The group trudged through the snow for a few more hours, their breath visible in the crisp, icy air.

The forest was eerily silent, save for the crunch of snow underfoot and the occasional snap of a distant branch.

Finally, they reached the hunting grounds of the Four-Armed Boars by early noon.

Sokram’s sharp eyes scanned the terrain, noting the myriad of tracks crisscrossing the snow.

He wasn’t just looking for any trail; he was searching for something specific, something that would also help him later.

“Hey, lizard,” Kazzah sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. “Found anything worth hunting yet, or are you just playing in the snow?”

Sokram didn’t rise to the bait.

He crouched low, brushing aside a layer of snow to reveal a set of deep, fresh tracks. “East,” he said calmly, his tone cutting through the cold air. “A few small groups heading there. Easy prey, if you’re up for it, pup.”

“Alright, lead us to the smallest or weakest group, or any that might be wandering alone,” Kazzah ordered, clearly irritated by Sokram’s sharp yet subtle comeback.

Sokram nodded and led the group across the snowy plains.

It didn’t take long for them to spot their prey, two male boars not far ahead.

The boars were carelessly feasting on the remains of a moose-like beast, its carcass nearly unrecognizable.

Sokram looked back at Kazzah. “These are Tier 3. They’re the weakest around.”

The boars were monstrous, three meters tall, their hulking frames reminiscent of black bears but far more menacing.

Their fur, coarse and matted, bristled like a mohawk along their pig-like heads. Four tusks jutted from their snouts and mandibles, curved and jagged, glinting in the pale sunlight.

Their eyes, small and bloodshot, darted wildly as they feasted, their claws tearing into the carcass with brutal efficiency.

The stench of blood and rot hung heavy in the air, a grim reminder of the beasts’ ferocity.

They crouched on thick, muscular hind legs akin to those of a horse, while their two pairs of arms were as robust as tree trunks, each ending in three-fingered hands tipped with razor-sharp claws.

To many, it was a nightmarish sight. But to the group of young hunters, it was the promise of a feast, provided they managed to hunt more than just the required quota.

After concealing their mounts, Kazzah began formulating a strategy. “Good work, Lizard. Guys, we’ll split into three groups. Kiana and Tim will be the vanguards. Nora and I will support Tim. Kan and Lara will back up Kiana. Savannah, you heal. The rest of you, try to be useful and don’t get in our way.”

“That’s it?” Sokram asked, genuinely surprised by the poor planning. It wasn’t meant as mockery; it was simply an automatic response.

“Do you have a better plan, Lizard?” Kazzah turned to him with an annoyed expression.

“Yeah. I think anyone can form a better plan. These boars are notorious for charging at their foes randomly. And while I don’t doubt the strength of our shields, the monsters have two to three levels of combat power above them. You’ll exhaust them or get them killed before even taking down the first boar.” Sokram spoke matter-of-factly.

“Oh, so now you’re the expert, Lizard?” Kazzah scoffed, arms crossed. “Go on, enlighten us.”

Having Sokram point out obvious flaws in his plan only damaged his pride even more.

Sokram’s voice was calm but commanding. “The berserkers should lead. They thrive on pain and rage. The more they endure, the stronger they get. That takes pressure off Savannah’s healing, and I’ll back her up with my healing spells to keep Lara and Nora in the fight. The tanks can provide support if needed, but their main job is to keep the boars distracted."

"You and Kan,” Sokram turned to Kazzah, “focus on dealing damage. Stay mobile, and don’t let them pin you down. Lucy, aim for their weak points: joints, eyes, and tendons. Slow them down, and they won’t escape. Amber and I will use fire. Even if male boars are resistant to magic, the heat and smoke will disorient them. The smell of their own burning flesh will drive them into a frenzy, making them easier to control.

That’s just the basics. But tell me, captain, is this good enough of a plan?”

Kazzah was taken aback, struggling to find words to refute Sokram while kicking himself for not thinking of it first.

How did Sokram know so much about boars?

The answer was simple: boar meat was his favorite meal.

Even in his past timeline, he hunted boar-like beasts to sample their meat. It was one of the things he missed most about his birth planet. After reaching the Realm of the Kings, he had even attempted to smuggle a few into his realm, only to find that the realm birthed them for him instead.

Seeing Kazzah hesitate, Savannah took charge. “We have our plan, guys. Let’s go. Lara and Nora, take the lead. Tim, you’re with Nora. Kiana, you’re with Lara. Let’s move before they finish their meal.”

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Kazzah clenched his fists, the urge to argue burning in his chest. 'I should’ve come up with a better plan. I know I could’ve.'

But the moment had passed.

Savannah had already set the group in motion, leaving him no choice but to follow, his pride stung by her decision to trust Sokram over him.

Lara and Nora moved like snow lions stalking their prey, their boots barely crunching the snow as they closed in.

Their weapons gleamed in the pale sunlight, poised for the kill.

In perfect sync, they struck.

Lara’s war hammer swung toward one boar’s skull, Nora’s axe aimed at the other’s neck.

The war hammer landed with a sickening thud, the impact reverberating through Lara’s arms.

The boar’s head snapped to the side, but its thick skull absorbed much of the blow.

Nora’s axe bit into the second boar’s neck, but the beast’s wiry bristles and tough hide turned what should have been a killing strike into a shallow wound.

The creatures screeched in pain, their beady eyes widening in shock before narrowing into red-slitted fury.

They turned, massive claws scraping the earth as they prepared to charge, their tusks gleaming like daggers.

Sokram had anticipated this.

Just as the boars lunged forward, the earth beneath them shifted and surged upward, sending them sprawling to the ground.

