Dawn broke over the Titanblood Tribe with a sharp, golden glow.
But today…
the air felt different.
Heavier.
Sharper.
Ready.
Kael stood before twenty selected villagers lined in formation. Their eyes were filled with anticipation — and a little fear.
Behind him, rows of newly crafted weapons rested on a wooden rack.
Today was not training.
Today was proof.
---
The Selection
Kael's voice was calm but firm.
"Step forward when your name is called."
One by one, the chosen stepped ahead:
8 Abyssari women — physically dominant
7 human hunters — experienced but weaker
5 of Dean's warriors — raw but fierce
Dean stood to the side, arms crossed, watching closely.
Angelika held a wooden tablet, already tracking everything.
Elara stood near Kael — silent, proud… but slightly anxious.
---
Weapon Distribution
Kael lifted the first weapon.
Titan War Bow
He handed it to an Abyssari warrior.
"Your strength suits this."
She pulled the string once —
THRUM!
Her eyes flashed with approval.
Next—
Titanblade Short Swords
Reinforced Hide Armor
Standard War Arrows
One by one, Kael equipped all twenty fighters.
The transformation was immediate.
They no longer looked like scattered survivors.
They looked organized.
Dangerous.
---
System Notice
[Combat Unit Formed: Titanblood Hunt Squad – Alpha]
[Estimated Success Rate in Nearby Zone: 78%]
Kael's lips curved slightly.
"Good enough."
---
Angelika's Concern
As the squad prepared, Angelika stepped closer, voice low.
"Kael… this is your first organized hunt."
Her eyes were sharp with worry.
"If something goes wrong, our food chain collapses."
Kael looked forward, calm.
"That's why we win."
She bit her lip slightly — half frustrated, half impressed.
---
Elara's Emotional Moment
Elara suddenly grabbed Kael's arm softly.
"…Come back safely."
For once—
The usually bold Abyssari chief looked vulnerable.
Kael's voice softened a fraction.
"I'm not dying on the first hunt."
Her cheeks warmed faintly.
Angelika noticed.
And her eyes narrowed.
---
Into the Wild
The twenty-man squad moved through the forest in tight formation.
Dean led the front line.
Two Abyssari scouts moved through the trees like shadows.
Angelika's planning had worked perfectly.
Formation: Stable.
Noise: Minimal.
Morale: High.
---
First Target Located
After one hour—
A scout dropped silently beside Kael.
"Beast herd ahead. Medium size."
Kael signaled halt.
He climbed a rock and observed.
Below—
A group of Ironhide Boars grazed heavily.
Large.
Aggressive.
Perfect.
---
Battle Plan
Kael spoke quietly.
"Archers — first strike."
"Frontline — wait for my signal."
Dean grinned slowly.
Finally…
real combat.
---
The First Volley
Kael raised his hand.
Paused.
Then—
DROP.
THWIP—THWIP—THWIP!
Arrows rained down.
Three boars screamed instantly.
Chaos erupted.
---
Close Combat Begins
"NOW!"
Dean charged like a released beast.
ROAR!
His Titanblade flashed—
SLASH!
Blood sprayed across the grass.
The Abyssari women followed with terrifying power.
One of them lifted a struggling boar—
and slammed it down.
Even Kael's eyes flickered slightly.
…Monsters.
---
Kael Enters the Fight
One massive Ironhide Boar broke through the line—
Charging straight at the archers.
Angelika's eyes widened.
"Kael—!"
Too fast.
Too close.
Kael moved.
Smooth.
Precise.
SHING!
His blade flashed once.
The boar slid forward—
then collapsed.
Clean kill.
---
System Explosion
[First Organized Hunt: SUCCESS]
[Village Food Supply: +Major Increase]
[Squad Morale: SURGING]
[Kael Leadership Recognition: Rising]
---
Aftermath
The ground was filled with fallen beasts.
Heavy breathing.
Wide eyes.
Then—
Cheers erupted.
Not wild.
Not chaotic.
Disciplined pride.
Dean walked up to Kael, smirking.
"…You're worth following."
High praise.
Very rare.
---
Emotional Closing
As the team prepared to transport the meat—
Elara quietly moved beside Kael.
Her voice was soft.
"You didn't just save us…"
Her fingers lightly touched his arm.
"…you're changing our fate."
Across the field—
Angelika watched silently.
Her expression unreadable.
But her grip on the planning tablet…
tightened.
Chapter 12: The Mammoth That Shook the Earth
The forest was too quiet.
