Crafting Gear From Monster Genes

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Leora’s gauntlets fell to the ground in front of Groza as Kreyn took a step forward.

"So, out of the two captains, you turned out to be the strongest?" He glanced at Groza and Kalysa. Even though they were both Hunters, they were clearly at a disadvantage.

Arstar glared at Groza, who hurried to put on Leora’s gauntlets, while Kalysa prepared for her next attack.

Now, it was a 3-on-1 fight, which meant Arstar could no longer afford to hold back.

"I won’t hide it. I’m surprised you managed to kill her. But..." Arstar’s eyes grew deeper. "This fight didn’t come easy for you. You’re wounded and have expended a lot of energy. And what about your left eye? It looks like it’s about to explode."

Everything Arstar said was true.

A weakened Kreyn posed less of a threat than when he was at the peak of his strength, while Arstar had yet to play his trump card.

Whoooosh!

Arstar swept his arms, crossing them as the purple energy enveloping his palm surged toward the ground.

At the same moment, six massive bone hands burst from the earth to Arstar’s right and left. The hands cracked as a massive, headless skeleton emerged from beneath the ground behind Arstar.

Groza’s face went pale, and Kalysa reacted the same way. Even though she’d been at the Crooked Horn for a long time, she’d never seen anything like this.

"Wait..." Kalysa gulped. "So all this time, that was your real ability?"

Groza shuddered. ’Are you saying he’s been a summoner all this time? What the...’

True, Arstar’s skills and physique had never been the mainstay of his arsenal. Still, it was enough to take down Groza and Kalysa, who were using their abilities.

"Well." Arstar moved his hands as the bone hands rose higher. "Let’s begin. I alone am enough to handle all of you."

Step. Step. Step.

Suddenly, rapid footsteps sounded from behind as someone ran out of the back entrance.

The figure leaped high into the air, holding a long spear in its hands. Only the figure’s gray eyes were visible as gusts of wind swept past the spear.

Arstar spun around sharply to take action, but it was already too late.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The spear, with the force of a whirlwind, shattered the skeleton. The bones flew off in all directions, from pieces of the spine to heavy ribs.

With one last sweeping swing, the figure flung the remaining bones aside and struck the ground with the hilt of its spear.

Blink.

Groza blinked as she stared at Garius, who had arrived at just the right moment.

"Good," Kreyn smiled. He didn’t want to waste his strength on Arstar. He had to save it for Hargod.

Garius shifted his stance and aimed his heavy spear at Arstar.

"Surrender, Ars. Hargod’s reign has come to an end. You could have defeated two of us, I do not doubt that, but against the four of us, you don’t stand a chance!"

The skeleton was destroyed, but Arstar still controlled six bone hands.

Groza and Kalysa exchanged glances. They were ready to attack - their battle wasn’t over yet.

"Fine, fine!"

Suddenly, Arstar raised his arms as the bone hands returned to the ground.

"I give up. I won’t get in your way. I’ll leave the Crooked Horn and blah-blah-blah."

’Ah...’ Groza was confused. ’Wait... Is he serious? Is he giving up just like that?’

Arstar noticed her expression.

"What? Did you think I’d fight you to the last drop of blood? For what? It’s obvious I have no chance against all of you."

"Are you serious?" Kreyn asked. "Are you suggesting we just let you go?"

His voice grew colder.

"Wouldn’t it be safer to kill you? The dead certainly won’t cause any trouble."

Arstar smiled.

"Well, I wouldn’t jump to conclusions, you never know what the dead are capable of, but that’s not the point right now. I understand."

He continued:

"Look, you can kill me, but I’ll definitely wound you and try to kill at least one of you. Since this will be my last fight, I’ll make the most of it to make your lives as difficult as possible. Or... I’ll just leave town and stay out of your way. You’ve won, and I admit it."

Before Kreyn could reply, Arstar added:

"I swear I’ll leave the Crooked Horn as soon as I pack my things. I rarely swear, but I always keep my word, you can ask Garius about it if you don’t believe me."

Garius nodded slowly. He was just as shocked by Arstar’s actions as the rest of them.

"I have to admit that’s true."

Still, the final decision rested with Kreyn. No one had officially appointed him as leader, but it was an unspoken decision.

"Fine. You can go, but on one condition."

"Hmm?" Arstar raised an eyebrow.

"Tell us about Hargod’s weakness. You must know something, don’t you?"

Kalysa gasped. ’W-What? He wants Arstar to betray Hargod? He... He’d never agree to that!’

"Sure."

Arstar shrugged.

"But I won’t tell you his weakness, I’ll tell you a secret. This will be more useful to you - his eyepatch. It’s a fake. He has a second eye, and in some ways it looks like yours. Hah, he wasn’t joking when he said you two were alike the first time we met."

"I see..."

Kreyn nodded deeply before stepping aside from the gate.

"Go on. You need to leave town before nightfall."

"Don’t worry, you won’t see me here again. Goodbye."

Under their gaze, Arstar stepped out of the passageway, disappearing into the bright light.

"Ah..." Groza and Kalysa sighed in relief at the same time. They were ready to fight to the very end, but they understood what it would cost them.

Kreyn, in turn, turned to Garius.

"So you’ve finally decided which side you’re on?"

Garius nodded.

"I apologize for what I did to you and Groza, but I want you to understand that I won’t give you the Crooked Horn."

"I know. I don’t need this town. What I want is Hargod’s head."

He looked around.

"As I understand it, we’re ready to move on? Straight to the final boss."

The others gave him confident nods. Two captains were defeated, and only the leader remained. After that, the Crooked Horn would be changed forever.

...

News gradually spread throughout the Crooked Horn, but everything was happening too quickly for ordinary people to come to any conclusion.

Well, once they have a new leader, everything will fall into place.

Step. Step. Step.

A shadow walked down the hallway leading to Leora’s office.

Arstar walked inside. In his hands was a leather case like a traveling doctor’s.

"Oh, I didn’t expect that." His gaze fell on Nario. "What a strong man you turned out to be, huh. Looks like I’ve got more work on my hands than I thought."

Click.

He opened the case, pulled on a pair of tight-fitting black gloves, put on a mask, and picked up a saw.

A strange glint flashed across his eyes.

"You’ve heard the new boss. I’ve got until this night, so I’d better hurry."

...

Several guards were protecting the gates to the main hall, but as soon as they saw the four Hunters approaching, they froze in shock.

Garius raised his hand. "Just don’t get in our way... Things are complicated."

The guards didn’t say a word as Kreyn stepped forward and opened the gates, fearless in his gaze.

He saw the same thing he had the first time he was here: high ceilings, columns, and an empty stone throne in the back.

In the very center of the hall sat a muscular man who only recently fought side by side with Kreyn and Groza.

Hargod’s legs were crossed as he propped himself up on his fist.

As soon as he saw the four of them, a broad grin spread across his face, and he raised his hand in greeting.

"Hi. Looks like it’s time for a change? Hahaha! For all of us!"

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