Bai Xuan was startled. The three air blades covered a wide area and moved extremely fast, nearly cutting off his escape routes to the left and right.
In the nick of time, he could only throw himself backward, lying flat on the ground.
The three air blades whistled past his nose and chest. One of them sliced through a small tree behind him, leaving a deep, smooth cut on the trunk. The tree tilted slowly before snapping.
After releasing that attack, the light in the Dreadboar's eyes dimmed, and its aura withered, clearly exhausted by the effort.
However, seizing the moment while Bai Xuan was still on the ground, it let out a roar and launched one final charge, its tusks aimed straight for his chest!
It gathered its last strength for a killing blow!
Yet, this desperate strike fueled by mana and stamina left the Dreadboar wide open.
To achieve maximum speed and power, its trajectory was linear and hard to change. Under the skill's enhancement, its neck and the front of its head were exposed without protection right before Bai Xuan's eyes!
Bai Xuan's eyes grew fierce as he lay on the ground.
Without time to stand, he exerted force from his waist and pushed off the ground with one hand, channeling all his strength and mana into the Goldsand Iron rod!
The opportunity was here!
【Redemption Strike】!
From his prone position, he thrust the rod upward. Enveloped in solid golden light, the iron rod acted like a piercing spear and a heavy hammer combined, smashing diagonally into the charging boar's head!
“Crunch—Bang!!!”
First, the tip of the rod accurately pierced the Dreadboar's open, vulnerable mouth as it roared, and golden light erupted!
Then, the massive impact caused the rod to jerk upward, slamming into the boar's lower jaw and shattering its entire skull!
The sound of bone cracking was agonizingly loud!
The Dreadboar's momentum stopped instantly, its head twisting back at an unnatural angle.
【Health: 0/240】
The massive body was lifted off the ground by the upward force before flipping onto its side. After a few spasms of its limbs, it went silent.
Its final strike had instead led it straight to the rod.
【Critical Hit executed! Killed “Dreadboar”】
【Experience +8, Pleasure +6】
“Huff... huff...” Bai Xuan leaned on the iron rod, gasping for air. Looking at the dead boar, he felt a lingering fear.
Is a Level 1 skill this powerful when used with full force? But it drained 7 points of mana at once.
Moreover, if I had been a second slower or made a wrong judgment, getting hit by those air blades or the tusks would have been...
The thought made Bai Xuan shiver.
The Dreadboar's final counterattack completely stripped away any contempt he had for monsters.
“Mana... ranged attacks... I really can't just judge the monsters in this world by their stats.”
He pushed himself up, glancing at the carcass and the severed tree with lingering dread.
The rustling sounds of other creatures disturbed by the commotion echoed from the forest in the distance.
He quickly stored the Dreadboar's body in his Space Ring, wiped away obvious traces, and left the area.
He continued downstream along the creek.
Once he confirmed the surroundings were safe, he took out the carcass to process it.
The panel showed it contained a 【Magic Core】.
He retrieved a bundle from his Space Ring and took out a sharp dagger.
Slicing open the boar's chest, he pulled out a murky, earthy-yellow crystal the size of a fingernail.
“Is this a Magic Core? Doesn't feel like much energy.”
After putting it in the Space Ring, he cut off a thick hind leg and washed it carefully by the stream.
In his past life, he had quit his job to take care of his sick father, so learning to cook had come naturally.
“Is this meat... edible?” The panel gave a positive answer.
He rinsed the meat in the clear water, the blood flowing downstream.
As he examined the leg, planning how to roast it...
“Splash!”
Suddenly, the water surface downstream exploded!
A dark shadow burst out with incredible speed, lunging for the beast leg in his hand—and aiming to engulf him in the attack range as well!
Bai Xuan flinched. He hadn't expected something in the water to be attracted by the scent of blood!
His reactions were swift. Unable to stand in time, he rolled to the side with the leg while sweeping the Goldsand Iron rod at the shadow with his other hand.
“Smack!”
The rod hit the target, but it felt like hitting slimy, tough leather. Most of the force was dissipated.
The shadow twisted in mid-air and landed in the shallow water with a loud splash.
Bai Xuan stood up and retreated to create distance, finally seeing the attacker.
It was a creature nearly a meter long, resembling a catfish but far more grotesque.
Its head was massive, covered in dark green slimy scales. Its mouth was exceptionally wide, filled with layers of fine, sharp, inward-curving teeth.
Most interesting were the two bone spurs on its pectoral fins. They were thick and sharp, currently supporting its body as it “crawled” across the shallows.
【Spineback Swampfish Lv.2 (Awakened)】
【Status: Smelling Blood, Hunting】
【Health: 100/110】
【Mana: 5/10】
【Potential: 1-Star (Dust Crown)】
“That's a relief...” Bai Xuan exhaled. Level 2 with mediocre stats; it seemed the ambush was its best trick.
Watching the fish wiggle its bone spurs in the shallow water, snapping its toothy maw to intimidate him, he found it somewhat amusing.
“What, a little loach dares to come ashore to steal food?” He hefted the Goldsand Iron rod. The feel of the previous strike gave him confidence.
The swampfish seemed provoked. Its thick caudal fin slapped the water, and using the recoil and its bone spurs, it “jumped” forward. It was fast, aiming for Bai Xuan's calf.
This time, Bai Xuan was prepared.
He stepped aside to dodge the bite. As the fish flew past...
Seeing it had no leverage in the air and its flank was exposed, he gripped the rod with both hands and delivered a heavy upward swing!
“Thud!”
The tip of the rod struck the soft area where the flank met the head.
The force sent the heavy fish flying in an arc.
It landed on the stony bank with a splat. Its tail twitched twice before it went still.
【Critical Hit executed! Killed “Spineback Swampfish”】
【Experience +4, Pleasure +3】
“Whew, that was close.”
Bai Xuan walked over and poked it with the rod to confirm it was dead.
This fish looks ugly. I wonder how it tastes.
He checked it with the panel.
【Spineback Swampfish Meat: Edible. Firm texture, slightly earthy taste, many bones. The cartilage near its spine (Spineback) can be dried and ground into a powder with a weak paralyzing poison. Handle with care.】
As long as it's edible! It adds another dish to the menu.
He skillfully descaled and gutted the fish, washing the meat. He removed the two special “Spinebacks,” wrapped them in leaves, and put them away.
Looking at the fatty fish meat and the boar leg, today's meal was looking quite lavish.
Rate on N.U.
