Two champions walked through the dense dark forest people called Ulmir's Garden. One of them, a man named Otis, wore ring mail on top of black boiled leather. The great sword strapped to his back showed he relied on brute strength. Fighting dangerous monsters often relied on quick and decisive blows.

Beside him walked a woman clad in steel armor that looked custom-made to fit her slim body. She held a s.h.i.+eld on one hand, and a spear on the other. Both champions looked weary. Thirst and hunger were a champion's biggest threat. The provisions they were given were to last for three days if their owner was savvy.

Although the place they were in was called a garden, it didn't have any of its features. Trees extended towards the sky, obstructing most of the sunlight from reaching the ground. It would take at least a hundred men to surround each tree trunk. Rivers of poisoned water provided refreshment to monsters that didn't seem to be affected by it.

The flowers that grew in the Garden were also abnormal. Some would target live bodies to hunt and consume. Others had toxic spores that could transform any who inhaled it into a mindless berserker. After all, Ulmir's Domain was filled with danger. Those who venture inside the realm should be ready for death.

Then there were plants that looked like normal trees. They would trick you into thinking they're ordinary. From a distance, one would see ripe fluorescent fruits dangling from the branches. To those who hadn't been savvy with their supplies, the fruits will look like salvation. Try to pull on them though, and a large monster would appear from below the ground. The plant is just its antenna. Any who touches it ends up devoured.

"Greta," the man named Otis called out. "We're not alone round here."

The brute was right. Everywhere the two looked, they could see s.h.i.+ning eyes watching them from behind the tall dense trees. "Gremkins!" Greta cursed under her breath. "I'm tired of these f.u.c.kers following us all around!" she said, frustrated.

"What do we do?" Otis asked.

"We make camp here. We cover our ground, let them come to us."

"That's what they're waiting for woman. Are you out of your mind?!"

The two had been running around the Garden for two days. The little Gremkins were vicious creatures. Two days ago, they were a team of six champions. Two of them vanished the first day without a trace as they attempted to pursue the small creatures with sparkling eyes.

The second day, the remaining four attempted to capture a large monster. The Gremkins struck again. They attacked in great numbers and in extraordinary speed. Two of them were taken unaware and died on the spot. Greta and Otis fought hard to get out of the perilous situation. Both of them thanked their lucky stars as they met miles away from the ambush site.

"If we don't fight back, we're as good as dead Otis." Greta didn't like being surrounded. But they didn't have any other choice. "We either fight them here, push them back, or we die trying."

"There're too many of them," Otis protested.

"Would you rather die in your sleep?" Greta asked. "Then you should've stayed home big guy."

"They have an advantage Greta. They can see in the darkness. Look at them teasing us."

"Aim for the eyes," the woman barked at him. "And stop whining! Only the worthy can enter Ulmir's Castle."

Greta took a throwing knife from her belt then threw it at one of the Gremkins. A thump was heard then deafening shrieks followed. All the little creatures attacked at once. Otis and Greta stood back to back, swinging and thrusting in the darkness. A claw hit the woman in the face. Another penetrated the big brute's legs which pushed him to cry out in pain.

"Warriors die weapon in hand!" he shouted as he swung even harder.

Every swing cut two or three creatures at once. Greta on the other hand had all her senses activated. She'd look for eyes and p.r.i.c.k her ears for any movement around her. They stayed there for five minutes. To them, it seemed like hours had pa.s.sed.

All of a sudden, a bright light flashed above them. All the little creatures shrieked and retreated behind the Tall Trees, away from the blinding light.

"Who goes there?" Otis angrily shouted.

"Relax friend," a voice told them. "I'm 'ere to help, if possible."

"Then show yourself!" It was Greta who shouted the order this time.

"Long as ya don't attack woman," the voice said.

"Show yourself, then we'll see about that," Otis barked in the darkness that filled the forest. His leg bled profusely, he could barely stand straight.

