The troop had been moving a few weeks by now, with the expectation that it’d probably be a few more weeks before they arrived at York. Apparently, the merchant in question didn’t use better forms of technology because they were worried the higher magic levels would attract something unpleasant. Grant agreed with this to a certain level, as he could sense familiar presences.

A person who’s never met a dragon would never notice the scent, but as someone who’s had… complicated relationships with dragons, he could sense quite a few creatures that were about to evolve into a dragon, and certainly a few might want to push over that final wall. Probably better that they be this careful. Humans rarely have cores, but they still make for nice easy boosts in mana.

…

As they walked along the road, they saw something uncommon to be sure.

There was a black bear in the middle of the road.

Eating honey.

In its hand was a giant pot, from which he gathered his golden desire.

This was abnormally weird as the bear paid no attention to them, merely lavishing itself in its honey eating nonstop. The adventurers had gathered to discuss amongst themselves what to do, with some saying they should try moving around, others suggesting scaring the bear off. A majority advocated for killing the bear in order to keep the general population of monsters down, as this area was known for its high density of monsters.

Grant had no intention of letting any of them come to a decision.

He walked towards the bear, with all eyes on him. He sat down next to the giant bear, and put his hand into the hive, fishing for honey. While some watched in horror worried for the stupid young lad, others sneered, while the higher leveled adventurers merely watched on. He seemed confident enough, and worse comes to worse, adventurers do die in stupid ways.

All the while Grant ate the honey alongside the bear and chuckled. “Rather delicious honey you have here my good fellow. It’s amazing” The bear grinned and offered him another glob of honey, which Grant eagerly took for himself and ate some more.

…

So few knew the beauty of honey. How delicious it is, and oh how it shines, like liquid gold. It’d seen gold before, one of them dragons in the mountains was hoarding it. The bear snorted at them. Why sleep on them shiny rocks when you’ve got perfectly good grass? Ridiculous. Honey tasted much better gold. The dragon gave me a bemused look, but as far as I’m concerned, he’s da stupid one!

The bear had loved honey for the past year or two it lived. The dragon had told him he’d been alive for two years, spawned as the dragon told him. He didn’t care tho. He really came to life the day he tasted honey. The heaven’s dew brought a new light to his eyes, and he wished to share the greatness with everyone. Those who didn’t partake though, he taught them a lesson and stuffed them with honey!

One day he decided he wanted to share honey with those humans. Them two legged pale goblins, certainly bigger than them, but hardly smarter. He saw lots of ‘em get killed by the green bastards. He curled his nose at the very thought of them stinky bastards. Not only did they not like honey, but they were so boring. When they saw him, they attacked him, so he destroyed them. Those who so rejected the beauty of honey must be taught their place.

These humans were strong. Sum’ of them were stronger than others, but the bear didn’t care. They talked amongst themselves, but the bear didn’t care either. He ate the honey, showing them how great it is. Finally one of them humans, the one that dressed so funny, the bear worried he wasn’t getting any sun, sat down and started eating honey with him. He didn’t even take of his mask and just started eating. Bear is impressed! He is glad he has found one who appreciates honey amongst them, and even more so when the man suggests he comes with the man so he may share honey to everyone. Bear is happy!

…

The people could only look on in confusion as the new adventurer casually spoke to the bear, and indulged in the same honey as the bear did. After a few minutes of conversation, the bear agreed to something, and in a simple flash the bear was gone. Obviously, people surged forwards, eager to find out what happened, while certain adventurers came forwards to chastise him, some worried, others annoyed by how long he took.

His answer was quite surprising.

“It’s a honey bear” he said with a simple shrug. Most didn’t understand, as didn’t all bears love honey? Only a few who had read a monster book or two and seen some of the rarer monsters knew what a honey bear was and scrunched their faces up in disappointment, and Grant seemed to give off a smug air.

Variant monsters are rare and usually only formed in unique circumstances or may even just be born rare. Red slimes, gold slimes, honey bears, hawksight anteaters and even titan atlas beetles were great examples of variants. They are not merely different evolutions, the way a goblin may evolve into a goblin shaman, or a hobgoblin or even a hobgoblin shaman. Creatures that become variants are technically the same level as their base counterparts, though some could argue they can be seen as an evolution, as their future evolutions will be very different from the mainlines. Regardless, the facts remain that variants are rare, and their evolutions often surpassed the original baseline versions, or at the very least are so different that they served a different purpose.

Honey bears are an example of a variant monster born due to an event, rather than birth. Honey bears are rare as so rarely do bears come to praise honey beyond all else. They are comparable to paladins and priests, in service to their viscous god. One is more likely to see the variants such as fish stryker bears as well as denmother bears, though honey bears are more common than molasses bears, syrup bears and even nectar bears, though they do serve similar purposes.

