__________ POV Narration__________
While Ashton was out, exploring the dark continent and looking for answers, the remaining members of the Zodiacs also had a lot to deal with.
The Monkey had betrayed them, he had also died in the ensuing chaos. But what they found more annoying was that they couldn't catch the expedition team in time.
It was all because of a single man, that strange air manipulation Hatsu was what had ruined their plans.
After that, Cheadle was forced to report her failure to the V5. They were by no means, pleased. Thankfully, they also didn't blame her for the failure.
But they still decided to put some sanctions on the Hunter Association. Something that annoyed Cheadle to no end.
But the rest of the journey went smoothly, besides a few hiccups and the disappearance of an expensive ship, there was nothing else.
Cheadle knew that the ship was stolen, but they reported it as a disappearance, to avoid further punishment from the V5.
After that, they managed to clear out the land around the perimeter of the shoreline. Which allowed the rest of the workers in the migrating population to move in quickly.
The handpicked builders hurried their work and created housing for many of the people. Allowing them to move from the boat into their new homes.
The entire process still took at least 4 months. During which time, the hunters cleared up more land and explored the forests a bit more.
They split themselves into teams, each team was led by a Zodiac member, and they were all looking around for either a better place to settle than the shoreline or just exploring the lands around the new camp.
Cheadle herself didn't get to lead any team, as she was appointed the doctor, both she and Leorio were needed to help the injured back at the camp.
But the exploration effort didn't slow down, the rest of the hunters were all trained and prepared for the expedition.
They managed to look into at least a quarter of the continent in the span of a year. By then, the workers had already built three small cities and moved all of the population inside them.
While the population was mostly moved inside these cities, the royalty and the rest of the politicians and actors decided to wait for more 'luxurious' housing.
They remained on the ship for the time being.
The princes of the Kakin Empire were also remaining on the ship. But for different reasons. Recently, three of their siblings had turned out dead.
Namely, Zhang Lei, Luzurus and Tyson. The siblings were terrified, as they didn't know who exactly was planning these assassinations.
Well, Halkenburg had his suspicions, but he couldn't throw any baseless accusation around, lest the situation was turned on its head and people started suspecting him too.
The obvious culprit was none other than Camilla, at least in Halkenburg's eyes, she had decided that getting rid of a few candidates might make things easier for the later election.
She decided to get rid of as many of her siblings as possible. She played her cards right, and not a lot of people were suspecting her.
Well, besides the ones that already didn't trust her. She still found it regretful that she failed to lure Ashton to her cause. But she still thought that her chances to win the crown were high.
And, since Ashton was out of the picture, she could run wild for a bit. This turned the situation into a mess, for both the hunters and the rest of the people present.
Cheadle and the rest had barely been resting the entire time. And there was still a lot to do. Now, they also needed to investigate murders. Which was yet another job to pile on their heads.
They were already spread thin as it was. The teams could barely keep up with patrolling the already discovered and explored territories.
The rest of the soldiers were only patrolling the proximity of the cities.
The Zodiacs had yet to encounter any obscenely strong monsters, but they still heeded Ashoton's warning. They proceeded with caution... Well, most of them did.
A certain tiger and the group he was leading was venturing forth a bit farther than necessary. And he was about to come face to face with the beast that could ruin their entire expedition...
__________ POV Kanzai__________
This is so BORING.
We've been made to patrol the same territories that we already have secured.
These pompous pricks didn't even get the soldiers to help us. It's beyond annoying. There's not even much that Cheadle can do, we are basically lackeys at this point.
I miss the old Chairman. He would never have let us get pushed around like this... But I guess the circumstances are a bit grave.
I can't even blame Cheadle for it. So much shit is happening all at once that it becomes hard for us to keep up with everything.
Still, I'm sick and tired of looking at the same trees, the same valleys, encountering the same harmless species. I will take my team and look a bit further this time.
I want to see more of this continent. I am strong enough to protect myself anyway. I doubt anything bad will happen.
That Ashton guy was likely just exaggerating the dangers to make sure we were cautious. There weren't any notable threats that we couldn't handle yet.
So, I led my team and ran a hundred kilometres deeper this time. Then a hundred more.
We explored our surroundings for a day. Then, I could see the forest shifting in front of us. I looked around, only to notice that the entirety of my team was had stopped and was backing off a bit.
Then I could immediately sense danger, it made me come to a stop instantly and jump backwards with all of my strength.
The place I was in previously shifted itself, as something rose out of the ground. A large, bulky lizard looking monster rose from the ground and looked around in a curious manner.
Its scales were a dark brown, its eyes were green and filled with anger.
Its back was covered in the earth and trees that I was just about to step on. I could feel some cold sweat on my back, this thing is dangerous...
Then, it spotted us, it rose its head and opened its mouth. Releasing a roar so powerful that it shook the entire forest.
Just the shockwave of its roar blew away all of the trees around us along with my entire team of hunters.
They immediately turned tail and started running. I followed too, the monster was making its way towards us with a speed similar to mine, it will soon catch up to the rest of the hunters...
"W-What the fuck is that?" Asked one of the hunters fearfully.
"I don't know! But we're in danger!" I know this won't end well. If we just run towards the cities then we'd probably lead it towards the rest. And that would just cause more death.
I gritted my teeth a bit. And stopped.
"YOU GUYS GO AHEAD! I'LL HOLD IT BACK!" I shouted at them, only one or two even looked at me, the rest just kept running, as I told them.
I immediately covered my body with Aura, my features slowly changing into those of a tiger. I ran towards the monster and jumped towards its head, I simply opened its mouth and roared again.
Because I was airborne, I was not able to get any foothold, so I was sent flying backwards and into the forest.
I didn't let that discourage me, I bolted towards one of its legs covering my hands in Aura and slashing at its legs.
My claws didn't even get into scratch its skin properly. It raised the leg I was trying to cut and it stomped the ground.
I managed to jump away in time, and the shockwave sent me flying once more.
Its large leg crushed the ground and shook the entire forest once more. It cracked open the earth and created a chasm so deep that I could barely see the bottom of it.
How am I supposed to fight this thing?
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