Reo and Kyle stood side by side, their bodies crackling with mana as they prepared to face the flaming boar.
The air around them was thick with tension, the heat from the monster's fiery body making the atmosphere feel like a furnace.
The boar was massive, its flaming tusks glowing white-hot, and its hide shimmered with an unnatural, molten sheen.
Every step it took scorched the ground, leaving behind a trail of smoldering earth and embers.
The monster let out a deafening roar, its fiery eyes locking onto the two adventurers.
Its breath came in hot, smoky gusts, and the flames that wreathed its body roared like a living inferno.
It was clear that this wasn't an ordinary monster—its defenses were incredibly high, and its fiery aura made close combat nearly impossible.
Reo tightened his grip on his spear, the wind mana swirling around the blade creating a faint whistling sound.
Kyle, standing beside him, clenched his lightning-infused jian, the crackling energy dancing along the blade.
They exchanged a quick glance, their eyes locking for just a moment. Without a word, they nodded, a silent agreement passing between them.
They both knew what they had to do.
The boar charged.
Its massive hooves pounded the ground, sending tremors through the earth as it barreled toward them with terrifying speed.
The heat radiating from its body intensified as it closed the distance, the flames around it roaring like a wildfire.
"Now!" Reo shouted.
As the boar closed in, Reo and Kyle sprinted forward, their movements perfectly synchronized.
Just meters away from colliding with the monster, they sharply turned in opposite directions—Reo to the left, Kyle to the right.
The boar skidded to a halt, its fiery eyes darting between the two targets. For a moment, it seemed unsure of which one to pursue.
But the hesitation didn't last long. With a snort, the boar turned its gaze toward Kyle and charged again, its flames roaring louder as if fueled by its rage.
Kyle raised his hand, his lightning mana surging.
Several lightning lances formed in the air above him, crackling with energy. With a flick of his wrist, he launched them toward the boar.
The lances struck the monster's flaming hide, but the attack barely seemed to faze it.
The boar's defenses were too high, its fiery aura dissipating the lightning before it could cause any significant damage.
"Damn it!" Kyle muttered, as the boar continued its charge, undeterred.
The monster's flaming tusks were aimed straight at him, and Kyle had no choice but to brace for impact.
He raised his Jian, the lightning mana around the blade flaring brightly.
The clash was brutal.
The boar's sheer force sent Kyle flying backward, his body crashing through several trees before he finally skidded to a stop.
He groaned, his body bruised and battered, but he forced himself to stand.
"Why do monsters keep throwing me around like a ragdoll?" Kyle muttered under his breath, wincing as he wiped blood from his lip.
He couldn't help but think back to the clawed monster in the ruins that had tossed him like a toy.
Now, this flaming boar was doing the same. "I'm really getting tired of this."
Meanwhile, Reo had circled around to the boar's side.
He gripped his spear tightly, the wind mana around the blade intensifying. With a fierce cry, he thrust the spear into the monster's flank.
The attack landed, but the boar's thick, fiery hide absorbed most of the damage. The monster barely seemed to notice.
The boar turned its massive head toward Reo, its fiery eyes narrowing.
Before Reo could react, it swung its tusks at him.
Reo barely managed to sidestep, the heat from the flames singeing his clothes.
But the boar wasn't done.
It opened its mouth, and a massive fireball formed, launching straight at Reo.
Reo's eyes widened. "It can throw fire too?!" he exclaimed, barely having time to raise his spear in defense.
The fireball exploded on impact, sending Reo flying backward.
He hit the ground hard, his body rolling several times before coming to a stop.
He groaned, his body smoking slightly from the blast.
Kyle, still struggling to stand, saw Reo get blasted away.
His heart raced. "This thing's way tougher than I thought," he muttered, his mind racing for a plan.
But before he could act, the boar turned its attention back to him.
It let out another roar and began charging again, its flames growing even brighter.
Just as the boar was about to reach Kyle, several thick walls of ice erupted from the ground, blocking the monster's path.
The boar slammed into the ice, its flames sizzling against the frozen barrier.
It roared in frustration, backing up slightly as it tried to figure out what had just happened.
Kyle blinked, confused. "What the—?"
"Need a hand?" a cheerful voice called out.
Kyle turned his head and saw a girl making her way toward him.
She had shoulder-length snow-white hair that shimmered like freshly fallen snow, and her black eyes sparkled with mischief.
Her face was strikingly beautiful, and she carried herself with an air of confidence. In her hands, she wielded twin short swords, their blades glinting with frost.
Kyle stared at her, momentarily stunned. "You are…?"
The girl grinned, her expression bright and friendly.
"Oh, where are my manners? I'm Luna Starfrost!" she said, her voice bubbly and full of energy.
She twirled one of her swords playfully before pointing it at the boar. "And that big guy over there looks like he's causing you some trouble."
Kyle blinked again, still processing her sudden appearance. "Uh… Kyle. Kyle Valemont," he said, introducing himself.
Luna's grin widened.
"Nice to meet you, Kyle! Now, let's take care of this flaming pig, shall we?"
Kyle couldn't help but smile, despite the situation. Luna's extroverted and cheerful demeanor was infectious.
He remembered her from the novel—Luna Starfrost, one of the main character and one of the strongest characters. Her ice affinity made her a formidable opponent, and her friendly personality made her easy to like.
Reo, who had managed to get back on his feet, limped over to join them.
"Who's this?" he asked, eyeing Luna curiously.
"Luna Starfrost," she replied, her tone light and playful.
"And you must be the guy who got roasted by a fireball. Nice to meet you too!"
Reo raised an eyebrow, but before he could respond, the boar let out another roar, its flames intensifying as it prepared to charge again.
Luna's expression shifted from playful to serious in an instant. "Alright, boys, let's finish this."