Gorehound

As they walked away from Zorkan's shop, Randal couldn't help but ask, "Why would that demon snatch the spectroscope like that? It's like he was waiting for the right moment."

Dante sighed, "That guy works for Orkal, the one I owed money to. They'll keep harassing us as long as we don't pay the interest, and now even more so since we stood up to them."

Randal furrowed his brow, thinking. "What if we hunt more creatures in the area for materials? We could sell them and pay off the interest."

Dante hesitated, glancing around at the shadows that seemed to dance in the corners of his vision. "I'm not sure. There's that large creature in the forest we should worry about, but considering how quickly we killed the Grothak, maybe we can handle it."

As they discussed their options, the rustling of leaves and the soft crunch of footsteps behind them went unnoticed. The pair continued to talk, their voices hushed, as they weighed the risks and rewards of hunting more creatures in the Hell-Verse.

Finally, Dante agreed, "Alright, let's give it a shot. If we're careful and stay on our guard, we should be able to handle whatever comes our way. Plus, we could use the extra hellgold."

Randal nodded, satisfied with the plan. "Then it's settled. Let's head back to your place, rest up, and start our hunt tomorrow."

They continued walking, not realizing that someone, or something, was keeping a close eye on them from the shadows.

As they walked away from Zorkan's shop, Randal couldn't help but ask, "Why would that demon snatch the spectroscope like that? It's like he was waiting for the right moment."

Dante sighed, "That guy works for Orkal, the one I owed money to. They'll keep harassing us as long as we don't pay the interest, and now even more so since we stood up to them."

Randal furrowed his brow, thinking. "What if we hunt more creatures in the area for materials? We could sell them and pay off the interest."

Dante hesitated, glancing around at the shadows that seemed to dance in the corners of his vision. "I'm not sure. There's that large creature in the forest we should worry about, but considering how quickly we killed the Grothak, maybe we can handle it."

As they discussed their options, the rustling of leaves and the soft crunch of footsteps behind them went unnoticed. The pair continued to talk, their voices hushed, as they weighed the risks and rewards of hunting more creatures in the Hell-Verse.

Finally, Dante agreed, "Alright, let's give it a shot. If we're careful and stay on our guard, we should be able to handle whatever comes our way. Plus, we could use the extra hellgold."

Randal nodded, satisfied with the plan. "Then it's settled. Let's head to the Demonic Gathering Guild, find some hunts and commissions for creatures we can handle."

They continued walking towards the guild, not realizing that someone, or something, was keeping a close eye on them from the shadows.

As they entered the Demonic Gathering Guild, Randal's gaze fell upon the person behind the counter. She was a tall, slender demoness with flowing lavender hair, her red eyes shining with a welcoming warmth. A pair of curved horns gracefully framed her face, and her delicate features were accentuated by an air of confidence.

"Ah, Dante! Good to see you," she greeted them with a smile, her voice melodic and inviting. "And who might this be?" Her eyes flicked curiously towards Randal, who was still hidden under the cloak.

Dante chuckled, "This is Randal, he's new here. We're looking for some hunts or commissions."

The demoness, now identified as Lyrith, leaned forward, intrigued. "Well, welcome to Hell-Verse, Randal. Let me explain our hunting system to you." She cleared her throat before continuing, "Creatures are divided into Tiers. The higher the Tier, the more valuable their materials are, and the higher the bounty. Now, let's see what we have available for you two."

Lyrith sifted through some papers and presented them with three choices: a large, deadly creature, a medium-sized dangerous creature, and a small, dangerous creature.

"The first option is a Tier-3 Vrolisk," Lyrith explained. "It's a massive, snake-like beast with venomous fangs and impenetrable scales. It's extremely agile and known to ambush its prey from the shadows. The Vrolisk is quite challenging and its materials are highly valued."

"Next up is a Tier-2 Gorehound," she continued. "A medium-sized, quadrupedal creature with razor-sharp claws and powerful jaws. It's known for its incredible speed and ferocious nature. While not as tough as the Vrolisk, it's still a dangerous opponent."

"Lastly, we have a Tier-1 Emberwing," Lyrith said, pointing to a small illustration of a bird-like creature. "Don't be fooled by its size. It's capable of shooting searing flames from its beak and is known to travel in swarms. The Emberwing's materials are not as valuable as the others, but they can still fetch a decent price."

Dante and Randal exchanged glances, weighing their options. Randal, still unfamiliar with the dangers of Hell-Verse, looked to Dante for guidance.

"So, which one should we go for?" Randal asked, his voice filled with anticipation.

Dante furrowed his brow, considering their choices. After a moment, he responded, "I think we should go for the Gorehound. It's a good balance between risk and reward. Plus, its materials will help me craft some useful gear."

Randal nodded in agreement. They thanked Lyrith for her assistance and set off on their next hunt, unaware of the watchful eyes that followed them from the shadows.

As they walked back to their hut, Dante began explaining the abilities and habits of the Gorehound. "The Gorehound is a cunning creature, Randal. It uses its speed and agility to outmaneuver its prey. Its hide is thick and resistant to most physical attacks, so we'll need to rely on our magic and cunning to bring it down."

"It also has an excellent sense of smell," Dante continued. "So we'll need to cover our tracks and mask our scent if we want to catch it off guard. The Gorehound typically dwells in dense forests, using the undergrowth to hide and ambush its prey."

Randal listened intently, taking in every word. He felt a mixture of excitement and apprehension, knowing that this would be a true test of his newfound abilities. He wondered if he was ready to face such a formidable creature.

Once they reached the hut, Dante began outlining their plan of attack. "We should set up a trap using bait to lure the Gorehound into a vulnerable position. I've got some materials that we can use to create a snare, but we'll need to find something suitable to use as bait."

As they discussed their plan, Dante tried to think of ways for the two of them to prepare for the upcoming hunt. "I'll spend some time tonight crafting a few enchanted items that might come in handy. Randal, you should focus on practicing your rune magic and getting comfortable with the fire and wind runes I taught you."

Randal nodded, knowing that he needed all the practice he could get to be effective in their hunt.