Code Collector

It was a good thing that Allen didn't wander too deep into the forest. This part of the woods was infamous for being a den for Rare grade beasts, and seldom Hunters go here even when it was near the camp.

Only groups of at least five were brave enough to enter here. And if they do, they would go even deeper into the forest to find the higher quality beasts and materials.

Not long after Allen's walk and complains on how heavy Gary was, he found the path to the camp. "Help me, please!" Allen yelled.

A group of three people saw the boy pleading. They went out to help him carry Gary inside the camp and into the hospital.

"My hand!"

"My leg!"

"My eye!"

…

Allen got to the hospital with the help of the trio he met. When he got there, he was met with several cries of injured people.

The beds were filled with unlucky Hunters who lost a part of their limbs, while some beds were occupied with even unluckier ones lost their entire limbs.

Allen gulped. If he wasn't careful, he could be one of these people. He had hyper regeneration, but he didn't know exactly well the full extent of the ability. Maybe it was limited to bones or internal organs. He decided to test the skill when he gets back to the forest.

"For now," Allen turned to the large man in his back. "You first."

He walked to the counter of the hospital and asked for help. The healers who were working there immediately helped him, taking Gary into the ICU.

"Excuse me sir," a woman called before Allen could leave. "Are you this person's brother?"

"No, I'm just a Hunter passing by," Allen answered. "I just happen to see him injured, so I brought him here."

The woman formed an O with her lips. He then looked around and gestured her finger for Allen to come closer. The boy did as was told, leaning closer to the woman.

"Between you and me, this doesn't happen often," she said, making Allen baffled. When he was about to ask what she meant, the woman continued. "Usually, when Hunters see one having an injury this serious, they just leave them there."

"What?" Allen gasped, unexpectedly receiving a slap from the woman. "Ouch."

"I'm sorry," she squealed. "You scared me. Keep your voice down, please. Let's talk in my office."

Allen nodded and followed the woman around the hospital. It took them a few turns before she stopped in front of a door with a name on it.

DR. JACKIE P. LIGHT

So this woman is a doctor. Allen thought.

Jackie opened her door and let Allen enter first. She then looked around before following the boy, closing the door gently behind her.

"Is it this serious?" Allen asked. "I just wanted to do something good, that's why I helped Gary."

"And you said you two weren't close," Jackie chuckled. "Well, actually, I came to talk to you because I personally know this man. He is a mercenary, and his name is Gary. He is a Meat Hunter."

Allen knew what a Meat Hunter was. When a Hunter is a mercenary, they have their own specialty. Allen was what's called a Code Hunter, a Hunter who dedicates himself to look for Codes.

Gary on the other hand specializes on hunting beasts who could provide meat such as with beasts in the wild. These beasts, such as boar, sheep, and deer were considered exotic and had much more flavor than the animals on Earth.

"But what does this have to do with me?" Allen asked. "I'm not close to him. I only talked to him twice."

Jackie sighed, "You see, Gary's wife and unborn child was killed by an attack two years ago. He was hunting a beast with his wife and their squad. What they didn't know was that she was pregnant. And I was there with them.

"It happened unexpectedly. The report said that the beast was a Rare grade at the lowest tier. We were let our guards down considering Gary was a Level 50 at that time. Low tier Rare grade beasts were nothing to him," Jackie continued.

"But then, what we saw…" the doctor trailed off and she started to shake. "The beast we saw was nothing like a Rare grade beast. In fact, it was actually a Grand grade. A giant lizard that breathes out flame like it was its air. Just the thought of it makes me shudder."

Allen's eyes widened. The memories from before. They flashed before his very eyes. Frame by frame, it played like an endless slideshow. The burning forest, the blood, the beast.

The headless woman.

"What does this have to do with me?" Allen asked. "I'm new here, so I don't know why this is related to me."

"That's the thing," Jackie said. "You're not from this camp. And that accident also didn't happen here. It was in your previous camp. I searched for your files because I wasn't sure that someone from that camp would just bring Gary here."

"I don't really understand anything," Allen said. "Miss, I'm sorry, but could you explain for me what's my connection with Gary, please?"

"The accident brought the population of the Hunters in that camp by an eighth," Jackie muttered. "Every Hunter in that camp had a connection with one or more of the victims. And all of that happened because–"

The door slammed open and a healer walked inside, "Doctor Jackie, Gary's blood pressure is going down."

"But I just stabilized him," Jackie gasped. "No time."

She turned to Elliot's direction and tapped on the younger boy's shoulder. "Please wait for me here. Let's finish our talk when I stabilize Gary again."

Allen could only nod as his response. He didn't know what or who to respond. He was so lost, and none of the doctor said made sense. It was obvious that she was going in circles, but the reason was unknown.

"What did happen to Gary two years ago?" Allen asked himself. He decided to open his Inventory, his eyes widening after he saw the description of the weapon.

< Flame Dragon Shotgun >

Type: Weapon

Grade: Grand

"This weapon is a Code."