Hunters: The Prequel - Chapter 282

“Don’t call me that. It’s embarrassing.” Arthur said with a wry smile on his face. He looked out of sorts, and his expression caused Samoa to burst into laughter even in the current situation.

“But you have to admit that it sounds pretty domineering. Besides, who asked you to be so charming,” Samoa laughed heartily as he teased his friend. Arthur blushed when he heard Samoa’s comments. Durandal was the name he was given when he became a Thrasher. Usually Thrashers were given the title of Boar or Bull depending on their personality, but Arthur was given a different name. It wasn’t because of his talent that he was given a different name. Rather, it was because of the family he belonged to.

Arthur’s family was special. Village Head Fan was a genius, and even though he had passed his peak and was plateauing, he was still strong enough to handle multiple Tigers. That in itself was impressive. But Samoa heard that Village Head Fan’s father was also very talented. It was said that the man could handle multiple Mythic Class Magical Beasts when he was alive. It was Village Head Fan’s father, Arthur’s deceased Grandfather, who almost single-handedly built the village. There were still a few old people from the Founder’s generation who lived. And they made sure the village remembered how powerful the Founder was. So what was it that made them so special? How did a single family keep churning out geniuses every generation? The knowledgeable villagers called it, Devouring Might.

Arthur’s family had a strange ability. It was an ability Samoa had been curious of since the first day he witnessed Arthur become a Thrasher. They had the ability to consume more than 1 New Type Potion! It was amazing really. The New Type potion wasn’t something that could be taken continuously. Taking it the first time caused excruciating pain that could kill the lesser man or woman. The greater the pain, the better the rewards. But taking it a second time didn’t bring any discomfort whatsoever. It didn’t even cause an itch. And that was because it was ineffective when taken a second time. So typically, a person only had one chance to become a New Type and that was it. If you didn’t turn into an enhanced human after taking the New Type potion for the first time, then you wouldn’t become a New Type if you took it a second time. And because of how expensive New Type potions were, no faction would waste it on someone who had failed to awaken the first time.

According to the legends of the village, Village Head Fan’s father was a Mystic Path Warrior, and even amongst the Mystic Path Warriors he was a powerful warrior. He was so strong that he barely had any equals amongst other Mystic Path Warriors. At least according to the legends. Unfortunately, this powerful warrior lost his life when the Mystic Path Warriors fought against the Legendary Class Magical Beast – the Winged Serpent. But his son who lived held up his mantle.

Old Fan didn’t awaken the first time he took the New Type Potion. But he took it again in an act of carelessness and despair, only to experience the pain again. And this time, he awakened. His awakening pushed him directly into the ranks of Thrashers, and in less than 10 years, he was a powerful Lion –the peak of all Predators who were stronger than even Tigers! And in a few more years, he became even stronger and took up the title that was his birthright – Caliburn. Village Head Fan began studying his bloodline and discovered that his father hadn’t awakened on the first try either. Both men had failed to awaken the first time they took their respective potions – Saviour and the New Type potion. And both men only succeeded on their second attempt. Not only were their origins the same, even their talents were. Apparently Village Head Fan’s father was the son of a powerful family in a city far away. Arthur told him this on a fateful day when the young man was drunk.

Village Head Fan was called Caliburn. Titles weren’t just randomly chosen. Oracles, people who had developed the gift of foresight in the ancient times, and products of Saviour, gave a person their title. They could see the path one would take and give them their title based on what was seen. It was the title he had been given when he became a Thrasher, and that was the title the village’s oracle had foreseen. Samoa didn’t know how many times Arthur took the New Type Potion, but he knew that Arthur failed the second time too. However, his talent even exceeded his father, which meant that it was highly likely that the more they took the New Type Potion before awakening, the greater the talent they would possess. Arthur was given the title ‘Durandal’, because that was what the village oracle foresaw.

Once again, it wasn’t a regular title but a strange one, and just like Village Head Fan’s, no one in the village knew what that meant either. But it sounded domineering so people loved it. Added to the fact that Arthur was popular with the ladies, this name was circulated pretty quickly. However, even though Arthur had such a title, he hadn’t grown strong enough to wear it with pride. He was still called a Lion Cub because he hadn’t grown into himself yet. He would have to become a Lion first, and then break his shackles, growing even stronger and eventually becoming Durandal.

“All this time you have only trained with Sir Frowning Tiger. You have never fought a real life battle before. All you’ve been exposed to have been simulations. Are you sure you can handle this?” Samoa suddenly asked.

“I don’t know. But there’s only one way to find out, isn’t there?” Arthur shook his head and said. Since he was always trained within the village, he had never killed before. Samoa’s worry was well placed, and even Arthur wasn’t sure whether he would be able to handle the pressure of a battle, and the sick feeling one developed in their stomach when one killed for the first time.

“We could try to engage in a few battles before the real thing,” Samoa suggested.

“What do you mean,” Arthur asked, his eyes sparkling in curiosity. One could easily tell that he was intrigued.

“Well your father has people guarding the perimeter of the Enchanted Forest so it would be too much of a chore to go there. Even sneaking past the guards around the village’s borders wouldn’t be easy since none of us are Snakes, and hence are poor at concealment.”

Arthur rubbed his nose embarrassingly when Samoa stated that neither of them was good at hiding. As a Lion Cub, he was strong alright. But he was an explosive type. Lions had the power of Tigers and the dexterity of Panthers. But they weren’t sly like Foxes or sneaky Predators like Snakes. When it came to concealment, Lions and Tigers were the worst to turn to.

Samoa wasn’t any better. As a bull, he was used to fighting in the open and overwhelming his enemies with his strength and intelligence. Maybe he would become a Fox or Snake when he broke into the Predator rank, but as a Thrasher he wasn’t good at concealment.

“But we should succeed if we get someone to create a distraction for us” Samoa stated.

“You mean…” Arthur instantly knew who they would have to turn to. The only person whose actions wouldn’t lead to serious repercussions, and the son of Elder Bright – Joe.

“Yeah. If we have Joe do something careless, which is his trademark move, we should be able to sneak out through the path that opens up. And since he’s Elder Bright’s son and the troublemaker of the village, no one would be suspicious in any way. Added to the fact that Sir Frowning Tiger and the other Predators would be preparing to reinforce the village’s defense, they wouldn’t be paying any attention to us. But we must go before the defense preparations start. Otherwise security would be too tight to evade, even with Joe’s help.”

Samoa quickly laid down his plan, and with every word he spoke, the twinkle in Arthur’s eyes grew brighter. Joe’s reputation as the problem child of the village was finally going to work in their favor. And the Elders and Predators focusing on making plans for the village’s defenses was also an advantage. Added to the fact that the one who normally kept an eye on Arthur, Village Head Fan, was heading these preparations meant this was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

But as Samoa said, this would only last for a short while. Once defense planning was over and the preparations started, they would have no way to leave the village. So if they were going to do this, it had to be done now.

“That means we must go now,” Arthur nodded his head.

“Yes. Since Sir Rash Tiger has also been summoned, that means he isn’t with Joe any longer. We should find him” Samoa said and jumped off the balcony. Arthur smirked and jumped off as well. Both men landed with a thud, and no injuries. The only difference between them was how they landed. Whereas Samoa landed with roll to prevent any injuries, Arthur landed on both feet pretty easily. That alone was enough to draw a clear line between their abilities.

“Let’s go before your father realizes that we’re missing,” Samoa stated and walked out of the gate.

Arthur nodded and followed after him. He picked up a shirt from the drying line and put it on. Then he also walked out of the gate.