The Power of the Boarfolk

But the next instant, their expressions froze!

The Boarfolk Warrior had seized the sword Grand had driven partway into his belly with one hairy hand.

Blood seeped from his palm, but his grip held the blade fast. Grand could not push it another inch.

"Vermin! Die!"

A gray blur of a hammer came crashing down at Grand.

Clang! Sparks flew!

Grand raised his shield just in time, but the force struck sparks from the center of his round iron shield and sent him flying several yards, as though a charging bull had gored him.

Grand's arm was still intact, but he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

He had not managed to pull his sword free. It remained lodged in the Boarfolk Warrior's lower belly.

He had lost his weapon.

What that meant for a warrior needed no explanation.

For Chris and Fabian, the hope that had risen in their hearts collapsed again. Their eyes dimmed, as though they were thinking, Even giving it everything we have, we still can't beat him?

"Snort! No matter how many vermin there are, they're no match for Shattered Tooth!"

As the Boarfolk Warrior spoke, he reached to pull the sword from his belly.

Squelch!

A gray shadow flashed past the three men and drove a spear hard into the Boarfolk Warrior's lower back from behind.

The thrust landed at the very instant the Boarfolk Warrior raised his hand to pull out the sword.

Caught off guard, the Boarfolk Warrior screamed.

His muscles were extraordinarily dense, yet the entire spearhead sank into his lower back.

Rain held the spear.

Ordinarily, Rain's thrust should not have been so powerful.

After firing a Freezing Ray, he had immediately moved the Common Boarfolk Bloodline icon he had just acquired into the third slot and pressed it.

In fact, Rain could have struck sooner.

But the changes the Boarfolk bloodline brought him were substantial.

It had taken him a few extra seconds to adjust.

The bloodline had changed more than Rain's strength—

The muscles between my shoulders and the back of my neck have swollen. My already solid upper body has grown another size, and I feel like I have endless strength...

It had also brought a wealth of smells that startled Rain and left him briefly overwhelmed—

The earthy smell of humus, pine resin, clover nectar, the stench from the Boarfolk Warrior's mouth, the pheromones on his body...

He could distinguish every scent as clearly as layers in a loaf of bread.

Of course, the strongest smell filling his nose was blood!

Rain needed those few extra seconds to get over the dizziness.

In a glance, he also saw three new abilities among his bloodline talents: "Brute Strength lv1," "Thick Hide lv1," and "Keen Scent lv2."

But Rain had no time to examine them.

When Grand went flying and the Boarfolk Warrior began to gloat, Rain knew his chance had come. He drove his spear at the warrior's lower back!

Every bit of power his transformed body possessed went into that thrust.

Not far away.

At the sight, Chris seemed to realize something. He turned sharply to Fabian and Grand and urged them:

"Quick! Use your crossbows!"

"Keep him distracted!"

Rain's close-combat ability far exceeded anything Chris had expected.

One move was enough to tell whether a fighter knew his craft!

The force behind Rain's thrust was beyond any ordinary Apprentice Mage. It might even rival what Chris or Grand could manage at full strength.

How had he failed to notice Rain's strength in close combat before?

But now was not the time to wonder. If Rain was this capable, they still had a chance to turn the fight around!

They had to do something to help.

Even if all they could do was distract the warrior with crossbow bolts.

Rain was only a temporary member of their team, yet he had refused to abandon them and was fighting to the end. Chris felt a sudden surge of gratitude.

The three men raised their crossbows and fired from different angles.

They aimed for the Boarfolk Warrior's remaining eye.

Meanwhile.

At least eight or nine hundred meters away, Leia turned and loosed another arrow, then faced forward and kept running, grumbling to herself.

Why haven't those guys come to help me yet?

Are they really that confident in themselves?

Leia had heard the first Boarfolk's death cry.

From that shriek and the reaction of the second Boarfolk pursuing her, she had been certain her teammates would come to her aid soon.

But nearly two minutes had passed, and no one had appeared.

Then she heard another agonized squeal!

Huh? That sounded different from the first one!

Oh no! Could there be a third Boarfolk? Leia's face went pale.

She was still keeping the Boarfolk at a safe distance behind her, but drawing her bow again and again had left her shoulder aching.

Running while shooting without pause was exhausting.

Even as a prospective Ranger, she was nearing her limit.

"Awooo!"

Leia turned to fire another arrow, then stared in shock. The Boarfolk behind her looked terrified and had begun fleeing into the dense woods beside them.

Huh?

Leia paused for an instant, then understood. She drew an arrow with an unusually thick shaft from her quiver, aimed at the Boarfolk's back, and pulled her bowstring taut.

After charging the shot for nearly two seconds, she unleashed another Aimed Shot!

Whoosh!

The arrow vanished into the Boarfolk's back up to the fletching, which quivered in the air.

Already struck by seven or eight arrows, the Boarfolk finally collapsed with a thud!

It was an Armor-Piercing Arrow. It was costly, but more importantly, it had to be charged to achieve its full armor-piercing effect.

That was why Leia could not fire it while sprinting and had waited until now.

Without stopping to check the fallen Boarfolk, Leia set off at a sprint, her long legs flying and her great bow in hand. Anxiety showed on her face as she raced toward the team's planned ambush site!

"Huff... huff..."

Leia reached the ambush site in moments, her chest heaving.

Then she froze, her beautiful eyes widening.

Before her, Rain drove his spear deep into the neck of a huge Boarfolk with a small flag stuck in his back!