The Alpha Boar let out a wretched howl as its first HP bar was severed.
Blood burst into fragments of red pixels, dyeing the air for a brief moment, as if time had frozen under a wave of light.
The beast staggered back a step, its breathing ragged. The crimson glow in its eyes no longer held the same frenzy as before, but it still radiated intense hostility. Its massive frame wavered slightly, clearly sensing the danger posed by the three figures before it.
Ren, his eyes locked onto the beast, didn't miss the opportunity.
He rushed forward, but immediately halted when he saw the Alpha Boar turning away, clearly preparing to retreat, no longer intent on a direct confrontation.
However, before it could make its next move, a loud roar erupted from the right, shattering the stillness and drawing everyone's attention.
The smaller boars, the ones that had previously hidden among the bushes and rocks surrounding the area, now surged out all at once.
They moved like lightning: lean, muscular bodies weaving swiftly through the thick grass, charging toward the trio with eyes gleaming and ferocity blazing in every step.
Without a moment's hesitation, Yuna reacted. She spun her sword and slashed fiercely at a boar charging at her.
Fragments of red pixels burst into the air, but the creature merely staggered slightly before lunging forward again, seemingly undeterred, as if nothing could stop its assault.
Ren turned around, realizing they were now completely surrounded by the boar herd.
The creatures had divided into smaller groups, attacking from multiple angles, making the air crackle with even greater tension.
He inhaled deeply, tightening his grip on the hilt of his sword, determined not to let the situation spiral out of control.
"Yuna, cover the rear!" he shouted, his voice steady and composed, as always.
Yuna nodded, her eyes filled with determination, and moved without hesitation.
Another bait orb flew out from her hand, quick and precise. The orb of light soared and exploded, pulling two boars away from the group, scattering their formation and preventing a simultaneous assault.
Nautilus, ever calm and composed, was already prepared for battle. His sword swung upward, the steel gleaming through the air, and without missing a beat, he charged at another boar.
With a powerful swing, his blade sliced through the air and struck the creature's body with a loud crack, forcing it to stumble back in pain.
Meanwhile, though the Alpha Boar had retreated to the edge of the battlefield, its presence loomed like a hidden threat.
Ren noticed the strategy: the Alpha Boar no longer dared to engage directly, but it was cleverly using the herd as an effective distraction, aiming to scatter and overwhelm them.
At that moment, they weren't just fighting a boss, they were battling an entire herd of monsters.
Every strike, every swing, every movement had to be calculated and precise. A single mistake could tip the balance and leave them vulnerable to a swift defeat.
Ren rotated his sword skillfully in his hand, feeling the tension in every breath, every subtle movement.
He didn't let panic take hold, even as the situation grew more intense."We can't let them separate us," he barked an instruction, his eyes never leaving the enemy before him.
Ren's body shifted fully into combat mode, his senses heightened, ready to meet any threat.
Though relentlessly attacked, the Alpha Boar stood firm like a mountain amidst the chaotic battlefield, but the smaller boars, despite their numbers, could not endure for long.
Through smooth, precise coordination, the trio systematically drew out and eliminated the smaller monsters.
Yuna, swift and agile, continually threw bait orbs with deadly accuracy, keeping the boars from scattering too far, forcing them into manageable groups.
Her powerful slashes not only dealt heavy damage but also stunned the creatures, preventing them from retaliating and giving her teammates an opening to finish them off.
Nautilus, calm and tactical, used every advantage the terrain offered.
He slipped into blind spots and struck hard at weaker enemies, ensuring the boars couldn't regroup or find a chance to counterattack, dropping them one after another.
Meanwhile, Ren remained steadfast in the center of the battlefield, ensuring none of the boars could break through to reach his teammates.
His movements, dodges, counters, and precise strikes, flowed like a rehearsed dance, unfaltering, unaffected by the chaos around him.
Every swing of Ren's sword struck with precision and overwhelming power, knocking the boars down like toppled pawns.
After a flurry of clean, decisive attacks, Yuna cut down the last charging boar, while Nautilus and Ren simultaneously felled the final two.
In mere moments, the entire herd was wiped out, leaving no survivors.
Thanks to their flawless coordination and unwavering teamwork, they not only pushed back the danger but protected each other perfectly, avoiding any critical mistakes during the fierce battle.
Now, with the boar herd dealt with, only the Alpha Boar remained, and their collective resolve to end the fight.
Ren turned to his teammates, his gaze steady yet filled with determination."We're done here. Let's finish this," he said firmly.
Yuna and Nautilus both responded with confident, resolute expressions.
They were no longer just three people fighting side by side, they had become a single, united team, steadfast and ready to face whatever lay ahead.
They seamlessly shifted into their pre-agreed tactics, each maintaining their role as they launched a relentless assault on the Alpha Boar.
Yuna continued to fulfill her critical role, expertly tossing bait orbs at strategic locations, preventing the boss from focusing its attacks in any one direction.
This kept the Alpha Boar distracted, allowing Nautilus and Ren to close in and unleash direct, powerful strikes.
However, as Ren observed the flow of battle, he began to notice something strange.
Despite Nautilus' skill and experience with the sword, he wasn't dealing as much damage to the Alpha Boar as he should have.
His strikes, powerful and precise, somehow lacked the decisive impact needed to break through the boss's defenses.
It was clear that something was wrong.
Ren didn't believe Nautilus was weak; he had already proven his proficiency during the earlier fight against the boars, as well as his resilience under pressure.
Yet, something was clearly hindering his performance. After a brief moment of observation, Ren realized the cause, it was the sword Nautilus was using.
Even though he hadn't chosen a sword as his starting weapon, Ren could still tell that it was the sword every player received when they selected "sword" as their main weapon upon entering the game.
This sword, while convenient and easy to use in basic situations, was far from suitable for facing powerful bosses like the Alpha Boar.
It didn't have higher damage compared to a few swords sold at the market, but its durability was far superior, reducing concerns during prolonged hunting sessions.
That was why, even though Nautilus had talent, his attacks still couldn't inflict enough damage.
Ren was certain that if Nautilus had a stronger sword, his strikes would become significantly more effective.
He understood, however, that now was not the time to worry about weapons.
A fleeting thought crossed his mind, after this battle, he would have to find a way to upgrade Nautilus's weapon, so the boy could fully unleash his potential. But for now, the most important thing was to keep fighting, to stay focused.
Pushing aside any distracting worries, Ren quickly regained his composure, clenched his teeth, and skillfully twisted his blade.
He lunged at the Alpha Boar, determined to bring it down before the boss could cause any more trouble.
At this point, the second HP bar of the boss had already been shattered, fragments of red blood falling to the ground and scattering into pixelated particles in the air, but Ren knew there was still a long way to go before the battle was over.
"It's fine," Ren told himself. "We'll finish this fight before anything worse can happen."
At the same time, Yuna and Nautilus showed no signs of retreat. Every sword swing, every bait orb thrown contributed to the upcoming victory.
Ren could feel the resilience of his teammates, and his trust in them grew stronger than ever.
They weren't just fighting individually; they were forging a victory together, not just through raw strength, but through the perfect coordination between the three of them.
And Ren knew that as long as they kept this spirit alive, the Alpha Boar would soon fall.