"Right 'ere!" A man, as tall and as large as a bear showed up behind them.

"You!" Greta shouted as soon as she caught sight of Cane. "What're you doing here?"

"I'm hunting monsters for our G.o.d!"

"You know him?" Otis asked his companion.

"She stabbed me with that spear at the Ritual," Cane answered.

"And he miraculously dodged it. Why did you help us?" Greta didn't trust Cane.

"I'm waiting for a monster to show up," the big bear answered. "Join me and I'll help ya with the Gremkins."

"You?!" Greta sarcastically asked. "What can you do against those little s.h.i.+ts that we haven't?"

"Ye'll see if ya help me with the beast I'm hunting."

Greta looked at her companion. Both exchanged wary looks. n.o.body trusted other champions they hadn't teamed up with prior to the Hunt, and for good reasons. "Talk it out," Cane urged them. "But yer on the clock, the little s.h.i.+ts're coming back."

"To h.e.l.l with it Greta, I'm in!" Otis was the first one to offer his help.

"I guess we don't have a choice, do we? It's either help or get stuck here forever."

Cane smiled approvingly. 'One day with Black Eyes and I'm imitating him… Great,' he thought as he looked up at the Alfa Fairy Zedd sent with him. Silver glowed in the darkness, like a firefly then flew at the Gremkins that approached in the darkness.

"What's this?" Greta asked. "They're sensitive to light, but that thing will attract bigger prey here."

"Don't worry earless," Cane told the woman. "The other beasts are busy somewhere else."

The big bear followed the Alfa Fairy. Every little creature it revealed, Cane smashed it with a single punch. "Spread out, this tiny creature will illuminate the area for us!" Cane shouted at Greta and Otis.

Together, they proceeded to killing the little monsters. Silver had flown in the air then glowed even brighter. The entire area, in their immediate vicinity, was illuminated. The Gremkins died, one after the other. Those who realized the horror fled the scene, never to return and stalk the three champions.

"Don't chase after them!" Greta shouted as she saw Otis chasing the fleeing ones.

After the situation got under control, the three warriors sat in a clearing in the middle of the Tall Trees. "What're you hunting?" Otis asked Cane.

"I dunno yet," Cane answered.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Greta could only function with a precise plan. "We only have one day left."

"I have a partner," Cane told the champions. "He's busy keeping other beasts away from 'ere. Soon as he does his little magic trick, the monster'll show up."

"And you trust this partner of yours?" Greta asked.

"Yeah I do. You two of ya'll get along very well," Cane mockingly said. "He loves being in control, and he never breaks a promise. The beast'll show up."

"What do we do now?" Otis asked.

"We rest, eat and drink," Greta answered. "You should look into that wound too."

"I'll take first watch," Cane offered. "I don't feel tired yet. Ye two sleep, I'll wake ya if something happens."

Greta looked at the big bear warily. She was also injured. She thought the fight against the Gremkins was her last. "Where're your axes?" she asked.

"I tossed 'em away. These two are all I need," he said as he looked at his hands.

"You smashed the Gremkins with your bare hands," Otis said as he bandaged his injured leg. "What are you?"

"I dunno," Cane honestly replied. "I was told I had some superpower. But I dunno what it is yet. All I can do is smash things with these two hands."

"That's more than enough," Otis replied. "You saved us today."

"He needed us to help him fight that monster he spoke of," Greta intervened, gritting her teeth.

"Enough Greta," Otis shouted. "We've lost too many of our friends to those beasts. Accept other people's help, as Na'ar accepted Ulmir's."

"You're comparing apples and oranges big guy. I don't trust this man."

"Suit yourself," Otis replied. "I'm gonna get some shut eye."

"I'll wake ya if anything happens," Cane told the large brute then turned and looked at the woman with no ears. "Ya should get some sleep too. If ya don't wanna help later, don't. Go find yer own prey to catch."

