Chapter 44

  Bountiful Hunting

  An arrow whizzed past Michael’s face, followed by the tomahawk. He dodged to the side, not wanting to be hit by that thing again. The arrow dug itself into a boulder and the tomahawk turned to follow the next arrow that was fired. Michael grimaced and tried to close in on the archer before he could fire another shot.

  “Oh no you don’t.” The woman said, jumping to dodge Wolf’s thunder strike and landing in front of Michael. She flicked her heavy whip forth with both hands, causing a wall of flames to erupt along its path. Michael had to dodge back. That spellfire was not controllable by his elemancy.

  “Use Dark Blade, Michael.” Sebastian said, while focused on avoiding an arrow and tomahawk. Michael nodded and touched his sword to the ground, unleashing a shockwave of energy. The whip wielding woman was launched high into the air, yelping in shock.

  The archer swore and moved underneath her, looking to catch her or something, and his flying axes clattered to the ground. “Let’s get out of here!” Yan said, leading the party away from the bounty hunters.

  As they started to flee, Hyato wondered aloud, “Why did they think the two of them could take on all five of us?”

  “It shows they have confidence.” Sebastian said, “Keep a close eye out, they might still have some tricks.” The party ran down the cobbled road that curved around a rocky hill. They’d been on guard for Zori and didn’t expect to see the bounty hunters so soon, even though Hyato warned them about it the day before.

  The two bounty hunters appeared again just as they rounded the corner, on the road ahead. The enemy knew their way around here better than the party it seemed, “Plan D.” The woman said, the archer nodded.

  Sebastian, Michael, Yan, Hyato, and Wolf all took battle stances as their foe stepped a few feet closer. “Be on guard.” Sebastian warned.

  The woman moved! Her arms lifted up over her shoulders and behind her head and she arched her back, twisting her hips and winking as her clothes vanished. She let out a soft cry and accentuated herself to the best of her ability. Smooth skin, toned muscle, and-

  “Sebastian, snap out of it!” Hyato said, unbothered by the sexy siren act. Sebastian’s mouth had dropped open, and he stared without blinking.

  “We have a bigger problem.” Wolf said, causing Hyato to turn and see that Michael was in a similar state, ogling the bounty hunter motionless.

  Hyato shook his head and drew his sword, “Wolf, Yan, help me take these two out.”

  “Yan’s out too.” Wolf said. The ninja girl seemed intent on appreciating the whip woman’s well endowed form as well. She too was unresponsive. Hyato shook his head and looked forth, assessing the enemy.

  Michael and Sebastian had decided that they did not want to do harm to people if they could avoid it. Bounty Hunters were just trying to make ends meet. They had done nothing wrong. Hyato devised a way to incapacitate the enemy and took a step forth, mirrored by Wolf.

  “Oh babe~,” The woman said. The other bounty hunter nodded and stepped forth. He flexed and posed, his clothes vanishing as well to show off oiled muscles and tan skin. The double whammy of the sexy siren show had a force of its own.

  “That’s unexpected.” Wolf said, as Hyato went unresponsive in appreciation. Wolf looked at his comrades and frowned. Then he turned to the bounty hunters. “You two need to stop messing with my friends.”

  “You...” The woman said, her sultry pose drooping in shock, “Aren’t affected?”

  “I’m Ace.” Wolf said, conjuring weapons of fire and lightning, “And you two are finished.” He moved forth and the bounty hunters gulped.

  The foothills near the Drakmor Mountains went on for longer than the party expected. Grassy hills with scattered rocks and copses of trees all about. They had already crossed a river the day prior, and the road they followed drew them closer to the Ranear Plains with haste.

  Twice more bounty hunters appeared to harass and attempt to capture Michael. A group of three rogues that used venomous cables to incapacitate managed to hit Michael and Yan. After Sebastian dealt with them and recovered an antidote he healed Yan and learned that a drunken Michael did not react to an antidote.

  The third bounty hunter was a tall buff scarred man with a sword for a hand. He put up a good fight against the party and drew them into a stalemate, until Zori attacked. The party and the hunter stopped to deal with the Zori first, and once the monsters were dealt with Yan used a smoke bomb to hide the parties escape.

  Fighting people instead of Zori made the party reconsider things. They’d decided to move along the road this time. Going off road just to avoid travelers only drew more suspicion, and slowed their journey down too much for Michael’s sense of urgency. They spent the previous day talking and chatting while admiring the scenery, however three embarrassed party members found themselves acting like Hyato today. Michael, Yan, and Sebastian were not speaking about their encounter with the first bounty hunters earlier, and Wolf wondered how to break the ice.

