Oh Hunter My Hunter

Deep in the roots of the tree lay a vast and open catacomb-like area, each tunnel crawling with creatures thought to be mere myths. Among them, a myriad of beasts would soon be reduced to ash by the wrath of just one man who happened to fall, though not part of his plan; it wasn't unwelcome; he was going to have come here eventually.

Flames blazed, consuming everything in its path as the man hurled the severed heads of trolls at their brethren. Behind him, piles of corpses burned, their flesh crackling in the heat. His eyes, burning with dark determination, remained fixed ahead as he carved his way through the horde. The creatures eventually faltered, realizing the futility of their fight. Weapons clattered to the ground as surrender washed over them. But to the man, none of this mattered. He had a destination, a goal beyond mortal comprehension. This was a mission that was more than a millennium in the making.

You call yourself the hunter, but just what are you?

The Lord of Flames asked, intrigued by the audacity of this human as they talked mentally.

I am the man who challenges fate and the one who will take its head. And you will be there to do it by my side.

The hunter's words were simple, yet resolute. The fire god's lips curled into a wicked grin. He had never encountered a mortal like this before. Perhaps there was merit to such madness. If he were to gamble, to place faith in this human, perhaps he would bear witness to something truly monumental.

Very well, human. Show me your wrath.

And with that, the hunter felt a surge of power flooding his veins. The burning sensation that had once marred his flesh was gone. He was free. His gaze lifted to the hundreds of enemies ahead of him, and he saw it: a masterpiece painted in their ashes. And yet, he did not strike. He did not kill needlessly.

The fire lord scoffed at the hunter. Why don't you kill them all, hunter?

I've utterly humiliated them. Only a fool would strike down the already broken. Besides, there's bigger game ahead.

A glint of apathy flashed in the hunter's eyes. He didn't do it from sympathy but something else, which seemed to hold him back from being a complete monster.

The fire lord chuckled darkly. You are something else, aren't you? At first, I thought you were like the boy, but then you pull a massacre like this. But tell me, hunter… what if the boy dies while you're gone?

The god probed, seeking to unearth a weakness of this enigmatic man.

This is just an errand to finish. I don't imagine it will take long.

The hunter's voice was unwavering as the flames continued to burn around them. His hand, wreathed in fire, clenched into a fist as they strode deeper into the cave. Then, they reached the final chamber.

Something stirred in the darkness.

It slithered, barely visible in the murky waters. The ground trembled beneath its immense weight, its emerald scales gleaming faintly. Six golden eyes blinked open, slitted pupils contracting as they fixed upon the intruders. The water rippled as the hydra moved, its many heads rising in silent menace.

The lord of flames let out a booming laugh. You, boy, are going to fight a hydra? Really?

I'm going to kill a hydra.

The hunter's words were spoken with utter conviction. Not a shred of doubt marred his expression. The fire god could only laugh at the sheer audacity of this madman.

Everything was dark and the hunter needed to see so he let himself burn. Fire consumed him whole and it like he were in heaven. He closed his eyes and breathed before erupting into a mad, all-consuming inferno to devastate anything in its path. The hydra shrieked as water splashed everywhere and all was visible. he now saw the hydra in full display, its dragon-like heads and those razor-sharp teeth. If it weren't for how scared it looked at the moment, it would have been a real menace, but instead it shrouded itself in the darkness, submerging the depths of the waters.

What now, hunter? the fire lord asked, amusement dripping from his tone.

The hunter answered by stepping forward and plunging straight into the water.

Fire clashed against the depths, steam rising in an instant. The water boiled violently as he sank beneath the surface. For a brief moment, all was still. Then, the cavern erupted. A vortex of bubbles spiralled upward, the water churning as if a storm raged beneath it.

You madman, the fire lord whispered, admiration laced in his voice.

The hunter shined brilliantly, even at his disadvantage underwater. He pushed the limits of his mind to become an all-encompassing inferno burning so intensely, evaporating the water so rapidly, that it was as if he were fighting on land itself. He was a walking supernova, a mirage beneath the surface, his heat carving out a pocket of steam that expanded and collapsed with every step. Not a single drop of water touched him as the bubble of steam around him boiled violently. He was like a sun beneath the waves, glowing radiantly, beautifully. He was an existence that had no place here yet he had defied nature itself. The Lord of Flame laughed wickedly as he watched the hunter grow so unbearably hot his form distorted into an indescribable blur until he was no longer a man, but a force of nature.

And then he disappeared.

The hydra had never stood a chance.

With a single step, the hunter passed through it, and the beast was undone. It had never even existed.

The fire lord laughed, a deep, resounding boom that echoed through the chambers of Tobi's head.

Do you believe I can defy fate, then, Lord of Flames? the hunter asked, his voice cold and steady.

The god grinned. Perhaps you stand a chance, hunter.