The Razor-Horned Boar accelerated instantly.
Its heavy hooves tore deep chunks out of the muddy bank. The raw kinetic energy in its massive body was terrifying. It did not run gracefully; it moved like a runaway boulder covered in iron bristles. It cleared the thirty yards in less than three seconds.
Jin crouched behind the large, moss-covered boulder. He did not move a muscle. He kept his breathing shallow and slow.
Up on the rocky ledge, Ren was still screaming insults, his voice high-pitched and hysterical.
The boar reached the base of the steep incline directly beneath Ren. It did not slow down. Its primitive brain saw the screaming target above and calculated a direct, forceful assault up the slope.
The beast slammed its heavy front hooves into the steep, wet clay bank, attempting to launch its massive weight upward.
It hit the hidden slate rune.
The grey stone instantly absorbed the massive kinetic impact of the boar's charge. The glowing blue symbol flared brilliantly for a fraction of a second. A dense, localized barrier of hardened Aether flashed into existence right in front of the boar's snout.
BANG.
The sound was like a heavy iron hammer striking a brick wall.
The boar hit the invisible barrier at full speed. The kinetic force was instantly redirected back into the beast's own body. The boar's head snapped backward violently. The massive animal let out a high, squealing grunt of pure shock.
The slate rune shattered into grey dust, its energy completely spent. The barrier vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
But the trap had worked perfectly.
The boar's forward momentum was completely broken. Its heavy hooves slipped wildly in the wet clay, scrambling for purchase on the steep bank. For exactly one second, the massive, terrifying predator was completely unbalanced and stationary.
Jin exploded from behind the boulder.
He did not channel his Aether into a wide, powerful swing. A wide swing would glance off the thick, bristly hair on the boar's back.
He drove his Foundation Level 10 Aether directly into his legs. He stepped into the rushing stream, splashing cold water into the air, and lunged straight at the boar's exposed flank.
He gripped his silver falchion with both hands and thrust the heavy blade straight forward like a spear.
He aimed directly for the soft, unarmored spot right behind the boar's front left leg—the exact location of its massive heart.
The sharp silver point punched through the tough grey skin. It slid past the thick ribs and buried itself entirely in the beast's chest cavity. Hot, dark blood erupted from the wound, spraying across Jin's hands and the wet mud.
The boar let out a deafening, agonizing scream.
It did not die instantly. Its massive muscles spasmed violently. It twisted its heavy head, swinging its razor-sharp tusks in a blind, desperate arc aimed right at Jin's waist.
A sharp whistle cut through the air from the opposite bank.
Luna had been waiting. She swung her chain-sickle with brutal precision.
The silver throwing knife blurred across the narrow stream. Luna did not warp space this time. It was a direct, linear throw.
The heavy silver blade struck the boar directly in the right eye.
The knife punched straight through the soft ocular tissue and buried itself deep into the boar's brain.
The beast's massive body jerked once, its heavy legs kicking violently against the mud. Then, the immense physical power completely drained from its muscles. It collapsed heavily onto its side, sliding slightly down the wet clay bank before coming to a stop near the rushing water.
It was dead.
Jin pulled his heavy falchion out of the bloody wound. He took a long step backward, out of the slippery mud, and let out a slow, steady breath.
The tactical plan had executed perfectly. The kinetic rune handled the momentum. Ren provided the distraction. Luna provided the final, fatal blow. It was an efficient, low-risk elimination of a high-value target.
"Five points," Jin announced quietly to the silent ravine.
He knelt next to the massive, black-furred corpse. He used the tip of his sword to dig into the base of the skull, carefully extracting the glowing blue Aether core. It was slightly smaller than the alligator core, but it burned with a strong, dense light. He wiped it clean on a fern and dropped it into his grey pouch.
"Twenty-one points total," Jin calculated. The math was incredibly satisfying. They were rapidly accumulating capital.
Across the stream, Luna jumped down from a low branch. She landed softly on the river stones. She walked over to the dead boar, grabbed the metal chain, and pulled her bloody throwing knife free. She wiped the blade on the boar's thick bristles.
"The water is secure," Luna said, looking at the clear, rushing stream.
Jin nodded. "Fill the skins. We do not stay here long."
Up on the rocky ledge, Ren slowly peeked his head over the edge. He looked down at the massive, dead boar, then looked at Jin and Luna standing casually next to it.
He let out a long, shaky breath and slid down the steep rock face on his backside. He hit the muddy bank at the bottom and stumbled toward the water.
"I thought it was going to run right up the wall," Ren panted, holding his chest. "I thought it was going to gore me."
"It lacked the necessary traction," Jin explained flatly. He unhooked his empty water skin from his belt and knelt by the stream. He submerged the leather bag, letting the cold, clear water rush in. "The physics were entirely on our side."
Ren stared at him. "You bet my life on physics?"
"Physics are highly reliable," Jin replied. He pulled the full water skin out, capped it, and hooked it back onto his belt. He took a long drink from a second skin, feeling the cold liquid soothe his dry throat.
Ren shook his head slowly, muttering something about crazy people under his breath. He knelt next to the stream and frantically cupped the cold water in his hands, splashing it onto his dirty face and drinking deeply.
Jin stood up. He analyzed their surroundings.
The smell of fresh boar blood was strong, mixing with the scent of wet mud. The heavy rain had stopped, replaced by a fine, clinging mist that drifted through the ravine.
"We need to move," Luna said softly, sheathing her clean knife. "The blood will bring the larger predators. Level 8s and 9s."
Jin agreed. They were not equipped to handle a Level 9 apex predator in open combat yet. Their resources were too limited, and their physical stats were still slightly too low for a direct clash of Aether.
"We follow the stream," Jin ordered. "Water eventually leads to a larger basin or a lake. Predators will be spread out there. More opportunities to isolate single targets."
He checked his pocket watch again. They had been on the planet for slightly over twenty-four hours. They had twenty-one points. If they maintained this pace, they would easily break one hundred points by the end of the week.
A score of one hundred was unheard of for freshmen. It would guarantee them the absolute highest tier of Academy resources.
"Ren," Jin said, turning to the boy. "Ten paces."
Ren groaned loudly. He wiped his wet mouth with his sleeve. "Why am I still the bait? The boar is dead!"
"Because you are still the weakest link in this operational unit," Jin answered logically. "And your physical presence naturally draws aggression. It is a highly valuable trait. Utilize it."
Ren grumbled, but he did not argue further. He had seen Jin and Luna systematically execute three massive beasts in a single day. He knew they were his only chance of surviving the week.
He picked up his dull iron dagger, turned around, and began walking carefully along the slippery river stones, exactly ten paces ahead.
Jin fell into step behind him, his dark eyes constantly scanning the thick, mist-covered tree line bordering the rushing stream. The first day was a success. The capital was secured. But the real hunt, the dangerous hunt, was only just beginning.