Hunters: The Prequel - Chapter 284

Rushing to the top floor of his building, Village Head Fan was able to see what was happening. The shaking ground was all the proof he needed that there was a Magical Beast Horde Coming this way, but higher grounds served to show him what was coming first. Right behind him were Frowning Tiger and Blistering Cheetah.

Looking at the vast number of Middle and Low Class Magical Beasts that were approaching the village, Village Head Fan furrowed his brows in worry. But he didn’t dillydally in this kind of situation. He knew that time was of the essence, and every second wasted was equivalent to giving up the life of a villager.

“Blistering Cheetah,” he called.

“I am here to obey, Head Fan,” Blistering Cheetah answered quickly, refusing to take his eyes off the large entourage of beasts rushing out of the Enchanted Forest towards their village. There was no fear on his face, but he was anxious.

“Gather the Predators under your command. There are some villagers outside the Central Demarcation Line. Your first mission is to bring them to safety.”

Village Head Fan ordered decisively. From his balcony, Village Head Fan could see several villagers rushing towards the Central Demarcation Line. But they were only normal villagers and had no way to outrun the Magical Beasts who were miles beyond them in terms of physical attributes. They needed to be led and guided into the Central Demarcation Line.

“Yes, Village Head Fan,” Blistering Cheetah seemed relieved by his orders. He instantly disappeared from the balcony and reappeared downstairs. It seemed that he was worried that Village Head Fan would ignore those outside the Central Demarcation Line and focus on disposing off the Magical Beasts as his first priority.

“No matter how many times I see it, the movement speed of Cheetahs always has me sighing in praise,” Frowning Tiger admired the speed at which Blistering Cheetah descended the balcony. The man was so fast that it looked like he teleported. And Frowning Tiger’s admiration for the Cheetah grew when he disappeared again. His eyes could barely keep up with Blistering Cheetah’s figure as the man raced down the streets of the village.

“It is fascinating indeed,” Village Head Fan nodded his head in agreement. However, unlike Frowning Tiger, he could clearly see how fast Blistering Cheetah was traveling, and which direction he was taking.

“Frowning Tiger,” Village Head Fan called out.

“Yes, Head Fan,” came the immediate response.

“Gather the fighters of the first zone. We must meet the incoming Magical Beast Horde.” Village Head Fan ordered.

“As you wish, Head Fan,” Frowning Tiger responded quickly and jumped off the balcony. He moved quickly towards the gathering area for the fighters. Although his speed wasn’t as outrageous as Blistering Cheetah’s, it was nothing to scoff at. He clearly understood the gravity of the situation and was willing to spare none of his energy to get to the men. As one of the Tigers closest to Village Head Fan, he was appointed to be part of the first zone of defense. Frowning Tiger, Rash Tiger and Village Head Fan were the Predators for that zone. Since the first zone was at the forefront of the other zones and meant to be the first zone to intercept the enemy, they had three Predators – the Village Head included – instead of two.

“I should get ready as well,” Village Head Fan watched Frowning Tiger’s figure disappear round the corner and said to himself. He quickly walked into his room and closed the door. Casting his eyes to the far corner of the room, Village Head Fan let out a sigh filled with mixed emotions.

“Who knew that I would one day have to rely on you again,” he smirked bitterly and reached out for the wall at that corner. This section of the wall was made of wood, seemingly meant to hide something. Village Head Fan lightly tapped the wooden partition, and it gave off a dull sound upon being struck. There was space behind that wall!

The middle aged man held the wooden partition and pushed with a small portion of his vast reserve of strength.

*Broom*

The large wooden partition was pushed to the side under the brute strength of Village Head Fan to reveal a small storage area. The storage area was so small that it could only house a few weapons at most, and it did. There were three swords hanging on the wall right behind the partition.

One of these swords was a large sword. It was fiery red in appearance and gave off an intimidating aura. Its aura was so suppressive that even Village Head Fan felt his breathing grow heavy under its nonexistent gaze.

“The Demon Sword Durandal: that which bestowed its name to my son. The demon sword that reaps countless of lives. Its gaze is as oppressive as always. And it rejects me once again.” Village Head Fan had a bitter expression on his face as he struggled to keep his eyes on the sword.

These swords were the secret of his family. These were the swords they were named after. Although Village Head Fan always pretended not to know anything about the titles he and his son received, he did. His father told him long before he died what these titles were. His father had stolen these priced swords from his family when he escaped their house in the city and brought them here with him. Unfortunately for his father, the man wasn’t able to carry along the sword he was named after. If he had that blade, he wouldn’t have died in the battle against the Winged Serpent.

Village Head Fan cast his gaze to the sword that stood gallantly in the middle. Although the current situation meant that he didn’t have time to waste, he couldn’t help but be drawn in by the blade in the middle. Unlike Durandal, the sword in the middle was completely blue, but possessed a white hilt. It gave off a holy aura, and seemed so sacred that one was even afraid of touching it, for the fear that one would stain its beautiful purity. It didn’t tear into Village Head Fan with its gaze, but it repelled him calmly when he subconsciously reached out to touch it. It repulsive force woke Village Head Fan up, and the middle aged man’s lips curled into a wry smile as he said,

“The Holy Sword Excalibur. The sword that smites all that is impure. So alluring is your presence that even I cannot resist you. Yet you reject me. I wonder if there would ever be one worthy enough to lift you off your pedestal.”

