Sorry for the delay in releasing chapters; I was too busy with exams. I'm back now and will try to release daily, but most likely it'll be once every 2–3 days. For now, enjoy the chapter!
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At that moment, Secre flew off Asta's head and headed toward the tree.
Asta, pale but full of determination, nimbly dodged the charging boar. The massive beast, more like a living battering ram, charged at him like a force of nature. Each step was accompanied by thunderous stomps that sent leaves cascading from the trees.
"Oh no, David, you coward! How dare you abandon me?!" Asta yelled, leaping to the side and nearly tripping over a branch. The boar rushed past, almost flattening a nearby bush.
The creature seemed to grow even more enraged by Asta's evasive maneuvers. It let out a deafening snort that echoed through the forest and turned for another charge. Asta continued dodging, but with every attempt, it became increasingly difficult.
"Enough running around! Face me like a real fight!" he shouted, trying to catch his breath. But the boar had no intention of stopping and charged forward once more. However, instead of hitting Asta, it slammed full force into a giant boulder. The impact was so strong that the rock cracked, and the boar, now swaying slightly, froze in shock.
Asta straightened up, stretched his shoulders, and, grinning broadly, whispered, "Alright, now you've asked for it!" He darted toward the stunned beast, grabbed it with both hands, and strained so hard the veins in his arms bulged.
"LET'S GO!" he yelled through gritted teeth. In the next moment, the three-meter-tall boar was lifted into the air. Holding the beast above his head, Asta looked like the living embodiment of madness and strength.
"Ha! Who's the boss now?! You thought I was just some kid? I'm ASTA! The future Wizard King, who lifts boars for breakfast!"
The boar, letting out a raspy grunt, glanced down, seemingly realizing the absurdity of its predicament. "Hey, don't get too comfy up there!" Asta continued, taking a few steps forward. "Soon you'll be headed for the pot. But for now… let's train with some weight!"
From somewhere in the bushes, a voice called out:
"Asta, are you alright? Did the beast get him?"
David, confused, pushed his way through the dense underbrush, muttering to himself, "What's going on here? Did he even survive?" But the moment he stepped into the clearing, his thoughts were abruptly cut off.
Before him was a scene that would make anyone question reality. In the clearing, bathed in sunlight filtering through the leaves, stood a small boy with ashen hair. He looked like a self-assured hero straight out of legend—albeit a bit covered in dirt and sweat.
But what truly shocked David was what the boy was doing. Asta was doing squats. Not just any squats, but squats with a three-meter-tall boar in his hands. The beast wheezed, clearly baffled at why it had suddenly become a piece of workout equipment.
"Asta… what are you… you… WHY ARE YOU DOING SQUATS WITH A BOAR?!" David stammered, almost at a loss for words.