The forest trembled one last time as Ravagerak's massive body collapsed, its roar fading into a heavy silence. Dust drifted through the trees, settling over torn earth and splintered branches. The air was thick with the smell of scorched bark and blood, the battlefield scarred by claw marks and shattered stone.
Hunnt stood frozen, fists streaked with blood, trembling from strain and pain. Each breath came ragged, his knuckles raw and split from striking through the monster's armored hide. Sweat clung to his face, dripping into his eyes, but he didn't blink. His gaze remained locked on the monster's lifeless body, as if expecting it to rise again.
"Master… it's down… Nyaah," Pyro chirped softly from a nearby branch. The little Palico's tail twitched with cautious pride, though his ears remained pinned back, still alert for any movement.
Corwin lowered his hammer but didn't relax. His chest rose and fell in deep breaths, sweat glistening across his arms. He glanced at Hunnt, then froze. His brow furrowed. "Hunnt, your fists…" he murmured, voice heavy with concern.
Elara darted to Hunnt's side. Her bow clattered softly as she slung it behind her back, her focus entirely on him. She caught his shaking hands, eyes widening at the sight of torn skin and blood dripping steadily onto the dirt. "You're bleeding badly," she said firmly, already pulling a strip of cloth from her pouch. Without hesitation, she began wrapping his knuckles, her hands steady even as her heart raced.
"I'm fine," Hunnt muttered, though his voice cracked under the strain. He flexed his fingers experimentally and winced when the bandage tugged against raw flesh. "It's just… the fight."
Pyro hopped down, landing lightly near them. His golden eyes darted between Hunnt's hands and his face. "Master, don't scare us like that, nyaah," he scolded, though his tail flicked nervously, betraying his worry.
Hunnt clenched his jaw and forced himself to look at the others. "We survived," he said quietly. "That's what matters."
Elara tied the cloth tightly, finishing the makeshift bandage. She didn't let go of his hands until the bleeding slowed. Her shoulders eased slightly. "We'll talk about your recklessness later. Right now, we need to bring this thing home."
The four of them stood together, the fallen Ravagerak looming behind them like a monument to their struggle. Hunnt glanced down at his fists once more. A strange warmth lingered there, a subtle hum in his arms. He didn't understand it, but deep down, he knew something inside him had awakened during that fight.
---
Hauling the Ravagerak back to Ravenshire was grueling. The beast was massive, its bulk dwarfing anything they had ever hunted before. Even with ropes and sledges hastily fashioned from fallen branches, the carcass dragged deep furrows through the soil. Sweat poured from their bodies as they strained against the weight.
Pyro scouted constantly, bounding ahead to make sure no other monsters were drawn by the scent of blood. "Clear ahead, nyaah!" he chirped whenever he returned, though his voice carried more weariness than usual.
Corwin bore most of the physical burden, muscles straining as he helped drag the monster across uneven ground. Hunnt pushed beside him despite his bandaged hands, his jaw tight with determination. Elara stayed to the rear, bow at the ready, scanning the trees in case scavengers approached. The air was heavy with silence, every step a reminder of how close they had come to death.
By the time the rooftops of Ravenshire came into view, the sun had dipped lower in the sky, painting the horizon in hues of orange and gold. Their bodies ached, their throats were dry, but a current of triumph carried them forward.
---
A crowd had already gathered at the edge of the village, whispers spreading like wildfire as the hunters dragged in their prize. Children clutched their parents, pointing wide-eyed at the monstrous carcass. Some villagers gasped, others murmured in awe and fear.
"Is that… a wyvern?"
"It's bigger than anything I've ever seen…"
"Look at its hide… gods above…"
Hunnt felt the weight of their gazes, but his focus remained on the task. The moment he let go of the rope, his legs wobbled, and he nearly collapsed.
"Hunnt! What did you do again?!" Grandpa Dom's booming voice thundered across the square as he strode forward, his expression a mix of anger and disbelief.
Before Hunnt could answer, Grandma Mel rushed from the crowd, eyes locking instantly onto his hands. She gasped, her worry drowning out all else. "Hunnt! Look at your poor hands!" She caught them gently, turning them over in her weathered palms. Her frown deepened when she saw the hastily tied bandages, blood already seeping through.
"Who did this?" she demanded, though her tone softened as she glanced at Elara.
"I did," Elara admitted quickly. "It was just to stop the bleeding until we got back."
Mel sighed, shaking her head, but a faint smile tugged at her lips. "You did well, child. But this…" She looked back at Hunnt, her voice tender but firm. "This is not how you care for your body, Hunnt."
Without waiting, she guided him a few steps away from the crowd. From her pouch, she pulled clean water and fresh linen. Carefully, she unwrapped the makeshift bandages, wincing at the sight of his split knuckles. The cuts were deep, angry red, but not beyond her care.
Hunnt hissed softly as she cleaned the wounds, though he tried to stay still. "Granma… I had no choice. The gauntlet broke. It was my fists or nothing."
"I know," she murmured, dabbing gently. "But promise me, Hunnt. Promise me you'll take better care of yourself. You can't keep fighting like this, not if you want to keep those fists strong."
He met her gaze, his own steady. "I'll be careful," he promised.
Mel tied the final knot, the fresh linen snug but not suffocating. She brushed a hand over his cheek briefly before letting him go.
---
Meanwhile, Dom crouched beside the Ravagerak's body, running calloused hands over its jagged scales and massive horns. "I've never seen anything like this," he muttered. "Where did it come from?"
Coerl stepped forward, his eyes sharp as he inspected the beast. He tapped a claw with a blacksmith's precision. "Variant… maybe hybrid. This isn't a natural apex. It evolved differently, or something influenced it. Either way, it's dangerous."
Dom grunted, rising slowly. "Then it's all the more reason to be cautious. But…" He looked at the young hunters, his stern expression softening slightly. "You've done well. The village is safer tonight because of you."
Hunnt flexed his fingers inside the new bandages, the dull ache throbbing beneath the linen. He could still feel that strange force lingering, the unseen armor that had coated his blows in the heat of battle. He didn't know its name yet, but he knew it was real.
His gaze swept to Corwin, Elara, and Pyro. Their steady presence grounded him.
"Next time," Hunnt said quietly, determination burning in his voice, "we'll be ready for anything."
The villagers erupted into murmurs once more, some cheering, others whispering nervously about the fallen beast. But for Hunnt and his companions, the noise faded into the background. All that mattered was the bond forged in battle, the strength tested, and the unshakable resolve that carried them forward.
The forest beyond Ravenshire still stirred with threats. But together, they knew they would face them all.
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✨ Hi amazing readers! ✨
I'm beyond excited to share not just one, but two epic stories with you!
📖 Final Fantasy: The Unwritten
Step into the vast multiverse of Final Fantasy—where heroes, destinies, and untold adventures intertwine in ways you've never seen before.
⚔️ Renegade: Arsenal of War
Follow the journey of a relentless tech soldier who forges groundbreaking weapons to end the war once and for all.
Your support means the world to me—every read, comment, and share helps bring these stories to life. 🌌🔥 Together, let's explore the unwritten and fight through the arsenal of war!
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