They were yellow eyes. They seemed to burn, and they were filled with killing intent.
"Oh no...."
Fierce Eyes muttered. His face turned pale.
"It's a bear!"
Running Deer shouted. His voice trembled.
A huge black shadow emerged from the forest.
It was a Great Bear.
It was larger than two adult men put together, its shoulder height alone looked to exceed the length of two arms, and its front paws were as thick as logs. Its claws were as long as fingers, gleaming white in the sunlight.
The bear's fur bristled, and its teeth were bared. Its fangs were as long as palms, and drool dripped from them.
Ding!
『Enemy Found: Great Bear』
Enemy Information
→ Name: Great Bear
→ Estimated Combat Power: 35
→ Threat Level: Very High
→ Traits: Thick Hide, Powerful Strength, Sharp Claws
→ Recommended Action: Avoid
'Combat Power 35?!'
My Combat Power was 12. There was a difference of nearly three times. Solid Rock was about 18, Running Deer about 10, and Fierce Eyes about 14.
If the four of us were added together, we were higher, but that kind of simple calculation would not mean much.
On top of that, the bear was not merely strong. Its hide was thick, and its claws were sharp. A head-on fight was impossible.
"Back away."
I spoke calmly. I kept my voice low. But my own hands were trembling, and my heart was pounding like mad.
"But, Chieftain...!"
Solid Rock stepped forward. He was gripping his spear tightly, his teeth clenched.
"Back away slowly. Don't provoke it."
We cautiously stepped backward.
One step, then two. We moved our feet carefully, taking care not to step on any branches. We did not take our eyes off the bear.
The bear sniffed. It drew air in through its large nose, analyzing our scent.
"The bear is smelling us."
Fierce Eyes whispered. His voice trembled.
"It seems hungry. When it drools like that, it means it has found prey."
'We can't fight that thing.'
There was no way I could defeat that monster with a Combat Power of 12.
Running was the best option. But bears were fast. The moment we showed our backs, we would be attacked.
"Slowly... Slowly...."
The four of us retreated one step at a time. We kept our spears pointed at the bear and did not look away.
Then the bear suddenly charged.
THUD—! THUD—! THUD—!
The ground shook. Its huge bulk rushed toward us at terrifying speed. It ran on all fours, and it looked like a boulder rolling toward us.
"Aaagh!"
Fierce Eyes screamed.
Terrified, he backed away and fell on his back. He had tripped over a stone. And he dropped his spear.
"Fierce Eyes!"
Solid Rock stepped forward with his spear. He took a stance to throw it with all his strength.
"Don't, Solid Rock!"
It was already too late. Solid Rock threw his spear at the bear.
WHOOSH—!
The spear flew, cutting through the air. It was fast and accurate.
THUNK—!
The spear lodged in the bear's shoulder. Blood splattered, and red blood surged up like a fountain.
Ding!
『Damage to Great Bear!』
→ Damage: 3
→ Great Bear HP: 97/100
"ROOOOAR!"
The bear let out a roar filled with rage.
The sound shook the forest like thunder, and it was so loud that my ears rang.
Blood flowed, but it was not a fatal wound.
Instead, the bear grew even more ferocious. Its eyes turned bloodred, and it foamed at the mouth.
Ding!
『Great Bear Enraged!』
→ Attack Power +20%
→ Cannot Evade
→ Pursues Until the End
'Damn it!'
This was no longer a situation where we could run away. Now we had to fight. An enraged bear would chase us to the end. The moment we showed our backs, we would die.
"Running Deer, to the right! Solid Rock, left! Fierce Eyes, fall back!"
I gave the orders in a loud voice.
Now was not the time to be confused. I had to give firm and clear instructions. If I hesitated, we would die.
The warriors moved according to my orders.
Running Deer quickly ran to the right, Solid Rock circled left, and Fierce Eyes staggered backward.
A triangular formation was created. The three warriors surrounded the bear, and I stood in front.
"Good, hold it like this! When one person attacks, the others cover him!"
The bear charged toward me.
THUD—! THUD—!
The ground trembled. Every step was like an earthquake.
Its enormous front paw swung. It was as large as my torso, and its claws were as sharp as blades.
I rolled to the side. I lowered my body and rolled right. My shoulder struck the ground, and a stone dug into my back.
SWISH—!
The claws grazed my hair. Wind passed beside my ear, and several strands of hair were cut and fell away. Cold sweat ran down me. If I had been even a little slower, my neck would have flown off.
Ding!
『Evasion Successful!』
→ Critical Hit Evaded
→ Counterattack Chance Generated
"Now!"
I shouted.
"Running Deer, now!"
Running Deer threw his spear with all his strength.
WHOOSH—!
THUNK—!
The spear lodged in the bear's flank. It sank deep, and blood surged up.
Ding!
『Damage to Great Bear!』
→ Damage: 4
→ Great Bear HP: 93/100
"Grrrrrk!"
The bear turned toward Running Deer. Its enormous body changed direction quickly.
"Running Deer, dodge!"
Running Deer stepped backward. But the bear's movement was faster.
"Solid Rock, aim for the eye!"
Solid Rock picked up a new spear and charged. He rushed in with a shout.
"Raaah!"
The spearpoint grazed the area around the bear's eye.
THUNK—!
Blood splattered. Blood flowed down over the bear's left eye.
