The bull would eat a tree if it could get one down.

  It is nowhere near that one, though. Hao only had the giant one to compare to, but that one was worthy of the title of ‘mountain king’. The one in front of the hunting team was lacking more than just size but intelligence as well. It had to spit out dirt after finding a root it was eager to eat.

  The plan for their attack was discussed with relative haste. A few were too impatient to jump into battle to listen. The conversation was worse than the fight would likely be. The man named Tui was the oldest and strongest, thinking his opinion usurped the group’s leader, Yi Shou, forcing his plan on the other despite the objections and ones that were good at that.

  “We should aim for getting more than one,” Tui said. “Three can distract and corral the others from the herd. Another person will help me take on the largest bull of the group. Someone who can help keep it confused.” He said.

  The group looked around at each other. Jingshe was eager to give her suggestion; “We will need the fastest to keep the rest from not running away. The slowest of us can help Big Brother Tui.” Tui joined her in a chuckle. Agreeing with her immediately with a big grin, it was the face of a man who would feel pride for stomping on a wingless fly.

  Yi Shou tried to get a word in, but his opinion was swiped away with no success, wanting Hao to at least join him and Dai. “We should go for the one beast, anyway. We are not going to get much pay for the females and the young,” he said. But Tui and Jingshe walked forward, ignoring his words. They nodded their heads as if they listened, but did not bother responding.

  They sprung the plan. In the clumsiest way possible, and not just the two that were new, but all five looked foolish as they stood there. They all hesitated, then ran into their made-up positions, not the ones that Yi Shou already had in mind. The formation was awkward. Where little could be done, they were blocking each other, two in front and three behind. Tui and Hao were side by side. Tui was slower in his walk forward despite his power-dripping bravado. They just stood there.

  Five minutes passed as the beasts ate grass. Passing gas and yawning, the large bull grew bored. His meal was finished, so he took a female as his target, making a flirtatious move as they continued to eat. The big guy had two leaves on his horns and he flaunted them, three on the other side when he turned to show off his ‘stronger side’. But the female green-horn walked away. Hao could almost see the disappointment on the beast’s face.

  Hao was feeling a little disappointed too. This team he had minimal hopes for was failing even those expectations.

  After another few seconds, Tui pulled the axe off his back. But his feet remained unmoved. Hao noticed the big man was sweating. It was not from the run or holding the axe in his hand. The axe was lifted high, and going higher like Tui was in some great battle.

  What is this? Is this why you are stuck doing missions with newbies? Or are you just eager to watch the creatures’ rut? Hao thought, growing more tired of the situation. Neither side was moving, and the situation was going nowhere. Noon would come, and they would not be able to hunt. Before that, the beast would surely spot them. They will probably leave to find another spot to eat.

  Hao was sick of the waiting game. Not interested in being around people like Tui and Jingshe for too long or wasting his day standing still in the forest. He dashed forward—his pace was good—a sudden burst without any technique, just a run. In the group of beasts, Hao spread his arms wide, finding his target wandering around the females. He was only interested in the large beast; He did not want to kill the young like Tui, but he would not ruin his team’s plans even if he did not agree.

  Pock! It echoed: Pock Pock Pock Pock!

  Hao slammed his hands together, facing the group of three that were to corral the rest of the herd. The echo was terrifying. It bounced around in waves. The sounds close to the source, in the sensitive beast ears, was like cannon fire, dozens going off at one surrounding them. Hao had heard stories of festivals on land having something called fireworks. He wondered if that was a similar sound. One day, he would like to see them.

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  The rest of the hunting team was quick to react now. They had no choice; he forced it upon them. They had no words, only surprised at the sudden change.

  Dirt kicked up into Hao’s face as he leaned back. All the short-horned females and young beasts lacking a single leaf, with only slight green tints separating them from livestock, ran from Hao.

  Hao leaped back out of the splash of dirt. Having more than enough in his eyes already, he knew the feeling well from the mine, but he did not need it for his battle against a creature he could not estimate. His right shoulder blade touched a stone. He knew instantly, as no stone rippled, no stone had strands and striations. Hao rolled his shoulder using momentum to spin, the tail came into sight as he leaped around the rump.

  It was looking back. Its great green face grew, a rage consuming it. The only description Hao had in mind was; Nature’s wrath incarnate. Based on its early actions, it had planned a long night of creating another generation after they had their meal. Now, his herd was gone and the small thing that scared them off was leaning on him.

  He wants my life! Hao thought he saw it instantly, looking into those relatable eyes.

