As the bear’s fiery claws slashed through the air toward me, time seemed to slow for a heartbeat. My sword felt heavy in grip. The only sound piercing the tension was the rushing river nearby, its steady flow almost mocking the chaos around me.
I inhaled sharply, reaching deep into my core, and felt my mana surge to life. My muscles tightened, growing stronger, but still, the bear loomed before me, unstoppable. Its massive claws were just inches away when I finally lifted my sword, blocking the strike with everything I had.
The force of the impact sent me skidding backward, my feet struggling to find purchase on the loose forest floor. The river was close, its relentless current just feet away, but I couldn’t afford to let myself be pushed any closer. The bear lunged again, foam dripping from its bared fangs, a wild gleam of fury in its eyes.
My arms trembled under the strain, my body aching from the last blow. Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to move, sidestepping as its claws slashed down once more. This time, I managed to roll clear, then drove my sword forward, aiming for its side.
The blade struck, but instead of the satisfying resistance of flesh, it barely pierced the creature’s hide. The bear’s skin was like iron, thick and unyielding. My sword barely left a scratch.
The bear roared, its maw opening to reveal a row of jagged, saliva-slicked teeth. In its mouth, a red orb began to form, bright and ominous, pulsing with concentrated mana. A sinking feeling twisted in my gut; whatever it was planning, I had seconds to react.
Instinct took over. I threw myself to the side, feeling the heat of the orb as it blasted past me, narrowly missing. Behind me, an explosion shattered the air, and the ground shook as a tree crashed down, splintered where the blast had struck. If that attack had hit me… I wouldn’t have survived.
Scrambling to my feet, I forced my aching body to move, sending every bit of mana I could muster into my legs. The bear’s eyes narrowed, watching me with a predatory focus, its heavy breaths misting in the cool air. The beast was relentless.
With adrenaline surging through me, I planted my feet firmly, my body thrumming with mana. Every ounce of energy I had channeled into my arms, legs, and chest, fortifying my muscles and steadying my grip. The bear paced before me, watching with those fierce, glowing eyes, waiting for any sign of weakness.
The air felt thick, charged with tension, as I focused my mana into my legs, giving them the power for a swift attack or a quick escape if needed. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, and my breaths were shallow, each one pulling in the faint taste of iron from the river and the musk of the beast in front of me.
The bear lunged again, claws slicing down. I dodged left, feeling the air ripple where its claws narrowly missed my shoulder. With a surge of mana, I propelled myself forward, bringing my sword up and slashing across the bear’s face, my blade catching one of its eyes.
The bear let out a blood-curdling roar, staggering back as blood seeped from its wounded eye. I felt a grim satisfaction but I knew better than to assume the fight was over. This was only the beginning.
The beast’s fury seemed to double, and it recovered quickly, shaking off the pain like it was nothing. Its remaining eye locked onto me, glowing brighter with raw, untamed power. The energy around it thickened, the mana in the air crackling as it prepared for its next move.
The bear’s roar shattered the stillness, sending a flock of birds scattering into the bright sky. Its one fierce eye burned with a fiery intensity, glinting in the daylight like a promise of destruction. My heart pounded in my chest, but I forced myself to take a steadying breath, feeling the flow of mana around me, drawing it in, letting it settle into my core.
The world felt sharper, brighter. Each leaf on the trees, each rock on the ground seemed charged with energy, as if responding to the mana now coursing through me. I sank into my stance, allowing the falling leaf sword art to take over, each movement precise and measured, honed by countless hours of practice.
The bear took a step forward, and for a moment, its massive form seemed to blend into the forest itself. It was as if it were part of the earth, an ancient force that could vanish and reappear with deadly intent. Its fur rippled in the dappled sunlight, making it nearly invisible as it advanced, its bulk almost a mirage in the afternoon light.
