The Way of the Wild (1)
The wild is brutal. And savage. Demanding "reason" from the animals in the wild is pure foolishness. The strong take everything from the weak—survival of the fittest. At the same time, it's a world where survivors are the strong. Even if I want to act rationally, beasts aren't rational. They're driven by instinct over reason, and that doesn't change even if their intelligence rises.
Trespassers on territory are enemies. Thieves who steal food are enemies. And those who go beyond stealing to devour it? Enemies too. Kill the enemy, or be killed by them. That's the way of the wild—the law of nature.
Whoosh!
The leader gorilla's fist had smashed into that other gorilla's head, launching it like a cannonball toward Ppareumbo. But who is Ppareumbo? The guy who effortlessly dodges arrows fired right in his face. Something like a head flung by a punch? Piece of cake.
'But... that was launched with just a fist?'
Even so, it was shocking. That punch from the leader gorilla I'd just witnessed. It wasn't just raw power—it was perfectly controlled. If he'd brute-forced it, that gorilla's head would've exploded. But somehow, using some trick I couldn't fathom, it shot out like a cannonball without bursting.
"Ooo-ooo! Ooo-ooo!"
"Ooo-ooo! Ooo-ooo!"
Following Ppareumbo's taunt, the leader gorilla attacked. As he pounded his chest, the other gorillas followed suit. Pounding the chest is a clear sign of threat from gorillas. A declaration of war, basically.
"Ha... "
"......"
"Grrr...!"
Unlike me sighing in resignation, Ppareumbo wore his usual relaxed expression. Wonmo seemed to read the mood, bristles fully raised in alert.
'They're the ones who started it, anyway.'
The gorillas had poured the oil, but Ppareumbo tossed the match. The problem? My house was now blazing. What a clusterfuck.
I couldn't put out the fire at home unless I dealt with those gorillas. Steeling myself, I braced for the attack that could come any second.
'Way stronger than the otters. No comparison.'
These weren't just any animals—they were gorillas. The strongest primates in raw strength. Especially with those clubs in their hands; they even used tools. This wouldn't be an easy fight.
What bugged me most was the leader gorilla.
'Why's that guy got nothing? No weapon?'
He seemed even stronger for it. A weird gut feeling.
As I narrowed my eyes, glaring at the leader gorilla, the others charged. True to form, they bounded forward on their long arms, knuckling the ground. Yet the leader hung back, just watching. No direct involvement.
"Ppareumbo. Get on Wonmo's back."
"......"
"Wonmo, you too—don't run off. Stick tight to my back."
I ordered Ppareumbo and Wonmo, then slowly backed away. Charging those gorillas head-on like this? Low odds of winning. Otters were small and their tactics simple—that's how we beat them. But look at these guys. Not just charging straight.
'They're surrounding us.'
Not in a line—they fanned out everywhere. Front, back, both sides. Forming an encirclement. Like they'd done this a hundred times; the second the fight started, they executed it flawlessly.
'Smart bastards, as expected.'
That's what made them dangerous. Humanity sits at the top of the food chain because of intelligence. Even if theirs was way below ours, it was still a threat.
"Kuaaa!"
The encirclement complete, a gorilla met my eyes and swung his club down. Bones, stone axes, wooden clubs—this one had a stone axe. I hurriedly raised my shield to block. Just in case, I channeled mana too.
Claaang!!
The stone axe clashed with my shield, booming like thunder. Fitting for the so-called strongest primate—heavy as hell. Pre-eel, each hit would've been lethal. But no time to dwell on the sound. The wooden-club guy was closing in now. No chance for counterattack; I yanked the shield back desperately.
Whoosh!
The club whistled past my eyes by a hair. At the same instant, the axe gorilla roared and lunged. Those vicious fangs were intimidating, but I shook it off.
Claang!
Axe and shield collided again. But countering? Tough. Like before, the club gorilla followed up. Wild swings, but that's what made them effective—covering each other's gaps.
'At this rate, I'm at a disadvantage.'
No spare moment to check on Wonmo and Ppareumbo. My honed skills let me block and dodge somehow, but three against one? Unless I attacked, I couldn't escape their endless assault.
'Their attacks are simple enough.'
After a few exchanges, I grasped their patterns. Or maybe not "patterns"—more like random flailing. But they used tools.
