A Hunt for Funds

[Atiea]

It was a late start into the day. But she had to earn money, she needed to earn it fast. With everything going on, there was so little she could do to help those around her. Her skills are so vastly limited. She kept cursing herself for her inability to help and protect those she cared about. Well today, she’d try to do something, she had to, she couldn’t just mope about, she had to move,had to help anyway she could. So...she hunted. Taking several bounties from the Hunter’s Guild, she aimed high. Seven bounties today. That was her goal. She could make several hundred dollars if she did this. Perhaps even a grand. Before she let her eyes fall on one bounty in particular...The Cactus Rose Dragon. She knew it would be hard, it’d be impossible by herself. But..the bounty..it was exactly what she needed, and her eyes hardened, as the crimson in her gaze ignited, and the fire began to burn. Burning brighter and brighter. She’d kill that fucking dragon, twice over. She’d incinerate it.

So she went out, she had several fights to pick, she started with a few golems, just some stone golems that had been seen wandering far too close to the town. It’d be easy, though her blade would not be the ideal pick against the stony forms. So, she’d rely on her companion, Fio, he could take the form of a staff, and that would work more than well enough. She found her prey, and simply stepped out, as Fio’s form shimmered, and quivered, slipping into her hand as the snake turned himself into a long bo staff, the material looking like snake scales in that beautiful crimson coloration. She spins the staff, stepping closer to her prey, as one of the golem’s just..bull rushes her. Her hands spin the staff, and she brings it across the face of the golem. A resounding CRACK as the staff connects, and then the shattering of the golem’s face, the force of the blow killing the golem in a single blow. The core landing on the ground, as fire just..ignites around her, her eyes becoming blazing fireballs. “Next.” She said to her prey, as the golems turned and started to run, her staff shifted, turning into that whip and igniting. Crack. Crack. And there are two more cores at her feet. She collects her prizes, and continues, finding her next prey.

The next prey on her list...an Ent.The massive elemental rested, having slain several other hunters already. It’s hide littered with the weapons of those who had come before. What is often seen as a serene and often gentle creature, had become twisted into a terrifying nightmare. A beast whose purpose had been to claim the lives of those it wished. The monster had been nicknamed the Rotbranch. And Atiea had come to slay it. She let Fio stay tucked in her armor, helping bolster her inner fire, but also adding in his magical energy to hers. Bolstering her even further. This one, she’d handle with Memorial. The black blade drawn from its sheath. A longsword that’s built for pure power, longer than most blades, heavier as well. The stygian iron blade seemed to suck the light out the air, as it hummed with the power the demigod was currently exhuming. “Let’s dance then.” She said. Her hand coming up to shoot forth a gout of flames at Rotbranch, garnering it’s attention, the beast roared and slammed the ground, a terrible twisting advance of roots towards her. And her speed had not been fast enough, as the roots tangle up around her leg. Rooting her in place. She brought her blade down hastily, trying to free herself as the massive monster rushed towards her. Though the roots held firm, and before she knew it there was the shock pain coursing through her. As Rotbranch had slammed her into the earth with his two powerful fists. A cry of pain, before a roar of pure rage. “NO.” Is all that is said, and the flames push up and outward, consuming both Rotbranch, and Atiea. The fire is not red, but pure black, a dark flame that quickly shreds the massive monster into kindling. Atiea standing there as the flames fade away, panting softly, as the blade is sheathed. Four monsters down, three more to go. She couldn’t stop, even if she still felt the dull pain of the ent’s assault, or the lingering rage and confusion at the darkened flame. She collected the core of the ent, adding it to the collection of parts for bounty rewards. And she stepped along further.

The next pair of beasts she hunted were easy, simple. A pair of hellhounds that had been causing minor issues. It took a mere matter of seconds after she found them, the hounds rushed towards her, her blade out and cleaving through them both in a simple, practiced motion. The heads of the hounds, added to her growing collection. As she went south, intent on finding her final prey.

Night had finally fallen, and the moon was in the sky, as she stepped towards her final opponent, the Cactus Rose Dragon. One of the beasts had been found nesting nearby the Cadentia, and she was intent on finding it, and ending it. Her eyes found the beast. As she steps towards it. The blade brandished, as the snake ignited her fire further. She rushes towards it, intent on a surprise strike, but the monster is too fast, too aware. And instead she catches the tail straight into the chest, sent flying hard into a rock, a sickening THUD as her body connects. A soft groan, as she doesn’t falter, staying on her feet, readying to defend against the next blow. But she wasn’t ready for the thorny breath attack of the dragon. The thorns flying out of it’s mouth, and many of them ripping her clothing, finding purchase into her skin, infecting her with that poison. She groans softly, as Fio ignites the fire further, pushing her. She couldn’t stop. She has to get back, has to help. Her eyes burning even brighter now, the fireballs for her eyes brightly shining, as she stood defiantly against the dragon. The dragon brought it’s paw down, trying to slam Atiea into the ground, and instead, her blade turned and she brought it up in a swing upwards, cutting through the dragon’s hand in a single solid blow. A resounding BOOOM, as her swing seems to echo with power. Her eyes look up to the dragon, as the dragon sees that it isn’t the predator tonight, it is the prey. And fear leaks into its eyes. And the demigod smirks. “Game..fucking..over.” She swings the sword again, cleaving through the dragons other arm, as the dragon falls back onto its side trying to squirm away, swinging that tail towards her, and a wall of flames ignite to her side, catching the blow before parting as her blade comes down and cleaves the tail off. She turns and then she throws the blade, hurling it with impossible strength, the blade igniting into a deadly fireball of steel and flame. The blade passes through the dragon’s head, clean throughout the other side and slamming into a small burrow with a resounding THWOOOOMMMMMM. She stands there panting softly as she goes over to the blade, reaching down to pick it up, she spots the aftermath of her attack. Seven eggs, all shattered by her attack. Seven more lives than she intended to take today. She frowns a bit more. As she picks up the blade. She sighs softly. “Shame I can’t collect a bounty on the young.” She says with a calmness, truly disappointed she can’t collect the bounty. The demigod turns back to the dragon. Grabbing the horn and ripping it off the snout, adding yet another piece to her collection of bounties, she begins to head back into town, limping slightly, but not stopping, a fire reignited.