The first boar staggered away, squealing as blood dripped from its flank. JP's short sword was slick, his grip trembling, but his eyes locked on the other two charging beasts.
"Come on, then," he muttered, backing toward the irrigation ditch.
The second boar barreled forward, faster than he expected. JP yanked his Modified Mana Lamp, twisting the lens again. A spear of light burst out, catching the beast square in the eyes.
It squealed, rearing, momentarily blinded.
JP lunged, his sword scraping across its thick hide. Not deep—but enough to cut.
From the treeline, unseen, Lyra watched. Hood low, eyes narrowed.
He's fighting differently, she thought, her gaze flicking to the strange lamp that glared like a focused sunbeam. That's not standard equipment… What are you hiding, JP?
The second boar stumbled back, but the third didn't falter. With a bellow, it sprinted, tusks low, speed unnaturally quick. The blinded one rallied too, shaking its head and joining the charge.
Two massive bodies, bearing down together.
JP's stomach clenched. "Shit—both at once."
His legs screamed to run, but his mind raced faster. Think. Circuits. Energy flow. Tools.
His hand snapped to the Heated Hide Band. He flexed the strip, the emberstone within flaring. Heat pulsed through his arm, sharp and hot.
Sweat broke across his forehead, but he lifted the glowing arm just as the boars closed in.
The heat shimmer made the air waver. As the beasts rushed, JP thrust the band forward, slashing his short sword across the embers. Sparks flicked, catching resin smoke still clinging to the band's surface.
A sudden flare of light and heat exploded outward.
The boars shrieked, stumbling in confusion at the sudden burst of fire-bright glare.
JP gritted his teeth, seized the moment, and dove aside. The two beasts crashed into each other where he'd been standing, tusks gouging hide.
Rolling to his feet, JP swung his blade down with all his weight, driving the point into the dazed boar's neck. Blood sprayed. The beast convulsed and stilled.
The last one, wounded and stunned, tried to scramble up—only for JP to twist the lamp again, blasting its eyes with another beam.
He charged, sword raised, and brought it down across its throat.
Silence fell over the field.
JP staggered, chest heaving, his arm still throbbing from the heated band. His lamp flickered weakly, the emberstone straining. But the boars were dead.
He had done it—alone.
From the trees, Lyra lowered her hood slightly, her lips pressing into a thin line.
He should've been trampled. That trick with the lamp… and that band. He's inventing things. Crafting tools. That's not how adventurers fight.
For a moment, she considered stepping out, confronting him—but stopped. Her silver eyes glimmered.
No. Let him think I wasn't here. The more he hides, the more I'll learn.
And with that, she melted back into the shadows.
JP dropped to his knees beside the corpses, whispering, "Status."
The board flickered faintly:
Quest Progress: Wild Boar Cull – CompleteEXP Gained: +35Level Up → Level 2
HP: 56 → 62
MP: 22 → 28
Strength +1, Endurance +1, Agility +1
Alchemy Skill Resonance Detected – Improvised Combat Use
Alchemy Lv.2 → Lv.3
JP exhaled shakily, a grin tugging at his lips. Level up. I actually… did it.
But exhaustion tugged at him. He leaned against a carcass, staring at the lamp on his belt.
I can survive in this world. I just have to keep building.