The roar of the Alpha Cave Bear echoed through the cavern like a thunderclap, shaking loose icicles from the ceiling. For a moment, all three of them froze—Adrian mid-step, Sarah gripping her sword too tightly, and Alice clutching her mace as if it might save her life. The sheer force of its voice sent a shiver down their spines, not just because of the volume but because of what it carried: dominance, intelligence, and something almost primal.
Then the bear charged.
Its massive frame barreled toward them with terrifying speed, claws scraping against the stone floor. Adrian instinctively darted to the side, narrowly avoiding being crushed. Sarah raised her longsword in time to block a swipe aimed at her chest, the impact sending her stumbling backward. Alice swung her mace with brute strength, connecting solidly with the creature's shoulder, but instead of recoiling or faltering, the bear barely flinched.
Damage Dealt: -42 [Blunt Force Impact]
Alpha Cave Bear HP: 458 / 500
"Holy crap, this thing is built like a tank!" Sarah shouted, regaining her footing. "What even is that?!"
"It's smarter than the others," Adrian muttered, circling around to flank the beast. His short sword felt embarrassingly inadequate compared to the size of the creature looming before them. "Don't let it corner you."
Alice grunted, planting herself firmly in front of the group. "Yeah, well, it's not exactly giving us options here!"
The bear lunged again, targeting Alice directly. She braced herself, absorbing the blow with her shield-like stance, though the force knocked her back several steps. Her health dropped sharply.
Damage Taken: -36 [Piercing Bite]
Alice – HP: 114 / 160
"Ow! Seriously?!" she snapped, retaliating with another heavy swing. This time, the mace glanced off the bear's armored hide without leaving much of a mark.
Adrian seized the opening, slipping behind the bear and driving his blade into its exposed flank. Normally, such an attack would have dealt significant damage, but the result was underwhelming.
Damage Dealt: -19 [Backstab Attempt]
"What the hell?" Adrian frowned, pulling his weapon free. "That should've hit harder."
Sarah stepped in next, her sword slicing cleanly across the bear's leg. Even her precise strikes seemed less effective than usual.
Damage Dealt: -27
"This isn't working," she said, gritting her teeth. "It's like our attacks are bouncing off."
As they continued fighting, the bear began to adapt. It dodged Sarah's follow-up slash by sidestepping, then swiped at Adrian with surprising agility for its size. He barely managed to evade, rolling away just in time.
Physique EXP: +6 (Evasive Movement)
Adrian glanced at the bear's health bar. They had whittled it down to about halfway, which should have been cause for celebration. Instead, a deep growl rumbled from the creature's throat, vibrating through the ground beneath their feet. Its body suddenly shimmered, enveloped in a crimson aura that pulsed ominously. Its eyes glowed red, filled with malice and cunning.
A deep red aura enveloped the creature, pulsating like molten fire. Its eyes glowed crimson, and its muscles visibly tensed, growing larger and more defined. Stats doubled—or so it felt—as the bear lunged forward with renewed ferocity.
System Notification:
Enemy Status Boost Activated: Berserk Mode
All stats increased by 100%. Increased aggression detected.
"What! No, it has a skill," Adrian breathed, dread sinking into his stomach. "This bear is only under level 10."
Before anyone could react, the bear surged forward with renewed ferocity. Its stats had doubled—every movement faster, every strike heavier. When it slammed its paw into Alice, she staggered, nearly dropping her mace.
Damage Taken: -52 [Enhanced Swipe]
Alice – HP: 62 / 160
"Okay, yeah, this is officially bad!" Alice shouted, trying to shake off the dizziness. "Anyone got a plan?!"
Adrian clenched his jaw, scanning the battlefield. Their earlier tactics weren't cutting it anymore. Every attack they landed barely scratched the surface of the bear's newfound resilience. Worse still, the bear seemed to anticipate their moves, adjusting its position to counteract their strategies.
Amidst the chaos, Sarah noticed something strange. She had taken a step back to catch her breath, watching the bear closely. Unlike the other creatures they'd fought, this one wasn't simply reacting—it was responding. Each time they attacked, it adjusted its stance or feinted in a way that suggested awareness far beyond basic animal instinct.
"Guys," she called out, ducking under another swipe. "I think it understands us."
Adrian blinked, momentarily distracted. "What?"
"It's smart," Sarah explained quickly, parrying another blow. "Look how it reacts when we talk. It knows we're coordinating."
