The inhabitants of Astera were in a panic once more. The only difference this time however... was that their beloved home was burning. "Get yer ass in gear NOW! you dilly dallying here is costing us resources!" Rein 'gently' shoved one of the newer recruits into action as Kane was fighting off the newest cause of headaches.
Just what is going on with the world? First there was that annoying booger ball that keeps changing, then one of the block heads in the sands became even denser, and now even the Damn Gajalaka are transforming! "How ya holding Kane?" The brother in question only give a grunt in response as his blade blocked a flaming claw. The figure still had the mask like its counterparts and definitely still had that compact aggression of a warrior. It could have still passed as a gajalaka if the damn thing wasn't a ball of burning fire. And it wasn't just this one either
Hordes of living fireballs terrorize the town from all over. Scholars were running as fast as their little legs would allow them, their stringy arms carrying as many records and tombs of knowledge as they could handle. "Back! Back, you brutes!" The Chief Ecologist swung his walking cane with the force of a Tigerex and the same amount of ferocity as the flaming gajalaka try to get in close to tear him and, more importantly, his beloved research notes.
A slash of water energy suddenly weaved through the horde, cutting down at least a dozen and scaring off the rest. A hunter in leather armor comes to check on the Chief Ecologist, his jyura longsword sheathed to his side. "Thank you for the assist, dear hunter. Could you please help put out my books since you are here? No, not with the sword!" The sound of a heavy object hitting an equally dense skull resounded in the area as living fire continued its dance of advancing and retreat
(a/n: I wonder what that sound was?).
The canteen was faring slightly better than the Monster research center, most likely due to how majority of the hunters loved to gorge themselves to a feast after every hunt. "Hey watch the fur! Nyat cool!" The admiral's retired palico threw a small, blue object towards the last of the flaming Gajalaka standing. The crimson grimalkyne roared as it slashed at the rapidly approaching projectile. A burst of smoke erupts as claw and tool collide. By the time visibility returned, the hunters found that the once hyper active fireball was now unconscious on the ground. The Meowscular chef soon began to set up metal sheets around the creature as the more flammable objects within the area were removed. "All right, now which one of mew ordered the Gaiju liver?" Some eyebrows were raised at the strange chef, but a woman soon stepped up to him, zenni already prepared to pay for the meal she ordered.
The exhausting hours soon passed as the fiery Gajalaka variants had been either extinguished or expelled from the premises. Helmets litter the area along with melted weaponry as some of the hunters fanned themselves due to the intense heat within the area. "Great. Juuust Great! the ONE TIME I decide to visit my folks on my day off and the whole place is burning. Dad's surely gonna get a rise outta this for a while." Elise cringed at the thought of how many of his jokes will be about today, and she was definitely not looking forward to them. Zephyr, red nose oozing with snot, sniffled as he shuffled to a nearby seat, his choice of armament feeling heavier than ever.
"Glad that's over. Those things were seriously packing heat. But, That should have been as bad as it gets." Elise's eyebrows shot up faster than any other time. 'Oh he did NOT just say that.' She had read about this before. Sure they were fiction books, but its very possible. Before she could tell of her dunce of a friend however, life had beaten her to it.
A guttural roar that sounded like a mix of a lion's war cry and an erupting volcano resounded through out Astera. Many faces went pale, including Elise's as any hunter worth their salt knew what kind of creature could make that kind of noise. Their fears were soon confirmed as right outside the gates of asteria was an armor's worst nightmare. A Gog damn Teostra. The beast roars once more, as if it were challenging Astera to bring out its finest warriors so they could become its barbecue. For a moment, none moved as a deep seated fear etched into their bones froze many.
"What are ya panzees waiting for, Huh?" Rein stood on one of the stools, standing taller than ever before, his single eye showing his distaste. "This is our home and yet none of you stand to defend it!? what a joke! you lot are no hunters! Just a bunch of Shepard hares, running from danger! I am going to protect my home, even if it kills me!" Though crass, Rein's speech had lit a small flame in some of the newer hunters, while the older ones reflect on their recent works. Yet, on their minds was the same thought-to be better than today. Rein leapt off of the stool, hoisting his Shield and lance as he heads off to challenge the Burning emperor, His brother right behind him.
Zephyr meanwhile could feel the deathly gaze From right behind him. He didn't even need to turn around to know that it was Elise. But what did he do this time? "I will skin you later." Those were the only words he got before she too took off to fight the Teostra. "Is it that time of the month or something?" Zephyr scratched the back of his head as he followed to join the defense, despite the protest of his body right now.