Undead

Name: Aryabhatta Prabhu

Age: 27

Race: Human

Body Conditions: Prime Chakra Rejuvenation

Combat Capability Grade: C-rank

Energy:

Physical: Stronger than 34 awakened humans

Chakra: 2700/2700

Skills (18)

The group of mercenaries, including Arya, made their way through the treacherous mountainous terrain, a dangerous path to travel. Among them was a renowned American hunter named Jessica Cooper. Unlike the majority of the mercenaries, who were primarily driven by monetary gain, Jessica was motivated by the desire for glory and recognition.

Subduing a notorious criminal wanted throughout Europe would be a significant accomplishment, and the resulting media attention would undoubtedly boost their reputation in America. However, this achievement was even more crucial to Jessica, as it would increase her chances of success in her family's guild, the infamous Ditat Deus Guild.

Arya paid little attention to the motives of his fellow mercenaries. He was only concerned with the fact that Jessica was an S-rank hunter, which meant she possessed incredible power and skill. He had expected someone of her caliber to be a part of the group, whether it was for show or actual participation.

Jessica's ambition was palpable, evident in her determination to achieve her goals. Arya knew this because he had heard of the Ditat Deus Guild and its notorious reputation. Their name carried weight even in the international community.

Arya was a careful observer, always reading and analyzing the news to gather information. He was able to piece together the story of the Ditat Deus Guild and its owner's family, just from the headlines and articles. It was an easy deduction, if anyone else cared to look.

Arya noticed that all of the accomplishments of the owner's siblings were plastered in the news, as if they were meant to impress or intimidate. But to Arya, it all seemed too elaborate and showy, lacking any real substance or authenticity.

He knew from experience that reality was often much harsher than what was portrayed in the media. There were the mundane and tedious jobs, as well as the dangerous and life-threatening ones. Both types of work shared one commonality: they were all difficult.

The way the news reported it made it seem like an easy and glamorous life. But in reality, the job was grueling and perilous, with every decision a matter of life or death.

Despite the dangers, the group of mercenaries that Arya was a part of was made up of random people who had come together for a common purpose. Each one brought their own unique skills and talents to the table, and together they made a formidable team.

As they marched through the harsh and unforgiving wilderness of Taymyrskiy Gosudarstvennyy Prirodnyy Zapovednik, Arya and his band of mercenaries relied on Vadim Soyka's experience as a local guide to help them navigate the treacherous terrain. Russian law required mercenary hunters to be accompanied by a local Russian hunter as a guide.

Vadim, a seasoned hunter and guide, was the leader of this eclectic group of adventurers, and he turned to Arya, his old friend, with a question burning on his mind.

"What do you think of the American, Arya?" Vadim asked, his voice heavy with curiosity.

Arya shrugged, his eyes fixed on the frozen landscape before him. "All I know is that she's from a top guild in America," he replied simply.

Vadim snorted. "Since we're hunting a European this time, it's for glory," he said, his eyes gleaming with ambition.

Arya considered this for a moment, then nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe being a wanted criminal is a good way to build your reputation," he mused.

Vadim raised an eyebrow. "Why bother with reputation when you're S-rank?" he asked.

Arya smirked. "Maybe for prestige," he said. "Americans always love to present themselves as the protectors of the world, don't they?"

Vadim grunted in agreement, but he had another point to make. "Sure, but there are plenty of dungeons and areas that require a competent S-rank to handle," he said.

Arya chuckled. "Public stunt, good media coverage, fame, glory," he said. "Pick your poison. I'm just glad we have an S-rank on our team."

Vadim nodded, but he couldn't help feeling a twinge of unease. "Yeah, but the team was unbalanced," he pointed out. "Just look at the group - clearly a stunt for diversity."

Arya shrugged. "Well, I'm paid, you're paid," he said. "And I'm happy with that. Aren't you supposed to be the guide here, anyway?"

Vadim grinned sheepishly. "Ah, yes. Right you are," he said, before hastening to rejoin the rest of the team at the front of the pack. They had a long way to go, and a dangerous quarry to capture - a man known only as 'Faust'.

The moments following their conversation passed with an unsettling silence. With their supernatural senses, the group could sense that something was amiss. Suddenly, an arrow flew towards them, but it was easily evaded. Moments later, another arrow was launched at them.

The group quickly realized that they were under attack and assumed a defensive formation to protect themselves. The hunters with advanced sensory abilities scanned the area and detected that several undead were responsible for the attack. These undead appeared to be mummies.

Unlike zombies, mummies were not relentlessly aggressive and did not come to be through a biological infection. They were corpses that had been preserved through exposure to chemicals, extreme cold, low humidity, or dark magic. This was the criminal's modus operandi - he would use corpses or other living beings and transform them into his own puppets.

Once they had assessed the strength of the enemy, the group shifted from their defensive formation to an attack formation. It was time to take the fight to the enemy.