Fanged Boar

Ray had always liked Wilfred. The knight reminded him of his father in many ways. There was a calmness about Wilfred that made people trust him, as if everything would work out as long as he was there. Even after ten years, his appearance hadn't changed, making it impossible for Ray to guess his true age.

Thinking about his father, Ray found himself lost in thought. He hadn't seen him in over a decade and had no idea how he was doing. As if sensing his concerns, Wilfred placed a reassuring hand on Ray's shoulder.

"Your father's condition hasn't worsened. Your mother is taking good care of him. I made sure to check with one of the knights before coming here," Wilfred said.

A smile crept onto Ray's face. "Thank you."

Gary, who had been listening, spoke up. "How did you recognize us? We've changed a lot over these ten years."

Wilfred chuckled. "The blonde boy and the redhead who fought the Drop Bears? How could I forget something like that? I'm not that old yet."

Gary smirked. "How old are you, then?" He eyed Wilfred up and down, noting how the knight still looked the same as before.

"Now that, my friend, is a secret," Wilfred replied with a grin.

The three of them burst into laughter, a rare moment of ease. Around them, the other students began whispering among themselves.

"Isn't that Master Wilfred?"

"How are they on such good terms with him?"

"They must be from a powerful family."

Hearing the murmurs, Wilfred decided to take his leave. "I'll see you two later," he said before stepping away.

Shortly after, a man who appeared only a few years older than them approached. He had a powerful build and wore the Avrion Crest on his chest. Holding a sheet of parchment, he addressed the students in a commanding voice.

"Future Avrion Academy students, I am Squire Master Lancy. From this moment forward, you must obey my commands at all times unless overruled by a higher-ranking officer. Our journey to Avrion Academy will take seven days."

Behind him, five carriages appeared, each large enough to hold about ten students. The knights accompanying them traveled on horseback. There were six knights in total, including Master Wilfred. Squire Master Lancy was the second-highest-ranking knight present, while the others were squires assigned to guard the carriages.

Once everyone was ready, the convoy set off towards Avrion Academy. Ray felt a sense of excitement—he was finally leaving this place. He was also pleased to hear the journey would take seven days. That meant more opportunities to obtain magical crystals.

He had already absorbed the crystal from the Drop Bear, bringing his current points to 42. He still remembered the sensation—the tingling in his body, the immediate surge in strength. It was an addictive feeling, almost like a drug.

Hours passed, and the sun eventually set. The group set up camp beside a forest, a relatively open area. The knights assured them there was little danger, as high-tier beasts were uncommon in this region. They would take turns keeping watch through the night.

Each student was given a sleeping bag and a partner to share a tent with. Ray and Gary naturally paired up.

In the middle of the night, when everyone was asleep, Ray quietly slipped out of the tent. Activating his Dragon Eyes skill, he ensured the guards were patrolling a different area. The enhanced vision made it easy to move undetected.

He entered the forest, scanning for magical beasts he could take on. His Dragon Eyes detected a few basic-tier creatures nearby.

"Lucky," he thought. This was the perfect chance to obtain more crystals.

Approaching his first target, he crouched behind a bush, observing the creature. It was a Fanged Boar—a powerful beast with massive tusks capable of tearing through bone. Unlike wolves, it lacked agility, and it wasn't as fast as Drop Bears.

Ray stepped out from the bush, making himself visible. The boar immediately locked eyes with him, scraping its hoof against the ground as it prepared to charge.

As the beast rushed forward, Ray waited until the last moment before leaping into the air, landing on its back. In one swift motion, he drove his sword behind its head. The boar collapsed instantly.

He frowned when no notification appeared. Kneeling beside the creature, he used his blade to slice it open, searching for a crystal. To his surprise, he found one lodged inside the beast's body. Holding the crystal in his palm, he attempted to absorb it—but nothing happened.

"So, I can only absorb crystals granted by the system?" he mused.

Ray continued hunting through the forest, making sure not to stray too far from camp. After taking down two more Fanged Boars, a notification finally appeared.

[Basic Tier Crystal Obtained (1)]

[Would you like to absorb?]

[Yes] [No]

For now, he stored the crystal away, deciding to test something first. Using his sword, he skinned open one of the boars again, searching for another crystal—but this time, he found nothing.

"So, when the system grants a crystal, it doesn't leave one inside the beast… Interesting."

As he pondered this discovery, a loud, guttural snort came from behind him. Spinning around, Ray's eyes widened as he saw a Fanged Boar the size of a horse.

An intermediate-tier Fanged Boar.