Three Magic Pets!
The Star Worm unleashed "Blazing Light" to achieve temporary blindness. At the same time, the Lotus Leaf Frog's loud croak masked the sound of the Lantern Firefly's approach to the boar. Then, the Lantern Firefly delivered the final blow.
The boar's vision and hearing were both impaired, allowing for the Lantern Firefly's lethal strike; otherwise, even if the Lantern Firefly successfully got close to the boar and unleashed the True Red Thorn, it couldn't guarantee that the boar wouldn't launch a deadly counterattack in its dying throes—a "Steel Needle Burst" that could grievously wound the Lantern Firefly.
Now, the battle plan was advancing perfectly, everything proceeding just as speculated.
A "Water Arrow" shot from the bushes, striking one of the juvenile Steel Teeth Pigs and sending it flying.
This was the Lotus Leaf Frog launching "Water Arrow."
Its movement speed was much slower than that of the Lantern Firefly or the Star Worm, and it made more noise. Therefore, Char did not dare let it get too close, lest it spook the prey.
Only after the battle erupted did the Lotus Leaf Frog unleash its full capabilities, hopping forward at full speed.
Under the siege of the three Magic Pets, led by Lantern Firefly, Steel Teeth Pigs fell one by one. The sow's cries turned from initial anger to utter woe but were powerless to change anything.
Just as the battle was about to come to a close, Char was preparing to jump down from the tree.
Suddenly, the sow, which had been stabbed several times by the Lantern Firefly and was now grievously injured and weakened, seemed to burst forth with strength again.
It let out a roar filled with hate, discarding Lantern Firefly and turning towards Char, its mouth gleaming with long, tusk-like fangs that shone metallic in the moonlight. This cold gleam was then reflected in the red light of the Lantern Firefly's lantern.
'Not good!'
Char instinctively felt something was amiss and, without thinking, dodged behind a large tree. A loud noise followed, and he felt the tree shake violently before he stumbled to the ground.
Lantern Firefly, Star Worm, and Lotus Leaf Frog all made sounds of concern.
The speed of the crossing blade lights bursting from the sow's fangs was too fast, arriving in an instant where Char had just been standing.
Not only had Char barely managed to react, but they also didn't have enough time to intervene.
On the ground, Char was drenched in a cold sweat.
If he hadn't moved behind the tree in time, and if the tree hadn't been so thick, he might have been dismembered by now.
In his past life, when had he ever experienced such danger and excitement? That moment of life and death had been instantaneous; had he been a moment slower, the tree a bit thinner, or if he hadn't mastered "Universal Arrow Skill" and become a Level 2 archer, remaining as clumsy as before, he would have been dead now.
'The otherworldly realm is truly too dangerous!'
Char touched his heart, and only now did he feel it return to its rightful place.
Yet even so, his heart still raced.
Above ground, seeing that Char was unharmed, Lantern Firefly breathed a sigh of relief, but then the lantern it was holding flared up with anger, and the True Red Thorn on its back swelled in size.
Light flew by, and Lantern Firefly thrust its sword towards the sow's eyes.
But faster than Lantern Firefly was the Star Worm.
With the fall of a star, the Star Worm exerted all its strength, slamming down hard on the sow's snout before being flung away, tumbling like a gemstone on the ground, rolling several times in the grass.
The sow screamed in pain, but it was too weak, near the end of its strength — so even the agonized screams turned into grunts. And when the glimmering light faded, and the crimson Stabbing Sword pierced the sow's eye socket, even those grunts came to an abrupt end.
By the time Char arrived, all the Steel Teeth Pigs had been slain.
The Star Worm took flight from his shoulder, dancing in front of him like a bright star—it had just fiercely bumped into the sow's snout before flying back up, immediately returning to Char's side to check on his condition.
Since it had ascertained that Char was alright, the Star Worm's attention had already shifted to the carcasses of the Steel Teeth Pigs.
But it didn't absorb the magic power from the pig carcasses without asking, flying to the corpses and then back to Char, starting to dance in front of him.
Despite being unable to speak, show facial expressions, or even make hand gestures due to its lack of hands and feet, astoundingly, Char could detect an element of flattery, even fawning, in its dance.
He couldn't help but chuckle and agreed to the Star Worm's request with a smile.
Although unsure of the Star Worm's upper limits, Char couldn't really stand in the way of its advancement if it could level up by absorbing the power from demon beast carcasses, could he?
Before being tossed into the river to mislead the boar and the sow, all the Steel Teeth Piglets had been thoroughly drained by the Star Worm, so not all of it went to waste.
With Char's nod of approval, the Star Worm once again emitted a wind chime-like joyful hum, flying to one of the Steel Teeth Piglets like a twinkling star ringing in the night.
Steel-colored specks appeared on the surface of the body, slowly flowing into the Star Worm's body, which flickered like a charging indicator light, alternating between light and dark.
It wasn't long before the Star Worm had finished absorbing the power from that piglet and flew onto another.
The Star Worm was the type that preferred to save the best for last.
It did the same with food, liking to eat those of lower quality and taste first, and saving the highest quality, tastiest bits for the end.
This time, it started by absorbing the power from the piglet carcasses, choosing them first.
Char waited quietly on the side, constantly focusing on the Star Worm's panel, silently hoping it would take a step further and raise its Challenge Level to 1.
If that were the case, he could possess one magic pet with a Challenge Level of 2 and two with a Challenge Level of 1.
Lantern Firefly, like a loyal warrior, stood guard on the side. The Lotus Leaf Frog simply squatted nearby, occasionally flicking out its tongue to catch a bug or two for a taste.
Char watched as the Star Worm's attributes began to change, but to his disappointment, even after the Star Worm had absorbed the power from the Steel Teeth Boar, its Challenge Level had not risen to 1, but rather remained at 3/4.
'3/4 Level? Is there even such a level?'
Looking at the Star Worm's panel, Char couldn't help but think. Until now, he had no idea that there was such a level in the DND world view.
[Star Worm]
[Attributes]: Strength 7, Defense 26, Agility 18, Constitution 11, Intelligence 10, Perception 13
[Life Value]: 176/176
[Magic Power]: 31/31
[Skills]: Blazing Light (1 ring)
[Challenge Level]: 3/4
Several of the Star Worm's attributes had improved, and both Life Value and Magic Power had increased substantially, but unfortunately, it hadn't acquired any new Skills, which was probably why its Challenge Level had ultimately only increased by 1/4.
If it had mastered a new Skill, it might well have reached Level 1.
Soon, Char consoled himself—leveling up was certainly going to be more difficult the further one progressed. It was quite normal that eight or nine demon beasts of Challenge Levels 2, 1, 1/2, and 1/4 hadn't managed to directly boost the Star Worm from 1/2 to 1.