[DISCONTINUED] No Straight Roads x Monster Hunter Rise

-CHAPTER TEN: Bloodlust Incarnate, Arzuros-

The NSR hunters left Kura Kura Arena. They met Sayu at the exit.

"Excellent fighting, Sayu." Tatiana praised. "To be frankly honest, the arena turning dark was a very unexpected touch."

"Thank you, Tatiana!" Sayu bowed. "That must've been Sofa controlling the lights."

"I see. Well now, take the rest of the day off and pamper yourself."

"Will do! Ehek!" Sayu giggled while swimming away.
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BBJ had arrived at their hut again. This time, they were actually resting—though they did nothing but watch a pastel blood bath in Kura Kura.

Regardless, they were still feeling a bit drowsy on the way back home. So they had decided to rest their eyes for the day.

Biz and Encore slept around each other, Spot curled up in Mayday's lap, and Star resting on her perch. All the bodies remained tranquil inside the hut.
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Mayday's POV:

The wind howled in my ears. Dark grey cloud swallowed up the shining sun. I was trying to resist being carried away by the hurricane level winds.

Everywhere I looked, darkness surrounded me. No one was next to me, or even my partner and buddies. I was all alone.

Suddenly, an eerie, disembodied voice bellowed from somewhere above me.

"Mark my words, Mayday. Your days are numbered."

I lift my gaze to the dark clouds. "What? Who are you? How do you know my name?"

The voice didn't reply.

A golden glow shimmered in the clouds followed by bolts of lightning. Then a xanthous serpentine creature with iridescent spikes on its limbs soared out of the clouds. And out of its wretched mouth emitted a sound most horrendous; the lightning flashed as the creature did so, as if it were commanding the heavens.

The creature then plummeted down. I realized it was hurdling right towards me. Thankfully my fight-flight responses kicked in; I chose to flee.

I ran for my life from that horrid thing, but I couldn't go on forever. No matter how much I ran, I somehow wasn't fast enough to escape whatever that was. My lungs were feeling like they were filling up with water. My muscles were burning.

My legs gave out below me and I stumbled to the ground. The monster had finally reached me. I was paralyzed with fear as the abominable beast opened its horrific maw and surrounded me in darkness.
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Mayday jumped awake with a scream, sitting up in her bunk. She held her forehead. Her heart was pounding.

"Meowstress Mayday," Spot mewed. "What's the meow-tter?"

Mayday panted. "Hnnn, I just had a wack ass nightmare, that was it."

"Can you tell me what happened?"

"Well," Mayday whispered. "I was all alone in a dark space, and the wind was blowing hard. Then there was this strange voice that told me my days were numbered."

"That's creepy."

"Then some strange creature chased me and then it ate me. And that's when I woke up."

"Oh, Meowstress," Spot purred. "You must calm down and go back to sleep."

"But how? It's hard for me to go back to sleep after waking up."

"How bout this, meow?" Spot curled up on Mayday's stomach and purred. The vibrations had a soothing effect on her. Her tense muscles had relaxed, and she was dozing off in no time.
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