Edric Ivory was never really good at anything he tried. Especially killing monsters. In a world of mutant creatures and darkness lurkers he could barely even hold a gun. With everything he failed at doing, his confidence level decreased, which really didn't help after the failed Russian science experiment. (The monsters didn't mind though, I'm presuming.)

Edric was currently engaging in target practice with his mentor. It was part of a training course every young individual was supposed to do at their age.

The gun shook in his hands as he trembled uncontrollably, the worries and doubts in his mind now forming into snakes that slithered around in his stomach.

"Go on, kill it!", urged the mentor, Matthew Mill, tapping his foot on the foot on the floor impatiently. "Kill it before it gets angry!" He was wondering why he had to be stuck with this incompetent child who couldn't even properly hold a gun. Matthew had had coached many awful students in his life, but Edric was definitely the worst out of them all.

The student knew what his mentor was thinking, and he wished he could be better. Just look at it, he told himself, just get through this, and you can finally go home! He gulped. Grimacing, Edric forced himself to look back at the target. It was a hideous, bulbous creature with far too many legs and not enough eyes. He dropped the gun to the ground with a thud, and prayed the creature hadn't been disturbed by the sound. However, the creature HAD heard the sound, and it's head rotated towards him, its one eye locked onto him. It's eye was like a huge crimson globe lodged inside warts and slimy skin, containing only a tiny black pupil that was trained on him like a sniper aiming the fatal blow.

"Edric, DONT MOVE." Matthew urged, putting his hand in front of him.

The boys eyes were wide in terror, and he still shivered at the sight of the thing in front of him, snarling and ready attack at the sight of any sudden move.

"Alright, I need you to listen very carefully. Back away, slowly."

Edric followed the instructions as well as could, but is is well known that he was never any good at anything, even if it was his best effort. In the moment that was about to come, Edric's incompetence at everything was about to become very apparent, as he was soon to make a mistake that would cost him his life.

As he walked backwards, his shoe caught on a rock and he fell back onto the grass, staining his shirt and almost flattening an unsuspecting beetle.

The creature leaped towards him, snarling with its teeth bared and each of its blade-like claws poised in front of it in a threatening stance as it flew towards him. Edwin scrambled back, kicking his legs wildly in a futile attempt to stop it's attack. He squinted his eyes, anticipating being ripped to shreds. He thought that maybe the world would be better without him. He waited for his death.

It didn't arrive as he predicted. His eyes opened. Matthew was standing before him, the creature writhing in his mentor's fist. He unsheathed his knife and plunged it deep into the monster's slimy flesh. Black blood erupted from deep within its rotten skin, splattering him and Edric with the foul substance. It screeched. Matthew threw it to the floor, and kicked it away while it was still screaming. He was furious.

"Get up."

Edwin rose, staring at the floor.

"Am I quiet, or do you just never try to listen?" said the mentor. "You're never going to get anywhere in the monster bounty hunting business if you cant even successfully kill one of these without either missing the shot or falling over."

Edric knew he was right, head hung in shame. "I'd like to be better, I really would." He sighed. "I just never seem to improve, never. I'm a failure."

Matthew stared at him thoughtfully. Edric thought he would try to comfort him, but he predicted wrong once again.

"We just need to train you more. Harder than before. You'll want to give up and cry, I know you will, but if you fail, you'll probably die."

Edric did not try to hide his shock. "What?" he cried.

"This world is tough. So YOU need to be tough, or you'll find yourself as prey to a beast like that one, like you almost did today."

Edric couldn't think of anything to say in reply. He felt completely thwarted.

"So I want to see you here tomorrow morning at 7o'clock sharp." Matthew continued, balling his fist, "So I suggest you go home, contemplate the events of today, and get some good rest. You'll need it. I'll see you tomorrow, Edric. Dont let me down."