The forest was as quiet as ever, with towering trees stretching endlessly in every direction, their leaves gently swaying in the soft breeze. Rays of sunlight filtered through small gaps in the dense canopy, scattering delicate beams of light across the forest floor.

Silent footsteps moved through the hushed forest, each step deliberate and careful. A slender figure emerged from the shadows, his tattered cloak shifting in the faint breeze.

The hood was pulled low over his face, its frayed edges a testament to years of wear. Beneath the cloak, a simple leather tunic hugged his frame, offering protection against the occasional thorny underbrush.

His coarse, patched, and worn trousers whispered against the forest floor as he moved, blending seamlessly into the stillness around him.

Rays of light seeped through the cracks in the canopy and landed on the slender figure's face, revealing his youthful appearance—sharp eyes and an angular face. His dark, messy hair seemed to blend naturally into the surrounding shadows.

As he walked, his eyes scanned for any sign of movement. He moved through the forest with careful, deliberate steps.

Hunting had always been about patience—a virtue his grandfather had drilled into him over years of training.

But this time, it wasn't just any hunt. Today, Akkeyito is hunting alone. His grandfather had given him the task of hunting solo to gain experience. His main objective was to return with the prey unharmed.

'This time, I must succeed. If I succeed, I will be able to leave this forest… But then what?'

His grip tightened around his bow. The thought of leaving had always been in his mind, wanting to explore life in the outside world far away from this forest. Yet now, standing in the vast silence of the woods, a flicker of uncertainty gnawed at him. Would the world outside be any more kinder than the one he knew?

With this in mind, Akkeyito quietly continued searching for his prey.

As he moved through the forest, he occasionally encountered different animals, but none were what he was looking for.

After venturing for about ten minutes, he suddenly stopped. Crouching down, his eyes narrowed as he examined the ground.

Deep, massive footprints were embedded in the earth. Even if two people placed their feet together, they wouldn't completely fill the imprint.

'Footprints...? What kind of animal could leave these? And they've sunk quite deep… even bears don't have tracks like this.'

Following the trail, Akkeyito moved cautiously, tracking the prints deeper into the forest. But after a few minutes, they suddenly vanished without a trace.

He frowned. How is that possible?

With no more leads, he let out a quiet sigh and resumed his search

Shoving through the thick tall grass, a rattling sound reached his ears. He stopped suddenly and moved silently in the direction of the noise.

Hiding in a bush, Akkeyito watched his target.

'There you are, asshole.'

Not far off, at the foot of a tall tree, stood a massive bear its height nearly reaching the tree's canopy. The bear scratched its sharp claws along the tree's trunk, leaving deep marks behind.

Reaching to the back of his head, Akkeyito drew his bow and nocked a single arrow. He aimed steadily at the bear, taking a deep breath. All he could hear was the sound of his breathing and the pounding of his heart.

Silently and patiently, he waited for the right moment.

Time seemed to stretch, each second dragging on as the tension built. Then, after what felt like an eternity, the sharp whistle of the arrow cutting through the air broke the silence.

"ROARGH!!"

The arrow struck the bear in its left eye. The beast let out a primal roar, wincing in pain as it frantically searched for the source of the attack. When its eyes landed on Akkeyito's hiding spot in the bushes, it charged with reckless fury.

But Akkeyito was already a step ahead.

As the bear charged toward him, Akkeyito was already in the move, weaving through the forest with precise movements.

Moving as if it were second nature, he expertly utilized the terrain, scaling a tree with ease and positioning himself in an advantageous spot. Leaping between the branches of the trees, he fired a series of deadly arrows at the massive beast, each shot aimed with precision.

Just as he was nocking another arrow, the bear suddenly let out a pained roar, clawing at its head before collapsing onto the ground, writhing as if in agony.

Seeing an opening, Akkeyito didn't hesitate. He unleashed a relentless barrage of arrows, nearly emptying his quiver in his attack.

Just as he was about to release another arrow, the bear suddenly rose and unleashed a thunderous bellow. A surge of raw power erupted alongside it, a violent shockwave tearing through the forest. Trees snapped, branches shattered, and the force sent Akkeyito flying from his perch.

