'Dying in the Academy's Dungeon isn't permanent.' The blue-eyed stranger's words echoed in my mind. The possibilities swirled around in my head. Could I afford to be bolder, to take risks I wouldn't have considered before?

And then there was also the chance to level up. From the books I had skimmed in the library, leveling could be done in many ways, but most of it is granted by improving your skills, gaining Class, or by monster hunting in dungeons. As the potential gain flashed in my mind, I decided against running from the monstrous pig.

The thunder of the beast's hooves filled my ears, pulling my attention to the charging pig. Each step seemed to make the ground tremble, and the rhythmic pounding echoed the frantic beating of my heart.

The sound echoed through the forest, mingling with the rustling leaves and distant calls of unseen creatures.

I stepped back, my boots sinking into the soft earth. Looking at the overgrown mass of fats and muscles rushing toward me, my steel sword feels heavy and unwieldy. I raised it, trying to remember the basics of my training and realizing the limitations of my training. All I knew were static moves—steps and strikes that required minimal movement. Charging was not an option, instead I had to trust what I had learned.

Left foot forward. Right foot back. Breathe.

The forest around me seemed to close in, the shadows deepening as the Hell pig bore down on me.

I activated Spatial perception, feeling the mana flow through me in a familiar pattern. The new sixth sense was rough, a mere whisper of awareness, but every little bit counted at this moment.

The pig lunged, tusks aimed at my chest, and I waited until the last possible moment, my focus narrowing to a single point. My heart pounded in my ears.

Spatial perception kicked in as the pig entered my range, giving me an idea of its movements that my mind interpreted as rough outlines. It's not much, and it's not nuanced, but hopefully, it should be more than enough to score a single hit. The sensation was confusing, to say the least. And using the skill to guide my sword felt awkward.

Twisting just in time to avoid the deadly points of its tusks narrowly, I almost missed the mark. My blade slashed across its flank, but it was like cutting through thick leather. The blade scraped along the dense hide, leaving only a shallow gash that oozed dark blood.

The resistance jarred my arm, sending a shock of pain up to my shoulder. My breath came in ragged gasps. Fuck. Seeing a sharp point charging at me was worse than I ever imagined. Far worse than the time Vanya pointed her sword at my neck. At least a part of me knew she wouldn't kill me. Here, I was sure I would be skewered.

Gritting my teeth, I tried to adjust. This was not going as planned. The Spatial Perception skill was supposed to be my edge, but it felt more like a burden. My mind raced ahead, processing the pig's movements, but my body lagged behind.

The pig grunted, unfazed. Blood dripped from the small wound, but it only seemed to enrage it further. Fatty bastard, I cursed my luck fighting this beast. Of all the pigs, I get the one that won't die. The wound was deep, but the thick hide made it challenging to cause significant damage.

Keep moving. Keep breathing.

I circled back, my senses on high alert. The pig snorted, saliva dripping from its jowls. Its eyes locked onto mine, and I felt a primal fear—the kind that makes your bones ache.

Facing a high-level beast for the first time felt like a cruel twist of fate. I can't rely on sight; I have to trust my training and skills. Every muscle in my body was taut, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.

[ Mana: 128 / 130 ]

At least the skill was highly efficient in its mana usage.

The pig charged again, its bulk moving with surprising agility. I tried to sidestep, relying on the skill to guide me, but my feet tangled beneath me. I stumbled, barely regaining my balance as the pig’s tusk grazed my side, tearing through my shirt and skin. Pain flared, but I gritted my teeth and pressed on. Blood trickled down the wound, mixing with the sweat and grime.

I hissed, more out of frustration than pain. The skill’s insights were helpful, but without the physical training to match, they were almost useless. Maybe I should have invested in those physical skills instead of relying solely on my spatial perception.

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The pig rounded on me again, its eyes gleaming with savage intent. I tightened my grip on the sword, feeling the sweat on the hilt. This time, I anticipated my body's slowness, adjusting my timing.

Focus.

Spatial perception flared to life, painting the pig's movement in my sense. As the pig lunged again, I ducked under its attack, my sword arcing upward. The blade connected with its belly, and this time, it howled—a guttural, otherworldly sound. That’s right, scream for me, Porky. I could smell its foul breath and feel the heat radiating from its massive body.

But it wasn't enough. Blood oozed from the gash in its belly, but instead of slowing down, it seemed to grow wilder. It charged again, foam dripping from its mouth, eyes glowing with feral fury. Uh oh—

I stumbled backward, my foot catching on a root. Damn it, why can't this stupid Spatial Perception show me more than just movements? I tried to steady myself as the pig advanced, tusks gleaming. My mind raced. I was going to die here, in this forsaken forest. The realization hit me like a blow to the chest, but I refused to accept it.

