The low, guttural growls of the beasts echoed through the cave walls, bouncing in every direction like a warning drum. Shapes shuffled in the darkness—four-legged at first, but then slowly rising, one by one, until their towering silhouettes stood upright like nightmarish giants.
Kairo's breath hitched. (What are these things? Bears? They look like bears… but something's off.)
Flint stepped forward instinctively, placing himself between Kairo and the advancing shapes. "Boss, stay back! I don't like this!"
Theo tightened his grip on his sword. "There are so many… Be careful, everyone. This isn't going to be easy!"
From behind them, Lilian shouted with deep annoyance. "This is exactly what happens when you don't listen to me!"
"This isn't the time for that," Kairo said, raising a hand to calm them, though even his voice carried a tremor. "Focus. Get ready."
Deep inside, his thoughts churned.
(This is bad… I didn't expect anything like this. Calm down, Kairo. Think. We need information first.)
He closed his eyes for a split second and activated Command Nexus.
A faint blue overlay flickered in his vision, outlining the beasts in the cave.
—Analyzing target…
Their forms sharpened. A name revealed itself:
Name: Mole Bear
Tier: 2
Description: Burrow-dwelling pack beasts with armored fur and powerful claws, known for raiding crops and overwhelming prey through sheer numbers.
Kairo swallowed hard.
"So they're the ones who took my potatoes…" he muttered, eyes narrowing.
The Mole Bears growled again—louder, closer, hungry.
A sudden roar tore through the cave as one of the Mole Bears broke formation and lunged straight at them. Flint's eyes widened.
"Watch out!" he shouted, throwing himself forward.
The bear's massive claws slashed downward, sparks erupting as Flint barely managed to raise his axes. Steel met keratin with a harsh crack, the impact pushing him back a step. The beast didn't relent—its claws slammed down again, the cave echoing with each blow as Flint gritted his teeth and held firm.
Then another shadow shot forward.
Another Mole Bear burst out from the darkness, aiming straight for Flint's exposed side.
But before it could strike—
A streak of motion cut the darkness.
Theo appeared in front of Flint, sword drawn, blocking the incoming swipe with a powerful dash-enhanced leap. The impact shook his arms, boots skidding across the rocky floor as he growled,
"Watch your back, Flint! These things hit hard!"
Flint let out a breathless laugh. "Thanks! But they just keep coming!"
Growls multiplied. Eyes gleamed from the deeper shadows. More silhouettes prowled in circles around them—waiting, testing, getting bolder.
Theo swung at one, but it melted into the darkness before the blade could land. "Damn it—!"
He clicked his tongue. "I can't see anything! They're using the shadows to ambush us!"
Flint stepped back-to-back with him, axes raised defensively. "Same here… they're everywhere."
Kairo watched the shifting darkness, heart pounding. This wasn't a normal fight—
(If we can't see them, we can't win…) Kairo clenched his fists as another growl echoed from the darkness. (We're like sitting ducks in here… blind, boxed in, and surrounded.) he muttered under his breath, anxiety rising.
(We need light. Somehow.)
Theo's blade clashed against thick fur and muscle as another mole bear lunged from the shadows, its claws scraping sparks across his sword. Flint swung his axes wide, intercepting a second bear trying to flank them. Every strike echoed in the cramped cave, but the darkness swallowed their vision, forcing them to react only to sound and instinct.
"Dammit—there's too many!" Theo shouted, narrowly ducking a swipe aimed at his horns.
"I can't see a thing!" Flint growled, parrying another claw strike. "Boss, this is getting bad!"
Kairo stepped back, scanning the pitch-black pockets where more eyes glimmered. His jaw tightened.
"Lilian!" he called out. "We need help—anything you can do! Magic, light, whatever!"
Lilian blinked, half-disbelieving."You… you want me to light up the whole cave? With magic? Are you serious right now?" Lilian asked, stunned.
Kairo, dodging a swipe of claws, shot back, "Yes! If you can—please! Fast!"
