Hunnt and Pyro had been drifting for several weeks now. The constant movement, hunting, and tracking of monsters had begun to take its toll on their equipment. Hunnt's gauntlets were scratched and dented, his armor bearing deep gouges, and Pyro's SnS showed chips along the blade while his light armor had worn thin. They needed repairs and upgrades—both to survive and to fight effectively.
One afternoon, the pair came upon a small village nestled quietly in a valley, framed by dense forest on one side and rolling hills on the other. Unlike most settlements they had passed, this one seemed unusually tense. Children were absent from the streets, and the few villagers visible moved with hurried, anxious steps. Doors and windows remained tightly shut, and even the air felt heavy, as though warning of some unseen threat.
Hunnt's eyes narrowed, scanning the village carefully. Subtle movements in the treeline caught his attention—bent branches, disturbed grass—and he sensed tension in the air, the faint pulse of danger. Pyro's ears twitched. "Something's wrong, Master," he said softly, tail flicking nervously.
Hunnt nodded. "Stay close. Let's find out what's happening." He approached a man sitting on the steps of a small hut, wringing his hands nervously.
"Hello," Hunnt said politely. "Can you tell me what's happening here? Why is everyone so tense?"
The villager hesitated, glancing around before leaning closer. "It's… better if the village chief tells you. Please, follow me."
Hunnt and Pyro trailed behind him, moving cautiously through the narrow, empty streets. The silence was unusual for a village; even the usual chatter of children and the clatter of carts was absent. Hunnt's Observation Haki flickered subtly, detecting faint traces of fear and hurried movements hidden behind closed doors. He sensed no immediate threat, but the tension hung like a storm cloud.
The villager led them to the chief's house, a slightly larger structure with a carved wooden door at the center of the village. He knocked sharply: Knock! Knock!
The door creaked open, revealing a tall man with stern eyes and a weathered face. "What now?" the village chief demanded, scanning the faces outside.
The villager stepped aside, gesturing to Hunnt. "This one wishes to speak with you, chief."
The chief's eyes fell on Hunnt, surprise flashing across his face. "Hunters Guild… are you here to help us? To kill the monster?"
Hunnt shook his head, keeping his tone calm and deliberate. "I'm sorry, but I'm not from the guild."
The chief's expression darkened instantly. "Then what are you here for? Another traveler wasting our time?"
Hunnt's gaze hardened. "I may not be from the guild, but I'm a drifter. I help villages threatened by monsters. I will help you hunt this one."
The chief's eyes narrowed further, suspicion lacing his voice. "And you know we can't pay you. The guild refused our request because we couldn't."
Hunnt's lips curved in a small, confident smile. "I don't need payment. I only ask that I may use your smithy, and that we can keep the materials from the hunt. My companion and I will need them to repair and upgrade our equipment before we face the monster."
The chief blinked, seeing the determination in Hunnt's eyes. He nodded slowly, hands resting on his hips. "Yes, yes. Take what you need. Use the smithy and all supplies we have. Just… be careful."
Hunnt inclined his head respectfully. "Thank you."
The smithy was warm and filled with the scent of molten metal and oil. Hunnt set his gauntlets and armor on the workbench while Pyro carefully laid out his SnS and light armor. Sparks flew as Hunnt reforged his gauntlets, smoothing dents, reinforcing weak points, and lightly reshaping the knuckles to maximize both power and flexibility. Pyro's SnS was sharpened, balanced, and cleaned meticulously, while his armor was strengthened with reinforced plates over the shoulders and chest. Hunnt's Observation Haki flickered subtly, allowing him to gauge every structural weakness without missing a detail.
By late afternoon, the work was complete. The armor gleamed faintly in the setting sun, and Pyro's blade now had a deadly, precise edge. Hunnt tested the gauntlets with a few controlled strikes, feeling the reinforced punch echo perfectly through his arms without any strain.
With their equipment upgraded, they returned to the chief's house. "Chief," Hunnt said politely, "may we have some food before we set out? It's been a long day."
The chief nodded, leading them inside. Bowls of steaming stew were placed before them, and Pyro nibbled at his portion, tail flicking in quiet contentment. Hunnt ate steadily, already planning the next day's hunt.
Once the meal was finished, Hunnt asked, "Chief… do you know what kind of monster we're dealing with?"
The chief's expression grew grave. "Yes. Its name is Thornback Reaver. Have you ever encountered it before?"
Hunnt shook his head. "No, but I will manage."
The chief pointed westward. "It was last sighted in the forest beyond the river. Be careful, young hunter. I've heard roaring from that direction that does not belong to the Reaver… something else, something large and dangerous."
Hunnt nodded. "Understood. I'll sleep here tonight and go hunt at first light."
The chief gestured to an extra bed in the corner. "Use it. You'll need your strength for tomorrow."
"Thank you," Hunnt said sincerely, settling his travel pack near the bed. Pyro curled up at his feet, ears flicking as the wind whispered through the village. Hunnt closed his eyes, mind already mapping the forest and the paths the Thornback Reaver might take.
Even as he drifted toward sleep, Hunnt reflected on the path he had chosen. As a drifter, he answered to no guild and no rules—except his own. Every village he protected, every monster he hunted, was a step toward building the world he had envisioned. The Eternal Wanderer had started with an emblem etched into his gauntlets, but its purpose extended beyond symbols—it was a promise to protect, a mark of responsibility.
Outside, the night settled over the village, calm but tense. Hunnt's Observation Haki subtly scanned the forest, detecting the faintest rustle of leaves, the distant snap of branches. He was ready. Whatever the Thornback Reaver, or anything lurking beyond, he would face it head-on.
Pyro shifted closer, nudging Hunnt's hand. "Master… we'll handle it tomorrow?"
Hunnt smiled faintly, feeling the fire of resolve settle in his chest. "Yes, Pyro. Tomorrow, we hunt. And no one will be hurt. Not while we're here."
The night deepened, the flames of the hearth casting dancing shadows across the room. Hunnt's mind remained vigilant, his resolve unwavering. The Thornback Reaver would fall, and the village would be safe. That was the path of a drifter—and that was the life Hunnt had chosen.