Chapter 247: Zach

Chapter 247: Zach

Monster Hunting Expert

You sure about this? Zach asked as they reached their destination.

Naha nodded her head. Fighting monsters in the respawning dungeons is one thing. For the most part they have only an animal-like intelligence. Fighting a dragon in the open world that had probably killed tier 14 capable adventuring teams, is another thing entirely.

Weve done well enough so far, Zach argued, though in truth he didnt disagree. They had been fighting monsters, true, but they had relied on Nahas knowledge about them and their mastery of their power to outclass the monsters.The most uptodate novels are published on n0velbj)n((.))co/m

We have, Naha said. But it would be better if we at least tried to be less arrogant.

Zach chuckled and shook his head. Both of them were confident in their power, and they had both gone through a lot, had overcome a lot. There was little that Zach was afraid of facing at her side.

They walked into the inn and Zach cast his eyes around the room. The building was made out of white bone on the outside, as most buildings in the White City were, but the inside itself was lined with wooden planks. That gave the room a cozy feeling. The inns common room was spacious and filled with tables that were occupied by all kinds of people.

There he is, Naha pointed at a drake sitting at a table in the corner alone leaned over a small book.

The two of them made their way across the room and came to a stop next to the table where a red and black scaled drake who was furiously writing something down.

Adventurer Fusescorch, Naha greeted the drake.

The drake raised his head from his book and then blinked, a moment later he grinned at them. His teeth were sharper and slightly longer than those of most drakes, in fact, his whole body was slightly exaggerated. Longer claws, sharper scales, narrower snout with wicked teeth.

Ah, wardens, the man greeted them loudly. You are right on time!

Zach inclined his head in the drakes direction. He remembered him, Adventurer Basthec Fusescorcha Monster Hunterthough they hadnt met before now. The drake had taken part in the tournament in the same category as Zach, though he had been a solo entry. From what Zach remembered, the drake had gotten pretty far in the tournament, though Zach didnt remember how he had placed in the end. Most of what happened before the invasion was a blur in Zachs head. The fighting and closing of the portal was what he remembered the most, and then the fighting retreat. The people around him who had lost family and friends, people who looked at him and other wardens to protect them. Those things stuck in his mind a lot more than the tournament itself.

Of course, Naha said. We wouldnt want to keep you waiting.

The drake nodded and closed his book, then wrapped it up carefully before flicking his hand and having it disappear, probably stored inside a spatial item. Well then, Ive taken the liberty of reserving a private room, right this way! He said, his voice still just a bit too loud.

Zach suppressed the desire to grimace at that, and they followed after him. The drake led to the back of the inn and to a small private room. Zach noticed the standard privacy formations on the walls of the roommost places such as this inn that catered to adventurers had things like that. Places where people could talk in private were important, especially for cities like this one.

Thank you for meeting with us, Adventurer Fusescorch, Naha said as all three of them took their seats. Naha and Zach on one side and the drake across from them.

No problem, you are paying me after all, the drake grinned. And just Basthec is fine.

Basthec then. I am Warden Nahamassa Plainrunner, and this is my partner Warden Zacharia Gardner, Naha introduced them.

Basthec tilted his head as he looked Naha over. A shifter class?

Yes, Naha answered.

Hm you have the Chimera attunement, right? And your body means that you have Unique Form, a very rare perk, I am envious, it is better than mine. Though, I think that monster shifting isnt your primary focus, or it wasnt until recently

Ive shifted focus recently, Naha said.

Interesting, perhaps we could spar sometime, Basthec said with a grin, then turned his head to look at Zach. And I am, of course, familiar with you. Wardens Tempest, it is an honor. Your fights in the tournament were incredible.

Thank you. Your fights were great as well, Zach said, though he didnt remember much of the mans fights.

For a few seconds the drake remained silent, then he spoke again. The rumors say that you were part of the attack on the portal, that you were the one close it.

I was the only one available with a power that could be of use, it was fortune or misfortune depending on how you look at it, Zach told him.

Ha! The drake laughed again. Misfortune indeed. Ive fought on the wall; Ive seen just how horrible those monsters are.

That they are, Zach added.

Enough about that, Basthec waved his hand. Let us focus on why you wanted to speak with me.

Zach glanced at Naha then motioned for her to speak. They had been making an effort to have her interact with other people more in her base form. She was fine when she needed to pretend, when she played a role. Being herself that was harder.

AdvBasthec, we wanted to talk about your trade, obviously, more preciselydragons, Naha said.

Zach waved his hand; it wasnt really a concern. Both he and Naha had been well compensated for what they had done in the Tournament City, and then theyve earned more during the last three years of taking contracts almost daily.