With a "humph!" Greta turned the other side and stubbornly kept watch over her companion. She'd had a tough couple of days. She found herself thinking about her friends that died to the Gremkins and how she couldn't save them. Soon enough, her eyes started getting heavy. She fell asleep sitting, hugging her knees.

The tradition of the Great Hunt started centuries ago. Overtime, people made it a religious festival, mostly because of the prize money one could get from completing the challenge. It was greed that got people to partic.i.p.ate in the Great Hunt. And because of that greed, the objective of the Hunt changed in people's minds. The Hunt referred to the beasts hunting humans, not the other way around. It was due to religion and Ulmir's deception that the idea of the Hunt changed among humans.

The realm was unforgiving. There was no edible food to be found or wild animals to be hunted. Greta's stomach growled as she sat next to Otis, sleeping. Cane fumbled in his bag and took out some dried fish and some pears. He placed them next to the two champions and waited for them to wake up.

The rest they desperately sought was brought to a sudden halt. Screams and wails in the distance woke the two champions.

"What's that?" Otis asked as he jumped up, winced in pain then sat down again.

"Take it easy on the leg," Cane urged. "That must be my partner. I dunno what he's planning, but it'll draw the monster we're seeking 'ere."

Greta listened to the screams in the distance. "Those are humans screaming. Is killing other champions part of your friend's plan?"

"Could be," Cane answered. "Half the time, I can't say what he's thinking."

"Those are definitely champions screaming Greta, sounds like a terrible fight's happening," Otis commented.

"Eat," Cane urged the two champions as he pointed for the food he offered them. "I've got extra, picked them from Gedel's corpse."

"Where'd you meet him?" Greta asked. "I wanted to kill that brute myself."

"Kandisha beat ya to it;" Cane answered. "Eat, you'll need your strength. If that's not my partner, we'll need to fight and soon."

"I'm afraid I won't be of much help," Otis declared. "My leg's killing me."

"Can ya shoot?" Cane asked.

"I'm good with a bow," the brute replied. "But not the best."

"That's good enough." Cane took a cylindrical object from his bag then handed it to Otis. "We took this from the imperials. You just aim and press the trigger here."

"Imperials?" Greta cut in.

"Long story," Cane interrupted. "Eat and get ready. We'll need to fight very soon."

The two champions reluctantly obeyed. They were hungry, their supplies were drained to the last crumb. They chewed on the dry fish and the fruits like two starving beasts. Screams and wails kept reaching them in the distance. Earth rumbled and the tall strong trees shook. A fierce fight was happening in the distance. In the dark forest, it was hard to estimate how far the slaughter was from their position.

They sat in silence for hours. The noise in the distance started subsiding after daybreak. Greta and Otis had had enough time to eat and rest. Cane sat beside them, guarding his potential partners. As sunlight got filtered by the dense tree branches high above, the ground around Cane started shaking.

"Wake up!" he shouted.

Greta opened her eyes, threw her arm to the side then grabbed her spear. "What's going on?" she shouted.

"Something's coming at us and fast. Get Otis behind a tree or something."

The woman with two missing ears obeyed. She pulled her friend away from the clearing then joined Cane. "Whatever's coming at us will be tough to kill," he told her as he adjusted a belt around his torso.

"What we're doing is crazy," Greta complained.

"You still got time to turn tail woman," Cane barked at her. "I'm not forcing ya to stay."

"Greta never runs," she shouted.

"Then shut yer trap and be on yer guard. The beast coming at us'll eat Grumkins for breakfast."

Before Greta could shoot something back at the big bear, the earth around them shook even more. Heavy thumps could be heard behind the trees in front of them. "Looks like it's big," Greta pointed out.

"And it's running," Cane replied. "Soon as we see it, we surround it. Let limpy leg shoot it wherever he can."

The Tall Trees shook. The big and st.u.r.dy plants were easily moved aside as a giant beast made its way towards the clearing. 'Queen Mushroom can sense Life Force signatures,' Zedd's voice echoed in Cane's mind. 'The scent of blood puts it into frenzy. If she smells her kin's blood, mixed with that of humans, she'll come looking. And you'll intercept her and deal with her.'

