Chapter 14 - Angry Pig

Jason, the father of the boy who was bitten by a snake, immediately acted when he heard his request. The hunter toured the small village to search for volunteers, and brought back eight men. Most of them adults and hunters and had brought with them their own hunting weapons.

With a speech, he has rehearsed beforehand, Anthony explained to them how his powers have been depleted by the summoning of the miraculous potions, and that he needs their help to replenish it.

As he expected, they believed without a single doubt. They were the same people who witnessed him perform his magical deeds, first hand.

"Now, I require you to hunt me four-footed forest animals. No need to be pressured, but I do want you to try your best." he said, maintaining the serious face and the eye contact.

But there was no need, eagerness were written all over their faces.

When the instructions finished, the men did not waste a single second idling around and each took a different trail to comb the forest in eight different directions.

Anthony breathed heavily after he had seen all of them disappear into the treeline. He was expecting his plan to succeed, but not as smooth.

He was not about to let them do all the work and soon followed after. He took the route where he was able to hunt his first wild hog, hoping it would give him the same luck.

The effects of the change of attire were soon felt in his first steps in the woods. With the boots designed for treading rough terrain, it was as if he was walking in the clouds. His speed improved and his agility, and the portions of the path that slowed him before, became a negligible nuisance.

The experience was a far-cry from when he was wearing his nobleman clothing. Each step was done with difficulty, as the robe that extended past his knees became an obstacle itself. It was the same with the floppy sleeves, which slowed his hand movements. Not to mention the boots that has caused him near slips, being designed for the cobblestone streets of the city.

And that wouldn't be the only improvements.

With just a brief rustling of the leaves that was almost inaudible, he pinpointed the location of his first game of the day. It was hidden by a small tree and the bushes, but he easily spotted the deer through the gaps. The buff have also heightened his senses.

As usual, he used the Spear Throw skill to secure the kill. The spear wheezed past the leaves, and hit the body of the grazing beast. The deer quickly collapsed upon contact, but did not die instantly. Anthony hurried towards the deer and after finding it still breathing, he made the final blow to the head.

A closer look would reveal the full size of the prey. Right off the bat, he was able to hunt a deer, only thirty minutes in, and a decent-sized one at that. He was able to extract 32 kilos of venison, equating to 1,920 Tokens.

Anthony was certain that it was going to be a good hunting day.

In high spirits, he continued onward and having fully adjusted to his outfit, he treaded the forest path even faster.

It didn't take long until he was near where he had found the boar. Once again, he waded into the undergrowth, abandoning the trail.

His father once told him, that while boars are often solitary, their female, and younger counterparts travel in groups. And that they are repetitive animals, regularly taking the same route every day.

Banking on this knowledge, he was hoping to find more wild pigs.

He soon found the exact location where he first saw the boar. The beetroots have all been dug out, indicating that other beasts have finished the meal for the dead boar. And he hoped it was also another wild hog.

He did not notice it before, but another trail, not man-made and rougher, could be seen around the area. And after taking notes of some landmarks, so he would find his way back, he chose to follow it.

The next thing he noticed were the tracks and prints, some old and some fresh, differing in sizes and all indicating a group of animals who routinely take the route.

Suddenly, he halted in his track. He was so focused on his surroundings, that he failed to notice, a small boar had popped out in a clearing about ten meters in front of him.

Oddly, although it had seen him, it remained where it stood, like a deer in the headlight.

He froze and without a single movement, he summoned a throwing spear in his hands. And only moved when he was about to strike.

The boar kept his ground, totally unsuspecting, even when the spear was already in flight. And so, even though it was a basic skill shot, Anthony hit his mark.

The spearhead carved into the small boar's forehead and skewered its brain. It dropped to the ground like a tree cut down.

[You have killed a Wild Boarlet]

[Mastery +15]

Anthony walked towards his price, delighted that everything was going his way.

But he had mistaken it as a solo wanderer. Before he could reach the carcass, he heard a loud squeaking.

He turned to his left and saw another pig, aggressively charging at him. It was not as big as his first boar, nor as small as the boarlet he had just killed. It was something in between, and it was the first prey that fought back.

Fortunately, the buff had quickened his reflexes and he was able to evade the first charge.

The hog slowed down after passing him and turned around for a second round. However, the element of surprise was no more.

[Used 'Piercing Shot']

The beast greeted the spear in flight, multiplying the force of the attack that was already powerful. The throwing spear entered through the head and came out of the abdomen, pinning the hog to the ground and killing it in an instant.

After things calmed down, he realized something as he looked at both dead pigs.

He might have killed a mother and a child.