Hades knew nothing about the beast before him.
It stood there, a hulking mass of muscle and fur, its body a little over two meters long. The creature gnawed lazily on a patch of moss, its dirt-brown coat blending with the forest floor. A short tail flicked back and forth, swatting away the flies that dared to land on it. Two pale tusks curved upward from its jaw, sharp and menacing even in the dim light.
Yet more than its size, more than its tusks, it was the weight of its presence that set Hades on edge. His instincts screamed—this was no ordinary hunt.
He had never faced a beast like this. Still, his training as an adventurer whispered guidance into his mind. He already knew where to strike.
The eyes…
Tightening his grip, he studied the branch in his hand. The tip was crude but sharp enough to pierce. Barefoot now, he moved with slow, careful steps, each one placed so the ground would not betray him.
The boar's back was still turned, its attention buried in its meal.
