New Blood

Chapter 5

C4: Otherworldly Heroes

"Director, the Hunter has arrived."

"About time. This time manipulation gives me a headache. How long did this take?"

"For us? A week. In the Hunter's world, almost three months."

"Fantastic. I'm sure the Ambassador's bill will be oh so light. Have the Hunter prepped for his first fight ASAP. I'm sick of waiting."

"Yes, Director. Do you have a particular opponent in mind?"

"Make him fight The Witch."

The Hunter felt the air resolve itself around him and slowly stood, opening his eyes and looking about himself. Wherever he was, the builders had a distinct obsession with white. The walls, the floors, the ceiling, even the lights emitted colorless light that never wavered. The entire situation was rather unsettling, like he'd stepped into a world that was yet incomplete, and was seeing a room that had been forgotten while all else was built.

Before him was a door, again white, with a rounded knob of some silvery metal. Slowly he approached and opened the door, taking cautious care before opening it fully. Beyond the door was a hallway, and the far end of which actually seemed to be some color. Red, upon the floor, from what he could discern.

The Hunter slowly journeyed down the hall, hand never leaving the Rakuyo at his side as his purposeful strides carried him closer to wherever it was he was going. He stepped onto the red carpeting of this newest room and looked about himself. What was this place? It seemed to be an... armory of sorts? Tall, slim closets made of what seemed to be glass held armor and weapons, many of which were beyond his comprehension.

He shivered. The Ambassador had told him little of what manner of beings fought in this Arena. The resulting lack of understanding left the Hunter feeling slightly overwhelmed and in some way, almost afraid. Fear was good, he knew, if controlled it helped you understand your limits and capabilities. Still, he kept it under tight rein as he passed the final row of armor closets.

Another door. This one more imposing. There was no knob or handle upon it, only a simple red symbol etched into the surface, a circle bisected by an off center cross. He reached out to the door and it slid open, natural light pouring from the area beyond. And with the light, came noise, the noise of thousands of people all moving, talking, laughing, screaming... He had the sinking feeling that his first experience in the Arena would be a violent one.

Steeling himself, the Hunter walked through the door and was rewarded with a sudden gasp and the sound of a booming voice crashing down upon him. "Ladies and Gentlemen, genderless beings and aliens of all kinds, welcome to the Arena! Today we have the pleasure and priveledge of presenting to you our newest warrior! THE HUNTER!" Again that collective gasp. A second voice bellowed forth, "Yes indeed good beings, and what a fighter he will be in our amazing tournament! Born by blood, blessed by Old Gods, and a slayer of Nightmares, the Hunter has an impressive resume to bring to our noble Arena!"

Bemused the Hunter strode forward somewhat further, eyes having adjusted to the light. Before him lay what seemed to be an artificial island of some sort. Pieces of floor floated in the air above the main mass, and the whole thing seemed to be decorated like some kind of forest. Across from him was a woman, dressed in skintight black, and looking rather bored. She caught his eye as he approached and gave him a slow wink that seemed almost sensual.

"And who is fighting the Hunter today Tony?" Asked the first voice. The Hunter had no idea where these massive beings were that were shouting so loudly, but they had to be nearby if they could see him.

"Why Ricky, none other than the one and only Umbra Witch, Bayonetta!" Tony's statement drew gasps, oohs, and cheers from the crowd.

"Well then! What are we waiting for! Start the countdown and lets get ready to SMASH!"

The entire Arena roared with the count, "THREE, TWO, ONE – FIGHT!"

Before the Hunter could do much more than draw the Rakuyo he felt bullets flying past him and instinct took over, causing him to roll to one side and use the trees as cover. He heard Bayonetta's mocking laughter as yet more projectiles slammed into the flora. He took several breaths then lunged out as soon as there was a lull in her firing. He timed the move correctly for her reloading, and stabbed forth at the Witch's torso.

But something seemed to shift as he struck out. The world around him flitted by for a few moments before a sudden striking pain hit him in the back of the head, sending him rolling across the island. The Hunter swiftly regained his footing and wiped the side of his mouth. He didn't quite understand what had just happened, but he understood enough to get a sense of what to avoid now.

Bayonetta winked at him again, her husky voice coming to him from her position several meters away, "They talked you up big. Show me what you've really got." He stood and readied himself once more, changing the Rakuyo's stance and wielding the two pieces in both hands. Within him flared to life the once familiar flame of battle, and he couldn't help but become excited by the prospect of once again diving into the fight.

