Rangers Endgame

The bear's ear-numbing roar quaked the air as Yakeru and Kaneki shielded their ears. It launched itself towards them, curling into a spiral. Slicing through the ground at blinding speeds, waves of debris exploded through the air on either side of it. The young ranger yanked the stiff Kaneki out of its path before it smashed into a tree in their place with a loud crash.

Nature's proud creation that once towered over its wildlife inhabitants was now collapsing in an instant. Crackling wood filled the forest as it tumbled, slamming into the ground with a deafening thud.

The boys broke into a sprint, Yakeru clutching his forehead as pain began surging through it. He figured his injury would only get worse if not treated properly so his first instinct was to find somewhere to hide. As they dashed away, another roar rang their eardrums, scattering a flock of birds into the sky.

After fleeing for what felt like forever, Kaneki's stamina reached its limit. Resting their hands on their knees, they panted heavily behind a tree. Kaneki trembled at the sound of branches snapping growing louder with each passing second.

Yakeru peered around the corner to see the monster sniffing out its prey, its fangs bared. It suddenly stopped and sniffed the air aggressively as if it caught their scent. Lifting itself on its hind legs, its nose continuously twitching before landing back on all fours. Slowly turning its gaze in their direction, the boy was forced to retreat behind the cover again. Kaneki lowered his voice to a quivering whisper.

"W-What do we d-do?"

The rookie ranger desperately calculated their options in his head. Steel-quilled bears were C-tier which implied that they'd unintentionally stumbled into mid rim territory. Kaneki mentioned that there was a shorter route through the mid rim to Hanataru but they couldn't risk luring the beast to the village, assuming they could outrun an animal-type monster at all. On the other hand, if he made a stand, his injury made the likelihood of surviving a battle slim.

'Should I just distract it so he can make a run for it? Can I hold out long enough until the others find us? Are they even coming for us?' the doubt that began to consume Yakeru's thoughts sent his nerves into a frenzy.

He gripped his arm to calm himself. Hesitant, he opened his mouth but before he could relay his plan, a giant paw reached around the corner. Without time to think, Yakeru forced Kaneki's head down just as claws burrowed deep into the tree bark where his head used to be. Wood chips splintered as Kaneki scurried away, sweat dripping down Yakeru's face as he regained his footing. He unsheathed his katana and swung for its blind spot.

𝘛𝘪𝘪𝘪𝘯𝘨!

A piercing boom resounded when his blade collided with its quills. Vibrations shot through him in response, sending his body into a series of jolts. The bear, however, was unfazed, it's quill-like armor absorbing the the shock. His eyes widened as the monster winded up for another attack.

𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘮!

Yakeru leaped backwards as it drove its claws into his last position, debris exploding from the impact and filling the area with thick smoke. Blood from his forehead seeped into his eyes, distorting his vision with a hazy red. He continuously wiped his eyes.

'Just as I thought. If this drags on, I'll...!'

The monster lunged through the smoke, demolishing the earth as it spiraled toward him. Yakeru rolled to his left as the steel-quilled beast steamrolled past him, nicking his jacket. He eyed the monster paving a crude trench through the earth as it circled back through the trees to meet him.

Infusing his katana, he hastily fired multiple arcs toward it. The beast rammed through his barrage, explosions ringing out with every impact. The boy wiped his eyes vigorously, no longer able to gauge depth due to his impaired vision, the blurry image growing larger.

Miscalculating the distance, its razor-sharp quills slashed open his back as he couldn't leap out of the way in time. With a shriek of agony, he tumbled onto the dirt.

The bear assumed its normal form again, its momentum dragging its legs through the soil as the wind swirled past it, trying to keep up. Yakeru's arms and legs quivered as they struggled to support his weight.

'...my first mission...'

The wind pushed aside the smokescreen as the bear trudged through it towards him.

'...I'm gonna die...on my first mission...'

𝘛𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘱! 𝘛𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘱! 𝘛𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘱!

The ground shook under the bear's weight. His blood ran cold after glancing up to see the hulking silhouette with crimson eyes peering down at him. He could barely make out the scars on its chest. The monster inched its head closer to Yakeru's, the defeated youth's heart hammering away at his ribs.

