the gemstone released all its inordinate might, it rapidly filled as if my core was a barren lake before a flash flood.
While this happened, I got the sense neither the egg itself nor my core knew what was being created as quintessence energy was transferred. As the item description stated, the gift I would receive was entirely unknown and was being determined in real-time in front of me. With each passing second, the shape, or whatever it was, integrated within my very being. I knew once it was completed, I would be forever changed, unable to remove the new power no more than I could cause an arm or leg to sever from my body. A deeply ingrained feeling flowed through me as the last remnant of indescribable power from the quintessence stone struck like herculean thunderclaps.
As if a tipping point was reached, with one final bolt of lightning, the newly incorporated power exploded outward in one massive tidal wave of energy. It reached the limits of my body in a millisecond, burning every cell white hot with its influence. I would learn from Stella later on that those around me saw none of this, other than the arching of my back when my core released transformational energy into every fiber of my being. At that precise moment, the quintessence gemstone shattered into a million harmless motes of energy. Had I been able to see, I would have been surprised to see the motes floating near me, as it felt like every ounce of power from the gemstone had been transferred to me. I, of course, could not as my body reacted to the released wave of quintessence might where it grew dormant and ready to be beckoned with a thought.
As I finally opened my eyes, the world around me seemed to freeze. Time grounded to a halt though my mind continued to perceive my surroundings. The translucent motes of energy from the shattered egg, which had been slowly dissipating, stilled and hovered motionless in the air. Though I could not move, I felt no sense of danger as the last moment of transference was completed. The newly budding power within my core sat waiting, ready to come whenever I called. To do so, I simply needed to release the restraint holding the power within my core. Once unleashed, the energy would flood out much like I had already experienced, and I knew it would heighten my magical might to unprecedented levels.
Time resumed as if it had never been interrupted. Everyone around me began breathing normally. Elven eyes gazed upon me without urgency or concern as the departing motes of light faded into nothingness. As the seconds ticked past, nothing else happening, no one spoke. The elders continued to wait patiently. Before my eyes, a notification exploded in my vision, informing me of my newest ability.
Congratulations! You have received a new ability, Quintessence Empowerment.
Quintessence Empowerment (Ability) – During times of desperation and when all hope seems lost, the need to push oneself beyond what mortals only dream to achieve becomes a necessity. As a necromancer specialized in assaulting foes with virulent forms of arcane energy that ravage an enemy’s vitality over time, you can now call upon a quintessence power that will push you and your spells beyond what can normally be accomplished.
When triggered all damage over time spells have their spell durations reset to maximum. Currently applied spells and any new spells cast within the next 120 seconds will also receive the following benefits: 100% additional spell penetration, 75% increased damage, 40% increased spell duration, and 15% increased spell critical strike chance.
Any enemy inflicted by any enhanced damage over time spells will be afflicted by the “Quintessence Drain” debuff, which siphons lost life to restore the caster’s health, mana, and stamina. This amount restored is divided equally between these three resource pools and cannot exceed current maximums.
Finally, while under the effects of Quintessence Empowerment, your body is flooded with arcane might, increasing all attribute scores by 10%.
Note – Each spell may only receive the Quintessence Empowerment a single time per activation. Refreshing an already enhanced spell effect will receive no additional benefits.
Movement from above caught my attention as Elder Corona stood up, beaming a bright smile across her face. “I was curious which path you would take,” she said gently. “Most avoid the unknown, relegating themselves down the pass of least resistance, unwilling to boldly tread forward and create their path. As you may now understand after experiencing this wondrous transformation, your choice determines how much power within the gemstone is released. Had you selected the first option, only a third of the energy would have been freed. Had you chosen the second option, two-thirds of the stored might have been released to double the increase in whatever ability or trait was randomly selected. Usually, only individuals confident with the power they already possess walk down this unpredictable path.”
Corona smiled again before opening her hand towards me, “Very few outsiders, let alone an elf, choose the most potent potential stored within a quintessence gemstone as you have done here. Those courageous souls always strive for more. They trudge over mountain peaks and cross the mightiest of rivers. These rare individuals embrace the future and its infinite potential. I see within you a future potential that burns as bright as the sun. We hope the quintessence gift you received serves you well as you create a path unlike any who come before you.”
The elder paused and appraised me like a kindly grandmother before glancing at her fellow elders, “Your next endeavor is known to us. You seek Hunter Duke. I invite you now to make your requests with this council. Know that while we, too, wish to seek justice against this man and the crimes he has committed, the council’s purpose is committed to the greater good of the High Thicket and every life form within. With that understanding, what is it you seek?”
