Oliver wiped the bloodstains from a silver coin with a cloth, revealing the finely etched profile of a queen.

He traced the design with his fingers, the slight rise of the engraving lifting his spirits.

The thirty silver coins he had earned from slaying the rogue Grik were his greatest reward—his ticket to the academy where he would study magic.

Adding the four coins he had already saved, he now had thirty-four in total. One of those would be spent on a small gift for little Isabella, the girl who lived next door.

Yet, despite his recent gain, Oliver still faced an old dilemma: he needed a piece of land to present to the lord in order to secure his official hunter’s status.

“I should take a walk through the village. Perhaps I’ll find a solution.”

Time passed, and the marketplace in Eccleston was alive with activity.

Vendors hawked their goods—fishmongers calling out their fresh catches, grain merchants shouting of the harvest, and hunters selling their day’s hunt. The blend of small nobles and townsfolk created a vibrant scene.

Amid the bustle, a young man in a simple tunic walked in, a linen bag slung over his shoulder.

“Oliver! You’ve really become a hunter! Did you bring back any game?”

A familiar voice rang out, causing a stir in the crowd.

The son of a farmer, leaving behind his fields to take on the identity of a hunter—this had sparked much discussion in the small town of Eccleston.

Although Oliver had lost his own land, his aimless wanderings through the village had led him to an unexpected opportunity.

There was a gambler named Cody Gambler who owned a barren patch of land, of little value, and was desperate for money to settle his debts.

After some negotiation, Oliver managed to buy the land for twenty-five silver coins.

With that, he secured his hunter status.

Many found it puzzling.

Why would a perfectly good farmer choose to become a hunter?

In a town like theirs, few hunters survived past thirty due to the dangers of the wild. Had the young man lost his senses?

But anyone who inquired would hear how Oliver had been forced onto this path by the likes of Grik.

Strangely, it had been some time since Grik had last been seen.

Rumors swirled that he was hiding from Eirik, another local villain with a small gang—a man whom even Grik would not dare cross.

In the market, Oliver displayed his modest catch: rabbits and foxes, the usual small game.

His luck had been poor—no valuable creatures like weasels. But the rabbits and foxes he had captured were of fine quality.

Still, Oliver kept a low profile. Having recently killed a man, he wanted to avoid attracting attention. Grik had been a drifter, and logically, no one would mourn him. But Oliver had no allies. If the murder were discovered, his life would be in serious danger.

Thus, half a month passed, and it seemed the entire town had forgotten about Grik.

“It seems I can breathe easy for now.”

During this time, Oliver had not been idle. Though he had made little silver, he had ventured deeper into the forest with his boar companion, searching tirelessly for magical plants.

And he had found one: the Moonflower.

While its life essence was far weaker than Mandragora’s—only three points compared to Mandragora’s ten—it was non-toxic, unlike the dangerous plant.

Mandragora required an antidote for safe consumption, and though Oliver had acquired some, he had not yet dared to ingest it, lacking the formula for the antidote.

He hoped that once he gathered enough silver and gained entry into Oakridge Academy, he could learn to brew the antidote.

The life essence from the Moonflower had gone entirely into enhancing his wild boar form’s fusion level.

Originally, the magic core of the wild boar form granted him an increase of thirty kilograms in strength. Now, that number had risen to forty kilograms.

Oliver Stark

[Mana Core 1 – Elysian Nexus Core – Red – Current Form: Wild Boar Form.]

[Life Essence: 0]

[Forest Favorability: 0]

[Captured Creatures: Silver-Maned Wild Boar (Red), Fusion Level: 21%]

[Captured Creatures: Unknown Hound (Red), Fusion Level: 10%]

[Silver-Maned Wild Boar (Red): Current fusion level low; can significantly enhance strength (40kg).]

[Special Skill: Super Adrenaline—triples strength for a short duration and allows one to ignore pain.]

Switching to the magic core of the wild boar form granted Oliver a boost of forty kilograms in strength. If he activated his special skill, Super Adrenaline, that strength would triple for a brief moment.

