Page 6

Five months later.

Sparse snowflakes were already drifting down over the Bokara Forest.

This signaled the approaching winter in the Anzeta Highlands, as beasts began hunting in packs to prepare for the long, harsh winter.

The forest rustled, with gray silhouettes darting swiftly among the trees.

Prominent muzzles, triangular blue eyes, sharp fangs—all marked them as dire wolves.

One of the apex predators of the dense forest, they were masters of pack-hunting tactics.

Ahead of them, a panicked herd of deer bolted, running for their lives.

The wolf pack remained calm and methodical, the strongest dire wolf at the front letting out a long howl, with the other wolves softly responding.

This pack had over a dozen wolves, working in unison: some drove the deer from behind, others flanked them, while some vanished to gradually form an open trap.

After a chase lasting dozens of minutes, the wolves, expending minimal energy, had cornered the disoriented deer herd at a narrow mountain pass.

Panicked by the wolves’ steady advance, the deer mistook the pass as their escape route, charging into it like clinging to a lifeline.

In the chaos, a few smaller fawns were trampled to death.

Little did they know, this supposed escape was actually a trap.

“Awooo—”

As the deer entered the valley, the wolf king let out an excited howl, and the previously hidden dire wolves appeared at the other end of the valley, completely encircling the herd of over thirty deer within the narrow pass.

The deer, thrown into chaos, scrambled in all directions, only to find themselves surrounded by wolves with hungry, blue eyes.

The wolves, eyes gleaming, eagerly rushed in.

Blood splattered and wails echoed, the valley filled with the stench of blood.

Eventually, the lead buck managed to break through the wolves’ blockade on the other side, leading a dozen deer to safety, leaving behind more than a dozen carcasses.

The wolves had achieved their goal.

The dire wolves rushed forward, tearing into the deer meat, eager to feast before winter’s grip, hoping to survive the brutal northern winter.

Meanwhile, the wolf king chewed on the choicest organs, savoring this hard-earned meal.

A mist began to rise in the valley.

The wolves initially paid it no mind, until the fog thickened, plunging them into a murky haze where they could barely see one another, causing them to grow uneasy.

Mysterious shadows flickered through the fog.

“Crack, crack.”

It was unclear if the sound was wolves crunching deer bones or wolves being bitten.

More chaotic howls echoed through the mist, signaling hunting commands, attack signals, and feeding permissions. To the wolves, it was incomprehensible yet somehow meaningful.

If a learned mage were present, they could easily recognize this as the cantrip 【Prestidigitation】—a spell creating sounds and sensations.

Unfortunately, the beasts didn’t know this, reacting only with instinctual fear of the unknown, some even losing their composure.

“Awoo—”

The wolf king, alert, stood and let out a long howl to call his pack.

The wolves howled in confusion, trying to determine each other’s positions.

But the thick fog blurred their vision, and the cacophony disoriented them, leaving them directionless and unable to gather any useful information.

The wolf king suddenly noticed a strange sound from above.

It whistled like the wind.

Instinctively, it looked up, its pupils reflecting blazing flames.

“Boom—”

[Killed adult male dire wolf, gained 200 XP]

[Killed adult male dire wolf, gained 200 XP]

[Killed adult male dire wolf, gained 200 XP]

[Killed adult female dire wolf, gained 200 XP]

[Killed dire wolf leader, gained 700 XP]

“Big haul, not a single one escaped.”

Cassius blew out a breath of sulfur-scented heat, stretching his wings.

His crimson form glided over the valley, soaring above the forest.

The red dragon, now a terrifying hunter, scanned the creatures below, searching for his next prey. To him, the beasts that most would avoid were merely walking experience packs.

Near a shrub on the ground, a massive boar was rooting through the soil, searching for anything edible.

Juicy fern roots, a hibernating snake, or clumps of earth with special minerals—all could become food for the boar.

This formidable boar stood over two meters tall at the shoulder, resembling a small hill from afar.

Its tusks were like curved blades jutting from its mouth, with thick fat beneath a dense layer of fur, coated in hardened mud accumulated over the years.

Ordinary iron weapons couldn’t penetrate its natural armor; only the most seasoned hunters would dare challenge such a beast.

“Snort, snort.”

The boar sniffed loudly.

It blew out a clump of dirt and continued rooting, finally uncovering a grub of some kind.

The boar eagerly gobbled up this precious source of protein.

Suddenly, it noticed a snake slithering away through the grass nearby.

“Grunt.”

The boar trotted after it.

The snake led the boar toward a cliff.

When the hefty beast, eagerly following, was about to snap it up, the snake vanished.

A shadow loomed overhead.

【Magic Missile】

Several arcane bolts struck the boar’s thick hide, dealing unavoidable, unresistable force damage.

The boar let out a pained howl, then entered a state of berserk rage.

“Beast Rage!”

Its eyes turned red with fury, bristling fur standing on end, as it searched wildly for its attacker, kicking up clouds of dust.

“Huff, huff—”

In this state, the boar’s strength and endurance received a terrifying boost.

More frightening was its newfound fearlessness and tirelessness; countless adventurers had thought it mortally wounded only to be gored by its tusks in its fury.

Yet, this enraged beast scanned its surroundings repeatedly, finding no target or source of attack, leaving it only to vent its overwhelming fury aimlessly.

“Boom!”

“Boom! Boom!”

It rammed the cliff with its massive body, dislodging rocks, gouging the earth, and tearing up trees with its sharp tusks.

Minutes passed.

When the rage finally subsided, the giant beast lay on the ground, exhausted.

The surroundings were a mess, with scattered stones and churned-up soil, the cliff face cracked and battered.

Now calm, the boar idly chewed on grass roots.

“Ignis (Fire Bolt)!”

A flaming arrow shot down, scorching its hide.

A red figure then dove from above, landing on its high back.

“Awoo.”

The boar let out a pitiful wail, too drained to fight back.

It could only allow the red dragon to bite through its spine, swiftly ending its life.

The forest’s once-unmatched ruler perished, humbled.

[Killed adult wild boar, gained 1,100 XP]

[Level up to Level 2]

Tearing through its tough hide and slicing through layers of fat, Cassius exposed the raw flesh beneath.

Not bothering with further heating, he ripped a tenderloin chunk, chewing with satisfaction.

A red dragon’s unique digestive system could process nearly anything. Most of what they consume converts into nutrients for growth, while the rest transforms into elemental energy, with minimal waste.

“Very chewy boar meat, but a bit too tough.”

Blood dripping from his mouth, the red dragon couldn’t help but offer his assessment.