Hunters: The Prequel - Chapter 299

Frowning Tiger crossed his swords to serve as a guard, as the gigantic paw of the excited Pseudo Legendary Class Magical Beast descended upon him. He didn’t have the speed of a Cheetah to evade the blow, and he didn’t have the flexibility of a Mongoose to narrowly avoid it either. He couldn’t conceal himself like a Snake so that the damned beast wouldn’t be able to find him. He was a Tiger. He wasn’t the strongest of the bunch, but his control was so great that he always knew just how much he needed to attack, and defend.

*Bang*

The power behind the beasts paw wasn’t trivial, and Frowning Tiger could finally experience for himself what Arthur had endured for several minutes before he lost Durandal. He was sent flying several metres back, but his exceptional control of his body allowed him to stabilize himself midair, and land on his feet, potentially avoiding a nasty fall.

*Cough*

Although he blocked the attack, it wasn’t without cost. The blood that forced its way out of his mouth and painted his lips red showed that he had been shaken internally. He calmed his rioting blood and gazed at the giant paw that struck him with a small smile.

*Roar*

A loud, mournful roar shook the ears of the Tigers, as the Pseudo Legendary Class Magical Beast gazed at Frowning Tiger with undisguised rage. Wiping the blood from his lips, Frowning Tiger returned the gaze of the beast, and didn’t forget to give it a large grin whilst at it. Seemingly enraged by his actions, the large cat dashed towards him, like one with a personal vendetta to settle.

Rash Tiger narrowed his eyes in surprise seeing the cause of the beast’s rage. The toe that Arthur had cut off was the reason for its fury. Although the stamp had ceased bleeding long ago – testament of the vitality and healing power of a Pseudo Legendary Class Magical Beast – it was still a weakness. And it was one that a Control Type like Frowning Tiger would never miss.

It happened when the beast struck Frowning Tiger. At the moment of impact, Frowning Tiger released one of his sword arms, giving him the space to get in an attack on his own before being flung away. And he did so expertly, slicing off the fresh weak skin that had formed over the wound and had yet to be reinforced. As a result, the wound was reopened, and the beast didn’t like that.

“He truly is a Control Type,” the Mongoose sighed in admiration upon seeing what happened.

If it were to be anyone else on the receiving end of the Pseudo Legendary Magical Beast’s attack, they would have had no other option than to use their all to block the attack. But as a Control Type, Frowning Tiger was able to tell just how much he would need – energy wise and defense wise – to block the attack. Since the beast was vastly stronger than him, he wouldn’t be able to block the attack completely. The goal would be to prevent any crippling injuries that would leave him unable to fight and contribute to the battle. So when the beast struck him, he was able to tell just when to switch to offense, and when its momentum waned, he struck.

“Brilliant,” Domineering Tiger murmured, as he avoided the violent dash of the beast, and unstrapped a giant javelin from the back of his coat. The weapon was heavy, and weighed several dozens of kilograms at the very least. As a spear user, he was also proficient with throwing javelins. His accuracy was unequaled, but he rarely resorted to using this weapon because he preferred to face his opponents head on. And even though his target was a moving one, it wasn’t going to affect him in the slightest. Moving or stationary, as long as he held his javelin, he was certain he wasn’t going to miss. He never had, and he wouldn’t start now.

He jumped back swiftly to avoid the rampaging beast, and locking onto his target – the wound that Frowning Tiger had just opened – he flung his javelin with ferocity. The large beast was focused on getting to Frowning Tiger. The large mocking grin on the man’s face annoyed it so greatly that it didn’t see the huge javelin flying towards its wound. Even the warnings that its astute instincts screamed at it were overshadowed by the blinding rage it felt towards Frowning Tiger. How dare a weak human look down on it! It was going to make the man pay. Even Arthur didn’t annoy it so. Unfortunately, its act of ignoring the sirens from its instincts caused it more pain.

*puichi*

A powerful beast; a powerful roar. The beast that had never fallen, even when faced with Arthur’s domineering strikes, toppled to the ground roaring in pain. The javelin didn’t simply pierce its wound, the heavy weapon was flung with so much power that it went straight through the wound, and disappeared into its flesh.

“That’s it!”

