SWNOVELXO Chapter 10: The Battle Against the Alpha Horned Rabbit
Max grinned through the tension, standing firm despite the lingering ache from the earlier hit. He extended his hand. "Let's go, Tusk!" he shouted. In a flash of light, the Ironhide Boar materialized beside Tails, snorting and pawing at the ground, ready for action.
Max crouched slightly, his golden eyes locking onto the Alpha Horned Rabbit. "You ready, Tusk?" he asked.
Tusk let out a low grunt, his sharp tusks glinting in the sunlight. Max nodded, a smirk playing on his lips. "Alright, let's show this guy what we're made of."
The Alpha Horned Rabbit pawed the ground, its sharp red eyes darting between Max and his companions. Without warning, it launched itself forward, its curved horns aimed straight at them.
"Tusk, block it!" Max commanded.
Tusk lowered his head, his hide gleaming as he activated his Ironhide ability. The rabbit's charge collided with Tusk's sturdy defense, the force shaking the ground slightly. Tusk held firm, grunting as he pushed back against the rabbit's relentless strength. However, the sheer force of the impact left Tusk skidding back a few feet, his hooves digging into the dirt.
"Tails, now!" Max yelled.
Tails leapt from the tree branches, his twin tails glowing as he activated Vine Snare. Thick vines erupted from the ground, wrapping around the Alpha Horned Rabbit's legs and momentarily halting its movements.
"Good work, Tails!" Max said, his grin widening. He turned to Tusk. "Charge, Tusk!"
With a loud snort, Tusk lowered his head and barreled forward, slamming into the rabbit's side with his Charge ability. The impact sent the beast staggering, but it quickly recovered, snarling as it broke free from the vines.
The rabbit spun around, its eyes glowing with fury as it lunged at Tails. "Tails, dodge it!" Max shouted.
Tails tried to leap away, but the rabbit's sharp horns grazed his side, sending him tumbling to the ground with a pained screech.
"Tails!" Max yelled, his heart pounding. He sprinted toward his companion, but the Alpha Horned Rabbit turned its attention to him instead.
The rabbit charged again, and Max barely had time to raise his arms as the beast's horns struck him. The force sent him sprawling to the ground, dirt and grass flying as he skidded to a stop.
Seria's voice rang out, panic lacing her words. "Max, are you okay?"
"I'm fine!" Max groaned, pushing himself to his knees. "Tails, you good?"
Tails chittered weakly but pushed himself back to his feet, his determination undiminished.
"Tusk, keep it distracted!" Max ordered, struggling to stand.
Tusk charged again, this time slamming into the rabbit's side with enough force to knock it over. The rabbit kicked out with its powerful hind legs, striking Tusk and sending him tumbling backward. Tusk let out a pained grunt but quickly got back on his feet, his eyes locked on the enemy.
Max wiped blood from the corner of his mouth and grinned. "Alright, buddy. Let's finish this. Tails, get ready for one more Vine Snare!"
Tails climbed into the trees, his tails glowing faintly as he positioned himself. The Alpha Horned Rabbit snarled, its red eyes scanning for its next target. Max raised his hand, summoning his steel sword. "Sword's in play now," he muttered to himself.
The rabbit lunged at Max again, but this time he sidestepped, slashing at its flank with the blade. The beast let out a screech, blood staining its silvery fur. "Now, Tails!" Max shouted.
Vines erupted from the ground again, wrapping tightly around the rabbit's legs and slowing its movements. Max turned to Tusk. "One more charge, buddy. Let's go!"
Tusk snorted and lowered his head, charging with all his strength. The collision sent the rabbit crashing to the ground, struggling against the vines as it tried to rise.
Max took a deep breath, his muscles tensing as he activated Savage Leap. He soared into the air, his steel sword crackling with energy. "Sword Magic Skill Combo: Lightning Strike!" he yelled.
The blade glowed with electricity as Max brought it down on the rabbit's head. The impact sent a surge of lightning through the beast, bolts of energy erupting in every direction. The rabbit let out a final roar before collapsing, its massive body twitching from the residual energy.
Max landed unsteadily, dropping to one knee as he caught his breath. He looked over at Tails and Tusk, both of whom were breathing hard but standing strong. "We did it," Max said, a grin spreading across his face.
The twins ran over, their expressions a mix of awe and concern.
"Max, are you okay?" Seria asked, kneeling beside him.
Lira crossed her arms, her green eyes sharp. "You look like hell, but that was… incredible. Turning that rabbit into a lightning rod? Not bad."
Max laughed weakly, falling onto his back and staring at the sky. "Thanks, but man, that thing was tough. I'm going to feel this tomorrow."
