(Third person POV)
By the time Kyuru, the sleepy fairy said goodbye to Morpheus, rising from the guardian's embrace; she noticed to her surprise that she was locked inside something. She used all the strength that she could muster in her delicate and slender arms to escape her, by leaving her cage (the backpack); to her daze, the first thing that entered her field of vision was a Desmond fighting what she knew as a frost owl.
The guardian whom she respected and adored so much was being played like a mouse by the agile owl; apparently, Desmond was not used to fighting flying enemies. The frost owl did not specialize in speed, but his aerial prowess was not to be underestimated, Desmond's arrows couldn't hit his target and when he came into hand-to-hand range; his dagger was unable to pierce her ice feathers.
Seeing her Guardian being bullied in that way it didn't seem to make the newly awakened fairy feel good, she gave the owl one last annoyed look; after which she closed her pretty purple eyes and, clasping her little hands, channeled her blessing more intensely into Desmond.
(Minutes before, Desmond POV)
Leaving the battered corpse of the storm fist monkey, I continued wandering in search of beasts that would allow me to finish my mission objectives or, failing that, valuable items that I could exchange with the association for resources.
The results left a bad taste in my mouth if I have to be honest about it, don't get me wrong; I met my goals. . . it is just that. . . So far I have only found one aqua rabbit after another.
They didn't even stop showing up after meeting all the requirements (except survival), you stupid rabbits; I've already lost count of how many of them I killed and how many of their cute blue horns I've collected.
Probably caused by my lack of gratitude for allowing me to have an easy way here; the goddess of fortune in her fury sent me a loyal servant to teach me a lesson. . . It's that or all the smell of rabbit blood that attracted a predator with a taste for plush idiots.
A tearing pain shot from my back, being pushed to the floor; all I had to hear was a squawk to know I was screwed. Enduring the pain as best I could, I got up to look at my attacker and it was indeed some kind of magical bird.
´´ You are not serious, he is the worst kind of enemy for me now´´ I couldn't finish thinking out loud before having to throw myself to the ground again to avoid the blow of the bird.
´´ At least let me have a whole monologue, dammit ´´ Without time for my monologue or to adjust my posture I could only pathetically roll on the floor.
´´ Very good, you know what? If you come and mess with me acting all high and mighty. . . damn let me finish, all tall and powerful but when this is over it will be me. . . Damn you woke up bad? . . . when this is over I will be the one who laughs last. " Regrettably, I could only keep dodging the bird as I tried to scream my frustrations in the form of threats.
Taking advantage of a time when the bird had to correct its flight to avoid a couple of trees, I took my supply backpack and placed it safe from the fight; with all, that and that lazy fairy is still asleep.
Turning to face my attacker again, I could have a better image of how it looks now, even without the hunter's book I can tell that it is a type of owl, its elemental affinity is obviously ice because its fucking feathers are made of that; judging from the fact that I'm still alive his strength level is probably zero-star low level.
Typically in video games, ice-type monsters tend to be slow and clumsy; but this is real life, his elemental affinity may have improved his defense that I can tell just by looking at his appearance, but his flying prowess does not appear to have been affected.
I tried to hit him with an arrow but to no one's surprise, he easily dodged it; after which I had to throw myself to the ground again. Also, try waiting for the exact moment when he was about to hit me to cut him with my steel dagger, the result? . . . well my hand hurts, my dagger is damaged and the stupid owl is still intact.
The battle continued for a few minutes and fatigue began to drop in my combat capabilities, my blows became slower and slower; my attempts to dodge became more clumsy and the wounds accumulated little by little.
This was probably the owl's plan from the beginning, to play with me, to harass me by reducing my resistance and hurting little by little; Meanwhile, I was helpless trying to come up with a plan to kill him.
The opportunity came too unexpectedly, suddenly my body felt lighter and my wounds less painful; I felt somehow more connected to my surroundings. . . with something in the environment that was hard to describe, but I didn't need to understand when my instincts told me what I needed to know. . . it was the manna around me.
A slight disturbance in the stream of mana made me bend over and lean my body a little to the right, as I did so I saw the owl pass over me. I could also see a little fairy that seemed to be in the middle of a sentence or something like that; while she was kneeling on the pillow that I gave her.
If I still hadn't known that Kyuru was somehow helping me, then a bolt of lightning should strike me, my best guess would be that she wasn't praying; rather, she was channeling his power through me.
Either way, it was the help I needed in a moment of real need; God how I love that fairy.
Using my new connection to mana I proceeded to dodge the frost owl as my senses got used to keeping up with the perception of mana, I was sharpening the tool I had just obtained; waiting for the moment to strike a fatal blow.
I could have a violent and reckless nature in many cases, however, I would never follow the path of the wuxia protagonists, launching devastating techniques left and right, with colorful lights and bursts of energy; at the end of the day, I was a hunter.
I observe my prey, study their behavior patterns, analyze their weaknesses and use my dexterity, ability, and intellect to end their life in the most efficient way possible.
Meanwhile, the owl slowed down its flight to avoid some trees and attack me again, now with enough time to collect my thoughts; a plan formed in my head.
Little by little I approached a thick tree behind me, I made sure not to get too close so as not to give away my plan; when the owl was close enough he started to slow down in case his attack failed he did not crash into the tree.
And that was just what I was looking for, I reached out my right hand to my side quickly playing the hunter's book; then the remnants of aqua rabbit fur appeared in my hand only to be thrown at the frost owl's face.
His vision being obstructed and his wings limited by the large piece of rabbit fur that doubled as a catch blanket, the owl panicked and was unable to react before crashing into the tree.
Stunned and limited by the "catch blanket" that still covered him, he wasn't able to do much when I took the corners of the blanket and formed a small sack with it inside; and I just started hitting him against the tree in a violent way.
'' Die little shit, I told you that I would laugh last; repent in hell for harassing a man as handsome as me "I said looking like an angry lunatic without stopping hitting the tree with the bird.
I admit it was not pretty but he deserved it, this fight forced me to realize that I still have a long way to go to be a true hunter; so my next goal will be to train the remaining time I have in this world and gather as many resources as possible.
for now. . . I think I'll have dinner on the grilled owl.