Author's Note

This takes place after History Lessons. And before you get on your mouse to dislike, the crossover will not affect the whole story. Similar to the interlude, it’ll be just a sidequest to the protagonist, and the ending will not affect the story to the point where you always see it every fight scene.

Now the huntsman himself on the other hand... boy do I got interactions to write with.

Editor:Vutava

Co-author:Lord Krahtorra

Crossover:Strife

While waiting for Shining Armor to come back, I encountered a man in strange garb that had appeared before me. He was armored from head to toe, with a common-sized helm in the design of a human skull with the back of the head warped from an unseen heat into the shape of a crown almost, the metal warped from rust, overuse and the same unseen heat. Below that there was a somewhat standardised full medium shoulder plate and grieves. His gauntlets and boots were light enough to walk in, thick enough to take several blows and also seemed warped, having seen heavy use with the strange metal plate and chain armor for the torso that was covered by a raggedy dark grey cloak that only went as far as the elbows and bit further down the back, holes riddling it. The ends flayed out like sad, decrepit streamers. It goes up, covering and wrapped around the neck area There was something about it that was similar to a sort of skirt, going below the knees, one side going further and the ends seeming to be almost like a pale fur. Several belts were at the waist, mostly chain and loop hooks.

In his hand was a weapon about the length of a long sword, maybe a bit longer, and seemed to be similar to a duel lance because of the spiral-like blades, but it was too small to be so, the blade at the pommel shorter, by about a half of the blade or so. The hand guards were circular, as if for a rapier or cutlass and a similar handle guard shaped similarly to the coiled blades.

Within the cracks, crevices, and empty space of the armor, a dark night-sky-like aura wafted off of it gently yet menacingly, flecks of small dying cinders and embers jumping off and fading as they float gently away on an unseen wind. The "sword" was the same, the space between the spirals seeming to generate the aura the same way as the armor, that is, like a blazing inferno being contained by an unseen force, as if he was willing it into containment.

"Greetings, mortal. I am the huntsman. Willst thou test thy mettle?"

Well you could use the training.

This is irrelevant to our current objective.

I’m sorry, are we supposed to be arguing right now? Besides, I believe the objective was to protect SIVA. That’s something a blind man could do, and a little sidequesting hurts nobody.

Having dealt ensuing argument between a AI built for war, and my healer as well as teacher, I stared at the man for a moment underneath my helmet, before shrugging.

“Why not? I could use a little finesse.”

He nodded before turning to an empty wall and held out his hand, a gout of flame extending from it and burning the wall as a door formed from the embers. “After you, sir Wintermeyer. Or wouldst thou prefer Aaron?”

I stared at the huntsman with a little shock, slightly moving for Ether Nova. The fuck did he burn my wall for? Whatever, it’s not as if that’s coming along with me. “Aaron is fine.”

The huntsman chuckled at my shock. “Do not worry, the burns will repair themselves, and the door will only appear for the time being, until you and I go through. You will gain access to my arena with greater ease after the first trial. It hath been many eons since my arena hath tasted blood, I am quite eager for your steel to rend beast flesh.”

Reminds me of that time when I had-

Skorri, I SWEAR to the Traveler that if you tell me another sex story, I’ll shank myself to make you feel pain.

You don’t even have a sword.

I’ll find a way to do it.

Quickly regaining my composure, I entered the door without another word. Around me was an arena with a cone shape and dirt floor, the center of the arena a grate that seemed to function as a drainage system of some sort, torches lining the walls with chains hanging from them, upon experimentally tugging on one, I noticed that they were impossible to move even in the slightest.

Odd… I thought to myself, before turning to the huntsman. “So any rules I should be aware of?”

The huntsman nodded. “Never tamper with your opponent before the fight, and your powers will be dramatically reduced to make the fight a challenge.” He then hummed in thought, “Oh, and if you win, please move the corpse of the beast to the center, it helps with the blood forge.”

Sounds like he may be a bit familiarized with the light then. Is he going to put exposure in the arena or something along those lines?

Exposure?