The most sacred sword of their House, and the reason why his father had to escape all the way to this place to evade the detection of his family – Excalibur, the Holy Sword. It was a sword that had never been wielded in the history of their family, and his father told him that the one who would be chosen by Excalibur in the future, would be the one, true ruler of their House. It was so powerful that it could draw the jealousy of even the most selfless individuals, yet it repelled all it deemed unworthy as well. It was a blade that contradicted itself. And till now, Village Head Fan didn’t understand how his father was able to escape with it when he left his House.

In fact, he couldn’t understand how his father escaped with three swords which didn’t select him. Whenever he asked the now deceased man, he always avoided the question, the same way he avoided answering Village Head Fan whenever he asked why the man abandoned his family in the first place and stole weapons he couldn’t even use. It was clear that these weapons were important to the family. They weren’t all the swords his House possessed, but they were important nonetheless. And even the most important of them all, Excalibur was stolen. It was bound to affect the strength of the family. But his father never gave an answer, and he even refused to tell Village Head Fan of his origins. Even after all these years, after countless decades of searching, Village Head Fan wasn’t any closer to understanding his origins. He had yet to find a House that fit the bill of his father’s old family.

The last sword was green in color. It was beautiful and majestic. It gave off a pure and sacred aura, but not quite as intense as Excalibur’s. However, underneath that purity was a hint of ferociousness that threatened to suck the souls of all who were unworthy of it. It was the blade that Village Head Fan was named after. The only blade that accepted his touch and his c.a.r.e.s.s. As Village Head Fan held the sword in his hand, he pulled it off the wall. He instantly felt a strong power overwhelm his senses. He could hear countless ringing bells, and several swords crying out around the world. Even Durandal and Excalibur that rejected him hummed in excitement as the sword was pulled off its leash.

“My companion and friend. Shall we war together old friend?” Village Head Fan gently c.a.r.e.s.sed the blade and smiled. Even in this situation, holding the blade that had accompanied him through every dangerous situation in his life brought him a sense of ease and comfort. He felt like he could do anything once he held this sword.

Taking up a scabbard that had been discarded to the side, Village Head Fan sheathed the strange blade, and the humming of Durandal and Excalibur ceased. It was the only weapon that could resonate with all others in the world, and the only weapon that could allow those chosen by it to handle the weapons that had rejected them. Of course, that came at a price – the lifespan of the user. But the great strength it provided made it seem worth it. Why did it have this power? It was simple really. Because of what it was.

“The Sword of Selection; that which shines so brightly that even the sun has to hide in shame; the blade called Caliburn. It seems I have to borrow your strength today.” Village Head Fan smiled and reached for Durandal. That was the only way he could use Durandal. Once one was chosen by Caliburn, they could forcefully use Durandal at the cost of their life. In fact, they could forcefully use every weapon apart from Excalibur which stood above Caliburn. Unfortunately, there were no other choice blades here to prove that theory. But for the first time in his life, Village Head Fan wasn’t taking Durandal to use for himself. He was taking it for someone else.

He sealed the small storage room, leaving Excalibur to sulk in the darkness, and quickly walked out of his room. He had already wasted much time taking out the swords. He walked straight towards Arthur’s room and barged in without knocking.

“Are they here,” Arthur asked calmly as he looked at the man who had broken down his door? He didn’t seem particularly concerned that his father had destroyed his door.

“Yes,” Village Head Fan nodded.

“Here,” Village Head Fan said and tossed Durandal to Arthur.

The moment Arthur caught hold of the sword he felt a sense of peace he had never felt before. He felt as though he was holding on to something that had always been a part of him, but had been missing until now. It felt like he was a large puzzle, and that the sword was a puzzle piece that completed him. He felt refreshed.

“What is this,” he asked whilst basking in the wonderful feeling? The sword he held gave him a sense of invincibility. It almost pulled him into the depth of drunken euphoria. He watched his father with a dazed expression and asked for the identity of the sword.

“The Demon Sword – Durandal” Village Head Fan answered.

“Demon Sword? Wait a minute. Did you say Durandal?!” Arthur stood up and exclaimed in shock. He was so startled that he was forcefully pulled from his dazed spell. This was a sword named after him. No wait. Looking at his father’s expression, it was probably the other way round. He felt that there as something his father wasn’t telling him.

“Yes. Don’t ask a lot of questions. There isn’t time for that” Village Head Fan shook his head and said.

“Samoa is in the first zone – and so are you” the man said and proceeded to walk out of the room.

“Wait. You are allowing me to go with you?” Arthur asked, stunned that what he always wanted had been given so easily.

“Why? Would you rather wait for Samoa and then sneak out?” Village Head Fan smirked playfully.

Arthur laughed embarrassingly. It was at this point he realized that his father knew about his plans all along.

“Samoa wouldn’t be able to come. Frowning Tiger is watching him personally. So you better come with me. Wear your armor and meet me downstairs.”

“I am not comfortable with armor. I’ve spent my whole life training without it. It would only impair my movements. I can only fight b.a.r.e c.h.e.s.ted”

“Fine. Then let’s go. Let’s go kill some beasts.”