He crashed hard against the ground, tumbling uncontrollably before slamming into a tree, the impact rattling his bones. A sharp pain shot through his back as he struggled to regain his senses.

"What just happened...?"

With a groan, Akkeyito pushed himself into a sitting position. His eyes widened as he turned to face the bear, still reeling from the impact. What stood before him now was no longer the creature he had been battling just moments ago.

The bear, now on its feet, was unrecognizable its size had nearly doubled, its muscles rippling with unnatural strength, something as if like its veins glowing all over its body. Its eyes burned with a feral intensity, and its once mundane form had transformed into something far more menacing.

Grimacing from the pain, Akkeyito pushed himself to his feet, his body aching with every movement. Despite the searing pain, he quickly readied his bow, eyes locked on the transformed bear.

'What in the world...?'

He couldn't believe what he was seeing. With a surge of determination, he dashed forward, nocking arrow after arrow, each one aimed at the beast's massive form. But when the arrows struck, they merely bounced off its thick hide, leaving no mark. The bear's skin seemed impervious, mocking his every attempt.

Suddenly halting in his tracks, Akkeyito glanced down at his quiver. Only a handful of arrows are left. The realization hit him like a wave. He knew he couldn't keep this up much longer. His hands trembled slightly as he reached out at the back of his hand. Looking at the bear a gnawing fear grips his chest. With the bear defenses proving impenetrable, he was left with no choice but to retreat.

He turned and sprinted into the forest, his heart pounding crazily. How could he possibly kill something like that? The idea of giving up gnawed at him. He had to think fast if he couldn't find a way to strike the beast down, survival would be his only savior.

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Seeing its attacker flee, the bear let out a low growl, its eyes narrowing in predatory focus. With a powerful lunge, it charged forward, closing the distance between them in a matter of seconds. The hunter had become the hunted. 

Akkeyito's breath came in ragged gasps as he pushed himself harder, but the heavy thud of the bear's massive paws grew louder behind him. He knew it wouldn't be long before the beast caught up.

'Is this the end?' 

The thought echoed in his mind. It felt so unfair the bear had suddenly transformed just as it was on the brink of death. 

'It's like life itself is mocking me, telling me I don't deserve to leave this place.'

For a moment, hopelessness gripped him. He stopped in his tracks, standing still as the ground trembled beneath him. The air felt thick, suffocating, as if the forest itself had conspired against him. 

But then, a surge of defiance broke through the despair.

'To hell with it! I won't give up. Not like this!!'

Turning around he took his stance, nocking a new arrow to his bow, he aimed straight ahead with unyielding resolve burning on his eyes he stood still, waiting. The bear thundered closer, its massive paws shaking the ground.

'Not yet… Now!'

With a sharp exhale, Akkeyito released the arrow. It flew true, sinking deep into the bear's right eye. The creature howled as it lost its sight completely.

Akkeyito reacted in an instant, dashing forward with fluid precision. In one seamless motion, he unsheathed his hunting knife and slid beneath the massive bear. The moment he was low enough, he pushed his limits, leaping toward the bear's underbelly.

His knife slashed down in rapid succession, cutting deep with each strike. The bear howled in pain, thrashing violently as Akkeyito's blade found its mark. With the last slash, he pushed off the bear's belly, leaping backward just in time to avoid a deadly swipe of its claws, the air crackling with the beast's fury.

Without its vision, the bear stood no chance against Akkeyito's relentless attacks. The final moments were swift within minutes, the bear collapsed, falling lifeless to the forest floor.

Ragged breaths escaped Akkeyito as he gazed at the massive transformed bear lying dead before him, he can't believe he killed it. His eyes scanned the surrounding forest, ensuring no other threats lingered before he approached the fallen creature. His eyes narrowed as he stared at the massive beast.

"Serves you right", he muttered under his ragged breath, the weight of the battle lifting from his shoulder. He allowed himself to fall down behind his back.

