My Last Hunt

Chapter 136: Level Four (36)

Level Four (36)

Cut the teeth first: 

The team was working hard to collaborate and complete the hunt but it was tough because of the big sharp teeth. Every member was careful when attacking to come in the range of counterattack. It was no more related just to their level but also their agility and the action pace. The monster was much more agile and fast at attacking them. Their only advantage was their numbers.

"Dodge the teeth and attack at every chance. As long as we leave many injuries on it, it would succumb after some time and no longer be able to counterattack." The team leader reminded them and the whole team understood what they were supposed to do. Their current formation was working to be beneficial for the monster, because their focus was to injure it while avoiding injury, but it could freely fend off by counterattacking. 

The hunters would have given it a headache if they could choose to attack directly in a frontal manner. Then it might have to step back and try at defending, but for now it was taking advantage of the situation too. 

Qiao on the other hand could not neglect his habit of critically observing the movements of the monster. After hunting for some time now, he found this habit feasible and also advantageous to him most of the times. The teams usually focussed on their attacks and how to fastly complete the hunt. Their thought about their weapons and how to attack, but they didn't consider how the monsters reacted on their attacks. He was different in this aspect. 

While he was stubborn too, he was observing it by coming in front. This was a horrible choice for most of hunters considering the circumstances attached to it. The whole situation could turn against the one who was risking in a swift moment. And he was standing right in front. 

The monster was triggered at this and also seemed to be hiding something as it started to attack viciously, while leaving no room for Qiao. He on the other hand fell on the ground to dodge while rolling aside to make a distance. But rolling on the flat snow filled ground was a little troublesome. 

He was able to dodge barely, saving himself. But this encounter had surely helped him to see through the weakness too. Since this monster was level five and it seemed to hold the stone of nature in its sharp teeth, the lower part had the shine that would come from a stone.

And almost all hunters were familiar with the fact that the part where the monsters bear their stones happened to be a vulnerable region. This was also maybe the reason that this monster grew sharp and long teeth right above the that spot to protect and hide its weakness. 

Team leader was angered at the foolishness of the chaser and voiced, 

"If you are that eager to get injured why dodge? You are taking us for fools to save you from the monster when you are intentionally stubborn to stay in front? Did I ask you to become bait?" He was angry because most of the hunters blame the leader in the end for using a team member as bait. 

"I was only looking for the weakness of this monster." Qiao answered plainly without taking the anger of the leader to his heart. At his answer, all the hunters looked toward him as if they were looking at someone bragging. 

Usually, low level hunters brag about things in front of stronger hunters to prove some worth of their presence in the team. 

"Oh, you have already become that great to be able to exploit the weaknesses of the monsters? If you are speaking the truth and you really found the weakness let me know. I will admit you as the leader of my team for the rest of the days if you are right." The team leader spoke sarcastically this time. 

This way he was giving him a chance as well as a threat. The other hunters laughed at this bet between team leader and the low-level hunter. 

"I can prove if you follow my instructions." Qiao spoke without getting effected. This brought a commotion in the team.

"We are not going to listen you. A random newbie acting all mysterious will only get us killed." someone immediately denied. 

The team leader heard this and shook his head. "I will listen to your instructions. So, would you mind the team leader coming to test your claim?" He again spoke in a sarcastic manner. He wanted to know what other wonders this young man could come up with in the middle of the hunt. 

So he was willing to follow him. 

"That will be fine by me." Qiao shrugged his shoulders carelessly. 

He cannot bother other when the team leader was already going to take the risk. Most of the hunters wanted to hunt by exploiting the weaknesses of the monster but it only seemed feasible when hearing about it, but on real grounds when the team was facing the monster it was really tough. 

The team leader came forward to join Qiao in a hurry. 

"Speak what should I do and how to go about it?" He straightaway asked. His expression was no more light but tense and grave. He was a team leader and was giving a chance to the low-level hunter. If his decision proved wrong then he would have to face the consequences. 

Qiao thought for a brief moment, the others were not going to help and only both of them were supposed to hunt. 

"Are two of us enough to hunt?" The team leader seemed to want to make it sure that they were not going to lose. 

"It is fine since you chose to believe my words." He then took a deep breath. If the others were ready to listen then it would have been easy but now, he had to decide on a new method. If the teeth were to came in direct into contact with the weapon then he was bound to lose it. And he cannot further guide this leader too. 

"You have to become the bait and distract the monster for a brief time." Qiao gave his first instruction and the leader choked. He was unable to decide whether this hunter only wanted to test something or he was hundred percent sure about finding this weakness he spoke of. 

If it was the first aspect then he would be done for today, to earn the anger of the monster on his chest directly. The other hunters left the ground empty while Qiao also chose to leave with only the leader left in front of the monster. It was a tense moment for him. He had heard about many team leaders who chose to become bait at some point of hunt but he himself had never tested it. 

This did not mean that he was afraid of something but it was risky to do so straightaway. Today, he was going to experience it but he was not sure whether he should be excited about it or just leave it like this. He was a leader of the team and they had smoothly done their hunts until now. There were only a few occasions where he had to order his team to leave the monster without hunting it and they had retreat. 

But here he was not supposed to retreat because his team was given the responsibility to keep the third part of encampment safe for everyone. Taking the present situation on his nerves was not wise as sooner or later he had to learn to take bigger risks. So why not today. Thinking as such, he strengthened his heart. 

It was dark when the hunters chose to hide and the light vanished from the light stones. Qiao also put inside his stone. The limited amount of light around was enough for his attack since he had already seen through the weakness. He ran as soon as the leader started to distract it with the weapon in front of the monster. The monster got puzzled with the sudden decrease in the number of hunters attacking it. 

It shook around its neck to spot any enemy but could not find. This made it believe that the others had left this hunter alone. Its attention was fixed on the team leader and the air seemed to stop moving or rustling. It was a sign that monster had set and fixed its target on the hunter standing in front. 

Monsters usually emit a beastly aura when they happen to be ready to kill the human in a single attack. With this aura, the humans would usually get terrified and their legs would glue to the ground and become unable to move. This was one of the reasons why monsters think of themselves to be a better choice to conquer or reign over the humans. 

It leapt forward towards the leader to cut this human in two pieces while Qiao rushed and rolled on the ground with his knees skating over it. It was because of his fast past, the sword that was pointed upward already slashed in a swift motion. It cut through the lower neck part at the spot where he would see the spot where the stone was shining.