He began reminiscing about his comfortable life before. As a child, he'd always wait anxiously for his sister to return from her adventures, though his impatience never came from a place of worry but rather excitement. Every time she came back, she'd dive into a fresh new tale, each one vastly different from the last.

Scorching fields of sand dominated by flaming raptors. A mysterious oceanic underworld filled with sunken ships, now home to sirens. Pairs of cold blue eyes watching you through the fierce blizzards of a snowy wasteland.

New sights to discover and monsters lurking around every corner. Each story would add fuel to the fire, to his dream of becoming a ranger...but now it was coming to an abrupt end. A more recent memory played in his head.

"𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘢 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥."

He couldn't help but wonder if he'd still be in this predicament had he taken his sister's warning to heart.

A foul stench leaked from the monster's mouth when it unlocked its jaws, making his face scrunch up. Saliva hung from its fangs as his head began to enter the black abyss that was its mouth. He didn't have the strength to resist. Instead, he accepted this outcome. Perhaps it'd be a painless demise since it went straight for his head. He squeezed his eyes shut, impatiently awaiting his end until...

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘤𝘬!

A sharp clank followed by a light thud sounded beside him. He looked over to find a rock he hadn't noticed before.

'...what the...?'

The bear's attention immediately shifted to Kaneki who was now on his feet, albeit barely since it seemed his trembling legs could fail him at any second. The beast must've assumed he was responsible for interrupting its feast because it growled in his direction.

'That's right...he's here too.' Yakeru remembered.

During their deadly exchange, he'd forgotten what his main objective was.

Despite fear coursing through Kaneki's veins, the will to save his escort, now companion, had overridden it. He grabbed another stone and lobbed it, whacking the bear in the nose. Rage filled its crimson eyes in an instant as it erupted into another deafening roar directed at Kaneki, saliva launching from its mouth.

'He entrusted his life to three strangers, including me...what kind of ranger would I be if I couldn't protect him from one monster...!'

He willed his arms to move as the wave of adrenaline numbed the throbbing in his head and the searing pain in his back. As the bear was distracted, he plunged his blade into its stomach. It shrieked in pain before Yakeru rolled from under it, pulling his sword out in the process. His eyes now burned with determination as the beast stumbled back, analyzing its wound.

As it did, he took the time to tear a piece of fabric from his tattered shirt and tie it around his head. The excess blood soaked into the fabric, dyeing it a deep red as it flapped in the wind, resembling something of a makeshift headband. With a lowered stance and his sword at the ready, he narrowed his gaze.

'Those scars on its chest.'

He didn't realize it before since he was fighting to survive, his fear overriding reason. But now that he was fighting to kill, the bear's weakness was all too apparent. The bear studied him, but the mouth-watering meal it had seen before disappeared, a threatening presence now emanating from the young swordsman.

They stood there, shooting challenging gazes at one another before the quilled beast sprung forward once again, spiraling toward him but he effortlessly evaded. It slammed into a boulder and chunks of stone exploded into the air. The dry smell the smokescreen produced made the creature erupt into a fit of involuntary sneezes, disrupting its sense of smell. Emerging through the smoke, Yakeru infused his blade to increase its durability.

The color of amber filled the monster's field of view as he unleashed a flurry of slashes, each one targeting its chest. It howled as blood burst from its midsection.

"Die...!" Yakeru hissed through his clenched teeth.

Desperate, it swiped at Yakeru's throat only for its claws to collide with his blade when he blocked. A sharp boom reverberated through the forest as he skidded back. Still locked onto its claws, he grinded his katana against them to deliver the finishing blow.

"Die!"

The blade pierced through the bear's jugular. It flailed violently, flinging Yakeru into a nearby tree as blood gushed from its throat. He watched in satisfaction as it emitted a horrible gurgling sound before it finally collapsed, unmoving.

𝘛𝘩𝘶𝘥!

The ranger laid there panting as the adrenaline wore off. He tried to smile at his accomplishment but the pain made it impossible. Kaneki rushed over to his side.

