Chapter66

Demonic Blood
The boar charged again, and Hajin barely managed to roll out of the way, his ribs screaming in protest with every movement while dirt kicked up around him.
'Goddammit, this is so annoying,' he thought, pushing himself up on one knee while his free hand pressed against his side. 'Trying to fight with broken ribs is like running with a weight tied to my chest.'
The sword in his other hand felt useless, barely scratching the thing's hide. He found himself wishing for something, anything, that would actually cut through this monster's durability.
He sidestepped another charge, the boar's tusks missing him by inches while he pivoted on his heel and drove his fist into its jaw. The hit sent it stumbling back a few steps, its head snapping to the side while a low growl rumbled from its throat.
It recovered fast, swinging a thick leg toward him, but he ducked under it and swept his own leg behind its front knee, taking the weight out from under it.
The boar crashed forward, its chest hitting the ground, and he used that chance, jumping up immediately, pulling both knees into his chest before driving them down onto its back with everything he had.
The impact made it throw up a mouthful of blood, its body shuddering while its legs kicked uselessly against the ground.
He pushed off and landed a few feet away, already winding up for another strike, but the boar's body suddenly lit up with dark mana.
A blast erupted from its mouth point-blank, the force tearing past his face so close he felt the heat singe his hair. He threw himself backward, landing on his feet and sliding several meters while his heart pounded in his throat.