It lunged again, claws blazing with mana, leaving trails of fire in their wake. The heat was overwhelming, distorting the air and casting harsh shadows across the forest floor. I felt the intensity of its presence pressing in on me, the weight of a creature more spirit than beast, moving with an unnatural speed and grace.
But I focused on my form, grounding myself in every move. The mana I’d drawn in flowed through my limbs, steadying me, making each step and swing fluid. As the bear’s claw came slashing down, I pivoted, the leaves on the forest floor swirling around me, propelled by my own mana. I ducked low, feeling the rush of air as the fiery claws missed me by inches.
I swept my blade up in a counter, striking at the bear’s face. My sword bit into its cheek, slicing through fur and flesh, the blade glinting with a faint sheen of mana. The bear let out a furious roar, staggering back, its form flickering in and out of visibility. I caught a glimpse of my reflection in its one burning eye, and in that split second, I saw the raw determination in my own gaze.
But it wasn’t over. The bear gathered itself, growling low, as if preparing for another, even more vicious attack. I could feel my own mana thrumming inside me, my body tense but ready.
I shifted my stance, tightening my grip on the sword, feeling the mana pulse through my veins, grounding me, focusing me. My heart pounded like a drumbeat in my ears as I whispered, “Second form: Swirling Gust.” The words barely left my mouth before my mana surged in response, amplifying my speed in a burst of energy. I vanished from sight, reappearing several feet away as the bear’s massive, glowing claws sliced through the air where I’d stood just moments before. Dirt and leaves scattered from the force of its swipe.
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The mana beast’s single eye tracked me with a deadly focus, the other still bleeding from my earlier strike. The air around it seemed to vibrate, charged with its fierce energy, and I knew this creature wasn’t about to relent. Each of its movements radiated with a mana-laden weight, almost oppressive in its intensity. As the beast prowled forward, it opened its maw, revealing fangs slick with saliva. Deep within its throat, I noticed another gathering orb of light, glowing red-hot and growing larger.
Fear jolted through me, my instincts screaming to move. I pushed mana into my legs, every fiber of my being coiled tight. Just as the red orb burst from its mouth like a fireball, I launched myself to the side, barely escaping the scorching heat as it whooshed past me and slammed into a tree, exploding on impact. The blast sent wood splinters and embers flying through the air, and the tree shuddered before collapsing in a shower of smoke and crackling flames.
Gasping for breath, I took advantage of the momentary gap, channeling my mana into my arms, feeling the familiar hum of energy infuse my muscles. My mind flashed through the sword forms, settling on one that could give me the edge I desperately needed.
Third form: Bending Willow and I felt my movements soften, becoming fluid and unpredictable, my body swaying with each step like a willow in the wind. This form allowed me to parry and redirect attacks, a defence as much as an offensive strike. I dodged to the side, twisting my body with practiced grace as the bear swiped at me, narrowly avoiding its claws that raked through the air, gleaming with an unnatural glow.
I lunged in, aiming for the bear’s exposed shoulder, hoping to weaken its movements. My blade connected, slicing into its dense fur and muscle, and the beast let out a guttural roar, jerking back in pain. But it was not enough to stop it, my blade had barely penetrated its hide, and the wound I’d inflicted seemed like nothing more than a scratch to this massive creature.
The bear responded with ferocity, its massive paw swinging down with incredible speed, catching me off guard. I tried to twist away, but its claws grazed my shoulder, tearing through my clothes and cutting into flesh. Pain erupted through me, hot and searing, and I stumbled back, clutching my shoulder as blood seeped between my fingers. My breath hitched, but I forced myself to stay upright, swallowing down the agony.
The beast charged again, its single, furious eye locked on me with a rage that was almost visible. Its fur bristled, mana pulsing through its body, enhancing its every movement with terrifying power. I had to keep moving, keep ahead of it—this creature was relentless, and if I gave it even a second, it would end me.
