Taro leaped upward with his unique back legs power, heading straight for the bear. While in the air, his claws got covered in shadows. In a flash, Taro reappeared right in front of the bear's eyes. The unexpected move and Taro's quickness caught the Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bear off guard.
Deep into the brawl with the Giant Glacial Terra Panda, the grizzly bear couldn't react fast enough. Taro's Shadow Claw Slash connected with the bear's eyes, leaving a lingering touch of the shadow realm. The bear roared in pain and confusion.
In the brief moment when the bear was blinded and disoriented, the Giant Glacial Terra Panda sprang into action. Despite its own state of confusion, the panda exploited the opening to land forceful blows on the struggling bear.
The panda rained down a series of icy paw blows on the bewildered bear. Meanwhile, trying to comprehend the sudden turn of events, the bear endured a relentless barrage of attacks.
The woman, witnessing the chaotic scene, showed a mix of emotions on her face. A moment of happiness flickered across her face, seeing her pet monster getting the upper hand.
However, that joy quickly turned into shock as she processed the sudden turn of events. Her eyes widened, and her mouth slightly opened in surprise.
Quickly, she turned her attention to the surroundings, scanning every direction with caution. "Who's there?" she shouted into the woods.
The woman was no fool, she noticed the intentional nature of the intervention. She knew that a small creature wouldn't randomly jump into a fight between two massive monsters. It had to be a pet monster, carrying out its tamer's instructions.
Raising her voice a little more, she called out. "I appreciate the help, but hiding won't earn you any trust! Show yourself, please! I'll start thinking you're up to no good if you don't step forward now."
"It's not normal for a small monster to jump into a fight like this unless there's a tamer pulling the strings."
Yves, tucked away behind the tree trunk, nodded to himself. "She does really have some brains." he thought. Observing the situation, he weighed the options.
If he remained hidden, the woman would likely view him with suspicion, and worst-case scenario, she might consider him an enemy. On the other hand, revealing himself could establish a level of trust and cooperation.
The correct choice was obvious, and Yves decided it was time to make his presence known. Slowly stepping out from his concealed spot, he raised his hands in a non-threatening gesture.
"Alright, alright, miss. No need to consider me an enemy," he said calmly, addressing the woman.
With a smile, Yves continued. "I couldn't help but notice you were on the verge of tears a few seconds earlier and I thought, 'Oh no, not in the forest. We have a strict 'no crying' policy here, you know?"
Before the woman could reply, Yves quickly added. "Let's finish off the grizzly bear first, then we'll talk. I'm not one to leave a job half-done. Besides, it seems your panda could use a breather. What do you say?"
As Yves looked at the woman, she shot him an angry look that he found oddly cute. Chuckling to himself, he said. "I'll take that as a yes, miss."
Turning his attention back to the ongoing fight, Yves heard the woman's voice. "Thank you. You can call me Jade," she quietly muttered. "I appreciate the help. Coco and I were in a tough spot back there."
Without looking back, Yves gave a nod. "No problem at all, Miss Jade. Let's end this battle now before the grizzly bear can heal again. We wouldn't want it making a comeback, would we?"
"By the way, you can call me Crow." he added with a small smile.
Jade hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Hold on a moment, Crow. I have a request. If it's possible, can we aim to knock down the bear rather than kill it? ? I want to tame and form a contract with the grizzly bear. Don't worry, I'll make it worth your while. I will pay you for your help."
Yves heard the word "pay," and his ears perked up. "Well, well, you've got my attention now. Okay, we'll give it a shot. But let's be clear, if it gets dangerous, we'll throw away that plan and focus on killing it. Deal?" Yves replied. As much as he loved money, if the situation turned risky, he wouldn't hesitate to prioritize safety over some cash.
Jade nodded, acknowledging the agreement. "Deal." She understood the potential risks involved, but her determination to form a contract with the grizzly bear outweighed the uncertainties.
Yves offered a reassuring smile. "Good. Just keep the bear occupied. My tanuki will focus on knocking it down without causing any permanent harm."
As the battle continued, the Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bear, though in a worse state, displayed resilience. Slowly recovering, it roared defiantly, determined to keep fighting.
However, Taro, the Shadow Step Tanuki, seized another opportunity. He dashed towards the bear's legs, executing the Shadow Fang Barrage. Each bite left a shadowy mark on the limbs, causing the bear to roar in pain and enter a state of rage, rendering it momentarily unable to think clearly or strategize.
Sensing the perfect moment, Yves urgently commanded Jade to instruct the giant panda to use the body slam that Coco had used before. Jade, understanding the chance, hastily instructed Coco to perform the Terra Body Slam on the grizzly bear.
A frosty layer of ice encased Coco's huge body. The air crackled with ice magic as the panda's muscles tightened, getting ready for the slam.
With a powerful burst of strength, Coco lunged towards the grizzly bear. The impact of the body slam was thunderous, creating shockwaves through the battlefield. Ice shards scattered as the colossal force of Coco's attack struck the Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bear. The bear screamed, momentarily immobilized by the sheer force of the blow.
Seeing the chance, Taro, darted in. His bites and claws found weak spots on the bear. Coco, the giant panda, joined the attack, hitting the grizzly bear where it hurt the most.
The grizzly bear, now weak and scared, could only try to protect itself. In a short while, it collapsed to the ground, defeated by Taro and Coco's combined strength.
Yves looked at Jade, a grin on his face. He motioned with his arm, signaling to Jade that she could proceed with whatever she had in mind.
Jade, acknowledging Yves' signal, walked towards the fallen grizzly bear with a determined yet compassionate expression. As she approached, she bent down and gently touched the defeated creature, almost as if offering an apology for the part it played in the earlier conflict.
After a moment, Jade pointed her hand toward the ground. In an instant, two small vials containing a pale grayish-white liquid materialized, accompanied by a glass enclosure.
The glass cage, Yves noticed, differed from typical enclosures. Despite its seemingly tiny size, it hinted at containing a vast space within.
Observing the two rings on Jade's fingers, Yves deduced that they were storage space rings. His eyes lingered on the glass enclosure, contemplating its unique properties. A wry smile crossed his face as he thought. "What a rich girl."
Jade carefully opened the vial containing the pale grayish-white liquid. As she poured it onto the grizzly bear's body, almost immediately, the bear's body began to emit a soft glow, and its wounds and injuries healed at an astonishing pace, far faster than any natural recovery.
Yves couldn't hide his astonishment at the accelerated healing. The effects seemed to surpass even the Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bear's Bountiful Healing Roar ability. Yves could only think of one thing – this potion was likely an advanced and potent one, judging by its remarkable effects.
With the healing process complete, Jade extended the glass enclosure toward the grizzly bear. In a spectacle, the huge creature was effortlessly sucked into the seemingly small container, disappearing from sight.
After successfully tending to the grizzly bear, Jade shifted her attention to Coco, who had also sustained injuries during the intense battle. She opened the second vial and delicately applied the healing liquid, allowing the same rapid recovery to take place.
The wounds on Coco's body began to close rapidly. The panda, showing signs of contentment, let out a growl, appreciating the relief from pain and the restoration of its vitality.