Even the wind… had stopped.
Kael felt it first — that faint vibration under his feet. Not fear.
Warning.
Dean suddenly froze mid-step.
"…Something big is moving."
Angelika immediately lifted her head, eyes sharp with calculation.
Elara's fingers slowly tightened around her spear.
Then—
BOOOOOM…
The ground trembled.
Once.
Twice.
Then the trees ahead began to shake violently.
---
The First Sight
The forest parted.
And it stepped out.
A massive beast, easily three times the size of an Ironhide Boar.
Thick gray hide.
Towering tusks like curved blades.
Eyes glowing with primitive rage.
Wild Mammoth.
Even the Abyssari warriors stiffened.
One of Dean's men whispered—
"…That thing could crush houses."
---
System Alert
[Danger Detected: Wild Mammoth – Level 5]
[Threat Assessment: HIGH]
[Recommended Action: Strategic Engagement or Retreat]
Angelika immediately stepped close to Kael.
Her voice was urgent but controlled.
"Kael… this is not like the boars."
She pointed quickly.
"Look at its leg mass — its charge will destroy our formation."
For once—
even Elara didn't argue.
---
Dean's Warrior Instinct
Dean cracked his neck slowly, blue eyes burning.
"…We can take it."
But Kael raised his hand.
"No reckless moves."
His gaze was locked on the mammoth.
Calculating.
Measuring.
Planning.
---
Kael's Analysis Mode
In his vision—
The system began scanning.
[Weak Point Identified: Inner knee joint]
[Secondary Weak Point: Eye socket]
[Charge Pattern: Predictable but high impact]
Kael's lips moved slowly.
"…We don't fight its strength."
He looked at the squad.
"We break its balance."
Angelika's eyes widened slightly.
He's adapting fast…
---
Battle Formation
Kael's voice turned sharp.
"Archers — spread wide."
"Abyssari — left flank pressure."
"Dean — with me at the front."
Dean's grin returned.
"…Now this feels right."
---
The Mammoth Charges
The beast suddenly trumpeted—
RAAAAAAAAAA!
And charged.
The earth exploded under its weight.
Angelika shouted—
"LEFT! MOVE LEFT!"
The squad scattered exactly as planned.
The mammoth's charge—
MISSED.
Barely.
Trees shattered behind them.
---
Phase Two: Controlled Attack
"Archers — NOW!"
THWIP! THWIP! THWIP!
Arrows struck the mammoth's hide—
…but most bounced off.
Angelika's heart dropped.
"…Its skin is too thick!"
But Kael's eyes were calm.
"Not the body."
"Eyes and joints only."
---
Abyssari Power Unleashed
Two Abyssari women moved like blurs.
One slammed a heavy spear into the mammoth's knee joint.
THUNK!
The beast staggered slightly.
Dean didn't waste the moment.
He roared and charged forward.
SLASH!
His Titanblade cut deep into the same joint.
Dark blood spilled.
For the first time—
The mammoth screamed in pain.
---
System Update
[Mammoth Mobility Reduced: 18%]
Kael's eyes flashed.
"Good."
---
Critical Moment
But suddenly—
The mammoth went berserk.
Its trunk whipped wildly—
WHOOOOOM!
An Abyssari warrior was thrown back violently.
Elara shouted—
"Kael!"
For the first time—
danger spiked sharply.
---
Kael's Decisive Move
Kael inhaled slowly.
Then—
He activated his growth physics boost.
His muscles tightened.
Speed increased.
Focus sharpened.
He ran straight toward the raging mammoth.
Angelika's voice broke—
"KAEL, DON'T—!"
Too late.
---
The Finishing Strike
Kael jumped onto a fallen rock.
Then—
launched himself upward.
Time slowed.
The mammoth's eye turned toward him.
Too late.
SHIIIIING!
His reinforced blade drove deep—
straight into the eye socket.
The mammoth froze.
Shuddered.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOM!
It collapsed like a falling mountain.
The forest went silent.
---
System Explosion
[First Mammoth Kill Achieved]
[Massive Food Supply Secured]
[Village Prestige: SURGING]
[Kael Combat Rank: Rising Rapidly]
---
Aftermath Emotion
For several seconds—
no one spoke.
Then Dean exhaled slowly.
"…You're insane."
High praise again.
Elara ran forward and grabbed Kael's arm tightly.
Her voice was shaking slightly.
"…Don't do that again."
But her eyes…
were full of something deeper.