chapter 32

This world seems to be the realm of fantasy. Cyd has encountered an "invulnerable" lion before, though its invulnerability was merely due to tough skin and its gisnt size. He knows dragons exist too, even though they resemble oversized lizards with wings. He was skeptical until he saw the colossal creature before him now.

"Is this... the pig?" Cyd's mouth twitched as he looked at a wild boar the size of a hill.

After several days of travel, they finally reached Calydon. During the journey, Atalanta, who had been resistant at first, eventually fell asleep naturally in Cyd's arms. Upon regaining her strength, the first thing she did was attempt to bite his throat, though it only tickled him. Once recovered, she drew her bow, blessed by Artemis, ready to face their target.

"This is not just any wild boar," Cyd muttered, pulling Atalanta to hide behind a tree as they observed the giant, demon-like pig.

"How do you plan to deal with it?" Atalanta asked, eager to fight.

"If we had more people, we could probably take it down, but..." Cyd looked at the enchanted boar, "calling for help is not an option right now, and..."

Athena's words echoed in his mind.

"Try to please Ares, the God of War... What if I fail and no one notices?" Cyd pondered, leaning against the tree.

Just then, an arrow struck the demon pig's buttocks.

"Ata, what did you do?" Cyd turned to see Atalanta, bow in hand.

"Hunting," she replied calmly.

"I know you're hunting, but...!" Cyd grabbed her shoulders and shook her, "We need a plan!"

"It's just a slightly oversized boar," Atalanta said, knocking Cyd's head with her bow.

Before Cyd could respond, the demon pig charged at them. Cyd grabbed Atalanta and leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding the pig's charge.

"This is insane!" Cyd exclaimed.

"Stop complaining and fight like a hero!" Atalanta nocked another arrow, aiming for the pig's head.

The boar roared and charged again, but Cyd met it head-on, lifting his fist to the sky.

"Under the witness of the gods, let this fight commence!"

As soon as he spoke, sunlight blazed down, and orange crystals spread from his bracer across his body like sunlight.

The demon pig charged at them, but Cyd stepped forward and struck it with tremendous force, driving its head into the ground. Using the momentum, he carried Atalanta into the jungle.

"Finally, you look like a hero," Atalanta said, patting Cyd's shoulder as they landed.

"This is bad," Cyd muttered.

They exchanged a glance and jumped in opposite directions just as the giant boar rose again.

"Calydonian Boar, your rage has marked you as prey," Cyd said, deftly dodging through the trees while the pig chased him.

"But its skin is too thick!" Atalanta said, shooting three arrows into the pig. The arrows barely penetrated, and the boar continued its pursuit.

"This isn't natural!"

Cyd somersaulted over the pig, stomping on its head again, forcing it to the ground.

"Your arrows can't pierce its skin," he observed.

The boar roared, lifting its head to throw Cyd off, but he twisted in midair and stomped it down again.

"Your attacks are effective! Keep it up!" Atalanta shouted.

"Trust me!" Cyd caught an arrow mid-air.

As long as he could keep stomping the pig, he hoped to eventually cause a concussion, reducing its effectiveness in battle.

"I can't do this alone," Atalanta protested.

After a few more rounds of stomping, the boar finally stayed down, choosing to writhe instead of getting up.

"This thing has no weaknesses!" Atalanta shouted, firing an arrow at the pig's eye, only for it to be blocked by its eyelid.

"Don't worry! Every living thing has a weakness!" Cyd declared, stomping on the boar's belly.

"Once we find it, victory will be ours!"

The boar, sensing a change in Cyd's behavior, stopped moving erratically and prepared to charge.

"Cyd, what are you planning?" Atalanta asked, wide-eyed.

"I'm creating an opportunity," Cyd said, twisting his wrist. "This isn't my usual style, but we have no choice."

The boar's front hooves flexed, preparing to charge.

"Cyd, retreat! Let's regroup!" Atalanta shouted.

"It's useless unless we have enough people. Relax, Ata," Cyd said, giving her a thumbs-up. "I believe in you. Find its weakness, then..."

"Defeat it!"