The Umbra Witch watched the change with a knowing smirk, then started firing at him once more. Neither of them wasted any more breath on bantering words as they clashed. The Hunter driving forward, avoiding or simply ignoring Bayonetta's bullets as she kept the barrage going. When he finally got close enough to strike, she once again activated her counter, seeking to trap him in a pocket of witch time.

He had learned, however, and when the Umbra Witch touched the ground The Hunter struck forth with as strong an attack as he could muster. The Rakuyo would have plunged directly through the sensual woman's torso, but something kept the blade from inflicting a mortal wound upon her, and instead she was sent flying across the island, barely skidding to a halt before falling off the edge.

The Hunter lunged after her, not one to allow any advantage to go unexploited. But Bayonetta kicked out as his ankles, causing him to roll to one side and giving her the time to regain her footing. Once again they faced one another, deaf to the roaring crowds and blaring announcers, they watched one another like hawks, slowly circling. Both of them were on the edge of attack, all that was needed was an opening, a trigger of some kind.

It came in the form of a luminescent multi-colored ball suddenly blazing into existence between them. The Hunter was caught off guard, and Bayonetta immediately took the chance to smash the ball with a volley of pistol fire. He watched her as her body was enveloped in ever shifting flames of energy, and she smiled at him. Then the world stopped.

The Umbra Witch strode forward and placed a hand on the side of the Hunter's head, smirking, "Let's see what makes you tick." Then she opened his memories and viewed them for herself. She wasn't expecting anything like what she saw in them. Blood and death and anger and fear, all of these and more all came crashing in at once as the unfiltered horror of the Hunt was laid bare before her. She was so overcome with shock that she stumbled away from him, clutching at her head, eyes wide and mouth open in a gasping shriek.

The Hunter stared at her as time resumed. He was more than a little confused by what he saw, Bayonetta was on her knees, hands covering her head, hair swirling about her almost like a million maddened snakes. He heard her gasping and wailing, saw her trembling with what he knew all too well was horror. The Rakuyo struck, and Bayonetta was launched into the arena wall, light bursting forth and a single word resonating throughout the colosseum, "GAME!"

He watched as the unconscious Witch was borne away upon a stretcher, suddenly very tired. He barely heard the confused babble that was the crowd as he turned to walk away from the island. Where before there had been nothing connecting the island to the rest of the arena (after the bridge that had allowed him onto it had disconnected), there was now a set of stairs descending from the stage. He took them, one at a time, until he reached the ground.

What had happened to Bayonetta? That question rang inside his mind like a bell. She had obviously manipulated time again using whatever energy that orb had given her, and something had happened during that temporal event that had sent her into that state. Lost in thought, but not so blind to his surroundings as to walk into any obstacle, the Hunter wound his way to the door he presumed was the exit.

Passing through the doorway he felt a strange sensation, both cold and warm, painful and soothing. A sudden itch covered his whole body and he shook for a moment. Then it was over and he felt...good. Better than he had in months, truth be told. He looked at his arms and hands, eyes widening as he saw that his scars and wounds were all gone, even those that had decorated him since the Hunt began. The Hunter gazed at his hands, almost missing the marks that he had carried throughout his struggles.

The scent of a wolf reached him, mixed with the scent of smoke and metal. The Hunter immediately tensed and looked around himself, and his eyes found the source. Standing on it's hind legs, clothed in strange raiment the Hunter had never before seen, with something glowing covering one eye, stood a lycan. With instinct born of his nights spent hunting, the Hunter went still.

The beast had seen him, to be certain, its violet and bestial eyes were locked on the Hunter. But something felt... different, there was no sense of murderous bloodlust coming from it. That alone was uncommon enough to stay the Hunter's hand before reaching for Rakuyo. The two watched each other with the guarded calm of mutual predators.

The wolf spat, "So you're 'The Hunter', huh kid?" It's voice was almost a snarl, low and bestial as its owner growled out the words. When the Hunter didn't answer, the wolf snorted, "Don't get any ideas, kid. I'm just scoping the competition." He eyed the Hunter, "But don't think we're friends, either." The wolf's tail swished in irritation, "Say something, kid. Unless the Witch stole your voice when she tried getting in your head."

The Hunter narrowed his eyes, "Tried to get in my head? Is that what she did before that...attack?" He thought back to Bayonetta's distraught state, if she had seen the Hunt... what he had fought, that could very well have unbalanced her. The Hunter did not know anything about the woman, but he felt a distinct sense of pity for her if she had glimpsed into his past.

