The next day, their peace shattered. Heavy thuds shook the brush. Two massive Tuskhorns burst onto the path, tusks gleaming.
"Oh, great," JP muttered. "They're like boars but… armored."
"Stay behind me," Lyra said, already drawing her bow.
JP, of course, did not stay behind her. He rammed a Pulse Stake into the dirt, sparks leaping across the soil. One Tuskhorn squealed, stumbling. The other charged him head-on.
"Status, don't fail me now!" JP yelled, grabbing his staff. Electricity surged through it, crackling down the wood as the boar's tusk met his swing. The shock exploded outward, making the beast skid sideways into a tree.
Lyra's arrow pierced the first Tuskhorn's eye, dropping it instantly. The second shook its head, furious, then lunged again. JP, thinking fast, pulled a small crystal pouch and smashed it to the ground. A blinding light burst out.
The boar squealed in panic—straight into Lyra's waiting blade.
Panting, JP Appraised the corpses.
Tuskhorn Hide – Reinforced. Excellent for armor.Tuskhorn Tusks – High alchemy potential. Rare.
His grin spread wide. "Lyra, we're rich!"
She cleaned her blade calmly. "You're alive, that's enough."
JP – Lv. 9 → Lv. 10Skill Gained: Adrenal Surge (I) – Boosts speed and reflexes when HP is below 30%.
JP raised a fist. "I'm basically a shonen protagonist now!"
Lyra sighed. "…And yet you nearly tripped over your own stake."