Head-to-Head Showdown

The wild boar "monster" wasn't strong because of its power or speed.

Its strength lay in its uncanny jumping ability and remarkably high endurance.

Even after being stabbed twice by Earth Spike, each time deep into its flesh, it still had an astonishing amount of vitality...

The wild boar "monster" fled toward the outskirts with an awkward gait, leaving a trail of blood behind it!

Ul followed the bloodstains on the ground, but he didn't get too close, in case the "desperate pig" turned around and attacked him in its final moments...

Even though Ul deliberately kept his pace in check, he still caught up to the wild boar "monster" before long.

The prolonged bleeding quickly drained the wild boar "monster" of its strength. At first, it could use short bursts of speed to shake Ul off, but as it lost more and more blood, it inevitably began to slow down.

After all, not every creature in this world could bleed for seven or eight days every month and live.

The more blood it lost, the more unsteady the wild boar "monster" became...

At last!

The wild boar "monster" began to sway on its feet, as if it might collapse at any moment.

Seeing this!

Ul almost made a move several times, but each time he forced himself to hold back.

What if the pig launches a last-ditch attack and injures me?

With that in mind, Ul never made a move. Instead, he cautiously followed behind the boar.

Then!

Half an hour passed just like that!

The wild boar "monster" staggered along for over half an hour, its steps unsteady and its body seeming ready to fall at any moment, yet it never did...

Eventually, even Ul grew impatient!

Just as he could no longer hold back and was about to attack...

Suddenly.

The wild boar, which had seemed so "weak" all this time, darted a sly look around. Then its speed abruptly picked up, and in a flash, it dashed into a small grove ahead.

Ul: "..."

What the hell... Didn't they say animals weren't allowed to become spirits after the founding of the country?

Watching the wild boar "monster" disappear into the grove, Ul's handsome face turned a little green!

What was the world coming to?

Men didn't look like men, and women didn't look like women—that was bad enough.

Now even pigs were starting to act like anything but pigs.

Was there really no sincerity left in this world?

Ul was heartbroken, feeling as if the world had deceived him...

Back when he watched anime, Ul had thought the people in this world were far too naive—so naive that it was almost unbelievable.

But now, even a wild boar was clever enough to nearly fool him. It made him wonder what the powerful figures in this world were really like.

After this incident!

Ul realized that the world had suddenly become dangerous.

His plan to use his superior intelligence to dominate this world had just gone up in smoke.

In the blink of an eye!

He had gone from a "peerlessly talented" transmigrator to a "weak, pitiful, helpless... but very good at eating" one.

That damn boar's to blame. Otherwise, how could I have ended up like this?

Ul, who had not a shred of introspection, decisively pinned the blame on the wild boar "monster."

Maybe people in this world aren't that clever after all. Maybe this pig is just an exception... Ul cursed the boar in his mind, then suddenly thought of another possibility. His expression immediately turned serious.

"It really is a monster. I have to kill it today, or it'll become a serious threat later." Ul's gaze grew resolute.

At first, Ul had been debating whether to enter the grove. After all, although people in this world didn't say "never enter the woods," a forest at night was definitely no place to be.

But now, he had no choice!

The wild boar "monster" was clever, but it couldn't bandage its own wounds like a human. So even if it escaped into the woods, the blood on the ground wouldn't disappear.

Ul followed the blood trail into the woods!

A forest at night was definitely no place to be. At least, that was how Ul felt.

The dark woods were utterly silent, making every little sound seem unnaturally loud...

Ul felt like a startled bird, constantly jumping at the slightest, strangest noises...

If this went on for too long,

Ul even wondered if he might break down before he found the wild boar "monster"!

Fortunately!

That "if" never came to pass.

Ul had only just entered the woods when he reached the end of the blood trail.

Following it with his eyes, Ul soon spotted the wounded wild boar "monster" inside a small cave!

The wild boar "monster" had somehow gotten mud all over itself. Thanks to the mud hardening, the bleeding from its wounds had slowed considerably...

Ul had wanted to try another sneak attack and finish it with a single blow.

But another surprise attack was clearly out of the question. Setting aside the terrain and casting range, the wild boar "monster" was so alert that Ul could hardly hope to avoid detection.

Wild animals had far sharper senses than humans. The only reason Ul's first two sneak attacks had succeeded was that the wild boar "monster" had been far too overconfident.

Now, forget sneaking up on it!

Ul had barely shifted his position in the woods before the wild boar "monster" abruptly raised its head and warily scanned its surroundings several times...

Seeing this!

Ul gave up on the surprise attack and walked out into the open.

The moment it saw Ul, the wild boar "monster" bared its fangs. It slowly rose to its feet, its body tense as one hoof scraped at the ground. A low, rumbling growl came from its throat...

Ul moved forward step by step, keeping a wary eye on the wild boar "monster" as he searched for the farthest distance from which he could cast.

Suddenly, the wild boar "monster" let out a low growl, bared its fearsome tusks, and charged straight at Ul.

"Roar!!!"

The roar did startle Ul, making him hesitate for a second or two longer than usual as he cast.

Fortunately, Ul was quite far from the wild boar "monster," so he finished forming his Magic Circle before it could reach him.

A blue Magic Circle shone before Ul as magic power rapidly gathered within it.

The next moment!

Three drops of water, each like a bullet, burst from the Magic Circle and shot toward the wild boar "monster"...

Basic Water Magic—Water Bullet!