Chapter 10: A New Journey Begins
Chapter 10: A New Journey Begins
The world blurred around them. Yuno clung to her back with all his strength as he tried to maintain his grip while she maneuvered through the collapsing cave. Her movements displayed an unnatural precision while she walked because she avoided rocks that might fall with expert skill.
The final flash of moonlight lit their way out.
The pig performed a final forceful jump, which propelled her body across the cave entrance before the entrance completely collapsed behind them. A thunderous collapse of rocks created an explosion of noise while a massive dust cloud streamed out from the blocked entrance.
For a moment, silence.
They had made it.
The intense rush of adrenaline made Yuno breathe heavily as his body trembled violently. The pig took deep breaths while her torso moved quickly up and down. But they were safe.
Or so he thought.
The scene in front of him made Yuno's eyes open wide.
Several strange beings waited in the open space in front of the cave.
They weren't alone.
The creatures stood in the bonfire's dancing light while watching them with motionless eyes. Yuno moved his eyes rapidly between the creatures while his breathing became heavy from observing their appearance.
They were boars.
Wild boars, their massive bodies far larger and more intimidating than the piglet beneath him. The massive boars appeared powerful with their thick muscular bodies and their sharp tusks shining ominously from the firelight.
Yuno gulped.
The appraisal ability in Yuno activated without effort to provide him with knowledge.
[Wild Boar Monster] LV18
HP: 477/477
MP: 10/10
SP: 100/100
Attack Power: 159
Magic Attack: 0
Physical Defense: 80
Speed: 16
Critical Strikes: 33%
Magic Defense: 35
Description:
It lives in groups and lives in Crescent Bay. It has a temperamental personality and a strong sense of territory. When facing invaders weaker than itself, it will relentlessly drive them away, while facing invaders who are stronger than itself, it will choose to migrate and avoid.
****
The boars possessed superior strength in comparison to the piglet. But more importantly.
His gaze shifted toward the biggest boar among them.
A massive figure dominated the front of the group as it loomed above all others at the gathering. Flames from the bonfire cast long shadows across its rugged body.
Yuno focused on it. His appraisal ability flickered again.
[Wild Boar Leader] LV35
Invalid Identification!!
Insufficient Skill Level!!
Invalid Identification!!
Insufficient Skill Level!!
Invalid Identification!!
Insufficient Skill Level!!
***
The enormous beast moved ahead while its sharp eyes fixed on them and produced a deep guttural noise that echoed throughout the area.
Yuno's entire body tensed.
The small pig remained motionless under his feet.
The two groups maintained eye contact for a prolonged and distressing period of time.
The young piglet walked ahead with no worries while the wild boars behind her remained unimportant to her. The wild boars' threatening looks and stomping feet failed to affect the piglet at all. The boar chief grew increasingly irritated but refused to issue the command for an assault. The boar leader showed awareness of her identity, or he chose not to anger her. All the boars remained motionless to watch the piglet and Yuno depart from the area.
The piglet, Yuno rested motionless on her back as they made their journey due to utter exhaustion. The tiny appendages of his body gripped her soft fur while he finally gained the rare opportunity to think since his arrival in this world. The chase, followed by the cave and battling monsters, proved to be too much for him. At this moment, when the piglet transported him away, he gained an important insight.
"Back in the cave, she helped me recover," Yuno murmured. "And now, she's taking me with her… Does she possess no harmful intentions toward me?"
His thoughts led him to understand the situation better and better. She would have eaten him if she planned to do so since her awakening in this world. She protected him after healing his injuries, and now she carried him toward safety.
He checked his surroundings while his mind wandered. "System, where are we now?"
A screen with transparent qualities materialized before his eyes.
Your current position stands at Crescent Bay, which lies east of the Grasslands with a distance of 200 kilometers from Starter Village. Distance from Starter Village: 200 kilometers.
"Two hundred kilometers?!" Yuno's mind reeled. "How the hell did I get here?"
There was only one explanation. An activation of teleportation magic occurred right before he lost consciousness. The piglet served as the possible source that delivered him to this location. The piglet intentionally transported him to this location.
The piglet moved swiftly to the side just as something passed by him.
"Wha?" Yuno reacted too late to defend herself when another strike appeared. The pig utilized her body to escape the attack with precision.
Something was attacking them.
The sudden revelation made his body shiver. The wilderness proved dangerous because he already had personal experience with its dangers. The piglet's superior perception abilities saved them from potential strikes from the unknown projectiles.
A massive frog emerged from the darkness with its slimy body shining under the sunlight.
"System, analyze it!"
[Bull Toad] LV.11
HP: 110/110
MP: 10/10
SP: 100/100
Attack: 35
Magic: 0
Defense: 30
Speed: 45
Critical Rate: 10%
Magic Defense: 10
Description:
Bull Toad, a monster common in moist and warm lands. It has strong jumping power but prefers to quietly wait for prey to appear. As long as it's something that can be swallowed, it will try to do so. It requires as much food as its weight every day.
****
Yuno gulped. The creature proved to be beyond his current level of power.
The frog's throat expanded because it was about to launch another strike. The piglet maintained a state of high alert as her body muscles stiffened. Yuno braced himself.
The frog extended its tongue forward at lightning speed before Yuno could respond.
The situation happened too fast for him to escape.
The frog's sticky appendage wrapped around his small limbs while he helplessly tried to escape. A sudden wave of panic raced through him when he realized the frog was about to swallow him entirely.
The piglet suddenly made a loud, angry noise which triggered her quick attack. The piglet used unexpected strength to pounce on the frog, which caused it to drop Yuno. She reached him before his descent ended and positioned herself to receive his fall.
Yuno remained on her back while feeling stunned yet unharmed. "You… You saved me again."
Through her actions, the piglet communicated more than words ever could.
However, their ordeal wasn't over.
A sharp gust of wind cut through the air.
The frog missed its mark when the piglet moved quickly to avoid the attack, while the frog remained stationary. A blade of wind sliced through the creature's body with such precision that it cut it into several pieces.
Yuno directed his eyes toward the direction of the sound.