CHAPTER 63: AN UNWELCOMED SURPRISE

The night was still young, and the forest filled the air with its usual chorus of sounds, the loud chirping of crickets dominating the silence.

A pack of boars rested about thirty meters away, sprawled across a patch of grass that they had clearly claimed as their ground.

In the center were the females and their boarlets curled up together, sound asleep.

Around them, the younger males that were old enough to hold some responsibility kept their heads turning slowly from side to side, their eyes scanning the surroundings in a sluggish but steady rhythm as they maintained watch.

The fully grown adult males were far more imposing, each one standing nearly two meters tall.

They alternated between resting and patrolling, shifting duties to ensure the group stayed protected without burning through their stamina too quickly.

Normally, once the breeding season ended, males would drift off to live on their own, but this group had been pulled together under one unusual force. The boss boar.

Larger than all the others, the boss boar towered above them at a massive two point four meters. Its body carried the weight of dominance and experience, and the long scar running across its left eye was enough proof of its history in countless brutal fights.

Lanz crouched on a thick branch, the bark rough against his hands as he leaned forward and stared toward the herd resting near the lake where he had first spotted them earlier in the day.

From this vantage point, he had a clear view of the area, and even though the forest sounds were relentless, the boars themselves were quiet, their heavy bodies sunk into the grass as though nothing in the world dared disturb them.

He shifted his weight carefully, springing from one tree limb to another with controlled movement, repeating the action until he found himself only a few meters away from the outer edge of the group.

He lowered himself again, settling into a crouch, keeping his breathing steady as he adjusted his footing.

His eyes narrowed as he began to count them one by one, his lips barely moving while the numbers rolled through his head.

Each nod of his chin kept track of the tally, his focus sharp even when the forest tried to pull his attention away with the endless chirping of crickets and the distant croaking of frogs by the lake.

"Thirteen males, seven females, and three boarlets," he muttered under his breath once the total was confirmed.

The words carried no weight of intimidation, only a flat, dismissive tone that betrayed how underwhelmed he felt by the result. "Seems easy enough."

With that, he called forth his blade, the steel forming into his grip.

His stance shifted immediately, his body lowering slightly while his muscles tightened in preparation.

Both hands tightened around the hilt, his shoulders loosening in a controlled manner, and his eyes stayed locked on the massive boar that stood apart from the rest.

The faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth betrayed the confidence brewing in his head, even if the herd in front of him could trample him into the dirt if he made a mistake.

But then, from the corner of his eye, Lanz noticed the sudden tremor of a nearby bush.

His gaze locked onto the movement, his brows drawing tight.

"The f*ck..." he whispered under his breath, his voice barely louder than the sound of his own breathing.

The answer to that question revealed itself immediately.

A low growl broke through the quiet, followed by the steady emergence of several gray shapes pushing through the undergrowth.

One by one, wolves stepped out from the cover of the foliage, their bodies tense, their teeth exposed, and their eyes carrying the sharp intent of predators that had already chosen their targets.

The first to notice the intruders were the boar males positioned in the direction the wolves emerged from.

Their heads snapped up, their muscles tightening as the sound of danger triggered them into alertness.

The largest of the guards raised its head and released a shriek that split through the forest, its throat tearing out a horrible noise that was so sharp and grating it felt almost physical.

"SKRREEEEHHHRRHH—!!"

The call was raw, filled with warning and fury, sounding out far enough to reach even the resting cubs.

The herd stirred, smaller bodies shifting nervously while the protective ring of males immediately shifted formation to stand closer around them.

The sudden tension rolled through the air, thick enough that it forced every other sound of the forest into silence.

The wolves did not hesitate.

Their growling continued as they stepped into full view, their bodies lean but muscular, built for speed and coordinated assault.

Their eyes glowed faintly under the pale light filtering through the treetops, each one trained on the boars in front of them.

The forest floor vibrated with each low, rumbling snarl, carrying the weight of predators who were not testing boundaries but openly announcing their intention.

Then came the one that made even the boss boar pause.

From behind the pack, another form pushed through the bushes, moving with the kind of confidence that only came from absolute dominance.

This wolf was enormous, towering over the rest at nearly two and a half meters in height, its steps deliberate, its shoulders rolling with power that needed no exaggeration.

Its fur was pitch black, darker than the night around it, and every small shift of its body revealed the scars of past battles hidden beneath the thick coat.

When it finally stood in full view, the entire pack fell into formation behind it, their growling lowering into something more controlled, their posture tightening, waiting for a signal.

The black wolf raised its head slowly, its nostrils flaring as it drew in the scent of the boars, then exhaled a long rumble that carried through the trees.

The sound alone was enough to unsettle the younger males in the herd, their hooves shifting against the dirt as they struggled to hold their ground.

The standoff had only just begun, yet the outcome was already brewing tension in the air.

The boars tightened their ring, the females shifting the cubs even closer together, while the wolves spread themselves wide enough to surround without breaking cohesion.

The forest seemed to hold its breath, the rustle of leaves stilled, the chirping of insects cut off, and the faint sound of the lake in the background suddenly muted under the weight of what was about to unfold.

End of Chapter 63.

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ALT SYSTEM — USER PROFILE: ZERO

Level: 15

EXP: 39 / 150

Next Reward: Quick Sever

Global System Tracking: DISABLED

World Rank Association: UNLINKED

Stats:

STR: 20 | AGI: 10 (Affinity) | VIT: 5 | DEX: 5 | INT: 17 | WIS: 5

[Available Stat Points: 0]

[Derived Stat — MANA: 90 / 90]

Skills:

[Crimson Slash Lv. 1]

[Phantom Stride Lv. 2]

[Instinctive Blade Lv.1]

[Predictive Guard Lv.1]

[Skill Fusion Menu: Active]

[Dev Tree: Tier 0 Access Granted]

[Developer Node – Fusion Core Anchor: Active]

[Skill Slot Available — Unassigned]

Equipment:

Aged Blade Fragment (??? Rarity) (Bound)

Training Ring (+1 VIT)

Bag :)

Ring of Genorya - ???