  Tui was in the back doing nothing, he had the perfect chance to land an instant killing blow on the neck while its head was turned. The others were already moving to pull a few of the herd into a line away from the bull.

  Hao could no longer look at the face and guess its intentions as he passed the tail. The whip-like appendage going up struck his face. It looked like a large feather leaf. The feeling was more like fish scales than leaves or leather. Its shape was like a hairbrush, bristled the same, it was not unlike the one his mother and the Wu women used.

  On the other side of the rump. Hao planted his feet as he landed, the cliff going off the mountain was not far off just behind him. Tui was still walking forward, raising his axe like he was going to land a heroic blow.

  The bull was still focused on Hao. With time to spare before getting further away, Hao landed a palm strike before the axe fell. An unsteady palm hit the bull’s rump. An attack that did more damage to Hao’s hand than the bull, only angering it further.

  Tui landed his axe blow. The blade sliced into the left shoulder of the beast near the neck, off just a bit. A blow that would have been reasonable to miss if they were mortals. The bull rumbled in pain, it did not care for the blow to its rump or Hao any longer. It turned its head as its blood flowed to the ground.

  Hao was the distraction, a role given to him, not chosen, but he would play the role. Just land a fatal blow next. Hao thought, running along the beast’s side, his hand pushing against it. He passed both Tui and the bull, catching the beast’s eye again.

  Another axe blow fell, this time further off the neck, it should have been an easy blow to land. The strike was off too far to be an accident. Its horn was struck, a valuable part of the beast, the second most valuable beside the core if one had formed. Liquid fell from the horn. The beast yelped and walked backward, yapping in pain. The sound burned Hao’s ears.

  “What are you doing, land a useful blow!” Hao shouted. He was around Tui’s other side, on the opposite side of the horse that was stuck, his face red. He looked at the eyes of both Tui and the bull.

  The man named Tui did not care for Hao’s words. Tui, who was slow to enter the fight, was liking the battle more and more now. He had a smile on his face. It grew wide as he lifted the axe once again. Hao could not tell which was the demonic beast as he played his role, he was just a distraction.

  The two supposed humans pinned down the moaning beast, it was yelping, backed into a corner as Hao danced around him. He had to stop, he was back to its right side. His eyes faced the path that brought them here. Tui was the opposite.

  The other three were trying their best to keep the other animals together, a few getting away. One escaping every twenty seconds. Only three of the smaller ones remained, Jingshe was standing there, a sword in one hand and a whip in the other. Her sword pointed out at one of the smallest of the animals. The other two worked hard, dashing around, trying to push the herd back together.

  The battle felt like it would take days, it had only been a few minutes, if that. This could have ended in the first blow! Hao thought; watching the insanity and incompetence of others was truly maddening. It was his life on the line, while the ‘strong ones’ twiddled their thumbs and played games.

  Hao took steps forward, and the creature swung its head. His horns coming towards Hao. The small human hand reached out in response, wrapping around the base of the horn. It was hot to the touch, not unbearable. Pulsating with rushing blood. Another perfect shot was lined up for Tui.

  It was the moment the axe went up that Hao noticed the man was doing it on purpose, he used the back of his axe this time, swinging like he was chopping wood and hitting the creature in the leg. A place he had already cut. The skin was torn, and the shoulder broken. The axe was sliding down the leg, doing even more damage to the bones, tearing off chunks of flesh and patches of fur. Blood was wasted as he caused lacerations.

  The beast let out a squeal and fell over. A gut-wrenching sound that could make a man cry. Instead of crying, Hao stared. He was watching as Tui stood over the beast, holding his head high and laughing, like he had done something great. The bull wailed while Tui poked at its wounds, stepping on the broken legs.

  The sound distracted the other three while the rest of the animals tried to escape. But was Hao’s voice that made them turn their heads completely. It gave the animals just enough time to get away.

  “What in water’s name are you doing!” Hao shouted, not a question, he did not want an answer. He dashed forward, not hiding his speed. His hand, a palm that could break stones, slammed into Tui.

  Tui dropped his axe and stumbled; He did not fall on his back, but took a few steps.

  Hao took the axe the moment he saw it free. He stood where Tui was a moment ago, raising the axe high, he used the back of it, hitting the neck near the base of the skull. Swiftly, the end of the beast was brought. If it did not die instantly, it lost consciousness and died shortly after.

  Axe was coughing behind Hao, reaching out with his mouth wide open, ready to yell once he found his breath.