When they were ready, Eldric knocked an arrow.
The moment Eldric's fingers released the string, time seemed to slow for them.
The arrow cut through the air with a sharp whistle, wind mana wrapped tightly around its shaft.
It struck true.
Straight into the boar's left eye.
A wet, cracking sound followed by an eruption of furious noise. The beast reeled, its roar tearing through the clearing like thunder splitting stone. Dark blood spilled down its plated snout as it thrashed, tusks gouging the churned earth.
Bursting from the treeline the instant the arrow landed, Teclos and Gillard charged at it.
The stone boar's remaining eye locked onto them with blazing fury. It lowered its head—and the ground itself seemed to tremble.
The stone plates on its back and sides shifted, grew spikes, and became jagged.