It was a powerful skill.

In the month since arriving in this world, Oliver’s physique had grown stronger. He was no longer the gaunt figure he had once been.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Perhaps I should capture another beast and develop some new abilities…” Oliver mused.

A wild boar wasn’t the quickest at finding magical plants, so if he could capture another creature, it would help him in his efforts. Winter was coming, and food would soon become scarce. Preparation was key.

Clutching his newly purchased wooden bow, Oliver set off into the forest.

Before long, he arrived at the wild boar’s territory.

One whistle from him shook the ground, and the boar charged in, enthusiastically greeting its master. The boar even tried to kneel, rubbing its head against Oliver’s face.

He swatted it away, preferring to keep his distance. Its coarse bristles could be sharp.

“Let’s see if we can find any magical treasures…” he said, giving the boar a quick pat on the neck before vanishing into the woods.

They began their patrol, with Oliver staying cautious of their path, avoiding areas that might be too dangerous. With the wild boar by his side, even wolves would steer clear.

After about an hour of searching, they had only caught a few insignificant creatures. Oliver wasn’t worried. Magical plants were rare, and valuable quarry was even harder to come by. Patience was essential.

A good hunter never lacked patience.

“This area’s been scouted thoroughly by me and the boar. It might be time to try a new location.”

Oliver pulled out a hand-drawn map, scanning several marked spots. After some hesitation, he chose a berry thicket in the northwest. It seemed to pose the least danger.

With his boar as a companion, a little adventure awaited.

A little over ten minutes later, Oliver found himself at the thicket. But after only a few steps, an earth-shattering roar echoed through the air—a warning cry.

“Is that a tiger’s roar?” Oliver whispered, startled. The area he had thought least dangerous was actually a tiger’s territory.

Suppressing his fear, he quickly climbed a sturdy tree for a better vantage point. In the distance, near a small river, a massive tiger—nearly five meters long—crouched low, alert and watching them.

In Oliver’s previous world, a typical adult tiger measured about three to four meters. This one, however, was enormous, resembling a small mountain. It was a truly terrifying sight.

“I’ve heard stories about tigers in these woods, even venturing into the village during winter to snatch lone farmers. It seems those stories are true…”

Oliver remembered that in similar situations, the common course of action would be to call upon the noble lords and their knights for assistance.

Of course, compared to a tiger, a pack of wolves was far more frightening. While a tiger might take only one or two victims, a wolf pack could wipe out half a village in a single night.

“Could I capture this massive tiger? What rewards would it bring?” Oliver’s heart raced with anticipation and fear.

With a loud grunt, the wild boar let out a roar that shook the forest, sending leaves and branches tumbling down from the trees. It was a bold response to the tiger’s menacing growl.

"It seems my little pig isn’t afraid of that big cat," Oliver thought, feeling a swell of confidence. He whistled sharply.

The wild boar charged at the tiger, crashing through the underbrush with terrifying speed, shaking the very ground beneath it.

The tiger, caught off guard, leapt aside with surprising agility.

No creature would willingly face a boar’s onslaught head-on.

But the wild boar wasn’t just fast; it could change direction in an instant.

As the tiger dodged to the left, the boar pivoted, continuing its relentless charge.

The tiger’s claws and teeth were sharp, but the boar’s thick hide was an impenetrable shield.

The king of the forest found itself forced into a defensive retreat.

Meanwhile, Oliver was not idle. He crouched in the underbrush, muscles taut, eyes fixed on the tiger, waiting for the perfect moment.

Finally, it came.

With a powerful kick, he aimed at the tiger, using the strength granted by his boar form’s magic core. His kick struck the tiger just right, knocking it off balance.

The tiger stumbled backward, only to be met by the charging boar, which crashed into it. The impact sent the tiger careening into a thicket, where it collided with a sturdy pine tree, shaking the ground as it hit.

It let out a pained howl, the trunk of the tree trembling violently, leaves falling like rain.

"Now's my chance!" Oliver dashed forward, leaping onto the downed tiger's back and pressing his forehead against its fur.

