Eren stood up while Velira still lay sprawled on the ground—exhausted.
She turned her gaze toward him, her voice low and dull. "What are you doing?"
"Hunting," Eren replied, eyes fixed on something in the distance.
"With that hand?" Velira asked, her brows drawing together. But Eren didn't answer. Instead, he simply tugged up his pants and gestured toward his shirt.
"Your clothes are in worse shape," he said, then glanced at her. "Put that on and follow me."
Velira pouted but didn't argue. With a soft grunt, she slowly pushed herself up.
Eren watched as she slipped on the dress. Once done, he gave a small nod and turned, heading deeper into the forest. Velira followed close behind, hurrying to catch up.
Far in the distance, Eren spotted a herd of large, antlered beasts.They were smaller than the one they'd faced earlier that morning, but still massive—each one tall enough to tower over him.
The creatures grazed quietly in the open field as Eren came to a halt a few paces away.
He gestured to Velira. "Our target."
Velira shot him a baffled, slightly irritated look. "They're omnivores. They'll eat you before you even get the chance? Forget your sword skills."
Eren didn't budge; he simply kept staring. "It'll be fine," he said quietly, then glanced at her. "Bring me two big branches. After that, climb a tree."
Velira hesitated but, seeing the seriousness in his eyes, she agreed and carried out his instructions.
Now, Eren thought, eyes locked on the grazing beasts.
Just one of them... Come close enough.
He waited in silence, breath held, his plan hinging on a single step—the moment one of the beasts wandered too close.
Drawn by the thick grass, a beast ambled too near the large bush where Eren lay hidden.
He glanced up at the tree.
Velira was there, perched high in the branches, watching.
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He burst out from behind the thick bush, and in one swift, fluid motion, swung the branch clenched in his left hand.
It landed squarely against the beast's skull with a thunderous WHAM!
The ground trembled beneath the impact.The air seemed to split, then rush back in—filling the void with a sudden gust. Dust scattered from the earth in a wave, swept clean by the force.
The beast's skull cracked open, spraying Eren with warm red fluid and chunks of pulp.
Eren flinched back, wiping at his face—but it was already coated in gore and viscera.
Now's not the time.He turned sharply.
A dozen eyes locked onto him, hooves thundering as the rest of the herd charged straight at him.
"Tch. The hardest part."
Eren sprinted to the nearest tree and scrambled up, pulling himself onto a thick branch just in time.
From above, he watched—dozens of antlered beasts, mouths open and eyes wild, stormed toward the tree like maddened monsters.
Eren drew a sharp breath, steadying his nerves as he glanced at the stick tucked into the side of his pants.
His mind raced—thoughts clashing and spiraling—just as the herd slammed their heads into the tree's base all at once.
The trunk shuddered violently.
Eren staggered, arm flailing, nearly slipping from the branch.
Eren's heart pounded in his chest. Pain surged through his body, but he forced it down, teeth gritted, tears welling in his eyes. With a strained breath, he managed to lift his other hand—grasping the branch now raised high above his head.
He shouted the words just as the beasts rammed the tree again, causing it to tilt violently beneath him as he—jumped.
Tears flung from his eyes, caught midair, as gravity pulled him downward. His fingers gripped the branch tight—clenched with everything he had.
Eren growled—his cry sharp and primal—drawing the attention of the entire horde.
"First Form: Lesser Wyvern's Tail."
He brought the stick down with full force.
The ground beneath the Hornbeasts shattered.
Before they could even react, their necks collapsed into a pulpy smear of bone and flesh—all at once.
The Hornbeasts' necks dropped limp, their massive heads hitting the ground while the rest of their bodies still stood—legs trembling, flailing in pain.
They kicked wildly, scraping the earth in pure agony, until their crushed necks gave way entirely. One by one, their bodies collapsed, twitching violently before the light faded from their eyes.
Eren staggered, a sharp crack echoing through his arm.Pain was already surging through it.
His hand was done. He could feel it. He dropped, gurgling a scream as agony overtook him.
Blood poured from his arm, pooling on the dirt, and the world around him dimmed as blackness swallowed his mind.