First successful hunt, consequences of a broken tag mark

- Hello, good hunter.

Not expecting the doll to speak, Crowley instinctively raised his weapon and prepared to attack. The doll only slightly turned its head to the side.

- I think I scared you. I'm sorry, - the woman bowed deeply in apology.

- I am a doll, here in this dream to look after you. Honourable hunter, pursue the echoes of blood and I will channel them into your strength. You will hunt beasts and I will be here for you, to embolden your sickly spirit.

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11. In exchange for bloody echoes, the Doll is able to strengthen the hunter's body.

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- Right now I don't have blood echoes, I think we can just talk.

- Should we talk? Of course, good hunter, what questions are tormenting your mind?

This was followed by a long Q&A session.

- Gehrman? He was a hunter long, long ago. But now serves only to advise them. He is obscure, unseen in the dreaming world. Still, he stays here, in this dream. Such is his purpose.

- Little ones? Inhabitants of the dream, they find hunters like yourself, worship and serve them. Speak words they do not, but still, aren't they sweet?

- Hunter badge? Take them to the little ones bath. They will be able to recreate things that are preserved in the memory of the badge owner. A little later you can switch with them.

- Is the mark damaged? I can only guess about the consequences of this situation. We know one thing for sure, unlike other hunters who have entered into a contract, after your death, all the messenger lanterns go out, except for one, which is located in the clinic. It forces you to start over every time.

- The giant monster on the bridge? I'm afraid I can't give you advice, go to Gehrman, I'm sure he will definitely help you.

Having unloaded his brain, Crowley decided to go to his master for advice.

-Thank you for your help, - the young hunter bowed, imitating the doll's previous actions. The doll bowed back.

- Farewell, good hunter. May you find your worth in the waking world.

The young hunter went up to the workshop. He said hello and immediately got down to business.

- Huge beast on two limbs? Try to cut his tendons; when he collapses, you will have the opportunity to deliver a crushing blow to a vulnerable spot. The main thing is not to miss the moment.

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29. After enough amount of damage dealt to the supporting limbs of the beasts, they lose their balance, exposing the most vulnerable parts to a blow.

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- Improve weapons? If I'm not mistaken, you have a couple of dew clots with you. They consist of blood echoes, crush them in your hand, and follow me. I'll show you how it's done.

- Borrow books from my library? Quite an unusual request, but if this is your desire... Well, you can take them at any time.

Towards the end of the conversation, Crowley remembered one more thing.

- Master Gehrman, while hunting I found this skull. Can you identify him?

- Ah....yes. We call them the knowledge of a madman. I think you remember the moment when voices sounded in your head? Having absorbed this energy, a person becomes able to see and learn secret knowledge, becoming closer to the Great Ones. But the price of this knowledge is terrible, the nightmare itself grows stronger around such people. Be careful when using them.

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30. Something that is commonly called insight here brings you closer to the "Great Ones." But you have to pay for it.

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This was the end of Crowley's affairs in the hunter's dream.

...

*On the bridge*

Seemingly endless attempts to defeat the horned monster began. In between, the hunter read books that he found in a city or borrowed from his teacher.

....

"How to pick up fair maidens" - One of the few books with a surviving title was found among the Gehrman collection.

{ I don't think I should openly return it. }

.....

Flattened. Thrown off a bridge. Torn to pieces. Eaten alive. Skewered on one of the horns. Sent into the wall with a strong blow. Again. Again. And again.

Sometimes, when it seemed that victory was close, the monster fell into a bloody rage, during which it was not possible to hold out for long.

But in the end, the efforts are rewarded.

During the battle, more than a dozen bullets and blood vessels were used. Many times it seemed that the monster's blow would land directly on the hunter's body, but fortunately he managed to escape with only lacerated wounds.

The prey was defeated. The beast dissolved into thin air, and its energy entered Crowley's body in a single stream. Only the destroyed landscape and blood stains reminded of the battle that took place here.

