Chapter 20: Hunting A Beast Part 1
Early in the morning, the sun was not fully risen. The Arrows were already occupied inspecting their own weapons, looking for something that might affect their performance in the incoming fight. However, in the midst of this noisy activity. Alfred was still soundly asleep as if what was happening around him was not his concern.
But this peaceful sleep did not last long, because Gunnar forcefully woke him up by kicking his foot. The sleeping Alfred finally became conscious and slowly opened his eyes. Gunnar noticed his moving eyelid, he smirked and yelled at him.
“HEY WAKE UP! how long are you going to lay there like a log? Do not lazy around and do something useful!”
Alfred slowly got up, confused at what was happening. Alfred looked around to help him understand the situation, he saw all Arrows were already awake busily doing their own things, then he finally remembered that today was a very important day.
Alfred hastily stood up. However, he lost his balance and fell. Alfred forgot that he always takes off his prosthetic whenever he’s sleeping. The annoyed Gunnar finally smiled when he saw Alfred fall on his own, he felt that he has seen enough. Therefore, he left Alfred with a satisfied face.
Even though Alfred fell like a fool, no Arrows glanced at him even for a second. Every single one of them had a serious face, they are preparing for this dangerous hunt. This can be the last hunt they would ever do if they didn’t take this resolutely. Therefore, they didn’t have time to fool around like Gunnar, who had incredible fighting skills.
Gunnar was the second-best in combat in all Arrows, even though he was young and only at the 2nd Stage Energy Manipulation. His combat ability with the addition of his bravery made him the third command in the Arrows at such a young age, the only person he couldn’t defeat was Head Arrow Vir. However, because of his rough personality and lone wolf fighting style, a lot of Arrows didn’t want to fight beside him in battle.
Vir stood up signaling to the Arrows that it was time to begin the hunt, but before that, Vir said one last thing to encourage them.
“FOR OUR TRIBESMEN! FOR THE TRIBE!”
All Arrows with the addition of Alfred repeat what Vir said.
“FOR OUR TRIBESMEN! FOR THE TRIBE!”
Vir together with 13 Arrows moved in the direction of where the beast was. there were only two people who were left near the preparation area, it was Alfred and another young man. The young man had a naive look with a hint of determination, he had black short hair, an innocent face, a short body structure, and a tribal tattoo on his body.
This young man’s name was Berus. He was chosen to protect Alfred, he was also the weakest and the youngest member of the Arrows. Berus was chosen to participate in this hunt because the other 5 Arrows that Vir left behind to protect the tribe were too old or had an injury that might slow them down.
Vir chose the younger and more agile member of the Arrows. Because this hunt was not about fighting head-on, it was about speed and precision. Berus was a little disappointed when Vir commanded him to stay here to protect Alfred at all costs.
Alfred saw Beru’s disappointed look, he felt a little guilty toward him.
“I am sorry that you need to stay here just to protect me.”
“No, you do not have to feel sorry for me, in truth I know that I will not be able to help much with this hunt. So, I understand why Head Arrow Vir chose me to protect you. I know that I am the weakest at the same time the youngest member of the Arrows.
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But I think protecting you is not that bad, in this way I can contribute to this hunt even if just a little, also I know how important you are in our tribe. I saw your performance on the night of the celebration, what you did there was the most amazing thing I have ever seen.”
Alfred’s face blushed when he heard the compliment.
“Thank you, I do not think that Vir chose you to protect me because you are weak. You already said that I am important to the tribe, why would Vir choose someone weak to protect an important person? He chose you not because you are weak, he chose you for the reason that he believes that you can do it.
“You think so?”
“Yes I do, I also believe that you can protect me.”
“Thank you, I am Berus, let us be friends.”
“I am Alfred, yes let us do that”
Alfred and Berus shake hands and smiled at each other.
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The Arrows were running for quite a while until they saw a lake, Vir raise his right-hand signaling them to stop. The Arrow stopped and hid in the bushes to observe the lake. Vir looked to Armani beside him and asked.
“Is this the placed?”
“Yes, Head Arrow, this is where the beast often appears to drink,” Armani replied.
“Then we wait here, all Arrows scattered!”
The Arrows spread in different locations to surround the lake. While they are waiting, some monsters passed by to drink water from the lake, even though they needed food, none of the Arrows moved to hunt the monster, because they knew that they had more important missions than to hunt for food right now.
After a while, one of the Arrow sent a signal, the beast finally showed up. The beast was a giant lizard as big as a truck with green scales, sharp teeth, fork tongue, and slit yellow eyes. This beast was called the Land Dragon.
The Land Dragon slowly walked to the lake and drink water. Vir equipped his bow and aimed at the Land Dragon, then shot it. The Arrows followed Vir’s action and also aimed at the Land Dragon. Those who reached 3rd Stage Energy Coating, coat their arrows with Life Energy before shooting them, to make the arrows more powerful and penetrative. While those who are only at 2nd Stage Energy Manipulation just shot normal arrows hoping to damage the Land Dragon.
Even though a lot of arrows failed to damage the Land Dragon because of its very tough scale, there were still some arrows able to penetrate the Land Dragon through the gap of its scale. The Land Dragon instantly responded to the danger by rushing in the direction of where the arrows came.
Vir saw the Land Dragon was heading to the location of one of the Arrows, he dropped his bow and equipped his stone spear, he charged together with Gunnar and 4 more Arrows to intercept the Land Dragon.
The Land Dragon noticed the 6 people charging at it. The Land Dragon saw this as a provocation, so it stopped, changed its target to those 6 people, and rushed at them. Vir stopped the 5 Arrows charging with him and yelled.
“I will stop the Land Dragon, after that surround it! Remember do not fight it head-on our objective is to tire the beast as much as possible!”
“Yes, Head Arrow!”
Vir enveloped both of his hands and feet with Life Energy. The rushing Land Dragon tried to devour Vir with a single bite. However, Vir stopped the bite with both of his hands by grabbing the Land Dragon in his mouth.
Vir’s feet left a mark on the ground as he slid back due to the Land Dragon’s strong force. While Vir was stopping the Land Dragon from moving, the 5 Arrows saw this as an opportunity and simultaneously attacked the Land Dragon from a different direction.
Gunnar and the other 4 Arrows were experienced enough to target the gap between the scales of the Land Dragon. Even though the wound they inflict was very shallow, their still satisfied because they knew how hard it was to inflict damage to a beast, especially a scaled one.
The Land Dragon felt annoyed with those people that attacked it. So, it ignored Vir and changed its target to the other Arrows. It tried to attack one of the Arrows using its sharp teeth and claws, but every time it rushed to the target, the person would back off and let the other Arrows attack it.
This repeated action by the Arrows enraged the Land Dragon. Vir immediately commanded the 5 Arrows to retreat when he saw the enrage Land Dragon. All of them instantly retreat while the other Arrows on the trees shot the Land Dragon for support.
However, the Land Dragon started to use Life Energy because of this its speed suddenly increased. It caught up to one of the escaping Arrows and tried to bite him. The Arrow saw the bite and narrowly dodge it, but he didn’t see the next attack of the Land Dragon, he got struck by its tail on the back.
The Arrow flew away and then hit the giant tree. Vir stopped and shouted.
“Carry the injured I will distract the Land Dragon!”
One of the Arrows carried the injured man and then continued his retreat.