Kael moved deeper into the forest, the canopy above thickening with every step. According to the map provided within the quest log, this zone marked the Rock Boar Subjugation Grounds, an isolated, enclosed valley where the beasts had grown in alarming numbers. The moment he crossed the shallow stream that served as a natural boundary, a system notification blinked into view.
[You have entered: Subjugation Field , Rock Boar Herd]
[Warning: All monsters in this area are Level 6 or higher]
Kael stopped at the edge of a hill and looked down into the clearing.
Below him stretched a broad basin with uneven terrain, scattered boulders, and tufts of tall grass. There were Rock Boars everywhere, their stony hides blending almost seamlessly into the terrain. Some grazed lazily. Others rolled in the mud or butted heads in idle sparring. But all were the same: hostile, territorial, and significantly stronger than the ones he had hunted before.
He brought up one of their status panels.
---
[Rock Boar – Lv.6]
HP: 240
STR: 12
INT: 09
CON: 12
DEX: 12
DEF: 14
Skills: None
---
Kael smiled faintly. "Stronger, but still just boars."
He stepped forward, onto a flat rock, and raised his palm slowly. Black flame gathered at his fingertips.
The air stirred. His mana surged.
Then—
"Butt-Flameball."
A compact sphere of black flame ignited in his palm and launched forward like a bullet. It soared past a trio of grazing boars—then twisted mid-air and slammed directly into the rear of the furthest one.
–40,000
The explosion was instant. The Rock Boar didn't just die—it was launched ten meters forward and crumpled like scorched leather.
The entire field went silent.
Then came the chorus of enraged squeals.
The herd turned toward Kael in unified fury. Grass tore beneath hooves as over a dozen Rock Boars began to charge up the hill toward him.
Kael didn't move. He simply raised his hand again and snaps his finger.
"Snap."
Four new flameballs spun into existence.
With a subtle gesture, he unleashed them all at once.
–40,000
–40,000
–40,000
–40,000
Four more Rock Boars exploded in black flame, each one struck squarely in the rear. The momentum of their charge was shattered mid-run, bodies tumbling and crashing into their companions.
Still, more came.
Kael took a step forward, fists clenched.
A boar leaped from the front line and swung its head down at him.
Kael ducked, drove his fist upward—and cracked the beast squarely in the chin.
–800
It collapsed instantly.
Another came from behind. Without turning, Kael spun on his heel and kicked backwards into its snout.
–800
The beast skidded back and fell motionless.
Three more flanked him, attempting to surround him. Kael stepped back, let their formation collapse in on itself, and then summoned a new volley of black flame.
–40,000
–40,000
–40,000
–40,000
Another Rock Boar slammed into his side—but Kael didn't even stumble. His physical defense, bolstered by his equipment and stats, absorbed the blow entirely.
He grabbed the boar by the tusk and pulled it downward before driving his knee into its skull.
–800
More came.
Another spell was casted .
–40,000
–40,000
A punch to the neck.
–800
A spinning back kick.
–800
Within minutes, the battlefield was a chaos of burned earth, scattered corpses, and plumes of smoke from the fire trails his spell left behind. And still, they came, yet slower now, fewer in number. The herd was thinning.
Kael opened his skill panel mid-fight.
[Butt-Flameball: Lv.4 (87%)]
Maybe after killing all of them would likely push it to the next level.
He summoned the flame, this time condensing it into a tighter orb. His palm flared with black heat as he launched it into the largest remaining cluster.
The ball flew high, then curved sharply downward.
–40,000
–40,000
–40,000
As the last boar dropped, a final system notification echoed in his vision.
[Quest Progress: 40 / 40 Rock Boars defeated]
[Butt-Flameball has leveled up! Lv.5 (0%)]
Kael lowered his hand, his breath steady. His robe was unscathed. His health bar hadn't dipped once.
He looked across the field, charred grass, broken stones, boar carcasses sprawled in unnatural directions.
The last of the Rock Boars stood alone, its sides heaving as it pawed nervously at the ground. All around it lay the scorched and broken remains of its kin. Smoke curled gently from the blackened soil, and the sharp scent of burnt hide lingered in the air like a curtain of judgment.
Kael narrowed his eyes. This one was faster than the rest, its fur singed but intact, its stance lower and tighter. He didn't need a system panel to know it was the leader of the pack.
It snorted once, then charged with a desperate burst of speed, tusks angled to gore.
Kael didn't move. Instead, he raised his hand calmly, fingers parting as a small orb of black flame sparked into existence.
The Rock Boar was nearly upon him when the flame launched.
It curved like lightning around the beast's shoulder—then dove straight into its rear.
–40,000
The boar exploded mid-charge, its body flung back and tumbling to a halt near the smoldering trunk of a tree.
Silence.
Kael exhaled slowly and lowered his arm. His system notifications unfurled at once in quiet succession:
He pulled up his status window to confirm the changes.
---
[Player Status]
Name: Lumen
Class: Mage
Level: 5 (54%)
HP: 1,050
MP: 525
Talent: [Cross-Class: SSS]
Skills:
• Butt-Flameball Lv.5 (03%)
AP:20
---
"Should I use all the attributes point or leave them for later." Kael let out a small breath through his nose and closed the panel.
"At this rate, I'll break level ten before most people even get a silver coin."
His boots crunched over broken twigs and flattened grass as he began walking. The forest seemed quieter now, as if the Rock Boars had been the only real predators in the area, and he had erased them all.
"Let's see what John has for me next," he muttered, eyes sharp. "If this keeps escalating… I might need to start preparing for actual threats."
He brushed the soot from his shoulder and turned back toward the path to the village.