Welcome to my first Trade. Where I write a story and :iconJasonmoore18 creates the art. His style is traditional, so I recommend going to him if you're interested in seeing big cartoon beings.
These stories will be a lot shorter compared to just my stuff alone. I am happy about the these results, and you can see these stories on his page or mine. I enjoyed the funny adventures with Arminus (me) and Chance  ChanceDaRoo

Let me or him know if you wanna read and see more of the adventure. Happy reading, and happy hunting.


MHR Braxton and Duke
Pt. 3: Tubby Tentranadon
Arminus can digitize himself into his game systems and render his entire self into any game on his systems. He did so with Chance and morphed themselves into the video game Monster Hunter Rise and renamed themselves Duke and Braxton. Duke is an arrogant hunter vetern who is using the Bow. And Braxton is the newcomer adapting to the Switch Axe. And they are off to complete the storyline of Monster Hunter Rise.

After their successful capture of the Arzuros, Braxton and Duke completed more hub quests down the Lower Rank list. Enough so that they are now in a new tier, High Rank. With High Rank, they will hunt stronger versions of the same monsters. And receive parts to conjure new gear too. Braxton decides to upgrade hisdefensive armor and not his low-tier Switch Axe, while Duke focuses on high-tier Bow weapons and builds that will complement it. Even though it makes his defense skin and bones.

Equipping themselves in their hut, Braxton applies his High Rank armor while observing Arminus still wearing the old armor. “Aren’t you gonna beef yourself up a bit? You’re defense numbers are half of mine.” He comments, while Duke retorts. “I’m nimble enough to negate any damage. Besides, my stats currently boost my stamina, evasion, and damage. These other HR armors won’t work with my build.” Duke brings out his HR Bow and continues. “Besides, this is HR 4.” Duke draws his bow back to test its elasticity.

“Meaning?” Braxton incites as Duke answers. “Meaning… that you and I will find better armor and weapons once we cap out on these requests to reach the next rank. And not have to waste money on only defense. Well, at least I won’t waste money on defense.” Duke snarks in his last sentence, having Braxton raise a defiant eyebrow. “And who was the one who got caught under an Arzuros?” He utters, having Duke relax his bow with a disfavoring face. “We don’t talk about that.” Duke expresses embarrassingly. Braxton chuckles a bit as he sheath’s his Switch Axe.

Braxton walks to the hut’s exit and stops to turn and tell Duke. “Sure, pro, whatever you say. You may have rerun this game half a dozen times, but mistakes are gonna happen to the best of us. I’ll meet ya at the hub.” The cloth flops behind Braxton closing the doorway, leaving Duke alone. “Since when did he become the wise guy?” Duke mutters under his breath, but subconsciously knows Braxton is right. He hoists his bow on his back and follows Braxton to the hub.

Both avid hunters arrive at Minoto the hub maiden. Braxton flips through the list. “Let’s see let’s do-” Duke interrupts, “Hold up, you did the Royal Ludroth last time. It’s my turn to choose.” Braxton side steps willingly so Duke can choose. “Let’s see? Ah! This one.” A quest invite appears on the top left of Braxton’s POV labeled: The Frost Island Arena: Tentranadon “Wait, isn’t this the big green turtle duck thing?” Braxton questions. “Yeah, the platypus lookin’ monster. He’s got some stats I need. And after completing this, we’ll be moving up to MR 5” Duke replies eagerly.

They both go to the dango dining table. Each order different dango plates with Duke boosting evasion and stamina, while Braxton still has a default meal. “You haven’t changed your meal at all?” Arminus interrogates. “Why? Tastes fine to me.” Braxton responds. Duke finishes his meal and educates. “Brax, you can have meal stats that compliment your playstyle or boosts your attack.” Braxton finishes his meal and responds. “I’m going for defense; I already know my weapons packs a punch and then some more. So, I’m not worried about, stats. Let’s just clean this monster out already.”

Braxton’s assumes with having a high damaging weapon, he only needs to focus on armor. Duke realizes this and is about to rebuttal Braxton. Until Braxton makes his way to the departing gates, so Duke follows from behind. Sooner or later, Braxton will need to improve his stats and upgrade his weapon. If not, it’s just going to make each hunt longer and slower for them both.

Our diligent duo arrive promptly at the Frost Islands. Where the name explains the landscape. Peaking white summits, icicles forming on stranded ships and plants, and terrain mixed areas of snowy powder or freezing waters. A cold climate not suitable for the faint-of-heart traveler or novice hunter. But only the most tenacious beasts can live, and the toughest hunters are lucky to survive it.