“Thank you for this incredible gift and the friendship so generously offered by the people of the High Thicket. My party and I are happy we could make a difference and would have done so without the promise of rewards,” I replied after a moment’s hesitation after trying to order my thoughts. “First, I wish to inquire about any knowledge you and the council may have of Duke’s settlement and capabilities. As we understand it, his home is at least several days away, possibly to the east or northeast of this marvelous forest. Still, we are unsure of the forces at his command, as we suspect he has much to call upon when he decides to return for Stella and me.”
Elder Corona nodded along with my words. “Duke rules a fortified city called Ebonstand which resides to the east, about a five-day journey by horseback. I see your desire to continue after the villain, though the forces within the settlement would certainly overwhelm you and your party should you confront him there. Not only are his castle walls broad, but he also has a standing army of monstrosities and beasts such as goblins, kobolds, orcs, and other vile creatures we do not know the names of. Our best estimates, he commands an army of at least a thousand.”
We had some time then. While it was unfortunate to learn Duke had such a large army, let alone a defensible castle, it should be slow to move across such a vast distance between us and him. He was certainly going to return for Stella, of that I had no doubt, but with the elves of the forest aware of his threat we would a fool to return alone. The next time we saw him, he would have an army behind him. Considering the distance, we had at least five days, if not longer, unless he had some means of fast traveling such a large force.
Disheartened by the news, I pressed forward. “Does the council intend to go after Duke for his crimes against the city?” I asked.
“No, we do not intend to, at least, not with any significant force. Doing so would only invite future calamity because of his standing army,” Corona responded quickly. “When Duke returns, we will, of course, bring the full might of the forest against him, but we will not send an army to siege his stronghold. It would only cost many more lives and has no guarantee of succeeding, even with careful planning.”
The elder’s response was not unexpected. Tallos had informed us as much earlier, though I had been hopeful, nonetheless. My friend had indicated elves would sometimes send out small war bands to hunt down criminals, so I leaned into that hope. “I understand and would not desire to bring the desolation of war against your people. My friend Tallos shared it is not uncommon for elves to send forces to hunt down criminals fleeing outside of the forest. You offered us earlier to continue to provide sanctuary to us, and while it is appreciated, I want to share with you our intentions. We plan on returning to our home of Merton and preparing for Duke’s inevitable siege against us in his relentless quest for Stella. Would the elves of Quarris be willing to send a contingent of elven fighters and rangers to return with us and help us defend the city?”
“Before we consider your request, I must ask you to illuminate your motivations behind tracking down Hunter Duke. We also seek to hold the man accountable for his crimes, but why do you hunt this dangerous individual?” Corona replied with a question of her own. It was a reasonable request. They needed to know why we traveled all this way to find him. It was easy to understand that he would not so readily send a force with us without knowing why we wanted to achieve his demise.
“You may not know, but I was not always a Hunter,” I began, surprising at least several elves by the simple statement. “I was born as the son of a simple merchant family. My home, Winterfalls, was all I had known until the day I met Stella, and it was not a happy day.”
I turned to look at Stella as she floated beside me. She glanced back at me and gave a heartfelt smile as a single tear rolled down her cheek. She knew what was coming next. I reoriented on the council and continued. “Everything changed that day, for both of us. It also coincides with the first time I encountered Duke, the Nemesis Hunter. I was about to reach the age of adulthood when I ventured outside of my sheltered home, ignoring the advice of my parents in the process. My free-spirited nature may have saved my life, but it would soon come at a great price. A mile away from my home, I found myself near a small brook when the sounds of torture reached my ears.”
“Unknown to me, two Hunters clashed. Duke, as powerful as he is, had already overwhelmed a man named Stouter and, as I stealthily approached, beat him to within an inch of his life. Stouter was Stella’s dearest friend. Duke demanded to know where he had hidden Stella, who was secreted away nearby, but Stouter refused at the cost of his life. I did not yet comprehend the seriousness of what Duke would happen next after he left empty-handed, but after the cruel man left, I discovered a slumbering Stella hidden in the hollow of a nearby tree. She awoke at my touch and transformed me into a Hunter. During the transformation, a flood of repressed memories flooded into me, altered my body, and granted me the powers of a Hunter.”
Murmurs from the council resounded in the wide chamber at my words. All knew of Hunters, of course, but from the brief conversations I overheard, none had ever heard of someone transforming into one before. Instead, Hunters simply appeared before immediately seeking out power by any means necessary. The news I had been an ordinary person had come as quite a shock to nearly everyone present.