Increased shields, but no shield regen. Actually on second thought, I doubt that’d be the case for increased shields. He might make a variant. Better for you to learn to fight with permanent damage in the long run anyways.

The huntsman smiled. “Oh, and there is a reward if you succeed, be it a piece of gear, or a favor from me, mayhaps even a tamed beast loyal to you.”

Skorri, didn’t you say something about it being mandatory for Iron Lords to know how to use a sword?

Yeah, for each and every class of risen.

“Well hope I win this for a cool sword or something.” I said after a little internal conversing with Skorri.

The huntsman smiled. “I have longed to craft a blade for a long time. I hope thee succeed.” He then pulled out three cages, each one containing beasts that looked fierce beyond compare, yet also familiar..., as if they were infected by SIVA. “Here we have some beasts that will be a good challenge for you. Pick one to fight.”

In one cage stood a massive creature that resembled a werewolf, but had its arms enveloped in SIVA and had fire dancing along its body in place of fur, as well as two empty eye sockets filled with the eyes from ghosts. I immediately focused on it, mainly the SIVA part.

Potential hostile detected

“Where’d you get this guy from? Rasputin is getting a little trigger happy here.”

The huntsman smiled “I have many different realms which I can explore, I simply collected some SIVA and let my blood forge create beasts from it. Do not worry, if you choose one of his kin as a reward, or any of these beasts, they will be loving and loyal towards thee. This particular beast I refer to as an Infernal Fenris, it is best for long sieges, as it can set flame to the infrastructure of a building, and generate heat intense enough to melt iron. It can also imbue your weapons with the same potent flames.”

I hummed in thought. “Didn’t know emotions could be programmed into an infected entity. A bit neat I may say, if not to help me understand how SIVA works a little better.” That was no small fact on my part. Shining Armor and the horde leaders could potentially be reversed, though could would be the key word here.

Due to its nature, it will take ten times as long to kill a target like that at bare minimum infection time, and it will have resistance to SIVA attacks. Normal combat is suggested. Rasputin announced, having finished his analysis.

Now I’m torn between training you in sword combat, and getting a better wolf than Saladin’s own.

I’m not getting the wolf for you to take control and fuck it.

Who’d say I’d fuck it?

The huntsman nodded. “Indeed, the other two are similar, but different creatures, and elements were used alongside the SIVA.”

He then showed me the second cage, containing a massive manticore, this one having SIVA over its wings and tail, the tail and fur now covered in arcing electricity as it growled hungrily, its wings now larger than any Manticore of Equestrias Everfree forest, it obviously now capable of flight. “This is a Stormicore, these things can cause lightning storms, similar to pegasus weather teams, and will summon lightning to either strike its enemies or imbue your weapons, similar to the Fenris.”

“I’m not staying in Equestria forever, but I get what you mean,” I idly stated.

He then walked to the third and final cage, containing what looked like a massive troll. While it was not infected by SIVA, it was instead covered in black goo that seemed to shift and contort around it, as it twitched all across its form. “This is my proudest creation yet, a Dark-armored siege troll, imbued by what the people of the SIVAs origin would call void energy, except I hath inverted the energy signature. This beast is best for skirmishes in tight spaces, its bladed forearms can punch through most armor plating. It was my most recent foray into Darkness, but… I fear I shall only be making this one, the Darkness spreads too easily.”

Warning:Creature has been infected by what Skorri refers to as the Darkness. Expect an inability to infect it, as well as an extremely dangerous ability.

If I was in control with my Sunsinger powers, I’d light the abomination up right now! We have to kill it.

You’re joking right? We can probably expect a quick death from this thing.

At least some time in the future of course. Darkness is too dangerous, wherever it is.

The huntsman hums thoughtfully before I hear his voice in my mind “I understand your worry, give me but one moment, I shall dispose of the troll, give me a moment to make a different third challenge.” I quickly raised a hand to stop him.

“Two things: One, don’t be in my mind please. Two, I’d like to fight it myself some time in the future, but not right now. If it isn’t too much trouble, save it for me?”

Rasputin, how many invasions of my mind have happened since my journey?