His magic core flared to life, activating his innate ability: Capture!

A blinding flash of light erupted from the wild boar’s form of magic core, pouring from Oliver's forehead as a tidal wave of mental energy surged forth.

The tiger's body stiffened, as if struck by lightning.

But the tiger's mental fortitude far surpassed the boar’s. A violent backlash of spiritual energy surged through Oliver, leaving him momentarily dazed. The scent of iron filled his nostrils as blood trickled from them.

In a battle of pure willpower, victory was uncertain. However, after several intense minutes of struggle, the tiger’s mental energy began to wane. Oliver’s power was gaining the upper hand!

An invisible bridge of spiritual connection began to form between their souls. The forest's king was successfully captured!

Breathing heavily, Oliver collapsed onto the ground, a wave of elation flooding him.

[Captured: Striped Giant Tiger, can evolve]

[New form of magic core unlocked]

Eager to learn more, Oliver opened his information panel.

[Striped Giant Tiger (Red): Current Fusion Level low, can slightly enhance perception.]

[Special Skill: Bloodlust Tracking. You can detect the scent of blood within a certain range and track its source.]

[Consume 150 Life Essence to upgrade this form and the captured creature simultaneously.]

Bloodlust Tracking?

As a hunter, this skill would be incredibly useful for future hunts!

But beyond the tracking ability, the greatest prize was the tiger itself.

Amidst the tangled underbrush, Oliver lay on the ground, flanked by his two companions—his wild boar on one side and the giant tiger on the other. Their imposing figures almost blocked out the sun, giving him an overwhelming sense of security.

"From now on, I'll call you Little Cat," he said, scratching the tiger's lowered head. The once fearsome beast now purred under his touch, as tame as a housecat.

"You’ll help me hunt," Oliver added with a grin.

With their new mental link, the beasts had become quite intelligent and could now understand human speech. That was one of the perks of their bond.

After giving his new "Little Cat" a few instructions, Oliver succumbed to the exhaustion of mental strain and leaned back against a sturdy oak, comforted by the knowledge that the wild boar would alert him to any approaching danger.

He slept soundly until dusk.

Awakened by the faint scent of blood, Oliver shot upright, sensing something was off. Why hadn’t the boar woken him?

He quickly scanned his surroundings, his body tense, only to let out a relieved breath. There was no immediate threat.

Before him lay a pile of prey—a deer, a goat, and five rabbits, all stacked together like a small mountain. One rabbit, frozen in fear, huddled in the corner, clearly intimidated by a single look from the tiger.

"With this many animals, even the least valuable would fetch several silver coins!" Oliver exclaimed, amazed. Today had been a windfall!

Seeing his delight, the tiger nudged him with its massive head, pressing against his chest in an affectionate gesture.

Truly, the king of beasts excelled at hunting. Its prowess in the forest was unrivaled. While the wild boar was formidable, it was an omnivore, and not nearly as skilled as the tiger when it came to tracking prey.

Noticing the tiger’s eager expression, Oliver reached into his pack and pulled out a sprig of Mandrake root, tearing off a small piece and tossing it to the tiger. Its eyes lit up, and it quickly devoured the offering, chewing with obvious pleasure.

Mandrake was a magical plant, and the tiger instinctively recognized its value. Though it contained some toxicity, a beast of its size could handle it without issue.

The wild boar, witnessing this, salivated. Sensing its role as a guardian, Oliver tossed it a chunk of the root as well.

After savoring their treat, the two creatures rolled playfully on the ground, causing the forest floor to tremble slightly under their weight. Oliver instructed them to coexist peacefully in the woods and to seek out magical plants during their time together.

With the deer, goat, and other prey loaded onto a small cart, Oliver made his way toward town.

By the time he arrived, night had fully fallen. Aside from the flickering candles in the taverns, the streets were eerily quiet.

Oliver’s arrival caused a stir in the tavern. Hunters, farmers, and townsfolk paused their revelry, stunned by his unexpected entrance.