Monster Hunter Destiny II - Meeting Guan in the Arena Terra

Taka stepped back a pace, dumbstruck by Illeera's news. "...What?" he gasped. "We can't... I mean, I can't... Wait...". Hyperventilating now, Taka slowly calmed down, taking deep breaths, before continuing.

"We can't become hunters! We're too young! And anyway, me, a hunter? I'll be killed before I can even get my weapon out!" The Village Elder then gestured for the two friends to join the group standing before her. Taka took a space beside Hornt, who glared at him before looking back at the Elder.

"The nine of you have been chosen as Mediatas Village's next defenders," the Elder began. "The monster threat is growing. There have been at least twenty attacks in the past ten years. Mediatas needs hunters. Not even Hydra, our best defender, can face the attacking beasts alone every time." Hydra, Taka's sister, stepped forward and put her hand encouragingly on Taka's shoulder.

"Pack your bags, children," the Elder continued, voice feebly shaking as he spoke. "You will journey to the Arena Terra, located in the Military Bastion deep in the Barren Desert. There, your trainer, an... acquaintance... of mine, awaits with your first assignment." The nine teenagers looked nervously at one another. The Village Elder finished in a slightly stronger voice, "Go, future hunters of Mediatas! May your training be successful and your hunts to be remembered forever in legend." With that, he hobbled into his home, closing the door behind him.

-

One hour later, the group was sitting in the back of an Aptonoth-drawn cart with all of their supplies and personal belongings, heading across the harsh Barren Desert. The sun beat relentlessly down on them, making them feel like they were being baked alive. They had all been given Cool Drinks to combat the heat, but even those restorative potions barely protected them.

"I'm going to crush those monsters," boasted Hornt, leaning back with his arms resting confidently behind his head. "None of them will ever know what hit them. BAM! One strike of my weapon and they'll be Uroktor fodder!" Mylie blushed slightly at his words. If every village had someone whose bravery and good looks were admired by all of the opposite gender, then that would be Hornt. Taka loathed him, as did Illeera and Kread.

"Right," sneered Taka. "You'd probably raise your Ukanlos Hammer against a Barioth - and get your rear end handed to you in a storm of flying ice and snow." Kread laughed and added, "Yeah... And wearing Diablos armor to boot!" The carriage erupted into laughter, with Hornt turning bright red and Mylie patting his arm in sympathy.

"Personally," said Relcia, when the gales had died down, "I'm a little worried about the monsters themselves. I mean, you can have appropriate armor and a good weapon, but isn't even a Yian Kut-Ku twice as long as we are tall?" Taka looked at her for a few seconds, considering her point. Relcia met his gaze and smiled at him. Taka turned away and fiddled with his half-full Cool Drink bottle.

"Oh, I'm sure it won't matter," Hornt broke in, back to his old prideful self. "Bring on the Akantor - Hornt will beat them so badly no one will recognize them!" Taahnn grinned, saying, "Before or after they've mauled you so badly that your grandchildren will have scars?" Kread, Taka, and Kiem all roared with laughter. Ryka, Kread's girlfriend, rested her head on his broad shoulder, grinning as well.

Suddenly, Illeera pointed to something in the distance. "Look! Aren't those Delex?" Everyone turned, and indeed, an entire school of the Piscene Wyverns were leaping through the sand like dolphins, following the cart. "And look!" exclaimed Ryka. "Cephalos and Rhenoplos!" Soon, the group was gazing in wonder at the sheer biodiversity of the so-called Barren Desert.

Kiem said grimly, "Yeah, they're all cool-looking and all, but we're hunters... or soon will be. It's our job to slaughter them." Relcia looked up and gasped. "Kiem! A Rathian! Quick, hide!" Kiem looked up in alarm, only to see a bright, empty blue sky. Relcia began to laugh, followed by everyone else. Now it was Taka's turn to smile at her.

The driver of the cart, which turned out to be Hydra herself, turned to face the group. "I'd recommend you keep your eyes open," she warned. "I've been hearing reports of a Black Tigrex sighted in this region." Everyone instantly shut up and nervously scanned the area. Black Tigrexes were very rare, but incredibly ferocious. They were popularly used in stories to scare small children. If the hunter and hunter wannabes encountered a Black Tigrex, it was guarenteed that only one would get out alive - the Tigrex.

The rest of the journey was spent in dead silence as the Aptonoth plodded on toward the distant Military Bastion. Occasionally, a shadow would fall across the cart and the young warriors would look up instantly, but it was usually only a lone Vespoid or Remobra. One time, they even saw a Haparubokka, but it took no notice of them. And there was no sight of any Pseudowyverns.

Finally, the spires of the Military Bastion came into sight and everyone relaxed. Illeera slumped against Taka in pure relief, and Hornt, incredibly, looked disappointed. As the Aptonoth-drawn cart passed the gates, everyone looked around in amazement at the vast walls and watchtowers. Hydra stopped the Aptonoth, then instructed everyone to get out and follow her deeper into the fortress.

-

After another ten minutes of walking, they reached the entrance to the Arena Terra. Their trainer, Bronton, was already there to greet them. Wearing a full set of Uragaan armor and carrying an Agnaktor Lance, he was quite a sight to behold.

"Greetings, trainees!" he bellowed heartily through his heavy helmet. "Welcome to the Arena Terra, where you'll meet, and fight, monsters from the four corners of the Central World!" Bronton then turned to Hydra. "Hydra! It's been too long, my friend." Hydra shook his hand warmly and introduced the nine. The trainer led them all into the vast gates of the Arena Terra, where a lone table sat, covered in weapons and armor.

"Yes, that is what you think it is, trainees," Bronton said to them. "Pick your armor set and your weapon! You'll be using them soon... today, in fact!" In response, eight of the group rushed toward the selection, followed nervously by Taka.

Soon, everyone was talking cheerily as they tried on armor and picked up each weapon in turn, trying to get a feel for each item. The first to make a final decision was Kiem, who picked a huge Lance, the Rugged Lance, and a set of Blangonga armor. One by one, everyone made their decisions. Illeera selected a Sonic Bow II and Jinouga armor, and Taahnn picked out a Bone armor set and a Basarios Rock, a Hunting Horn.

Hornt, almost instantly, took a Vespoid armor set and the most ferocious-looking Hammer Taka had ever seen. Bronton told them that it was called the Devil's Advocate, made from Deviljho parts. Typical, thought Taka. ''Hornt gets the biggest weapon of the bunch without a lot of consideration. ''When Mylie asked him why he picked the frail Vespoid armor, he replied, puffing his chest out, "I'm strong enough to take down monsters without an armor set - I don't even need this." Taka responded with a small chuckle, then chose a Jhen Mohran Longsword, the Guan Dao, and a set of Qurupeco armor.

Meanwhile, Kread and Ryka had chosen Plesioth and Steel armor, as well as the Shadow Saber Sword and Shield and the Siegemund Greatsword, respectively. Relcia, after much thought, finally picked a set of Rathian armor and a pair of Dual Swords, which Taka knew as the Raven Tessen, the same weapon that his sister used. That left the Ludroth armor and the Agnablaster Bowgun for Mylie.

REST COMING SOON