The Hunt (Part-2)

Aika kneeled in front of Antariskh as she gave her daily report to her.

Shamiran who was present next to her listening to the report spoke to her eldest sister as soon Aika left, "Who knew our baby brother would stumble upon such a beast? What do you think of his chances of winning against the creature?"

Antariskh just put a finger under her chin as she closed her in deep thought as she replied, "You should know that no plan survives the first contact with the enemy, as such about our brothers chances…."

Ryuu's eyes widened in horror as a huge mouth filled with razor sharp teeth descended on him, swallowing him whole as the events which led to the current situation flashed in his mind.

They made their way towards the gorge during the way they came across a couple of mid Wanxiang Adept level spirit beasts, an 'Ice Leopard' and a 'Thunder Panda'.

The Ice Leopard had found them on their way up the mountain as it stalked them, but unfortunately for it there were quite a few good people in Ryuu's group who had already sensed him as such had warned Ryuu about it.

The Ice leopard glanced at his prey, he picked the smallest one among the group unfortunately that was Ryuu, its body tensed as it glanced at Ryuu from the vantage point, its strategy was simple ambush the tasty humans, make sure to break the neck of the most weakest among them and then make a run for it with it prey.

It took a jump only for Ryuu to suddenly to kick the ground hard as it caused him to propel backwards he unsheathed his sword as he send a huge arc of sword energy as it bisected the Ice leopard in two, it died before it could understand that it was a prey all along.

Kasir one of the maids accompanying Ryuu spoke with a disapproving tone, "Your Lordship if I may have permission to speak freely."

Ryuu nodded at her with a smile.

Kasir: "It was one of the most stupid things you have Your Highness, you have used your sword attack mixed with fire as such you have not only managed to bisect the beast but also burned a good portion of its inside along with completely destroying its pelt, currently beast you hunted is useless, you gained nothing from it."

Ryuu looked as if he had been slapped by Kasir, he lowered his head as he understood you much he messed up, his group soon left not before Ryuu put up a silent prayer for the deceased 'Ice Leopard'.

As they made their way down the mountain into the valley a loud crunch was heard by Ryuu startling, discreetly glancing he saw from the corner of his eyes he understood that his team knew but did not bother to inform him about it.

He looked up to see a giant 10 meter tall 7th rank Wanxiang Adept level Thunder Panda sitting near a bunch of 500 year old Thunder Bamboo Shoots happily munching on them. The Panda lazily lifted his head as he glanced at Ryuu's group a bamboo shoot in his mouth but his munching had stopped completely.

Ryuu suddenly gave a happy smile as he spoke to the panda, "Yo nice too meet 'Brother Panda', but it seems like you are somewhat busy so enjoy your meal so goodbye and have a nice day.", with that Ryuu waved happily at the panda as he left.

The panda was surprised before he returned the gesture with a smile of his own as he waved back at Ryuu as he spoke with thick voice but filled with enthusiasm, "Goodbye Brother Human, have a safe trip and a nice day."

As they left some of the maids had feeling that after the end of the day they will be suffering from serious migraine because of Ryuu's antics, and among them Anne could not help but ask out, "If I may enquire your Highness why did you not attack the 'Thunder Panda', they are very rare but the produce Thunder Beasts within their and are very helpfully for anyone below Immortal level."

Ryuu gave a look which caused Anne to wince, "How could anyone kill such a cute and cuddly being is beyond me, I myself will never perform such a blasphemous act and I would also would not like any of you doing the same at least as long as you are with me."

They nodded at what Ryuu spoke, they knew in spite his strength and maturity for all intent and purposes he was still a small child who sleeps with a a meter and a half tall Panda soft toy as such him not wanted to harm a panda was a given, still they had expected him to cling to the panda cuddling him wanting him to be his pet, but seems that he had matured somewhat.

Before they sweat-dropped, as they all thought at the same time, 'Never mind he is still an immature child.', as they looked at the comically crying and blubbering Ryuu who was apologizing to the panda as his teachers had explicitly forbidden him from getting any form of pets or forming Spirit Bonding with any Spirit Beasts no matter the circumstances until the state otherwise.

They soon made their way into the gorge as Ryuu looked towards the calm lake, the only sign of the presence of the beast inside the otherwise calm lake was the shore line was painted with a great deal of destruction.

Ryuu gave a sigh as he ordered his teammates, "We will hunt it tomorrow today we will set a camp here and prep the traps, tomorrow after breakfast we will begin the hunt."

With that the put their gears down as they started setting up a camp for the night as Ryuu began working on the traps with the help of Laku another of the maids who went with him on this hunting trip, they also set up defensive perimeter all along the camp.

Next day, Ryuu and his group consisting of Anne, Mary, Jeeva, Kasir and Laku were already as they assumed their respective position with Ryuu at the forefront of the assault and they were just going to support him.

Ryuu swept a glance at the trap field as the thoughts about the previous nights downpour came to his mind, he was glad they made their camp a bit on the higher ground as such they did not had to deal with their camp getting caught by some streams caused by the downpour as the water flowed down into the valley after a last minute check on the traps he had set on the previous day he gave the signal for the hunt to begin.

Jeeva skillful managed to anger the beast enough to cause him to chase after her, with a huge sky shaking roar which even caused the valley to shudder as a couple of small landslide occurred because of it the water of the lake exploded as giant 300 meter long Imoogi reared his head in anger as he began chasing after Jeeva who was luring him towards a trap.

Ryuu's heart beat was hammering like a drum not out of fear but out of excitement as his heart beat's thundered into his ear like some ancient war drum, his lips curled into a predatory smirk, waiting for his prey.

Meanwhile Aika was standing with another maid as she heard the roar which caused panic among the residents of Tardide, they were present in order to protect Tardide in case some beast sneaked into the village during the chaos, she glanced towards the mountain as her eyes showed a rare display of concern as she whispered lowly, "I wish for your success your Lordship."