I started my trek back towards the beach, trying to keep a closer eye on my surroundings after my near miss of the viper attack. Unfortunately, I wasn’t too familiar with the various sounds this type of environment could make, and I found myself at a loss when I tried to determine what was a threat and what was general ambient noise. The rustling of foliage and call of various birds and animals made it pretty difficult to sort out any dangers. I was jumping at shadows.

One of those proverbial shadows I’d picked up on happened to be moving in my direction, which caused me once again to freeze up, much to my distress. Despite my recent victory and level, I still hadn’t reconciled myself to the rapidly self-evident truth that everything on this island was trying to kill me. At least, that seemed to be the case based on the events of the last day or two.

I stood, slightly crouched, as I focused on the section of brush that the sound was originating from. Soon, shuffling resolved into a low grunting, and out of the bushes trundled a porcine figure with rather menacing tusks. I eyed it warily. I’d much rather avoid fighting, if possible. I had no urge to test my new warrior skills, such as they were. I held my hands out and spread to the sides and slowly edged out of its path, trying to continue on my way towards the beach.

Unfortunately, my efforts to de-escalate didn’t seem to be very effective, as I could see it pawing at the ground and lowering its tusks towards me. I quickly backed away again, putting my hands up in some semblance of a defensive position, my weight shifted to allow me to dodge out of the way as much as I could.

The creature my vague memories seemed to be pretty confident was a boar of some sort rushed towards me, but I managed to scramble out of the way as planned. I tried kicking it as it charged past me, but my attempts to keep out of its way meant my timing was off and I missed rather awfully. I tried backing away further towards the beach and the boar swung its head at my retreating form.

Having put a little distance between us, I turned around and bolted down the trail towards the beach. I could hear the boar pawing at the ground and grunting before hoofbeats were rapidly approaching. I quickly leapt to the side as the hair stood up on the back of my neck, right before it plowed through the position I’d previously occupied. I now found myself sprawled in the dirt and underbrush with the boar between me and the trail back to the beach, and it was rounding for another charge.

I stood up and once again set myself up to dodge out of its way. It was becoming pretty clear that the beast wouldn’t leave me alone. I didn’t feel particularly confident, but I’d have to at least do some damage to potentially scare this thing away. I felt my muscles tense up as it speedily approached, ready to duck to the side again as it passed me.

It seemed that the boar was expecting this, as its head shifted to the side as I leapt and instead of avoiding the attack, I found myself leaping directly into one of its tusks.

You have been gored by ??? for 17 HP! (3/31)

You have received massive damage!

Fortitude check failed - your vitality drops! (-20% Max HP) (3/25)

I screamed.

The pain blossomed like fireworks in my mind as my eyes went white. Reflexively, I slammed my fist down on its head as I reeled from the blow.

You have struck for -3HP.

3 Hit Points. I was woefully outclassed. I groaned and gripped on tightly - I couldn’t let it do that again. I kept my grip on the tusk that was currently impaling my torso, trying to prevent it from either entering further or being pulled out to let it do it again. With my other arm I swung brutally at one of its eyes. I missed the mark, hitting the bony ridge above its eye, and the blow didn’t seem to register at all. In response, it tried to jostle me, which made my wound burn further but didn’t seem to cause any real damage, and then tried to bite me. I managed to keep my fist out of its mouth, but I was panicking. I didn’t seem to be able to do any real damage to this thing and I feared that I was a hair’s breadth away from dying.

I swung again, once again missing my target and flailing uselessly against its thick hide. Then, the creature stomped and with a swing of its head managed to bring me down to the ground. I cried out as I lost my grip on its tusk and the form of the beast now loomed over me. Desperately, I kicked out at its head, once again aiming for its eye, and this time, connected with the heel of my foot. The beast squealed in agony as I felt my target give slightly.

You have struck for -2HP!

