Chapter 6: The First Kill.

The massive creature stirred in the murky water, unaware of their exact location but clearly sensing their presence. This was their chance—now or never.

Without hesitation, one of the rangers released an arrow. It sliced through the air before striking the boar's thick hide with a dull thunk. The shaft barely sank in a few centimeters, doing little more than irritating the beast.

The boar snorted violently, its muscles tensing as it let out a guttural roar. Then, in a surge of raw power, it charged forward, mud and water exploding from beneath its hooves. Its massive bulk tore through the swamp like a battering ram, and its companion followed close behind, both of them now locked onto the intruders.

"Incoming!"

The two warriors in the front didn't hesitate. Though the creatures towered over them, they held their ground. The larger of the two, a hulking figure clad in armor, raised his massive shield and braced for impact. Meanwhile, the rest of the group split up—rangers scrambling for a better vantage point while rogues flanked the beasts from the sides.

The impact was thunderous.

BAM!

The lead boar slammed into the shield, the sheer force knocking the warrior back a step. His boots dug into the mud as he fought to keep his stance, but the shield buckled slightly under the weight of the beast's charge.

Liam, the group's leader and second warrior, seized the opening. Unlike his companion, he wielded a massive two-handed sword. He pivoted, bringing the blade down in a vicious arc—the edge biting into the beast's hide and leaving a deep, crimson gash.

The boar shrieked in fury, thrashing wildly. It tried to counter, tusks swinging dangerously close, but Liam had already stepped back, his keen instincts keeping him just outside its deadly reach.

Then came the second boar.

The monstrous creature lunged at the two warriors, hooves pounding against the damp earth. But before it could reach them—

—an arrow whistled through the trees.

The shaft found its mark, piercing deep into the creature's right eye. The boar screeched in agony, its charge veering off course as it wildly swung its head.

For a moment, the ranger who had landed the shot thought he was safe.

Then the wounded boar turned toward him.

"Shit—"

He barely had time to move. The beast surged forward, moving with terrifying speed. Before he could react, it slammed into him full force, sending him hurtling through the air.

"Michael!" The cleric's voice rang out, thick with worry.

Michael's body hit the ground hard, tumbling through mud and leaves before coming to a painful stop. He didn't stir.

The battle raged on.

Liam and the shield warrior worked in perfect tandem, dodging and redirecting the first boar's relentless attacks while the rogue darted in from the flank, striking at weak points whenever an opening appeared.

But the second boar wasn't stopping. Even with an arrow buried in its eye, it refused to fall. It barreled toward the injured ranger, shrugging off the archer's shots as if they were mere pinpricks against its thick hide.

Just as it closed the distance, ready to trample its target, a streak of blue light cut through the air. A Mana Bolt. The spell struck the beast's face in a brilliant flash—but still, it barely faltered. Snorting furiously, it pressed on, its beady eyes locked onto its prey.

Michael—the ranger—was as good as dead. If he wasn't already.

Tsk.

Kael had planned to stay on the sidelines, just observing. Normally, he wouldn't have cared what happened to these people. But this group… they were competent. And the ranger? Impressive.

Landing a shot in the eye of a moving target, mid-battle? That took skill.

An archer like that could be useful.

Before the thought had even fully formed, his body had already moved.

Kael burst from the shadows, a blur of motion as he shot across the battlefield. The ground trembled as the boar lunged forward, its sheer mass colliding with the tree in a brutal impact. Bark exploded into the air.

But by the time the dust settled, Michael was gone.

Kael had snatched him away in the nick of time, his momentum carrying them both clear of the danger zone. He barely spared the injured ranger a glance before dropping him unceremoniously onto the ground. Whether he lived or died wasn't Kael's problem.

What mattered was the massive beast now turning to face him.

A grin pulled at his lips.

The boar's eyes burned with raw aggression, its breath hot and heavy. Blood dripped from the arrow still lodged in its eye, a furious bellow escaping its throat as it lowered its head for another charge.

Oh, someone looks excited.

Kael's hands flicked to his waist, twin daggers sliding free from their sheaths with a whisper of steel. His muscles coiled. His heartbeat slowed.

The battle was on.

With a deafening roar, the boar lunged at him.

Kael sidestepped at the last second, his body shifting effortlessly as the monster tore past. He landed in a crouch, kicking off the dirt and weaving through the trees as the beast gave chase.

[Inspect.]

A translucent panel flashed across his vision.

➤ [Mutated Boar – Level 4]

Kael clicked his tongue. It's going to take a while to kill but the experience points will definitely be worth it.

It was powerful but that didn't matter. Strength meant nothing if it couldn't hit its target.

The archer had already caught on, firing arrows at the beast's flank. The first few shots barely did anything, but as they landed one after another, the damage began to stack. The boar slowed, its movements becoming more sluggish.

As soon as Kael noticed the boar's movements slowing, his grin widened. His breath came in ragged gasps, his legs burned from the relentless chase, but none of that mattered.

Now!

Suddenly, he stopped retreating and charged straight toward the massive beast. The boar, still blinded by fury, lowered its head, tusks gleaming under the dim light. Just before they collided, Kael vanished from its line of sight.

A blur of motion—then silence.

The next thing the boar felt was a sharp sting along its underbelly. Kael had used Quick Step to slip right beneath it, sliding past on the dirt like a shadow in the night.

The beast let out an enraged screech, kicking up dust as it wheeled around, nostrils flaring. It charged again, its sheer mass shaking the ground.

Too slow.

Kael sidestepped at the last moment, his blade flashing as he sliced across its flank. The wound wasn't deep, but it didn't need to be. The boar, unable to stop its momentum, barreled past him, its blood splattering onto the ground.

Again, it turned. Again, it charged. Again, Kael was gone before it could even react.

Each time, he dodged just before impact, leaving a fresh wound behind. The beast's once-ferocious roars had turned to pained grunts, its strength ebbing with every attack. It was fighting against death itself—and losing.

Meanwhile, arrows zipped through the air, embedding into the boar's hide. Liam and the others had nearly finished off their own target. The first boar had already collapsed, twitching on the ground, life fading from its eyes.

Kael glanced at it mid-fight. Damn, I need to get in on that kill. More experience points.

But the beast before him still refused to die. Its attacks were getting slower, weaker. Kael's chest ached with exertion, his breaths growing heavier, but his movements stayed sharp.

Another cut. Another arrow. Another stagger.

Then, at last—the boar let out a final, shuddering breath before collapsing onto the blood-soaked ground.

A familiar chime echoed in his mind.

You have slain [Mutated Boar – Level 4]!

Experience Points Gained.

110 Survival Points Acquired.

Ding!

Class [Rogue] has reached Level 1!

Before he could even process it, another notification popped up.

You have slain [Mutated Boar – Level 5]!

Experience Points Gained.

50 Survival Points Acquired.

Ding!

Race [Human] has reached Level 1!

Kael dropped to the ground, gasping for breath, his body drenched in sweat. His daggers felt heavier in his grip, but he didn't care. A glance at his interface confirmed it—he had leveled up.

And judging by the last notification, he had somehow gotten credit for the other boar's kill too.

He let out a short laugh, grinning despite the exhaustion. Hell yeah. Free exp.

This was the main reason why he had taken the risk to help these guys in the first place. Sure, helping them in this situation would make it easier to join them, but at the end of the day…

Who in their right mind would turn down free experience points?