Once again
As he was walking, he stopped suddenly. His eyes narrowed as he spotted a group of four boars grazing silently in the distance. Unlike the first one, these ones weren't alone.
While he was observing them, a translucent screen appeared before him, similar to his stat panel.
[BOULDER BOARS]
Attack: 7
Defense: 6
Speed: 5
Skills:
Momentum Charge (Short burst of force when running)
Toughened Hide (Temporary increase in toughness)
Rave's throat went dry. "Oh… I really got lucky with that first one..." rave had thrown rocks at it until it died, but if that boar had skills like these, he probably wouldn't have made it out alive.
"I guess i can't rely on my luck anymore..." he muttered to himself, inhaling deeply.
He crouched low, vanishing into the tall grass. He wasn't stupid enough to charge in headfirst. Surprise was his best weapon.
Slowly and carefully, he crept toward them, staying hidden among the bushes. His heart pounded, but he controlled his breathing, waiting for the perfect moment.
As minutes passed.
Then, one of the boars reaching closer, lazily chewing the grass near his hiding spot. Rave's fingers tightened around the tusks in his hands. His breaths became shallow, his body became still.
The boar stepped closer and closer. And the instant its head lowered for food—
Rave struck it with all his strength. He pushed the tusk straight into the beast's neck, the blood spitted out of the wound.
A piercing scream reverberated throughout the air. The boar thrashed violently, its body shaking from the sudden attack as the other three boars immediately snapped to attention, their eyes darting around in panic.
Rave gritted his teeth, gripping the weapon tighter. The real fight was just getting started.
He lunged forward, his Swift Step skill activated with a thought. He shot forward faster than the boars could react, and in an instant, he was upon the next one. With a swift, practiced motion, he stabbed the tusk into its side.
The boar let out a scream of pain and twisted about, but was able to roll most of the blow off him. He didn't have a chance to deliver a killing wound. Its Toughened Hide skill had proved far more resilient than he had imagined. The boar's immense body spun about, smashing Rave with brutal force. He flew backward, thudding into the tall grass.
Agony shot through his body, coming from the impact point. Rave gritted his teeth and rolled to his feet. His body was on pain, but he hardly had time to consider it when he saw the boar charging at him.
Its eyes were furious.
"Damn it," Rave grunted, stepping back. "Not like this." He was not going to let it go like that.
"Hunt or be hunted," he reminded himself, his breath ragged.
He stood up once more, forcing through the pain. This time, he wasn't going to make it easy for them. Using his skill, Rave moved in an unpredictable way, darting left and right. He could see the boars' confusion, their eyes darting to follow him.
His target-the boar that had struck him-was now defenseless. Dazed and enraged, that is exactly what Rave needed.
With another spurt of speed, he closed in and, without hesitation, punched the tusk further into its wound, pushing it in with every bit of strength he had.
The boar's body jerked violently, its screech loud and filled with rage.
And then the kill prompt.
[Lesser Level Beast Killed]
Rift Beast Core – Lesser Tier Obtained.
Rave didn't wait any moment. He didn't look back; he moved toward the second boar that had been stabbed in the neck earlier.
The beast was stumbling now, covered in blood, its strength fading. It was so near death that it barely noted him approaching.
With a last blow, Rave thrust the tusk further into its neck, striking a similar wound made earlier. He heard was another weak grunt. The boar's body came crashing to the ground.
[Lesser Level Beast Killed]
Rift Beast Core – Lesser Tier Obtained.
Now, there were only two boars left. They were furious, their eyes red with a desire for revenge. They stood their ground, observing Rave, ready to finish what their pack members could not.
Rave could feel the tension in the air as they charged him. He dodged one strike, then another, his movements sharp and fast. He was running circles around them, barely evading their attacks. But the boars were relentless, and their fury only made them more dangerous.
He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep this up. But he'd be damned if he let these two take him down.
The two remaining Boulder Boars locked eyes with Rave, their anger clear. They weren't going to give him a chance this time. They charged, one coming from the left, the other from the right.
Rave's heart pounded as they closed in on him. There was no time to think. He had to act fast.
One of the boars leapt out, its tusks straight for his chest. Rave dodged to the side barely in time, avoiding the deadly blow by a hair. The boar's tusks grazed his side, leaving behind a streak of red. Pain flared, but he pushed it down, concentrated on the fight.
The second boar was already on him. It was faster than he thought. With a terrifying roar, it swiped its tusks at his face. Rave twisted his body, barely avoiding the blow again, but the edge of the tusk grazed his cheek, and blood dripped down his neck.
"Not good," Rave thought, his body screaming in pain. He could feel the fatigue setting in, his movements slower, more calculated.
With a swift breath, Rave centered himself. The two boars were now circling him, their eyes fixed on every movement he made. They were smart—too smart. They waited for the perfect moment to strike.
One of them lunged again, and this time Rave couldn't get out of the way. The tusk gouged into his shoulder, and he let out a yell as the sharp pain shot through his body. He staggered back, fighting to stay on his feet. His blood soaked into the grass beneath him, but there was no time to dwell on it.
The first boar, seeing his chance, wheeled around once more, but Rave rolled under its tusks, positioning himself behind the beast. He thought fast. He had to bring down one of them before it was too late.
Roaring, he thrust the tusk into the side of the boar and pushed it deep with all remaining strength. The boar let out a squeal, attempting to turn to face him, but Rave kept the pressure on, driving the tusk deeper.
The body of the boar twitched twitched for period but lastly fell down, motionless.
[Lesser Level Beast Killed]
Rift Beast Core – Lesser Tier Obtained.
Rave had hardly reacted to the first boar attack when the second one charged right for him. He was out of energy, but he couldn't stop now. He was too close. He had to finish this.
The boar's tusks barely missed him as he sidestepped, his breathing ragged. He couldn't keep dodging much longer.
Then, the boar lunged in too far to make the fatal mistake. He gave Rave the opening he needed. With one strong strike, he shoved his tusk deep into the boar's throat, twisting it with what strength he had left.
The boar's roar was cut off and, with a final convulsion, it fell to the ground defeated.
[Lesser Level Beast Killed]
Rift Beast Core – Lesser Tier Obtained.
Rave stood over the two dead boars, his chest heaving with exhaustion. His body was covered in cuts, bruises, and blood. His breaths were shallow, and the pain in his side was unbearable, but he stayed on his feet.
"That was too close," he said under his breath, wiping blood from his face.
He gazed down at the two Rift Beast Cores he'd won, his hands still clenched around the bloodied tusks. It had been a vicious fight, but he had lived.
At least for tonight, that was enough.