Cane and Greta observed the monster that walked towards them. "What in the five h.e.l.ls is that?" Otis shouted behind them.

The trees that were pushed aside by the monsters creaked. The ground below them shook as roots, as big and large as small hills, emerged. "What the f.u.c.k did you get us into Cane?" Greta asked. It was the first time she addressed him by name.

"What will you do with a mountain of gold?" Cane asked as he got ready to attack.

"We gotta survive first then think of the gold stupid!" the heavily armored woman shouted.

"It's big, it moves," Cane started. "But it'll bleed. And if it bleeds, it dies!"

Tall Trees swayed right and left as Queen Mushroom advanced towards the tiny humans below its feet. Cane took the belt he strapped to his torso then held it high up. The creature could be heard sniffing high above. Then a loud growl reached the champions' ears.

"The f.u.c.k're you doing?" Greta slapped the belt from Cane's hands.

"Get it angry, make it stupid. These were my instructions. If ya got time to argue, use it to attack the monster's foot."

Greta cursed, shot a dark look at Cane then ran for the beast's left leg. Cane ran the opposite side as he shouted at Otis. "Don't bother aiming, just shoot."

The Tall Trees that the beast swept aside provided the three champions with enough sunlight to see where they were running. Greta could see a giant oblong pink shape in front of her. a.s.suming it was the monster's foot, she thrust her spear inside it. The weapon easily tore through the soft substance the monster's foot was made of. 'd.a.m.nit, I can easily cut through this but the thing doesn't even notice what I'm doing,' the thought as she kept on thrusting her spear repeatedly.

By the fifth stab, the beast raised its foot. Greta held on for dear life as Queen Mushroom tried to shake the annoying human away. 'What the h.e.l.l are you doing Greta?' she kept asking herself as her body was dangling in the air. She looked below her and saw Cane pounding at the ground below the monster with his bare hands.

Otis blindly shot the Bowgun. The weapon was equipped with piercing bullets. Each hit created a hole big enough for a human to get inside it. The monster finally howled in pain, then started furiously stomping on the ground.

Greta was thrown aside. Her armor dented and folded in some parts. With great difficulty, she stood up, unbuckled her breast plate then threw it aside. 'f.u.c.king luck!' she cursed as she unbuckled the rest of her armor. 'This thing'll kill me before it protects me.'

A heavy thud brought her attention back at the beast. When she looked up, Greta saw Queen Mushroom on its knee in the clearing. Cane's punches cracked the ground, and the beast's stomps broke it. Its left leg was stuck in a hole underground. Its right knee was on the floor. The beast howled as it tried to yank its stuck leg out.

"What is this?" Greta heard Otis shout as he kept shooting.

What she saw was a large pink torso from which multiple mushrooms protruded. The torso was moving up and down. 'Is this thing panting?' she thought as she walked towards the monster.

"Oy!" Cane shouted. "Quit daydreaming and help me break this leg!"

Cane was still pounding at the monster's left leg. Greta drew a Dirk she carried on her then ran towards the big bear. "How'd you do that?!" she asked when she got closer to him.

"I dunno," Cane answered in between punches. "Now help me break this f.u.c.king leg before it moves again."

With every yank the beast gave to its left leg, two punches and meager slices from the Dirk were given. "Otis!" Greta shouted. "Can you see us?!"

"I can hear ya!"

"Then shoot at me, this thing won't budge if we don't attack together!"

"Ya trying to kill us woman?!" Cane exclaimed.

"All we need to do is move behind it and keep attacking. That thing you gave Otis hurts it, you'll see."

Otis obeyed and shot the Bowgun. Large holes were created at every impact. "Well f.u.c.k me sideways," Cane shouted. "That thing really packs a heavy punch."

