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.
Across from them—
Angelika stood very still.
Watching Kael.
Thinking hard.
Planning harder.
---
Final Hook
As the tribe began preparing the massive mammoth for transport—
The system suddenly flashed red.
[WARNING: Predator Drawn by Blood Scent]
[Estimated Arrival: Soon]
Kael's eyes narrowed.
The real test…
was coming.