After getting the quest, Max departed using the steam train. He only needed to show the paper to the conductor and sat before his vision turned. Before he could understand what happened, he had arrived at his destination, Rabi Village.
The village was pretty tranquil, with a large farm spread across the horizon. Cows were eating grass, and people tended to them. There didn't seem to be any danger coming close to it... Until Max saw the destruction in the other direction.
A large hole could be seen in one of the barns. Around that hole, large footprints could be seen. It had three fingers, with the middle bigger than the other two. A blood trail followed the footprints away from the barn, probably a cow's or a horse's.
Based on the depth of the footprint that destroyed the grass, the monster was probably more than a 5-meter.
'A Small-Class, huh? And it probably stood on two legs.' He thought. 'I now understand why they ask for an annihilation quest. If the monster isn't killed, it will destroy the farm and kill all cattle.'
Getting used to Garrador and that ridiculously large boulder that was about to crush him, Max made a guess at what kind of monster Raxor was.
There was a lump of light that moved away from him. Based on his understanding of a game, the guide would probably take him to the quest's giver to get more information.
While walking, he looked around and said, "This is pretty nice. The views are so good. I can understand why you guys recommend this game."
— Agree
— This game has ridiculously great scenery. That's why many hunting game lovers love it.
— While the concurrent viewers of this game are less than Knight's Journey now, thanks to someone promoting it, we will still watch it.
— Though the monster is ridiculously hard to beat. That's the only cons this game has.
— Unless you're skilled enough, you won't be able to enjoy this scenery lololol
— Go to Snow Ravine, Breeze. That place has the best scenery out of all areas in Mercenary Quest!
— Or you can go to South Breeze. The name is similar to yours. You would like that place. It has a nice wind
"That sounds great, chat. But there is a mone– a monster that I need to hunt. So I will keep your suggestion on my note for now."
Saying so, he kept following the light until he found a man sitting in front of a rundown house. His haggard look was enough to tell the story about his misfortune.
The light stopped in front of that man and turned into an exclamation mark that floated above his head. This must be the quest-giver.
"Good afternoon, sir. I am Breeze, the mercenary who took your quest." Max called out to the man politely.
Upon hearing his voice, the man's visage brightened. He looked up with a bright smile on his face.
"Oooh, finally! Mercenary, sir. Please... Please eliminate Raxor for us! That damned monster... It has taken all my cattle. It destroyed my barn and farm in only 3 days! I can't do it... My family has left me after I have nothing.
Please, avenge me!" The man begged sincerely, tears ran down his eyes.
It became dark real quick. Max was speechless as he saw the man groveling in front of him, crying loudly like a little child.
"Hmm, 3 meters, huh? It might be possible." He muttered as he looked at the top of the cliff.
— It's normally not possible
— Not even a normal player would think like him.
— It's just impossible, Breeze. Unless you can jump two times
— Superhuman or not, only you can say it's possible.
— Yes, but... It's inefficient to look around. The cliff spread wide. Climbing it is more efficient.
The last chat was correct. If he chose to walk around, it would probably take him 5 minutes or more. That was far too inefficient compared to jumping to the top.
With his newfound agility and strength, he jumped upward. He could reach the edge even without a wall jump, but that wouldn't be fun. So, he chose to kick the slightly sloping cliff and flipped. Style points were always important.
The viewers were impressed by his skill display. The confidence in his ability was what made this possible.
However...
— Look out!
— Hello, bish!
— SURPRISE, MOTHERLICKER!
... Max didn't know that the monster, Raxor, was waiting for him above the cliff. All he saw before he blacked out was a fist and the shadow of the large monster. It was 5 meters tall. Based on the shadow he saw, he identified the monster's appearance.
'Damn it–'
[You have died.]
His character was killed in just one hit on the head that crushed his skull.
A few seconds later, Max was revived on the train. He was sitting on one of the many empty seats. Looking at the camera that was hovering low in front of him, he held his head in disbelief.
"Raxor is a freaking kangaroo?!"
What was this? Australian wildlife?
This didn't make any sense!
That brown fur and muscular arms. A pair of legs and ears that resembled bunnies. More importantly... that pouch on the stomach and innocent look.
Even when it was covered with thick fur, impossibly dense muscles, and the spike in its back didn't help to conceal its real identity as a kangaroo.
"A carnivore kangaroo... Can this game's creative team be so lazy to think of something cooler than that? At least design something cooler, like a dragon with two legs or something, not a freaking kangaroo. So lazy!"