Not counting my own and Skorri’s, that have been 2 so far.

You’re probably the most insane guy in the multiverse.

You brought it up in the first place. Besides, I need to learn how Darkness-imbued foes fight eventually.

The huntsman nods before the troll disappears in a puff of smoke, replaced by another creature, this one resembling a demon of some sort but also infected with SIVA, it had a massive bladed tail and its eyes glowed with a pale red light.
“This creature, originally a Deathclaw from a universe ravaged by war and destroyed by the power of the atom, is now made into a bloodthirsty being made for the express purpose of sowing terror and carnage among its prey and foes. It has also been imbued with Void energy, and it can teleport short distances every twelve minutes, as well as see in near complete darkness. I call it the Darklaw.” He then looked to me and chuckled, his excitement obvious. “I hope you enjoy your battle, and come out on top, pup. May the blood feeding the forge be that of thy foes. Now, pick thy opponent.”

I quickly went to converse with Skorri and Rasputin inside my mind.

So which of the three sounds like a good idea?

Since we probably aren’t going to expect teleporting targets in the near future, I’d say the Darklaw would be out of the question, unless you’re a glutton for punishment. The werewolf is probably the easiest of the bunch, though I would prefer NOT to kill him, and take him with us.

Again, no bestiality. I am not transforming into a girl so you can use the werewolf as a playtoy.

What if I tell you some of the secret tricks most titans and hunters never see warlocks do?

Fuuuuuuuuuuuu…

My data suggests that we’d be at a even stance with the stormicore. As long as we hit consistent headshots or get a few blasts in with Ether Nova, victory should be certain.

Kinda like having a flying vehicle though… damnit you two are tearing me apart! I’ll take the Darklaw, and we’ll talk while we do it. That good to everybody? Don’t care, I’m doing it.

“I’ll fight the Darklaw.”

The huntsman smiles as he nods “Oh, and if you survive, know that I accept favors and trades for the beasts. I need new data for the blood forge every so often.”

“On that note actually, I have a large variety of infected in my world. Mayhaps you would be interested in a few Dysentials or Haemerogers for them?”

He grinned as he nodded “Gladly, if you survive, I will allow you to trade me one of each beast for one of each of mine, though I hope you choose a sword as a reward for the fight. I do miss smithing. The reason you must fight first, if you are wondering, is that I am bound by old rules. I must follow them, or face an agonizingly painful end.”

“That sucks. Well, Skorri did insist on using this opportunity to train, so I suppose it doesn’t matter much.”

The huntsmen seemed to relax a bit “I am quite relieved you understand. I hope thy battle is fruitful, and thy attacks strike true!” I nodded before taking a look around for the door to the fighting area, only for the huntsman to gesture to my right, and a staircase down to the arena’s fighting area appeared from a wall “Your opponent shall be in the battleground before thee. Strike hard, and strike true!”

I nodded, turning to the staircase and practicing what Skorri called the ‘Bunnyhop’ as I went down the stairs, occasionally hitting the roof a few times and rolling on the stairs as a result.

As I entered the pit, the Darklaw had its back to me, and was eating what looked like a mammoth's head. It turned to me after sniffing the air, growling with rage before disappearing right off the bat!

On instinct I rolled towards the head and looked behind me, stealing a glance at my ammo counter as I did so.

Steel Medula: 36/288

Ether Nova:3/25

Sleeper Simulant:0/9

I grit my teeth. Hope this guy drops some heavy ammo then, I thought as I stayed on edge, intently listening for any sound cues of the Darklaw, as I spun my gaze around the room looking in every direction as I held Ether Nova in my hands, I then noticed that the light from the torches above me was being blocked and looked at one of the four pillars in the arena to see the Darklaw was perched on it not but a second ago, now in mid leap towards me!

Having seen a few online matches of Inigo’s, I quickly recalled the best way to counter this attempted sneak attack would be to roll under the Darklaw while it was stuck in the air. I charged Ether Nova as I threw myself underneath it in a barrel roll, hoping to have landed a successful hit.

