章 8: Fight the fear

Blinking several times, not wanting to believe what he had just heard, Rakahn stared at Cliff, unsettled.

In the clans, there was a list of monsters that should never be approached—abominations synonymous with fear for everyone living in this forest. The Bear was one of them.

And now, they were going to fight it.

"I can't believe it."

Rakahn followed Cliff without a word, his hands gripping his swords tightly. He wasn't even sure what to call them—swords or axes—with their long, curved blades and extended handles. He had inherited them when he took the place of patriarch during the war.

They walked through piles of crushed bat bones, quickly approaching the Bear's lair. Rakahn's heartbeat echoed in the cave, but he clung to the small hope that Cliff had a plan. After all, with their combined strength, they might succeed. They had to succeed. Failure meant death, and that was what Rakahn feared most.

Rakahn could feel Cliff's powerful aura. His mana was dense, exuding a sense of danger. Having him as an ally might be more than just beneficial—it could be crucial.

"He's something else," Rakahn thought, his admiring gaze fixed on Cliff walking ahead.

Cliff stopped and signaled with one hand. Rakahn immediately moved into position, waiting for Cliff's cue.

A heavy silence filled the cave until a growl pierced the air. Swallowing hard, Cliff motioned to Rakahn before charging toward the Bear.

With his katana in hand, Cliff aimed to impale the beast's torso. But the abomination didn't budge.

A loud crack echoed as Cliff was flung backward, as if he were nothing but a piece of paper.

Wide-eyed, Cliff looked down at the three massive claw marks between his chest and stomach. The pain began to register, but thanks to his high resistance, it was bearable.

He stood up, glaring at the creature—no, the monster—that had wounded him. His eyes burned with fury, the grinding of his teeth echoing through the cave.

"How dare you? How dare a miserable creature like you spill my blood? I'll make you regret it."

Cliff's voice was filled with venom. Calling the Bear a "miserable creature" was audacious. To any onlooker, it would seem like Cliff was the miserable one.

The Bear towered over four meters in height, with a row of long, pointed horns lining its forehead. Each of its steps made the earth tremble, its claws and fangs as sharp as they were menacing.

Cliff ripped off what remained of his tattered shirt, holding his sword in both hands. He channeled mana into his arms, strengthening them, just as the Bear lunged at him.

Cliff quickly ducked, feeling the wind from the Bear's swipe graze his head. A cold sweat ran down his back as he sprinted to the side.

"She's fast! I could barely react!"

Despite its massive size, the Bear was quick and agile, controlling its immense body with ease. It roared and charged at Cliff.

He was overwhelmed, dodging and stumbling in every direction to avoid the Bear's relentless attacks. His mind raced as he thanked his past training in acrobatics and his now flexible body, which had greatly improved his agility. But even then, it was still hard to keep up with the abomination's movements.

"What the hell! I thought I was the one killing it. If I don't find an opening soon, I'll be the one who dies!"

Cliff thought, gripping his sword tightly, infusing mana into both his legs and arms. His muscles tensed, ready to strike. He considered lunging for the Bear's neck but hesitated—his instincts screamed of danger.

Backing away, Cliff shouted:

"Rakahn, NOW!"

He had done his part, distracting the beast and giving Rakahn the chance to strike from behind—just as they had planned.

Rakahn leaped and swung his swords toward the abomination's neck. His eyes widened in terror as his blades crunched against the Bear's thick fur, but they left a wound. The beast was strong, but not invincible.

Rakahn tumbled backward, putting distance between himself and the creature. Its attention was now on him, but he knew he wouldn't be able to hold it for long. He only needed a few seconds.

And in just a fraction of those seconds, Cliff seized the opportunity.

The sound of grinding metal filled the air as a blade pierced through the Bear's torso. The creature roared in pain, thrashing wildly in all directions.

Cliff, still clinging to its back, struggled to pull his sword free. The beast's violent movements made it impossible for him to maintain his balance.

Frustrated, he released his katana and was thrown off. Twisting his body midair, Cliff landed on his feet. With no other weapon, he signaled to Rakahn to toss him one of his swords.

Rakahn threw the sword, and Cliff caught it with one hand. Without hesitation, he charged at the beast once more, all the mana he had left flowing through his body. He aimed for the creature's right flank.

Shlack!

The blade plunged between the Bear's ribs. A deafening roar of pain echoed through the cave, shaking the very walls. Rakahn, watching the scene unfold, was stunned. His thoughts raced.

"To think that this abomination is one of the weaker monsters on that list…"

Rakahn shook his head, trying to clear his mind.

He approached Cliff, who was standing over the dying beast, twisting his blade beneath its ribs, eliciting more agonized screams.

"It's terrifying! This monster must've hurt him deeply in the past for him to act with such cold blood."

Rakahn couldn't help but wonder who the real monster was.

When the Bear finally took its last breath, Cliff rose and glanced at Rakahn. Blood streamed down his face, and a twisted smile spread across his lips, sending chills down Rakahn's spine.

"He's a real monster!" Rakahn whispered to himself.

"Let's head to your village. I think this much meat can feed at least a hundred people, right?"

Cliff asked.

"Um… yes, I think so, Lord Cliff," Rakahn replied, quickly moving toward the fallen beast.

After fighting fiercely for their lives, they now turned to carve up thier prize.

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