Braxton leads out this time. “Since Tentranadon is amphibian I’m gonna go to the Northern Pools.” He proclaims and starts marching, but Duke interjects. “It would start there, but it’s on the other side of the map from us and will more by then. Let’s intercept it midway as it moves to the Western Mountains.” Braxton turns about to disagree with him, but gets an idea. “How about we split up then. I go pools, you go mountains. And we’ll regroup to wherever Tentranadon is at.” Duke nods and walks off. “And don’t get over your head.” Braxton adds causing Duke to pause and drop his head. Duke veers over his shoulder to irritably reply. “Ok, OK, I get it.” And the two set off.

As Duke goes on foot to his west area, Braxton finds a Great Wirebug route in the Frost Islands to travel fast from base camp to the Northern Pool area. While carrying his coffin sized weapon, he swings from the Greart Wirebug high through the bitter breeze with celerity. And while in mid-air, uses his own wirebug to sling him to the next Great Wirebug spot. Braxton’s grappling, little ground contact, and mid-air dexterity are as natural to a monkey on vines. “I may not shoot webs, but I’m flippin’ through this map like Spiderman.” He prides himself and sores over his destination at the north end of the map. Where the Tentranadon is sleeping.

Braxton suspends himself in the air high enough to see Duke running to his spot. He waves down to Duke to signal that the monster is at the Northern Pools. Though the distance between them makes each hunter look like an ant, Duke shoots a thumbs up and starts moving towards Braxton. “Good he’s heading my way, now to-” Braxton notices Tentranadon isn’t in its sleeping spot anymore. “-what the… where did it go?” He surveys the north area only to see Tentranadon’s tail disappear to the Eastern Shipwreck. “Hey! Get back here!” Braxton wirebug towards it.

The Tentranadon arrives first to eat some fish in the eastern cold-water basin, and Braxton lands right behind it. The green mossy back-shelled platypus gorges itself as Braxton asses what to do. “I can sneak attack its tail to cut it.” As the beast distracts itself by snacking, Braxton grabs his Switch Axe and transfers to axe mode. He walks up to it and arrives a foot behind the tail. This beast is the size of two hippos side-by-side, with a hard green shell on top, a big stone hard bill, and a bottomless belly. It couldn’t see or hear him coming.

“Just a couple of warm up swings…” Braxton explains, and spin swings his 6ft weapon from his left shoulder, then his right shoulder, left shoulder, right shoulder, left, right, left, right. He is using Forward Slash Series to build momentum, until his weapons lights up red indicating high damage has built up. “…and…” Braxton smiles and gratifies as he jumps in the air twisting his entire body with the inertia of his weapons and STRIKES the tail. “…perfect.”

The Tentranadon roars from the sudden pain. “Can’t fight much without your…” Braxton pauses his taunt as he stares down at its tail, still connected to the beast. “…tail?” The tail leans to one side and whips Braxton, who rolls backwards to avoid it. The monster turns around and hollers at him.

“Why… why didn’t it cut off? It always cuts off from a sneak attack.” Braxton ponders to himself as the beast advances. It winds up its fat right rugged wet palm to hit Braxton, but he dodges to the right; only for Tentranadon to SMACK him with its large left wet rugged palm. Causing Braxton to fly backwards 10ft and land face down in the pool of water. As Braxton recovers, he witnesses Tentranadon do a sumo stomp right, then a sumo stomp left. A provocation that it is ready to fight, which Braxton is well aware of. “Guess I’ll occupy it until Duke gets here then.” He holds up his Switch Axe at the beast, and charges.**

-Arriving in the Northern Area, Duke sees nothing but an empty pool. No Braxton. No Tentranadon. “He signaled me over here, where is it?” As Duke contemplates, he searches for exits. Besides the Wester Exit, he views the Mid-Area Exit Braxton was hanging over, and the Eastern Shipwreck Exit. Duke had no clue where Tentranadon went since he fully believed it would be in the Western Mountain Area. “Uhh, eenie meenie miney… Mid-Area.” With little intuition, Duke guesses and husltes to the Mid-Area, unknowingly away from the fight.-

**Speaking of which, Tentranadon JUMPS in the air to body slam Braxton. He dodges the KA-SPLASH landing from the muggy monster. But he wavers from the landing’s aftershock. “What the, tremor?” Braxton criticizes, but the challenges of these monster’s abilities/effects more emphasized in High Rank than Low Rank.

