They pushed deeper into the forest and soon encountered another blue monkey.
This time, there was no hesitation.
"Same formation," Arjun said quietly.
Tim disappeared into the trees, and moments later, the sharp screech cut through the air.
The monster burst out of the undergrowth—only to be intercepted immediately.
Raya and Arjun moved together.
Steel clashed against claw. Koushik's bolt pinned the creature's arm to a tree, and a controlled blast from Rohit shattered its footing.
It didn't last long.
The blue monkey collapsed with a final screech.
Raya wiped sweat from his brow. "…That was easier than before."
"Because we're working together now," Divya replied. "Not because the monster got weaker."
They didn't linger.
The forest continued to test them.
Another ambush near a fallen log.
Two more by a narrow stream.
One that tried to strike from above—but Tim spotted it first.
Each battle flowed better than the last. Orders became shorter. Movements became instinctive. Everyone knew their role without being reminded.
Hours passed.
By the time the light filtering through the canopy began to dim, five more monsters lay dead.
A familiar sensation washed over part of the group.
Warmth.
Strength.
Clarity.
[Level Up]
Raya froze as the notification appeared before his eyes. He slowly clenched his fist. "My strength… it increased."
Tim took a light step forward, eyes widening. "My movements feel sharper."
Koushik tested his aim, drawing his bowstring back. "…My focus is better than before."
Rohit checked his breathing, then nodded. "Even my mana flow feels smoother."
Rita stared at her hands, mana circulating more steadily than before.
"I can store more mana now," she said softly.
"And it regenerates faster." She looked up, eyes shining.
"I can use Minor Heal more frequently."
Divya smiled. "That changes everything."
Rita nodded, gripping her staff tightly. "I won't slow anyone down anymore."
"You never did," Divya said firmly with a smile.
Arjun, however, said nothing.
No notification had appeared for him.
He checked his status silently.
Still the same level.
The experience bar is only half-filled
Divya noticed his expression and glanced at her own interface.
"…Same," she said quietly. "We did not level up."
Arjun nodded. "We're already at a higher level. The experience from these monsters isn't enough."
"So you need more?" Raya asked.
"Much more," Arjun replied, eyes scanning the forest ahead. "We need to hunt stronger monsters or hunt in greater quantity."
Divya looked at the others. "Which means we can't let our guard down yet."
The forest rustled softly around them—alive, watching.
Some of them had grown stronger.
But for the team, this was only the warm-up.
They tightened their grips on their weapons and moved forward.
The hunt wasn't over.
After dealing with the last fight, the group gathered around the fallen monster corpses.
"We can't carry all this back now," Raya said, wiping sweat from his brow. "It will slow us down."
Everyone started thinking, then Koushik suddenly suggested, "Then let's hide them"
"Hide them?" Arjun asked.
"More like bury them," Koushik clarified. "We mark the location and retrieve them after the hunt. Monster parts don't rot easily—but we still shouldn't leave them exposed."
Tim was already scanning the surroundings. "There is no movement nearby. We've got a few minutes."
They worked quickly when Koushik asked Rohit to collect some plants with a strong smell.
When asked the reason, Koushik said, "The scent of blood will attract monsters, so if we crush these plants and spread them, it will hide the scent"
They agreed with his suggestion.
Then, using weapons and bare hands, they dug into the soft forest soil, the faint metallic scent of monster blood lingering in the air. One by one, they lowered three monster corpses into the pit and covered them with dirt and fallen leaves. They also crushed the plants and scattered them to cover the scent of blood.
Rohit pressed his boot down firmly. "No scent trail. Most monsters won't notice this."
"Good," Arjun said. "Let's move."
They hadn't gone far when Tim suddenly raised his hand.
Everyone froze.
"…New target," he whispered.
Arjun followed Tim's line of sight.
Ahead, in a small clearing, a massive boar stood among the tall grass. Its hide was dark and thick, but what drew everyone's attention was its tusk.
A single, long tusk made of dull grey metal curved forward from its jaw, faintly reflecting light.
[Iron-Tusk Boar]
Divya inhaled sharply. "That tusk is made of metal…"
"And it's natural," Arjun said quietly. "Which makes it more dangerous."
Raya tightened his grip on his sword. "Looks heavier than the monkeys."
"It's a new monster," Arjun said. " So we don't rush this."
Tim crouched lower. "I don't recognise its movement pattern, it's going to harder hunt than the bule monkeys."
"Lets first observe its movements," Arjun replied.
The group spread out slightly, keeping distance while staying within formation.
The boar snorted, lowering its head as it tore at thick roots and plants with brute force. The metallic tusk scraped against stone, sending sparks flickering briefly in the grass.
Rohit swallowed. "…That thing could skewer someone in one hit."
"And the charge speed will be high," Divya added. "Boars don't hesitate."
Rita hugged her staff tightly. "So… what do we do?"
Arjun watched the creature carefully—how it shifted its weight, how its muscles tensed even while feeding.
"We wait," he said calmly.
The Iron-Tusk Boar lifted its head suddenly, ears twitching.
Everyone held their breath.
"…It's alert," Tim whispered.
Arjun raised a fist.
"Stay quiet," he said. "This hunt will depend on patience."
The forest fell silent once more—broken only by the sound of the boar chewing and the faint scrape of metal against earth.
The Iron-Tusk Boar suddenly lifted its head.
Its ears twitched.
Then it let out a thunderous roar.
From the edge of the clearing, another massive shape emerged—its hide just as thick, its tusk just as long and metallic.
[Iron-Tusk Boar]
The moment their eyes met, both monsters lowered their heads.
No warning.
No hesitation.
With a furious screech, they charged.
The ground shook beneath their hooves as they collided head-on—
CLANG!
Metal slammed into metal.
Sparks exploded outward as their tusks crashed together, scattering through the grass like fireflies. The impact forced both beasts back several steps, tearing deep grooves into the soil.
Raya's eyes widened. "They're fighting each other…"
"Might be a territory dispute," Arjun said calmly.
The boars roared again and charged a second time.
This time, one twisted its head mid-charge, slamming its shoulder into the other's flank. Flesh tore. Blood sprayed across the dirt. The wounded boar shrieked and retaliated, ramming its metal tusk into its rival's neck.
The metallic screech echoed through the forest.
Trees trembled as the beasts crashed into them, snapping branches and uprooting shrubs. Each blow carried raw, brutal force—no skill, no strategy.
Minutes passed.
Their movements slowed.
Foam dripped from their mouths. Their breathing turned ragged. Deep gouges covered their bodies, and the once-shining tusks were scratched and dented.
One boar staggered, legs shaking.
The other swayed, barely standing.
Both were exhausted.
Arjun's eyes narrowed.
"Now," he shouted.
The command cut through the chaos like a blade.
The hunt had begun.