My Last Hunt

Treasures and Snatchers: Level Three (part 18)

Slowly the human voices were audible clearly in the noise from outside. 

A level five hunter was given responsibility to lead his team to kill a level five monster which was exceptionally powerful. To avoid the possible risks and dangers they chose to reach the fixed place during afternoon. This time was perfect because most of the low-level teams went back to their Guilds for good at this hour. 

It was a security measures taken by the team leader in case the monster went on a rampage so they could save themselves by running around. But the lower level chasers cannot do this in an extreme situation because they have not developed a strong grip to remain serene in such kinds of situation. They might instead turn to be a hindrance for the team.

Human capacity had its limits which the chasers and hunters tempered with the time and experience. It was to defy the limits of a human, that's why hunting was not just a profession but more like a passion. And whoever chose it as a passion was bound to reach higher levels and those who chose it only as a profession were bound to remain struck in the same levels for years. They would probably die some day because they were simply unable to get hold on slightly powerful monsters. 

Humans were bound to learn in extreme conditions and take risks, if not they will perish in this world. 

The level five team leader came to this broken part of the forest as it was an urgent mission given by the Starglow Guild for one of their senior team. In this team, the team leader was at level five and he would be leaving Middletown soon and travel to reach the upper realm of hunting before the end of winter. 

With this successful hunt he would reach level five peak and leave for the long travel journey. His other team members were all at level four peak and strong hunters just like him. With the three level four and one level five, this hunt was a must success. But when they finally reached the broken part of the forest, their eyes were wide opened to see the big rare monster in front of them. 

First of all, they were curious as to how this rare breed had ended up in this part of the forest. Second, greed was obvious in their eyes. The team leader only wanted to focus on this mission because it was his last hunt in the Middletown and being the team leader, he would get fifty percent from the spoils as set by the rules of the Guild. 

There was nothing off than usual, other than the monster being a rare breed. But he didn't manage to notice the greed flickering in the eyes of his team. Combined with the fact that he was successful to reach level five and soon he would leave the Starglow Guild for higher level hunting, he should have caught something amiss at that moment. 

They had two reasons to go against him. First, they were jealous of his present level and second, how could they always let him have win-win always. Other than reaching peak of level five, he would get fifty percent straight of the spoils. Even if they chose to neglect both these reasons, they had one more to say. 

They could not let him earn the token of this year. If they cannot get it for themselves, they would not let him win it either. This year was bad and Starglow could not bring more level five hunters into the list, only Hubai was able to get in the list. The Guild also was quite confidence that he would shine in the upper hunting classes too. 

The Hunter Class divisions started from level five and he would get the Class five Bronze after reaching upper level of hunting rank five. These were in ascending order, with level six hunters getting into Class Six and given Silver, Class Seven got Gold, Class Eight got Diamond, Class Nine got Platinum and this class was considered as the highest and most mysterious. 

Those who had a little knowledge about these classes mostly tried to vie for it and if they cannot reach, they would make sure that others fall just like them. Not everyone had a benevolent nature. 

As soon as the monster happened to see a team, it was reluctant to face them head on with its full power. But the monster soon noticed that the team members were leaving loopholes for it to avoid every fatal attack. It increased its momentum as it attacked.

The team leader finally noticed something wrong after seeing his team behaving completely different today. He then could understand what was in their heads and why they were not working in a proper collaboration. 

He was exhausted after using a powerful attack tactic while his team continued to run around as if they were showing how they were working hard to hunt down this monster. 

"Stop behaving this way and just tell me what's going on in your heads?" It had been a year since he was leading teams and he was quite experienced about the team members and their over witty brains. 

"If you are worried about the spoils, I will not take my fifty percent." He renounced his share in this hunt just for his team to work with the right efforts. He did not accept this mission for spoils but solely for the experience to reach peak level five. Right now, he had reached a critical point and he would not let his greed ruin it for him, 

The team members looked at each other and thought that they could no more hide their inner motive. They started to snigger and completely ignored that there was a strong monster facing them. With the few attacks of the team leader just now, they had got to know how they could hunt it after getting rid team leader for better. Now they just had to swiftly remove him. 

...

"I have to go outside and check, else the team might bring the monster to this cave unintentionally and we already know this cave is not made of rocks." Qiao thought for a while and spoke to his teammates.