  The party continued to travel in near silence, speaking only when fighting Zori or choosing roads. After a few encounters with some Ophzori, morphic entities that could continue to battle even when split apart, Wolf threw up his hands in frustration. “You guys are being too embarrassed about it!”

  Sebastian frowned, while Yan and Michael both blushed. Hyato remained stoic, but shrugged, “What does it matter?”

  “Because.” Wolf said, “I wish you guys would talk.”

  Michael chuckled, “You know, I think you’re right.” He said. “What’s the point in being embarrassed?”

  “Because we were outwitted by a pair of boobs.” Yan said.

  “A nice pair.” Sebastian added, “But, I think you guys are right. Besides, we didn’t lose, all thanks to Wolf.”

  “Yeah, thanks Wolf.” Yan said, patting the big Phanokai on the back. Wolf smiled. “Anyways, Hyato...” Yan said, “You got a bit distracted there too.”

  “I like what I like.” Hyato said, “What’s it to you?”

  “You have good taste.” Yan said.

  The party had already reached a camping site for the evening, “All that battle means is that we aren’t prepared enough.” Sebastian said, “As we experienced, there are many ways to go about winning a fight. Using sexuality isn’t too far fetched, I just wasn’t expecting it. For success, we need to open our minds and ready ourselves for anything.”

  “How are we supposed to train to protect against that?” Michael asked.

  “Normally I would say exposure...” Sebastian said, the members of the party avoided each other's gaze, “But seeing as I have tons of experience and that didn’t help me, that must not be the right attitude.” A round of nods accepted that.

  “What you guys need,” Wolf said, “Is to take combat more seriously. It’s a matter of life and death. When doing battle, you must be focused on naught but battle.”

  Yan put together a cooking site, “So, we need to train our focus?”

  “We can’t just be focused, true vigilance requires perception and forethought as well.” Sebastian said, “The enemy today used their sexual attraction as a weapon against us, but there are many others to consider. Traps, poisons, doppelgangers, emotions, and even basic needs, to name a few.”

  “It’s hard to prepare for what you don’t know about.” Wolf said, “Hyato, can’t you warn us about what we will face?”

  “You guys already know about that?” Hyato asked, looking shocked.

  “Yeah, we... learned yesterday. Remember?” Wolf said.

  “No, because I haven’t lived your yesterday yet.” Hyato said.

  Sebastian sat by the now roaring fire and helped dampen it, starting a stew. “We cannot rely on Hyato’s travels in time, because he may not have lived tomorrow yet either.”

  “Oh, right.” Wolf said. “Should we try to find a way to control it?”

  “Got any ideas?” Hyato asked.

  “Well... no.” Wolf said.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Michael stretched, “If we’re worried about poison, what about having me test food? Aren’t I immune to poisons?”

  “We don’t know that for sure.” Sebastian said, “For all we know, you could be immune to just that plant and what those snake dudes used.”

  “I thought Kyria said I was like, Chaos Altared or something.” Michael said.

  “That was just a theory. Do you remember all that?” Sebastian said. “I thought you were drunk.”

  “It came back to me.” Michael said. “Well, it’s just a thought.”

  “We could test it.” Yan said. “I have some poisons.”

  “You want to poison Michael!?” Hyato said.

  “Just little ones.” Yan said, “I know what they are supposed to do, and if Michael is immune to all poison then we need to know that.”

  “You guys party hard.” Wolf said. Hyato helped Sebastian make dinner, so Yan shrugged and went over to set up the tent.

  Michael completed his rounds of stretching, “Hey Wolf, can we do our sparring? I plan to defeat you today.”

  Wolf chuckled and summoned his weapons. “Alright, but you won’t win.” Michael grinned and they stepped off to an open area for their daily sparring practice.

  “Rex Rogue, danger and deception. The enemy is just ahead, fighting with another group of Zori. We should rush in.” Rex said, peering at his quarry from behind a tall bush.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Fara said, “Wait until they are out of combat at least. We don’t need to be fighting those Zori while they flee.”

  “Why are they fighting those things anyways? What a waste of time, if they avoided the Zori groups we wouldn’t have caught up so fast.” Evan said. The three MAW students turned Bounty Hunters were all hiding from their targets. After a hard trip on the way out of the Drakmor Mountains, they all had bags under their eyes from weariness. Rex narrowed his eyes, making the small crystal growths on the edges crack and fall off.