No. Not yet.

Slashing was the easiest move with a sword, but that wasn't what I needed. The steel blade wasn't a legendary weapon that could cut through anything, and I wasn't a brute with the strength to cleave through thick hide.

I need precision. Change my style from slashes to thrusts. I had to hit deep if I didn't want to lose in a battle of attrition. My thoughts raced as I adjusted my grip, determined to make the next strike count.

I quickly darted around a sturdy tree, using its massive trunk as a temporary shield to buy myself a few precious seconds.

The pig rushed again, and instead of scrambling and dodging, I stood my ground while moving sideways at the last second, trying to avoid its direct path. There was no need to fight head-on, but I couldn't retreat any further. My blade found its mark and plunged deep into the pig's stomach this time.

A great spurt of blood and a pained yelp erupted from the beast. It thrashed violently from the impact, and one of its powerful legs struck me squarely in the chest. The force of the blow sent me flying backwards, and I lost my grip on the sword, which remained lodged in its wound.

I hit the ground hard, the impact driving all the air from my lungs. Though I couldn't afford to dwell on my steadily worsening injuries. Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to scramble back to my feet, and the world spun around me for a moment. Despite the dizziness, I managed to stay upright.

The sight before me was more positive than I had dared hope. The pig staggered around, blood pouring from its wound, its strength visibly waning. But it didn't fall—not yet. Instead, it turned its enraged eyes towards me and charged one more time.

I wasn't foolish enough to fight a cornered beast without a weapon. Watching the pig's eyes, clouded with pain and rage, I pressed my back against a tree and waited for it to reach me. At the last possible moment, I stepped aside.

The pig crashed into the tree with a thunderous impact, its momentum carrying it forward. The embedded blade tore the wound open wider, and blood poured out in a torrent. The creature stumbled, its legs buckling, and collapsed into a heap.

Even then, the monster still had some fight left in it, struggling to stand and roaring desperately, perhaps hoping to summon its kin.

Not willing to risk reinforcements, I cautiously approached, gripped the sword handle, and with a swift, forceful tug, yanked it out of the pig's lower back.

I stepped back quickly to avoid any last thrashes. This time, only a weak snarl greeted my action. Blood gushed even faster from the open wound, and it was clear the beast would not survive.

Taking no chances, I stepped forward again. With a powerful thrust, I drove the sword into its neck, aiming for vital veins. A sickening squelch echoed through the forest, and more blood streamed out. The beast's movements slowed to mere twitches, and only faint whimpers escaped its mouth.

I stood there, panting, blood dripping from my sides. The pig twitched, then lay still. Its movements had come to a complete stop, and no more roars or whimpers escaped its jaw. Its red eyes faded, and I realized— I had killed it.

My legs gave way, and fell to the ground heaving. The forest was silent now, the tension dissipating. I wiped sweat and blood from my face, my hands trembling.

I sat up slowly, trying to catch my breath and calm my racing heart. As the adrenaline began to fade, the stark reality of my situation set in. I was hurt. Really hurt.

My body was a patchwork of cuts and bruises, and I must have looked like a crazed murderhobo, almost entirely covered in blood. It was impossible to tell which was mine and which belonged to the beast.

With a groan, I forced myself to rise to my feet. The pain shot through my body, but I pushed it aside. My first task was to approach the fallen pig. Its massive body lay still, the golden token half-covered in blood glinting faintly in the dim light. I reached down and picked it up, feeling the sticky warmth of the blood against my fingers.

Moving away from the carcass, I began to stagger towards my discarded bag of food. Each step was a struggle, my body protesting with every movement. I finally reached the bag and picked it up, clutching it tightly as if it were a lifeline.

As the last rays of the evening sun filtered through the canopy, I offered a silent prayer of gratitude. For my rough spatial sense, my novice skills, and the unlikely victory against a creature that should have torn me apart. But most of all, for the chance to live another day in this cursed forest.

I knew I needed to find a place to sleep, somewhere away from the battleground. The thought of finding water to wash myself also crossed my mind. From a modern lifestyle to jungles and beasts, this was a far cry from anything I had ever known. The comforts of the Academy felt like a distant memory, replaced by the harsh reality of survival.

Despite my exhaustion, I couldn't afford to rest just yet. With renewed determination, I moved and scanned the forest for a suitable spot to camp for the night.