Winter gripped the forest in silence. Snow lay heavy on the branches, their dark, skeletal arms weighed down under layers of white. The cold air bit through her clothing, each breath a wisp of fog against the bare, frozen landscape. She moved cautiously, scanning the shadows. Her brothers were back in the village, waiting for her to return, their empty stomachs grumbling louder than any threat in these woods.
The bear attacked with no warning, an enormous shadow breaking free from the tree line, its roar tearing through the winter silence. She spun around, barely registering its size before it barreled into her, slamming her to the frozen ground. The impact rattled her teeth, the hard-packed snow unforgiving beneath her. Panic shot through her, and she struggled, only to feel the bear’s hot breath, rank with blood and decay, close around her shoulder. She screamed as its teeth sank into her flesh, agony flaring up her arm. She tried to wriggle free, but its claws pinned her down, each swipe ripping into her clothing and tearing flesh. Her vision swam as it tossed her aside like a broken doll, her body skidding across the snow, leaving a trail of blood in her wake. Her entire body ached, her breaths coming in desperate gasps, each inhale tinged with the sharp scent of iron.
The bear lunged again, relentless, each slash of its claws a brutal reminder of her powerlessness. It crushed her arm beneath its weight, her bones grinding painfully as her mind frantically searched for a way out. She had always been strong, always been resilient, but this was a force she couldn’t contend with. Her limbs felt weak, heavy, each movement slower than the last. No one said anything about a bear in the mountains! The bear loomed over her, a growl rumbling from deep within its chest as it pressed down, its claws digging into her shoulders, pinning her completely. Her vision blurred, the edges dimming as its weight crushed her, suffocating her under its immense mass.
“No,” she choked out, rage and desperation twisting in her gut. She couldn’t leave her brothers. They only had her as a provider. There was no one else in the village that would willingly take in three extra mouths to feed. She couldn’t die here, not like this. A strange warmth sparked deep within her, a burning, pulsing energy that spread like wildfire through her veins. The pain dulled, replaced by an overwhelming force that coiled inside her, like a tightly wound spring suddenly released. Her hands, previously numb with cold and pain, tingled, flexing with a newfound strength. Before she could fully process the change, her arm shot forward, her fist ballooning to an impossible size, massive and solid.
With a roar of her own, she swung upward, her enlarged fist connecting with the bear’s chest in a thunderous crack. The beast was thrown back, its massive body tumbling across the snow, limbs flailing as it landed in a crumpled heap. She lay there, breathing hard, feeling the last remnants of warmth ebb from her body, replaced by the numb chill of winter. Slowly, shakily, she rose to her feet, flexing her fingers, marveling at the strength still pulsing in her veins. Her body felt different—lighter, stronger. It was as if she had tapped into something she hadn’t known was there, a hidden reserve of power lying dormant until now. The bear lay dead at her feet. Wiping the blood from her split lip, she stared at the beast’s carcass, then hoisted it over her shoulder with newfound ease, blood still trailing from her wounds as she made her way back to the village.
The path back to the village was long and cold, her breaths coming in ragged puffs of air, each step crunching through the thick layer of snow. Her body ached, her injuries demanding rest, but her mind was fixed on her brothers. They needed her. And after this close call, she felt an even deeper resolve to protect them, to ensure they’d never be left alone again. As the village came into view, she noticed a gathering outside her home, a cluster of villagers casting nervous glances between one another. Suspicion and concern etched their faces, but none dared approach her. She threw the bear’s massive body to the side, the sound of its carcass hitting the snow breaking the uneasy silence, and strode toward her house.
With a powerful kick, she swung the door open. Inside, her brothers were tangled in a vicious struggle, locked in combat with two men twice their size. These two were the infamous village bullies, brothers known for using brute force to get what they wanted. Today, it seemed they wanted her brothers, planning to haul them off and sell them in the city like livestock. Rage filled her as she took in the scene—these men’s fists crashing down on her family, her brothers fighting back with everything they had. An’s teeth clamped down on the older thug’s hand, while De swung wildly with a kitchen knife, and He lashed out with kicks, his small legs thrashing desperately as he wriggled against their hold.
Her blood boiled, the fury simmering into something sharper, more lethal. She felt her body respond, almost on instinct, as her arm stretched, lengthening like a rope coiling back, her fist shot out like an arrow. With one decisive swing, her extended fist struck Dan’s jaw with a crack that resonated through the room. He flew back, hitting the wall with such force that the old plaster cracked beneath him. He slumped to the floor in a crumpled heap, dazed and unmoving. Han, the younger thug, paused mid-grip, his fingers clenched around De’s collar. His face turned pale, eyes widening as he took in her monstrous, stretching form. Trembling, he held his hands up, muttering something that could’ve been a plea, but it fell on deaf ears. She wasn’t here to negotiate.