The roll went successfully, the Darklaw’s claws grazing me with void energy as we passed each other. At least it can’t teleport. I thought to myself, adrenaline pumping in my veins, as I did a kip to get myself back on my feet.

The Darklaw got up just as quick from its pounce, though not without wounds. Two void burns were on its chest, bleeding a little as the Darklaw focused on me.

Think smart, warlock. How exactly can we trick our foes into making their own demise?

...Maybe I can glide over it and go for the organs inside…

Maybe. However, remember that above all, you have to learn your enemy first..

The Darklaw growled as it began charging more void energy around it, it seemed to be making concentrated orbs of Void energy around it. A scan from Rasputin said that these orbs would cause severe damage, most likely able to take my shields out entirely.

Dodging seems like a good idea then. I thought to myself, not willing to take any unnecessary damage. I focused on the orbs, waiting for the slightest sign of movement from them. Wait… maybe it’ll go for a melee attack afterwards. If I glide before-hand, it’ll allow an opening to raze his insides.

The orbs then fired towards me, and I jumped up into the air, bursting with speed as I defied gravity to dodge the orbs, and I held Ether Nova to aim for the creature’s mouth.

“Open wide!” I goaded the Darklaw in an attempt to make it rush me.

The Darklaw roared loudly as it took the bait, and I cancelled my glide just as it got close enough, quickly falling down to the creature. I thrusted the gun into its mouth upon landing, attempting to give it the same treatment Godzilla had given Orga in 2000 as I charged it.

The Darklaw seemed to be charging its own void blast in its mouth as I did this, the beast trying to destroy Ether Nova with void energy. As Inigo would say it: I could not pull my dick out faster, or in this case the gun as I climbed over its face, firing it into the back. Though it was far too late for me to get out of the way, as the beast fired the beam, sending me flying.The last of the beam broke my shields and I bounced across the dirt, rolling all the while. Thinking that playing the raccoon trick would work unfavorably in this situation, I flipped myself over to a kneeling situation, pushing my arm into the ground to slow my momentum.

The Darklaw growled as it seemed to point at me, before making a slicing motion at its throat. It ran to the nearest pillar to use it as a platform to leap at me from, arm ready to gouge my core out!

Seems like somebody didn’t like that throat fucking! Skorri said as I tried to dodge, the beast instead scratching my arm.

Not helping Skorri! I thought, unknowingly holding the trigger in frustration. As the beast tried to grab at me, the Nova fired just as it did so, the beast throwing me into the air as the void beams connected with it. The beast staggered, its pain overwhelming it for a bit.

As I went airborne, I dropped a pulse grenade down at the beast’s location, causing it to leap back in surprise. The initial blast however, was not far enough, causing shockwaves of arc light to go across the armor for one pulse. The arc light fried my body, not enough to kill me or make me pass out, but enough for it to hurt tremendously.

Steel Medula changed to high caliber.

Just as he said that, I saw the ammo count on the Sleeper Simulant change, there was now one shot, ready to be fired. I then saw the Huntsman coughing up some strange liquid before shakily rising to his feet and disappearing.

Time seemed to slow down around me, though I did not know why. I helped you initiate your adrenaline to extraordinarily high amounts. Thought you might need it since you are stuck between two decisions here: Take the heavy and reload for an easy win, or hope your Medula takes him down for the count. Might make the huntsman give you two awesome swords for this.

I bit my lip, thinking hard on what to do. The creature is fast, so I doubt that if it didn’t flinch from the shots I would have enough time to switch and charge Sleeper to finish it off. On the other hand, if it did I would be able to have that manticore.

I made the latter decision. I quickly pulled out Sleeper Simulant, the pulse grenade dispersing as I did so, and charged up Sleeper Simulant. The creature lunged at me, intending to pounce on me and rip me to shreds, but it was far too late.

Sleeper Simulant fired, vaporizing the creature’s head as blood poured like a fountain from the stub, the blood flowing freely down to the drain in the center of the arena. I panted, exhausted from the adrenaline overflow, my core whirring loudly next to my thumping heart, as I made move to drag the body over to the drain.