  “Don’t worry what the enemy is thinking, we just need to grab them.” Rex said.

  “Figuring out what the enemy is thinking is a core lesson in the tactical courses.” Fara said, “We should try to determine why they are fighting the Zori instead of evading them.”

  “Vendetta?” Evan suggested.

  “Maybe they just like fighting.” Rex put forth, “All the more reason to take them out fast.”

  “We just need the bounty target. Which one was it?” Evan asked, “The Phanokai, right?”

  “No, it’s the white haired feral boy.” Rex said. “He confirmed it. And he is tougher than he looks. Look, he isn’t breaking a sweat.”

  “He looks mostly Valon.” Fara said.

  Evan, Fara, and Rex all watched as Michael and his compatriots fought Zori. Evan frowned, “Those two bounty hunters we passed earlier, do you think they were after these guys?”

  “Obviously.” Rex said, “Who else could it have been?”

  “Well,” Evan said, “I was just wondering, because those two we found were just tied up and a little beat up. I thought the bounty was for someone who threatened to destroy a city and did destroy a village.”

  “Good point. Are these even the right guys?” Fara wondered.

  “Have you seen any other spiky haired, empty eyed adventurers traveling in a group?” Rex asked. The others didn’t respond. “Look, they’re moving on. Let’s get them when they get to the next ridge!”

  Rex hopped to his feet to chase after the targets, while Fara and Evan dragged themselves up to join him. Only Rex seemed able to combat fatigue with determination. The enemy was dead ahead, all they needed to do was ambush them. Evan got into position and lined up a shot.

  As Evan loosed his arrow, something appeared in the way. Dark metal that reflected a deep purple moved in the way of the shot. Evan’s arrow was deflected like an insect, falling to the ground as the armored form appeared. “No.” Velicio stated, drawing forth a massive club from nowhere.

  “You again!?” Rex exclaimed, rushing in for a direct attack. Velicio parried the attack and kicked Rex in the center of his muddied ebony armor. Rex tumbled back and landed on his feet, “Why are you here? Are you protecting them?”

  Velicio ignored the question, “Your battle with me is not finished. Face me!”

  “We don’t have time for this.” Rex charged, dashing and swerving at a sharp angle with energy enhanced motions. Despite his agility in his armor, Velicio moved faster. Rex crashed to a halt before slamming into the more agile plate armored warrior.

  “What’s with all these people being able to move like that in full plate?” Evan asked.

  “It must be some kind of technique or spell that makes it seem lighter.” Fara said, “Or they're just prodgies.”

  “Are you saying Rex is a prodigy?” Evan asked, shaking his head.

  Rex clashed with Velicio, unable to evade. Their weapons smashed together and Rex strained a huge surge of pure force behind his attack. Velicio made a simple twisting motion and deflected Rex to the ground, causing him to clatter and fall over himself. “Your power is unrefined.” Velicio said.

  “Bullshit!” Rex roared, leaping to his feet, “I am a student of MAW, my skills are first class!” He swung again, using a much more skillful stroke up towards the taller Velicio. It took all of Velicio’s effort to block this one, using both hands and needing to lean in.

  “Much better. You’ve regained focus.” Velicio said. Then with a swift motion, Velicio’s club slid along Rex’s greatsword and repositioned it, pinning Rex’s left arm to his side. Velicio slammed the end of the club into Rex with a powerful thrust and knocked him over.

  Rex fell back and struck his head against the ground with a resounding thud. Fara rushed in, while Evan maneuvered between Rex and Velicio. The taller warrior in dark purple plate made no effort to continue the assault. “Rex, are you okay?!” Fara asked, removing his helmet and checking his head.

  “Is it time to eat?” Rex asked, eyes half closed.

  “He has a concussion.” Fara said, dragging open her bag. “Evan, protect us.”

  “Right.” Evan said, aiming an arrow at the slit in Velicio’s helmet.

  Velicio looked away, unphased by Evan’s threat. “We’ll finish this another time.”

  “You...” Rex said, “Are protecting them. Why?”

  “Don’t speak Rex.” Fara said, applying a salve to her hands. “Let me heal you.”

  Velicio looked back at Rex for a moment, but did not answer. Then Velicio departed, leaving the wayward bounty hunters alone. Evan knelt at Fara’s side as she channeled her healing through her hands. “We should have never joined this hunt.” Fara said. Rex was unconscious.

  “Let’s make camp, get some rest.” Evan said. “We can figure it out later.”

  “Yeah...” Fara said, nodding.

