The boar charged.
The ground trembled slightly under the beast's weight as it shot forward in a straight line, like an uncontrolled battering ram. Its speed was absurd for something of that size.
Wu Kai felt his heart rise to his throat. An instinctive fear surged. But he did not retreat.
"Breathe…"
He forced himself to calm down. He took a deep breath.
And in that instant. Something inside him responded. His blood began to flow faster. Much faster.
It was as if a river inside his body had turned into a violent torrent. The heat increased, spreading through his muscles, bones, and nerves.
It was strength, he felt every fiber of his body being strengthened. His eyes glowed faintly red.
The boar was already upon him. At the last second, Wu Kai moved.
He twisted his body to the side, barely escaping the brutal charge. The wind generated by the beast's passage ruffled his hair.
But he did not miss the opportunity. His hand moved. The dagger slashed. The blade tore into the side of the boar's body. It was not a deep cut. But enough. Blood splattered.
The boar let out a furious roar.
It ran past, skidding several meters ahead before turning its heavy body with difficulty.
Wu Kai quickly retreated, creating distance. His chest rose and fell.
"It's fast…" He murmured.
Faster than he expected. But… far from invincible. His eyes focused on the cut he had made.
Blood. Flowing. His heart raced again.
But this time… It was not fear. It was something different.
He felt it. An attraction. A connection. The beast's blood seemed to… call to him. Wu Kai slightly clenched his teeth.
"Focus."
The boar would not give him time. The beast snorted again and charged a second time.
Faster and more aggressive. Wu Kai did not try to completely dodge this time.
He took a step to the side, just enough. And raised his hand. Five blood needles formed instantly at the tips of his fingers.
He fired. The needles cut through the air. Two missed. But three hit. They embedded into the beast's shoulder and neck.
The boar roared in pain, its body faltering for an instant. But it did not stop. It kept charging. Wu Kai frowned.
"How tough…"
At the last moment. He jumped back. The boar passed again, nearly hitting him.
This time, Wu Kai took better advantage of the opening. He advanced right after the beast's charge.
His feet moved quickly across the forest floor. His eyes were fixed. Calculating and observing the beast.
He was not experienced. But he was learning fast.
The boar tried to turn again. But this time Wu Kai arrived first. He approached from the side and attacked. The dagger came down with force.
A deeper cut appeared. Blood gushed out with more intensity. The boar let out a deafening scream. Its body thrashed violently.
It tried to bite Wu Kai. But it was too late. Wu Kai retreated again. Breathing heavily. Sweating.
His heart pounded like a war drum. But his eyes… We're even more determined. More focused.
"I can do it…" He murmured.
The boar was already injured. Its movements were slightly slower. The blood continued to flow.
Wu Kai raised his hand again. This time with more control and more precision. The blood needles formed again.
But now… They were denser. Sharper. He fired.
This time, all the needles hit.
Into the eyes, neck, and the joint of the leg.
The boar staggered. Lost its balance for an instant. And that was enough.
Wu Kai advanced. Without hesitation and without fear. His body moved with everything he had. He appeared beside the beast.
And then struck. The dagger sank deeply into the boar's neck. He twisted the blade, and blood burst out.
The boar let out one last desperate roar. Its body trembled. Thrashed and then fell.
Wu Kai remained still for a few seconds. Breathing heavily. His muscles were still tense. His eyes fixed on the fallen beast. Waiting. But nothing happened. It was dead.
He had won. Wu Kai took a step back. And then…
A laugh escaped. Low at first. But growing.
"I… did it…" He brought a hand to his face, still trembling slightly.
"I really did it…"
His first hunt. His first battle. His first victory. The adrenaline still ran through his body like fire.
He looked at the boar. A smile slowly appeared on his lips.
"So this is what it feels like to fight..."
But he did not waste time. Wu Kai approached the beast's body. His gaze fell on the deep wound in the neck.
Blood was still slowly flowing. He crouched down. And touched it. His hand pressed against the warm flesh.
And then... Something happened.
The blood responded. As if it had a will of its own. As if it had found its master.
The flow began. Slow at first. Thin strands of blood detached from the beast's body. And we're pulled toward Wu Kai's hand. His eyes widened slightly.
"It's working…" He murmured.
The flow increased. From strands… To streams. The blood began to come out with more force, being drawn directly into his body.
Wu Kai remained still. Feeling and absorbing the blood.
Everything was being transferred into his body. His body reacted instantly. His muscles contracted. His bones vibrated. His blood boiled again.
But this time… It was not pain, his blood boiled with joy. Five minutes passed. And almost all of the beast's blood had disappeared.
The boar's body was now pale. Dry and lifeless.
Wu Kai took a deep breath. And then a wave of strength coursed through his body.
His eyes widened. He felt it. His body was being strengthened. His muscles are denser. His bones are more resilient. His blood is more powerful.
"This…"
He clenched his fist. The strength was clear. And then. Something broke. An invisible barrier within him.
Wu Kai held his breath. His entire body vibrated.
And then everything stabilized.
He slowly opened his eyes. An intense glow passed through them.
"2° stage…" He murmured. In disbelief.
"I… advanced…"
His heart raced again. But this time it was pure excitement.
The former Wu Kai had taken years without advancing at all.
And now… In less than five minutes, he broke through.
Wu Kai looked at the dry corpse of the boar. And then… Smiled.
A determined smile. Confident.
"This is just the beginning!"
He clenched his fist tightly. Feeling the new power running through his body.