Lizard Man: The Dark Hunt

Issue #5 Kraven's Dangerous Game

Peter tried to study the man in front of him, but his eyes were still heavy with exhaustion. Like the rest of his body, he could barely move and his head was to heavy look up at the stranger clearly. "You impressed me with your skills, monster," Began to speak the muscular man in a thick Russian accent. "but this state you're in will not due for the real test. Allow me to assist you in recovery". Then, like a pouncing animal, the man turned and grabbed one of Peter's left arms and jabbed him with something sharp. Peter had no energy at all to react. He then felt a rush of pure relaxation, and everything went black once more.

No more than a half-hour after his blackout, Peter awoke with a jolt and a scream as if a rush of electricity had just passed through him. Peter then looked around to find himself still scaly but also in some type of tropical garden that was blossoming with many exotic trees and flowers out in the now rising sun. He could also tell that he was still quiet high in elevation from the taste of the air on his lizard tongue. Not to mention, Peter also felt his strength had come back to him! It was as if the mysterious actions with red vision and men in armor had never happened. However, his mind still plagued his memory with his terrible actions. Peter still couldn't understand. What had happened to him? How did he lose control? How did he get up here? Who was that mysterious man? But he had little time to think on any of this when suddenly a dark spear with a silver tip landed right in front of Peter's scaly feat with a piercing thud. He looked to his left, and in one of the thick trees that littered this rooftop garden, the same muscular man was clamped to one of the branches like a well- balanced primate. Peter got a good look at him now. He was tan and muscular, wearing a pair of tattered black slacks, dusty-looking combat boots, and a beat-up open vest which was covered by straps over top of it to hold the large quiver of spears he had on his back. Other than the vest and strap for the quiver, he seemed to carry a large machete on his right thigh and his chest was toned and hairy. Scars also were littered all over his body, particularly one that could still be seen clearly from this distance that lay over top the stranger's left eye. Not to mention, his face was like that of grizzled-bear. In a way, he looked more beast then man, if not for his clothes and the well-trimmed look of his mustache facial hair which, though excessive, still did not hide the large grin that was gracing his face.

Peter took all this in as soon as he looked at the man; a perk of his lizard powers no doubt, for in an instance of learning all this, the stranger seemed to know he was being studded and lobbed another spear with piercing accuracy at Peter. Luckily, Peter's reflexes were just a hair quicker and with a double backflip, he evaded the spear with ease. With that, the stranger let out a great grunting laugh that could only be categorized as pure joy. Peter couldn't help but stare once again at the still clinging-to-tree stranger when he heard this. "I see that my wife's homemade rejuvenating serum did wonders for you! Bravo! HAHA!" said the mysterious man, joy still obviously bursting in this exclamation. When Peter heard this, he was even more confused. This man healed me, but also wants to kill me? He thought. Then, just like before, a spear came flying straight towards him! This one was much faster, but Peter's mind was quicker. With cat like reflexes, he jumped in the air grabbed the spear between his legs as it went past him and whirled it right back at the stranger. With another great laugh, the stranger jumped from his hanging spot and to the area were Peter was standing, leaving the spear to stick were he once hung. His grin and face was much more menacing up close, like that of a hungry Lion. "Oh, a good hunt!" said the stranger. "It's been to long!". Then, like the lion he portrayed, he lunged right at Peter, his machete taking its rightful place in his hand. Like a painter, the stranger moved the knife with ease and delicacy. To Peter's dismay, he was also as precise as a butcher. In no more than three moves, he had hit the most tender spots of Peter's Lizard hide. Each slice was like the burning sting of a paper cut, but much more blood was present from the wounds. Peter then did a flip and tried to clutch what wounds he could with one arm as he healed, his darker-then-usual lizard blood clotting into thick, deep scabs. "Remarkable" said the hunter, amazement showing in his rough face. "I have faced creatures that heal before but this, this is fantastic! I chose my pray well". Peter simply growled at the man. "Ha ha!" responded the man. "Yes! Rage! Good! Show me! Show me what you did to those men I sent to test you!". Peter's growl continued, but he backed up a bit in surprise. He didn't think this would mean anything to this apparent hunter, but his reaction apparently was like an open book to him. "Ahhh…. It was your first time, was it?" said the hunter. "You had never done it before had you? Felt like a helpless animal? That is what it was you know. I have seen it many times. The defense instinct that kicks in is common in all animals that feel trapped. Even in humans. It makes the best hunts. but…" The hunter creeped towards him, a puzzled child's face appearing under his rough exterior. "You… do not feel that way with… ME?" Rage began to build on top of the puzzled face. "ME? Kraveonff? The World's Mightiest Hunter? You are not afraid of ME?!". Peter, feeling that his body was healed enough and feeling like he had a right to knock this man who was hunting him off his high-horse, said with a very playful Lizard smirk, "What is there to be afraid of? Some pointy sticks? Not to mention, I actually think handle-Bar mustaches are quite cute". He added a wink with his last word and the face of Kravenoff seemed to melt into absolute and pure rage.

He blindly lunged at Peter with a scream! Peter could tell from his animal instinct that this was perhaps his only chance to escape. With nimble grace and inhuman speed, Peter side stepped just a few inches away from the now bounding Kravenoff. Peter then turned on his heel and leaped off this garden high-rise to the city that lay bellow. However, Peter underestimated the experienced hunter.

Just as Peter leaped to freedom, the hunter did a tumble roll out of his soaring leap while grabbing one of his spears. He then caught himself in a kneeling position facing the jumping Peter. With only seconds to spare, Kravenoff drew a small vile from his pants pocket and poured it on the tip of the spear as he pulled his arm back for the throw. He then hurled it at Peter, and just as he had predicted, caught Peter right in the left shoulder. Kravenoff smiled a vicious smirk and walked over to look over the edge of the building at his dead prey. To his surprise though, the beast was not in the city street, but was nowhere to be seen! Only claw marks down the side of the nearest building and a small pool of dark blood on the sidewalk showed how his prey had saved himself. This Actually brought more joy to Kraven, another smile creeping onto his rough face. Now the true hunt begins through this concrete jungle and this time… I will get the hunt I deserve, He thought. Then, with a leap and a bound startling the passersby, he landed himself next to the pool of blood, dipping one figure in its slickness and preparing to track the Beast.

To be continued in Blood- Trail Prt.1