Tails hopped onto Max's chest, chittering softly and nuzzling him. Tusk stood nearby, letting out a proud snort as he glanced at the defeated rabbit.
Seria smiled softly. "You did great, Max. That was a tough fight, but you pulled through."
"Yeah, just try not to scare us like that next time," Lira said with a smirk. "We're supposed to be your backup, remember?"
Max gave them a thumbs-up, still lying on the ground. "Noted. Thanks for having my back, guys."
The clearing grew quiet, save for the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze. The Alpha Horned Rabbit lay motionless nearby, its threat neutralized. Max closed his eyes for a moment, letting the adrenaline drain away as he prepared for the next step in their journey.
Chapter: Level Up and Evolution of Beast Taming
Max lay on the ground, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath. The cool breeze of the forest swept over him, carrying the faint scent of grass and earth. With his eyes closed, he let the peace of the moment wash over him, the adrenaline of the battle slowly fading.
"Man," he muttered softly, "that was intense."
Just as he began to relax, a series of rapid dings echoed in his mind. His eyes snapped open, and a glowing screen materialized in front of him.
Ding!
You have leveled up 20 times!
Max blinked, staring at the screen in disbelief. "Wait, 20 levels? That's insane," he said to himself. Another screen appeared immediately after, listing newly unlocked skills, old ones that had evolved, and an exciting new notification.
Ding!
Skill Evolution Detected: Basic Beast Taming → Advanced Beast Bonding
Current Level: 26
New Skill Unlocked:
Storm Slash: Combines wind and lightning into a devastating melee attack. Deals area damage and paralyzes enemies briefly.
Skills Evolved:
Ironhide Blessing → Titanhide Aura: Grants increased defense and resistance to all allies in a radius.
Tornado Summon → Cyclone Surge: Creates a larger tornado that lasts longer and deals continuous damage to enemies caught within.
Lightning Strike → Thunderstorm Wrath: Summons a storm that rains down lightning bolts on multiple enemies.
Basic Beast Taming → Advanced Beast Bonding: Allows deeper emotional and mental connections with tamed beasts, significantly improving their loyalty, abilities, and combat efficiency. Unlocks the ability to share sensory input with beasts temporarily.
Max stared at the screens, his mind racing as he processed the information. "This is unreal," he murmured. "Advanced Beast Bonding? I can connect with my companions on a whole new level now. That's going to change everything."
He chuckled softly, shaking his head in disbelief. "Storm Slash, Cyclone Surge, Titanhide Aura, Thunderstorm Wrath… these are some serious upgrades. Twenty levels in one go? That's gotta be a record."
Max closed his eyes again, letting the implications of his newfound power sink in. "This isn't just a step forward. This is a leap. I need to use this wisely."
Seria's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Hey, Max, are you just going to lie there all day?"
He turned his head slightly, opening one eye to look at her. She stood nearby with her arms crossed, her expression a mix of curiosity and amusement.
"You've been staring at the sky for a while," she added. "What's going on?"
Lira leaned against a tree, smirking. "Yeah, did that rabbit hit you harder than we thought?"
Max sat up slowly, grinning. "You're not going to believe this. I just leveled up 20 times."
Both twins blinked in surprise. "Twenty?" Seria repeated, her green eyes wide. "How does that even happen?"
"That rabbit must've been stronger than it looked," Max said with a shrug. "And that's not all. My skills evolved, and my Beast Taming leveled up into something way more advanced. It's called Advanced Beast Bonding. I can connect with my companions on a whole new level now."
Lira raised an eyebrow. "That's… kind of impressive. So what, you can read their minds now?"
Max laughed. "Not exactly, but I can share their senses and communicate even better. It's going to make us an unstoppable team."
Seria smiled, her tone softer. "That's amazing, Max. You've come a long way in such a short time. Just don't let it go to your head, alright?"
"Who, me?" Max said with a playful grin. "I'm the picture of humility."
Lira snorted. "Sure you are. Just don't get cocky and blow up the whole forest with one of those new skills."
Max chuckled, lying back down and staring at the sky. "No promises. But seriously, thanks for having my back out there. I couldn't have done it without you two."
The twins exchanged a glance, their expressions softening. "That's what we're here for," Seria said.
"Yeah," Lira added. "Besides, watching you pull off those crazy moves was entertaining."
Max smiled, closing his eyes again as the cool forest breeze washed over him. "Here's to more entertaining battles. But maybe let me catch my breath first."
The twins laughed, and for a moment, the clearing was filled with a sense of calm and camaraderie.
To be continued…