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Her other arm shot forward like a whip, her fist stretching again as she struck Han across the face. The force sent him sprawling across the floor, blood spraying from his nose as he collapsed beside his brother. For a moment, a hush fell over the small room. Villagers gathered in the doorway, their expressions morphing from shock to disbelief as they absorbed what they’d just witnessed. Her brothers, however, wasted no time. With gleeful cackles, they sprang to their feet and lunged at the downed traffickers, kicking, punching, and stomping on the men with wild abandon.
“Thought you could sell us off, huh?” An sneered, his laughter echoing against the walls as he drove his heel into Dan’s side.
“Not so tough now!” De grinned, delivering a sharp kick to Han’s ribs with twisted glee, his face alight with that wild, reckless spark he was known for.
“Idiots! Dummies! Our Sis is the best!” He crowed, rapid punches pounding into Han’s arm as he cackled, each strike more triumphant than the last. His face was red with exertion, but he didn’t let up, his eyes shining with unrestrained pride.
Outside, the crowd of villagers gaped, their whispers growing louder as they exchanged glances of fear, awe, and astonishment. She could feel their eyes on her—fearful and uncertain, as if the familiar girl they’d once known was now something unrecognizable, something inhuman. Her breaths came heavy and steady, the power still thrumming through her veins, and she allowed herself a fleeting moment to bask in the satisfaction of seeing her brothers free and unharmed. But the moment was short-lived. An, He, and De turned their attention to the crowd at the door, their bruised faces splitting into smug, triumphant grins.
“Next time, how about you help us out, huh?” An called, his voice dripping with mockery. “Or are you all just gonna watch again while we get carted off?”
He and De snickered, stepping toward the doorway, their smaller frames deceptively menacing as they eyed the villagers, some of whom shifted uncomfortably under their gaze.
“Maybe we should show them what happens when you stand by and do nothing!” De barked, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling excitement.
She stepped forward, placing a heavy hand on each of their heads. With a firm, but amused flick, she bonked each one. They winced, rubbing their heads, but she didn’t scold them outright. Her smirk was enough of a signal that they hadn’t been wrong—but enough was enough for today. “That’s enough trouble for now,” she said, her voice calm but commanding, a hint of amusement playing at her lips. She turned back to the villagers, a cold edge to her voice as she spoke. “Go home. Show’s over.”
When the crowd dispersed, she tossed the two brothers far and high into the mountains before she hauled the bear’s body inside, its massive frame barely fitting through the doorway. Her brothers circled her, eyes bright with excitement.
As the last of them disappeared, she shut the door, leaving them alone in the quiet of their home. Her brothers circled her like excited pups, eyes wide and mouths firing off questions before she could even respond.
“What was that?” An asked, practically bouncing on his heels as he poked at her arm, still stretchy and flexible.
“How’d you make your fist so long?” De demanded, awe in his voice as he tugged at her other arm, inspecting it like some newly discovered weapon.
“Do it again! Do it again!” He giggled, clambering up her back, his small hands grabbing at her shoulders, his eyes bright with wonder.
She turned her attention to the bear she’d dragged in from the hunt as they climbed all over her. Its massive frame nearly filled the entire floor. She hadn’t cooked bear meat before, but hunger gnawed at her, and her brothers’ impatient eyes told her they were feeling the same.
“Alright,” she muttered, pulling a knife from the counter and slicing into the thick hide. “I’ll show you all later, for now, let me cook this before it goes bad.”
Her brothers settled around her, wide-eyed and eager, their fingers twitching with anticipation as she prepared the bear meat. The scent filled the room as she roasted it over the fire, the rich aroma mingling with the winter chill that crept in from under the door. The savory smell made her stomach rumble, and her brothers’ gazes locked on the meal as it began to sizzle. Finally, the bear was cooked, its meat tender and glistening. She barely had a chance to set it down before her brothers lunged, tearing into the meal with eager hands and laughter, their voices filling the small house with a sense of life that had been missing since their parents died. She joined them, biting into the meat and feeling its warmth settle into her bones, a strength unlike any other flooding through her veins.
Ai realized that the bear she took down wasn’t an ordinary bear but actually a demonic beast. An animal that started its journey to cultivating. Which made its meat all the more valuable. A handful of meat from a demonic beast was potent enough to keep a regular person full for a week! Considering she had so much, she was a little unsure if she could finish it all before it went bad.
Her brothers exchanged grins, tearing into the food with unrestrained joy. She thought they would get full in seconds but it seems they were a lot hungrier than she thought. They ate and ate until they were completely unable to move anymore. Bellies protruding, falling out of their seats, groaning, rolling around like little fatties. She giggled at the sight as she ate the remaining food left on the table, surprisingly not bursting at the seams at all.
Whatever power had awakened within her, she knew one thing: she was going to make sure that she and her brothers lived a good life. And with each bite of the bear, she felt that readiness settle deeper, her strength intertwining with every fiber of her being.