The boar ran, Ashen did too.
Each time his feet hit the ground, his mind raced faster than his body. He calculated, guessed, and predicted what the boar would do next.
It wasn't hard to figure out. Now that he knew the creature moved purely on violent instinct, all he had to do was find a way to use that nature against it.
Of course, that was easier said than done. The boar was at least three feet taller than him and many times heavier. Its size alone made it terrifying, almost more bull than boar.
Still, no matter how huge it was, it remained a boar. The tusks and pig-like snout made that much clear, even if its monstrous body suggested otherwise.
The beast charged, its heavy steps shaking the ground. Five steps. That was all it needed to reach Ashen.
Ashen suddenly stopped running. His breathing slowed, his mind sharpened, and his grip tightened on his weapons, dagger in his right hand, arrow in his left.
Two more steps. The boar lunged forward with incredible speed.
Ashen turned his body sharply to the side, twisting just as the beast leapt. Timing his movement perfectly, he spun out of its path and slipped by its flank.
As he passed, Ashen thrust the arrow into the boar's side with his left hand.
The arrow pierced halfway into its skin before snapping in two. The broken head remained stuck inside the boar's thick hide, but that wasn't enough to stop it.
With a violent snort, the boar kicked backward like a furious horse.
Its hind leg struck Ashen square in the stomach.
"Ugh!"
He stumbled back four steps, clutching his gut in pain. His face twisted, and for a moment, he thought he might throw up.
"Ya have to endure it, boy!" Gaius shouted from the side. "Let ya adrenaline take control! Let ya primal instinct drive ya to victory!"
'Easy for you to say!' Ashen thought bitterly, struggling to stay on his feet.
The pain was unbearable, but his blood still burned with adrenaline. His body screamed at him to stop, but his mind knew better that if he quit now, he would die.
The boar turned, stomping hard on the dirt, ready to charge again.
This time, Ashen didn't wait.
He ran forward before it could move, swinging his dagger wildly. His attack had no real skill behind it, just desperation and willpower.
But luck was on his side. The blade sliced across the boar's right eye.
The beast let out a horrible sound, somewhere between a scream and a roar. It shook its head violently, thrashing from side to side in pain.
Ashen saw an opening. He didn't hesitate.
He rushed forward, aiming for the underside of the boar, the weak point Gaius had told him about. If he could strike there, this battle would end.
But just before he got close enough, the beast thrashed again. Its tusk grazed his arm, slicing a painful cut across his right hand.
"Damn it!" he hissed through clenched teeth.
Blood trickled down his wrist, but the wound wasn't deep enough to stop him. He forced himself to ignore the pain and stuck to his plan.
Sliding across the ground, Ashen ducked low, low enough to get under the creature's huge body.
He faced upward, clutching his dagger tightly, and slashed from the base of its neck down toward its belly.
The cut was deep, deeper than he'd ever expected.
Just like Gaius said, the underbelly was weak. His blade tore through it like paper. Flesh split open, and blood spilled out in thick waves. Bits of organs and tissue followed, hanging loosely from the gash.
Ashen rolled away quickly to avoid the mess, breathing heavily as the smell of iron filled the air.
The boar let out one last horrible grunt but somehow stayed standing, if only for a few seconds.
Ashen didn't give it the chance to recover.
He jumped onto its back, clinging tightly despite his exhaustion. His arms wrapped around its neck as he raised the dagger once more.
With one last burst of strength, he dragged the blade across its throat.
Blood gushed out, spraying his hands and face. The beast let out a final shudder before collapsing to the ground.
Its massive body fell with a heavy thud, sinking into the pool of its own blood.
For a moment, everything went silent.
Ashen stared down at the motionless beast, his dagger still in hand. His chest heaved up and down, each breath sharp and burning.
"I… I did it!" he gasped, half in disbelief, half in triumph.
But that moment of victory didn't last long.
The pain he had ignored during the fight came rushing back all at once. Every muscle screamed. His arms felt like they were being ripped apart, his legs like they were made of lead.
"Holy fu—
Before he could finish, his body gave out. He fell flat on his back, staring up at the fading sky. His vision blurred as exhaustion took over.
Every part of him hurt. It was as if every nerve in his body was being stretched, twisted, and burned all at once.
Still, a faint smile crept onto his lips. He had survived.
"Ya did it, boy," Gaius said proudly as he walked closer. "Ya slayed a magic beast, and ya did it without using mana."
Ashen blinked up at the old man, barely able to move.
He wanted to ask what a "magic beast" was, but even opening his mouth felt like it would send lightning bolts of pain through his body.
"Rest easy now," Gaius said, kneeling beside him. "The battle took a lot out of ya. Ya will need to recover all that lost strength."
Ashen didn't argue. He couldn't even if he wanted to.
Saying he was tired would be an understatement. His entire body ached like never before. He had never pushed himself this hard in his life.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Still, even in this state, a thought crept into his mind, one filled with curiosity and excitement.
Right, my status. I need to check my progress.
There was no way he hadn't grown stronger. After fighting something that powerful, after surviving something that brutal, there had to be some kind of improvement.
'Status,' he called in his mind, full of expectation.