Shawn's POV:
I understood his anger, Hudson's that is. He didn't speak much but I could tell that he was a good person at heart. He didn't like it when people hurt those he cared for. And I am the same way. I was angry at being ripped from those who I considered family. I was angry at being in this situation to begin with. But even thorns have roses. This situation gave me an opportunity. An opportunity for all of us. The gods gifted us all equipment after the first hunt. All of us got something out of it. Although Rebecca didn't take it since it was 'pathetic', we were gifted something through their grace. And the strongest of us all was this young man by me. Together we will slay this beast, begin our legend and perhaps even get another gift. Yet despite all the potential gains, my anger was not soothed.
I was livid, not at Hudson, but at that damned orator. I saw the look in his eyes. As a father to a daughter, my blood boiled at the very thought of his schemes. If it hadn't been for Hudson's quick intervention, we would've been dead on the spot. Now, survival was all we had left. As we trekked onward, the air grew thick with tension, every rustle in the underbrush setting my nerves on edge.
Then I saw it, a monstrous beast, it had three heads, a grotesque amalgamation of lion, goat, and serpent. My blood ran cold as its gaze locked onto us, a predator sizing up its prey. Its body loomed over us, as large as a Leopard 2A7 tank. I heard a faint whisper from Hudson beside me, "Fuck, it's a chimaera."
I didn't know much about the beast, but I'd seen depictions of it in the book Hudson occasionally read. Naturally, Hudson took the lead. He ordered me to focus on the beast's heads while he handled the rear. I understood why. I was stronger but less agile than Hudson, and I couldn't afford to be poisoned by the serpent's fangs. I used my identify skill on the beast to grasp its ferocity.
Predator of the Plains
Infant Chimera (Learned) D+
HP: 9880/10000
Hudson and I exchanged glances, a silent understanding passing between us. We were in over our heads, and we both knew it. For the first time, doubt crept into my mind, were we really strong enough to take this thing down? The thought of failure, of dying here, so far from my family, chilled me to the bone.
We assumed our positions, bracing for the fight of our lives. I'd like to say that aligning ourselves with our strengths made the battle easier, but it didn't. Every strike from the chimaera sent shockwaves through my body, my arms trembling from the force. The relentless assault battered not just my defences, but my spirit. Each parry felt like I was holding back a tidal wave with nothing but a broken shield, and with every second, the weight of the battle crushed me a little more. I knew Hudson would deal the most damage, with only one head targeting him, while I had to fend off two. I couldn't dodge, so I defended, standing my ground and silently praying for Hudson to pull through.
The beast roared in pain, and I was momentarily confused. All my strikes had been superficial at best. Then I felt a slimy, viscous mass land on my neck. Ignoring it, I swung with all my might, trying to capitalise on the beast's shock. I managed to leave a deep gash in the goat head's neck, but then we received a system warning.
Beep!
The Infant Chimera used Unique Skill: Berserk
Strength and Agility increased by 50%
Unable to feel pain.
The chimaera's berserk state unleashed a fury that was beyond anything I had imagined. It attacked with the ferocity of a storm, and I was nothing more than a leaf in its path. The blow sent me flying, crashing into the ground with such force that I felt the air rush out of my lungs. Pain seared through my body, and as I struggled to rise, I realised with horror that I might not be able to stand again. I was fortunate not to be bleeding, but my broken bones weren't helping. All I could do was watch in horror as the battle between the beast and my friend continued.
Hudson roared, drawing the beast's attention. He must have noticed my predicament. The beast lunged at him, and I saw something both breathtaking and terrifying, Hudson narrowly dodging each blow, but now there were only 2 heads, Hudson must have decapitated the serpent. As I lay on the ground, struggling to breathe, I caught a glimpse of Hudson. His eyes, once sharp and focused, had turned pitch black, like the void itself had seeped into his soul. A chill ran down my spine, but it wasn't just fear, it was something deeper, a primal instinct warning me that whatever Hudson had become, it was something terrifyingly powerful, something that might one day turn on us all. But what was even more unsettling was the way his style shifted entirely, from defence to a more aggressive approach. It was as if the change in his eyes unleashed a primal force within him.
He allowed the goat's horns to impale him slightly, using the leverage to rip off the goat head while simultaneously swinging his blade at the lion. It was a strategy no ordinary human could pull off. It was like watching two apex predators battle for dominance. Only then did I realise my own shortcomings.
I had always been set in my ways, never adapting or changing my methods because they had never failed me since the mole rat. But witnessing Hudson's adaptability in battle made me realise I needed to do the same. I had to become unpredictable yet efficient. I might not fight like Hudson, but I could still find my own path.
With only one head remaining, the young chimaera used its final chance to attack Hudson. It leaped, maw wide open, aiming to end the fight in one swift blow. But that was its biggest mistake. Hudson, bloodied and barely standing, raised his blade in a move that defied all logic. It wasn't just a strike, it was the culmination of everything he had become, a blow delivered with precision and a ruthless determination that left no room for doubt. The chimaera leaped, its jaws wide, and in that split second, time seemed to freeze. Hudson's blade found its mark, piercing through flesh and bone with a finality that echoed in the silence that followed. The blade pierced deep into the chimaera's gaping mouth, and I noticed his eyes were still a deep, unnerving black. A moment of silence, then a system message.
Beep!
Predator of the Plains hunted.
Contribution:
Hudson Mitchell 65%
Shawn Adams 35%
Allocating Rewards...
Skill Unlocked: Defensive Fortitude:
A passive skill that enhances the user's ability to withstand physical and magical attacks. When activated, this skill significantly boosts the user's resilience, allowing them to endure prolonged battles without succumbing to exhaustion or injury. The longer the user remains in combat, the more effective this skill becomes, gradually increasing defence stats over time. Ideal for tank roles or front-line fighters expected to absorb damage and protect allies.
Strength +5%, Incoming Damage -5%.
Satisfied with my new skill, I opened my status.
Name: Shawn Adams
Rank: Mortal (F)
Class: Heavy Warrior
Patron #1: N/A
Patron #2: N/A
Patron #3: N/A
Skills:
Identify [A], Defensive Fortitude Level 1 [P]
As I took in the new stats, I noticed Hudson walking toward me, still smiling despite the exhaustion and wounds. As Hudson approached, his eyes returning to normal, I felt a surge of relief, but it was tainted by a dark undercurrent of fear. What had I just witnessed? The man who had saved my life was also the man who, for a moment, had become something else entirely. Gratitude warred with unease in my heart, leaving me uncertain of what the future held. He lay down beside me, healing slowly. I wondered how many skills he had gained in that fight but chose to dismiss it. After all, this man was the reason I was still alive.