"Are you okay?!"

"...I don't know..."

"You're gonna be fine, just..."

He ran both hands through his hair as panic began to set in. He didn't even seem to register the sound of hurrying footsteps in the distance.

"Found them!"

Kaneki looked over to see Fuyumi and Kenji rushing over to assist but Yakeru's vision had already started to blur and their voices became fainter.

"Yakeru? Yakeru!"

Their voices became a jumbled mess of muffled sounds as Yakeru's mind finally drifted into the abyss of unconsciousness...

*****

Groaning, Yakeru's eyes fluttered open. The pain in his head and back had subsided a little. Tilting his head, he scanned his environment but couldn't make out any details with his vision still blurry.

"Where am I?"

His eyes gradually adjusted and could tell that he was in a room. A sickly green paint peeled from the cracking walls. Sections of the ceiling had been eroded revealing the decaying support beams underneath.

The deteriorating mattress he laid on had no bed frame and he could spot dust particles dancing in the light that poured through a single window.

The door to his room creaked open and a middle-aged man walked in. His loose cream coat and the tray of elixirs he held suggested he was a medical professional. He recoiled in surprise, clearly not expecting to see his patient awake.

"Oh, you're conscious. How're you feeling?"

"Uhm, okay, I guess. Who are you?"

He pulled up a chair next to Yakeru's bedside and set the tray down on a stand.

"Forgive me for not introducing myself. My name is Dajuan. I'm the doctor of Hanataru village."

"Hanataru...so we made it. Wait, Kaneki! Where's-"

"Please don't worry yourself." he patted the air, urging the youth to relax. "All of your friends are safe."

He took one of the elixirs and swirled it gently.

"So they're here too?"

"Yes, and I'll inform them that you're awake soon. For now, I need you to drink this. It'll help with the healing process. Though it's not of the same quality as the elixirs the capital can boast."

He handed over the vial to Yakeru. After inspecting the green substance he downed the vial, an unpleasant taste making his face scrunch involuntarily.

"It may have a sour taste to it as well."

"Yeah...! I can see that."

Dajuan stood to his feet and began making his way to the door.

"As promised, I'll inform the others. In the meantime, you should rest."

He closed the door behind him leaving Yakeru alone with his thoughts. He glanced out the window, light beaming through the glass.

'Hope they didn't go through too much trouble getting me here.'

An hour went by and the familiar creak echoed through the room. He looked back to see Kenji and Kaneki rushing over to his bedside. Fuyumi, on the other hand, leaned against the doorframe with her arms crossed. Her expression was noticeably softer than usual.

"Hey, how're you feeling?" Kaneki asked with concern in his voice.

"Better now, thanks."

"You scared us. Are you sure you're feeling alright?" Kenji wanted to confirm.

"Positive."

Yakeru peeked behind the two guys to get a better view of his more aloof party member. Her cold aura had vanished for once but she wasn't exactly radiating warmth either.

"It's good to see you too, Fuyumi."

She glanced away.

"Yeah, whatever."

He turned his attention back to Kenji and Kaneki, knowing he wouldn't get anything else out of her.

"So I'm assuming we failed the mission since your bag is gone?" he sighed, defeated.

To his surprise, Kaneki shook his head.

"Actually, no. Kenji and Fuyumi found my bag caught on a rock in the river although some of its contents were missing. But the map was still there which is how we managed to find the village. Not to mention the three of you protected me."

"Oh, I see." relief washed over Yakeru.

It would've been a shame nearly losing his life only to fail the mission anyways. Dajuan lightly knocked on the doorframe, grabbing everyone's attention.

"Apologies, but I really must do a check-up on Yakeru now."

"Oh, right. See you, Yakeru." Kaneki said.

"Get well soon." Kenji wished, walking through the door followed by Kaneki.

Fuyumi lingered after they'd left, glancing back at her injured comrade before turning to leave. He could understand Kenji and Kaneki checking up on him, but he didn't expect to see the ice queen too.

'Was she actually...worried about me?'