章 14: Chapter 14: Metallic Tusked Suidae

The creatures surrounding the tree were locked in a desperate struggle. Their instincts, honed over generations, screamed at them to flee, just like a thirsty deer wary of a lurking predator by a watering hole. Yet, the thirst could be so strong that the creature might approach the water anyway, taking a chance despite the risk.

Aiden, however, seemed strangely immune to the intoxicating scent. He could sense a strange, buzzing energy in the air, a low hum that resonated with the three flowers. Unlike the other creatures, though, it didn't compel him to approach.

Aiden looked around the tree, and his mind wandered.

'Would hunting the prey drawn here anger the tree?' he thought.

He hadn't eaten or drunk anything in almost two days, except for the tiny Ichor. The tiny long creature that gives him the regeneration ability upon devouring it.

His mind fixated on the idea of eating anything he could find. A flicker of regret crossed his mind for not eating the Three-tailed Monkey. The memories of its surprisingly tough meat and the fleeting moment of satiety it had offered were tantalizing.

His gaze drifted back to the boar, now a mangled mess within the constricting vines. A sickening crunch echoed through the air as the creature's bones gave way under the relentless pressure. Aiden noticed a sticky fluid oozing from the vines, coating the prey in a viscous layer. Some of this fluid dripped onto the ground, leaving behind a glistening sheen. He didn't understand its purpose, but he assumed it somehow benefited the flower or maybe the tree .

Aiden felt no desire to investigate further. The scene itself was enough to send shivers down his spine.

Food, however, was a more pressing concern. Hunger gnawed at him, his body screaming in protest. He could feel his body weakening with each passing moment.

Even his regeneration ability, the one thing that gave him a fighting chance in this strange world, required energy to function. He remembered the slight exhaustion he'd felt when the regeneration ability kicked in after the Three-tailed Monkey's attacked him on the head.

Moreover, Right now, every ounce of strength mattered.

With a deep breath, Aiden steeled himself. He had to hunt something, anything, to stave off his gnawing hunger. Venturing out at night, especially after witnessing the horrifying display of the tree's predatory nature, felt like a gamble with his life. But his empty stomach left him with few options.

He had to survive not just tonight, but for as long as it took to get stronger. He gripped the severed monkey tail in his hand, his only weapon. It was a paltry substitute for a real weapon, but it was all he had

He activated his "Devil's Truth of Misery" ability once more, searching for the creature closest to him. A wave of emotions washed over him, guiding him towards the creature closest to him. He spotted a faint emotional signature on the edge of his perception. In the same direction the boar with the long tusks had emerged.

Without much thought, Aiden moved towards it, leaving the safety – or what little safety it offered – of the majestic tree's domain behind. He walked for a tense three minutes, his senses on high alert, before a rustle in the undergrowth behind him sent a jolt of fear through him.

He spun around, heart hammering against his ribs, to see a sight that both surprised and worried him. It was another boar-like creature, charging towards him at a frightening speed.

'It seems there is a herd of them in this area!

A wary smile tugged at the corner of Aiden's lips. He stood his ground, knowing he couldn't outrun this beast. His only hope was to dodge its attack. He fixed his gaze on the boar's eyes, trying to anticipate its movement.

Just as the boar was about to slam into him, Aiden lunged to the side, the wind of its charge ruffling his clothes. Relief washed over him as he narrowly avoided a potentially fatal collision.

The adrenaline surge from the near miss kept Aiden alert. He couldn't afford to waste time celebrating his dodge. The boar, momentarily stunned by his unexpected agility, skidded to a halt a few feet away, snorting and shaking its massive head. Its eyes, small and red-rimmed in the moonlight, glinted with a primal fury.

Aiden could practically feel the beast's snorting rage in the air.

The boar lowered its head, preparing for another assault. With a guttural roar, it charged, its hooves pounding the soft earth. Aiden, fueled by desperation, leaped to the side just as the boar thundered past. This time, however, the adrenaline rush caused him to misjudge slightly. He landed with a stumble, the boar's massive form clipping his shoulder, sending him sprawling to the ground.

Pain flared through his arm, but he ignored it. Scrambling to his feet, he saw the boar turning, its eyes burning with renewed fury. Time seemed to stretch and compress as Aiden considered his options.

He remembered how the vines had constricted the previous boar's neck, a swift and merciless attack. But how could he possibly replicate that with just the tail? But simply attacking the neck wasn't a clear strategy.

The boar was upon him again, its massive head lowered for the final blow.

Aiden knew he had to act fast. He gripped the severed monkey tail tighter, the rough fur sticky with dried blood.

This time, Aiden didn't dodge. Instead, he rolled to the side, barely slipping out of the way as the tusks ripped through the air where his head had been just a moment before.

The boar skidded past him, its momentum carrying it a few yards before it could turn.

This was his chance. Aiden sprang forward, using the momentum of the boar's missed attack to his advantage. He scrambled onto the creature's back, his legs wrapping around its thick, bristly fur. The boar squealed in surprise, bucking wildly in an attempt to dislodge him.

The ground blurred as the boar thrashed, its tusks snapping at him with terrifying speed. Aiden knew he couldn't hold on for long. This wasn't a horse, its back wasn't meant to be ridden. He needed to act quickly, before he was thrown off and trampled.

Aiden held on with all his might, his grip slipping and sliding on the wet, muscular back. He knew he couldn't hold on for long. Using his free hand, he whipped the monkey tail around the boar's neck, feeling for the thick, pulsating artery beneath the skin.

He recalled the memory in vivid detail, the specific location of the vine's attack. The pulsing artery on the left side of the boar's neck.

With a grunt of effort, he tightened the tail, the coarse fur digging into his palms.

The boar let out a strangled squeal as its breath hitched.

Aiden dug his knees into the boar's broad back, trying to find some leverage. He could feel the powerful muscles straining beneath him, but the grip of the tail held.

The boar went berserk. It thrashed and bucked even more violently, its powerful legs churning the ground. Aiden gritted his teeth, the world turning upside down as the creature tore through the undergrowth. He could feel the pressure of the tail straining against his grip, the coarse fur of the boar burning his skin.

But he couldn't give up. The boar's struggles were slowing, its frantic squeals turning into desperate gasps. Aiden focused all his remaining strength on tightening the tail.

It was a gruesome task, but with each passing second, he could feel the boar's thrashing weaken.

Aiden gritted his teeth, sweat stinging his eyes. He could feel the boar's hot breath against his legs, and smell the musky stench of its fear. The taste of blood, and metallic filled his mouth. It was the boar's blood, trickling down from a gash on its neck caused by the rough hide of the monkey tail.

With one final surge of strength, Aiden squeezed the tail tighter. The boar's struggles finally ceased, its body going limp beneath him. Silence descended, broken only by Aiden's ragged breathing and the pounding of his heart. He sat there for a moment, his body trembling with exertion, before slowly releasing the pressure of the tail.

He didn't dismount immediately. Instead, he waited, listening intently for any sign of life.

[+60 Life Force Gained From Metallic Tusked Suidae lvl 3 (Common)]

Upon seeing the notification, he finally relaxed. The boar was dead.

Aiden slid to the ground, his legs wobbly. Relief flooded him, quickly followed by a wave of nausea. The adrenaline rush that had fueled his fight ebbed away, leaving him drained and shaking.

As he sat there, catching his breath, finally he could satisfy his hunger.

...