The eyelid was torn, and blood ran into its eye.
The bear staggered. It shook its head.
But it did not fall. Rather, it seemed even angrier.
Ding!
『Damage to Great Bear!』
→ Damage: 5 (Weak Point Attack)
→ Great Bear HP: 88/100
→ Vision Impairment (One Eye)
"This isn't enough...!"
The bear's HP was still 88. Our attacks were nowhere near enough.
"Chieftain, at this rate, we're the ones who'll be killed!"
Solid Rock shouted.
"Don't give up! Keep attacking!"
Then something strange happened.
Heat surged up from my body.
Something hot spread from deep within my chest. It was as if lava were flowing through my veins.
Ding!
『Emergency: Temporary Combat Power Amplification』
System Emergency Support
→ Level 1 Bonus Activated!
→ Combat Power +5 (Temporary)
→ Current Combat Power: 17
→ Duration: 30 sec.
→ Survival Chance Increased: 15% → 45%
'What is this?'
My body grew light. Light as a feather. My arms and legs were not heavy at all. Instead, they overflowed with strength.
My vision became clear. Everything came into sharp focus.
A single strand of the bear's fur, one pebble on the ground, even the dust in the air—I could see all of it. The world seemed to move slowly, and the bear's movements looked like slow motion.
I picked up the spear that had fallen to the ground.
My hand moved on its own, and the hand gripping the spear found perfect balance.
'There.'
Beneath the bear's neck, near the heart. Pink skin showing faintly between the fur.
That was a place where the fur was short, and the hide should be relatively thin.
The gap between the ribs. Between the third and fourth ribs. A gap that opened when the bear breathed in.
That was the shortcut to the heart.
Ding!
『Weakness Detected!』
→ Heart Region Exposed
→ Critical Hit Chance: 85%
→ Recommended Attack Angle: 35° Upward
→ Recommended Attack Timing: Breathing Transition
I leaped.
I kicked off the ground hard with my right foot, and my body soared into the air. Wind brushed my face.
I thrust the spear with all my strength.
I poured all my power into the spearpoint. I gathered every ounce of strength from my shoulder, forearm, wrist, and fingers, twisted my waist, and added my body weight.
"Raaaaah!"
A shout burst from me.
SQUELCH—!
The spear sank deep into the bear's chest.
I felt fierce resistance.
The spear pierced the hide, tore through muscle, and forced its way between the bones.
A heavy sensation traveled into my hands. It felt as though I had pierced the heart.
Hot blood splashed over the back of my hand.
Ding!
『Critical Hit Activated!』
→ Heart Pierce Successful!
→ Damage: 88 (Heart Weak Point Attack)
→ Great Bear HP: 0/100
→ Instant Death
"Roooar...."
The bear staggered. Its huge body swayed, and its two legs wobbled. Bloody foam flowed from its mouth, and its eyes lost focus.
Its front paws buckled. Its knees touched the ground. Then it slowly collapsed.
THUD—!
The earth shook.
A tremendous vibration traveled through the soles of my feet, fallen leaves scattered, and dust rose.
Still gripping the spear, I fell to the ground together with the bear.
My chest was pressed against the bear's fur, and the smell of blood stung my nose.
Ding!
『Combat Complete: Great Bear Slain』
Combat Results
→ Experience +150
→ Level Up! Lv.1 → Lv.2
→ Combat Power: 12 → 18 (+6)
→ Technology Points: 1 → 2
→ New Skill Unlock Available
"Hah... Hah...."
I breathed roughly. Sweat poured from my whole body like rain.
"H-He did it...!"
Solid Rock shouted with an expression of disbelief. He sat down heavily. The strength had gone out of his legs.
"The Chieftain took down a bear!"
"With a single strike! Straight through the heart!"
Running Deer cheered as well. He jumped up and clenched his fist.
"That was incredible! With a single strike!"
"This is... This is a miracle! It must be the power of the ancestors!"
Running Deer knelt and bowed toward me.
Fierce Eyes sat where he was, staring blankly at the corpse.
His mouth hung open, and his expression said he could not believe it.
"Chieftain... you are truly... incredible...."
Fierce Eyes's voice trembled.
I drew in ragged breaths as I pulled out the spear. When I tugged at it, there was a wet pop, and blood sprayed like a fountain.
My heart was pounding like mad. Thump, thump, thump. The sound of my heartbeat echoed in my ears.
The heat from before disappeared, and my body returned to normal.
Strength suddenly drained from me. My legs trembled, and my arms went numb.
'What was that just now?'
It felt as though strength had suddenly surged up and then returned to normal. Without the system's help, I would have died. A thirty-second amplification. That exact amount of time had saved our lives.
Ding!
『Stat Check』
Current Status
→ Level: 2
→ Combat Power: 18
→ Intelligence: 18
→ Technology Points: 2
→ Experience Until Next Level: 50
Ability Changes
→ Combat Power +6 (12 → 18)
→ Health Recovery Speed Increased
→ Strength Enhanced
'Oh....'
My level had risen. My Combat Power had increased greatly as well. From 12 to 18. A fifty-percent increase.
I had now become stronger than ordinary warriors.
Unlike the temporary amplification from before, this was a permanent increase. My body had truly become stronger.
"Chieftain!"
Solid Rock ran over. He was still excited.
"That was incredible! How did you deliver such a strike?"