Not skipping a beat, Tentranadon spits big blobs of water from its mouth into the air and SPLORSHES on Braxton. The water ailment effect slows the recovery of stamina, which Braxton has little to none of after taking barrels of cold swamp water. “(Spits) gross, (spits) backwash.” He complains when tasting mildew and algae. Showing another opening, Tentranadon prowls back and opens its mouth; preparing its grab attack.

The monster digs its hard bottom jaw into the ground while lifting its top jaw and starts running while scooping water and mud into its mouth, right towards Braxton. Wiping off the water still, Braxton nearly forgets the monster as he views its hard hippo-shaped mouth charging at him. “OH SHI-” MUNCH. Tentranadon grabs Braxton, but so does he. Luckily having his weapon holstered, Braxton used his hands to hold the top jaw and feet to prop the bottom jaw. Levering himself open and stand in the beast’s mouth.

“No you… don’t…” he grunts trying to fight the squeezing jaw of the atrocious amphibian. Stuck within its chops, Braxton monitor’s the mouth while trying to think of a way to escape without it chomping him. He also regards the monster’s tongue slowly gulping down the mud and water as it tries to reach him. “…ew gross… uhh… mmm…” He is still prying himself, but that tongue will reach him soon. He can’t open his Switch Axe with one hand or inside the tight maw space.

Tentranadon sits and tilts its head back, hoping gravity will bring the harrowed hunter closer to its gullet. Braxton’s waist leans closer to the tongue because of gravity and the sudden change in direction. It’s muzzle closes more as he fights it still, when suddenly the tongue licks Braxton’s torso. “Gaahhhh!” SLICE the beast wails onto its back as Braxton rolls himself free 5 feet away from the proportional platypus.

Through dumb luck or instinct, Braxton swiftly grips his back carving waist knife with his right hand and strikes the tongue once. He’s on his hands and knees shaken a bit and looks at his knife within his hand submerged in the water. “Too close (pants) too damn close.” Braxton splutters hesitating to move. But the Tentranadon is back on its hind feet and with a vehement guttural GULP, it breaks Braxton’s daze to turn around and sheath his knife. Swallowing everything it had, a sonorous surge supersized Tentranadon’s stomach. Now in its super sumo size, it RRROOOAARRRS to declare war on Braxton.**

-Duke arrives at the Mid-Area where fish congregate around a small island mass, but no Tentranadon or Braxton. Duke finds a fire beetle on the tiny plot of land. “This will be useful against Tentranadon. But wh-” “RRROOOAARRR!!” Duke is cut off by Tentranadon’s uproar and his ears shoot directly to the Eastern Shipwreck Area. “There you are.” He starts running in that direction and pockets the fire beetle. “Don’t have too much fun Braxton.” He thinks to himself while running in cold ankle water through the bristly landscape.-

-The 5-foot space Braxton had is now a foot of space after Tentranadon’s giant gut expanded long and wide. He has seen Tentranadon like this before but after the near eaten experience and sitting view to mark its meaty mass, it was a petrifying perspective to look up at. Tentranadon locates the hunter over its chubby chest and titan tummy to suspend its right leg above him. Water and gunk drip from its orange dirty digits onto Braxton, breaking his daze of horror to react. “Aaahhh!” Braxton yelps and dodges left of the KA-SLASH, an impact so strong that Tentranadon buries its foot into the mucky ground. Leaving it immobilized.

Braxton gathers himself, brings out his weapon, and turns around to counter. He does a lunging jump to strike the monster’s barreling belly with his Switch Axe. “Take this ya billed bu-” SQUEE-BOING Braxton squishes and rebounds off the tubby tummy into the air and flat on his back, knocking the wind out of him. Tentranadon didn’t even notice him attack or bounce off. It was still focusing on yanking its right foot out, which it does. Tentranadon only views a prone hunter on his back, giving it a grand opening.

BWUM BWUM BWUM BWUM Tentranadon pounds its resounding belly, rippling the water beneath it. And it starts waddling over to Braxton. The vibration rings Braxton’s ear drums, alerting him to sit up. Tentranadon stands up and uses its hands to lift its gut. And smushing them into the blubberiness of its barreling belly. Raising his towering tummy high trinkling water and mud onto Braxton below. “OH SHIT!” Braston yelps to escape. Tentranadon simultaneously drops his arms and legs to KEERRR-SSPPLLLAAAASSHHH its entire weight onto Braxton. Spreading its boisterous belly out squashing the little yellow roo hunter below. Loosing half his health then and there.

