POV Hunter Master
… It's different from the report. The description Lyra gave us was of a humanoid being about two meters tall, white, dark gray, and black in color, with scales and notable feminine features. The being in front of me is not like that.
It is coal black with red bioluminescent lines. It does have a feminine physique, but what's equally noticeable is its enormous musculature, along with a massive crest on its head.
Also, it's hard to determine its height since it's resting on its arms, but I think standing up it would be around three meters tall.
This opens two possibilities: the first is that, like some other monsters, it goes through a metamorphosis to reach adulthood… or there is more than one.
I push these thoughts aside as I approach the monster with my weapon drawn.
My mission is not to deduce things. My mission is to bring this monster to Astera.
POV Narrator
While all the hunters who have just arrived surround Chryssia and the hunter master...
Chryssia looked at the hunters surrounding her and saw they had chains in their hands. She turned her gaze back to the hunter master and deduced his plan.
She quickly considered her options… and launched herself at the hunter master at full speed.
The hunter master rolled to avoid the charge and, spinning halfway while still kneeling, landed a horizontal slash across Chryssia's back, making her hiss in pain.
Chryssia tried to land a blow by spinning and using her momentum.
Only for the hunter to step back and slash horizontally across her arm, followed by a stab to her lower abdomen.
This time Chryssia roared in pain and retreated several meters while pressing the stab wound.
She herself doesn't know much about her own anatomy, but even so, she knows that getting stabbed in that area is bad.
The only reason she's still able to fight and not bleed to death from the wounds is because of [Alpha Colossus] which retains the [Large Monster Physique] trait that prevents bleeding.
And even then, she doubts she can maintain this kind of fight for long.
So Chryssia raised her right fist, even though that was her injured arm, and pushed off with her leg. The hunter master got into a low stance with his sword extended horizontally.
When she was halfway to clashing with the hunter master, she used [Intense Bioluminescence] to blind not only the hunter master but also the other hunters surrounding her.
Demonstrating his skill, the hunter master jumped to his left to avoid Chryssia's right punch—only to receive a left punch instead, as the right had been a feint.
The hunter master was sent flying by the blow but stabbed his longsword into the ground to stop himself, although he couldn't stop completely until he crashed into an unfortunate hunter who couldn't avoid it due to being blinded, getting knocked down.
The blindness effect didn't last long on the hunters, meaning Chryssia couldn't land another surprise hit, but that didn't stop her from trying to charge the hunter master using [Battering Ram].
The hunter master could have avoided the charge in several ways, but remembering the downed hunter who hadn't recovered yet, he had no choice but to avoid the blow in the worst way possible.
With precision honed by years of hunting, he struck Chryssia on the head with his sword, redirecting her to the side while sparks flew from the collision between the hunter's weapon and the monster's crest.
Completely surprised by the hunter master's maneuver, Chryssia couldn't stop her momentum and crashed full force into a tree, stunning her in the process.
Seeing an opportunity, the hunter master shouted:
—Chains, now!
The hunters didn't hesitate and threw three different chains at Chryssia.
Each chain had a mechanism at the end like a bear trap to lock onto its target.
Chryssia growled in pain as the jaws of the chains clamped onto each arm and the third around her chest.
The hunters split up and began pulling the chains in different directions with all their strength, preventing Chryssia from moving.
Of course, Chryssia resisted, but with so many hunters and her injuries, she couldn't break free.
She looked around and noticed two things: first, that Cesar's charge blade was a few meters away from her, though there was no sign of the hunter himself—she assumed one of the others had taken him to safety.
The second thing she noticed was that the hunter master was approaching with a vial containing a pink liquid in one hand, holding his side with the other—she assumed she had hurt him more than she thought.
She didn't recognize the liquid, but seeing that they were trying to capture her, she assumed it was some kind of tranquilizer.
Chryssia began to grow anxious. She was in a terrible situation and didn't know what would happen if she were captured.
So she resorted to the only option she could think of.
POV Hunter Master
This is almost over. I won't say it's been my toughest hunt, but definitely the one with the most surprises. I'm moving slowly because of the hit she gave me—I think she fractured one or two ribs, even through my armor.
*Sigh* I think I'm getting old. Hopefully, the Fifth Fleet can take some work off my hands. Anyway, once I pour the sedative concentrate on the monster's head, this should all be over.
One step away from the monster, I freeze. There's a smell in the air. I start to see orange smoke coming from the monster's body. It takes me a second to recognize it, but once I do, I shout:
—Fall back!
I turn around and run with strength I didn't know I had, and seeing me, the others don't hesitate and drop the chains.
I glance over my shoulder and see the monster grab the chains restraining her arms, spread her arms wide, and look at me—she looks at me intently. I get chills, and not because of her gaze, but because—even with a face that shouldn't be able to express emotions—I saw her smile.
With a swift movement, she brings her arms together, making the chains collide and spark, and the whole world lights up after that. All I can think is that the smell I detected... was gunpowder.