Chapter 58: Unexpected

Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Unexpected

Laila witnessed the scene clearly from her perch in the tree, her eyes flashing with surprise.

Instantly casting three such solid Earth Spikes at once was far beyond what she expected from a Level 9 Mage Apprentice.

"Nice one, Galen!" Hulk couldn’t help but shout during a lull in the fight. Galen’s move had taken a huge amount of pressure off them.

Galen’s Earth Spike Technique had stopped three of the reinforcing boars in their tracks, greatly relieving the pressure on the frontline fighters.

The last boar to charge from the den bypassed its stunned companions, its hate-filled gaze locking onto Galen.

It let out a low snarl, gathered its strength, and charged straight for Galen!

"Watch out for the one that’s charging!" Laila yelled from above.

Galen continued to retreat, creating distance, but thought to himself, ’Bring it on!’

He calmly watched the boar. At the exact moment it reached top speed—

THWIP!

An Earth Spike erupted from the ground at a wicked angle right in its path!

Unable to turn or stop due to its immense momentum, the charging boar slammed throat-first onto the sharp point of the Earth Spike.

It didn’t even have time to squeal before it crashed to the ground. Its limbs twitched a few times, and then it fell still.

[Earth Spike Skill Proficiency +2, Level 2 (8/20)]

’Just as I thought. The neck and throat are its true weak spots.’

The battle on the other side of the field had also reached a fever pitch.

Hulk was solid as a rock, single-handedly holding off the repeated charges of two boars. His movements were simple and efficient—a parry with his Shield, a counter with his Longsword.

Meanwhile, the boar that Belte and Laila were focusing on was covered in wounds, yet it only grew more ferocious.

It flung its head, its hard tusks clashing violently against Belte’s Broadsword. Sparks flew, and the immense force sent Belte stumbling back half a step.

Zoya’s figure hovered at the edge of the battlefield like the most patient of hunters, waiting for the perfect opportunity to land a fatal blow.

Suddenly, a boar, dazed and stumbling back from a blow by Hulk’s Shield, exposed the relatively vulnerable side of its neck directly to Zoya’s view.

Now!

Zoya’s figure emerged from the shadows like a phantom. The two daggers in her hands gleamed with a dark light. With a sickening SHLICK, she plunged them into the arteries on either side of the boar’s neck. Then, with a twist of her wrists, she tore the blades backward.

The boar collapsed, its limbs giving way, before it could even let out a squeal.

A single, lethal strike!

At that moment, the three boars that had been stunned by the Earth Spike Technique recovered.

Seeing their companion’s corpse, they let out furious roars. They bypassed the obstacle and charged toward Galen once more!

The largest of the boars led the charge, its presence terrifying.

Galen employed the same tactic, once again casting his Earth Spike Technique.

THWIP! THWIP! THWIP!

Unfortunately, he couldn’t count on the same good luck and perfect timing every time.

This time, the Earth Spikes failed to strike a throat or inflict a fatal wound.

One of the spikes shot up just beneath the massive boar’s left forehoof as it was about to plant its foot.

"AWOOO!"

The boar’s forehoof was impaled on the Sharp stone spike. The intense pain sent it into a Berserk rage. Instead of stopping, it charged toward Galen with even greater ferocity!

It had completely locked onto the Caster who was causing it so much pain and trouble.

"Watch out!" Laila cried from the tree, loosing three arrows at the crazed boar. But the projectiles either glanced off its thick, tough hide and dorsal spines or were evaded by its frantic thrashing.

In the blink of an eye, the frenzied boar was nearly upon him.

Galen could smell its foul, musky stench and see the savage killing intent gleaming in its bloodshot eyes.

Just then—

"ROAR!!"

A battle cry thundered from the side!

Belte had activated the Warrior’s skill, Roar, just in time, forcing the boar into a momentary stupor.

However, the critical pause lasted only for a second!

Once it recovered, the massive boar was less than ten meters from Galen.

It lowered its head, its body trembling violently as the steel-like spines on its back stood on end!

This was the prelude to a Thorn Burst!

Galen’s expression hardened. He was about to cast an Enhanced Earth Spike Skill to block, regardless of the cost.

But just then, a steel-clad figure moved even faster, planting himself in front of Galen.

It was Hulk! As Zoya had delivered her killing blow, Belte had also let out a roar, plunging his Broadsword into the neck of the last heavily wounded boar and finishing it off.

With their own opponents cleared, the two had seamlessly taken over the last boar Hulk had been holding back, freeing him up.

Hulk had immediately started sprinting toward Galen.

He covered the distance in great strides, slamming his Kite Shield into the ground the instant the boar launched its spines.

"THWACK! THWACK! THWACK! THWACK! THWACK!"

A dense volley of sounds, like hail on a tin roof, rang out.

The immense force of the impact pushed Hulk back half a meter, his feet gouging two deep furrows in the earth.

The boar was now momentarily stunned from using its ability.

This was their chance!

Without hesitation, Galen cast an Earth Spike Technique, aiming for the boar’s throat, which was now close to the ground as its head was lowered. The spike shot up from below!

"AWOOOO—!"

A gut-wrenching squeal echoed across the fields.

This massive boar’s hide was far tougher than the previous ones.

Despite the grievous wound, it didn’t die instantly. Blood gushed from the gash in its throat.

But it could no longer use its Thorn Burst.

The tide of battle seemed to be turning in their favor.

Over on Belte’s side, the last boar was on its last legs, its body covered in sword gashes and arrow wounds.

And on Galen’s side, while the two recovered boars were still fierce, they weren’t particularly large. Their leader, the massive Pig King, was now grievously wounded and had lost its most powerful ranged attack.

He breathed a small sigh of relief. ’At this rate,’ he thought, ’completing this job is just a matter of time.’

However, at that very moment, Bruce’s ears shot up, and he barked a sharp warning toward the Gray Mist Forest to the west.

"Woof! Hesia... I mean, Galen! Something’s coming! There are a lot of them! And they’re fast!"

Hearing Bruce’s warning, both Galen and Hulk felt a chill run down their spines.

Belte, Laila, and Zoya, positioned on the western side of the battlefield, had noticed the disturbance even earlier.

A cacophony of frantic snorts and the thunder of hooves came from the direction of the Gray Mist Forest.

Amidst a cloud of rising dust, another sounder of Thorny Wild Boars burst from the edge of the forest and into view!

One, two... five, six!

A full six of them!

Leading them was a sow of considerable size. While not quite as large as the wounded leader they were fighting, she wasn’t far off. Her tusks were vicious, her dorsal spines erect, and her aura was menacing!