The cruel crush by the creature pushes the original foot deep wintry water outwards. Leaving Tentranadon to feel the mud and its prey unmovable from his underbelly. It relishes a chuckle, which collaterally bumbles his belly and Braxton below it. He is face first in the monster’s sternum with his long nose tilting to the side. “Euwh, filthy fucken frog.” He groans and begins to move his arm and legs, but progress is minimal. And Tentranadon can feel the little tickles under its taffy tummy. And happily, responds in its own manner.

RAB RUB RAB RUB RAB RUB RAB RUB Tentranadon rotates his buffy belly clockwise, then counterclockwise. Smearing its filthy floppiness over Braxton like a sponge twisting on a plate. RAB “Oww” RUB “Ahh” RAB “Gah” RUB “Umf”, Braxton aches in his swampy suffering. This action slowly drills him into the earth’s crust, thankfully the water isn’t seeping through Tentranadon’s underbelly. But that belly keeps drilling away at Braxton’s health. He has no way of escaping the gargantuan’s green grinding grueling gut.

“Found you!” Duke cries out running in. But he can’t find Braxton, only Tentranadon mashing its mass maliciously into the ground. Duke views Braxton’s health diminishing at the top left of his screen and concludes that Braxton is being pummeled under Tentranadon supersized stomach. “Braxton!” drawing his bow, he volleys arrows onto its face. Damaging it to attract the monsters attention. Tentranadon ceases his enjoyment to eye furiously at Duke. Leaving Braxton a moment of peace with a quarter of his health left.

From 10ft, Duke pulls an arrow back and threatens, “Get off of him. Ya beer bellied brute.” Tentranadon stands up on his hind legs, displaying the yellow roo belly sticker. His face depressing into its gorging gut. Duke holds his ground and so does Tentranadon, while Braxton pulls his head out to breathe. “(Gasps) Air (gasps) finally.” Tentranadon feels Braxton pull off its belly. Not wanting its fun to end, Tentranadon FLOP-SPLASH onto the water. Rolling over Braxton again and drenching Duke in waves of water.

Braxton’s face resubmerges back into the beast’s brutal belly. Savoring its action and observing Duke fall backwards, Tentranadon bounces its bubbly potbelly on Braxton more. BWO-SPLASH BWO-SPLASH BWO-SPLASH BWO-SPLASH trifling waves in the water and burying Braxton slowing into the mud or into the titan’s tubby tummy. Duke regains his stance and realizes Braxton is less than 1/8th of health. “Oh shit!” He dashes close to Tentranadon to fire spread shot arrows to its face. Luckily his shots flinch it, but he also agitates the monster as well. Tentranadon stands on its hind legs again, prepping its same belly slam attack. And Braxton has only a hair of health left.

“I need to knock it out.” Duke quickly holsters his weapon and reaches into his pouch. Tentranadon growls and jiggles his gruesome gut and starts to fall forwards, shadowing Duke and bringing Braxton down for a final slam. It can’t wait to smother two half-witted hunters under its murderous mass. But a blaze of flame ignites under its chin and spreads over its face, preventing it from ground pounding the two. Duke quickly digs his fingers between Braxton and the belly to PPPEEEELLLSSHHH Braxton free. While the Tentranadon’s entire body flashes in fire and falls over.

Falling on his back with Braxton on top of him, Duke turns Braxton face up. “Hey, you awake?” Duke alerts Braxton, who muddily responds while spitting out water. “I feel like I got bodied by a swampy waterbed.” They both stand as Braxton begins to run away, but Duke grabs his arm. “Why are you running? It’s toppled over.” Duke explains and points to the knocked down scorching Tentranadon. “OK, ok… I need to heal. How did you knock em’ over anyways?” Braxton asks while chugging health potions. “Fire beetle, Tentranadon is weak to it. You know that right?” Duke answers, but Tentranadon stands up still flaming. It is livid at the two for scorching its skin.

“Break his bill, it’ll disorient him.” Duke instructs while pulling his Bow. “I’ll distract it so you can get an easy shot.” Braxton adds and hoists out his Switch Axe. “I’ve got your back Brax.” Duke confirms, and the two initiate their plan. Tentranadon trudges forward to palm strike Braxton, who dodges and counter axe swings to slash its hand. Reverting from the pain, Tentranadon gives Duke a clear opening. Consecutive 1, 2, 3, shots of his arrows penetrate and breaks its bill, shaking it off balance.

