Crafting Gear From Monster Genes

Hargod never ran from a fight, no, not even that - he sought out strong opponents.

He had no way to help Leora, but the guards told him that something strange had happened in her office. If he’d wanted to, he could have helped Arstar, but... why?

If he had done so, he would have deprived himself of the pleasure of fighting them all.

Sure, it wasn’t pragmatic, but Hargod had never cared about such trivial things.

"Well, well..." Hargod’s deep voice rang out as he slowly rose from the ground.

His gaze swept over Groza and Kreyn, lingering on Kalysa and Garius.

"What’s the matter, Garius? Do you want my place?"

Garius didn’t dodge the question as he stepped forward.

"What if I do? After you’re gone, I’ll change the Crooked Horn - for the better."

"After I’m gone?" Hargod grinned widely. "Look, you’re already talking like a city politician! Hahah! If you’re going to kill me like a stray dog, just say so!"

Garius frowned as Kreyn glanced at him from the side.

’Negotiations like this aren’t his strong point. When it comes to important matters, he turns out to be a surprisingly serious person.’

Bam!

Hargod slammed his fists together, making Kalysa and Groza flinch.

"What do you say, Kreyn? Maybe we should go one-on-one? As I see it, you’ve finally managed to restore your second eye. I envy you!"

"Hmm?"

Kreyn pointed to his left eye as if he didn’t understand what was being said.

"What are you talking about? We’re alike: we were, we are, and we always will be."

For a moment, Hargod frowned. He wasn’t sure exactly what Kreyn meant by that.

"Pffft. Whatever. Answer the question!"

"You’re a fool, aren’t you?" Kreyn tilted his head. "I saw what you did to the Blue Rahta Beast. If you could turn it into a bloody mess with your fists, what would happen to me?"

He stepped forward.

"No fair fight. As you said, the four of us will beat you up like a dog."

"Huh. What if I want an honest fight?" Hargod smirked.

Kreyn shrugged.

"You won’t get one. I can guarantee that."

"I see."

Hargod nodded deeply as his hands trembled. In a heartbeat, they turned into iron.

Groza narrowed her eyes.

’He decided to use his ability right away? Tsk. He’s not as stupid as he seems. But... I can use this to my advantage!’

Without wasting any time, she thrust her arms forward as a powerful electrical discharge shot toward Hargod.

Her idea was simple: electricity should conduct well through iron.

Her plan would have worked... if she’d hit her target.

Whoooooosh!

Hargod leaped nimbly. The lightning bolts whizzed past beneath him as he landed next to Groza.

’What? Is he that fast...? How?! He must weigh as much as a bull!’

"Heh, using someone else’s toys? That’s not cool!"

Hargod’s fist was reflected in Groza’s eyes as she managed to throw up a block at the last moment.

BAM!

The impact sent her flying to the side, but Hargod couldn’t pursue her, as Kalysa and Garius were already there.

A spear and a dagger against two iron fists. It was an uneven battle, but from which side?

Clang! Clang!

Kalysa and Garius attacked, moving like shadows around the massive Hargod. They often fought together, but usually their opponent was a monster, not a Hunter more experienced and powerful than they were.

"Garius, is that all you’ve got?" Hargod swung his arm as Garius leaped aside. "If you want to defeat me, that’s not enough!"

STEP!

He stepped forward, shaking the ground.

"Ah!" Kalysa cried out as she lost her balance, teetering on one foot to keep from falling.

That was enough for Hargod to grab her by the ankle.

"How do you like that?!"

With all his might, Hargod threw Kalysa straight into the far pillar, like a projectile that was bound to shatter upon impact.

"Lys!" Garius cried out, tossing aside his spear and catching Kalysa in mid-air.

BAM!

"ARGH!"

They crashed into the column with a painful groan.

Hargod smirked. He could continue attacking them, but he saw a more interesting opponent for himself.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

With powerful strides that shook the ground, he charged straight at Kreyn.

All this time, Kreyn had been standing to the side. He didn’t want to waste his energy, as he wanted to find out what Hargod was capable of against humans rather than monsters.

What he saw wasn’t exactly good news, but he had no plans to retreat.

"Show me what you’re made of, blacksmith!" Hargod exclaimed, thrusting his fist forward with his chest puffed out.

Hargod expected Kreyn to dodge like everyone else, but instead, Kreyn put up a block, pressing his hands together and against his forehead.

"Rh...?" Hargod was confused as Kreyn’s arms became monster-like and a red barrier appeared in front of them.

BAM!

A full-force punch hit Kreyn as the impact passed through his body. His feet slid across the ground, leaving dark lines, but he managed to maintain his posture.

This was thanks to his mutated arms, his proper stance, and the stability provided by his boots.

"Satisfied?" Kreyn asked, peering through a gap in his block. "Now, it’s my turn to deliver a heavy kick!"

Kreyn spun around sharply, his body straightening horizontally as his leg thrust forward.

Hargod was too proud. He simply couldn’t lower himself to dodge when Kreyn took his punch head-on.

He had to block Kreyn’s kick!

BAM!

The stone boot slammed into Hargod’s iron arms. He felt the impact, but he didn’t even budge.

"Hah, not bad, but that—"

Crack!

"Hmm?"

The stone pillar burst out of the ground, slamming straight into Hargod. That was enough to knock even a giant like him aside.

SLAM!

His back crashed to the ground with a thud.

Hargod didn’t sustain any serious physical injuries. Mentally, though, it was his worst day in a long time.

"You..." Hargod frowned, staring at Kreyn. He realized that Kreyn had won this round.

Kreyn smirked.

"Now, you shouldn’t be worried about me. I’m not your only opponent, or did you forget that?"

He was right.

Groza, Garius, and Kalysa were ready for the next attack. Kreyn could join them at any moment as well.

"Arh. Kreyn, I offered to fight you one-on-one from the very beginning."

Hargod got up from the ground, grumbling like an old man.

"The winner would take it all - that would be fair. Now... you’re forcing me to resort to extreme measures."

Hargod looked Kreyn from up to down.

"You’re a liar, Kreyn. Your arms... I don’t recall any other blacksmiths having anything like that."

Kreyn frowned.

"A liar? You’re just the same, aren’t you?"

"Huh... So you figured it out after all?" Hargod chuckled. "Yeah, we really are alike."

Snap!

Hargod ripped the eyepatch off his right eye.

Strangely enough, his eye was still there and open, but it didn’t look human. The sclera was orange, and the pupil was amber, with yellow veins radiating out along the eye.

Crack!

As soon as the pupil narrowed, a crimson, spiked chain with three branches appeared in Hargod’s hand.

"The games are over!" Hargod growled, swinging the chain.

In no time, all three chains wrapped around Groza, Kalysa, and Garius, binding them in shackles.

And before they had time to realize what was happening, Hargod pulled them toward him, flung them upward with a sharp motion, and then slammed them to the ground with a loud crash.

"ARGH!"

Their pained groans echoed through the hall.

Arstar hadn’t lied. Hargod truly did have the same unusual eye as Kreyn.

But how were they supposed to defeat such a beast now?

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