'Shit… When did they surround me?'
Vio turned, summoning inventory, and quickly pulled out a Choice card. At the same time, one of the bears stepped closer. For some reason, it looked smaller than the towering giants forming a circle around the area.
'Use…'
Vio considered using the card to teleport to Eye, but a sudden buzzing sound interrupted his thoughts, and a new mission notification appeared before him.
[Mission: 'Kill or Be Killed']
It had the usual description, with a slight change in rewards, but what caught his attention was the reason for its activation.
'System, didn't you say this mission only appears when I have no way to avoid killing my enemy?'
[Correct.]
'But I have a Choice card. I can use it to teleport to Eye.'
[Correct.]
'Stop saying the same thing and explain that Damn thing!'
Not far from him, the bear—roughly the size of the one the demon and his companions had hunted before—came to a stop.
"Graaaaaagh!"
"Groooorrgh!"
All the giant bears let out a synchronized roar.
[Since the 'Kill or Be Killed' mission has appeared, it means the hero cannot avoid this fight without killing the enemy.]
'Are you saying that even if I use the card, the battle is inevitable?'
[The system does not know.]
'What do you even know?'
Vio scanned the surroundings, noting that none of the giant bears moved—except for the one that had stepped closer.
"Grooooorgh!" the bear roared, as if challenging him to prepare.
'Is this a one-on-one duel? What the hell is going on?'
He put the card away and pulled out Gauntlets of Fury, calming his thoughts and focusing on the bear, which now stood on its hind legs, flexing its muscles, eyes glowing with challenge.
At that moment, Vio noticed the fog creeping in the distance, while the bear's gaze swept over his body.
'If I don't finish this quickly, I'll have to deal with the Furious Night.'
Silence settled after the bears' roar faded, broken only by the howl of the raging wind that tossed both their hair.
The bear dropped to all fours, then lunged, swinging its massive claw toward Vio.
Vio leapt backward to dodge, but the sheer pressure of the attack pushed him away, making him take longer to regain balance. He hadn't expected the bear to take advantage of that delay with another strike.
"Damn it!"
Raising his arm, blocked the bear's claw.
"Boom!"
[HP decreased: 5,714/6,000]
Vio was sent flying, crashing into a sturdy tree that didn't break, only doubling his pain.
[HP decreased: 5,613/6,000]
"Ugh!" he groaned, pushing himself up.
Danger! His instincts screamed. He jumped, barely dodging another attack that shattered the tree behind him.
"Boom!"
'Its attacks are fast, but nothing I can't dodge. But just the force alone keeps knocking me off balance.'
Knew the bear wouldn't stop, so he kept dodging, searching for an opening to strike.
Needed a direct hit to the head, but the bear was massive and moved fast.
Instead of facing it head-on, Vio used the trees as both cover and obstacles.
"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"
No matter how thick or sturdy, every tree shattered under the bear's attacks. Now, Vio understood why the Baniaasif never tried to fight one up close.
'Wait, the Baniaasif!'
He recalled their hunting method and quickly analyzed it while dodging.
Ice shards to distract it. Wolves' fangs to make it bleed.
After the last attack landed, the bear was momentarily startled when Vio suddenly rushed toward it. The unexpected move didn't stop the bear from swinging, but Vio had already anticipated it.
He rolled under the attack and didn't stop until he reached its hind leg.
Sensing danger, the bear stood on its hind legs.
That would make turning easier for it, but Vio slammed his fist into its back knee.
"Boom!"
The bear staggered, forced to kneel.
Before it could counter, Vio leaped onto its shoulder.
The bear turned, only to find Vio grinning at him.
'This is the end, my friend.'
Sparks of electricity danced across his gauntlet as he swung it down with full force, striking the bear's head directly.
"Boom!"
The sheer impact sent the giant beast flying, crashing through multiple trees that couldn't withstand the pressure of its massive body.
"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"
Vio landed, exhaling deeply.
[EP decreased: 98/100]
'Now, how do I get out of—'
His brows shot up.
The mission still hadn't ended.
He turned sharply to see the bear slowly regaining its balance, stepping forward with steady movements.
"You've got to be kidding me."
