A Cunning Trap

"Hmm!? Why 30 and not 50 XP? Do I get less as I rank up against low-rank monsters?"

An exasperated sigh escaped Alex's lips as he directed his gaze towards the system window after killing a Horned Rabbit.

==============================

[The Host has killed a F rank Monster]

[+30 XP and +1 SP]

==============================

It was Alex's third day tackling his rank promotion quest. Having dedicated 10 hours to the cause yesterday and factoring in the previous day's efforts, he now had approximately 8 hours remaining.

Having diligently scoured all the marked and unmarked monster-infested zones in the red area, it was reasonable to assume that no monsters remained in his designated territory.

While new monsters might eventually wander into the red zone, for the time being, it seemed to be lacking in suitable prey for Alex's quest.

'I could stick to the routine of roaming and patrolling, but where's the thrill in that?' This daring thought spurred Alex to challenge himself in a more exciting manner.

Following the body upgrades from the day before yesterday, Alex found himself in a completely new form—more agile, possessing better stamina, and fortified with a stronger vitality and heightened healing factor.

His current plan involved baiting a special monster into the red zone. To achieve this, Alex began preparing a tempting lure to entice the creature.

Berserker Boars, D-rank monsters commonly encroaching upon nearby territories, posed a significant threat within the red zone.

They were particularly menacing for low-ranking adventurers who dared venture into the wilderness, accounting for most fatalities among novices.

Yet, Alex set his sights on luring out one such monster. Many would scoff at the idea, deeming it a reckless pursuit, especially since he had yet to be an rank of an E-rank adventurer. However, Alex was determined to subdue it on his own.

Even a party of E-rank adventurers led by a D-rank adventurer found it nearly impossible to take down a Berserker Boar. Typically, only battle-hardened and experienced D-rank adventurer parties considered such an endeavor.

Gathering the bloody remains of five Horned Rabbits, Alex arranged them with their blood flowing before introducing a large red flower to the mix.

Placing the Mystic Blood Clove, a magical flower, in the midst of the newly created puddle of blood, Alex set his trap.

This mystical flower emitted a fragrant allure when drenched in blood, tricking feral beasts into perceiving fresh prey and attracting them.

Alex strategically placed it at the edge of the red zone, ensuring the scent traveled outward only.

The fragrance from the Mystic Blood Clove had a range of a few kilometers, minimizing the chances of attracting stronger monsters.

Alex derived this ingenious idea from spotting the flower and leveraging his gatherer skill, which granted him knowledge of its effects.

With the bait meticulously arranged and the trap skillfully prepared, the hunter lay in wait, concealed with utmost stealth.

All that remained was for the elusive prey to emerge and unwittingly tumble into the awaiting snare.

◆　◇　◆　◇　◆　◇　◆　◇　◆

'It's been over an hour, and the fragrance from the flower is starting to diminish. Did I miscalculate? No, Berserk Boars often lurk near the edges of the red zone. I should wait a few more minutes.'

Growing increasingly impatient, Alex concealed himself atop a tree where the Horned Rabbit corpses were strategically placed.

His stealthy hideout aimed to avoid alerting the prey, providing an escape route if needed, and the ability to call for help if things went awry.

'These Berserker Boars are bound to be attracted to small mammals like Horned Rabbits. If one is in the area, it should definitely be enticed by the scent.'

Ready to abandon the attempt, Alex contemplated leaving and incinerating the bait.

Seemingly devoid of any Berserker Boars in the vicinity, he was about to descend when he sensed subtle tremors, akin to a minor earthquake. Losing his footing, he nearly slipped from the tree.

'This... could it really have worked? Hell yeah!'

Rather than cursing his near fall, Alex was surprised and elated. His heart raced, and his body tensed, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.

Perched high in the tree, he had a prime vantage point. Trees in his line of sight were thrashed and toppled, accompanied by the resonating hooves of a massive creature approaching.

Emerging from the chaos of demolished trees was a colossal wild boar-like monster, nearly the size of a mini-van. Possessing menacing red eyes, a feral grin, and a bloodthirsty aura, its fur was thickly coated in mud and blood.

The most lethal features were its two pairs of thick and lengthy tusks protruding from its mouth—one smaller and the other larger, the smaller one still the size of an adult human's hand.

It was undoubtedly a Berserk Boar, living up to its name as a berserker, ruthlessly obliterating anything in its path. Capable of effortlessly trampling a whole pack of E-rank monsters, it stood as an undisputed force within its rank.

Alex's plan succeeded, and the Berserker Boar exposed itself in the open, engrossed in its meal. Massive stained teeth dripped with blood as it devoured two to three Horned Rabbits in a single bite.

Seizing the opportunity, Alex, hidden above, leaped from his vantage point, wielding his magic sword. Casting a spell on it to restrict the monster's movements, he executed a precise "Leap of Faith."

"<Dark Ice>" Alex casted, freezing the monster's legs to the ground before launching a perpendicular attack on its massive body.

The Berserker Boar emitted a loud, high-pitched squeal, writhing in pain as Alex's sword lodged into its back. Though the blade didn't fully penetrate, it went deep enough to elicit a formidable reaction.

With Alex atop, attempting to drive the sword further, the boar shook violently, attempting to break free from the ice restraint.

Unwilling to let the creature regain control, Alex maintained a constant supply of mana to sustain the <Dark Ice> spell. However, the boar's resistance intensified, resembling a wild ride on a rodeo bull.

"Stay still, or you'll only suffer more. <Dark Lightning>" Alex invoked another spell, aiming to subdue the beast with jolts of lightning.

The strategy seemed effective momentarily, but in an instant, the Berserker Boar broke free from the icy hold, flinging Alex aside.

Alex landed more than ten meters away, caught off guard by the sudden intensity of the boar's counterattack.

Despite being flung aside, he suffered minimal harm, losing only 50 HP, well within the expected range.

The real challenge arose as he realized, 'Fuck! The sword is still embedded in the boar. Now, it seems I can only rely on magic.'

Deprived of his sword, Alex remained undeterred. While it would be a significant setback for most, he saw it as a minor hindrance.

The Berserker Boar, agitated, scraped its feet on the ground and charged towards Alex with relentless speed, aiming to impale him with its tusks.

Quick reflexes saved Alex as he dodged and rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding potential impalement. He mused, "That was too fast! I'd have a massive hole in my stomach if that thing got me."

With no time to relax, the boar attacked again, displaying increased ferocity and momentum.

'I'm not entirely certain my barrier can withstand its attacks. For now, I should focus on evading and finding an opening.'

Rapidly firing <Dark Bullet>, some shots missed as Alex maneuvered and dodged, intensifying the boar's berserk state.

The inherent berserk nature of Berserker Boars, combined with escalating damage, made them increasingly enraged and aggressive.

Facing a fully berserk monster the size of a mini-van with bloodshot eyes, Alex entered round two of dodging and attacking, as the mindless boar continued its rampage.

The battle raged on, with Alex appearing to dodge and evade while continuously moving aimlessly. Unbeknownst to the berserk boar, Alex harbored another strategy in his mind.