Author note: Sorry I didn't fill in like I promised this past weekend plus some like I said I was going to. No excuses on my part.
I stare at the great jaggi as I lower the heavy bowgun and reload the magazine.
Shreoonk-hon-honkh,goes the howl of the great jaggi as it summons two lesser jaggi from holes in the ground, possible dens, and charges at me. Dodging the charge I fire three slugs into the great jaggi and dodge both lesser jaggi before firing at the leader again.
I quickly dodge again when my shots miss their intended target. I curse silently as the weapon jams and I have to sling the bolt back wasting another shell as it hits the ground and I have to dodge a bite and body lunge. This isn't like the games where you have a cross hair to aim at the enemy and firing from the hip since it's unwieldy trying to shoulder the weapon.
Dodging another strike from a lesser jaggi and rolling backwards from the great jaggi's chomping jaws, I fold the bowgun and sling it across my back where it magically stays on my bare skin. 'I forgot I was basically fighting in my underwear,' I think as I run towards the skull base and start climbing the inside walls. As the great jaggi enters I'm already through one of the eye holes and back outside. I fire straight into the lantern hanging inside knocking it down onto the powder barrels igniting them. Jumping away from the skull base and landing close to a ruined wall the entire base lights up red before I hear no sound then.
Booooooooooom
Zelda's POV
Booooooooooom
I stumble as an explosion fills the air on the plateau. Panic fills my heart as I turn and see the pillar of fire and smoke rise from over the hill. Right where....
" Kyros!" I shout loudly and I try going back but Mineru grabs me and holds me as I start sobbing into her furry belly.
" He'll be fine Zelda, trust me," says Mineru comforting me by rubbing my back as I cry. The apotnoth family, as kyros called them earlier, stops around us and starts to graze the green grass outside the Abbey's ruins.
" How?" I ask," how can you know that?"
" Because I just know." Says Mineru easily deflecting the subject. I narrow my eyes at her and shove her away angrily before running into the Abbey ruins. I ignore her shouts of wait as I go deeper into the maze like ruins. Puddles of cold water splash as I run through them scattering frogs and other wildlife. Hanging on one wall as I pass is a large tadpole like bug with red coloring and a glowing sack on it's back. Absent-mindedly grabbing the insect as I pass I feel warmer all of a sudden but soon I try prying it off as it grabs at my chest.
" Pervert bug," I say as I hold it in my hands before it squirms and jumps onto my left shoulder where it latches on and stays. I glare at the bug before I look around at my surroundings. Tall ruined walls line all sides of the small garden that contains a pond with some small fish, a lone apple tree sitting in the center and a skeleton of someone sitting beneath it's shaded canopy. Walking closer to the weathered skeleton in rusted armor, I cautiously look to the weapons sitting in its lap glinting in the noon sun. A black long curved sword in a sheath of equal length of black leather with brass and iron bands fitted on the wooden sheath. Grabbing the sword and standing it up I realize how tall this weapon is compared to me. I'm around 5'8 , I think, and this thing has to be at least 4' on just the blade itself. Picking up the sword and finding it surprisingly light I place it on my hip but frown at the way it drags the ground. Placing the weapon across the small of my back I try to reach the handle but can't as I'm just going in circles before I fall down dizzy. I grow frustrated with the thing and I'm about to slam it down when I hear a chime echo across the garden. Looking around I hear it again as my vision is suddenly assaulted by golden dust.
Blinking I look around and see this vast wilderness around me and I hear a voice speak in a heavenly tone. " So you're Zelda huh. I must say the sacred realm, or afterlife has always been interested in your life."
Spinning around I see a tall woman, about 6'with long blonde hair and striking blue eyes. I stare at her as she feels familiar when she suddenly laughs at me before continuing.
" You could say I'm you, and no I can't read minds just expressions," says Zelda? Before she looks at me worried.
" I don't have much time right now as the afterlife doesn't let us communicate that easily so I'm going to show you some stuff with my preferred weapon.
I look at her as she unsheathes the same exact longsword from her back and starts slashing away at the air. A graceful dance with such a deadly weapon such precision and grace with each twirl of the blade. Each stroke like an artist and soon I'm copying her. Between us I'm a floundering duckling while she was an elegant swan in our dance of blades.
Soon the vision ends and I'm back in the ruins of the Abbey and I'm surrounded by more of the lesser jaggi. Five in total surround me as I narrow my eyes at them and ready the longsword with shaking hands. I let loose a battle cry as the first one leaps at me. Swinging up a stepping out to the left sends the jaggi flying past me with a new cut from my blade as it lands on the ground bleeding. Dodging the second and the third jaggi and striking the fourth and fifth in an elegant twirling motion, I rush forward towards them again this time my blade striking true across their backs.
Blood soaks my blade as I twirl the blade striking in a repeated motion before striking in a large twirl that leaves my blade glowing as I sheathe it after sending the jaggi flying across the garden. As I do my eyesight clears up even more as I hear the words," carve" echo through my mind. Finding a large curved dagger, a kukri, I start carving the jaggi. Hides and bones I collect as well as claws and teeth before the bodies start breaking down in malice. As the last body disappears I feel myself be wrapped in a hug by something warm and furry and I say I'm sorry to Mineru as she hugs me.
Bang
We both looked over at the sound of caged thunder and find a dead jaggi laying away from us. Turning to the origin of the sound we see kyros leaning against the top of the ruined wall as he sits down looking utterly exhausted and covered in soot, dirt, and blood.
" We have a big problem up here and it's not going to be easy," he says as he looks at us.
Kyros pov
Shortly after the explosion
I dive behind the ruined wall as large segments of the base rain down around the hollow as the smell of burning flesh fills the air.
Shreoonk-hon-honkh
I curse outloud as I load back the bowgun and prepare to fight the great jaggi again. Moving from behind cover I see the wreckage of the base and the great jaggi slowly coming out of the flames. The left side of it's body burned away exposing bones and charred muscles as it limps towards me with hate filled eyes. As it leaves the flames I see something else come out of the flames along with it.
Roaaaaaaaaar
Goes the shadow figure as it grabs the great jaggi in its massive jaws. Slamming it down into the ground and violently twisting its head snapping and ripping the great jaggi's head clean off before looking at me.
Red and black scales covering this winged monsters body along with large spikes, and flame motif wings. A thick club like tail with more spikes coming out of it. A Rathalos stares at me before taking off with its newly caught prey straight towards the mountain on the plateau.
I release a breath before I take off running straight for the Abbey ruins and towards Zelda and Mineru. Climbing the walls I start hopping from wall to wall in search for them when I see them about to be jumped by a lesser jaggi. Firing on instinct I kill the jaggi in one shot before looking at them as my adrenaline finally fades.
" We have a big problem up here and it's not going to be easy," I say looking at them and finally noticing the longsword across Zelda's back. " Hey that's interesting." I say as a faint shout is heard.
" That's my line!"