Gritting my teeth, I prepared myself, feeling the drain of my mana reserves but refusing to give in. I shifted my stance, gathering what energy I had left, Fifth form: Rising Gale. The mana surged within me, strengthening my grip, sharpening my focus, and I launched myself forward, my blade slicing through the air in a series of rapid strikes, each one precise and deadly.
My sword connected, landing several hits along its side, slicing through fur and into flesh. But the bear barely flinched; it absorbed each strike as if they were mere annoyances. Then, with a sudden, brutal movement, it whipped around, swinging its head down in a powerful strike. I managed to dodge, but not without cost, the bear’s claws raked across my side, the pain blinding, leaving deep, bleeding gouges.
My vision blurred for a moment, stars dancing across my sight, but I forced myself to stay standing, my mind scrambling for a way to escape, to get out of this alive. The blood lily I’d found—my ticket to advancing, to becoming stronger—lay on the ground nearby, almost forgotten in the chaos of battle. The bear noticed it, too, its gaze flickered to the vibrant red flower for just a split second.
I couldn’t let it take that, not after all I’d gone through to find it. Summoning the last dregs of my strength, I charged forward, aiming to distract it, to drive it away from the flower. My movements were slower, my body battered and bleeding, but I pushed through the pain, my resolve unshaken.
The bear roared, turning its full fury on me, and I saw another orb of fiery mana building within its mouth. This was different, larger, brighter, a swirling mass of energy that radiated an intense, almost blinding heat. I braced myself, knowing I couldn’t dodge this one. My mana was nearly drained, my movements sluggish, but I raised my sword, preparing for whatever might come.
The bear released the orb, and it shot toward me like a blazing comet. Third Form: Rooted Oak I swung my sword with all the strength I had left, attempting to deflect it, but the force of the impact sent a shockwave through my entire body. The orb exploded on contact, and I was thrown backward, skidding across the ground, my body screaming in pain.
Dazed, I struggled to push myself up, my limbs trembling, every muscle burning. My vision swam, the world tilting around me as I tried to regain my footing. But the bear was already upon me. Its massive paw came down, pinning me to the ground, pressing down with crushing weight. I gasped for air, feeling my ribs creak under the pressure.
With a desperate surge of energy, I channeled the last of my mana into my arms, gripping my sword tightly. I twisted, managing to angle the blade upward, and with a final, desperate thrust, I drove it into the bear’s face, aiming for the wounded eye. My blade sank in deep, and the beast let out an agonized roar, rearing back, blood pouring from the injury.
But it wasn’t enough. My strength was gone, my body spent, and as the bear shook off the pain, its fury only seemed to intensify. It swatted me aside with a brutal swipe, sending me flying through the air. I crashed into the ground, the impact jolting through every bone, and I felt something crack—a rib, maybe more. The taste of blood filled my mouth, and darkness edged into my vision.
The bear lumbered over to where the blood lily lay, sniffing it briefly before picking it up in its massive jaws. The vibrant red flower vanished, crushed between its teeth, and I felt a surge of despair as I watched my last hope slip away.
As the beast turned back to me, I struggled to move, to escape, but my body refused to obey. My limbs felt like lead, my vision fading. The bear advanced, its steps heavy, each one echoing in the silence that had fallen over the forest. I could feel the end approaching, the inevitable conclusion of this brutal fight.
In one final, desperate attempt, I managed to drag myself toward the edge of the river. A trail of blood marking my way. The cold water lapped at my fingers, a last, fleeting hope for escape. But before I could pull myself in, the bear reached me, its claws raking across my back, sending a new wave of agony through my body.
The force of the blow knocked me forward, and I tumbled into the river. The icy water closed over me, dulling the pain for a moment as the current caught me, pulling me downstream. The world spun, the rushing water filling my ears, and I felt myself slipping away, my vision darkening as the river carried me, my body surrendering to the cold.
The last thing I saw was the bear standing at the riverbank, watching as the current took me, its single, bloodied eye gleaming in the fading light.