Knox and Aria moved cautiously across the open field, their breath misting visibly in the crisp air. Snow crunched softly beneath their boots, each step deliberate and wary. Around them lay the aftermath of Knox’s earlier confrontation—shattered fences, gouged earth, and streaks of blood painting the snow in grim contrast. Despite the chaos, the elusive boar itself remained hidden.

  Knox narrowed his eyes, scanning the tree line, muscles tensed with expectation. The quiet felt unnatural. "We’re going to need to flush it out."

  Aria glanced at him, expression steady and composed. "Then we clear out its distractions first."

  "Simple enough," Knox murmured dryly, though both knew simple in Mythwrath meant dangerous.

  They approached the nearest pig—a hulking creature snuffling among the ruins of crops, oblivious to their approach. Knox gripped Aria’s knife tightly, its unfamiliar weight reminding him of their tenuous alliance. Without words, both surged forward simultaneously.

  Their initial teamwork immediately fell into disarray. Knox lunged aggressively, stabbing deep into the pig’s shoulder. It squealed in pain, twisting violently. Aria rushed to intercept, shield raised, but Knox had already moved again, narrowly avoiding a tusk swipe and leaving Aria off-balance.

  “Watch your positioning!” Aria shouted, frustration barely concealed.

  “Try keeping up!” Knox retorted, eyes blazing fiercely as he ducked another frenzied swipe.

  Their movements clashed awkwardly—Knox’s unpredictable aggression versus Aria’s controlled defense. It was a brutal dance of mismatched rhythms. Eventually, the pig collapsed, overcome by relentless attacks, leaving neither feeling satisfaction from the chaotic victory.

  Panting slightly, Knox glared at Aria. "We can’t keep doing this. One of us needs to lead."

  Aria met his gaze steadily, eyes calm but unyielding. "I’m built to tank. Use that to your advantage."

  Knox hesitated briefly, irritation flickering across his face, but he nodded curtly. “Fine. Let’s try it your way.”

  They approached the next pig with clearer understanding. Aria took the forefront, moving decisively. She taunted the creature, immediately drawing its aggressive focus. Knox circled swiftly, eyes scanning for vulnerabilities. With Aria absorbing blows effortlessly, Knox could focus entirely on precise, powerful strikes from behind.

  Their new approach quickly proved effective. Knox moved fluidly around Aria’s solid defense, landing devastating blows while the pig struggled futilely against Aria’s unyielding shield. Each coordinated strike built a rhythm—balanced aggression and disciplined control blending seamlessly.

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  “Better,” Aria admitted grudgingly as the pig fell heavily into the snow.

  Knox wiped blood from the blade, satisfaction mingling in his eyes. “Efficient,” he conceded with a nod.

  They dispatched several more pigs, refining their newfound synergy with each encounter. Knox found himself appreciating Aria’s steadfastness, while she respected his explosive yet calculated aggression. Each fight solidified their dynamic further.

  Yet still, no sign of the boar.

  Just as doubt gnawed at Knox’s patience, a loud crack echoed ominously from the woods. Both turned sharply, weapons raised instinctively. The massive boar erupted from the trees, eyes wild, tusks glinting wickedly, rage radiating from every movement. Knox recognized the farmer's axe, still buried deep in one of its eyes, the handle protruding grotesquely, a grim reminder of their earlier encounter.

  Knox’s adrenaline surged. This was it—the fight he'd been waiting for. His heart pounded, anticipation sharpening his focus. He rushed forward, determined to exploit the synergy they'd built. Aria, steadfast, positioned herself to intercept, shield braced.

  Their first clash was thunderous. The boar charged violently, hitting Aria’s shield with brutal force, the impact echoing across the field. Knox moved swiftly to flank, knife flashing as he struck fiercely at its exposed side. The beast roared, pivoting sharply, the embedded axe handle flailing with its movements. Knox barely evaded the slashing tusks, forced to dive and roll aside.

  Knox watched Aria closely as he regained his footing. Her movements were precise, almost mechanical. She absorbed each brutal impact without faltering. Knox's mind raced, recalling paladin abilities from beta—she'd mentioned the Bulwark path earlier, and clearly had access to a taunt. Her stance was impeccable, her defenses never wavering. Beyond that, though, Knox could only guess at the specifics of her skillset. Whatever she was doing, it wasn't basic piety alone.

  Shaking off distraction, Knox lunged again, knife biting deeply into the boar’s flank. But frustration built with every strike. He felt no surge, no rush of strength his Fury path should grant. Each attack was driven purely by his physical prowess, and it wasn’t enough. Annoyance gave way to desperation as Knox fought to push harder, ignoring growing fatigue.

  The battle dragged on, the boar relentless in its fury. Aria’s resilience amazed Knox—she maintained perfect control, deflecting every blow, giving him critical openings. Her calm amidst chaos fascinated him, forcing Knox to admit a grudging admiration.

  Eventually, the boar slowed, exhaustion evident in its heavy breaths and faltering steps. Recognizing their moment, Knox surged forward with renewed determination. He grasped the protruding axe handle with his free hand, wrenching it violently, tearing the blade free from the boar's eye. With a roar of effort and defiance, he drove the axe deep into the beast's skull, using every ounce of remaining strength. The boar staggered, shrieked, and finally collapsed, twitching briefly before becoming utterly still.

  Panting heavily, Knox stood over the corpse, frustration mixing with triumph. Aria approached calmly, breathing deeply but controlled. “We found a workable rhythm,” she remarked softly.

  Knox scowled bitterly, wiping blood from the blade. “Doesn't matter if my class won’t function.”

  Aria’s eyes narrowed in confusion. “Your class isn’t working?”

  He sighed heavily, irritation evident. “No resource building. No abilities. Nothing. Not since logging in.”

  She studied him silently, genuine shock flickering briefly behind her composed facade. “That explains a lot. You fought remarkably, given that.”

  Knox shrugged begrudgingly. “Didn’t have much choice.”

  Aria nodded slowly, thoughtful admiration evident. “Even without system support, you're formidable.”

  Knox managed a dry chuckle. “I'll take that as a compliment.”

  Mutual respect softened lingering tension. Aria turned to leave, pausing briefly. "Until next time, Knox."

  "Next time," he echoed, voice firm.

  _______________________________________________________________________________

  Aria walked quietly down the snowy path, composed but unsettled. Knox’s performance without abilities was startlingly impressive. She considered the implications—his raw skill and instinct alone had matched her methodical, ability-driven style.

  A small smile formed, her competitive spirit ignited. Knox represented a compelling challenge. For now, she held the advantage, but maintaining it would demand everything she had.