Become The Bodyguard of Villainessess?

Chapter 20: First Encounter-3

"Move!" Rowan shouted.

Instinctively, Raymond threw himself to the side. Lyra and Rowan reacted just as quickly, each diving in a different direction.

Whoosh!

A violent gust of wind brushed past

Raymond’s face as the monster shot through the spot where they had been standing only a heartbeat earlier.

Its speed was astonishing.

To Raymond, it looked like nothing more than a massive brown blur tearing through the forest. He quickly turned to look behind him.

Two long trenches had been carved into the ground where the beast’s tusks had scraped across the earth. Each was nearly seven centimeters deep, with loose dirt and shattered roots scattered everywhere.

Raymond narrowed his eyes.

’Those tusks are no joke.’

Had that charge connected, it wouldn’t have simply broken bones. It would have skewered a person clean through.

"Greik!"

The boar let out a rough grunt as it finally skidded to a halt. Its hooves dug into the ground, leaving deep grooves while dust rose around its massive body.

Slowly, it turned around.

Its small crimson beady eyes settled on the trio once more, filled with an unmistakable predatory glint.

The beast lowered its head.

Preparing to charge again. Yet before it could move...

Thwip!

A razor-sharp arrow cut through the air. The projectile raced straight toward the monster’s eye with deadly precision.

The boar reacted instantly.

Its powerful legs pushed against the ground as it jerked its head to the side.

Clang!

The arrow struck one of the creature’s tusks instead. The pointed tip of the arrow shattered into countless splinters upon impact before the shaft bounced harmlessly onto the forest floor.

"Tsk."

Lyra clicked her tongue in annoyance. Her hand was already reaching for another arrow.

"Hmm, this thing’s reflexes are better than I expected."

Rowan tightened his grip on his sword.

"Don’t give it room to charge."

Raymond remained silent. Yet, his eyes never left the monster. Instead of rushing in, he carefully observed it.

The monster jerked its head, a puff of hot breath escaping from its snout. Its beady crimson eyes remained fixed on the trio as it scraped a hoof against the ground.

This time, however, it didn’t lower its body into a full charge. Instead, it simply broke into a run.

Heavy footsteps echoed through the forest as the boar rushed toward them, its muscular frame shaking the ground with every stride.

Raymond’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Unlike its earlier charge, this attack was far more manageable. The explosive burst of speed that had made the first assault so terrifying was absent. Although the monster was still fast, it was moving at a pace he could somewhat track.

’Cooldown, huh.’

Raymond thought, as his hand tightened his grip around the hilt of his sword.

’At this speed, I can deal with it.’

The boar rapidly closed the distance, letting out an angry squeal as it swung its head, trying to gore whoever stood in front of it.

Before it could reach him, Rowan stepped forward. His sword flashed in a clean horizontal arc.

Clang!

The blade collided with one of the monster’s tusks, sending bright sparks flying through the air.

The impact didn’t even make Rowan back a single step, however the same couldn’t be said for the monster as the impact knocked the beast’s head slightly off balance.

"Now!" Rowan shouted.

Lyra reacted instantly. She released another arrow.

Thwip!

This time, the projectile didn’t aim for the boar’s head. Instead, it struck its front leg.

Pshk!

The arrow pierced through the thick hide, burying itself deep into the muscle.

"Greik!"

The monster cried out in pain as its pace faltered for a brief moment. Raymond also didn’t let the opportunity slip away.

His foot pushed off the ground.

In a single motion, he appeared beside the injured beast. The silver blade gleamed beneath the filtered sunlight, as it descended toward the monster’s exposed flank.

Slash!

The black blade bit deep into the boar’s thick hide, opening a long wound across its side. Warm blood sprayed onto the grass as the beast let out a furious squeal.

"Greikkk!"

The monster immediately swung its massive body toward Raymond, its tusks carving through the air with frightening

force.

Instead of trying to block the attack, he pushed off the ground and retreated several steps.

Whoosh!

The tusks swept past him, missing his chest by only a few inches. The force behind the swing alone stirred the air around him.

’Too much strength...’ He thought.

He steadied his footing while keeping his eyes fixed on the boar. Its offense was powerful. Its defense was impressive.

But there was one thing it lacked.

Agility.

It lacked the speed without its previous skill.

Every attack carried tremendous force, yet each required a brief moment before the monster could recover. That tiny opening was enough.

"Keep it distracted!" Rowan shouted.

Without waiting for a reply, he rushed in again. Mana flowed through his sword as he slashed at the boar’s shoulder.

Clang!

The blade scraped across the beast’s thick hide, leaving another wound. The monster roared and immediately turned toward

Rowan.

That was exactly what Raymond had been waiting for. He sprinted forward from the beast’s blind side.

His free hand stretched out. Mana gathered rapidly. Cold air spread across the clearing.

A long spear of frost formed before his palm. With a flick the spear shot forward.

The spear shot forward.

Crack!

It struck the injured front leg where Lyra’s arrow had pierced moments ago. The ice shattered on impact, but the force drove the broken arrowhead deeper into the wound.

"Greik!"

The boar stumbled, its injured leg buckling beneath its own weight.

"Nice one!" Lyra shouted.

She immediately drew another arrow. This time she aimed lower.

Thwip!

The arrow buried itself into the monster’s other front leg. With both legs injured, the boar’s balance finally gave way. Its massive body lurched forward.

"Now!" Rowan yelled.

The three moved almost simultaneously.

Raymond attacked from the front, forcing the monster to raise its tusks.

Lyra fired another arrow toward its face.

The beast instinctively tilted its head to avoid the projectile.

And in that exact instant Rowan appeared beside it. His sword was already in motion.

A deep crimson line appeared across the monster’s neck. For a heartbeat, the boar remained frozen.

Then blood erupted from the wound.

The beast staggered backward, letting out one final, weak squeal before its legs gave out completely.

Thud.

Its enormous body crashed onto the forest floor, shaking the ground beneath them.

Silence returned.