Raiji walks down the streets.
Got sent out to bounty hunt. But decided it was a bit boring.
Raiji thinks. Hard way to make money. He's got one he always wanted to try—hunting. Only tried it once back at the village. Now he can start.
He thinks back. Recalls there's a hunting hub.
He goes there.
Lots of shops. Buying and selling rare animal meat or skin. Other monster organs or meat.
One guy throws down a big one.
A big Cyclops.
Then takes out its eye as a trophy.
VENDOR:"I'll give you 80k credits for this... and his skin."
BEAST HUNTER:"No. Only the eye. Rest? Chop him up for meat. The skin? I use it."
VENDOR:"Okay then. 10k for the eye."
BEAST HUNTER:"Deal."
Raiji watches
A random girl comes up to him.
GIRL:"You're new here, right? Do you need a guide?"
RAIJI:"Yes. I'm new. Thinking of trying hunting. I've done some hunting before. Once or twice."
He pauses.
"So who are you?"
The woman has short brown hair and glasses. She smiles.
CLEO:"Who, me? Just a random beast hunter. Call me Cleo."
She tilts her head.
"So... should I set you up with a good one?"
A pause.
"And you are?"
RAIJI:"Call me Raiji. You look familiar. Might be one of those faces."
CLEO:"Might be."
She shrugs.
"Okay. I'll ask my sister if I can take you along on a hunt. A bear and an alpha wolf. He's huge. Hopefully something rare."
She grins.
"You want to tag along? I'll make sure you're safe."
RAIJI (sarcastic voice):"Sure."
Cleo leads the way to the main hunting base.
She tells Raiji to wait there and look at the bounties.
She goes to the other side where they prepare for the hunt.
Raiji looks at the bounties.
His eyes stop on one.
THE WILDER BEAST – 250,000 CREDITS
RAIJI:"This thing... I'll hunt it."
MEANWHILE – PREPARATION AREA
Three army trucks float there.
The sister stands waiting.
LT. EVA ROSTOVA
EVA:"Sis. Are you ready?"
CLEO:"I sure am."
She pauses.
"So... there's this guy. New to town. New to hunting. I told him I'd show him the ropes."
She gives her best smile.
"Can he come? Please?"
EVA:"Because it's you... okay."
She crosses her arms.
"But it's your job to teach him well. He brings his own swords and guns."
CLEO:"He has a sword. Two, actually."
EVA:"Two swords?"
She raises an eyebrow.
"Odd. The guy I'm hunting uses two swords. Spotted in town."
A pause.
"Anyway... not too many use two swords."
Eva prepares. She takes out her silver sworda diamond on the hilt.
Cleo gets her dagger and gun.
Then her white cape.
They meet up with Raiji.
Eva's eyes meet his.
Like old enemies.
The air heats up. Pressure can be felt.
High pressure wind.
RAIJI:"Have we met before?"
sudden cold pressure
CLEO:"Seems like you meet everyone these days."
She steps between them.
"Let's go on that hunt."
Eva looks at his face. Then at his sword.
EVA:"Nope. Never did."
They take a ride in the truck to the first hunting area.
They run into a bear.
CLEO:"Hi, rookie. I'm ready to teach you. My big sis agreed."
Raiji and the bear stare at each other.
Then more bears appear.
Six of them.
CLEO:"Okay, rookie. There are bears. I'll show you how it's done."
She runs at two of them.
Shoots their legs.
Waits for them to attack.
Slides.
Slice to the neck.
Gush of blood.
The other one?
Knife to the neck.
Done.
RAIJI:"Nice. That was fast."
CLEO:"Yes. This is how it should be."
EVA:"You must aim for a kill on the beast. No playing. Keeps the pelt in good quality."
RAIJI:"Makes sense."
Raiji moves fast. Taps the ground. Only cuts the bear's eye.
The bear rises in rage. Strikes.
Raiji strikes back.
Neck.
Gush of blood.
RAIJI:"How did I do?"
Two more bears appear. One big. Black.
Eva moves fast. Wind strike. Sends them into trees.
No damage to their pelts. But they're out cold.
EVA:"Makes me the winner. Best belt."
RAIJI:"Bragging much?"
They search for the big wolf.
Scratches on trees.
Then on a downed tree
A sleeping wolf.
EVA:"We found him. Little sis... throw the sleeping gas while he sleeps."
Cleo throws three sleeping gas canisters.
Then shoots a dart in the wolf's neck.
The wolf wakes up.
Roars.
The sound echoes through the forest.
He's up.
White fur. Huge. Forty feet tall.
Eva waits for him to get out of the sleeping gas.
Strikes both feet at the same time.
He's about to trip
Raiji slides under.
Wind pressure slice.
Sends him upward.
Another slice next to Eva.
The wolf drops.
Bang.
RAIJI: "That was the fun one. How did I do, ladies?"
Eva puts away her sword.
EVA: "Good job, swordsman. You're a quick learner. Waste of talent."
Raiji looks at her sword. Strange expression on his face.
CLEO: "Yeah. Fast. Real fast. You're my student now."
RAIJI: "I've got a bounty. I'd like to take it on myself."
CLEO: "You sure?"
EVA: "Sure. Go ahead."