  Hyato stood out on a hill overlooking the distant grassy flatlands that made up the Ranear Plains. Vast expanses of greens, turquoises, teals, and other verdant colors seemed to stretch out to eternity. The horizon itself was lost in that sea of green. A peaceful sight to begin a morning.

  “Hey, you wanted to see me?” Michael asked, approaching while holding a note. Hyato turned to see Michael arrive and gave him a smile. Yan had come too.

  “Yes.” Hyato said, “I wanted to teach you a few techniques.”

  “Oh, okay.” Michael said. “Will we have enough time before we leave?”

  “Perhaps. You do learn at a slow rate.” Hyato said, “But you can practice on the road.”

  “I don’t learn that slow, do I?” Michael said.

  “Sometimes.” Yan said, “But you also train harder.”

  Michael pursed his lips, “If you say so.” Yan and Hyato laughed, and Michael joined them. Then he sighed, “Ahh. So, what are you going to teach me?”

  “I want you to learn two techniques.” Hyato said, “They are called Arm Return and Fallen Sword.”

  “Okay, so what do they do?”

  Hyato turned and looked out over the hill, drawing his sword. “Observe.” Hyato lifted his sword back over his head and swung, throwing his sword out over the open air.

  “Woah!” Michael said, “What the, why?”

  Hyato closed his fingers around the open air, and his sword appeared in it. “If you form a strong bond with your weapon, you can summon it. Since your sword has a name and you know it now, I feel you can form that bond.”

  “Does it work with any weapon?” Yan asked.

  “I think so.” Hyato said, “But it does require being intimately familiar with the weapon. It’s not a simple technique, it’s actually rather advanced.” Hyato faced them again, “So first I will teach you the Fallen Sword. Do you know how to warp?”

  “Uhh...” Michael said. “Let’s pretend that I don’t.”

  “I can explain!” Yan said, “Warping is a short range energy move that anyone can do. You fill your body with a small amount of energy, aim the energy in a direction, and release it with a snap!” Yan vanished and reappeared three feet to her left, “See?”

  “It’s the same as channeling energy in your body to use a technique, so you should be able to do it.” Hyato said.

  Michael focused the energy in his body, something he was very used to at this point, and attempted to fill his form with it. “Just use a little bit.” Yan said. Michael nodded and made sure to spread an even amount, a small amount, throughout his form. Then he aimed that energy as if to release it in a surge.

  The energy snapped and Michael found himself standing a few feet further than were he was before. “Was that it?” He asked.

  Yan clapped, “Yeah, first try too!”

  "That wasn't too hard." Michael said, flexing his arms.

  "Good work." Hyato said, "Now stop flexing and pay attention." Hyato held his sword aloft, then dropped it. His sword fell at a slowed rate, and Hyato jumped back several yards. "Fallen Sword." Hyato said, vanishing and appearing where his sword was, holding it, "Allows you to warp to your sword after dropping it."

  "Woah!" Yan said, "That's amazing?"

  "Is it?" Michael said, "Seems like there are better techniques."

  "You could do all kinds of things with this." Yan said. "So it makes your sword fall slower and you warp back to it then?"

  "Actually, the slower fall is an extra effect." Hyato said. "If you use wind mana along with the energy it makes the sword fall slowly. But if the sword touches the ground before you release, the energy is dispersed and you can't warp anymore."

  "Oh, okay. That does limit it." Yan said

  "However, if you use earth mana then the sword can reach the ground and stay put for a while." Hyato added.

  "Alright. I'm ready to learn it." Michael said.

  "Wait," Yan said, "Isn't it hard to use mana and energy at the same time?"

  "Yes." Hyato said. "And it's easier to disrupt a spell or technique when someone does. But it can be useful."

  "So what happens if you use Fire or Water mana with the tech?" Michael asked.

  Hyato shrugged, "I dunno. I was only taught these two."

  "You never experimented?" Yan asked.

  "Not really. Maybe I should." Hyato said, "Ready to learn?"

  "Alright." Michael said. "Teach me."

  Hyato began to instruct Michael on the new techniques. Both built off the properties of warping, so Michael spent his morning warping around and dropping the Oronbyr. By the time the party set out, he had yet to perform the Fallen Sword or Arm Return.

  "Alright lady and gents." Sebastian announced as the party moved out, "We'll be reaching the Ranear Plains proper today. Is everyone ready?"

  "Ready!" Michael, Yan, and Wolf said. Hyato nodded, and the wayfaring party moved out.