Chapter 25: Unleashing Power
Kazuki tightened his grip on the sword, his eyes fixed on the charging Horned Bear. The ground shook beneath its massive paws, and its red eyes blazed with unrelenting fury.
"Kazuki! Get ready!" Elara shouted, stepping to the side and preparing to flank the beast.
"Focus on its legs!" Tara added, circling around with her daggers drawn. "If you can slow it down, we can take it down together!"
Kazuki nodded, feeling the Goblin Strength skill pulsing within him. The power surged through his muscles, amplifying his strength as he steadied his stance.
The bear lunged, its claws swiping through the air with a deafening roar. Kazuki ducked under the attack, feeling the wind rush past his face. He swung his sword, aiming for the beast's hind leg. The blade struck true, slicing through thick fur and muscle.
[You have damaged Horned Bear.]
The bear howled in pain, staggering back. Elara seized the opportunity, darting forward and slashing at its flank. Blood sprayed across the ground as the beast reared up, swiping at Elara. She narrowly avoided the massive claws, rolling to the side.
"Keep it distracted!" Tara shouted, leaping onto the bear's back and plunging her daggers into its thick hide. The beast bellowed, thrashing wildly as Tara held on, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
Kazuki gritted his teeth, feeling the Goblin Strength pushing his muscles to their limits. With a roar of his own, he charged forward, aiming his blade at the beast's exposed neck.
The Horned Bear turned, its red eyes locking onto Kazuki. Time seemed to slow as Kazuki brought the sword down, the blade slicing through fur and flesh. The bear roared, its massive body shuddering as it collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.
[You have defeated Horned Bear. Skill Copy activated. New skill acquired: Beast Resilience.]
Kazuki gasped as a wave of power surged through him, his body tingling as the bear's resilience became his own. His muscles felt stronger, his skin tougher — like he could withstand a direct hit and keep going.
Tara hopped off the bear's back, brushing blood off her hands. "Well, well. Not bad, Kazuki. Looks like you're getting stronger."
Elara sheathed her sword, her eyes softening as she approached Kazuki. "Are you okay?"
Kazuki exhaled, his chest heaving. "Yeah. Just... feeling the new skill."
Elara's hand rested on his shoulder, her touch warm and grounding. "You did great."
Kazuki met her gaze, his heart pounding as their eyes locked. The forest was silent around them, the tension from the battle giving way to something deeper, something unspoken.
But before either of them could say another word, Tara cleared her throat, smirking. "Hey, lovebirds. Let's not get too cozy. We still have more monsters to hunt."
Kazuki chuckled, pulling himself together. "Right. Let's keep going."
But as they moved deeper into the forest, he couldn't shake the feeling that something — or someone — was watching them.