Chapter 7: Chapter 6 : Hunting
" Keep your heels down Kairos, and hold the reins properly " Lucian's voice came directly from behind as they rode the horse, diving deeper into the forest. Behind them, two guards were also following behind them, keeping watch at the surroundings.
"Yeah, that's how. Well done"
Kairos slightly nodded his head. He was getting horse riding training but had to act like he was just a beginner. As a veteran mercenary himself, such things were very easy for him despite Kairos being in a smaller body. Still he had to act this way and the reason is very simple.
It was the only possible excuse to wander through the forest.
As they went deeper, the huge trees above their heads enclosed them even more, making sunlight barely reach the ground.
This was the outer range of hundred thousand mountains, known for its highly grown vegetation and monsters that dwell within it.
Kairos looked at the surroundings carefully, gazing at the claws marks left on the tree barks. Those marks indicated that they were nearing closer to their target.
"Miles, give me my bow." Kairo's father spoke calmly as he slowly expanded his Aura zone.
One of the servant who was closely following behind them handed out Lucian's father's favorite bow which he always used for some special hunts and today was one of those days.
His father was going to hunt a four-star beast called 'ironfang ursak'. A beast known for its thick claws and hard fur that encloses its body which is highly resistant to physical penetration and has mild magic resistance. His father was a commoner to be specific half commoner what they say, as he has a last name hart. Still he gotta admit the way his father looks and vibes he gives aren't such different from a real noble.
The forest became more silent as they get closer to the habitat of the monsters. The claw marks on the tree barks becoming more and more frequent, indicating they were just about to arrive at their nest.
And soon enough the enclosement of the dense trees gave away, revealing a shallow pit right in front of them.
"Ironfang ursak" was a species that despite being highly territorial, likes to live together like a clan just like Shadowfang wolves.
Lucian halted his horse and came down, putting his finger over his mouth, telling the others to not make any sound.
Kairos also jumped off from the horse and gazed at their prey in the pit below.
Many small figures could be seen all over the place which looked like slops of meat over the whole place. Those were their target this time.
Their heads nor their claws could be seen from such a distant position and that's how protect themselves while sleeping by hiding themselves using their very thick hides.
Lucian took out a small green bottle from his pouch and opened its cap,letting a thick green gas slowly came out of it.
'It's a mild paralysis poison' Kairos thought and then turning his gaze down again. "So it's to restrict their attack pattern"
These monster usually likes to roll at its prey before jumping on its prey, slicing it apart with its razor sharp claws.
'The poison won't do much, but the numbness it will cause would be enough to reduce their speed'
Kairos thought and as he expected, his father reached out his hand while the ring on his hand started glow before gradually a magical circle started to construct. Along with the white essence coming from his body.
It was mist essence. As soon as the mist came out , another sigil appeared, enclosing the quiver and instantly changed the shape of an arrow.
With the preparations done, Lucian poured down the poison right on the arrow, causing the natural trait of mist essence to take the form of a gaseous substance within it.
The arrow started changing color and without further delay he pointed it towards the sky while a magical circle formed in front of the arrow for a split second before it was fired right at the habitat.
Before it could reach its prey, with a flick of his finger, the arrow exploded causing the green mist to spread.
Sensing the commotion, the ursaks reacted and peeked out their heads covered in thick fur, their eyes glowing blood red while they enclosed themselves again and started spinning, preparing to head towards the intruders.
But right away the poison took its effect and their movement became sluggish. Though it wasn't much but those few moment were all that his father needed.
Instantly, his father knocked three arrows on the bow which were instantly covered in white essence of mist before sigils after sigils blinked and the white essence surrounding the arrow started spinning rapidly and gathering towards the arrow before a big magical circle started appearing right in front of the bow and with that done, Lucian let all three arrows ago.
The arrows instantly passed through the magical circle, multiplying by three and spinning rapidly, tearing through the air and closing nearer to the ursaks that were just about to climb up to them.
As if the arrows had their own mind, the arrows changed directions and hit its target without missing a single one.
"That was a pathwave sigil" The most crucial sigil of Arrowmancers.
Upon impact, the arrows right away pierced through the bodies as if the renowned hard fur was nothing.
Accompanied with a shrill scream, all their movements were halted. But in the next second, another batch of arrows hit them. In that split second, his father had fired off another set of arrows.
And the obvious result happened. The arrows pierced through with more vigor and spun upon entering the injured place, completely ripping them apart, causing blood to scatter everywhere.
And the hunt was finished. They have cleanly eradicated a nest of 5 ursaks just like that.
" So Kairos, did you see? How essence marking works?" His father spoke, turning around to Kairos.
Kairos nodded his head. " Yes father"
" Hmm good. As you saw, that poison arrow was the thing that marked the monster with my essence. Making me able to utilize Pathwave sigils, directing my arrows " he spoke before stopping for a second.
"But now tell me if you noticed anything else?"
Lucian spoke, slight anticipation in his tone.
" Yes father, your arrows tore through their fur very easily"
Lucian looked at him with satisfaction. " Good. You passed."
" Kairos, always remember. For hunting, strategy isn't the most important, what's more important is poison. We don't use poison for specific use but for multiple purposes"
" Though poison is useless against humans, but to monsters they are deadly. You understand?"
"Yes father, I understand, " Kairos said, "Though these kinds of teachings are just pure basics, you need to have these knowledge." His father, being a good teacher too he had to agree.
The guards swiftly gathered the remains of the ironfang ursaks. They sliced apart the flesh and the thick brown furs. They bundled the fur with care, and packed up the meat. Both its fur and claws will be made into equipments while it's flesh will fetch some good amount of money.
Kairos joined the process, As a hunter family in disguise, Kairos had to learn these things again from start. And with last batch of the fur they were done with burning down the remains.
As they prepared to leave, Lucian's father assessed the materials. "These go to the blacksmith first.They'll be forged into daggers and armor."
Kairos looked at the material he's father was referring to. It was the claws of the beast. It's whole finger bone can be processed and easily can be turned into daggers.
They rode out, the dense forest swallowing them in shadows. Lucian's father's gaze remained ahead, . "Kairos," he murmured, as if talking to himself, "there are creatures that make these ironfangs seem nothing."
Kairos tilted his head. "What do you mean, Father?"
"There are beasts rated five stars and above. Creatures so powerful they require teams of skilled mages and warriors to defeat. The stoneclad wyrm, for example—its scales deflect magic,and its breath can paralyze men for hours ."
Five star beasts. As their rank suggests a five star magician can kill it or a 4 star Aura user. But it will be with a deadly price of heavily injured. As starting from 5 star a new kind of metaphoresis starts within the monsters and like humans they gain elemental control. Through they can't use magic, But their core doesn't need sigils their elements can menifist it like that of a person who has unlocked Aura Field. Thus starting from 5 star beast none dares to hunt solo.
Kairos thought for a second before speaking, " They won't at the edges of the forest Right father?"
Lucian looked at him before nodding, " Yes that one's habitat is quit far from here. "
. "It seems there's work ahead," he murmured.
His father's gaze sharpened on him briefly but held back any words. They continued riding in silence, but Kairos's mind was already busy on far future. A new variable task was added on that day.