Her face flushed instantly. (Okay—no pressure,) she panicked internally. (Just… you know… providing light so we don't all get eaten alive by giant man-eating cave monsters! Totally fine!)
She lifted her trembling hand and whispered, "Please work… please work… pleaaase work—"
A tiny flame flickered to life.
"I DID IT!" she cheered, beaming with pride.
The tiny flame sputtered… dimmed… and died with a sad puff of smoke.
Theo, mid-swing, deadpanned loudly, "Wow. Thank you sooo much. That was incredibly helpful. Now how about some REAL help!?"
Lilian's ears burned red. "I—I'm trying!"
Kairo shook his head quickly. "Don't blame yourself—we just need another solution!"
Lilian lowered her head, frustrated by her failure—until a sudden spark of inspiration jolted through her mind. Her eyes widened, hope flickering back to life as an idea formed.
Her eyes widened as the idea hit. She shot upright, shouting, "FLINT!"
The sudden yell made everyone jump. Flint, who was straining to keep a mole bear's snapping jaws inches from his face, nearly lost his grip on his axes.
"Huh—WHAT?!" he yelled back, struggling.
Lilian pointed frantically. "YOUR FIRE! USE YOUR MAGIC!"
Flint blinked in confusion, barely managing to keep the snarling Mole Bear's jaws from clamping onto his shoulder. "Fire? I don't know how to do that!" he shouted, pushing back with both axes.
"You don't even know that much?!" Lilian yelled, exasperated beyond belief.
Flint barked back, "I just got magic, remember?!"
Lilian groaned, rubbing her forehead. "Whatever—we don't have time. Just listen to me!"
While Flint struggled, she rapidly guided him through the basics. "Focus!" she commanded.
Flint chuckled breathlessly, shoving the beast back a step. "Hard to focus when a monster's trying to eat me—but fine, I'll try!"
Lilian pointed sharply. "Visualize mana coming from your heart, moving through your arm, then your hand—burning like fire!"
Flint closed his eyes for a second. "Theo, keep them back for a bit, will ya?"
"No problem!" Theo yelled, leaping in front of Flint. His sword flashed as he intercepted two charging bears, muscles straining. "Do it fast!"
Inside Flint's mind, everything went silent. A dark void. Then—
A spark.
A tiny orange ember pulsed in the darkness, growing brighter as he concentrated. It spread across the imagined shape of his arm, blooming into roaring heat.
"Good!" Lilian shouted. "Now let that burning mana cover your entire arm! That's the most basic form of fire magic!"
Flint exhaled, letting the blaze spread, feeling his arm grow hotter—alive.
Finally, Lilian pointed fiercely. "Now—ignite it with your heart....Turn your mana into solid flames!"
Theo grunted, struggling as one bear suddenly pounced on him. He was caught off guard and slammed into the ground.
"Theo!" Kairo shouted.
And then—
A burst of blinding orange light exploded.
Flint roared, his arm now wrapped in swirling fire. He punched the bear off Theo with a flaming strike.
A savage grin tore across his face.
"Now the real fun starts!"
Kairo grinned back, relief flooding him.
"Alright. We've got this!"
But as Kairo's words echoed through the cave, Flint's fiery glow pushed deeper into the darkness—far beyond where any of them could see.
There, in the deepest hollow, two Mole Bears lumbered toward the light. But before they could advance, a low, rumbling growl vibrated through the stone. The two beasts froze instantly, ears twitching. Their bodies stiffened with instinctive fear.
From behind them… a massive shadow stirred.
The bears lowered their heads in submission as the towering silhouette stepped forward. One of them was shoved aside effortlessly, collapsing with a startled grunt. But the moment it lifted its gaze, all sound was stolen from its throat.
The creature rose… higher… and higher… until it stood fully upright.
Flint's flame finally illuminated its face—
A gigantic Mole Bear, fur darker and thicker, but its face unnaturally pale… ghost-white.
A jagged scar slashed across its muzzle.
It growled, revealing long, crooked, predatory teeth—
Starving for its next prey.
To be continued.....