Well then, the first thing you should know about dragons is that there are many different types. Most of them have some kind of Aspect associated with them and they are very good at using them. The most common types are dragonlings, which are the smallest of their variants, but are extremely vicious and cunning. Some can fly, but most dont. Usually, they fight in small packs of six to ten monsters. I doubt that we are dealing with this type, your report doesnt support that.

Yes, the reports are about only one flying monster. Big enough that it cast a large shadow on the ground, Naha added.

That means one of the bigger variants, without more information it is nearly impossible to know which one, but I would put my Essence on it being a wyvern.

A wyvern? Zach asked.

Yes. They are large, territorial, and generally wickedly hard to deal with, mostly because their size. Their mastery of their Aspect is not great, but they make up for the lack of finesse by brute force. Dealing with one of them would involve finding its lair and laying a trap. Most of wyvern types make lairs in caves, so fighting there would eliminate its flying capability.

Zach nodded his head, since that did make sense to him.

And if it is not a wyvern? Naha asked.

Basthec grimaced. This is why I dont think that we should make any real plans now. First, we need information. The usual way that these hunts go is that we take a couple of days to gather information about our prey, then we make a plan, return to our base and resupply with everything that we think we might need and only then do we engage the monster. Making a plan to fight a wyvern is a lot different if it is not wyvern, but a lindwrum or a wrym.

But you think that we can do this? Zach asked.

Basthec didnt answer immediately, he took a few seconds to think about it. The truth is that we are not a team. If you want me to help with this, then you will need to trust me. Knowing what our powers are and how we fight will go a big way toward making this mission a success. If you cant do that, then we can part ways here. Otherwise Yes, I think that we can. From what I saw of you in the tournament you are very strong. If we manage to find two more control specialists taking down even a tier fifteen dragon is possible, assuming of course that it is the right type of a monster and that we can ambush it.

The right kind of monster. Zach knew that it all came down to that. The difference in power can be incredible, even between monsters on the same tier of power. He had fought tier 6 monsters that had been harder to take down than the tier 9 or 10. He knew better than to underestimate monsters. It was the same as with people, different people even on the same tier could have vastly different amounts of power.

Alright, Naha said at last. If you can reach out to those people you think might be interested in joining us, we can start preparing for the trip.

Of course, Basthec said. You should take as much supplies as you can now, make sure that your gear is in top shape. There is a small city near this dragons territory, but with the way things have been between the factions You might not be able to get the same level of service than what you can get here.

Will do, Zach said as all of them stood up. They shook hands and agreed to meet in a couple of days, to allow him time to contact other adventurers.

A few hours later, Zach and Naha were back in their room at the inn they were staying.

What did you think about him? Naha asked.

Zach thought about it for a few moments. He is boastful, but I think that he is capable, Zach answered finally.

Naha nodded in agreement. Ive asked around a bit, he comes well recommended. And I am certain that the people who recommended him were being truthful with me.

Zach nodded then stopped and looked at her. You didnt, he said.

She froze for a moment, and then tilted her head as if she was confused. What do you mean.

Zach glared at her. Weve talked about this. Especially in places like this where there are so many powerful people. It is a risk we shouldnt take.

Ive been doing this for a long time before you came along, Zach, Naha sighed.

I know, Zach put a hand over his face. I know. I just worry. People generally dont react well to someone else impersonating them.

He knew that it was a good way to get information. They had done it quite a few times in the past. Naha had her forms, but she also had abilities that allowed her to shapeshift into people that she just saw on the street. With her perfect imitation, she could fake being someone for short periods of time fairly well. But about a year ago, they had run into an issue with less than forthcoming guards of a small city where they had been hunting a bounty. Naha had impersonated one of the guards and infiltrated them, she got the information they needed, but one of the other guards had a perk that let him see through her disguise. They had been forced to flee the city.

She was registered as a shapeshifter in the Wardens, but that information wasnt widely known. As far as most people were concerned, when they saw her, they assumed that she was a Cultivator or someone like Basthec.

The biggest issue with her doing that was her madness. She was getting better; she hadnt had issues in a long time. But shapeshifting and impersonating people things that she used to do before, it made her remember. It made her get closer to who she used to be. It was why she had pushed her evolutions into monster shifting.

He just didnt want to have her get into something that could lead to her getting hurt. Because he knew how she could react. Her temper was a lot better, but there was no need for her to risk a relapse. A hundred years of living life imbalanced and mad didnt go away in just a few years.

And he had nearly lost her when they attacked the portal. If it hadnt been for Ryun Zach felt her hands on his skin, and he let her pull his arm away from his face.

He looked up only to see her face a hands-breath away from his. Her touch on his skin was soft, her palms werent covered in scales, but just smooth skin.

Dont worry Zach, I am not going anywhere.

He pulled her close and put his arms around her, holding her in a tight embrace.