Chapter 57: The Pastoral Pig’s Howl

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: The Pastoral Pig’s Howl

"We’re currently southeast of the boar herd, with Shixi Village behind us. The trapped households are to their north."

"To prevent the boars from charging towards the residences in any direction if startled, and to minimize damage to the farmland, I plan to set the battlefield on the open ground to the west, near the Gray Mist Forest."

"The Land Birds will stay here. Later, we’ll circle around from the south and set up some traps on the designated battlefield."

"I’ll be responsible for tying up two of the three boars on the outside. Belte, you take the remaining one. Any problem with that?"

Belte smiled confidently. "No problem, leave it to me!"

"Laila, find a good position behind the trap zone. Use [Precise Shooting] to prioritize taking down the one Belte is holding.

Zoya, you’re responsible for landing killing blows and providing roaming support. Don’t get fixated on any single one; attack whichever side has an opportunity for a quick kill."

Laila stroked her longbow and replied, "Understood."

Zoya also gave a slight nod.

Finally, Hulk’s gaze fell on Hesia. With a serious expression, he instructed, "Galen, your job is the most critical. You’re responsible for keeping an eye on the boar’s nest in the haystack.

The moment the boars inside are startled and charge out, I need you to use [Earth Spike Technique] to obstruct them. Remember, wait until they start their charge before you act, to throw off their rhythm.

Also, be especially careful. Their [Thorn Burst] typically covers a 30-foot cone-shaped area. Your Earth Spike Technique’s casting range should be about the same, so be sure to maintain a safe distance and guarantee your own safety."

Hesia nodded. "Okay."

’My Earth Spike Technique’s maximum casting distance is probably twenty to thirty meters, while thirty feet is less than ten meters,’ he calculated inwardly.

However, he didn’t explain further. The captain’s cautious reminder was well-intentioned, and he appreciated it.

Hulk continued, "After we take care of these three outside, we’ll deal with the remaining four the same way. I’ll do my best to hold three of them. Galen, when the time comes, see if you can split one off from the group. The rest of you, focus fire and take down the last one quickly."

"The thorns of the Thorny Wild Boars are a huge threat, so we won’t ask the villagers to help dig traps, just in case there’s an accident."

Laila pursed her lips and muttered under her breath, "The villagers were just being polite. If we actually asked them to help fight the boars, I doubt a single one would dare to come near..."

With the plan set, the group immediately got to work.

Thanks to Hesia’s [Earth Spike Technique], which could serve as the piercing element within the traps, they didn’t need to spend time and effort burying sharp wooden or bamboo spikes.

They only needed to quickly dig a few trenches of varying depths in front of the planned battlefield.

These trenches weren’t enough to trap the boars on their own, but they were sufficient to disrupt their charge, causing them to stumble and slow down, turning them into living targets for the Earth Spike Technique and ranged attacks.

The excavated earth was piled up beside the trenches, further increasing the complexity of the terrain. The goal was to discourage the boars from recklessly charging toward the relatively safe ranged positions where Hesia and Laila were stationed.

The morning mist gradually dissipated as golden sunlight began to spill across the land.

Through the team’s efficient coordination, a simple yet effective field of traps began to take shape.

From the distant fields, the contented grunts of the Thorny Wild Boars were still clearly audible.

Hulk took a deep breath. "Move out!"

His heavy Chain Armor clanked dully as he ran, taking the lead to charge the two nearest Thorny Wild Boars, which were contentedly rooting up and eating potatoes.

Startled by the sudden commotion, the two boars immediately raised their heads. Their tusks were still slick with wet mud and chewed-up crop roots, and a low, threatening growl rumbled in their throats.

"Hey! You stupid pigs! Over here!" Hulk slammed the flat of his blade against his Shield, producing a loud "CLANG! CLANG!" and successfully drawing two savage gazes onto himself.

One of the boars, slightly smaller, pawed the ground irritably, then abruptly lowered its center of gravity and shot toward him like a black cannonball! The other hesitated for a moment but quickly followed with its own Charge.

"Belte! The other one!" Hulk roared, then planted his feet firmly and braced his Shield tightly in front of him.

"THUD—!"

With a deafening thud, the boar’s charge slammed squarely into the Shield.

Hulk’s form was like a mountain, unmoving.

A blinding flare of Holy Light suddenly erupted from his sword. He pushed forward with his Shield and, following the momentum, smacked the boar’s head with his Longsword.

[Holy Light Strike]!

The Thorny Wild Boar let out a soft grunt. Though it wasn’t seriously injured, its body was knocked aside.

Immediately after, the second boar charged him head-on. Hulk dealt with it in the same manner, engaging both boars in a struggle.

Belte swung his Broadsword, moving to intercept the boar Hulk had intentionally let past.

"Taste this! [Brute Force Slash]!"

At the same time, an agile figure deftly climbed onto the branch of a nearby large tree. Laila held her breath, concentrating as she drew her longbow to a full moon.

"WHOOSH—"

"THWACK!"

The Sharp Feathered Arrow precisely buried itself in the eye socket of the boar Belte was fighting!

The excruciating pain made the boar let out a shrill, miserable squeal as it thrashed its head around wildly.

"Nice shot!" Belte seized the golden opportunity, his Broadsword whistling through the air as it chopped down, carving a wound so deep the bone was visible on the boar’s neck. Blood instantly gushed out.

Just then—

"RAAWR—!!!"

Several angry roars erupted from the direction of the boar’s nest.

The four Thorny Wild Boars in the nest had clearly been awakened by their comrade’s agonizing squeal.

The leader, a male with the largest body and most menacing tusks, was the first to charge out of the haystack, followed closely by the other three, their eyes red and growls threatening.

"Galen!" Hulk shouted as he forcefully blocked the tusk-goring attack of the other boar with his Shield.

"Got it!" Hesia was completely focused, his Spiritual Power highly concentrated.

The moment the four boars stepped into his calculated range, he made his move.

PFFT! PFFT! PFFT!

Three Earth Spikes, thicker and sharper than before, erupted violently from the soft dirt in almost the same instant!

The thickest of them appeared with pinpoint precision on the lead boar’s charge path, while the other two were aimed directly at the relatively soft underbellies of the two boars behind it.

Hesia’s line of thinking was clear: ’Their backs are protected by hard thorns, so their bellies must be the weak spot!’

The charging lead boar had no time to react and slammed solidly into the hard Earth Spike. The tremendous impact left it dazed, and it staggered to a halt.

However, the other two boars only let out pained squeals as the Earth Spikes violently knocked them onto their sides.

Their underbellies suffered only minor scrapes and were not pierced through.

’Damn it! Are these things’ bellies this tough too?’

This outcome gave Hesia a new appreciation for the defensive capabilities of the Thorny Wild Boars.

But in the eyes of his teammates, this scene looked entirely different.