Minutes passed since the battle between the wolf pack and the lone boar began, yet Zamel remained still, watching patiently for the right moment to strike.
As he had expected, despite the wolves' advantage in numbers, the boar fought them off with little difficulty. It had already killed two of the five attacking wolves without breaking a sweat, forcing Zamel to give Ulfram the signal to activate the venom inside its body—to weaken it and level the playing field.
Even so, the boar's resilience allowed it to resist the poison longer than anticipated. It took immense concentration from Ulfram to amplify the venom's potency using his skill, draining much of his energy in the process. But in the end, it was enough.
With his efforts, the giant boar now fights its enemies without its previous vigor it showed before, it can no longer exert the same level of speed of power to charge toward the wolves in order to crash or maul them to death. It was finally forced to use its magic in a desperate attempt to kill the remaining wolves but that became futile because he instructed Ulfram to direct his venom to attack the giant boar heart, the place where its core lay.
Still, the giant boar was capable enough to fight the wolves, even as the corroding poison ravaged it from within. The remaining wolves, along with their alpha, attacked relentlessly, their fury driving them to fight recklessly after witnessing two of their packmates die to the boar's tusks. Their lack of restraint left them vulnerable, causing them to sustain injuries that would seriously hinder their combat effectiveness.
Ulfram's intervention had such a significant impact on the fight that Zamel couldn't help but smile with excitement, sensing that victory was finally within his grasp.
Still, he didn't act recklessly. If he engaged now and the beasts fighting before him revealed new abilities—whether to recover their strength or to deal a decisive blow—he risked becoming a victim of their relentless fury toward the point at one another.
Satisfied with Ulfram's contribution, Zamel allowed his bond to rest. Though it was frustrating that Ulfram likely wouldn't recover in time to join the final battle, Zamel would rather face the beast alone than risk his companion suffering severe injury—or worse, death.
He continued to watch the battle, but this time, he moved to a different position to be ready to attack. His grip tightened around one of his wooden spears, each crafted to the full extent of his ability. Although they were subpar compared to those made by more experienced craftsmen, he was still satisfied with what he held in his hands.
Seconds passed, each feeling longer than hours. He watched with piercing eyes, searching for the right moment to strike. Then it came—the three wolves attacked simultaneously, forcing the boar to focus entirely on them, leaving a small window for him to strike.
Without hesitation, Zamel threw his spear with all his might, aiming for the boar's eye, hoping to pierce through its skull.
But he missed. Instead of the eye, the spear landed on its neck. Still, it pierced through the tough hide, biting deeply into its flesh as the boar squealed in pain.
Unfortunately, Predatory Strike only worked on melee attacks, which was why he hadn't used it when throwing the spear. However, he still received an attack boost from Prowl, and it was more than enough to deal a devastating blow to the giant boar.
He quickly followed up with three more spears, all aimed at the wolves. But this time, luck wasn't on his side—only one struck its target, as the wolves had already sensed his presence.
The two remaining wolves, the Alpha and its only standing packmate, charged toward Zamel. They didn't bother finishing off the boar, confident they could kill it later. Right now, their priority was eliminating the opportunistic attacker who had dared to interfere.
Zamel didn't waste any effort throwing the wooden spears again. Although he could have waited for the wolves and the boar to finish each other off, he knew he wouldn't get stronger by doing that.
He had to face them, even if it meant standing at death's door.
Gripping his short sword and hatchet tightly, he positioned himself. Then, with a great burst of speed, he charged at the first wolf, who was about to reach him, followed closely by the Alpha.
As soon as he reached the first wolf, he thrust his short sword forward without hesitation. Caught off guard by the sudden attack, the wolf had no time to dodge. The blade pierced through its eye and stabbed deep into its brain, killing it instantly.
Zamel didn't spare a glance at his fallen foe as he surged forward to meet the enraged Alpha, who had just witnessed four of its packmates die.
Thankfully, the Alpha had sustained moderate injuries. Even though it had attacked the boar with relentless fury, it had never let its anger take complete control. It fought with practiced movements, all while commanding its pack, who followed its orders without hesitation.
Zamel swung his hatchet in an overhead strike toward the Alpha, but it dodged with ease. The wolf immediately countered with a swipe of its claws aimed at Zamel's face. However, Zamel swiftly repositioned himself and parried the attack with his short sword.
Without hesitation, he pressed on with his assault, slashing at the wolf with his hatchet. Yet again, the Alpha evaded the strike with the fluid grace of water, flipping backward creating a distance between while activating its only attack skill.
Two crescent-shaped surges of water shot toward Zamel, each resembling high-pressurized waves from the deep ocean, capable of slicing through him with ease.
He leaped to the side, but not fast enough—one of the attacks nicked his foot, tearing through flesh. A sharp pain shot through him, but he gritted his teeth, suppressing the urge to scream. As he stood, his injured foot throbbed, the wound deep but not severe enough to sever the limb. Still, it was a problematic injury.
He had no time to catch his breath as the Alpha wolf lunged at him, seizing the opportunity while he was injured.