The beast growled and howled. It tried to yank its left leg out of the hole but the injuries caused by the piercing bullets rendered its leg useless.

"Incoming!" Cane shouted as he jumped back.

Greta looked up. The thing that was descending on their head resembled a hand. It was covered in thorns, ivy and mushrooms, lots of them. Cane pulled the earless woman from the shoulder just in time. The giant hand landed, and the ground shook. Cane and Greta were standing between the beast's fingers.

"How fearless are ya?" Cane asked as he jumped at the Ivy that dangled from the monster's hand. Greta looked incredulously at the big bear then imitated him.

'This is insane,' she told herself as the beast retracted its hand.

"It'll strike again!" Cane shouted as they were yanked upwards. "Find something to jump to. Don't stay in 'er hand or ye'll get squashed!"

Cane started nimbly climbing up the ivy that covered the beast's hands and arms. Greta watched the big bear move quickly from one finger to the back of the hand, then to the beast's gigantic arm. He looked like an ant escalating a human body. Wind whistled in her ears as the Queen moved her hands upwards. Greta, with sheer willpower, urged her limbs to move too.

"f.u.c.k you Cane!" She shouted but the wind didn't carry her words to the big bear's ears. "This'll better be worth it!" Greta defied her fears and started climbing. After all, her fear of death overcame her fear of heights.

In the meantime, Otis shot two more bullets before shouting "I'm out!"

n.o.body heard him.

Cane and Greta continued their escalation. With incredible speed, Cane managed to reach the monster's shoulder. Greta on the other hand, was stuck in its belly. She tried to get away from the hand before Queen Mushroom attacked the floor again. But missed her jump and plummeted at break neck speed towards the ground. Luckily for her, the monster bent forward to smash her hands and Greta was caught in its belly area. Sharp thorns tore her clothes and cut her arms and legs.

Cane reached the monster's neck then stopped to have a better look. "Disgusting!" he exclaimed as the beast's horrible face unveiled itself to him. Queen Mushroom was fifty feet tall and twenty feet wide. Its body was made of a soft squishy substance, covered with thorns, ivy and millions of mushrooms. It was called Queen Mushroom because her body was covered with fungi. What Cane saw that day confirmed what Zedd had told him.

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"I'm not even sure I can call that a face!" The big bear waved his hand in front of him to repel the beast's nocuous fumes. Queen Mushroom didn't have a face per se. In the area where the face should've been, there were multiple holes. They contracted inwards rapidly then abruptly stopped. The holes suddenly grew in size then a loud shriek pierced Cane's eardrums.

From the obscure orifices came multiple spiky tongues which had mouths at their tip. If Cane got hit by one of those, he'd be ripped apart then eaten. Before the multiple tongues could attack the big bear though, the beast threw its head backwards and howled in pain.

Cane took advantage of the opening then punched the beast on the throat, once, twice, thrice. The beast howled even louder after every hit. 'Fall you b.i.t.c.h! Fall!' he mentally shouted as he kept delivering blow after blow. His strength had indeed exceptionally increased. With every punch, the beast's head would be flung to one side.

Greta struggled against the thorns and Ivy that grew on the monster's body. She was full of scratches but she managed to find an old wound on the monster's belly and reopened it. That alone provided Cane with a precious opening. She was trying to climb up in order to help Cane. She stopped to catch her breath then looked at Otis' direction.

Her eyes got wider as they fell on a pool of blood and sinew instead of the last of her friends. She was saved because the beast attacked Otis. The beast leaned forward to attack the shooter. Her heart beat faster, the world spun around her. She was reminded once again of her fear of heights. Then, when she was about to let go and fall to her death, she saw him.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Cane was plummeting towards the ground in front of her eyes. Otis was reduced to sinew soup. The beast had slapped the annoying bear with its gigantic hand and rendered him unconscious. The man whose strength astonished Greta was brought down with a single hit. And the strong fighter who stood by her side since the beginning of the Hunt was squashed.