Big Game Hunter

The soft hum of the energized crystals around Jin’saika helped mask the sounds his soft leather boots made in the magenta dirt as he crept through the maze of glowing pinnacles, knowing his prize was mere meters away from him. The familiar rustle of his nether ray’s propulsion gas was barely audible over the formidable resonance. The rust red steering fins flickered expertly at the corners of his vision as he inched forward another foot, searching for a gap in the crystalline azure pillars where he could better observe his prey.

The titanic den mother Netherdrake lay before him, checking her football sized eggs. Onyx wings were folded over her lighter blue underside as she nudged the nest gently with the end of her snout. The affection in the gesture was obvious.

This didn’t bother Jin’saika, who stroked his bleached tusks thoughtfully, coldly calculating the best angles of attack. The nether essence of this particular specimen could easily fill a couple of jars, each of which could sell for a hundred gold apiece. This could be his first lucky break since the huge mutated Ravager carapace. He tapped the essence harvester subconsciously in anticipation. He’d managed to get that gizmo engineered at bargain price by the little intimidated gnome.

Turning, he made direction signs with his hands to the eager nether ray. Its emerald eyes gleamed with excitement as it bared bleached fangs. Silently, it glided over through the luminous maze to the mother’s left flank.

Jin’saika too made preparations, checking his crossbow and loosening the quiver strap. The adamantite surface was unblemished. He strung three quarrels for a crippling multishot. Finally, he lined the weapon up, attempting what accuracy he could with the multishot between the crystals.

Suddenly, he whistled quickly and loudly. Before the Netherdrake had time to even be surprised, with a soft hiss of propulsion gas the nether ray sank its fangs into her marine blue neck. She twisted and slashed at the vulnerable gas pouch, rolling onto her back. Simultaneously, Jin’saika fired into the fray. The imbued khorium tips tore through the pseudo-fabric of the den mother, penetrating deep into her body before the swirling nether energy currents dissolved them. She roared and spread her wings, the force of the movement knocking the much smaller nether ray away.

Jin’saika had already notched the follow-up when his quarry leaped up to face him, pure fury visible in the eyes of the great creature. He crouched lower, hoping the crystal forest would provide some cover, and let loose with the bulky incendiary shot.

The cobbled goblin-made explosive canister attached to the arrow ignited as it left the crossbow, leaving a stream of bright white sparks. There was a bang and a roar, equally ear-smashing, as it impacted with the furious drake. She tottered backwards, the relentless attacks taking their toll as fire raged inside her. The nether ray shot back for another attack, a blood red blur punctuated by two glowing emerald blobs.

A stream of nether-flame cut it off, forcing the creature into a hasty retreat. With the pet momentarily held back, the drake charged at the block of crystals protecting Jin’saika, the solid pillars splintering under her bestial rampage. He quickly stumbled backwards as the mass of the furious creature descending upon him. His dreams of an easy kill on Celestial Ridge had crumbled as the fight devolved into a state of survival instincts.

Realising the only way to survive would be to force the drake back; he dropped his crossbow and pulled at the spear fastened to his back. He struggled frantically with it as the leather strap caught and wouldn’t let go. The milliseconds dragged by as the huge bulk descended towards him, threatening to crush his poor troll body. Finally, with a rip, the spear came free; he collapsed onto his back and pointed the spear straight up in a gesture of pure defence. Unable to help it, he closed his eyes.

The agonized roar of the punctured animal shook his eardrums and gave him a headache. A substance somewhere between gas and liquid flooded over him from the deep jagged gash on the underbelly of the drake. It reared up and roared again, front legs windmilling wildly. The nether ray delivered the finishing blow: a surgically placed bite near the base of the neck. The huge creature collapsed on the dirty purple ground, letting out a final death wail.

Jin’saika got to his feet uncertainly, shaken. His prey was beginning to melt into the ground. Dropping his spear beside the crossbow, he took the essence harvester from his belt and activated it. Across the clearing, he could see one of the glowing spines sticking from the Netherwing eggs begin to quiver.

It had certainly been a profitable evening.