Chapter 57: Battle with the Tusked Wild Boar (Votes Requested)

[Target Name: Tusked Wild Boar]
[Target Type: Mutant Beast]
[Hunting Level: Level 1]
[Special Abilities: Savage Charge, Sharp Fangs]
[Strength: 3.4]
[Constitution: 4.0]
[Agility: 2.6]
[Mentality: 1.1]
[Weakness: ……]

As Zhang Ran recited his command inwardly, the chip swiftly analyzed the tusked wild boar before him. A flash of silver light flickered across his vision, and a data window appeared before his eyes. On the left side of the window was a 3D image of the wild boar, its weak points specially marked in red, while the right side listed estimated values for its attributes.

“A Level 1 tusked wild boar! Excellent, my progress toward condensing the first evolution point will increase by another one percent!”

A hint of delight crept onto Zhang Ran’s face as he studied the boar’s stats. Compared to confronting a pack of Level 1 mutant beasts, facing a solitary one was undoubtedly easier; it wouldn’t take much effort to dispatch it.

Thinking this, Zhang Ran silently drew the AM41 automatic rifle from his back, crouched down, and took aim, the muzzle trained on the distant wild boar. With the chip’s auxiliary function activated, several possible escape routes for the boar were projected as virtual shadows. Zhang Ran’s mind raced, calculating optimal firing positions and timing to cut off as many of the beast’s avenues of retreat as possible.

Bang!

Once everything was ready, Zhang Ran took a deep breath and squeezed the trigger steadily. An armor-piercing round shot from the barrel, crossing the distance at imperceptible speed, hurtling straight for the boar’s vulnerable right eye.

At the same time, Zhang Ran’s arm jerked ever so slightly, shifting the rifle’s muzzle by a fraction. He squeezed the trigger again, sending another bullet toward the spot where the boar was most likely to flee.

Four shots rang out in quick succession, bullets tearing through the air toward the wild boar. Sensing the incoming threat, the creature did not wait passively for death; instead, it rolled to the side.

Zhang Ran’s first bullet grazed the boar’s body as it dodged, the high-velocity round ripping open its waist in an instant—leaving a wound forty centimeters long and a centimeter deep, blood gushing profusely.

Meanwhile, the other three rounds reached the boar’s side. Two failed to hit their mark, but the third struck home, burying itself in the beast’s abdomen.

Even with a constitution as high as 4 points, the boar couldn’t withstand a Level 2 alloy armor-piercing round. Its bristly steel-like fur and tough hide were easily penetrated. The bullet rampaged into its body, but unlike the frail walking corpses Zhang Ran had previously faced, this wild boar was far more robust. The round only traveled about halfway through its torso before becoming lodged inside, failing to pass completely through.

“What a pity!”

Regret flashed in Zhang Ran’s eyes as he watched the beast. The chip’s targeting assistance, after all, was the product of logic—it could only predict the most likely evasive maneuvers. The wild boar’s dodge had fallen outside the parameters the chip had calculated, allowing it to narrowly escape what should have been a fatal shot.

Huff—huff—

Wounded in the abdomen, the boar raised its head in pain and fury, letting out anguished, wrathful roars. Its eyes burned with murderous intent as it scanned the surroundings, quickly locking onto Zhang Ran.

“It’s spotted me! Time to fight!”

Despite the beast’s murderous glare, Zhang Ran felt no fear; instead, his pulse quickened, a thrill stirring within him.

Boom!

Having identified its target, the tusked wild boar thundered toward Zhang Ran on all fours, its heavy body surprisingly swift thanks to its 2.6 agility. Like a speeding car, it charged at him with relentless momentum.

Zhang Ran would never be foolish enough to meet such force head-on. With a nimble kip-up, he leapt from the ground, stowed his rifle, and, agile as a monkey, dodged swiftly to the side.

Though the boar saw Zhang Ran’s evasive move, it was moving too quickly to change direction in time and barreled past where he’d just been. In that instant, Zhang Ran focused his will, activating the “Blood Plunder” rune in his sea of consciousness.

With the activation, the crimson rune on the first branch of the Tree of Evolution blazed to life. Two blood spikes shot forth simultaneously, like bullets, streaking toward the boar’s eyes.

At such close range, the boar had no way to block the attack—its only recourse was to squeeze its eyelids shut in a futile attempt at protection.

But under the spike’s bullet-like force, the beast’s thick eyelids were as fragile as paper, torn apart instantly. The blood spikes pierced into its eyeballs, bursting them in a spray of milky-white fluid. The spikes drove onward, nearly punching through the boar’s skull.

Breaking through its defenses with a single strike, Zhang Ran didn’t pause. He willed the second effect of Blood Plunder into action. Instantly, the spikes embedded in the beast’s head began ravenously absorbing its blood.

Roars of agony and rage filled the air as the boar thrashed and crashed about blindly, unable to land a blow on Zhang Ran now that it was blinded.

While it rampaged, the blood spikes continued to siphon its life away. The boar’s face withered visibly, caving in grotesquely as blood was drained at a chilling pace.

Within moments, about ten percent of its blood was gone. The massive loss left the boar sluggish and disoriented.

“Beast, die!”

Seeing its movements slow, a fierce light flashed in Zhang Ran’s eyes. He lunged forward, his Level 2 alloy combat knife gleaming with cold light as he slashed it directly at the creature’s neck!