The thing in front of me was fundamentally different than any beast I had seen in this forest. While its outer appearance suggested that it was a bear, it didn't look like the bears I had seen on my way here. First, it was about 50% bigger than a normal bear, and rather than brown fur its fur was more blackish in colour. It was also moving on 2 legs rather than on 4.
It's mouth was open, and I could see it's terrifying teeth. Those teeth were by far the sharpest thing I had seen to date. I would not want to get bitten by that for sure. Its claws were outstretched, and they looked even deadlier than the fang of a wolf. Hell, with how big it was, even if I was hit by just the paw and not the claws, I'd receive serious damage.
There was also something else, but it did not come out from the monster, but from me. I felt something I had not felt for a few days now. Actually, I only felt this feeling back when I just came to be in this forest and encountered the wolves. I felt...fear.
But with the feeling of fear came another one, one I had not felt back when I encountered the wolves. I felt...excitement. Even while clenching my teeth to control my fear, I could not control the grin that found itself on my face.
'Hey, fighting intent is good and all, but with you encountering a monster, I remembered a new function of my power. Look at the monster and say Analyze through our connection.'
I controlled myself to not immediately pounce on the monster and decided to listen to Mai.
-Analyze
[Species: Great Bear]
[Rank 1]
[HP:30/30]
[MP:20/20]
Oh. It's strong. It's way stronger than me.
-Status
[Name:####]
[Age:####]
[Body Age:3 days]
[Rank 1]
[HP:17/17]
[MP:11/11]
[Left Eye(Mai####):Awakened, 100%]
[Right Eye(####):Dormant, 100%]
Huh, seems like I got 1 MP passively. But...something doesn't feel right with my status. Oh well, I can always check it later. Now...it's time.
I got into a fighting stance which I had developed myself during the non-stop fighting yesterday. It wasn't anything big, but it allowed my body to fully exert its power immediately.
The monster, as if it was waiting for me to get ready, immediately dashed at me.
Fast! I barely dodged right as I saw a deadly claw almost touching the left side of my body.
Raising my left foot, I kicked the side of the bear as hard as I could, while jumping with my right foot right. I managed to widen the distance with that, but the kick itself dealt almost no damage.
Taking the initiative, I dashed at the bear while it was still in an awkward position. It tried to crush my head with its mouth but I ducked, then, taking advantage of my position, I jumped as hard as I could and delivered an extremely powerful punch to its jaw.
Good, I managed to daz-
{SWIIISHH!}
Ugh! I thought I had dazed it, but it slashed at me the next instant. I was way too close to dodge properly, so it left a crippling injury to my left arm.
'Fuck, don't underestimate your opponents. Every beast you fought till now was weaker than you, but this bear is stronger. The way you are now, you have no hope beating this monster without at least an incredibly serious injury. I'll help you out.'
Then, I felt a familiar but also different feeling. I could hear the turning of gears, this time the sound felt more real than it was before. The world started slowing down. I could see a leaf, that had just fallen from a tree nearby, illogically slow its fall until it was barely moving.
However this time, there were differences. I could still control my body, and that blue tint that was there before was not seen here. The glowing spots indicating critical spots and the red spots indicating wounds on the bear seemed to become more precise.
There was also something new. It was ethereal, illusory, almost invisible, but it was there. There were strange strings going from my torso and limbs through the surroundings and leading to the bear.
What's going on?
'Remember your first fight, when I took control over your body? What I'm doing right now is something different. Rather than taking control over you, I'm lending you more of my power. While this will still strain your brain and eye and drain my energy, it's far better than taking control. As for the strings, it's a new function of my power that I unlocked after you got to Rank 1. It shows you the optimal path to get to the critical spots or injured spots of the bear. Though as you are literally at the beginning of Rank 1, the effect is extremely weak right now. It will help you a bit if you follow them, but not that much.'
Fuck, let's end this quickly then. I still remember the headache I got the first time, I don't want to strain my brain more than necessary.
I rushed at the bear, trying and failing to follow the strings as it was the first time I was trying this and they were way too hard to see.
I got close to the bear, when I saw it encircling me with its arms, its left arm trying to stop me from moving and its right arm trying to injure my back.
I could dodge this attack, but then I would have to make distance from the bear, and I'm on a time limit right now, so I decided to continue rushing at the bear and take the injury to my back, and counterattack the bear. It was obvious from the beginning that I wouldn't leave this fight unharmed.
Ugh! I was ready to take the injury but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.
Now that the bear's arms were behind my back, its stomach was left wide open, so I decided to attack it with all my strength at a brightly glowing spot, presumably where its heart is.
{Blargh!}
The bear puked out blood, the blood falling right on top of me, and it was pushed back. As the arms were right behind me, I ducked as fast as possible. I managed to avoid the claws but the paws hit me with full force, making me fall on the ground.
{Ugh. Blaargh!}
Sh...it.
-Status
[Name:####]
[Age:####]
[Body Age:3 day]
[Rank 1]
[HP:4/17]
[MP:7/11]
[Left Eye(Mai####):Awakened, 80%]
[Right Eye(####):Dormant, 100%]
I've...got to end this quick.
Trying to get up on my feet with 1 arm, I look at the bear to see that it's still lying down on the ground.
Did I...kill it?
-Analyze
[Species: Great Bear]
[Rank 1]
[HP:3/30]
[MP:15/20]
Almost.
I finally managed to stand up, and I dragged my very hurting body to the bear.
When I did finally get to the bear, I got on top of it and, with all the force I could muster, kicked its head in, smashing it.
Finally, it's dead. I want...to...fa...ll a...s...leep
'Don't. You still have things to do. Grab a tooth from its smashed-in head, cut around the spot I will highlight, and get its mana core. That's what you fought it for after all.'
N...o. I...ca...n't.
'Hey. HEY! Why are you swaying like that? Don't you dare fall down! Don't you dare!'
{Thud!}