Chapter 197: Fight

A large packet appeared in Leo’s hands. He raised an eyebrow.

?The packaging was surprisingly colorful, covered with cartoonish drawings of various mutant beasts and strange writing that looked like a cheerful advertisement. Leo didn’t bother trying to decipher it. He tore open the bag, walked toward the center of the clearing, and poured the mixture of dried plants, grains, and small pellets onto the ground.

?The moment the feed hit the air, a peculiar scent spread through the forest. Atlas’s nose twitched, his eyes widened, and a line of drool trickled from the corner of his mouth.

?"Seems delicious."

?Leo’s eyebrow twitched.

?"That’s mutant beast feed."

"This isn’t human food."

"I’ll give you something better later."

?Atlas brightened.

?"Really?"

?Leo nodded, grabbed him by the shoulder, and pulled him away from the open ground. They crouched behind a patch of tall grass several meters away, where Atlas peeked through the blades.

?"Big Brother, what are we doing?"

"Are we playing hide and seek?"

?"Something like that." Leo pointed toward the scattered feed. "When a beast arrives, don’t let it eat the feed."

"We don’t have another packet."

?Atlas nodded with complete seriousness.

?"You’ll hold them down while I weaken them."

"Then you deliver the finishing blow."

?Atlas’s face lit up.

?"Big Brother, this is exciting."

"I’ve never hunted before."

?Leo glanced at him. "Just don’t get careless."

?Atlas nodded, and the forest fell quiet around them.

?Minutes dragged past. Then, a sharp rustle broke the silence. Leo’s gaze hardened as the bushes parted. A pair of eyes appeared between the leaves, then another, and then a third.

?Three creatures stepped cautiously into the clearing. They looked like massive wild boars, nearly twice the size of normal swine, with coarse gray fur and rough scales shielding their shoulders and backs. Two long tusks protruded from their mouths, curving upward.

?The beasts sniffed the air, drawn in by the smell of the feed. The largest stayed near the tree line while the other two hurried toward the pile.

?The nearest beast lowered its snout, stopping inches from the food, with the second crowding right behind it. Leo reached inside his vest, slipping several throwing knives between his fingers. He glanced at Atlas and gave a silent signal.

?"Now."

?Atlas exploded from the grass.

?"HYAAAH!"

?The mutant beasts barely had time to react before Atlas tackled the largest one, grabbing it by the back. The beast squealed and kicked wildly, but Atlas grunted and lifted the massive creature off its feet, slamming it hard into the dirt. The ground shook with a heavy thud.

?Before Atlas could recover, another beast lowered its head and charged, crashing straight into him. Atlas staggered back several steps, digging his heels into the soil until he stopped the beast’s momentum.

?"HA!"

?He clenched his fist and punched the beast directly in the forehead. Bone cracked under the blow, and the creature stumbled backward, dazed.

?Seeing the tide turn, the third beast turned and bolted toward the forest. Leo stepped out from the grass and flicked his wrist.

?"Void Edge."

?A dark sheen spread across his throwing knives. Recalling his fight with the Mandrake Python, Leo infused the steel with Zen and let them fly.

?The blades whistled through the air. One struck the fleeing beast’s hind leg, another caught the leg of the beast attacking Atlas, and the third sank into the largest boar’s leg. The black-tinted blades sliced through flesh, leaving all three creatures limping and squealing in anger.

?Atlas took advantage of the opening. He jumped onto the nearest beast and hammered its head with his bare fists.

?The impacts echoed across the clearing, but the beast refused to fall. Leo narrowed his eyes; the creature’s skull was far tougher than expected. Atlas had plenty of strength, but he lacked a weapon to concentrate that power.

?Leo reached for his card belt, pulling one out.

?Uncommon Card — Double-Headed Axe

Description:

A sturdy two-sided battle axe forged from a durable alloy.

The handle is constructed from a lightweight but highly durable material, making the weapon easier to control despite its size.

?With a thought, Leo released the card. Light flashed, and a large double-headed axe materialized in his grip. Its dark, reinforced handle was built for heavy blows, flanked by two curved blades.

?Leo tossed it across the distance.

?"Atlas! Catch!"

?Atlas turned, eyes widening as the weapon spun through the air. He caught it with both hands, the weight forcing him back a step. He swung it through the air, listening to the heavy whistle of the blade.

?"Big Brother, this is awesome!"

?"Don’t fool around." Leo pointed at the struggling beast. "Finish it."

?Atlas set his jaw and raised the axe high.

?Before he could swing, a deep growl vibrated through the clearing. The largest beast had recovered, its heavy muscles tensing before it burst forward like a cannonball. It slammed into Atlas from the side, throwing him through the air and crashing him into a thick tree.

?The trunk cracked violently under the impact.

?"Atlas!"

?Leo moved before the echo died.

?"Void Walk."

?A dark streak flashed across the clearing, and Leo reappeared behind the largest beast with his twin katanas already coated in Void energy. The boar tried to turn, but Leo swept his blades across its leg tendons—first the back leg, then the front.

?Its balance crumbled, and the boar crashed onto its side with a roar.

?Leo backed away just as Atlas emerged from the broken wood, wiping dirt from his face. Atlas locked his eyes on the fallen boar, then tightened his grip on the axe.

?"Got it!"

?Atlas charged. The beast struggled to push itself up on its ruined legs, but Atlas brought the axe down with both hands, cleaving through its thick skull. The creature collapsed motionless.

?Nearby, the second beast was still reeling from Atlas’s earlier punches. Atlas turned toward it without hesitation, raised the weapon, and swung sideways into its neck. The creature dropped, and Atlas finished it with a second strike.

?Further away, the third beast was limping toward the tree line, leaving a trail of blood from its injured leg.

?"Big Brother! That one is escaping!" Atlas called out, taking a step to give chase.

?Leo held up a hand. "Let it go."

?Atlas stopped in his tracks. "But—"

?Leo watched the limping creature disappear into the woods. "These two are enough for now."

?Atlas simply nodded.