Hunters: The Prequel - Chapter 283

It had been some days since Samoa brought his dark report to the top brass of the village. In a span of 5 days, the village was enveloped in chaos and fear since the villagers found out about the Overflow that was coming. The first barrier to the evacuation was met when several of the villagers started riots and refused to comply with the evacuation protocol. People refused to believe that the top brass was so blind that it couldn’t see signs of an Overflow until now. And those who believed them thought they were pretty incompetent not to see it coming. They demanded that those in charge – those who were responsible for noticing signs of an Overflow – be punished and presented to the public. However, when they found out that those they wanted to see punished actually suffered more than they ever could – that they died – the riots calmed down.

Finding out that 3 of the Enchanted Forest Scouting Party, which was the best the village had to offer, died to get the information back to the leaders struck a chord in the heart of the villagers. These were men they knew. People who were hailed as the best scouts in the village, and they died just so the leaders would receive the information and prepare for the Overflow. Their sacrifice touched the heart of the villagers, and cleared out their anxious and fearful thoughts. How could they ruin the sacrifices of their fellow villagers by causing trouble instead of just following the instructions of the leaders? The knockout blow was finding out that Village Head Fan was leading the defensive unit on his own. Their chief was going to take such a risk and put his life on the line for them, and they were here looking for ways to blame him?

Their fear changed to shame, and most felt excitement. Village Head Fan was a legend. Everyone knew who he was, and all of the villagers had heard stories about his powerful might in those days when he was younger. But the younger generation had yet to see him in action. They were excited that they were finally going to see the legendary Caliburn in action. As for the older generation, they felt the difficulty of the situation. This was because they had seen how powerful Village Head Fan was in his prime. The man wasn’t supposed to engage in any more battles. At his age, fighting would serve to overdraft his life force and so will decrease his lifespan. And that was mainly why Village Head Fan didn’t really fight anymore. If the threat was so grave that Village Head Fan had to be on the frontlines, then what exactly was coming their way? What sort of terrifying existence was leading the Overflow?

Of course the older generation didn’t tell the younger ones about their fear. They allowed them to be excited about the prospect of seeing their Village Head in action. They couldn’t allow the young ones to be wrapped in a state of depression when their energy was required to keep morale up. And just like the older generation kept their fears from the younger ones, the leaders and fighters didn’t tell the people about the true details of the Overflow. They didn’t tell them about the increase in Mythical Class Magical Beasts population, and they definitely didn’t say anything about the Pseudo Legendary Class Magical Beast that was coming their way. They did so for the same reason the older generation didn’t say anything to the younger generation: they couldn’t have people wallowing in fear and depression. They needed spirits to be up so that the fighters wouldn’t be overwhelmed.

Because the village was preparing its defense, even Tigers could be seen interacting with average people as they moved luggage and people to the area within the Central Demarcation Line. If these fighters were surrounded by depressed and weary villagers, their psychological health would dive down. They would begin to feel that they couldn’t win and wouldn’t be able to weather the storm that was coming. They would fall even before the attack started. And no one wanted that. So what the elders did was to release the information about the deceased members of the Enchanted Forest Scouting Party to appeal to the emotions of the villagers, and then they sucker punched them by telling them that Village Head Fan was going to head the defense himself. It was a brilliant move that saw many people asking the fighters what Village Head Fan was like, and if he was truly as strong as the legends dictated, instead of actually worrying about the imminent threat of an Overflow. Their questions also refreshed the minds of the fighters, who smiled and laughed with the villagers as they shared stories about the legendary warrior given the name Caliburn. So instead of a gloomy atmosphere, the village was enveloped in hope and joy as the people and fighters worked around the clock to prepare for the incoming invasion. As for the riots which dominated on the first day when the new of the Overflow was released, they had long ceased.

“So everything is complete,” Village Head Fan furrowed his brows and asked?

He was in his home and was surrounded by elders. There were a few Predators as well. Frowning Tiger, the ever present Tiger was here, and so was the greatest Cheetah of the village – Blistering Cheetah. Although his name was whacky, he had a great personality and his strength was the real deal.

“Yes Head Fan. Everything is finished. There’s nothing left to do.”

Elder Light nodded his head and said. Just like Village Head Fan, every person in the room was on their feet. The map board Village Head Fan used to explain the evacuation process was on a table, and that was what they were all looking at.

“You should all get some rest and prepare yourselves,” Village Head Fan looked towards the group of Predators standing within the hall and said.

They bowed slightly and proceeded to leave the room.

“Frowning Tiger and Blistering Cheetah. You two should stay.” Village Head Fan ordered, and the two men nodded their heads and complied.

“Elders, you must remain within the area of the Central Demarcation Line. You should focus on keeping everyone there with you. Keep the peace, and make sure their spirits aren’t dampened.” Village Head Fan told the Elders. The leaders of the village nodded their heads in response and left quickly to see their families. It was in times like these when one was close to losing everything, that one realized how much one cherished one’s family.

