The trio's eyes met. No words were needed.
They nodded almost simultaneously, then split up to surround the bear. Their plan was simple—ranged attacks first, force it to react, herd it into a position they controlled.
Kyle wasn't skilled with a bow, which left him with one role—distraction. And honestly, he didn't mind at all. The closer he got, the easier it would be to finish it himself.
The bear stood near a thick cluster of trees, its massive body relaxed but alert. Its black fur rippled slightly as it sniffed the air, nostrils flaring.
Even from a distance, Kyle could feel the weight of its presence. This wasn't a wild boar. One wrong move, and bones would shatter.
Garrick was the first to act.
Thwip.
The arrow flew cleanly, burying itself deep into the bear's shoulder.
"ROOAAAR!"
The forest shook as the bear roared in pain and rage, rearing up briefly before slamming its front paws into the ground. The impact sent dirt and leaves flying.
The bear's head snapped toward Garrick's position, eyes burning with fury.
Before it could charge—
Thwip.
Luna's arrow struck next, piercing the bear's side.
The beast howled again, twisting violently. Blood dripped onto the soil as it turned, shifting targets toward Luna.
But before it could rush at her, another arrow from Garrick pierced its leg.
"Keep moving!" Garrick shouted.
They repeated the pattern—hit, move, reposition—forcing the bear to turn again and again. The plan worked... at first.
But the bear was learning.
With a sudden burst of speed, it ignored Garrick completely and lunged forward, breaking through the loose circle they'd formed. Straight at Luna.
`Damn it—!` Kyle cursed under his breath. `I'm still too far.`
Kyle had been trying to circle closer, waiting for the moment his skill [Mind Control] could reach it—but that plan shattered the instant it charged at Luna.
He burst from the bushes, sucked in a breath, and shouted.
"HEY!"
The bear's head snapped toward him mid-charge.
Kyle took another step forward, forcing confidence into his tone.
"Yeah, you!" he yelled. "Come over here, you black lump of meat!"
The bear snarled, its gaze locked onto Kyle as it shifted direction instantly.
Kyle felt a cold chill crawl up his spine. Instinct screaming at him to run as several hundred kilograms of pure muscle charged straight at him.
He swallowed hard, forcing a crooked grin. "Uh... sorry about that."
The ground trembled with each thunderous step as the bear closed in. Kyle forced himself to breathe, his mind racing as he calculated the distance between him and the bear.
The bear leapt.
`Now.`
Kyle's eyes flared crimson, activating his skill [Mind Control].
"Stop," he ordered calmly.
The command slammed into the bear's mind.
For a split second, the beast's body jerked violently, muscles locked, claws digging deep into the earth as it tried to halt its momentum.
But it was already too fast. Too heavy.
Kyle's pupils shrank.
`Shit!`
He threw himself to the side at the last possible second.
The bear slammed past him with a deafening crash, its bulk smashing straight into the tree behind Kyle. The trunk groaned loudly before splintering, bark exploding outward as the impact shook the forest.
Kyle hit the ground hard, rolling across dirt and leaves. Pain exploded through his side as he came to a stop against a tree trunk.
`Guhh... ordering it to stop mid-charge was a mistake.`
Then, without hesitation, he pushed himself up, dagger flashing into his hand as he sprinted forward.
The bear roared again—confused, furious—its head shaking violently. One of its front paws dug into the earth, struggling to turn its massive body around.
Garrick and Luna didn't waste the opening. Two arrows flew almost simultaneously, striking the bear's shoulder and chest.
The bear roared in agony, the sound raw and desperate.
Kyle lunged, closing the distance in a heartbeat. He slid right beneath the bear's neck and drove the dagger upward with everything he had.
The blade sank deep into the soft flesh beneath the bear's jaw, piercing straight through.
The roar cut off abruptly, turning into a choked, gurgling sound.
The bear's massive body shuddered violently. Its legs buckled, strength draining away in seconds as blood spilled onto the forest floor.
Kyle ripped the dagger free and jumped back just as the bear collapsed.
The ground shook one last time as the massive body hit the earth.
Silence followed.
Kyle stood there, chest heaving, dagger dripping, staring down at the unmoving corpse.
A familiar system window appeared before his eyes.
[You have slain a Black Bear]
[Unused Stat Points: +4 | Shop Points: +40]
Kyle exhaled slowly. "...Huh."
He straightened, wiping the blade clean against the bear's thick fur.
"That was easier than I expected," he muttered.
He looked himself over—scratches, soreness, lingering pain in his shoulder—but nothing serious. No broken bones. No fatal wounds.
He stared at the corpse for another moment, eyes calm.
"It was dangerous," he admitted quietly. "But I wasn't even injured."
`It seems animals aren't much of a threat to me anymore.` He sheathed the dagger and turned away. `I'll need to target monsters if I want to grow stronger.`
Behind him, Luna finally found his voice. "...That was insane."
Kyle glanced over his shoulder, smirking. "I prefer efficient."