Monster Hunting 401: A LitRPG Fantasy Adventure by Andrew Karevik (book suggestions .TXT) 📗

“What in the hell are you doing out here all alone?” I asked.

This got a laugh from the man. “You indeed are human. Please, come closer, so that I may see you. I promise I am of no trouble. In fact, I may actually provide you with something you need.”

“Is that so?” I asked, not stepping forward. There was something about his calm demeanor that seemed to really send shivers down my spine.

Right as we spoke, there came a horrid ka-snap from behind him. I jerked back to avoid an attack but realized that I wasn’t the target of the trap that triggered. A Kinru was suddenly yanked into the air, having snuck up behind the old man during the conversation. A complex snare trap had activated, pulling the creature high into the sky, between the mountain crags. Once the Kinru was suspended by its leg, hissing and snapping, a twin pair of blades came thrusting out of the mountain walls, stabbing the creature in the head and belly in perfect unison. Both blades twisted up and down, disemboweling and beheading the creature at the same time.

“Woah!” I gasped, watching as a hatch in the mountain wall opened up, allowing the rope to drag the creature into the passage. There was a brief crunching and clicking sound, followed by the wall panels sealing up once more.

“My traps are quite excellent,” the old man said. “Well designed, deadly in their application and best of all, quite cheap.”

“Cheap?” I repeated.

“That’s why you’re here, aren’t you? To purchase one of my murderous marvels?” he asked. A frown appeared on his face. “I can’t think of any other reason you’d be here.”

He was a merchant? Peddling traps in the middle of nowhere? Either it was a cover story, or he had gone quite mad in his old age. Though to be so mad and deadly at the same time…perhaps sanity was overrated.

“My name is Avery Lorne,” I said, making sure not to get any closer. I couldn’t spot any traps in front of me, but I also hadn’t spotted the traps behind the man either. He was quite skilled with hiding them. I didn’t mention Trig, in case this stranger was up to something. “And I’m trying to get to the Shadewood. I was led to believe it would be beyond the mountain range and this trail seemed well kept, so I assumed there’d be people around.”

“That explains the scent that follows you,” he said. “The scent of death. I take it you like to kill these things?”

“I’m a Venator, yes,” I said. The word seemed to have no effect on the man. He merely smiled widely at me.

“Fancy word, never heard of it. The mountain is trapped to hell and back, so you best go around. Unless you want to pay for my services, of course.”

There was that concept again. Purchase, pay, trade. Trent had developed some kind of money system for us back at Hunter’s Hope, but that was merely to stop people from using up all the good alchemical supplies. Otherwise, people didn’t pay for anything. Most folks bartered to get what they wanted, but anything they needed was distributed by a quartermaster or a ration-keeper. Money wasn’t much of a thing underground, though I guess in the world before it was quite a big deal.

“I’ll admit, Mr…”

“Brimley!” he said with a toothy smile. “Mr. Brimley Ward the Third, at your service!”

“Mr. Brimley, I don’t have a clue what you mean by pay. Do you want to trade for food? Or maybe service? I don’t really have anything else. I mean, nothing you could use anyway.”

Brimley chuckled at that. “Come now, Avery, don’t be silly. I know you’re like me. A monster slayer. I know you cut them open and drink of their power, just like me.”

“So you are a Venator…” I said.

“Still don’t know what that means, but it’s clear as day that you radiate Bloodpoints. So does your companion. Thought I didn’t notice him back there? He doesn’t smell as strongly as you. Probably only killed a single Titan. But you? Ohhhh, you must kill Titans all the time. For sport,” Brimley said, snickering.

He could smell all of this? A shiver ran down my spine once more. My danger senses creeped up just a little, warning me about him. Something about him was off. But what? I glanced around once more for signs of trouble or danger but could see nothing.

“I’ve killed two,” I said, puffing out my chest and standing straight up. Maybe he needed to know what he was dealing with before he got any ideas.

“Two Titans!” Brimley beamed. “You are truly an excellent slayer. No doubt you’d benefit greatly from my wares. Please,” he turned to his side and gestured towards a small cave in the distance. “Come in and take a look at what I have to sell.”

“And what do you want in exchange?” I asked, standing my ground.

“I can take some of those little trinkets off your hands,” he said, pointing towards my charm bracelet. “Those sell for very well to the right people.”

“You have other customers?” I asked, my voice quivering from the hope. It was foolish, I know, to trust this man, but the idea of there being people who bought charms from him meant that there were other Venators out there!

“Oh sure, I get a customer who arrives every few months or years,” Brimley said. “Hard to keep track when you can’t really see the sun. They know my blueprints are top notch. Hard-earned and carefully cultivated. Would you like another demonstration?”

At that exact moment, I heard another snapping sound, but this time, it was from beneath me. My enhanced reflexes just weren’t enough. A steel cord snagged both legs at once and the next thing I knew, I was being hoisted high into the air. Twin blades, long curved scythes appeared in midair, as if summoned by magic, and