Deviant Hunters

The Crimson Fangs

     Castiel angrily looked out of his window, glaring at the large crowd formed outside of the Wycademy. Despite the news, he still couldn't come to have sympathy. Hundreds of hunters fought those two deviants and it still resulted in the death of thousands. Places like Val Habar, Harth, Cheeko Sands and Cathar evacuated to Bherna, flooding the Wycademy. Bherna is a new village, but the most advanced in the arts of hunting. Wycademy hunters, which are Bherna natives, train at the Wycademy to learn critical hunting styles and arts to allow for the most advanced hunting. High rank Wycademy hunters well surpass previous G-Rank hunters.

     A sudden knock came from the door, distracting Castiel from his annoyed thoughts. He opened the door, seeing his three hunting partners standing at the door. There stood RJ with his Insect Glaive and Sydney with her Hammer. The two enter, while Castiel closes the door behind them and blatantly admires Sydney's rear-end in her striking Nargacuga armor.

"Stop staring at my ass and listen up," Sydney barked, looking back over her shoulder at him.

"What are you two here for?"

"There's one of those deviants in Misty Peaks. It's getting dangerously close to Moga Village and Port Tanzia, and it's making civilians nervous." RJ piped up, looking down at a sheet of paper with a bright red Guild stamp at the bottom.

"Which deviant?" Castiel asked, opening his faded blue chest, pulling out his assortment of razor sharp switch axes.

     "Redhelm arzuros."

     Castiel pulled out his favorite blade, Glavenus' Grimace. An ideal weapon against the crimson beast. The weapon matched his beautiful Glavenus S armor, allowing for one of the few fights that can have style and power.

     The trio embark to Misty Peaks. Despite being one of the weaker deviants, it can still hold a potential threat. RJ studies his map and quest sheet, while Castiel holds Sydney, admiring the view. The group always tried to enjoy their surroundings before a hunt, for every hunt can easily be their last. It's one thing to be a hunter, it's another to be a deviant hunter.

     Team Deviant is the only team of Deviant hunters that consists of less than four. A full team is a must when fighting these monsters. Despite that, team Deviant is composed of a team of hunters with skills and connections that make a full hunting party less necessary. This experience comes from the hundreds of villages they've saved. Truly, they're an invaluable team for the likes of the Wycademy.

     The large, beige air balloon lands in the humid basecamp of the Misty Peaks. The trio hops out of the balloon, and gather all of the necessary, but unnecessary items out of the blue item box. Being a Deviant only worth 5,000 zenny, it was obvious this wasn't going to be a drawn out task.

     After traveling through a good 5 areas, the group discovers the crimson beast. The Redhelm Arzuros sat on the ground, consuming some nearby honey from a gathering point. Turning it's head, it's bright red eyes catch the sight of the hunters. RJ's speedy kinsect leeches an attack boost from the monsters head, causing it to release a loud roar. It was aggravated.

     Castiel runs towards the monster, with Sydney following close behind, charging her hammer. Head to head with the monster, castiel unsheathed his blade and swung it over his head, slashing the monsters abdomen. Sydney follows up with a crushing blow to the monsters skull. RJ slashes in Castiel's direction, which he takes advantage of in the form of an adept evade, quickly sprinting to the rear of the Arzuros, swinging his blade around his head and slicing its back. RJ's attack is followed with a vault, launching him up in the air, where he strikes the monster and mounts it.

     "I mounted it!" RJ shouts, cueing Castiel and Sydney to engage the monster. Sydney combos two smashes and an underhand swing on the beast, before she gets swiped and knocked back. Castiel takes the opportunity to engage his hunter art. When the steam cloud disappears, he charges the now collapsed monster, jabbing and charging his overcharged blade into the Arzuros, before a large explosion released from the end of his sword. The Arzuros roars yet again, before limping towards the next area. After addressing their wounds and sharpening their weapons, they prepare a pitfall trap.

     Entering the new area, RJ and Sydney take the liberty of setting up the trap while Castiel lures the monster towards the trap. Sinking his blade into the monsters shoulder, it retaliates faster than he can dodge, and it's large claws bury into his armor and pierce his back, launching him to the floor. Pouncing on him, the immense pressure of the beast crushes him.  He struggles to get the monster off, until he finally smothers it in dung. The smell disorients the massive beast, leading it to fall into the trap. RJ throws down two Tranq bombs, effectively capturing the monster.

     ~~~

     Entering the village, the hunters are smothered in villagers eager of their return and grinning cheek to cheek due to their success. Pushing through the mesh of civilians, Castiel makes it to his house, tidied up by his maid. Looking out the window, he smiles.
     "This, is why you become a hunter. This is what it's about. The people."
     He shuddered to the thought of the quote. He's dead. He died, you didn't. What should he know? You're the one that survived, after all.