The forest was filled with various flowers and roses, with different colors stretching as far as the eye could see. The air was filled with the scent of fragrant flowers and the sound of chirping birds, giving the place an aura of magic and beauty that comforted and inspired Severoth.
.....
After a while of wandering in the forest and admiring the beauty of nature, Severoth saw a giant bear with large claws and a strange purple color that did not match the aesthetics of the forest. But he didn't care about appearances; the only law in this forest was that the weak are prey to the strong.
When Severoth saw the bear, he said, "It is strong, stronger than many of the monsters I've encountered, but it is still weaker than me. Let's go and ask it some questions."
He then spread his wings and flew towards it. The bear noticed Severoth approaching and angrily said, "What are you doing in my territory?"
Severoth replied while flying in the air, "Don't be afraid, I just want to ask you some questions."
The bear sarcastically said, "Afraid of what? You're just annoying and flying above me like a fly. I've never seen a flying lizard before. I'll cut your wings and roast you."
Severoth looked at the bear and said, "I only wanted to have a conversation. Why are you forcing me to fight?"
The bear laughed loudly and said, "A conversation? What nonsense are you talking about? Ah!" The bear screamed in pain as Severoth suddenly attacked.
The bear angrily said, "Coward, you only launch sneak attacks. Face me if you are brave."
After ten minutes of fighting:
The bear screamed in pain, "Please, spare me. I will answer everything, just don't hit me."
Severoth looked at him and said, "Where is the courage you spoke of? Didn't you say you would cut my wings and roast me?"
The bear replied fearfully, "I was joking, sir. I only wanted to look fierce and strong so that other monsters wouldn't attack me."
Severoth said, "So you are a coward."
The bear answered, "Yes, sir, I am a coward and I fear death."
Severoth said, "Alright, enough talking. Now tell me everything you know about the forest and human cities."
The bear sighed and said, "The forest we are in is called the Strange Forest because it contains all kinds of strange animals. The forest is divided into the outer area, the inner area, and the core area. We are in the inner area."
Severoth thought for a moment and asked, "What about the core area? What is there?"
The bear, trembling, replied, "There are monsters that can easily uproot trees with one hand."
Severoth curiously asked, "Can't you do that?"
The bear replied, "Yes, I can, but they are different."
"How are they different?"
"They can kill me easily."
Severoth thought and said, "Even though I defeated you, facing them won't be easy."
He asked, "How many of them are there?"
The bear replied, "Five. Four follow the leader, each occupying their own territory."
"First: The Dark Lion, which occupies the eastern region of the core area. It is characterized by its ability to meld into the shadows, which is why it is called the Shadow Lion. It moves gracefully through the shadows without being noticed, making it a skilled hunter and a terrifying opponent."
"Second: The Crocodile, which inhabits the lake in the northern region of the core area. It is unbeatable in the water, possessing the ability to manipulate water with great skill, making it unmatched in its element. It can move smoothly and quickly through the waves, making it a formidable foe for anyone who attempts to confront it in its aquatic domain, but it weakens outside of water."
"Third: The Giant Bison, which occupies the southern plains of the core area. It is characterized by its massive build, immense strength, and boundless endurance. It roams the wide pastures with thick skin that protects it from any attack and sharp horns used as an effective weapon against enemies. Sightings are rare, but those who face it must be prepared for an unpredictable challenge."
"Fourth: The Fire Falcon, which occupies the western mountainous region of the core area. As its name suggests, it has the ability to manipulate fire freely. The Fire Falcon is the only one that has managed to face the leader in a near-equal battle, showcasing its extraordinary fire control and amazing speed as it flies between the mountain peaks."
"The final and the leader: The Winged Tiger, which occupies the central region of the core area. Although it lacks the skills of the others, it possesses extraordinary strength, speed, and defense, with legendary endurance that surpasses even the Giant Bison. Its trump card is the Tiger's Frenzy ability, which grants it a significant boost in strength, speed, and defense at the cost of endurance. While this might seem like a weakness, its remarkable stamina allows it to withstand the toughest battles."
Severoth thought about it and asked the bear, "How do you know all this? I don't think this is common knowledge."
The bear's face contorted with clear emotion this time, and he felt the weight of Severoth's question pressing upon him. He sighed deeply, with evident signs of sadness and regret showing on his features.
