《To hunt a monster》


 The beast in the woods-1

    The door to the inn opened. The innkeeper was busy dusting the wine cabinet and didn''t bother to look back.


    "We''re closed," he muttered over his shoulder.


    "I am not here for a drink," came a calm, firm reply.


    The innkeeper turned, his eyes narrowing at the figure standing near the doorway.


    A man clad entirely in black armor stood there. A sword hung at his waist, its hilt adorned with a ruby. He had long red hair and sharp eyes. Around his neck, he wore a necklace -a sword piercing a skull with horns.


    The innkeeper noticed the necklace and let out a sigh.


    "A hunter, eh? About time."


    "There was a job posted at Prol," said the man.


    "Yes, yes. It was posted a week ago," the innkeeper said with a hint of irritation. "The guild sure took their time sending a party."


    "The guild is a bit understaffed these days. I apologize for the delay," the man admitted, bowing slightly.


    The innkeeper waved dismissively. "Fine, fine. It''s all good now that you''re here. Just kill that damn thing for me, would ya?"


    The hunter''s sharp eyes fixed on the innkeeper. "Describe the quarry."


    "No one has seen it-at least, no one alive. People go into the forest and disappear. We can hear roars coming from the woods every now and then."Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    "How long has it been since it started?" asked the hunter.


    "Two or three weeks. At first, we ignored the roars. Figured it was some animal. But then people started disappearing. If that was all, we might''ve been able to live with it," the innkeeper said, his expression darkening.


    The man raised an eyebrow. "What happened?"


    "It started two nights ago. On the first night, a farmer named Matt-his house was attacked in the dead of night. It took him and his wife, leaving a trail of destruction in its path," the innkeeper said, pausing with a sigh.


    "Then, last night, it attacked again. This time, it took three people."


    "Where did these people live?" the hunter asked.


    "At the eastern edge of the village, bordering the forest. You should ask around there for more information."


    "Well, thank you for your time. My party and I will handle it," the man said, bowing as he turned to leave.


    "Hey, can you really handle it? Can you kill it?"


    The man paused, smirking as he looked back.


    " Of course. We wouldn''t be called hunters otherwise."


    "I didn''t ask your name."


    "Valerin.You should relax ,innkeeper. We will handle the beast" the man said as he left the inn.


    Valerin felt the cool breeze against him as he stepped out of the inn. His companions were waiting outside.


    "So? Learn anything?" asked Durg, looking up from where he sat next to his pony.


    "A beast in the forest. Don''t know what. It''s been attacking the eastern edge of the village for the past two nights. Let''s ask around there," answered Valerin, taking the reins of his horse.


    "Man, it''s cold. Why do we have to work in such desolate weather?" whined Kell, standing next to his horse.


    "Stop whining, Kell," said Alyssa, irritated, still seated on her mare.


    "Let''s go. We have a beast to hunt," said Valerin.


    Durg got up on his pony, his excitement evident. "Let''s go. I can''t wait to find this thing. It''s been a while since we last fought."


    Kell sighed. "If only I had half your enthusiasm, Durg," he muttered, reluctantly climbing onto his horse.


    And so, they were off.


    "Astalor''s wrath!" cursed Durg as he navigated through the ruins of the house.


    "What destruction. I can''t blame the nearby villagers for abandoning their homes," remarked Alyssa.


    "Tch. Claw marks," said Durg, pointing to a ruined wall.


    "What could have done this?" Valerin asked, glancing at his companions.


    "Whatever it is, it''s big. What did the villagers say?" Alyssa asked, looking at Valerin.


    "They didn''t know much. Most were too scared to even leave their houses," Valerin replied.


    "Hey, over here! I found track marks!" called out Kell.


    The others rushed over to him.


    "What do you think?" Valerin asked.


    "From the tracks-a Warg," Kell said with a sigh.


    "Are you sure? A Warg out here?" Alyssa asked, her tone laced with doubt.


    "It does seem to fit, considering the destruction. This level of devastation can only be caused by a beast the size of a Warg. And there are claw marks all around," said Durg.


    "But still... one out here," muttered Valerin, frowning.


    "So, what do we do, Val?" Alyssa asked, looking to him for direction.


    "It will hunt again tonight. This village is now its hunting ground, and it won''t stop,


    " Valerin replied firmly.


    "Then we wait and set a trap," Durg said with a nod of understanding.

