Ethan’s heart pounded in his chest as he crouched low, watching the battle unfold. The tribesmen were outmatched, their spears and arrows bouncing off the thick hide of the massive Dire Boar. Bloodied and battered, they continued to fight, but it was clear they were losing ground. Each time the boar charged, it sent one of them tumbling to the ground, either too injured to continue or struggling to stand.
He grimaced. I have to do something... but what?
The boar was unlike any animal Ethan had ever seen. Its hulking mass moved with brutal speed, and its hide was practically impenetrable. The tribespeople had nothing that could pierce its defenses. Their weapons were primitive—no match for the beast's size and strength. Even if he had been at full power, Ethan doubted he could take the creature head-on. But he didn’t need brute strength; what he had was intellect. If I can find its weakness… I can turn this fight.
He scanned the area quickly, searching for any advantage. The boar was busy trampling the injured tribesmen, and they had little energy left to fight back. Suddenly, Ethan’s eyes landed on a cluster of jagged rocks at the far side of the clearing, sharp and weathered over time. An idea began to form.
Maybe I can lure it there...
He looked down at his makeshift knife, dulled from cutting the wolf meat. Useless for direct combat. But there was something he had learned when fighting the wolf—this world had systems, and he could manipulate them.
Without wasting another second, Ethan dashed down the ridge and into the clearing. The tribespeople noticed him, confused for a moment, but had no time to question his presence. He ran straight for the boar, heart racing in his throat, knowing he was gambling with his life.
“Hey! Over here!” Ethan yelled, throwing a stone to get the beast's attention. The boar’s ears twitched, and it turned toward him, nostrils flaring. A deafening snort shook the ground as it locked eyes with its new target.
Good, now come at me...
Ethan sprinted toward the rock formation, making sure the beast had a clear line of sight on him. The Dire Boar charged after him, its tusks gleaming as it stormed forward like a freight train. Each thundering step closed the distance between them, the ground quaking beneath its weight.
Timing. It’s all about timing. Ethan kept running, his eyes darting between the rocks and the boar. He had to get it to charge headfirst into the jagged stone. It was the only way to wound it.
When the boar was only a few meters behind him, Ethan pivoted at the last moment, diving out of the way and rolling across the dirt. The boar's momentum was too great to stop in time. With a sickening crunch, the creature's head slammed into the sharp rocks. Its tusks shattered upon impact, and it let out an agonized roar, shaking the trees around them.
Blood poured from its snout, but it wasn’t dead yet. The creature staggered back, dazed and injured but still dangerous.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Ethan gasped for breath, quickly picking himself up from the ground. “Come on… just a little more…” He grabbed his knife, knowing it was a long shot but hoping the creature’s hide had been weakened enough. He darted forward, plunging the dull blade into the exposed flesh where the rocks had torn its snout. The boar screamed, thrashing violently as Ethan barely managed to hold on.
The tribespeople, realizing the beast had been injured, rallied behind him. Korak, the strongest of the group, let out a shout, and they all lunged forward, driving their spears into the soft, torn flesh. This time, the spears pierced through, sinking deep into the boar's neck and sides.
The beast collapsed with one final, pained groan.
Ethan fell back onto the ground, panting heavily, covered in dirt and sweat. The battle was over. He had survived.
Bing.
His status screen popped up again, this time flashing with an alert.
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You have leveled up!
Level: 5
Skill Points Available: 3
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Ethan blinked, still trying to catch his breath. Level 5 already? He wasn’t sure how leveling worked here, but his heart raced with excitement. His mind swirled with possibilities, but the sound of approaching footsteps brought him back to reality.
The tribespeople stood over him, their expressions a mix of awe and confusion. Korak, the leader of the group, extended a hand to help him up.
“You saved us,” Korak said in a thick, accented voice. His eyes were hard, but there was a glint of gratitude behind them.
Ethan took the offered hand, pulling himself to his feet. He nodded, not sure how much these people would understand, but it was clear that they respected him now.
“I’m... Ethan,” he said, introducing himself. “I didn’t mean to intrude, but I couldn’t let that thing kill you.”
Korak nodded, motioning toward the fallen boar. “It was a great beast. You fought well.” He gestured toward the rest of the group, who were busy tending to their wounds and gathering what they could from the creature’s corpse. “Come. You are welcome in our village.”
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That night, Ethan sat around a small fire in the village, surrounded by the simple wooden huts of the tribespeople. They lived a modest life, surviving off the land, with tools and weapons made from bone and stone. The villagers regarded him with a mixture of curiosity and respect. It was clear that, by slaying the boar, he had earned their trust.
As the night wore on, Ethan found himself staring at the fire, his thoughts drifting back to the status screen.
He decided to open it again, focusing on the new option that had appeared alongside his level-up.
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Lottery System Unlocked!
You may spend skill points to roll for a random reward.
Cost: 5 Skill Points (3 Available)
Chance of:
* 30% Negative Effect (Temporary or permanent debuffs)
* 20% Stat Boost
* 30% Gear (Weapons, Armor, Potions)
* 20% Skills/Abilities
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A lottery system? Ethan mused, intrigued. He had no idea how dangerous the negative effect could be, but the potential rewards—stat boosts, gear, skills—were tempting. He felt a rush of excitement at the possibilities.
“Do I risk it?” he whispered to himself, feeling the weight of the choice. With only three points available, he couldn’t access the lottery just yet, but he was close. One more level, and he’d have enough. If I level up again soon, I can try it out.
The thought lingered as he gazed out at the peaceful village, their lives continuing as if the day’s battle had been just another event in the endless rhythm of survival. But for Ethan, it was the beginning of something much bigger.
As he looked at the villagers—especially Korak—he realized that they could be allies in this strange world. Perhaps with them, he could carve out a life here. A future.
But first, he needed to grow stronger. And the lottery... might just be the edge he needed.