Honey bears can be any type of bear, from brown to black, sun bears, and even polar bears as long as they’re still at the young and formative stages of monster evolution, as older and stronger bears are less likely to have the same revelation. As a result, it’s hard to determine what’s a honey bear and what isn’t. Few people can sense the intensity or density of mana around a person, but to sense the type is far harder, though the more experienced certainly can. However, by more experienced, Grant had to estimate b ranks are more around the appropriate maturity, given b onwards are the ones who see variants more often. A honey bear has a distinct form of mana that is special to honey type monsters, impeccably rare, given only dessert monsters as well as royal bees give off that unique mana type.

A major way to discover one is if they’re holding a source of honey. Specifically, a source. Not necessarily a hive. Honey bears, upon receiving their revelation, will hold onto their muse from here on out, whether it sticks to their back via honey residue, or they hold it with one paw as they walk on two legs. As time goes on, their muse will grow combs and start to spawn mana derived bees, and in later stages even grow queens as well as specific units of bees. One honey bear became so large it became a walking city, and the comb gave rise to a race of andromorphic bee people. It was a very unique experience.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

And what made honey bears so useful was their honey. Like nectar bears and molasses bears, honey bears begin to produce their namesake, and a honey bear’s honey is known to have a healing quality to it, and as it evolved the quality would go up. In his universe their had been a honey bear that had managed to get its paws on a peach from the palace of the immortals in China and it evolved, producing honey that granted longevity. Many chased after the bear for its honey, only realizing too little too late that the immortals hadn’t given that peach up willingly, nor had it eaten only one peach, managing to eat them in droves, causing its immediate evolution. This wasn’t even the first time either, as bears that had eaten ambrosia or even leaves off the world tree had undergone similar evolutions.

Grant had an unfair advantage of course. He had appraisal. ‘To be fair’ Grant thought to himself, ‘I am the one who created that spell, and then helped implement it into the system. ‘Had I not done so, players would’ve had to stick to analyzing themselves’. Grant did feel he technically cheated with such a convenient spell, but it was his. Even at an old age, he could feel embarrassed calling dibs. Once everyone else found out from the ones that knew, the stares grew worse, and he cared less, falling back into the rhythm of being judged by strangers.

Later as Grant ate with the bear through the night (he made sure to explain how honey could be used, the bear was very happy. He also explained how the bear could not simply beat up anyone who hated honey, as they would only hinder its message; the bear was less enthused, but like many honey bears it was smarter than other bears, and understood the logic. As long as it involved honey of course) Grant watched as his two partners throughout this trip walked towards him and he could only shake his fist mentally in excitement. His first apprentice in a new world was coming over to him!

Dain walked over to him and bowed immediately and earned a raised eyebrow from Grant, though no comment was made. It’d ruin the masks presence of intimidation after all.

“I request you teach me sire.”

“Teach you to tame honey bears? That’d be quite hard to do, seeing as I cannot merely produce honey bears for you.” Grant heard a giggle from the less stalwart friend and could not help but grin a little. ‘These two will make a fine couple. The yandre and the tsundre. Should I work on that too?’

Dain’s face was downward, but he was sure he’d get nothing out of him like that. Men this serious weren’t the type to react to prodding like that. You usually had to insult their friends or loved ones for any good reactions above a cocked eyebrow.

“I request you teach me that energy sir Grant. Please. It would mean a great deal to me” stated Dain, head still bowed.

Grant sighed. “I was hoping to get more of a “please suh, I’ll do anything for my great and wonderful teacher”” Grant said with an extremely silly sound, “But sure, I could use a new student. Alright come on.” Grant waved as they head deeper into the woods, and as they walked to a nice little clearing where Grant inserted an eye on top of another eye, and started a magic circle up, creating vines which interlocked with one another until they formed a warding magic circle to scare anyone off from looking. It wasn’t his best work, Grant admitted, but unless a really strong magician or a high-level dragon or even a God were trying to peep, chances were they weren’t going to be able to eavesdrop. And to keep an eye out, Grant had put in Odin’s eye, which he’d had imbued with Heimdall’s blessing, amongst other things, allowing him to see continent-wide, though he was focusing on the forest. No one here. Perfect.

Grant sat down in the clearing, with Dain and Natalie following suit.

“What do you know of the eastern empire, or the Qi-ng empire?”

“Ooh ooh I know somethings” stated Natalie excitedly. “I hear they have these super strong people over there who can lift mountains and create entire oceans, like Merlin!”

“Those would be cultivators. They are people who gather and refine qi, with the aim of becoming gods. Thousands die in a desperate race for resources, and betrayal and backstabbing are common. It’s like a noble fight, but with martial arts.”

“That’s kind of stupid.” Commented Natalie and Dain nodded in agreement.