Sure enough, the bear paused for a split second after Sarah spoke, tilting its head slightly as if listening. Then it roared again, charging straight at her.
"Oh great, now it hates me personally," Sarah muttered, barely managing to dodge. "Thanks for pointing that out!"
Adrian frowned, his mind racing. If the bear truly understood them, then shouting tactics aloud was only making things worse. But communicating silently wasn't exactly an option either—not with adrenaline pumping and instincts screaming louder than logic.
"We need to split its focus," he said finally, keeping his voice low. "Sarah, draw its attention. Alice, keep hitting it from behind. I'll try to find a weak spot."
"Got it," Sarah replied, stepping forward with exaggerated movements. "Hey, big guy! Over here!"
The bear immediately turned toward her, snarling. Sarah danced backward, leading it away from Alice and Adrian. Meanwhile, Alice took advantage of the distraction, landing a powerful strike on the bear's hindquarters.
Damage Dealt: -48 [Crushing Blow]
Despite the blow, the bear twisted around with alarming speed, swiping at Alice once more. She stumbled, her stamina visibly draining.
Damage Taken: -44 [Enhanced Claw Strike]
Alice – HP: 18 / 160
"Alice, fall back!" Adrian ordered sharply. "You're running on fumes!"
She obeyed reluctantly, retreating to the edge of the cave where she leaned heavily on her mace, breathing hard. "Not dying today, okay? Someone else take over."
Adrian nodded grimly, stepping up to replace her. He circled cautiously, searching for any sign of vulnerability. The bear watched him warily, its glowing red eyes tracking his every move. When it lunged, Adrian rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack.
Physique EXP: +8 (Dodging + Quick Recovery)
By now, their teamwork was fraying under the pressure. Sarah's taunts were growing weaker, her stamina flagging. Adrian's slashes barely made a dent, and Alice was practically useless without risking her own survival. The bear's health hovered stubbornly above half, its crimson aura pulsing brighter with each passing second.
"This isn't sustainable," Adrian muttered, panting. "We're running out of options."
Sarah glanced over her shoulder, sweat dripping down her face. "Well, unless someone's got a miracle up their sleeve, we might need to reconsider our strategy."
"I don't see a miracle happening anytime soon," Alice grumbled, still catching her breath. "And FYI, if I die, I'm haunting both of you."
Adrian ignored her comment, focusing instead on the bear's movements. There had to be a pattern—a weakness they could exploit. Then he noticed it: whenever the bear prepared to lunge, its weight shifted slightly forward, exposing its chest for a brief moment. It wasn't much, but it was something.
"Sarah, get ready," he said quietly. "When it charges, lead it toward me. Don't engage directly."
She gave him a skeptical look but nodded. "Alright, shadow boy. Let's hope your plan doesn't get us killed." He feels he got one Last Chance
The bear roared again, lowering its head as if preparing for another assault. Sarah stepped forward, waving her arms dramatically. "Over here, furball! Come and get me!"
Predictably, the bear charged, moving with frightening speed. At the last possible moment, Sarah dove to the side, leaving Adrian directly in its path. As the bear closed in, Adrian waited until the very instant its weight shifted forward. Then, with every ounce of precision he could muster, he drove his short sword upward into the exposed gap beneath its chin.
Damage Dealt: -89 [Critical Weak Point Strike]
The bear let out a pained roar, stumbling backward. Its crimson aura flickered briefly, weakening ever so slightly. Encouraged, Adrian pressed the attack, delivering rapid strikes to the same area. Each hit chipped away at its remaining health, though progress remained agonizingly slow.
Damage Dealt: -23, -21, -25
Behind him, Sarah rejoined the fray, landing a series of precise slashes along the bear's flanks. Even Alice mustered the strength for one final swing, her mace cracking loudly against its skull.
Damage Dealt: -50 [Staggering Blow]
Finally, with a deafening roar, the Alpha Cave Bear collapsed, its massive body dissolving into motes of light. The red aura faded completely, leaving only silence in its wake.
For a long moment, none of them moved. Exhaustion weighed heavily on their shoulders, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. Adrian lowered his sword, staring at the spot where the bear had fallen. Something shimmered faintly in the air—a faint glow hovering just above the ground.
"What… is that?" Sarah asked, squinting at it.
"I don't know," Adrian admitted, stepping closer cautiously. Whatever it was, it radiated an aura of significance, though its purpose remained unclear.
Before anyone could investigate further, a soft chime echoed through the cave, signaling the end of the encounter.