The group, momentarily stunned, turned to Sokram, who stood with a hand half-raised, his expression calm.

Amber, her trained senses honed to detect spellcasting, hadn't noticed even a whisper of his magic until the mana surged outward, making her raise an eyebrow.

Kan didn’t waste the opening.

He darted around the boar Lara attacked, wanting to stay close to Kiana. His blades flashing as he targeted its joints, aiming to sever the tendons and causing the beast to roar in pain, its movements growing sluggish.

Kazzah followed with a mighty cleave, attacking the other boar, his weapon sinking into the other boar’s upper right leg, failing to sever it but leaving a bone-deep cut.

But the creatures were resilient.

With a furious snarl, they forced themselves up, retaliating with massive clawed arms that swiped through the air like axes.

Nora barely managed to duck under the wild swing, feeling the displaced air rush past her cheek, and quickly raised her battle axe just in time to block the boar’s second arm, but the sheer force of the blow made her arms go numb.

But as Berserkers, even as blood trickled from minor wounds, neither she nor Lara faltered; pain and rage empowered their will and enhanced their strength as they continued their assault.

Pairing and countering with heavy swings, their two-handed weapons sliced through the air.

Blood sprayed, but the boars’ thick hides absorbed much of the damage.

Lara gritted her teeth as a claw grazed her arm, but she barely felt the sting under the rush of rage and adrenaline; the only self-preservation thought she had was on protecting her vitals.

Nora mirrored her determination, her movements sharp yet erratic and unpredictable, but never faltering despite the growing bruises on her shoulders; such was the power of the berserkers.

The battle escalated.

The boars, now in a frenzy, attacked indiscriminately, forcing the group into defensive maneuvers.

Sokram, preoccupied with healing Nora, found himself unable to replicate his earlier tactic.

This left the boars unchecked as they charged.

One targeted Nora, and the other barreled toward Kan.

Kan, a blade dancer, slipped past the charge with effortless grace, his footwork precise, spinning his body as he moved out of reach.

But Lara wasn’t as fortunate.

The boar closed the distance in seconds, its tusks gleaming like daggers. Just as it was about to trample her, the ground erupted in a stone wall, reinforced by a shimmering water barrier that froze instantly into ice.

The boar slammed into it; the impact crushed the weak and improvised wall to pieces.

It wasn’t enough to stop the beast, but it bought Nora precious seconds to roll out of harm’s way.

With their original targets out of reach, the boars redirected their aggression toward the support team.

One, its left eye punctured by an arrow, roared in unbridled rage and turned on Lucy.

The other, foam dripping from its mouth, charged toward Savannah.

“Lucy!” Timothy’s voice cracked with fear as the boar swung its massive arm at her.

"Peng!"

A resounding impact echoed as a Mana Shield materialized around Lucy just in time.

She turned, wide-eyed, to see Sokram with one hand raised toward her, his other hand extended toward Savannah, who was also enveloped in a protective barrier.

Without hesitation, Sokram hurled a flurry of fireballs at the boar attacking Lucy.

The explosion was startling, the flames licking at the beast’s hide.

It roared in pain, its attention now aimed at Sokram.

A few more fireballs struck the second boar near Savannah, the blast forcing it to stagger back.

Both boars turned their fury on Sokram, their eyes locking onto him with murderous intent.

They charged, their massive bodies shaking the ground with each thunderous step.

Just as they were about to crush him between them...

‘Force Step!’

He vanished in a blur.

The beasts, unable to halt their momentum, collided with a sickening crunch, their tusks piercing one another.

Their pained screeches split the air as they stumbled backward with deep wounds bleeding.

Regaining their footing, the beasts locked onto Sokram once more, their hatred now singularly focused.

He stood motionless, purposefully baiting them away from Lucy and Savannah.

When they charged again, their movements were slower but no less deadly.

Sokram was ready.

He waited, his stance calm and calculated, until the boars built enough momentum.

Then, with a subtle flick of his wrist, he used Elemental Manipulation on the terrain, elevating the ground just enough to send the beasts tumbling. They rolled uncontrollably, their massive bodies crashing toward his waiting allies.

“Nice one, little brother!” Kan shouted as the team surged in unison, weapons flashing.

Amber stood frozen, her heart pounding as the realization hit her. Instantaneous casting.

She had read about it, but seeing it in action was something else entirely. ‘Truly fascinating,’ she thought, her gaze lingering on Sokram with newfound curiosity.

Lara and Lucy exchanged glances, their eyes wide with a mix of awe and gratitude.

Savannah’s lips curved into a faint smile, her earlier skepticism replaced by newfound respect.

Sokram had not only saved their lives, but he had proven himself in a way no words could.

While the fighters overwhelmed the downed boars with a relentless flurry of attacks, Sokram regrouped with the support team.

Fireballs streaked across the battlefield.

Amber finally joined in, her firebolts adding to the onslaught.

The boars roared in defiance, but their movements grew sluggish as their strength faded under the relentless assault.

Just as the support team settled into their formation, Sokram noticed a shift on the battlefield.

Kazzah and Timothy had redirected their focus to Lara’s boar, attempting to exploit its weaknesses rather than keeping the other boar pinned.

The change in strategy left an opening.

The enraged beast, now solely under Nora's unstoppable flurry of attacks, sensing its chance, pushed itself upright with a guttural roar and lunged at Kazzah, who had turned his back at the beast, its massive claws slashing through the air.

Luckily, Kazzah managed to block using his greatsword.

Still, the blow had enough power to send him stumbling back several steps with his guard completely open.