Rash Tiger screamed excitedly. That was what they were looking for. That was the opening they wanted. The pain stricken beast was at its most vulnerable yet. Every warrior could see that. Those watching from the back, with Samoa as their leader could see it. The Tigers and Predators who were indisposed could see it. The Predators on the battlefield could also see it. It was so clear that this was the moment that they had been waiting for. This was the moment that they needed. And it was the moment Village Head Fan had also been waiting for. How could he not see it? Luckily he did.

*Vroom*

Like a speeding vehicle, the towering aura of an angry beast ascended into the sky when the beast fell. Impatience; rage; dissatisfaction. These were the emotions expressed in that aura. From the east this aura revealed itself, and quickly, it dashed towards the battlefield.

“He’s here,” Arthur was excited. He knew who that aura belonged to. The Tigers were no different. Even Domineering Tiger and Frowning Tiger were ecstatic. That aura belonged to their leader; their chief; and their king. He had been suppressed all this while, watching as they put their lives on the line for the sake of the village, whereas he could do nothing. He had to watch as his son fought on the edge. Watching silently as each time his boy exchanged a blow with the beast, he had to pray that he would come out unscathed. The ferocity of the battle made it so that even that prayer was downgraded to asking for minor injuries. But now he was unleashed. Now he could allow his festering fury to explode.

*Roar*

The roaring beast didn’t see the silver light that reached into the sky, neither did it feel that towering aura that made its presence known. The Mythic Beasts behind it gave subdued roars, but none were powerful enough to rouse the Pseudo Legendary Class Magical Beast from its painful reverie. Even the usually domineering Shadow Leopard silently retreated, trying not to get caught up in the storm that was coming. No, the storm that was here.

“Foolish Beast!”

“Don’t you dare!” Village Head Fan screamed in fury. His dark hair had turned silvery white, and his entire body glowed with the same color. The blade in his hand shook mightily, as its humming intensified. The small blade was suddenly engulfed by a silvery white color that was so large that it seemed capable of slicing off the large head of the beast. He span rapidly as he approached the large head of the beast and sliced at it with all his might.

Seeing Village Head Fan’s actions, Frowning Tiger and the others watched with bated breaths. When the man and sword were a few metres away from their target, Frowning Tiger screamed,

“Now!”

On cue, Beastly Tiger flung his heavy hammer towards the neck of the beast. Wandering Cheetah and Arthur who had been on the sidelines all this while, sprang into action as well. Holding Arthur by the waist, Wandering Cheetah disappeared from his position and reappeared at the blindside of the Pseudo Legendary Class Magical Beast. And it was at this blindside, that Arthur’s mighty blade stood, embedded in the neck of the beast, waiting for its master and partner to retrieve it.

“Go!”

Performing an inhumanely fast spin, Wandering Cheetah flung Arthur accurately towards his sword and partner.

“Hah!”

Arthur exclaimed as he grabbed onto the Beastly Tiger’s large hammer. Borrowing the momentum of the grand weapon, he flew towards Durandal in style. It was at that moment that Village Head Fan’s sword connected with the neck of the beast.

*Boom*

Like an anvil used to temper steel, the neck of the beast withstood the blow of Caliburn. The sword shaped aura of the blade had managed to breach its skin, but it didn’t go any further. However, Village Head Fan wouldn’t be deterred. Giving another mighty shout, he pushed all his power into the sword he was holding.

Arthur finally reached the position of Durandal. When he was about to crash into his blade, he grabbed the hammer properly, and span around with it in his hand. Using Durandal as a nail, and the hammer as a, well, a hammer, he struck the beast.

*Roar*

The Pseudo Legendary Class Magical Beast shook in pain as Durandal was pushed into its neck out of its body. The gravity of the blow shook its head and pushed its neck into the path of Caliburn, which dug in even deeper.

“Good job!”

Village Head Fan exclaimed when he saw Durandal exit the neck of the beast from the other side. The blade that was flying away from him, twisted midair, and changed trajectory. Then it flew towards him.

“Well done Arthur!”

There was only one person with the ability to manipulate Durandal so, and that was its partner and his son – Arthur.

“Just kill it!”

Arthur screamed from the side. Village Head Fan nodded his head and grabbed onto the blade that had been by his side whenever things went sideways. Holding onto the familiar blade and feeling it suck his life force, he smirked and said,

“Seems fitting that you would be by my side in such a scenario”

And giving a mighty shout, he struck with Durandal also, and the large head of the Pseudo Legendary Class Magical Beast came off!