"That's the only thing you're gonna ask me about, kid? Really? I half expected you to try and kill me when you looked at me." The wolf let out a barking laugh, "Not that you could, kid." Those feral eyes once again bored into the Hunter, "You'd best get used to being beaten kid, it's all you'll get from me." Without another word the wolf left the room, leaving the Hunter in a state of weary perplexity.

The Hunter leaned back against a wall and sank to the floor, staring at the ground between his boots. What, in the name of the Gods, was this place? Were there more creatures like that here? Capable of reason and speech like any normal man or woman? So many questions whirled about in the Hunter's mind that he began to feel almost overwhelmed.

During the Hunt, curiosity had served a small purpose, if any. Many of the questions the Hunter had about the city, the Hunt, and the Gods, were all pushed back from the immediate purpose of hunting the beasts and monstrosities that stalked the night's in Yharnam. But now that he had time to actually question and consider what was happening, he didn't feel at all prepared for the barrage of questions his mind presented him with.

Bowing his head, the Hunter took several deep breaths and closed his eyes. With a slight grimace he reached inward, attempting to access the Insight he had gathered throughout the Hunt. That selfsame Insight that allowed him to interact with the Old Ones and peer into the mysteries beyond water, could it provide him with the answers he sought? As the eyes within opened, the Hunter felt his sight broaden. Details that his mortal eyes missed were presented in excruciating clarity.

With a shudder, he closed off the flow of Insight and opened his worldly eyes. Standing up slowly the Hunter shook himself. None of what he saw within gave him the answers he wished for, only more questions. With a labored sigh he looked to the door the wolf had left through. So many doors he had walked through, each presenting him with new things to consider. The Hunter grimaced slightly before exiting the room, and entering an amphitheatre.

Beyond the door as a multitude of people, and at first the Hunter was unnerved by the number of apparent combatants in the Arena. Then he began to discern that assumption was not quite correct. Many of those gathered had no sense or scent of battle, and almost none were clothed for anything even mildly resembling a fight. The Hunter slowly walked out into the light beyond the doorway and was suddenly barraged with flashing lights and strange people all bellowing for his attention.

Questions and demanding statements bombarded him as he stood, stock still, trying to process the sudden sensory overload that threatened to overwhelm him. Resolving to ignore them he slowly took a step forward, looking straight ahead and hoping against hope that none of these people would actually prevent him from going...wherever it was he was walking. In all honesty he just wanted to get away and get away fast, the noise and confusion was too much.

To the Hunter's relief none of them prevented him from moving forward, and he made steady progress to the far side of the amphitheatre, maintaining his outward appearance of stoic silence with great difficulty as he tried not to run. At long last he reached a guarded door and was allowed through, the crowd behind him, thankfully, was not. As the door closed behind him he stumbled to a chair and shook himself. He was starting to think that this entire situation was a bad idea, if he was overwhelmed by beast blood here... it could be disastrous.

A hand touched his shoulder and he sat bolt upright to see a blond man dressed in green standing before him. The clothing resembled some villagers clothes the Hunter vaguely remembered seeing, but beneath it was chainmail, and strapped to the man's back was a sword and shield. The man spoke then, his voice soft but strong, "Breathe." The stranger's blue eyes pierced the Hunter, who instinctively followed the simple command.

As the Hunter drew in deep breaths he could feel the anxious tension leaving his body. He looked up at the green-clad stranger, "Thanks. I don't know if I could have handled another second of that." The stranger nodded, smiling slightly. "What's your name?" The Hunter asked him.

The stranger stood straight and readjusted his odd hat, "I'm called Link. I've heard the announcers call you 'The Hunter'. Is that yours?" Link stood before the Hunter, posture lax, yet somehow wary. The Hunter wondered if Link had faced anything like Yharnam's beasts before.

"Close enough." Was the Hunter's answer. At Link's raised eyebrow the Hunter shrugged, "When I became a Hunter, I decided to give up everything I had been before. It's not a choice many of us make because it's so... high a price. But I had little to hold on to anyway. My name, my family, everything that came before the Hunt, I abandoned all those memories to give myself the edge." Link's blue eyes again pierced the Hunter, who elaborated, "In the Hunt, you cannot afford to let anything distract you. You have to focus totally on killing the beast, otherwise..." He sighed, "the beast kills you."

Link studied the Hunter for several moments more before nodding, "If that's the way it is." The green warrior shifted his weapons on his back, "I suppose I'll be the first one of us to say this then, Hunter." The Hunter looked at him curiously, and Link continued, "Welcome to the Arena."