They bashed me with tools. Using tools inevitably creates openings—the moments when you're committed to the swing. Ironic. They picked up weapons to get stronger, but it created vulnerabilities.
Whoosh!
The stone axe grazed past me. I'd read the downward chop and pulled back.
'Club guy's next.'
I glanced sideways. Sure enough, gorilla swinging his club. Not straight down—diagonal slash. I anticipated the angle and raised my shield. My right hand gripped the sword...
Puk!
...and thrust at the stone-axe gorilla's collarbone. Cheonma's blade, rippling with aura—it pierced easily. His committed stance made shoulder strikes a breeze.
"Kuooooh!!"
Kwang!
The gorilla clutched the wound and reeled back. Meanwhile, my shield blocked the club. Now's the chance. While one was dazed, I'd take out the other first.
'One down...'
This one kept attacking steadily despite his buddy getting hit. That was his downfall. Strong, but slow. And his weapon? Wooden club, not stone axe.
Crack!
No matter how sturdy the wood, it snaps against an iron shield. The moment I heard it break, I slashed diagonally with my sword.
Shlick!
Not a full cleave—more like slicing what I could reach. SwordTasteStar's teaching. Hacking through a whole body demands too much force, killing stability. Swords are about precision over power. If you want brute force, use an axe—she'd said.
'Shoulder could dislocate on impact with something hard.'
Based on that advice, I tweaked my style. Even on clear openings, no overcommitting. Cheonma's sword was so superior, no worries for now.
"Krooooh!!!"
A diagonal gash across the gorilla's torso sent it tumbling back. No blood spray, but deep for sure.
"Kuooo! Ku! Kuooo!"
The gorilla thrashed on the ground. Blood gushed from the sword wound, and ruptured guts spilled from the split belly. Even a light slash from this blade had torn more than half his abdomen. One down.
The other still clutched his shoulder. Our eyes met—he looked terrified. Maybe higher intelligence means unavoidable fear of death.
Puk!
"Guh... guh... "
I finished him with a heart thrust. No beheading—didn't suit me, and cleanup's a pain. Both down, I turned to check Wonmo and Ppareumbo.
"Kyuu... kyu... "
"Wonmo?"
As expected, the two gorillas were cold corpses. But Wonmo whimpered like she was hurt. I glanced at the leader gorilla, then approached her.
"Kyuuu... "
"Claw's broken."
Wonmo's claw was snapped. Not serious, thankfully. Didn't look like a gorilla hit—probably her own mistake. I stroked her head, then addressed Ppareumbo atop her.
"Head to the cave and give Wonmo some elixir. You got this?"
"......"
Ppareumbo nodded. He patted Wonmo's flank. She glanced at me, then waddled toward the cave.
'Now for the last one...'
The leader gorilla. I turned to face him. He'd watched stoically as his kin died. Confidence? Or something else?
'No weapon—that's the biggest red flag.'
Unlike the others with their gear, bare-handed. What made him go unarmed?
I had to ask.
"You done?"
"......"
No answer. He just slowly rose. Lifting his torso, his knuckles left the ground. Short legs compared to his arms—like a sloth's. But thick as logs.
'He's gonna fight...'
Sure enough. He shifted into position. Left foot forward, right back. Left palm out, right at his hip. Finally... a slight torso twist. All together—it formed a stance.
"......"
What the fuck. What was I seeing? That looked exactly like a martial arts stance. And a gorilla was striking it? The kind you can't learn without a master?
I wanted to deny my eyes. Even in the Four Seasons Forest, this was too much.
"......Who taught you?"
"......"
"Who taught—!"
My voice rose involuntarily. But the leader gorilla ignored the question, leaning forward. Clear signal to charge. I calmed down and took my stance.
Shieeek!
Unlike the others, no bounding rush. He glided toward me.
Whooom!!
And right up close—bam. A massive palm aimed at my face. If it connected, my head goes watermelon.
Paang!!
I barely twisted away. Not fully—grazed my cheek. Skin tore; it stung.
'This... this...'
Time seemed to slow. I locked eyes with the leader gorilla. Serene gaze, laced with quiet fury. Yet composed. It hit me—the palm print from today's patrol. Gorilla-sized. Next to a human-sized one.
'Who the hell...!'
Only one implication.
'Who taught this gorilla martial arts?!'
Someone had taught this gorilla martial arts.