Kentru stood before the entrance of the deep forest.
Staring into the darkness stretching between the giant trees.
Raindrops fell slowly.
Cold winds passed through the branches like unknown whispers.
He clenched his fist and whispered to himself:
“Is this the day…?”
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then he raised his gaze toward the depths of the dark forest.
“That voice…
that beast I’ve always been running from…”
He began moving slowly.
One step…
Then another…
While the muddy ground swallowed his feet little by little.
The deeper he went, the more the birds’ voices faded…
And with them, the feeling of safety disappeared.
Suddenly…
Kentru stopped.
Massive tracks were imprinted on the ground.
Shattered trees.
And a heavy scent of blood filled the air.
He approached cautiously and whispered:
“This isn’t a wild rabbit…”
The next instant…
A roar echoed.
The trees shook violently.
Kentru’s body froze for a moment as he saw something massive emerging from the shadows.
A black armored boar.
The size of a small house.
Its long tusks resembled swords.
Steam rose from its nostrils with every breath.
Kentru stepped back unconsciously.
And muttered:
“So…
you’re the one behind that voice.”
Suddenly…
The beast struck the ground with its hoof and charged toward him with terrifying speed.
Kentru’s eyes widened.
“Too fast!”
He barely leaped aside.
But one of the tusks tore through his shoulder.
He crashed hard onto the ground.
He rolled across the mud, gasping.
Pain surged through his entire body.
Then…
He smiled.
A strange, small smile.
“This is better…”
He raised his worn-out knife with a trembling hand and said:
“If you want to eat me…
I’ll make you bleed first.”
Kentru darted between the trees at full speed.
Trying to read the beast’s movements.
While the armored boar chased him wildly.
Shattering rocks and trees in its path.
Kentru leaped over a fallen tree trunk.
And aimed a direct stab toward the beast’s neck.
But…
“Kkkkkk!”
A sharp metallic screech echoed.
The strike stopped as if it had hit solid steel.
Kentru stared in shock.
“Even its skin can’t be pierced?!”
The next moment…
The beast struck him with its armored head.
Kentru’s body flew between the trees like a broken doll.
Before crashing into the ground several times and stopping near a massive rock.
He coughed blood as he tried to rise.
His left arm was shaking violently.
The beast approached slowly this time…
As if enjoying the sight of its prey collapsing.
Kentru lifted his head with difficulty and said in a broken voice:
“So…
this is the real difference between me and the beasts of the deep forest.”
Suddenly…
Voices from the past struck his mind again.
“Useless.”
“He has no magic.”
“A disgrace to the bloodline.”
He gritted his teeth until blood dripped from his mouth.
“No…”
He planted his hand into the ground and rose slowly despite the pain.
His knees trembled.
His breath was uneven.
But his crimson eyes remained fixed on the beast.
“I…
will not die here.”
The armored boar charged again.
But this time…
Kentru did not run.
He planted his feet.
Waited until the beast came within lethal distance.
At the very last moment…
He dropped low and slid beneath its body.
Directing a powerful stab toward its belly.
The knife pierced only a small part of its thick hide.
The beast roared in fury.
Its armored tail swung violently.
“BOOOOM!”
It struck him and sent him flying toward a massive tree.
“GAAAAH!”
Kentru felt as though his bones had shattered completely.
He collapsed for a moment.
Unable to move.
The rain grew heavier…
While the beast slowly approached him.
One step…
Then another…
Kentru lifted his head with difficulty.
His vision was blurry.
But through the pain…
He noticed something.
Whenever the beast moved, a small gap appeared beneath its neck.
An area not fully covered by its armor.
His smile widened despite the blood.
“Found it…”
But before he could move…
The beast charged toward him with immense speed.
Kentru’s eyes widened as he tried to dodge.
But his exhausted body no longer responded as he wished.
The moment the tusk was about to pierce his chest…
Everything stopped.
Slow footsteps echoed through the rain.
Even the beast itself…
Froze.
Kentru’s eyes turned toward the depths of the dark forest.
There…
Between the trees…
Two golden eyes appeared.
Glowing.
Eyes that carried a terrifying primal fear.
The armored boar felt it.
True fear.
As for Kentru…
A cold chill ran through his entire body.
Then…
A deep unknown voice emerged from the darkness.
A voice that made even the rain seem to pause for a moment.
“What is a human child doing…
in my territory?”
To Be Continued…