At the site of the creature's death there now lay a hunter's badge in the shape of a sword.

- I think the time has come when it's worth strengthening my body.

...

*Hunter's Dream*

- Very well, let the echoes become your strength. Let me stand close, now shut your eyes.

Wooden, but seemingly infinitely gentle hands touched the hunter's head.

After a while, Crowley felt the energy stored within him strengthen his body and soul.It seemed that the energy strengthened him at least twice.

- It's done, good hunter.

- Thank you... I'll see you soon.

...

Since the gate behind the monster was closed, the hunter was left with one option. Another bridge, leading at the end of which a huge ball of unknown material could be seen, guarded by a group of infected people of the first and second stages.

Fortunately, while cleaning the sewer, a ladder was discovered, which the hunter decided to use.

After absorbing the blood echoes, the hunt was surprisingly easy. It seemed that the crazy creatures had lost their former strength and speed.

...

After walking a little more, Crowley entered the cemetery. In the distance, a large man in a black priest's suit and hat was diligently cutting something with his hunter's axe.

-Beasts all over the shop... You'll be one of them, sooner or later...

Turning around, a man's face appeared. The eyes are missing, apparently in an attempt to avoid insight, he got rid of them. Tangled gray hair, an open mouth, barely sucking in air. A talisman in the form of a censer hung around his neck.

- Hunter? Are you okay?!

Without giving an answer, the man rushed forward, striking with incredible accuracy and force, making sparks upon impact with the surface.

Thanks to his increased characteristics, Crowley was able to avoid the first blow. Having begun a counterattack, the cane-whip rose into the air, and when the tip of the weapon almost reached the priest, a shot sounded.

*Boom*

The mad hunter held a pistol in his hand, using shot as a cartridge. Because of the hunter's clothing, the bullets were unable to cause irreparable damage.

But according to Gehrman, Crowley's body instantly experienced terrible spasms, as a result of which he fell limply to his knees.

A neat strike. The hunter's still smiling head rolled along the ground.

*Death*

...

Waking up again in the clinic, Crowley had a terrifying realization. The powers he gained from absorbing the blood echoes disappeared.

{ What happened?! }

Arriving in the hunter's dream, he asked the doll this question.

- Come closer, - without hesitation, he bowed his head before the woman's gentle touches.

- I'm afraid it's all about the mark. Usually it is the source of the hunter's strengthening, and even after death the power remains with them. Unfortunately your situation is very different. Because of the cracks in your mark, if you die, all the accumulated energy leaves your body.

- Does this mean that I can't become stronger? How can I hunt if the enemies ahead promise to be much more powerful?

Having survived all the deaths, Crowley behaved with dignity. Until this moment. The hunter's face contorted, his smile dimmed, and tears appeared in his eyes.

- I can't handle it... I just don't have enough strength.

Before he could completely lose his temper, the doll leaned closer and embraced him.

- The situation is not hopeless, although you will not be able to get a huge jump in strength every time, but in those moments when the energy leaves you, it washes over your body, slowly but surely making you stronger.

It will take longer than ordinary hunters, but in the end you have the potential to surpass each of them.

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According to the doll, I have great potential. You can't give up.

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It seemed that the words of support found a response in Crowley's soul; after a while, his face returned to normal.

- I don't know why you do this, but thank you. I'm really grateful.

- And one more thing, due to your peculiarity, great prey will also return, not every time after returning from the Hunter's dream, but after every death. But I know you can handle it.

Having received a new charge of strength, the hunter set off on a new journey.

*Creak* A wheelchair came out of the workshop.

- The most difficult fate of all those I have met awaits him. Perhaps we should end this now?

The atmosphere suddenly froze.

- Gehrman, don't make me angry.

The seemingly always gentle and polite doll exuded an aura of danger.

....

*Iosefka's clinic*

- Let's go, I guess.

Death count - 633. Books read - 15.