A Level Zero's Struggle (part 3)
After making all the arrangements, they set out for the journey.
They were heading towards the same lower region where Qiao happened to face his first hunt.
This region was very large and was a habitat for many level one or two monsters.
It was also recognized by it dried up husks of trees lined up one after the other. Rain rarely occurred in this region leading to its current look.
It was not easy to hunt here as the monsters were a bit more aggressive by nature in this region because of the harsh and warm weather.
The ground was dusty and it raised dirt when the warm winds blew.
After travelling for some moment, Qiao got tired. He was at the lowest points of levels compared to other so it was natural.
They had walked for two hours now and he was reaching his limits. The luggage that had been handled to him forcefully by the leader was also lugging him down. It was as thought he might stumble any moment. But he had to face this all.
As they continued, Qiao could imagine how these chasers treat the newbies in worst possible way. His thoughts started turning malevolent as he thought, 'Someone should be here to teach them some lesson of humanity or equally show them brutal meanness'
Only then would Qiao would feel satisfied. But there was no way something like that was happening. He had to grit through this.
There was no way that these hunters did not know that, making him suffer like this now would lower his chances when facing the monster. But then it occurred to him that maybe that was their intention all along.
To wore him down physically before even facing the monster.
Which was indeed the truth. The chasers had intentionally kept their pace fast.
They thought this way the brawler would get hell tired. But whenever they turned around to check on him, he was still standing on his grounds. They were astonished by his resilience and thought something was wrong with him.
If he was a newbie and he had gotten the token just now, that means he has no points to carry his health for long.
Then why was this newbie still walking fine?
They were puzzled.
Qiao was also observing their actions. It was necessary to know if they were planning something against him.
If he cannot stay one step ahead of them then he should just regret for coming from an advanced world.
"Stop here, we are near the small territory of the firefly, better keep a distance and plan out before coming in front of the monster," the group leader gestured towards them.
They stopped near the balled trunks of the trees, from here they could first observe the monster.
For some time, there was silence.
The leader and the chasers were ready.
It was a full bright day two hours ago when they were travelling, but then suddenly the sky was slowly being covered with clouds.
"Damn it, do you think it will rain?" the leader looked at the sky and asked one of the chaser.
If there was rain expected, the hunt would be a lot difficult.
Because of rain, the ground would become muddy and they maintain proper foothold to attack. They might even slip at the wrong moment.
"Should we wait to see if it is going to rain?" a chaser suggested.
Usually, the clouds happened to cross by this region, without a single drop of water splashing. They would be extremely unfortunate if it started raining today.
"We can wait for half an hour,"
It wasn't late now, half the day left before it got dark. They had no reason to hurry right now, even if they were to hunt for three hour, they could return back to the guild before evening.
"Keep hiding properly, the monster should not sense our presence," the leader warned them and sat a distance away from the target territory, he begin sharpening his sword.
The sword seemed less rustic if compared to other chasers.
These chasers gave the impression that they earned some spoils in the previous hunt and they seemed content and confident.
Qiao sat and looked at the sky.
He could tell from signs that soon there will be rain but he did not speak out.
If these hunters could keep secret then he definitely could keep them too.
The bag hanging on his back was still there but it no more looked decent or polished because of first hunt.
After half an hour, the chasers decided to hunt.
They cannot wait anymore.
"You are our brawler, so only attack when the monster is no more in defensive mood," the leader instructed.
Inside his head, Qiao wanted to laugh at this concern of the chaser.
"You better deceit someone else," Qiao warned instead.
A chaser who was sent to scout ahead to look at the exact location of the monster came back hurrying.
Qiao started looked away at his moment, to give privacy for what the chaser wanted to share with his leader. He did not want to make the leader suspicious by doing anything now.
They did not talk though, only through some gestures, the leader understood.
He ordered others to get ready.
"Qiao, you will move forward from that direction," the leader called his name and told.
"And we will face the monster first," he gestured all the chasers a direction for the hunt.
The chasers earnestly nodded.
They were sending Qiao from front and themselves were going from the rear, this way when the monster was distracted by the presence of the brawler, they will be able to attack from behind.