The Bear: "There were times when I was friends with the Dark Lion. We used to work together and protect each other. But one day, we were attacked by a powerful monster. I should have stood by his side, but... I betrayed my courage and ran away. I left him to face the danger alone."
The bear paused for a moment, trying to control the emotions that surfaced in his voice. There was bitterness in his words, as if he was reliving that painful moment.
The Bear: "After that, I couldn't face him. I felt ashamed and disgraced, and our friendship was severed. Since then, I've lived alone in this forest, trying to learn and survive, but always carrying the burden of guilt."
The bear looked at Severoth with eyes full of sorrow: "This is the truth. I may have been a coward in the past, but now I'm trying to be better. This forest has taught me a lot, and I hope to change for the better."
Severoth looked at him, clearly seeing the pain and regret in the bear's eyes. He realized that the bear carried a deep wound inside, and that this experience had greatly impacted his life.
Severoth looked at him and said, "The courage to admit a mistake and try to change is a big step. The past may be painful, but the future is still open to you."
The bear said, "Thank you. Maybe one day I will find a way to correct my mistakes."
Severoth smiled and said, "But you're still a coward."
The bear shouted angrily, "Damn you! Don't play with my feelings."
Severoth laughed and said, "It's been a long time since I laughed like this. By the way, what's your name?"
The bear said, "My name is Black Claws."
Severoth replied, "Is that because of your black claws?"
The bear said, "Yes, why are you looking at me like that?"
Severoth said, "Nothing. Are all the creatures in the forest named like that?"
The bear replied, "Yes, almost. What's your name?"
Severoth said, "Severoth."
The bear asked, "Is there anything else you want to know?"
Severoth said, "Yes, what do you know about human cities?"
The bear replied, "Human cities? I don't know much about them because they are far from us. The nearest city is about 1500 km from the edge of the outer forest to the southeast. The entire forest is very large, about 300 km wide."
Severoth asked, "Can you reach it?"
The bear (Black Claws) replied, "No, I can't. I've tried once or twice but always returned because of the strong monsters along the way."
Severoth said, "Why don't you try again? You might learn from them and find a new place."
The bear said, "I'm afraid, Severoth. The fear of the city and humans clouds my mind. I don't know how they will treat me, especially after what I did in the past."
Severoth replied, "Fear is natural, but it can prevent you from achieving great things. You might find an opportunity to make up for your past, but if you don't try, you'll never know."
The bear said, "Maybe I should give it a chance. Thank you, Severoth."
Severoth said, "No need to thank me, I'm here because your experiences are valuable to me now."
The bear thought and said, "Damn, I was going to consider you a friend, but you want me to go to the cities to see their reaction."
Severoth said, "Of course not, I'm encouraging you to break your fear and get rid of your cowardice."
The bear said, "As if I believe you." He raised his middle finger to Severoth.
Severoth laughed and said, "Where do you live?"
The bear replied, "As if I would tell you."
Severoth raised his fist towards the bear, who quickly cried out, "Don't hit me, I'll tell you! I live in a cave near the core area, close to the border between the Shadow Lion's and the Giant Bison's territories."
Severoth said, "Don't be afraid, I won't hit you. But if your information is wrong, I'll come to your home and hit you for a whole day."
The bear sweated and said, "No, all my information is 100% correct."
Severoth said, "I hope so. Now go, you are free."
The bear said, "Thank you." and ran away as fast as he could.
Severoth thought, "He is indeed a coward but funny. I might keep him as a jester someday. If the bear's information is correct, it will change my plans."
As Severoth walked back to his small cave, he felt the tranquility that permeated the dark forest around him. The leaves gently fell around him, with the effect of sunlight filtering through the high tree gaps forming a natural canopy overhead.
There were no signs of any strange creatures or enemies in the area now. The forest was quiet and charming in its own way, which made him feel a brief sense of reassurance after the exciting encounter with the bear.
In his mind, the bear's words about the five monsters echoed. He knew this warning should be taken seriously, but he was not yet ready to face such challenges. At the same time, he was contemplating the decisions he should make. Should he seek out the city the bear mentioned? Should he confront the five monsters?
Finally, he reached the entrance of the cave, which he considered a safe haven. He entered the cave , accustomed to the darkness and silence that filled the place. Once inside, he began to set up a small fire in the middle of the cave to rest and think about what he had heard and what he should do to move forward in his mysterious and challenging journey.
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"This is the first story, so don't expect much. English is not my first language, so if there are any mistakes, please correct them for me."
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