The giant wild boar charged again, its sharp tusks slicing through the air at incredible speed. But Tian was ready. Taking a deep breath, he leapt high into the air, dodging the attack with agility.
"Hmmph!"
Tian landed lightly behind the boar's body, while the beast continued to charge forward uncontrollably—
"KRAACKK!!"
"BUARRR!!"
A large tree ahead of it snapped and fell instantly from the impact. Leaves scattered, and the ground trembled from the collision. Dust rose, casting a tense atmosphere over the scene.
But the wild boar wasn't done yet. With a furious growl, it quickly turned around. Just as it spun—
"Hyaaahh, take this, you damn boar!!"
Tian was already in front of it, lifting a massive stone in his hands, ready to deliver the finishing blow.
"BUSSH!!"
The heavy strike landed squarely on the boar's forehead. A burst of wind swirled around them from the impact, creating shockwaves that rippled through the air. The boar staggered back, nearly falling, but quickly found its footing again, displaying the resilience of a savage beast.
"NGOOOOORKKK!!"
Its angry roar echoed through the forest, shaking the trees and sending the smaller wild boars fleeing into the dark woods in fear.
At the Wheat Fields, about 1 kilometer from the Southern Forest, where Tian was fighting
A farmer bent over inspecting the wheat stalks suddenly froze. He straightened up, squinting toward the south.
"NGOOOOORKKK!!"
That hoarse, terrifying sound echoed from afar—faint but clear enough to send chills down his spine.
"What was that?" a young man asked, staring sharply in the direction of the Southern Forest. He still held a sickle in his hand, though his eyes were now filled with concern.
Nearby, an old man with a long white beard—Mr. Edward—slowly stroked his chin, eyes fixed on the distant treeline.
"Seems like… it came from the southern forest," he muttered, his voice low and serious.
"Damn… could the giant boar be clashing with the Green Wolf pack?" said another villager tensely, his face beginning to pale.
"Eh?! Isn't that dangerous?" Damian, the young man earlier, turned anxiously.
"Huh? What do you mean, Damian?" asked Fredrik nearby, looking confused.
"I mean… what if the giant boar charges toward the village?!" Damian exclaimed, clearly alarmed.
Mr. Edward let out a long sigh and slowly shook his head. "Calm down. Wild boars don't leave the forest, especially during the day. Even when chased by wolves, they'd rather go deeper into the woods."
He continued, "Their eyesight is poor in bright light. Inside the forest, the towering trees block out the sunlight. That's where they feel safe."
Everyone fell silent. A gentle breeze swayed the golden wheat stalks, but the mood grew heavier.
They exchanged glances—faces full of unease hinting at the same thought: today, the Southern Forest... hid something far more dangerous than usual.
Back in the Forest
Tian exhaled, his hands trembling slightly from the last strike. Thin blood trickled from his fingers due to the rough surface of the stone. He wiped it off on the grass, feeling a mix of pride and exhaustion.
"Haah... I guess my punch still wasn't strong enough," he muttered, staring at the wild boar still standing before him, eyes full of resolve. "But don't expect to hit me again."
The wild boar raised its front legs, preparing to charge once more. In a flash, it lunged at Tian. But this time, Tian wasn't going to dodge. With burning spirit, he ran straight at it!
Just as the sharp tusks neared him, Tian leapt high, grabbed one of the giant tusks with his left hand, and stood atop its head!
"HAAAAAHHH!!"
"BOOM!! BOOM!!"
Two crushing punches landed right on the open wound on the Giant Boar's head, causing the massive creature to roar in pain. Its body thrashed violently, refusing to accept that it was being hurt by a mere human on its back.
"Huooh... Huoaaahhh!!" Tian screamed, pouring all his strength into the attack.
But his grip on the huge tusk slipped. He was thrown to the ground, tumbling across roots and rocks. The stone he had held flew far off. Still, Tian quickly rose, blood dripping from his temple.
"Khh... Damn it, just a bit more..." he hissed, panting heavily.
"NGOORRRKK!!"
Without pause, the Giant Boar charged forward again. The earth trembled, leaves lifted by the pressure of its assault.
"Shit… it won't even give me a second to breathe..." Tian gritted his teeth, bracing himself.
He raised both arms and caught the monster's massive tusks head-on. His body was pushed back, dragging long gouges in the earth until he crashed hard into a large tree behind him.
Tian didn't wait. He planted his right foot against the tree trunk and used the force to launch himself back onto the monster's head.
"Haaa... HMPH!!"
In a smooth motion, he landed on the beast's neck, locking his legs tightly around it.
"NGOORRRK!!"
The Giant Boar roared. It thrashed wildly, smashing into tree after tree, trying to throw off the rider clinging to it. But Tian held on, adjusting his position to stay steady.
"You think I'll fall off? Huh?! Not this time!" he shouted, body swaying violently side to side.
BOOM! BOOM!
Tian began hammering the boar's head with both fists. Blow after blow rang out like hammers on iron.
"Khh… With this… IT'S OVER!!"
With a final roar, Tian raised both hands high. A surge of power flowed through his body—then—
"BUAAKKKK!!"
The punch landed squarely between the Giant Boar's eyes. A shockwave erupted instantly. Leaves scattered, the earth quaked, and dust burst into a swirling vortex. The impact echoed loudly, tearing through the forest's silence.
The Giant Boar staggered... then its massive body began to tilt. The once fiery eyes now dimmed. Its breathing grew heavy.
"DOOOMMMM!!"
The colossal body collapsed with a thunderous crash, sending waves of dust in every direction.
Tian stood atop the fallen beast, battered and gasping, heart pounding.
"Ha... ha... ha..."
His gaze turned upward, toward the sky hidden by the thick canopy above. Shafts of sunlight pierced through the leaves, as if offering a gentle embrace after the storm. In his chest, relief blended with pride. The victory was real. The monster would not rise again, it was truly defeated.
Tian looked down at his trembling hands, not just from pain, but from the intensity of the battle. Blood, sweat, and dust coated his skin, like medals of war silently granted by the forest itself.
As the forest slowly returned to silence, he smiled, warmth from the triumph pulsing through his weary body.
"It's finally... finally over," he whispered, almost like a secret to the wind.
He wiped the sweat from his brow, then slowly let himself fall onto the giant boar's back. His body sank into the plush hide, consumed by liberating exhaustion.
For a moment... the world was still.
And in that stillness, Tian closed his eyes letting himself melt into the warmth of victory.