The Hunt.
The hunt wasn’t limited to monsters. Anyone who possessed something of value could become someone’s target. Whether it was a dangerous monster, a Hunter, or even a regular human - to some, it didn’t matter.
"Groza, these aren’t soldiers, right?" Kreyn asked, narrowing his only currently functioning right eye.
He knew what the military looked like, they were people in strict black outfits, not in long, tattered clothes, and many of them concealed their faces, some with helmets or masks, and others simply with the fabric of their cloaks.
"No... It’s not them. These aren’t our people at all. Damn it." Groza clenched her teeth, clutching her bleeding wrist.
Maybe they’d managed to defeat the Crystal Crusher and the Spider Queen, but they weren’t bulletproof. If they wanted to, these people could shoot the two Hunters right now.
Kreyn’s eyes fell to his wrist, looking at the bracelet.
’That would be stupid. They’d just shoot my hand off, and that’s it.’
Then Kreyn had only one question:
Who?
Step. Step. Step.
Crystal shards crunched under heavy boots as a figure approached them with a confident yet relaxed stride.
Groza’s eyes, like blades, fixed on the figure.
It was a broad-shouldered man in simple leather armor with tanned skin. His long black hair, like a mane, stood back in spikes, and his gray eyes created a startling contrast.
"Hey!" The man grinned broadly and waved his hand in a friendly gesture. "How’s it going? What a great meeting, yeah?"
Unlike the others, he had neither a rifle nor a handgun. Resting on his shoulder was a long spear with a blade carved from the fang of some massive monster.
"Who the hell are you?" Groza clenched her teeth in silent anger.
"Oh, good question!"
He snapped his fingers with a charming grin.
"My name is Garius, and I’m sort of the leader of these guys. Basically, I’m the main guy." Garius shrugged.
Step.
Groza stepped forward despite the laser dots following her.
"You’re making a mistake and must let us go immediately! We’re both Hunters from Dust Star!"
"Yeah. I know."
"Ah? Then stop this right now, or else—"
BAM!
Garius’s fist sank deep into Groza’s stomach.
"GRH!" Her eyes widened in pain as she gasped loudly.
The next moment, Garius kicked her in the side, sending her tumbling to the ground in a cloud of dust.
"It all started so well, don’t complicate things. Neither you nor your friend will be returning to Dust Star today." Garius said nonchalantly, while Groza clutched her stomach with a pained grimace.
Kreyn didn’t move. He watched, and his gaze gave nothing away of his true emotions.
’He’s strong. It’s hard to tell exactly how strong from just two hits, but something tells me he’s at least on Groza’s level.’
"Huh, you’re the quiet one, aren’t you?"
Garius smirked as his gaze fell on Kreyn’s boots and Groza’s armor.
"Alright, let’s not waste any time. Take off your gear. Don’t try to hide anything valuable from me. We’ve been watching you ever since you came out of the spider caves."
"Tsk." Groza spat out a blood clot. "So that’s what this is all about? Hunting the blacksmith? Are you all doing this for the gear?"
Garius shrugged.
"No. The gear is just a nice bonus." He pointed at the two of them. "You’re the real prize!"
Groza was beside herself with rage, but they had no other choice. Soon, her armor and Kreyn’s boots were in Garius’s hands.
"Whoa... Man, did you do that?" Garius’s eyes lit up. "Hahaha! Now that’s what I call a find!"
Click.
He snapped his fingers as a shadow glided down the slope of the gorge.
Soon, a girl with cold blue eyes and short amber hair appeared before them. Unlike Garius, there wasn’t a hint of a smile on her face.
"Kalysa, you know what to do. We can’t let these two get away, can we?"
"Sure. It was worth the wait."
Kalysa pulled heavy shackles from her belt, heading toward Kreyn and Groza.
"Don’t resist. Next time, it won’t be Garius - it’ll be one of our soldiers. You don’t want to walk with a shot leg."
Groza bit her lip almost to the point of bleeding.
"You... You’ll regret this!"
