Hunter of Glacial Forest

A hood made from the head pelt of a giant snow bear. The fur seems to house a demon god within it, and no blade or spear can pierce it.

On the Snowfields of Snowland a hunter's rule of survival is passed down: while Artaius is hunting, one must never go to the southern side of the mountain, for the Giant White Bear that shakes the whole mountain welcomes no one.

As the hunter appointed by the association, Hugh received the signal and hurried south, never imagining he would run into an ambush long since planned.

Waking from the daze of an endless gunfight, Hugh immediately realized he had just escaped the moment between life and death. But in the very next instant Hugh realized the danger had not gone at all: he was within Artaius's sights. However close and however fast the movements might be, Artaius attacks in no fixed order, and they would not all land… Hugh calmly waited for his chance, drew a blade of deadly poisoned bone, and leapt with a speed beyond that of an ordinary person. Victory and defeat turned over in the blink of an eye.

He took Artaius's head and pelt, and with his gunshot wounds still unhealed he held out through the first night of wind and snow.

Many days later the Hunters Association found Artaius's headless body. From that point on they knew that this hunter who deserved to die had not died at all, and an avenger no one had foreseen was born from it.

The scales and claws of a Snowrock Lizard sewn tightly onto tactical gloves, allowing free climbing and a hold on any wall.

The Snowrock Lizard is neither quick nor overwhelmingly strong. But it can hide on a cliff face for half a month until its prey lets down its guard and shows an opening, then seize the chance to strike a fatal blow.

The registered hunters, however, could not wait any longer. They resolved to enter the snowy mountains and hunt Hugh in order to remove the threat pressing in on them.

Many of the association's registered hunters are strong, but they have never been companions who help one another. Hunters gather for the association's enormous bounties, and just as often betray one another over those bounties. In the wilderness anything can happen… As long as Hugh is removed, everyone will earn a larger bounty. They share the same intent, and they must also pay the corresponding price.

Hugh was fully prepared. Hunting top hunters is no easier than hunting monsters, and Hugh had to be many times more patient than before, and patience is the most important quality a hunter can have.

The Hunters Association's registered members kept dwindling, and the fear of an “immortal Hugh” kept spreading.

A cloak made from Ice Dragon scales, nearly invisible under optical refraction.

The unique scales of the “Lord of the Ice Lake” can throw back a blinding glare in sunlight, and can turn invisible when it dives into the water. Very few hunters can be certain of victory in a fight against an invisible giant.

Many days later the registered members of the Hunters Association found the Ice Dragon's corpse stripped of its scales, and in that moment fear outgrew even astonishment.

Hugh has hunted more than a hundred thousand beasts on the Snowfields, and every opponent was one of a kind, every one of them rare. For a hunter, a hunt can only be called complete once the prey's nature and habits are thoroughly understood… For Hugh, the “Lord of the Ice Lake” was like the last missing piece on the Snowfields. He had to finish that hunt, and complete his hunter's soul.

The prey with the highest bounty on the list, the “Lord of the Ice Lake”, was replaced by “the Hunter Hugh”, and a terrible manhunt began.

Every hunter must be aware that they will one day become the prey. Hugh as well, and the traitors most of all.

Boots that lend extra drive, wrapped in the soft fur hide of the elk. On the snowfields the hunter's soles leave only the shallowest of footprints.

Even when gravely wounded, its body heat no longer enough to melt the ice and snow, a dying Moose still has strength enough to become the deadliest beast of all.

When Hugh raises his hunting rifle toward the elk, he always thinks that those eyes, able to see straight through a person, are exactly like his own.

Ever since the registered hunters ambushed him, the flame of Hugh's life has been like a dying fire before the wind. He knows well that he barely goes on living only because of his unyielding thought of revenge, and once that desire is satisfied his life will scatter away like a snowflake… Though Hugh always feels his steps growing heavy, the broad soles of his elkskin boots leave no trace at all, and he must gather his spirit back up to face the last hunt of his life.

The Hunters Association slowly fell apart in fear, purging traitors in a panic in the hope of Hugh's forgiveness, and got in return only self destruction born of mutual suspicion.

Hugh never lived long enough to savor the satisfaction of a revenge fulfilled, and fell forever on the Snowfields.