Once everyone had left, and the door was closed firmly behind them, Village Head Fan sighed exhaustedly and sat down.

“How is the boy,” he asked vaguely?

“Young Arthur is fine, Head Fan. He struggled at first after experiencing his first kill. But he’s pretty calm now.”

It was Blistering Cheetah who replied. The words he spoke revealed that Village Head Fan knew that Arthur was sneaking off to experience real life battles against beasts, but didn’t stop him anyway.

“I see. Has he familiarized himself with the movement of beasts?” Village Head Fan asked again.

“He has. He did that pretty quickly. It’s almost as if he has been fighting against them all his life.” Blistering Tiger was full of praise for Arthur. He was the Predator Village Head Fan went to for help when he realized his son had run away from the village. Because of the Overflow, every Predator available had been given over to the Village Head to command. Since he was the one with real life battle experiences, and the elders were pretty much useless in battles, it was the best option to leave them in his command for this Magical Beast invasion.

When Arthur escaped with Samoa, Village Head Fan had an inkling about what they were going to do. He was scared that they would get careless and attempt the Enchanted Forest. But when he sat down to think about it, he realized that wasn’t the case. Although Arthur was usually indoors, he was intelligent. It was out of his character to go into an Enchanted Forest when there was a storm brewing. Plus Samoa was with him. There was no way he would allow Arthur to do something so careless. Since Blistering Cheetah was the fastest in the village, Village Head Fan asked him to visit the forests around the village and see if he could track them down. There were three forests that housed Non-Magical Beasts. Samoa and Arthur had only just left at the time and with Blistering Cheetah’s speed, he should have been able to reach them before they got to any one of the forests. His orders were to bring them back immediately.

But Frowning Tiger argued that it was the wrong decision.

“You have sheltered him his entire life. How can he grow to become Durandal if you’re holding him back? If your father did the same, would you become what you are now? We are going to war, and we have no idea what is going to happen. What if you and I don’t make it? Who would take care of the kid then? He needs to learn. He has done enough sitting around. It’s time for him to jump around.”

An agitated Frowning Tiger convinced Village Head Fan that Arthur needed to grow. So he changed Blistering Cheetah’s orders: “When you find them, protect them from the shadows.”

It was such a simple decision, that even Village Head Fan wondered why he had never done that in the first place. Well, maybe it was because the Tigers were too busy to be babysitting a boy. Even Frowning Tiger, the boy’s master, only had one hour to spare whenever he was in the village. It was within this hour that he mentored Arthur. Then he saddled the boy with assignments and left for his duties. But now that they were all here, and although they were busy with evacuations, one or two Predators could be spared for this.

“I really hoped that he wouldn’t have to experience this,” Village Head Fan sighed as he rubbed his temples. Just like any good father, he didn’t want his son to be pushed into a life of war and strife.

“With all due respect, Head Fan, there is something I’d like to say,” Blistering Cheetah stated. Unlike Frowning Tiger who was close to Village Head Fan and could say whatever he wanted when the elders weren’t around, Blistering Cheetah was still a bit tense around the Village Head. And that showed in his speech and mannerisms.

“Go ahead,” Village Head Fan waved his hand and said.

“Yes, Head Fan. I feel that you are underestimating the boy” Blistering Cheetah started.

“What do you mean,” Village Head Fan furrowed his brows and asked?

“I have only followed him for two days now. But I’m certain that he’s a Predator.”

Village Head Fan and Frowning Tiger had no reaction to Blistering Tiger’s words, confirming the latter’s suspicions that they already knew. He didn’t know why they didn’t tell the elders. Initially he thought maybe they didn’t want Arthur to have to go on missions and be put in danger. But on second thought, he realized that it didn’t matter if the elders knew or they didn’t. They boy wouldn’t go on any missions anyway. And if they wanted to keep it secret, Village Head Fan wouldn’t have sent him. So that could only mean the boy broke through only recently.

“He’s strong, intelligent and firm. And to be honest, Head Fan, whenever I hear his title I feel a sense of majesty even greater than yours from him. So although I have no evidence to back it up, I know that Durandal is meant to be stronger than Caliburn.”

Blistering Cheetah’s words elicited a slight reaction from Frowning Tiger and Village Head Fan, mainly because of his final sentence. Although no one knew what Caliburn or Durandal was, when the oracle proclaimed their titles, there was a sense of majesty that followed. Predators had a keener sense than most, and everyone could feel that Durandal was meant to be greater than Caliburn.

“I guess you’re…”

*Clang*

*Clang*

*Clang*

*Clang*

Village Head Fan’s words were cut short by the loud ringing of some bells. The expressions of the three men changed at once. Village Head Fan looked outside the window with a somber expression and said,

“They are here”