The next day the trio proceeded to the Hunters lodge which was a large beautiful mansion made entirely from oak with hunters moving in and out of it. They proceeded towards the grand entrance where some sentinels stood in watch. To their obvious surprise the sentinels said nothing as they made their way into the lodge.
The new hunters were made to assemble in a great hall that was adorned with the heads of many exotic beasts with the squad leaders sitting on a raised platform. "Now hunters you have been gifted the chance to display your skill to the squad leaders in order to be invited to join and become a prestigious hunter" said one of the squad leaders that was clad in a crimson armor with spikes on the gauntlets. "You will be assessed by a simple survival test in which you must bring as many beast heads as possible" added a beautiful lady wearing a floral pattern dress."Any questions? "yes" hollered a thunderous voice belonging to a tall muscular man with deep blue eyes and a war axe strapped to his back. "Please ask" replied the fifty squad leaders in unison. "Can we collect trophies from other competitors". "Sure you can, but no killing will be tolerated" answered the hunter in the crimson armor. "With no any other questions we shall state the rules of the competition. Firstly, you can use any weapon of your choice as well as gift. You shall enter the forest at the same time and after one week those of you who make it out alive shall be assessed by the number and rank of beast heads in your possession. We shall be watching your progress through this observation orb so make sure to do your best''."Now without further ado hunters proceed towards the massive white door to your right" the squad leader in the floral dress said with a chuckle. "Anyone who has changed his or her mind should try again next year, for I can assure you all that some of you will end up dead or brutally mauled" the crimson squad leader added as the big massive white doors swung open. "And so the journey begins" Gale said out loud as he stepped through the door where to his surprise and anger he found himself alone in a cave. "Of course we will be separated, I should have ran away when I had the chance" he reasoned as he took a look around the forest that he had stepped into.His thoughts were however disrupted by a familiar and rather annoying voice. "We meet again assassin" Okuagu said with a chuckle as he observed the small frown forming on Gale's face. "It seems we were separated" added Okuagu as he sniffed the air. "Seriously I thought they all disappeared" Gale replied sarcastically. "If only you could be as tall as your tongue" Okuagu laughed as he dodged a blow meant for his face."I'll advise you save your strength for the beasts". "I've located our first prey" Okuagu said as he picked up a scent of deer some distance away. "So you're in for a collaboration" Gale asked as they sneaked toward a small herd. "Of course, I'll track and flush prey while you bring them down with your arrows" Okuagu said as he moved further into the bushes. "Lest I forget our targets are the males with shiny antlers, they should be 'D' rank at least" he added as he disappeared into the brush. Gale brought out his bow and waited with two sharp arrows on the string drawing it very back to form a crescent shape. After what seemed to be forever a loud noise of running hooves was heard as the herd ran diagonally to the direction Gale was. Gale yawned as he watched two stags fall to their side with an arrow embedded deep in their skulls. "That was fast" Okuagu said as he dropped a smaller stag on the ground. "Nice shot by the way, I didn't even hear the sound of impact'' he added. "I enchant my arrows with wind gift thus granting them the ability to travel at sonic speed'' Gale said as he joined Okuagu to behead the stag's bodies.''Two 'D' rank and one 'C', not bad" Okuagu added as he burnt the skin and flesh of the heads to leave the skulls beneath. "Aren't they supposed to be fresh? asked Gale "The squad leaders are watching, so no need for us to carry rotting flesh with us" replied Okuagu with a nod. "I doubt" Gale said with a chuckle. "And why is that? "Because that orb is fake'' replied Gale. "So they will only rely on those of us who come out alive" Okuagu thought as it occurred to him that maybe pairing with the assassin was going to be more beneficial than he thought.…..