I had won, and that opened more ways for me to grow stronger.

Oh, and that comment I made earlier about throat fucking? Made you fire that last round on Ether Nova. I wonder where’d you be now if it weren’t for me?

Shut up, I said just as I left the body over the drain, limping up the staircase to meet with the huntsman.

As I approached, I saw the huntsman doubled over, retching a strange liquid into a large pipe that seemed to feed into the grounds below. “Guh… g-good job, pup… you have done well. You have earned the right to trade and come and go freely… as well as a favor of your choosing…”

I looked at the huntsman in concern. “You ok? Skorri has taught me how to heal people, if you’re having internal hemorrhaging I can easily fix that up.”

The huntsman smiled kindly. “That requires that I have organs… The fire thou see in my armor? That is mine body…” He shakily stood up. “I was punished for aiding thee, yet, I regret it not…”

Maybe we can come back here and get him some solar light, provided that he can have it. It should release him from the confines of the arena.

Key word is should Skorri. We don’t know anything about this arena and how powerful it is… for all we know reality eaters are contained within here.

The huntsman sighed. “I suppose I should tell thee… This arena is a part of me, as I am a part of it, we require each other to exist. There is no freeing me of it, as I AM it…” He looked to me. “I am only allowed freedom when I go to collect new creatures for the forge… and only rarely then… my greatest wish is to have the comradery you mortals seem to have so easily…”

A shame… well we could send Lord Shaxx here when we can. At least it’ll provide guardians an ever-expanding place to fight in, as well as someone who could sympathize. Or something along those lines, since Shaxx likes to say he’s the crucible an awful lot. I’m kind of torn between him actually thinking he is, or that’s a metaphor for him being the leader of it.

The Huntsman sighed. “Mayhaps one day I shall become capable of freely traveling these realms…”

”I’ll come back after I get back with my brother Inigo. Maybe we’ll find somebody that’ll be your roommate or something like that,” I said, sympathizing with the huntsman. “Now about that sword…”

The huntsman smiled “I shall forge thee a weapon unparalleled! Thy weapon shall make the gods of war weep in envy!” He then drank what looked like a goblet full of pure liquid light before he stood up, and took me with him to the oddest looking forge I had ever seen. The entire area was red as blood, yet had a glossy texture resembling the chitin plating of a changeling, yet without the holes. There were patches of SIVA as well that seemed to be piping blood into a central furnace that was blazing with the same flames that apparently made up the huntsman’s body. He took out a strange hammer, seemingly made from flesh and chitin, as he pounded away at a piece of metal, the metal developing odd runes at every hit of the hammer, only to disappear at the next swing. When he was done, he presented me with a sword that had equal parts metal and chitin on it, with a strange energy I and Rasputin did not recognize.

Sword appears to be infused with Solar light of the huntsman’s origin. There are traces of hive make in this sword, but not enough to harm an ascendant hive even with the most powerful of light enhancements. Able to absorb pure unaltered hive magic.

So technically my first encounter with the hive, right Skorri?

Well the hive have been known to use others as chitin for armor and ships so… yes?

“Thanks for the sword,” I said, putting it on a holster Rasputin made on my thigh, and doing a bow after I did so. “I’ll see you soon.”

The huntsman smiled. “I hope so, pup, thy presence is...pleasant.” He then handed me a key, which seemed to be equal parts chitin and SIVA, with a glowing orb at the base of the key. “Use this on any door, if thy wish to return.”

I walked back to the door, opening it and seeing the familiar cold that was the Crystal Empire’s outskirts. The military tents greeted me, with snow on their roofs. I walked out of the arena, sword in hand and stronger than I ever was beforehand. I looked back at the huntsman, waving a little before closing the door. The door then disappeared in the same fashion as it reappeared, leaving the wall the way it originally was.

“Luna is not going to believe what I just went through…” I muttered to myself.

Well it seems as if we'll have to do some sword training then. Now, I'll show you how we guardians slice-

Oh yeah I almost forgot! I quickly pulled the sword from it's holster, holding it over my left rib. This is for that sex joke!

DON'T YOU FUCKING-