Chapter 198: Screams

Seeing the two beasts lying motionless on the ground, Leo reached for his card belt and pulled out a single card: the Mutant Beast Encyclopedia. With a thought, he activated it. A brief flash of light gave way to a thick, ancient book resting in his grip. Worn leather reinforced its dark brown cover, and strange symbols were carved along the edges. Its yellowed pages looked as though they had survived centuries.

Leo glanced down at the cover. "Let’s see what this beast is."

The moment Atlas saw the book, his eyes lit up.

"Big Brother! Big Brother!" he called out, bouncing on his feet. "Me! Me! Let me try it!"

Leo shook his head with a faint grin and handed the tome over. "Go ahead."

Atlas grabbed it, beaming.

While Atlas fussed over the book, Leo walked back toward the scattered bait. Reaching into his Void Pocket, he pulled out a container. The feed had already proven its worth, and there was no point in leaving any behind. He knelt in the dirt, gathering every last grain.

Behind him, Atlas bustled over to the nearest corpse, carrying the encyclopedia in both hands. He set the heavy cover down against the beast’s body.

For a breath, nothing happened.

Then came a soft flip.

The pages started turning on their own—slowly at first, then blurring into a swift rustle. Atlas watched in awe until the movement abruptly stopped, locking onto a double-page spread. A detailed illustration of the fallen creature stretched across the parchment, with fresh ink bleeding into words beneath it.

Two-Tusked Boar

A fierce mutant beast.

Its hide is exceptionally tough, while its body possesses tremendous strength.

Adult Two-Tusked Boars are especially dangerous when threatened. When charging toward a target, they can accelerate at astonishing speed, turning their massive bodies into devastating weapons.

Their two hardened tusks can easily tear through flesh and break through ordinary defenses.

Atlas stared at the page, wide-eyed.

"Big Brother!" he shouted, pointing at the text. "Look! It knows what this thing is!"

Leo secured the last of the feed, capped his container, and walked over to inspect the book. "I see."

He extended a hand. "Give it to me. We still have work to do."

With a reluctant sigh, Atlas handed the encyclopedia back. Leo tucked it away, turning his attention back to the two heavy corpses lying in the clearing.

"Bring the axe."

Atlas picked it up without hesitation.

Leo led him a few steps away, stopping before a slender tree. He gestured to its trunk. "Chop it down."

Atlas blinked, confused for a second, but raised the heavy axe high.

SHING!

CRACK!

A single swing cut clean through the wood. The tree tilted to the side and crashed down into the brush with a heavy BOOM!

Atlas puffed out his chest, looking up proudly. "Done!"

Leo gave an approving nod and pointed to the fallen wood. "Carry it over there."

Atlas hauled the log as if it weighed nothing, bringing it back beside the boars. From his Void Pocket, Leo drew a length of sturdy rope. He lashed one corpse to each end of the timber, securing them tightly.

"Lift it."

Atlas grabbed the middle of the log and hoisted the entire thing onto his shoulder in one smooth movement. The two massive boars dangled on either side like a balanced yoke. He turned back, waiting.

Leo nodded. "Let’s go back."

Atlas nodded back, full of energy.

They set off into the treeline. Leo took the lead, keeping an eye out for the notch marks he had carved into the bark on their way in. Behind him, Atlas stepped along effortlessly, carrying the heavy load. The path was marked clearly, making their return trip simple.

As they walked, Atlas couldn’t hold in his excitement any longer.

"Big Brother!" he blurted out. "Today was the most exciting thing I’ve ever done! I hunted mutant beasts! I used a giant axe! And i even used magic "

Leo glanced over his shoulder. Atlas kept babbling, his face glowing with pride. A faint smile broke across Leo’s face.

"Alright," Leo said softly. "I get it. You had a lot of fun."

Atlas grinned, but Leo’s expression turned earnest.

"But you know you can’t tell anyone about the magic and other things I showed you, right?" Leo reminded him. "This is going to be our little secret."

Atlas nodded firmly. "Don’t worry, Big Brother. I won’t tell anyone. You can trust me."

Leo studied his face for a beat, then smiled. "Yes. I trust you."

Atlas’s grin broadened.

The two continued through the woods—one picking out subtle cuts on the tree trunks, the other effortlessly bearing the weight of two massive beasts.

Halfway back to the camp, distant shouting echoed through the trees.

Leo stopped, turning toward the noise.

"Those are the voices of people from the convoy."

"Looks like they’ve encountered trouble."

He turned toward Atlas.

"I’ll go ahead and check."

"You follow slowly from behind."

"And don’t lose the boars we hunted."

Leo paused.

"And be careful."

Atlas nodded.

"Don’t worry, Big Brother."

Leo activated Void Walk and vanished.

Guided by the commotion, he wove through the forest until he reached a clear spring surrounded by trees. Seven or eight convoy members were gathered along the bank. Two sat on the ground clutching their bleeding hands, where strange, fish-like creatures clamped onto their fingers and bit into their flesh. The others scrambled to pry the beasts off.

Leo’s gaze swept across the chaos and landed on Jenny, who stood right at the water’s edge.

A shadow stirred beneath the surface.

Leo cast out his Void Sense, feeling a heavy threat hovering right behind her.

"Jenny!"

"Watch out!"

She turned at his voice.

The water exploded behind her as a massive mutant snake surged out. Fin-like appendages flared from the sides of its head, its jaws snapping open as it lunged toward her.

Jenny froze, unable to move in time, and squeezed her eyes shut.