Two hours later, Jolthar stood before the entrance to a massive cave set into a rocky hillside. Ancient claw marks scored the stone around the opening, some fresher than others.
The dire iron-claw bear's lair.
Drawing Knashii, Jolthar allowed his blue aura to manifest fully, power surging through his body as he prepared for combat. This would be no hunting—this would be battle.
"Let's see how strong you are."
A deafening roar answered from the darkness, followed by the massive form of the dire bear emerging into daylight. It stood twenty feet tall on its hind legs, fur matted with the blood of previous kills, eyes blazing with primal fury at the intrusion into its domain.
Lesser men would have fled.
Jolthar merely smiled, raising Knashii as blue aura erupted around him like flame.
The dire bear charged, moving with shocking speed for a creature of its size.
