Spittle sprayed over the group as the massive beast before them roared.
Nearly three meters tall and weighing roughly half a ton, the mass of tough brown fur and bulging muscles glared down at the tiny humans before it.
Bits of rotting meat could be seen hanging from the beast's mouth, scars and scratch marks marring its pelt and snout spoke of countless past battles. Its canines and claws looked like thin, sharp bananas, having both the size and color of the much more appealing fruits.
Even at its position over twenty-five meters away, the mountain of death's spittle reached the party, wetting their faces.
"Ahhhh I think I've soiled myself."
Yoma's weak voice sounded from the back of the party, and Sal also took a step back. Horror was apparent on her face as her eyes fixed on their foe.
"W- wha… That thing is huge…"
Edol surveyed the massive bear while covering his nose and waving a hand, trying to drive away the nasty stench of rotting meat that'd come with the beast's roar.
'Big. I don't think my usual daggers can take it down, I'll have to borrow Sal's spear or ask Ghost for help with a weapon. It should have a tough time moving around in the woods, though, so it shouldn't be too tough to take this monster down!'
Glancing back, Edol noted that Yoma was carrying a spear as well. The Brit had opted to just carry the twin earthen daggers he had grown used to, but they wouldn't be of much use here.
"Yoma, I'll borrow your spear. It's hunting time!"
Before the terrified townsman had a chance to answer, Edol had already snatched the weapon from his hand and began charging toward the angry bear. Beneath the brit's feet, the ground moved subtly, dragging the leaves out from where his next footstep would land and hardening the ground, letting him charge at full speed without worrying about slipping.
Sal's eyes widened a bit as she saw Edol's charge, and she snapped out of her fear.
"Edol! Watch out, it has an earth legacy! Dodge!"
Sal's warning would be useful, but Edol had already spotted out the incoming magic. Earth legacies countered themselves, as having one would allow one to easily sense an incoming attack through the ground- with enough experience, that is.
Edol easily side-stepped a spike that jutted up from the ground, quickly closing the ground to approach the bear.
"Haa!"
Edol ducked under the bear's swiping paws and thrust his spear at the rear of the beast's hind leg, hoping to cut through a tendon or two.
*Thump*
"Urg- cough"
The spear, unable to penetrate the beast's fearsome hide, was easily repelled. Edol was now rewarded with his full-speed charge by taking the butt of the spear to his gut, sending him into a spree of coughing.
"Idiot! Don't you know how to hold a spear?!"
Sal charged forward, her hand swiftly grabbing a handful of wood dust from a satchel at her waist.
"Ignite!"
The hunter threw the handful of dust forward at the bear, snapping her fingers at the same time. A spark jumped out from her hand, igniting and sending a wave of flame through the cloud.
In a fraction of a second, the fire spread through the entire cloud, creating a tiny explosion.
There wasn't much of a boom, but the heat and light from Sal's trick certainly caught the bear's attention, giving Edol a few precious moments to dive out from beneath the beast.
The brit rolled to the side, trying to catch his breath as he looked back up at the bear. Its entire focus was on Sal, but it wasn't charging forward.
'-Shit!'
Edol hurriedly tried to extend his mana into the ground, desperately trying to block the bear's attack.
He was too far.
There was nothing the Brit could do but watch. A fearsome spike leaped from the earth, thrusting right toward the female hunter's chest. She reacted, trying to dodge, but the earth spike was too quick.
"No!"
*Thud*
Just centimeters before reaching Sal, the spike was halted. A second pillar of earth was wrapped around the base of the spike, pulling it away and preventing it from killing the hunter.
Sal stumbled away, sweat rolling down her face as she stared at the spike that'd nearly just claimed her life.
"T-thanks, Edol."
At the same time, Ghost's voice rang in Edol's mind.
"I'll take care of Sal, try to take out one of its legs again! I'll send support!"
Edol nodded, charging back at the bear. The beast refocused on Edol, sending more earth magic his way. This time, though, the beast was more conservative with its spending of mana, not trying to create massive spikes.
The ground disappeared from beneath Edol's right foot, and the brit lost his footing. The bear's eyes twinkled. It was time for this gnat to die! The beast reared up before lunging forward, planning on burying the brit under its massive bulk of muscle.
'Gotcha!'
Mid-fall, Edol thrust the butt of the spear into the ground. The earth seemed to accept the weapon, the spear sinking multiple centimeters in before stopping. After letting go of the weapon, Edol made a mad dash to the side, trying to escape the bear's attack.
Behind him, the spear remained standing erect, right in the path of the bear's attack.
The beast was unable to completely change its attack, and it let out a roar of pain and the spear stabbed deep into its right shoulder. With the momentum of the bear's attack, even its tough hide could be pierced by the spear.
Before the bear had a chance to recover, a whistling sound cut through the air, causing the bear to cry out in pain once more a moment later.
Yoma, finally deciding to be useful, had drawn a powerful hunting bow and took aim at the beast, his first shot finding the massive foe's eye.
"Edol, that gives me an idea! I'll make a giant spike, put it in the bear's other eye! I doubt anything other than your daggers can cut its pelt, but those can't do any real damage. The eyes are our only good target!"
Ghost waved his wings, and a sleek, thin spike shot up from the ground to Edol's side.
"Aish, a disgrace to swords. If only we had my beautiful babies, this bear would be toast!"
The spike Ghost had just made could hardly be called a sword, but it would have to do.
Gripping his new weapon, Edol fixed his eyes on the bear.
'Go!'