When the murmuring died down, I continued sharing the painful memory of what was to come. “During my transformation into a Hunter, which took several hours, Duke continued his quest to find what he overlooked. His quest for Stella brought him to the footsteps of my home, and devastation soon followed in his wake. After my transformation, I spotted plumes of smoke rising toward Winterfalls. Fearing the worst, with Stella now at my side, I rushed home and found devastation. The protective barrier shielding my home had been torn down, allowing goblinoid beasts to prey upon the defenseless citizens within. With my newfound powers, I eliminated the goblin infestation but not before many lives were lost. My parents were among those casualties. Either by his own hand or as a result of his actions, my life had forever been changed that day.”
I paused to collect myself. Old emotions bloomed within my stomach and chest, threatening to bring tears of loss to my eyes. Rubbing away a single tear that had formed, I pressed forward. “From that day, I have dedicated my life to bringing justice against Duke and any evil Hunter I encounter. Though I have no way of knowing if it can be accomplished, with Stella’s guidance and the aid of my friends, I intend to end all Hunters who prey upon the weak and defenseless. I do not do this because of a petty desire for vengeance or revenge but in the name of justice.”
The chief elder did not respond immediately. Instead, she turned to her fellow head elders to talk in low whispers. Even with my keen senses, I could not make out their words or get any clues as to their intentions. After several minutes passed, in which Corona spoke with other nearby elders, she returned to her desk.
“We are pleased to hear it is not vengeance you seek, though from what you have told us, it would perhaps have been an understandable reaction,” Elder Corona stated before stepping around to the front of her desk. She leaned back against it before continuing. “Had your quest only been for revenge, an emotional response which only brings further harm to all those involved, as well as serving no greater purpose, we would have denied your request for aid. From what we have seen of you and your friends, we have decided to assist you. When you depart for Merton, you will be accompanied by three hundred of our skilled archers and warriors.”
“Thank you, truly. Their assistance will mean a world of difference when Duke catches up with us there,” I replied. I had been holding my breath and hadn’t realized it. Taking several long breaths, I continued, “Unfortunately, the journey to Merton is across a vast distance, and it took us weeks to travel from there. We are hoping you have a way to hasten the journey back. It is my understanding teleportation between our two cities may be a possibility, if you will allow us.”
Elder Corona, her flowing robes swishing as she folded her hands over her chest, let out a troubling sigh. She did not look pleased, though it didn’t appear to be because of my request. It was more like she remembered something distressing. “Sadly, we cannot accommodate such a request for two reasons. First and foremost, our ability to teleport between settlements has been… disabled. And secondly, while you have our thanks for what you did against Duke, I am afraid you do not hold a high enough standing with the city to use our teleportation circle, even if it was available. Such an honor must be earned through years of effort, or by an act of incredible benefit to the city. You do not yet possess either, I am afraid. ”
“How was your teleportation circle disabled?” I inquired. A thought tickled the back of my mind as if there was a solution to resolve both concerns. I needed only probe for it further.
Corona looked to her companions, most nodding in response to her silent question. It looked as if she was confirming if everyone was alright with what she was about to share. None did. “A necessary aspect of our city’s teleportation circle was… stolen many months ago. Without it, transportation to other settlements is impossible until it is replaced or returned.”
“What was stolen?” I asked. “Perhaps we could look into it for you.”
“A heart of the forest,” the chief elder said with some reluctance. From the bowing of heads and sighs, it appeared most of the council felt shame over this admission. “While your offer is appreciated, not even the greatest among us have been able to receive what was lost, and it will take many more months before we can cultivate another.”
Corona paused a moment, clearly seeing something in my eyes before continuing once more. “I see in you a desire to help nonetheless, and considering your strength, perhaps you can do what we could not. The heart was stolen by a deceitful individual named Cicero the Blaspheme. He was not known to us by his epithet those months back but showed his true colors after slaying a dozen of our guardians and stealing the heart, a truly priceless object.”
The perpetrator's name came as quite a shock. Unless I missed my guess, Cicero… was a Hunter. As welcoming as the elves of the High Thicket were, he no doubt took advantage of their hospitality and, after murdering many elves, left with something of extreme importance to the city. Hopefully, we would be able to find him and kill three birds with one stone, defeating an evil Hunter, returning a clearly valuable keystone to the city, and, hopefully, allowing us enough reputation to use the city’s teleportation circle.
We needed to know more, but I already felt in my gut a quest was about to appear. Sure enough, as if on cue and right as Elder Corona continued speaking, a System message appeared in my vision.
It was time to take down another Hunter.