The bear's expression carried a hint of arrogance. It spat out a mouthful of blood, then looked at Vio as if saying: "Is that all you've got?"
"Is it mocking me?"
Vio adjusted his stance, a wicked grin forming as he clapped for the bear.
"Congratulations, fatty," he said, his grin sparking with amusement. "You're the first creature to take a direct punch from me and not have your head explode."
At first, he wondered why he was talking as if the bear could understand him, but its expression told him otherwise.
Both took a deep breath.
Then, at the same time—
They charged at each other.
The bear swung its claws.
Vio threw his fist.
"Boom!"
[HP decreased: 5,532/6,000]
Both staggered back from the impact.
A grin stretched across Vio's face, hiding the pain in his knuckles.
If not, he wouldn't have jumped high, dodging another attack, kicking off a tree trunk to propel himself, and aiming another punch at the bear's head.
The bear roared, sending out an icy gust that hurled Vio backward. His back slammed into a tree.
[HP decreased: 5,314/6,000]
"Ugh," Vio groaned. "Did you guys steal that move from the Baniaasif, or did they steal it from you?"
That attack reminded him exactly of their tactics.
As he exhaled a sharp breath, he opened his eyes—only to see a claw swinging straight at his chest.
"Boom!"
[HP decreased: 4,883/6,000]
The impact slammed Vio into the ground, shaking the snow-covered terrain.
"Argh, that hurts," he muttered, no time to rest—he rolled aside, quickly pushing himself up, dodging another attack.
"Boom!"
'Fast and strong… Damn it, leave something for the others!'
Every time the bear's attacks landed, Vio understood why the Baniaasif never dared to fight one up close.
The moment he regained balance, slammed his foot against the ground and launched himself toward the bear. But just before his punch could reach its head, the beast suddenly twisted its body, dodging at the last second.
It must have remembered the pain from before—it clearly didn't want to experience it again.
"aha"
Vio leaped onto a tree trunk, but didn't stay there long. Dashed between the trees at high speed while the bear rampaged, crushing everything in its path.
'How do I deal with this monster?'
Then, remembered his new skill.
'Activate Killer Aura!'
[Target detected. Activated.]
'Good.'
The bear suddenly sensed strange waves surrounding its body. It let out a deafening roar, shaking off the effect.
[Effect deactivated.]
'What? Can it do that?'
[Of course.]
"Shit!"
Vio dropped down and jumped again as the bear swung a deadly strike at him. He activated the cylinder in his legs, blasting himself higher. The force threw off his balance, but it was enough to dodge the attack. Grabbed onto one of the last standing trees, but he knew this pattern wouldn't work for long.
Closing his eyes for a moment, when he opened them again, the beast was right in front of him, a massive claw swinging down.
Vio jumped away just as the tree behind him shattered into splinters.
Moving fast, he slipped to the bear's side. His fist met the beast's claw in a direct clash.
"Boom!"
[HP decreased: 4,511/6,000]
He staggered back but didn't retreat. Clenching his fist tighter, threw another punch.
"Boom!"
[HP decreased: 4,314/6,000]
"Damn it, this isn't enough!"
Gritting his teeth, pumped more power into his knee joint, keeping himself moving as he exchanged blows with the bear.
[HP decreased: 3,718/6,000]
The moment he got close enough, he leaped toward its head.
'This is my tenth hit, you bastard—enjoy it!'
Electric sparks crackled through his joints as he launched himself with full force.
"Boom!"
A direct hit to the bear's head sent it flying backward.
"Boom!" "Boom!"
Its massive body skidded across the ground, leaving deep trenches in the snow.
[EP decreased: 96/100]
Vio landed on one knee, fire burning through his body. But he ignored the pain as the mission screen appeared before him.
His eyes widened.
It still wasn't over.
His instincts screamed—Move!
But before he could react, a powerful gust of wind blasted out from the bear's roar, slamming into him.
[HP decreased: 3,329/6,000]
His entire body froze.
Even his thoughts slowed.
Just as he was about to summon his electricity, he saw the bear's massive claw descend toward him.
"Damn it! I'm dead!"
"Boom!"