Duke uses this chance to charge his final move, Dragon Piercer. He holds his stance low and heaves the Bow’s string farther and farther back until a hint of red illuminates the weapon, indicating it reached max damage. Braxton starts smacking the brute’s hands in sword mode while it was gathering itself. Though Braxton’s weapon isn’t doing much to Tentranadon, it knew that Duke has the heavier damage of the two. And charges at him like a high-speed compact roller with its gut gushing out.

Braxton evades to the side and shouts to Duke, “It’s heading towards ya!” Duke knows and doesn’t move; he doesn’t even flinch as the wall of wobbling water whale-fat speeds towards him. Firing the Dragon Piercer, and it penetrates and breaks the brutes bolstering belly. Halting the Tentranadon’s initial rampage, mere feet away from Duke. “You might have a bottomless belly for damage, but I got plenty of damage to stuff you full.” Duke taunts the beast. Leaving Tentranadon beyond pissed with its damaged bill and gut. Braxton runs to Duke to support him.

Tentranadon SWIPES with its left palm and hastily SWIPES with its right. Duke PARRIES its first attack with Dodgebolt and PARRIES the right hand afterwards with the same move. Each Dodgebolt parry increases his damage while he uses his arrow as a melee to slash the monster. “Guess you’re still hungry.” Duke claims and recognizes its upcoming body slam. He tosses a wire bug high above him and yanks himself in the air KER-SPLASH. Tentranadon misses while Duke is over its head, Bow drawn back at full charge. “Eat this.” He shoots 1, 2, and 3 bursts of multi-arrows onto the beast, knocking it over again.

The sheer few seconds that occurred, Braxton arrives and witnesses everything Duke has done. And is astounded by the performance and the topple. “Braxton! Hurry and put a trap underneath it.” Duke calls out as he lands on the water away from Tentranadon due to the Bow’s backfire. Braxton swiftly holsters his weapon, plants two tranquilizer bombs onto the beast, and puts down a paralyzing trap.

CAPTURE QUEST COMPLETE

The victory background music plays as the two sheath their weapons with Duke taking a seat in the cold water. “Aren’t cha gonna sit too?” He asks Braxton. “No thanks. I had my fill of water for the day, a week even.” Braxton laments, still upset from being pinned by Tentranadon. Duke has seen and understands why Braxton is upset.

“You tried to sneak attack the tail, didn’t you?” Duke assumes, breaking Braxton’s annoyance into curiosity. “Wha? Does this game give you video feed?” Braxton revolts and activates his start menu to find the camera recording features. “No no no, I didn’t see you. Our previous hunts of other monsters, you would always sneak attack the monster to get the best damage. It’s repetitive prediction.” Duke clarifies.

Braxton bats an eye on Duke and lowers his start menu settings. “It just… It didn’t cut off, and the tail always cuts off.” Braxton repeats his previous complaint. “Yeah, when we had weapons matching Low Rank. But you are using an LR weapon in a HR quest. I know you have your armor, and yes, the Switch Axe is powerful. But you need to bolster your weapon up and think about a build to work with it.” Duke clarifies calmly.

Braxton crosses his arms to let Duke’s words sink in. Duke stands up and continues. “Listen, we aren’t in danger now. But that was too close for a feint for you. You saved me once, now I saved you. And we’ll keep saving each other for every monster we face.” Braxton, still crossing his arms, turns his head at Duke. “We got some ways to go then. But I’ll take your advice, only if you upgrade your armor.” Duke replies. “Sure.” Though he is only making 1 HR armor from Tentranadon.

As the game’s timer ends, Braxton and Duke render back to Kamura. While sitting in their hut, Duke begins to discuss and critique each ability to Braxton and how it can compliment his weapon or playstyle. “Power Prolonger increases the duration of the built-up power your sword mode has in your Switch Axe. And Attack is… Braxton why is your face on the table?” Mentally exhausted from his rambling, Braxton nearly falls asleep through sheer boredom. “(Snorts) mmm yes attack. It makes you… hit harder.” He sloppily wakes himself up and guesses to Duke.

“Yeah, that’s it!” Duke commends. “But that’s only for raw damage, we have other damage too in the elemental category. There’s fire, water, thunder…” SMACK Braxton drops his head on the table in utter apathy from Duke’s, lessons. “Hey look alive, we are 15 abilities from the past 3 hours. There’s another 40 some to go and another 20 that we haven’t unlocked yet.” Duke continues his long-winded instruction, while Braxton suffers through the knowledge. “I kinda wish I was under the Tentranadon right now.” Braxton thinks to himself, at least it would have ended him sooner than Duke’s lessons.