“I agree as well. Cultivators rarely reach this stage, and I can only think of maybe 100 people who’ve ever actually managed to succeed.” Dain and Natalie looked surprised and Dain asked “That’s certainly impressive, and mildly hard to believe, but what’s your point here? Are you saying you’re one of them?”

“Ding ding ding!” Announced Grant “You’re both correct and incorrect” Dain and Natalie sat there, waiting for this man to go on, and were quickly seeing he was more eccentric than he let on. Before he was dark and brooding, and now, now he was weird.

“You see, the technique I’m cultivating, is a unique technique I call the Divine Earth technique, because it focuses on sticking to the Earth, rather than trying to ascend to the heavens like most techniques, putting Earth before the Heavens, like those airheads”

“So that energy I’ve been sensing is what cultivators use, this qi?”

“Correct! You my boy, are especially gifted. From what I can see your circulation is good and had you been born in the Qi-ng empire, you would’ve been grabbed by the nearest cultivator.”

Dain’s face darkened, and Grant wasn’t that surprised. Dain likely struggled, and was now imagining how much further he’d have gotten over at the Qi-ng empire, without even knowing much about it. Grant walked over and patted him on the back. “Don’t think about it too much, were you not born here you wouldn’t have met the people you know like Natalie here.” Dain’s face brightened up a lot, and Grant continued on. “Besides, you would also have a pretty good chance of dying. Like any good noble story, people with high potential are often killed by rivals outside their clan, rival teachers inside the clan, or even descendants of the clan, who could be jealous of your potential. In a sense you’re better off here, and now that you’ve met me, we can get your education started.”

“So, first rule of cultivation, and write this down” called Grant as he took out pens and notepads, before handing one of each to the two. “ Never trust another cultivator, unless he’s saved your life, and even then always be suspicious.” Dain nodded and scribbled while Natalie raised her hand. “Yes?”

“Isn’t that a little too untrusting? You have to trust someone.” “You’re correct Natalie” nodded Grant, “however, you must understand, many cultivators live long life spans, with many extending their lives into hundreds if not thousands of years. To become a god is to become nigh immortal.” Natalie went wide eyed, whereas Dain looked worried. “Worry not” assured Grant “The Divine Earth Technique will not be extending your lifespan that long. It’ll extend your life span to a few hundred years, the same amount as mana circles can give. The Divine Earth technique also permanently makes it impossible to become a god. The return for this is that you’ll grow far faster than your average cultivator, and the end result is that you can fight against even the highest of high level of cultivators if you have to.” Dain looked relieved, and Grant had to admit, he liked the fact Dain was more down to earth. Immortality wasn’t all it was cut out to be.

“For cultivators, betraying a friend of 2 hundred years is irrelevant, because you’ll live for hundreds of years. What’s more, cultivators are extremely petty. If you insult them, or do wrong to them, they’ll hold onto their grudge for a very long time, and even you may not remember this grudge. Some will wait generations to strike back. Your grandfather could piss someone off, and that man may one day take his vengeance out on you.”

“Not only that, but if you have something extremely valuable, then your “friend” may decide it’s worth more than you. The same could be said of anyone truthfully, but cultivators are definitely greedier, and if they believe the thing you have can help them break through, than they will have no problem doing so.”

“That doesn’t mean everyone’s out to get you, but I’d say two thirds of all cultivators are usually. The only thing they understand is power. Any questions?”

Natalie had her hand up already, whereas Dain seemed to be thinking deeply. “Yes Natalie?” “If cultivators are so greedy, then why are you helping us? For that matter, why would you be here, rather than in the qi-ng empire?”

Grant chuckled. “I’m doing this because I want to. I’m not a good person you know” and for a second, they could feel it. Grant felt terrifying, monstrous. His killing intent was horrendous, and was comparable to a mad dragon, or something perhaps worse.

A GOD looked down upon them.

They couldn’t breathe, as if their hearts had stopped, hoping for this predator to not see them. Their bones, their blood, everything slowed and then stopped. And so did Grant, with Dain and Natalie gasping for air, and now eyed Grant worriedly, with Grant just sitting there. Not just a mysterious adventurer, but something more.

“You see, I have the power to do so. So, I do so. That’s all there is to it. Because I think it’d be fun to help you, and I have the power to do so. I’m not doing this out of the kindness of my heart. If I didn’t believe myself strong enough, then I wouldn’t bother. As for why I’m not at the Qi-ng empire, it’s because I don’t need to be. Unlike other techniques, the divine earth isn’t qi exclusive. It can also be done using mana” Grant continued, pulling one of his supplements out “not only that, but I already have qi supplements.”

Even Natalie couldn’t help but stare in awe as he pulled out a humongous, fanged tooth, at least half his size, and seemingly out of nowhere. The ting radiated power and demanded respect.