Chapter 8- Bravo

We make our own monsters, then fear them for what they show us about ourselves. In the abyss, there's no strong, weak or lord. There's only the fittest and the survivor.

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The bloody hunt between Nagumo and the monsters of the abyss went on for some time.

And with each successful hunt the thin line between prey and predator that was an illusion, began to disappear as he familiarized himself with his new powers and ingeniously created a modern weapon that had achieved futuristic abilities with the aid of magic.

'Donner' as he called it, was a monster of a weapon than Ken expected it be. Spanning approximately thirty-five centimeter, made using the hardest ore in the area, the Taur Stone with a six-round revolving cartridge. It had a rectangular barrel. The bullets were also made from Taur Stone with powdered Combustion Stone compacted within. In other words, it's a large revolver-type handgun.

Moreover, the bullets not only had the explosive power of the Combustion Stone, it was further electromagnetically accelerated by Hajime's [Lightning Clad] skill into a mini railgun. Its maximum power was ten times that of an anti-materiel rifle.

' In all honesty it looks like 'The Dominator' from psycho pass. And with it's devastating power and speed no wonder everything looked easy in the anime. I guess only defensive and regeneration type monsters can survive more than a shot' .

Ken thought without a single fear in his eyes as he witnessed Nagumo kill a Kicking Rabbit with a shot after it took the bait. He had been watching Nagumo hunt, get creative and get stronger while munching on some slightly burnt rabbit meat with the latter being none the wiser but once in a while looks around feeling a gaze.

Nagumo immediately devoured the whole rabbit monster without prepping it which brought a brief disgusted expression on Ken face.

Nagumo then looked at his status card with a thoughtful face and began training with the kicking Rabbit's abilities with some success and injuries.

Ken goes back to his new base he created about 1km away from Nagumo's base after the latter called it a day. This went on pretty much everyday as Ken comes in the afternoon according to his wrist watch and spies on him.

' With the confidence and fighting spirit he exudes from hunting alot of monsters and completing his weapon, tomorrow must to the D-Day and we can finally move on' thought Ken as he drifted to sleep.

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In the dungeon passage was the figure of a blurred shadow moving at high speeds.

It's Hajime. He had completely mastered [Greater Steps], running on the ground and walls with [Flash steps], occasionally making aerial footholds with [Air steps], he repeatedly searched for his nemesis, the Talon Bear, using high speed movements. Hajime wanted the Talon Bear dead at all cost. With his once broken spirit recovered, he couldn't help but want to try if he was still able to battle precisely before that monster's very eyes.

After a few turns and killing all obstacles in his path, he came facing his archenemy, the Talon bear.

After shouting and talking as if he knew it could understand him, the battle began with Hagime making first move but failed to catch the monster off guard as it moved its head out of the bullet's trajectory but lost some flesh on it's shoulder.

Kenshiro sat down relaxed with a meat snack in his hand as he watched the battle like it was a live broadcast game play's final match.

The battle continued as Nagumo lost the advantage after his first shot, with the beast attacking with it's own long range attack skill [Wind claws]. This went on for some time with Hagime keeping his distance and shooting while the monster dodging with great agility and countering.

The battle ended when Hagime used the green light stone as a flash bomb which blinded the monster and shot it's limbs immobilizing it with ease. The bear looked at Nagumo like it's enemy and not a prey he failed to kill before for the first time. Nagumo proceeded to shit talk it before killing it with a head shot.

"With this gone I can proceed to look for an exit and go home... home"

"Right… I want… to go back. The others can do as they like. I will go back using my own methods. Fulfilling my wish. Whoever hinders me, no matter what kind of existence…"

Eyes widened, Hajime's mouth lifted into a fearless smile but frowned the next second.

*Clap* *Clap* *Clap*

"Bravo!! Bravo!" shouted Ken with excitement in a moments forgetfulness.

"WHO!!?''

Hagime immediately points his gun at the direction of the sound with his trigger finger ready.

"Whoa!!. Easy with that thing it's me your friend, Kenshiro, remember?" shouted Ken with his hands up but with no fear in his eyes or voice.

"Kenshiro? h-how?.....why are yo...what are doing here?" exclaimed Nagumo with a surprised expression but still on guard as his gun is still up.

"Wow, so you've forgotten about me so soon even when we both fell here. Ha!!.... now I know how Yaegashi Shizuku felt" smiled Ken who still had his hands up but gradually dropped them.

"Wait, how long have you been here?. And your hair, eyes, skin..... no way, you didn't!!"

" Yes I did~~. Cool right, and to answer your first question since the first day we landed. Now am a hybrid with a lot of Special magics just like you"

"It can't be... that should have killed you. Even I survived with sheer luck when I forget what it meant to eat a monster's flesh"

"Naah~ you weren't the first to the find the mana liquid and you weren't first to transform either"

"Mana liquid!? what's that"

"Hm? what do you call this liquid?" said Ken as he showed Nagumo a bottle of mana liquid.

"The sacred water!!?. So... you found it first means y-you saw me while I was unconscious and almost died?" exclaimed Nagumo with a piercing gaze.

"eh!? yes. But the past doesn't matter anymore, look at you, a far cry from your former self. Especially when you killed the monster that took your--"

"You were there when I lost my arm, when I spent days starving and when I was forced to eat monster flesh almost dying?" interrupted Nagumo with varying expressions.

"Well if you put it like that it sounds bad" said Ken with a deadpan expression before speaking again.

"If you losing an arm will cause you to be less of a burden in this place then it's worth it.

If you starving for days while mopping will allow you to figure things out and grow some balls then it's a plus in my book, you need your balls.

And if being at death's door while hunting and eating monster flesh evolves you, causing you to break free, don't you think it's great " proclaimed Ken with a matter-of-factly face.

"You are not my friend!!!!".

.......