Targeted Shot: Eye Successful

The beast stumbled and started swinging its head around in pain, and I quickly staggered to my feet, my hand pressed over the wound in my side. I took breaths in shuddering gasps eyeing it cautiously. A huge part of me wanted to try once again to run, but the thought of a single loss of focus leading to another tusk inside me forced down the urge. I also remembered once again that I had chosen this. I was here for a reason, and as much as I wanted to run and heal, there was a small whisper inside of me that rejected the thought of running and hiding vehemently.

This was my island, dammit! This was my challenge!

I roared, and in what was probably the stupidest thing I could have chosen to do, I charged at the disoriented boar, my hand frozen into a crude claw as I aimed for the other eye.

By some stroke of fate, by sheer dumb luck, the boar swung its head directly into the outstretched fingers of my hand, my index and middle fingers finding purchase in its other eye.

You have critically struck for -7HP!

Targeted Shot: Eye Successful

The boar’s squeals were almost deafening, and its frenzied movements almost struck me as I pulled back. I staggered into a defensive stance once more, slightly more confident that I could avoid its attacks as it stumbled about blindly. At this point, I no longer wanted to run away. I wanted to take down this opponent. I wanted to win. I wanted to show this forest that seemed to be solely interested in trying to kill me that I wouldn’t back down, and that I would continue to grow stronger. The boar blindly charged and swung at me once more, and I dodged out of the way, kicking out at it once more as it passed. I missed rather pathetically, but remained resolute on my goal.

It missed me once again, and I responded by bringing the heel of my foot down like an axe on its skull.

You have struck for -1HP!

Maybe it was a glancing blow, but it was progress. I stepped back and returned to my stance, ready for its next attack. At no point did it seem interested in fleeing, so it seemed that we were both determined to end our opponent. Once again it strode forward, but swung wide, missing me by a foot. I tried to kick out at it as it rode by, and once again missed, though the action seemed to have drawn its attention in the opposite direction.Taking advantage of this, I attacked from the other side, snapping a kick into its side.

You have struck for -4HP!

The boar grunted at the blow, turning around and favouring its side somewhat. If it weren’t for the fact that the beast had almost killed me, I’d almost feel sorry for it. That brief sentiment faded quickly as it once again swung out at me, stumbling forward into empty space as I ducked safely out of the way. I once again kicked out at its side, striking with the quickly bruising surface of my foot.

You have critically struck for -2HP!

Target Shot: Torso Successful

I heard something crunch and give way under my foot, a more laboured grunt coming out of the boar’s mouth as I backed off. Its movements were visibly weakening, much to my relief. It once again lashed out, and once again missed. I tried to swing myself, and also missed. We traded these cautious blows, several times, neither of us making headway, until it overextended itself rather significantly and I connected with another axe kick to the skull.

You have critically struck for -5HP!

Target Shot: Head Successful

The beast was stunned momentarily, and I took advantage of this to double down with another slam of my heel into its skull.

You have critically struck for -5HP!

Target Shot: Head Successful

???’s Ferocity keeps it standing.

I wasn’t sure what that last message meant, but the boar was still standing, even as blood began to drip from its mouth. As it continued to stand there, I drew myself up and once again drove my heel down.

You have critically struck for -2HP!

Target Shot: Head Successful

???’s Ferocity keeps it standing.

My next blow brought the beast down, and as it struggled to get up I began to hammer blows down, ignoring my own wounds as I tried to get the beast to finally just fall. Despite a few futile attempts to get back to its feet or strike me with its tusks from the ground, eventually it fell still and I got another notification.

You have slain a Barbaric Boar! You gain 350 Essence.

I took my air in in heaving gasps. This combat had been pretty much as lethal as my fight with the monkey the day before. The boar had only landed a single blow, but that had been enough to almost kill me. I needed to either be better at dodging, or have a lot more defensive options. I touched the corpse and stored it before struggling to my feet and trudging back towards the beach. I didn’t know if the beach was actually safer than anywhere else, but it was quickly becoming my “Home Point”, and I needed to think.