Do you have a strategy?"
Lin En's comment, along with his observant and composed demeanor, indicated a deep understanding between him and his wife.
Selena's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she focused on her husband, curious about his plan.
Lin En smiled and nodded nonchalantly, "I have some ideas."
Selena suggested, "Maybe we could write to Prince Regulos for help…"
She stopped midway, noticing Lin En shaking his head.
Lin En chuckled softly, exuding confidence, "It's just a minor issue, not worth bothering him over."
As he spoke, he looked out the window.
The sky was gathering clouds, and the air grew increasingly humid, making him frown slightly and mutter, "This weather…"
"Rumble!"
The ground had become damp, releasing a refreshing fragrance. Tiny blades of grass peeked out, weaving a green carpet.
The Ironclad Boar King, stunned by the sudden change, looked disbelieving, its limited intelligence unable to fully comprehend the situation.
The Ironclad Boars, while more intelligent compared to lower-level magical beasts, were easily swayed by their instincts, especially in the presence of food.
The night passed like this, with a chilly breeze bringing a dampness to the air.
The guards couldn't help but express their admiration for Lin En's intelligence and strategy, acknowledging that as a level 7 Grand Mage, he had a mind far beyond their own. Although the method he proposed might have seemed simple and brute, after their simulations and tests the previous night, they believed it had great potential.
"Come here!"
"Yes, sir!"
The primary focus was on the younger boars, whose numbers had increased.
Lin En's gaze sharpened, a hint of coldness in his eyes. He knew that these beasts could potentially grow to level 7, although the chances were slim. However, he wasn't going to give them that opportunity.
Then, a series of orderly, forceful footsteps were heard.
"The trap has been prepared overnight, exactly as you instructed. The bottom and sides are reinforced with a mix of iron, water, and mud, and double-layered with steel reinforcement."
The Ironclad Boar King, filled with rage, charged and slammed into the trap, its magic causing some distortion and cracks to appear, revealing the soft earth underneath.
"Make some preparations while there's still light..."
The rural roads had become somewhat muddy and slippery due to the continuous rain the night before.
A pit, as wide as a large bowl and filled with roasted sweet potatoes and matsutake mushrooms, had been dug.
The entire family of Ironclad Boars fell for the trap, tumbling into the deep pit. The sides and bottom were fortified with iron and steel, making it incredibly sturdy. Additionally, Earth magic had been applied, making it difficult for any magical beast below level 7 to escape
In the midst of the rainy season, which was quite normal for the region, the aroma of roasting sweet potatoes and matsutake mushrooms drifted on the breeze from a nearby campfire, causing the Ironclad Boar herd to grow restless.
Several warriors who had accompanied Lin En stood in formation, waiting for his orders.
"Grunt, grunt!"
Lin En issued a few instructions, his voice carrying over the sound of the rain. The droplets fell from the tips of the trees, shimmering like little musical notes.
He raised his voice, calling out commands.
"Good grief, that looks like an Ironclad Boar King close to breaking through to level 6. Good thing we found it in time!"
Soon, the sound of hurried footsteps approached.
The ground collapsed, sending mud flying.
Lin En and Selena climbed to a vantage point to survey the area. The Ironclad Boars lay lazily in the muddy terrain, seemingly basking in the sun to harden their natural armor, unaware of the sweet trap that awaited them.
Fueled by rage, the Boar King went into a frenzy, its body glowing with an earthy sheen. It stomped its feet, causing sharp earth spikes to erupt from the ground.
The trap made a loud impact noise as it absorbed the magical attack. The surface was pitted and uneven, but it held firm against the onslaught of the enraged boar.
Acting swiftly was crucial to minimize the loss to his territory, as these lands were part of his lordship's wealth.
Lin En's gaze swept over the scene...
The most eye-catching was a massive male Ironclad Boar, over four meters tall, with a fierce demeanor and a face marked with scars. Its physique resembled a heavily armored tank, especially notable for the pair of sharp, tusk-like fangs protruding from its mouth, akin to spears.
"Let's go take a look."
...
"Sir!"
Lin En and Selena listened to the sound of rain pattering against the windows of their temporary residence.
After pondering for a moment...
"Proceed as planned."
The level 6 Boar King led the way, tumbling down the slope and into the trap. It started feasting on the sweet potatoes and matsutake mushrooms, munching away. After a few bites and realizing there was no poison, it relaxed, grunted twice to signal the others, and invited them to join in.
The air here was clear and fresh; no binoculars were needed. Lin En and Selena could clearly see a group of Ironclad Boars frolicking, rolling, and playing in the mud, continuously grunting, their tiny tails whirling around, splashing mud everywhere.
The next morning's dawn.
They arrived at a watchtower near the Black Soil Forest.
"Sizzle..."
"Grunt, grunt!"
Lin En nodded calmly, wiping his mouth with a napkin before asking in an unhurried tone, "Is the trap ready?"
Above the trap, dozens of human warriors appeared, wielding longbows charged with arrows infused with fighting spirit. These arrows were mere annoyances to the level 6 Ironclad Boar King, but the primary targets were the younger boars.
Led by the Boar King, they had followed the scent to the location of the trap.
As the sun rose high, everyone was caught off guard by a sudden loud noise.
During breakfast, a guard hurried in to report.
One by one, the boars became like porcupines, pierced by arrows, wailing in pain as they died.
Lin En silently analyzed the situation, "There are eleven Ironclad Boars in total – one at the peak of level 6, two at level 5, three at level 4, and the rest are juveniles. There are more than the civilians reported."
As a level 7 water mage, Lin En was keenly attuned to the movements of moisture in the air.
All this happened in an instant.
Lin En and Selena descended from the watchtower, and he gave instructions to the guards.
Standing up, Lin En changed into a pair of non-slip boots and hurried over with the guards, with Selena following. As a level 5 mage herself, she was not a woman without combat ability or one to hold others back.
The Ironclad Boar King, nearing the status of a higher-level magical beast, was not lacking in intelligence and had realized something was amiss.
"Sir, the Ironclad Boars have gathered, including the Boar King. They're rolling in the mud just outside the Black Soil Forest."
Unbeknownst to them, a powerful surge of water magic was accumulating.
Just as the Ironclad Boar King felt a moment of fatigue and paused to catch its breath, the water elements in the air converged like an army on the rampage.
Suddenly.
A vivid blue water serpent materialized out of nowhere, snapping its jaws around the Boar King's head. The intense surge of water washed away the mud armor the boars prided themselves on, as if encountering their natural nemesis.