Still, she held out her hands, realizing there was no other choice.
Click. Click.
Kalysa fastened the shackles on them. These weren’t ordinary handcuffs. Something like that wouldn’t be able to hold two Hunters. The shackles were heavy and thick, each weighing several kilograms, but that wasn’t their main feature.
"Hmm?" Kreyn raised an eyebrow, glancing at the runes carved directly into the dark metal that glowed from time to time.
Garius noticed his reaction.
"What? Is this your first time seeing the Okkla’s Shackles?"
"The Okkla’s Shackles?" Kreyn tilted his head in confusion.
"Hahaha!" Garius laughed as he gave Kalysa a friendly nudge on the shoulder. "Can you believe it? He’s a newbie!"
Kalysa narrowed her eyes.
"He doesn’t look like one. We all saw how they fought. If it weren’t for him, the Anomalous Crystal Crusher would have devoured that woman along with her sword."
Garius touched his chin with an appraising look.
"Yeah, you’re right. But, man, you’ve never seen shackles like these before, have you?"
"No," Kreyn replied dryly.
Garius waved his hand.
"They block the flow of energy in your body. So, right now, both you and she are not much different from ordinary humans."
"He’s right," Groza admitted, clenching her teeth. "As long as we’re wearing the Okkla’s Shackles, we can’t use our abilities either. And, not only that..."
Soon, Kreyn realized what she was talking about.
[Analyzing the object...]
Pop!
[Okkla’s Shackles...
[#####
[#####
[#####.]
’Information unavailable? That’s not good. I can’t even figure out what’s happening to my eye while I’m wearing these shackles.’
Tap.
Garius handed Kalysa the boots and armor and picked up Groza’s sword, which was lying nearby. He lifted the heavy weapon with one hand.
"Well, this sword is practically junk compared to the rest, but I think we can sell it."
Then, Garius gave a command with a gesture.
"Alright, guys, we’re done. Grab the beast and the spider, and we’re ready to head back."
Now, Kreyn was confused.
"Where are we going?"
Garius smirked as he pointed the sword toward the west.
"The Crooked Horn. Ever heard of that place? Apparently not. Well, you’ve got a lot to learn, young man."
Kalysa shot them a stern look.
"Follow me, and don’t even think about doing anything. It’ll be better for everyone, especially for you."
"Wait." Kreyn’s voice rang out, causing Garius, who was already walking away, to turn around.
"Hmm? Is something wrong?"
"Yes."
Kreyn looked down at his bare feet.
"Do you have a pair of boots?"
In response, Garius smiled contentedly. He sensed that things were about to get interesting.
...
Puff!
A cloud of smoke came from the man in tattered clothes. He and three others stood not far from Kreyn and Groza, discussing their mission. Rifles hung from their belts. They were ready to use them at any moment, but they were relaxed, knowing their hostages were unlikely to attempt an escape.
Kreyn, meanwhile, looked down at the black boots on his feet before turning his gaze forward.
Garius’s people, men and women, were hauling the Crystal Crusher and Spider Queen’s bodies onto carts. The Lucent Golems and crystals apparently weren’t worth the trouble.
Kreyn had a lot of questions. Being kidnapped wasn’t part of his plan, but now all his attention was focused on one thing:
"Hey, Groza. Is this normal?"
She glanced to the side and sighed heavily. "No. But... these are the Renegades, so what else can you expect from these bastards?"
The cart and two other platforms were attached not to a cargo truck but to a fleshy beast with heavy hooves, bare blue skin except for white fur on its wrists and neck, and a powerful jaw with curved teeth.
Meanwhile, Garius tossed the monster a piece of meat and, laughing, patted it on the shoulder, even though the beast’s hoof could have crushed him.
"Using a monster instead of a vehicle? This..." Kreyn paused. "That’s clever."
Clap!
At that very moment, Garius clapped his hands as everyone immediately turned toward him.
"Alright. Everyone’s ready! We’re heading back to the Crooked Horn! We’ve had a profitable day today!"