Zamel couldn't dodge in time. He barely managed to raise his hatchet, dropping his sword in the process, just as the wolf's fangs snapped toward his throat. The blade blocked the deadly bite, but the force of the impact pinned to the ground
The Alpha showed no mercy, pressing down on him with its weight while swiping at him with its claws in a relentless frenzy. Zamel gritted his teeth, using every ounce of strength to keep the wolf's fangs at bay. His eyes darted around desperately, searching for his sword, but in the chaos, he couldn't spot it. A flash of regret crossed his mind—he should have dropped the hatchet instead. But there was no time to dwell on mistakes; he needed a way out.
Thankfully, he wasn't alone.
Like a great hero, Ulfram burst from the woods to save his master, surging forward with incredible speed. He bared his fangs and sank them deep into the Alpha's neck, while his tail struck mercilessly, stabbing into its body. Venom flooded the wolf's bloodstream, rapidly corroding it from within.
The Alpha wolf howled in pain, shifting its focus to the new intruder latched onto its neck. It thrashed violently, trying to shake Ulfram off, but Ulfram clamped down with unyielding force, refusing to release his hold on his enemy.
With Ulfram's sudden intervention, Zamel was freed from his pinned position. His anger surged to new heights as he charged at the Alpha wolf, gripping his hatchet tightly.
Letting out a furious roar, he swung his weapon in a vicious overhead strike. The Alpha, too distracted by Ulfram and the venom coursing through its body, was unable to dodge.
Zamel's hatchet struck with a sickening crunch. But he didn't stop there. Again and again, he brought the weapon down, his screams echoing through the battlefield as he hacked away like a madman.
Zamel's merciless assault continued, his rage blinding him to the fact that the wolf was already dead. Its head was nothing more than a pulped mess—flesh and bone crushed together, blood and brain matter seeping onto the ground.
If anyone were to witness this grisly scene, they would never believe that this mutilated corpse once belonged to a majestic and graceful wolf, the proud leader of its pack.
It was only after Ulfram butted his head against Zamel's that he managed to snap out of his rage, effectively calming down.
He looked down at the mutilated corpse of the Alpha and felt a wave of disgust. He could hardly believe that this was the result of his own anger. Now, he finally understood why the Observer had offered "Ravager" as one of his choices.
He also felt weakness spreading throughout his body. His energy was completely drained, and his core felt dry—almost devoid of mana.
"Damn, I really need to work on my anger issues. This isn't good for me," he muttered tiredly, unbothered by the fact that he was talking to himself. No one was around to judge him, after all.
Well, except for Ulfram, who was staring at him like he'd lost his mind.
Zamel frowned. "Why does something with no eyes look at me like a judgmental old man?" He sighed. "Oh, the wonders of this world. Truly fascinating."
He turned back to Ulfram. "Yeah, yeah, I'm crazy, you harsh puppy. Now stop looking at—"
Before he could finish his sentence, his instincts screamed at him in warning.
His body tensed, and he immediately turned toward the source of danger.
There he saw it, the boar stood where it had once fallen, its massive body rising once more. Despite the deep wounds and grievous injuries marring its hide, it still found the strength to stand—menacingly.
The giant boar's eyes burned with madness and rage as it locked onto its final enemy—the last fool it would kill before claiming victory.
Unfortunately, he couldn't charge toward his enemy; its body was far too injured and weak to move even one step away from his position. With no other choice, the giant boar began gathering its remaining mana, although he found it difficult to control, likely due to the fact that his core was injured for some reason. It didn't give up and still used its powerful skill.
A stone spear began to form in front of the boar, trembling with energy, ready to launch and impale its enemy.
Zamel quickly used his remaining mana as he activated his perception skills, pushing his senses to their absolute limit. A sharp pain flared in his mind, but he ignored it, forcing himself to endure. Just in time.
The stone spear shot toward him.
Time seemed to slow. Everything around him moved sluggishly, yet the attack still hurtled toward him with deadly precision.
He could see exactly where the spear would strike. He knew he had to jump to the side to avoid it. Unfortunately, his body couldn't keep up with his senses. Worse yet, he no longer had any mana to activate Prowl and disappear in time to evade the attack.
He saw himself move, but it was slow—painfully slow.
He knew he would die. There wasn't enough time.
Just when regret was about to fill his whole being, he felt something within him stir. Then, he felt it absorb something—not from within himself, but from the surroundings. The ambient mana surged toward him, flooding his core like a relentless tidal wave, turning what was once a dry and barren, desert-like core into a vast and bountiful ocean filled with water.
His core filled to the brim, yet it kept absorbing, spreading the excess mana throughout his body.
He felt it—his body surging with strength unlike anything before. He felt more refreshed and rejuvenated than ever, even compared to his former self before he had begun his "training."
But there was no time to revel in this newfound power. Death was still at his door—but now, he had a lifeline.
He moved, and this time, his body finally kept pace with his sharpened senses. He moved with a speed he had never known. Without hesitation, he activated Prowl, vanishing in his surroundings—his already empowered body now further enhanced by the added boost that comes from the skill.
