Chapter 3: Hunter x Prey

Davion awoke from a dream, his mind still filled with the image of his beloved grandfather. In the dream, they sat together in a cozy cave, surrounded by warmth from the crackling campfire. Davion noticed his grandfather's dragon scale slowly withering away, prompting concern.

"Granpa, you should take care of yourself. Lie down," Davion urged, his voice filled with worry.

His grandfather chuckled heartily. "Hyo! Hyo! Hyo! Don't you worry, my boy. This old man isn't going anywhere."

The scene flickered as Davion's grandfather spoke his final wish, his voice fading. "Before my time comes, will you honor my last wish? Can you become a hero for me?"

Tears welled up in Davion's eyes, but he quickly wiped them away, forcing himself back to the present. The sun shone brightly, painting the world with vibrant colors, and the tranquil sounds of nature filled the air. However, Davion's peace was disturbed by a rather annoying splashing sound nearby.

He turned to see Lihp relieving himself in the river, the sound grating on his nerves. Annoyed, Davion couldn't help but speak up.

"Could you please stop that?" Davion's irritation seeped into his voice.

Lihp, oblivious to his companion's annoyance, responded defensively, "Stop, stop what? Me peeing? I can't just stop. It's already running."

With a chuckle, Lihp complied, "Alright, alright. Geez. No need to get mad."

Davion sighed. Their moment of tranquility was short-lived, as a slight rustling in the nearby grasses caught Davion's attention. His instincts kicked in, and he prepared for possible danger. However, before he could act, Lihp's exclamation stole his focus.

"Motherfucker!" Lihp shouted.

Perplexed, Davion asked, "What happened?"

"Some bird just decided to poop on my neck!" Lihp's annoyance was evident in his voice.

"Hah! Clean yourself up. Let's discuss our plans," Davion replied, exasperated.

Lihp cleaned himself off and joined Davion to strategize their journey. They were headed northwest, traversing the Tomo'kan Wood on their way to the Wailing Mountains. In a hushed whisper, Lihp added, "I'm certain the princess is heading in that direction too."

Davion and Lihp mapped out their route and gathered their belongings, preparing to continue their journey. As they walked, they engaged in casual conversation, allowing Davion to satisfy his curiosity.

"Can you tell me more about the princess?" Davion asked, curiosity shining in his eyes.

Lihp, taken aback by the question, answered in a rushed manner. "The princess? Ah, well, she was quite energetic, I think. Always following me around, skilled with a bow, and she had this enormous pet cat. She was always trying to prove her worth to his majesty."

"Sounds like a spirited young girl," Davion remarked, intrigued.

As they made their way forward, Davion's keen senses detected the slight rustling of grass nearby. Alert, he prepared for a possible threat. Davion keeps noticing some of the grasses move a little,

"Hey, Lihp, we're being followed," Davion whispered, his voice low and tense.

Lihp, confused but trusting Davion's instincts, murmured back, "Really? How many?"

"Probably not many," Davion replied with caution, following it up with a louder shout, "Come out!"

In a sudden blur of movement, a figure leaped forward from the shadows, and Lihp recognized him instantly. "Gondor!" he shouted in a mix of surprise and anxiety.

Bounty Hunter wears dark, ninja-like attire, including a hooded cloak or cowl that obscures part of his face. His outfit is designed to help him blend into shadows and remain unnoticed while stalking his targets. He is equipped with light armor that allows him to move quickly and silently, while also providing some protection during combat. The armor is not overly heavy, as agility and mobility are crucial to his playstyle. Bounty Hunter carries a pair of sharp, curved blades known as "shurikens" or "shuriken-tossers" that he uses as his primary weapon. These blades are deadly and thrown with incredible precision. His lower face is often covered with a mask, further adding to his mysterious and dangerous appearance.

"you know him?" said Davion.

"gondor is a stealthy and agile mercenary with a sleek and menacing appearance. He is a master of stealth and assassination, and his appearance reflects his skills as a deadly mercenary, he works for his majesty in our time." Lihp said.

"what are you doing here?" said Lihp worried.

Gondor taunted them, licking his deadly blades, revealing his sinister intentions. "They have a bounty on your head, Lihp, and it's quite a lot," he sneered.

"I'm sorry, but they're going to kill me if I don't oblige to their orders," Gondor confessed, his voice dripping with malicious intent.

Before they could react further, Gondor lunged at them with incredible speed,"get back!" forcing Davion to push Lihp out of harm's way. Their blades clashed in a flurry of movement, and Gondor managed to strike Davion's armor,but it held strong against the dagger's deadly blow. "tsk. Quiet a sturdy armor you got there, human. But don't worry, I will get you next time," Frustrated, Gondor retreated into the shadows of the grass, vowing to return for another encounter. He hissed, his ominous presence lingering in the forest.

Time passed, and Davion and Lihp remained on edge, expecting Gondor's inevitable return. Davion worried called lihp "Lihp, let's go", "ahh. yes" said Lihp. "I think he's gone" said Davion, "not necessarily, I think he already marked me with his skill. He can smell me now even if I'm in half of the world", "that's quite a skill, do you think he will come back?" said Davion, "I'm sure of it. He will attack when we're vulnerable" Their rest stops became moments of vulnerability, as Gondor continuously surprised them with different attacks, leaving them drained and sleep-deprived after a week of relentless assaults.

On the 7th day, Davion made a calculated move. Davion swung his sword faster, but Gondor is much faster. He saw Davion open for attack at his neck, so Gondor threw his shuriken at Davion, causing Davion to move sideways. This left him an opening, and Gondor slashed a critical hit at Davion's side neck. "Gotcha!" said Gondor. "Davion!" said Lihp, screaming. Blood flowed everywhere, but Davion was determined. After the attack, Davion caught Gondor's left leg and swung him to the ground. "Guhak!!" said Gondor in pain. This caused Gondor to break his back

Gondor let out a pained groan as his back and leg were injured, rendering him unable to move. Lihp hurriedly tended to Davion's wounds, his concern evident in his eyes.

"You've lost a lot of blood. Let me help you," Lihp said, his voice filled with worry.

"Don't worry, my wounds heal quickly," Davion assured him. Lihp observed in awe as Davion's neck wound healed at an astonishing rate.

Amidst the chaos, Davion turned to Lihp and asked, "What should we do with him?" referring to the defeated Gondor. Lihp glanced at the injured bounty hunter lying on the ground, struggling in agony.

"This is a healing potion. Do you still have the skill to track the princess?" Lihp questioned Gondor, his voice filled with a mix of authority and curiosity.

"Of course. She's my next target after you," Gondor replied, still staring at Davion and Lihp.

"You once worked for his majesty," Lihp stated, tossing the healing potion to Gondor. "Will you help us track the princess? We will pay you double the amount the creeps offered you."

Gondor, gulping down the healing potion, slowly stood up with a sly grin. "Hehehe, that's what I like about you, Lihp. You really know how to control someone. Sure, I'll lend you a hand at the right price. Consider it a discount as a thanks for sparing my life."

Davion approached Lihp, his face filled with concern and distrust. "Why did you let him live? We can't trust him," Davion protested.

"Trust me, Davion. We need him," Lihp replied, his mischievous grin revealing a hidden motive.

end of chapter 3

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