CHAPTER 236: TRAINING XII

The grass suddenly burst open.

A huge boar-like creature stepped into view—thick muscles, dark fur, and sharp tusks that curved upward like blades. Its eyes glowed a deep red, locked onto the group.

Han Yi froze.

"...Nope. Absolutely not. That thing is death with legs."

Mu Chen swallowed hard.

"...It’s big... but maybe it’s slow? Please let it be slow..."

Yue shook her head quickly.

"...It doesn’t look slow at all..."

Lei Feng took a shaky step back.

"...I think it’s staring directly at me. Why me? I didn’t do anything..."

Ling raised her arm slightly, signaling everyone to stay behind her.

"Steady. Don’t make sudden moves. It’s watching us carefully."

The boar snorted, pawing at the ground. Dirt scattered everywhere.

Han Yi whispered sharply,

"...It’s preparing to charge! Ling, why is it preparing to charge?!"

Mu Chen muttered,

"...Because life hates us, Han Yi. Accept it."

Yue’s breath caught.

"...If it charges... what do we do?"

Lei Feng whispered,

"...Pray... and run in a straight line... or zig-zag... or just drop dead now..."

Ling shook her head.

"No running. If we run, it will chase one of us and someone will get hurt. We face it."

Han Yi’s voice cracked.

"...Face it? Face WHAT? That thing is twice my size!"

The boar dug its hooves into the ground.

Then it charged.

The earth shook as it rushed forward.

"MOVE!!" Ling shouted.

They scattered just in time. The boar zoomed past, missing them by inches before skidding around for another charge.

Han Yi screamed,

"WHY IS IT FAST?! IT SHOULDN’T BE FAST!"

Mu Chen grabbed his arm and pulled him aside.

"Stop yelling and focus!"

Yue barely dodged the next sweep of its tusks.

"...It’s too strong... we can’t fight head-on..."

Lei Feng trembled but stood his ground.

"...Then we don’t fight head-on... we use our heads... somehow..."

Ling called out,

"Everyone stay spread out! Don’t bunch up! Look for weaknesses!"

The boar stomped, snorted, and prepared for another charge.

Han Yi raised his shaking hands.

"...Okay, okay... one step at a time... one scream at a time... we can do this..."

The creature launched forward again—

The boar rushed at them again, faster than before.

Ling reacted first.

"Left! Move left!" she shouted.

Everyone jumped out of the way, the boar tearing through the grass where they had just stood.

Han Yi rolled across the ground and popped up coughing.

"...I almost died! Again! This is becoming a bad habit!"

Mu Chen pulled him up by the arm.

"Stay with us! Don’t freeze!"

The boar turned sharply, snorting loud enough to shake the grass around them.

Yue pointed at its legs.

"...Its front leg... the right one... it’s limping a little..."

Ling nodded immediately.

"Good. That’s our opening. We need to make it trip."

Lei Feng’s eyes widened.

"...Trip? Trip THAT? It’s the size of a house!"

"Then we make a bigger trap," Ling said firmly.

The boar charged again, heading straight for Yue this time.

"YUE! MOVE!" Mu Chen yelled.

She jumped aside at the last moment, the boar’s tusk slicing the air where she had been standing.

Han Yi, shaking, grabbed a long fallen branch from the ground.

"...I’m going to do something stupid... but maybe it will work..."

Mu Chen stared.

"What? What are you doing?!"

Han Yi gulped.

"...Helping, hopefully..."

The boar skidded around for another attack.

Ling shouted,

"Spread out again! Don’t let it corner anyone!"

They moved fast.

The boar charged—right toward Han Yi this time.

Han Yi’s eyes went round.

"...WHY ME AGAIN?! WHAT DID I DO?!"

Mu Chen yelled,

"Hold your ground! Or at least pretend to!"

Han Yi planted the stick in the dirt, hands shaking, bracing himself like a tiny wall.

The boar thundered closer.

"JUMP WHEN I SAY!" Ling shouted.

Han Yi screamed back,

"TELL ME WHEN!"

"NOW!"

Han Yi jumped aside at the last second. The boar slammed into the stick, which snapped—but the force slowed it down and pushed its weak leg awkwardly.

It stumbled.

Lei Feng saw the moment and didn’t hesitate. He rushed forward and kicked the boar’s injured leg as hard as he could.

The beast roared, losing balance.

Yue grabbed Han Yi and pulled him farther away.

"Move! It’s falling!"

The boar toppled sideways, hitting the ground with a huge thud, kicking up dirt.

Ling shouted quickly,

"Don’t get close! It’s stunned, not defeated!"

The beast struggled, trying to stand again.

Han Yi collapsed to his knees, panting.

"...I almost died... again... and again... and again..."

Mu Chen patted his back.

"You did good. Stupid, but good."

Yue let out a breath she’d been holding.

"...We actually made it fall..."

Lei Feng nodded, shaking but proud.

"...We worked together... that’s why."

Ling stepped forward slightly, eyes still sharp.

"Stay alert. It’s not finished yet. But now we have a chance."

The boar continued to struggle on the ground.

Their hardest challenge yet wasn’t over—

But for the first time, they were winning.

The ground trembled as the boar thrashed, its hooves ripping up chunks of dirt. Dust billowed around its massive body, and its furious roars echoed across the hills.

Ling’s voice cut through the chaos.

"Circle it! Don’t let it get up!"

They moved—hesitant, tired, terrified—but they moved.

Lei Feng took the left side, Mu Chen the right. Yue stayed behind Ling, ready to react. Han Yi staggered to his feet, wobbling but refusing to run.

"...I’m not dying after doing something heroic," he muttered. "That would be irony... and I hate irony..."

Mu Chen snorted despite the danger.

"Then stay alive. Simple."

The boar pushed against the ground again, dragging its injured leg, trying to stand. Its sheer strength was overwhelming.

Ling narrowed her eyes.

"If it stands, we’re finished. We need to use the slope behind it."

Yue blinked.

"...The slope... gravity... Ling, you want us to push it backward?"

"Not with strength," Ling said. "With timing."

Han Yi stared at her like she was insane.

"...TIMING?! THAT THING WEIGHS MORE THAN A HOUSE!"

She didn’t look away from the thrashing beast.

"That’s why we don’t push it. We make it push itself."

Lei Feng swallowed.

"...Tell us what to do."

Ling pointed sharply.

"Mu Chen—get to its right side and grab its attention. Don’t get too close."

Mu Chen nodded and sprinted, waving his arms.

"HEY! WRINKLE BEAST! OVER HERE!"

The boar’s enraged eyes snapped toward him, nostrils flaring.