He dodged the incoming spear and surged forward toward the giant boar, hatchet in hand. Activating Predatory Strike, he attacked without hesitation.
The boar, completely baffled by the sudden turn of events, could only watch—its weakened body unable to react—as the hatchet closed in, inch by inch.
Then, in a gruesome display, an explosion of blood, flesh, and bone burst through the air. The once-imposing head of the boar was no more—obliterated, its remains scattered across the surroundings.
Zamel was caught off guard by the sheer power of his own attack, momentarily losing control of his body. Then he tripped, crashed onto the ground, and rolled in the dirt before colliding into the cave wall with a loud thud, finally coming to a stop.
He let out a deep groan as his senses and body turned back to normal, the strength that once filled him was replaced by exhaustion. Pain flared in places he never knew existed as his head throbbed so intensely it felt like it was breaking.
"Fuckkk, that hurt like my balls being twisted a thousand times" He complained, trying to calm himself and regain some clarity.
Then, he remembered the boar. His eyes snapped toward it, and there it was—completely lifeless. Although he knew he was the reason why it died in the first place, he just couldn't believe "he" was the reason why it died in the first place.
It felt so surreal, as if it should have been impossible, given his precarious state when the boar had caught him off guard.
"Holy shit, I did it!??HOLY SHIT, I REALLY DID IT!! LET'S FUCKING GOOOO!!" he screamed at the top of his lungs, quickly forgetting the dangerous state of his body—until he was painfully reminded of it when a violent cough racked his chest.
"Ahhh, fuck. Oh yeah, I'm completely beaten to a pulp," he chuckled at his situation as he stood up, ignoring his body's screams of protest. He called for Ulfram, only to realize his bond was already beside him, whimpering like a worried puppy over his injuries.
"Oh, there you are, buddy… you good? By the way, thanks for saving my ass back there. I'd probably be wolf shit by now if it weren't for you."
He patted Ulfram to show his appreciation before turning his gaze toward the cave. "Come on, let's head inside. Maybe that old bastard is in there."
Ulfram, however, wasn't eager to let him push forward. The creature clearly wanted him to rest, but after some convincing, it finally relented.
They walked side by side into the cave, darkness creeping in as the sun dipped below the horizon to rest itself.
It was a short walk before they reached the end of the cave. Like what he had expected from a boar's cave, it was disgusting. Every inch of the floor was covered with the boar's waste mixed with food scraps and bones from its unfortunate prey.
Zamel grimaced in revulsion while Ulfram shuddered in disgust; without speaking, they both silently agreed to get out of this stomach-churning place as soon as possible.
Thankfully, Zamel's eyes quickly landed on a cloth identical to the one the old man had given him as a clue. Wasting no time, he grabbed it and rushed out of the cave, pushing his body at its absolute limit, which was now weeping in pain.
Once outside, with the last light of the sun illuminating the surroundings, he realized what he had picked up was actually a bag. Opening it, he peered inside, only to find a dark void staring back at him.
Zamel, fully aware of what the bag was, reached inside of it, weirded out why something as expensive as this was left behind by the Patriarch of Bisdoma.
He then felt something in his hand and quickly grabbed it only to find it was a folded paper. He then eagerly unfolded it, hoping it was a map that would lead him out of this place.
But disappointment settled in as he saw no drawings—only words that he quickly began to read.
"Congratulations, brat. You've passed your first test.
As your reward, I'm giving you a spatial bag that can store up to five tons of items. Inside, you'll find five healing potions to patch yourself up, a full survival outfit, a knife, a firestarter, BBQ spit, cookwares, and other essentials like food, water, clothes, and medicinal herbs.
Now that you've completed your first trial, you shall now go and complete four more tests I've prepared for you. Search through your bag and you'll get another clue the same as before.
Goodluck kid, hope you survive."
With love,
The most awesome and strongest Archduke of Lusyria - Lord Vilfred Bisdoma
:)
Zamel couldn't believe what he had just read. He went over the letter again and again, each word settling like a heavy stone in his chest, growing heavier with every time he finished the letter.
He read the letter one final time, his eyes twitching uncontrollably as reality sets in.
Then, rage erupted within him, burning hot like molten lava. He sucked in a deep breath, clenched his fists, and turned towards the heavens.
"FUCKKKKKKK!!!! FUCK YOU, YOU OLD BASTARD!! I HOPE YOU DIE IN YOUR SLEEP, YOU DIPSHIT!" he screamed, spending the last vestige of his remaining energy before falling to the ground as exhaustion claimed him.
<------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------>
Not far away, hidden behind a tree, an old man radiating overwhelming strength grinned at the sight before him. His laughter rang through the silent night, utterly unbothered by the boy's furious outburst.
"Well done, brat. Rest while you can," Lord Vilfred muttered, his voice laced with dangerous amusement. "Because what's coming next will be far worse than you can imagine."
His eyes gleamed with excitement, eager to see the kind of man the boy would become under the relentless trials he would put him through.