Lying down, a delighted smile flickered across his youthful face.

After resting for a few minutes, Akkeyito pushed himself up, his body still aching from the battle. He turned his attention to the massive beast, still lying motionless on the forest floor. 

'What in the world happened to this bear?'

He crouched beside the creature, his eyes scanning its strange, twisted form. Unlike its usual appearance, the bear's body was now covered in dark crimson fur, a stark contrast to its normal pelt. Its size had nearly doubled, and its claws had mutated, growing unnaturally long and sharp, gleaming ominously in the dim light. Akkeyito frowned, his mind racing. Whatever had caused this transformation, it was far beyond anything he had encountered before. 

Rising to his feet, Akkeyito circled the beast, his eyes lingering on its massive frame.

After pondering for a moment, Akkeyito decided to try to dismantle the bear. He knelt beside the massive creature, unsheathing the knife at his waist, his hands steady as he carefully slid his knife into the thick fur.

The blade met resistance at first, veins are seen bulging as he mustered all the strength he could and it soon glided smoothly through the flesh. He worked with precision, gutting the bear and methodically skinning it with much more effort.

The task was meticulous, but Akkeyito moved with practiced ease, his movements deliberate and precise, each cut reflecting the honed discipline instilled in him through years of hunting alongside his grandfather.

A few minutes later, he finished.

The bear was too large to take home in its entirety, so Akkeyito opted to remove a small portion to carry back. He also took the bear's fangs, a trophy of sorts, before preparing the rest of the carcass.

As he wipes the blood off his blade, a sudden chill crawled up his spine. The forest had fallen eerily silent. No sound of falling leaves, no howling of the winds, even the usual chirps of the birds can't be heard.

Akkeyito stiffened, a shadow suddenly lunged at him, pouncing with terrifying speed.

'What?!'

Caught by surprise, Akkeyito reacted too late to dodge. He jumped back, but not fast enough, sharp claws grazed his shoulder, leaving a streak of blood.

Crouching to regain his balance, he quickly assessed the situation. His eyes locked onto the creature that had attacked him.

As his vision cleared, he saw a massive wolf, its size not paling in comparison to the transformed bear, exuding an overwhelming presence, its crimson eyes glowing with an eerie, feral light. It stood ominously next to the dead bear, its menacing stare fixed on Akkeyito. The wolf's growl rumbled in the air, a low, guttural sound that sent a chill down his spine.

'What is that...? A wolf? No, it's too massive! There's no way a wolf could be that big!'

A sharp pain surged through Akkeyito as he gripped his bleeding shoulder.

'I didn't sense it... Where did it come from? Has it been waiting for me to kill the bear, waiting for me to let my guard down? All these strange creatures…'

As Akkeyito grimaced, trying to make sense of the situation, the wolf suddenly lunged forward with blinding speed.

'FAST!!'

The wolf's jaws snapped open, aiming to tear into Akkeyito, but he barely managed to dodge. 

The creature's teeth clamped down on the tree just behind him, sinking into the bark with a sickening crunch.

Akkeyito look at the wolf and notice the footprints it leaves. His eyes widening as realization struck him.

'That's the footmark before!'

He thought that the marks belonged to the bear. But seeing this is from another strange beast. Akkeyito reach a dreadful realization, he realize that if there are two of this things roaming around, then there might be even more and that strange things is happening on the forest.

Without wasting a second, Akkeyito turned and sprinted away, leaving the wolf snarling as it pulled its bloody maw from the tree.

The wolf's crimson eyes shifted toward the direction Akkeyito had fled, its gaze cold and calculating. After a brief moment, it dismissed the fleeing figure, turning instead to the remains of the massive bear. It sniffed the air, its nostrils flaring, as if savoring the scent of its fallen kin.

Meanwhile, Akkeyito's movements were frantic, his heart pounding in his chest as he raced through the forest. His injured shoulder throbbed with every step, but there was no time to stop. 

The pain was sharp, and with each footsteps, a trail of blood marked his path, staining the earth behind him, a stark contrast to the shadowy surroundings.