- "For stone and creed, for those who forged our blade."
"To rid this land of its abominations."
"There is no peace without blood, and so it shall be." - ―Monster Hunting Cabal[src]
The Hunt for Man-Thing was a ceremony set up by Ulysses Bloodstone to choose a new leader of the Monster Hunting Cabal. Whoever were to get the Bloodstone and slain Man-Thing were to earn the honor.
Background[]
- "So many death dealers in one room. Oh, my dear heart! Thank you for gathering in ritual, for shedding your masks tonight in honor of Ulysses Bloodstone. He was a leader, a friend, a lover withour equal. Knowing his spirit would not be with us tonight to state his wishes for the ceremonial hunt, he orchestrated his presence in other ways. Incorrigible, really."
- ―Verussa Bloodstone[src]
Jack Russell enters Bloodstone Manor
For years, the Monster Hunting Cabal had been hunting monsters and killing them. On the last full moon of the year, Ulysses Bloodstone passed away, leaving a gap in the power of the cabal. His wife, Verussa Bloodstone called for the best hunters in the world to meet her at Bloodstone Manor; these hunters being Jack Russell, Joshua Jovan, Liorn, Azarel, and Barasso. Additionally, Ulysses estranged daughter, Elsa Bloodstone, also arrived despite being an outcast from her family, especially from her step-mother, Verussa.
Ulysses Bloodstone communicates to the hunters
Once everyone got to the temple, Verussa and Billy Swan opened up Ulysses' casket to reveal a puppeteered Ulysses who explained that the Man-Thing was inside a maze and whoever were to slain he monster would earn the Bloodstone, which was attached to the back of Man-Thing. The hunters perked up, knowing how powerful the Bloodstone truly was. They all went outside to start the ceremony.
The monster hunters face the maze
Outside of a maze, the hunters stood in front of a table. In order to start the hunt, the hunters picked their position at random. Barasso chose his, annoyed at the outcome. Finally, Russell chose his position, and found out he were to be the first into the maze. As Russell followed a Flaming Tuba man into the maze, the hunters chanted. Unbeknownst to the hunters, Russell was actually a Werewolf in search of liberating his friend, Man-Thing.[1]
Hunt[]
Joshua Jovan yells at Elsa Bloodstone
- "Just get me the stone and we're good. Then you're on your own. Okay. Closest perimeter wall is that way, straight shot, then two lefts and a right. There's a massive crack about halfway down. As soon as you get there, turn on the explosive. Throw it at the wall, it will stick, then get clear."
- ―Elsa Bloodstone to Jack Russell[src]
Following Jack Russell into the maze, the hunters sneaked around, knowing that it was every man for themselves. Russell walked around trying to find Man-Thing, or as he knew him, Ted Sallis. Suddenly, he ran into Elsa Bloodstone, but simply suggested that passed each other by and not fight. Once they happened, Joshua Jovan came out of the corner and attacked Bloodstone. The two engaged, with Bloodstone eventually using her combat skills to get away with Jovan's axe as he yelled for her.
Elsa Bloodstone shoots Liorn
With her new axe, Bloodstone entered a room only for Liorn to come out and attack her with his wrist dart. She fought him as well, eventually cutting his arm off. Liorn pursued her further until she kicked him, grabbing the wrist dart off of his severed hand. She then used that to shoot Liorrn through the neck. Hearing Jovan entering, Bloodstone grabbed the struggling Liorn and fell into a small pit, holding his mouth closed. Jovan suspected nothing as he retrieved his axe and left. Bloodstone then pushed Liorn's corpse aside and went into a new room, leaving the door ajar.
Ted Sallis reunites with Jack Russell
Meanwhile, Russell walked around into a corner. Suddenly, Sallis rached his hand out of the brush, grabbing Russell who turned around in happiness. Russell examined his friend, seeing the Bloodstone implanted on his back. Russell then heard the footsteps of Azarel approaching, forcing him to leave Sallis temporarily. Russell was chased into the room where Elsa was hiding and closed the door behind him. Elsa yelled for him not to do that, but he did not hear her. Once the door was closed, they realized it was locked.
Man-Thing kills Joshua Jovan
Unable to escape, the two hunters talked, not wanting to kill each other. Russell even helped her patch up her wound. Elsa then realized that since they were in a tomb, her relative, crazy aunt Frances Brisbane Bloodstone always hid a key in her tomb thinking that she would come back alive. Once getting out, the two hunters decided to help get Sallis freed. Russell was going to blow a hole in the wall while Elsa lured Sallis away. With the plan commencing, Jovan found Sallis. However, Sallis' power over matched him, allowing Sallis to incinerate Jovan.
Man-Thing escapes
Elsa eventually found Sallis and gained his trust. Meanwhile, Russell struggled to plant the bomb on the wall, but were finally able to. As Elsa led Sallis to the wall, she used a grappling hook to pull the Bloodstone off of him. Sallis then ran into the woods, finally freed. With the hunt over, Russell grabbed the Bloodstone on the ground. However, the Bloodstone blasted him back, as he was a monster himself. When the hunters regrouped, Verussa Bloodstone realized the truth, capturing both Russell and Elsa.[1]
Aftermath[]
Jack Russell is turned into a Werewolf
- "My word. A monster. Masquerading as one of our own. Desecrating a sacred night! And you? What was the thinking here? You freed a monster with a monster?"
- ―Verussa Bloodstone to Elsa Bloodstone[src]
Waking up in a cage, Jack Russell saw a betrayed Elsa Bloodstone. He tried to explain to her that there was no worry as the next full moon was in five days. However, Elsa explained that the Bloodstone could turn him in five seconds. Verussa Bloodstone, Barasso, and Azarel then arrived as Verussa blasted Russell with the Bloodstone, turning him into a Werewolf.
Werewolf by Night is attacked
Verussa's plan was faulty though, as Russell escaped and completely ran through all of the guards, killing them. As that happened, Elsa took care of both Barasso and Azarel. Verussa ambushed Russell with the Bloodstone, blasting him back. However, Elsa grabbed Verussa and sprung her back. As Elsa approached the werewolf, she took the Bloodstone to arm herself. Russell attacked, but soon realized who Elsa was, recognizing her. Instead of killing Elsa, he ran away into the darkness.
Elsa Bloodstone looks at the Bloodstone
Verussa then got up and scolded Elsa, preparing to kill her. Man-Thing then crashed through the roof and incinerated Verussa before throwing her corpse into Ulysses Bloodstone, severing his head. Elsa then told Man-Thing that Russell left before grabbing the Bloodstone, becoming the new leader. She sat down as Billy Swan vowed her loyalty to her. The next morning, Russell woke up and talked to Man-Thing.[1]