A Hunt (Pt.3)

"Eee!"

The Tusk Boar's screams echo through the forest as razor-sharp claws tear through its flank.

Its cries abruptly end as the bear snaps its neck in two.

Lucian's eyes latch onto the beast, unwilling to look away.

It stands nearly 10ft tall on its hind legs. A skeletal armor covers its entire body with the exception of its head and underbelly. 5-inch claws extend from each of its paws, now stained with blood. Its eyes burn a fiery red as it scans the nearby area for other prey. An abnormal amount of drool drips from its maw.

The bear drops to its forelegs and sniffs the air.

'Thank god the wind is blowing towards me. Otherwise, I'd be dead right now.'

"Crunch!"

The bear begins to indulge in the boar's fresh meat. Its jaw crushes through bones as if they were twigs.

Crawling backward ever so slowly, Lucian is now several meters away.

'I think I'm in the clear here. I'll have to hunt elsewhere. I have no idea why a bear is out during the middle of winter.'

Lucian rises behind a nearby brush line, his head poking just above the bushes, to check on the bear.

"Uah! Uah!" A blood-curdling screech fills the forest.

Lucian instantly turns his head to the source of the sound.

'FUCK!'

An Armoured Bear cub calls out in distress, just a few feet away. It had been hiding, waiting for its mother's okay call. Then suddenly a human appeared in front of it.

'I'm screwed. There's no way out of this.'

"Sst!"

Lucian draws his sword.

"Kch!"

His blade slices through the cub's neck. Blood splatters on the nearby snow.

Lucian darts his head back to the mother bear, checking if she noticed the call.

She is nowhere to be seen.

'Did she run when her cub started screaming? Where did she-'

"RUAH!"

The mother bear appears at Lucian's side, slashing her claws at a speed too fast for Lucian to even comprehend.

"AH!"

Lucian is thrown over the bushes, a gaping wound in his chest. His flesh shredded from the claws of the beast. His blood showers onto the ground forming a pool.

Jumping back to his feet with adrenaline and pure fear pumping into his veins. Lucian attempts to prepare himself for the next attack.

The bear jumps over the bushes barreling towards him at unthinkable speeds.

As a last-ditch effort, Lucian slashes vertically, aiming for the head.

"Clang!"

The bear leaps at Lucian faster than he can react. His sword strikes the bear's leg armor. While the beast's jaws latch onto his shattering his shoulder blade.

"GAH!"

Lucian's body is flung in the air like a ragdoll as the beast rips a chunk out of his shoulder before throwing him into a nearby tree.

'Fuck. fuck. fuck. I'm dead. I'm dead. There's no way I can kill this thing.'

'Ding!'

'Killing Intent nearby has reached appropriate levels. Activating: "Demonic Instinct'

Lucian's mind calms, and his breathing becomes regulated as his fear subsides.

'Bonus Quest Added: Kill "Armoured Mountain Bear"

'I think you're overestimating what I can do here.'

'Left arm paralyzed. Shoulder blade shattered. Missing substantial muscle mass in Left Shoulder. Rapid blood loss from wounds.'

'I'd estimate my likelihood of completing the bonus quest is 5%. Chance of survival 10%.'

'Demonic instinct allows me to properly regulate my mana circuits. I'll enhance my body with lightning and scale the trees. If I move fast enough, I believe I can outmaneuver the beast.'

Lucian's thoughts process in the blink of an eye. The bear rushes towards him in slow motion.

'Voom!'

His feet grip into the snow, lightning arcs from his body. He launches himself to the top of the tree.

The Armoured Bear reacts instantaneously to his movements. Slicing at the trunk of the tree, causing it to fall.

To no avail.

Lucian is now jumping from tree to tree towards a small rock formation nearby.

"ROAR!"

The bear, seething with rage for the loss of its child, calls out into the forest.

It bounds after Lucian at high speed.

Lucian leaps to the next tree in his path. His eyes emit red light as he checks the bear's position.

'Unlikely she will stop chasing. I need to create an obstacle if I am to increase my chance of survival.'

Lucian's thoughts race again.

'Enhancing my body with lightning should be more difficult than empowering an object.'

His grip tightens on his sword. His fingertips pass an electric current through the blade.

It begins to hum as it vibrates with power.

'This will require a substantial amount of my mana. I hope luck is on my side.'

Lucian's arm flies backward, launching his sword towards the bear.

The blade soars through the air.

"Clang!"

Its hilt strikes the ground below the bear.

Lucian's eyes track the blade in real-time.

Bouncing off the hilt. It rebounds into the exposed underbelly of the bear.

"Ruah!"

The bear shouts in pain as the blade creates a minor wound near its left foreleg.

'Luck is on my side. Based on the speed that I threw it and the injury it caused. There is no possibility of me killing it. This flesh wound is the best I can ask.'

The bear stops momentarily before rushing forth.

However, that one moment is enough for Lucian to create enough distance for the bear to lose his trail.

"Thud."

Lucian drops to the snow. In front of him is a wall of rock. The entrance to a small cave is directly ahead.

'This should be good enoug-'

'Ding!'

'Demonic Instinct: Deactivating. The nearby area is safe from enemies.'

Dropping to his knees. Lucian begins a fit of coughing as blood dribbles down his chin. The lightning covering his body dissipates.

His veins burn his use of mana too much for his body.

"Fuck..." Lucian whispers.

'The only way I'm getting out alive is through Demonic Instinct, and it cuts out now. This system wants me to die.'

Lucian hobbles into the cave as his adrenaline runs dry and unbearable pain sets in.

The interior of the cave is slightly warmer than the outside. Bones rest in small piles scattered about.

Lucian slumps against the cave wall. He holds his right hand over his shoulder, trying to stem the bleeding.

'I'm dead. This must be the bear's den. I've probably got an hour or so before she comes back. I'll either die of blood loss before that, or she'll rip me to bits. There's no way I can walk back out into the forest without her finding me.'

'I can't die here. I've gotta think. What can I do?'

'Wait!'

'Main Quest'

"Rewards Available: 1 Mystery Box"

'Open Mystery Box.'

'Images of items, equipment, etc. Fly past Lucian's eyes. The images slow to a stop. A golden question mark flashes on the screen.'

'Ding!'

'Legendary Drop Acquired.'

Now dropping "Legendary Beast: Shadow Panther."

"Shadow Panther?" He mutters.

'A legendary beast? Its name sounds terrifying. This might be my last hope.'

Shadow Panther.

Information: The Shadow Panther is the result of Beast Evolution. Possessing high amounts of strength, speed, and magical power. The Shadow Panther is a ferocious beast suited for stalking prey, assassination, and stealth.

'Would you like to summon?'

'Yes.'

'I'm saved. There's no way a B Rank beast could ever kill a Legendary. This Panther should be at least-'

"Erk!"

A surge of pain comes from his chest wound as his rapid breathing tears the wounds further.

'Summoning: Shadow Panther'

'...'

'Summoning Complete.'

Lucian's eyes gaze upon the menacing beast before him.

'What the fuck is this...'