When duty calls (part 3)

Part lll

The duties of a slayer

When I landed I observed the arid island... I close my eyes as I let out a silent sigh. The memories of today's events flood my mind. The icy landscape of Ramsgate, my new shiny axe, the young slayers who I've decided to help on this hunt... And their motivation of killing... What has happened until now has only been a preparation for the worse. Always expect the worse in a hunt as you fight with the forces of nature, things that are beyond the power of mankind.

Soon I open my eyes as I see all of the young slayers standing by, all of them having a smile on their face, a smile that was hiding fear... The fear of death. Without hesitation I grab my axe and I raise my hand in the air as I needed to inspire courage into them. My gesture had been returned and with that said we start to rush towards a potential aether vent where the target would be found. We traverse the small mountainous age as we look in the distance for the behemoth, he didn't seem to be at this specific location, but instead we found a fresh aether vent. This was good as we could set up a trap around the place. With quick steps we climb of the mountain ridge and head for the aether vent. Arid air was blowing in your faces as a small storm started to arise around the island.

The island seemed devoid of life, here and there small reptiles that were hiding in the sand from the storm, rarely a large eagle flew across the sky only to land in a small Crack in the mountain opening. A ram skull was resting near the aether vent, signs of something previously existing here, and that thing... That thing was somewhere on this island, lurking, feeding.

It didn't take us long to set up a trap as the sharpshooter of the group had a few spare mines that we could set near to aether vent. Then we all went hiding upon the small cliffs as we await for the quillshot to come to this vent to feed. Many studies, conducted by Dr. Shaed Priyani, show that every creature can somewhat sense aether. Apparently behemoths are the best creatures at doing this, their senses detecting the sweet scent of aether in the air even when they're on another island. Knowing this I expected that the behemoth would soon arrive here

And exactly as I thought, a large bulky creature with giant spikes covering its hide and with great tusks had soon made its way to the aether that was supposed to be his food. I signal the sharpshooter to detonate the bombs. A large explosion sound followed as many bombs exploded around the behemoth, lifting up the sand as they release a powerful shockwave. The aether starts to spread in the air as the giant quillshot enters a panic which only makes it run across the mines which explode under his feet as well as chest.

The behemoth falls over its back from the pain of his underside receiving such a hit. It was the perfect time for us to strike at him and so everyone starts attacking it. I hurl my axe towards his massive head hoping to destroy his tusks and injure his head badly. Kaesonis, the hammer jumps with his hammer into battle and attacks his head exactly after my axe lands and breaks of a tusk. Kaesonis lift his hammer up and delivers a devastating hit to the behemoth's head. The warpike lady runs towards the underbelly of the staggered behemoth with the sharp spear like head of the warpike ready to get embedded into the tough hide of the quillshot. I myself jump down along the sharpshooter which has already opened fire upon the massive quills of the animal.

as soon as I get my axe back I start to run towards the tail of the behemoth go try and cut it off. I lift the hammer up charing it as I then send it down on the monsters tail which now screamed in pain. The massive quillshot tries to get back up and so he does, throwing us back. He was already enraged which was expected of a monster like him. I try to get up and prepare for another volley of swings at the monsters tail or feet. The nimble girl already got up as she ran towards the behemoth swinging her pike. Her mistake was that she didn't see that the quillshot already launched a dozen or so of his spikes towards her. Luckily Kaesonis jumped and pushed her away, the quills only scratching his leg. I prepare to strike at the behemoth but my attack was futile as the creature ran along the slippery sand to get some distance from us. My attack was already in motion and so I hit the ground with my axe missing the tail of the creature. I quickly order the sharpshooter to create a cover fire for Kaesonis to rush at the massive head and smash it again. I help them all get up and run with them towards the behemoth as Ron, the sharpshooter provided us with cover fire. Using his hammer as a broomstick, Kaesonis jumps into battle unloading shells as he pummeled the thick skull.

"Aether slam!" the young one said as he jumps into the air and delivers a staggering blow to the behemoth which now falls to the ground. I manage to arrive at the spiky tail and start to swing at it and with a powerful overswing I manage to cut off its tail. A roar of pain fills the island as the behemoth struggles to get back up and fight us again. But a rocket is fired from the distance and hits the underbelly of the now weakened monster. Another strike hits the belly as a long and sharp blade embedded into his hide. The roar got louder and the behemoth managed to get back up. We all dodged his attack as we see him trying to flee away. I see that I have a clear opening to throw my axe and so with one powerful swing I send my axe flying across the sky and embed itself in the skin of the creature.

"Get him Hellrock!". I hear my companions screem as I threw my axe. The behemoth, not knowing how to end his demise, digs underground as it tried to flee from battle. Quickly creating a massive tunnel in the sand which he used to hide in and relocate. I get my axe back and look at the slayers, none of them seemed to be harmed accept for a slight scratch on Kaesonis's leg. We were all ready to destroy the now very weak behemoth. We decided to track him down together as I couldn't allow them to split apart. We climb back up the mountain to get a bird's eye view of the island. In the far distance we see a small blue glow, an indication of a second aether vent.

We rushed towards the behemoth which was now ready to fight us. It's roar was as powerful as the wind, it's eyes only expressing a primal instinct to kill us. Without hesitation we opened fire upon the creature as it did the same. It's spikes were flying through the air as well as shots from the repeaters coupled with rockets launched from the warpike. I try to evade the quills and close the distance between me and my enemy. Luckily I soon arrive right in front of it. The behemoth charges at me and I charge my axe at him. The impact of my axe hitting his head and embedding in it was powerful enough to kill it, but a previously launched quill still hits me in the back.

When I wake up I see myself in white bedsheets and my whole body being covered with a lot of bandages that were drenched in my blood... The place didn't seem to be up on the ship as the room didn't shake and the powerful engine sounds weren't present. The only sounds present were my groans as I try to stand up and the sound of a Smith working in the distance... I was back in Ramsgate