Monster Hunter Destiny IV - First Casualties Against the Brute Wyvern

It was the early afternoon in the Military Bastion. The group had been given a full day's rest after the hectic Bruteon battle, and were now preparing for a new monster hunt. However, things weren't exactly calm in the barracks as the friends got their items in order. Taahnn and Hornt were fighting, and were almost ready to tear each other apart.

Taka remembered what had happened just a few minutes ago. Hornt had severely criticized Taahnn's Hunting Horn, the Basarios Rock, saying that is was a wimpy weapon that only focused on supporting from the sidelines instead of all-out brawling like his Hammer, the Devil's Advocate. Taahnn probably would have let it go if it weren't for his next criticizement, which was about his choice of armor. "Bone armor is almost as wimpy as Leather armor," Hornt had said. "It isn't sturdy enough to withstand an attack from a Yian Kut-Ku, and it doesn't even cover your whole body! There are simply too many open spots for monsters to exploit."

It had went on and on, and now Taahnn looked ready to explode with fury. "Excuse me, Hornt, but if you want to criticize someone, let it be yourself. You chose VESPOID armor, for God's sake. One good bite from a monster with sharp enough teeth and you're history!" Hornt swelled up with anger and pride. "Yeah, but I'm so good at this hunting business, I don't even NEED armor. I could take on any monster with my bare hands alone!"

Taka laughed shrilly. "Please! A simple Qurupeco broke one of your ribs, as I recall. I really wouldn't be so cocky!" Hornt turned on Taka, arm reaching for the handle of his weapon. "Stay out of this, wimp, or facing monsters in the arena will be the least of your worries!" Kiem also faced Taka. The Blangonga armor he wore made him look fearsome. "Yeah... What he said!" he yelled, unable to think of anything better to say.

Taahnn thrust his face into Hornt's. "Fine. When you go up against a monster that your Hammer can't defeat, I'll show you how REAL hunting's done!" Mylie leapt to Hornt's defense. "How could you say that?" she said furiously. "Hornt is the best at hunting! He's trained to be a hunter even before we came here!" Illeera silently put a restraining hand on Mylie's shoulder, indicating that she should stay out of the fight.

By now, Taahnn and Hornt were looking daggers at each other. When Bronton walked in, he seemed to look shocked, despite his Uragaan helm covering his face. "Whoa, what's going on here, rookies?" he asked, somewhat concerned. Kread told him, "Hornt made fun of Taahnn's choice of equipment."

Bronton shook his head in disbelief. "That's all? That's what's making him fire up like that?" Taka joined the conversation. "You don't know Taahnn," he cautioned. "A Diablos's temper has nothing on his." Taahnn shouted, "I heard that, you twig!" Sighing, Taka thought, ''Even I could think of better insults. He's skinnier than me!''

Hydra, who had been right behind Bronton, suddenly walked in. "Alright, folks. Break it up. Save that cavalier attitude for the monster you're going to be fighting." Growling, Taahnn picked up his Hunting Horn and slung it over his shoulder. Walking out of the door past the two fledged hunters, he left behind a room full of concerned and annoyed faces.

"Today's lesson is about strategy," instructed Bronton. "The monster you are about to face uses the environment to its advantage. You have to stop it from using the terrain as much as possible!" With that, he handed out two First-Aid Meds, three Whetstones, and three Antidotes to each trainee. They added them to their already healthy amount of supplies.

Walking into the Arena Terra behind their trainer, the group was shocked to see that the arena had changed again, this time to a peaceful, slightly forested plain. A small river ran the length of the arena, and grass blew softly in the wind that had picked up. "How did you get the arena like this?" asked Illeera, who was the closest behind Bronton. "One hell of a lot of work, sister," he replied.

While Bronton made his way toward his usual perch, the group prepared for battle. Eating a Ration to increase his stamina, Taka made a face at the taste and sharpened Guan Dao with a Whetstone, as it had gotten quite dull from the two earlier fights. Everyone else did the same, more or less - Mylie loaded Flaming ammo into her Agnablaster and Kiem took a Dash Juice, which would ensure endless stamina for a few minutes.

Then, the time for preparing was over, as the gate opened and a huge Brute Wyvern stomped out of its cage. The head crest and plated back gave its identity away - a Barroth. Taka paused. Barroth weren't purple, were they? Then, his heart sank - this was not a true Barroth, but a relative, a Toxic Barroth. Readying Guan, he shouted to his comrades, "Don't let it reach the water! Don't let it step in the river!" Kiem charged with his Rugged Lance held straight in front of him, thrusting it into the Toxic Barroth's side at the last minute. The beast cringed in pain, then focused its attention on Illeera, who was frantically dipping her arrows in Power Coating.

"Illeera! Watch out!" Mylie screamed, and Illeera looked up at the Barroth. It pointed its head at the ground, then barrelled toward her, earth flying everywhere as its head crest dug into the ground as it charged. Illeera, luckily, made it a second before it would have slammed into her. She responded with a flurry of arrows, the Power Coating covering them giving them a stinging edge.

Taka slashed at it with Guan, now at its full sharpness, carving a deep wound in its leg. The Toxic Barroth's nostrils started to steam as it bellowed, the sound making Taka reflexively cover his ears. It turned toward him, then crashed its head into the ground. Taka barely dodged and nearly ran into Kread, who had assumed a defensive stance between the Barroth and the river.

Noticing Kread as well, the Toxic Barroth charged, careening into his Siegemund as it tried to knock him aside. Despite the sheer force of the Barroth's tackle, Kread somehow hung on, pushing with his Greatsword with all of his might, trying to keep the Barroth from reaching the stream behind him.

Relcia slashed again and again at its left leg, hoping to catch it off balance. Ryka tried to aim for the tail, but her Shadow Saber was too short to reach it. Eventually, Kread gave up, loosening his hold on the Siegemund as the Barroth pushed into him with its crest, flinging him to the ground and sending his massive sword flying into the air.

Desperately trying to distract it, Mylie poured Flaming ammo into its legs and flanks, causing great bursts of flame where they struck. But the shots had hardly any effect - Toxic Barroths were resistant to the Fire element. Growling contentedly, the Toxic Barroth rolled onto its back in the water, seeming to almost play in the stream as it rolled over and over.

When it got back up, it was a vastly different creature than before. Its poisonous sweat had mixed with the river water, forming thick armor made of toxic sludge. The Barroth roared triumphantly, knowing that the puny hunters wouldn't be able to pierce its new armor. Now, it swung its tail, catching Relcia in the stomach and flinging her the length of the arena.

Taka's eyes blazed with anger at the sight. Growling almost like the Barroth, he swung his Longsword, slicing through its leg. When it retaliated by swinging its heavy head, he dodged and slashed at the tail, cleaving through the bone and severing it with a loud *Crack!* The Barroth roared in agony, slipping and falling to the ground.

REST COMING SOON