 The beast in the woods-2

    Valerin was sitting on a chair inside the ruins of the house. He was waiting.


    Durg,Alyssa and Kell were hidden nearby, watching intently waiting for their chance to attack.


    A sudden roar reverberated through the forest,shaking the ground beneath them- a signal that the beast was near.


    "Come on ...come on..I know you smell me." Valerin muttered,his body shaking in anticipation.


    The vibrations grew stronger.


    Closer..


    Closer...


    Closer...


    The Warg reached the ruins. It charged through smashing apart the crumbling walls.


    The beast stood around ten feet tall, with massive claws and a wolf-like body that exuded raw power, and now it  stood right infront of Valerin.


    "Hello!"said Valerin calmly, a smirk tugging at his lips. " And goodbye."


    The Warg lunged at him with its claws, but just as it moved, an arrow hit it right on its outstretched leg.The beast roared in fury.


    With the beast distracted, Valerin took out his sword and lunged at the beast. The Warg however, recovered with surprising speed swiped its claws at Valerin with blistering ferocity.


    Valerin barely dodged, retreating quickly.


    "Whoa,that was close" he said with a grin. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    The Warg snarled and charged to attack him again, but suddenly, the ground beneath the beast turned into a swamp.Its hind legs sank into the soft earth, causing it to stumble.The beast panicked and thrashed wildly.


    From the shadows,Durg appeared.He moved with such speed that he seemed to glide across the ground. He leapt into the air, aiming to take off the Beast''s head, but the Warg twisted its head out of the way and the axe buried itself on the Beast''s back.


    " Tch.What thick skin,"Durg muttered, struggling to pull his axe free.


    The Warg swiped at him with its claw,  but Durg dislodged the axe in time, retreating to safety.


    The beast roared in fury as it struggled to free its hind legs.


    " Not so fast " Valerin, darting forward. The beast swung its claws at him, but Valerin sidestepped and drove his sword into the beast''s front leg.


    "INFERNAL BLADE" chanted Valerin


    Flames erupted along the length of his sword,burning the flesh of the beast.


    The beast bellowed in agony. Valerin dragged the flaming blade along the length of its leg.


    Valerin pulled the sword out and leapt backwards as the beast brought its second leg to attack him.


    The beast howled, enraged and desperate.


    With a tremendous effort,it freed itself and lunged towards Valerin.


    "Shit" cursed Valerin, bracing for impact.


    Durg sprang into action and swung his axe at the Warg, but the beast moved with blinding speed, swiping him in mid-air.Durg barely managed to block it but the force sent him flying across the ruins.


    "Durg!!!" Valerin shouted.


    Just then two massive hands made out of stone erupted from the ground, grabbing the Warg and pinning it in place.


    The beast roared in frustration.


    An arrow whistled through the air and pierced the beast''s eye.The beast howled in agony.


    "I owe you both, Alys and Kell," Valerin called out, seizing the opportunity.


    He sprinted toward the beast, leaped into the air, and plunged his sword deep into the top of its head.


    The Warg collapsed, lifeless, its massive body crashing to the ground.


    The battle was over.


    Valerin pulled his sword out of the Borg. Durg struggled to his feet with the help of his axe, kicking rubble away as he stood.


    "You okay?" asked Valerin.


    "Yeah, just a few bruises," replied Durg, limping slightly.


    Kell and Alyssa arrived moments later.


    "Hey, sit down, Durg. Let me heal you," said Alyssa.


    "I''m fine. It''s nothing, Alys," Durg protested.


    Alyssa ignored him, firmly making him sit. She knelt beside him, placing her staff down, and began chanting a healing spell.


    "Did you like my shot?" asked Kell, grinning as he held his bow.


    "Yeah, it was nice. I owe you one, Kell," said Valerin. "And you too, Alys."


    Durg¡¯s gaze was fixed on the carcass of the beast.


    "Still, it¡¯s odd. What was a Warg doing this far south?" he asked, running a hand through his white beard.


    "I don¡¯t know," replied Valerin.


    "Maybe it got lost," suggested Alyssa. "There, you¡¯re healed now, Durg. You can get up."


    "Thanks, Alys," said Durg, rising to his feet.


    "Let¡¯s go. We¡¯re done here," said Valerin.


    The party mounted their steeds and rode back to the village.


    They collected the bounty from the villagers and spent the night at the inn.


    The next morning, they were on their way again.