Chapter 16: Trap

  Deep in the forest lies a completely uninhabited area. All the devil beasts here are at the Learner level. Just 5 kilometers further lies the territory of Warped Ravine.

  This region is the deepest part of the forest, a dangerous area that even Emerald adventurers or small units led by Learners would avoid unless absolutely necessary.

  Nitaan has been patrolling this forest for years, tracking the tracks of numerous high-level devil beasts in the area, meticulously documenting their habitats, hunting grounds, and defecating areas. He has infiltrated this area many times. Nitaan's Fade allows him and Kiita to access this dangerous territory more safely than others at the same level or even those with higher levels.

  According to Nitaan's records, this area was the true hunting ground of the giant green bear from many years ago. Nitaan has been tracking this bear for years, collecting reports of its appearances, the damage it caused, and sightings from numerous adventurers.

  After much investigation, Nitaan concluded that the bear's species name was the Emerald-fur Bear.

  The Emerald-fur Bear is one of the apex predators in this forest. Although it's only a Level 3 Learner beast, its natural abilities are extremely dangerous.

  Its natural abilities include formidable strength comparable to Level 4 Learner beasts, superior endurance and life force compared to other beasts of the same level, and emerald green fur as strong as steel, capable of withstanding swords and spears without a scratch.

  The Emerald-fur Bear is a solitary carnivore, usually hunting alone. While it doesn't need to consume large amounts of food daily, it loves to fight. Even if it doesn't need food, nine out of ten times it will choose to attack another beast it encounters.

  It possesses a bloodthirsty nature typical of its species, is extremely territorial, and will kill anyone who trespasses into its territory.

  Even if its prey is equally strong, it will still choose to fight. Emerald bears, unlike other predators, don't usually shy away or choose weaker prey. With their insanely hard emerald-fur with hide and strong claws, they are often unmatched by devil beasts of similar level.

  The Emerald-fur Bear that Nitaan encountered was a 3-word Learner. Based on Nitaan's analysis and information from other adventurers who had seen it, he concluded that its 3 Words of Power consisted of: Power Gathering, Needle, and Mud Pit.

  While this might not be entirely accurate, Nitaan was confident it was close to the truth.

  Nitaan had been specifically tracking this Emerald Bear for years. Not because he was bothered by his previous defeat. What truly bothered him was that the bear had tried to kill Kiita right before his eyes.

  If, in that moment, Nitaan's third Word of Power hadn't awakened, Kiita wouldn't be here with him.

  He would be alone again.

  He would lose his family again.

  Even though that doesn’t happen, there’s no way he would just forgive that emerald-fur bear.

  Today, with everything prepared, he wanted to settle the score!

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  Nitaan crouched in a large bush, a thin layer of dirt covering his body to mask his human scent. His Fade was continuously being used. Nitaan's body was now hazy and indistinct, as if viewed through a thick fog.

  Kiita's body slumped on a nearby tree, also covered in a thin layer of mud. The tree had brown leaves and a dark trunk, further concealing Kiita's pitch-black body.

  Over three hours had passed, yet neither Nitaan's nor Kiita's bodies moved, as if fused into nature, becoming one with the bush and branches.

  The grass rustled in the direction Nitaan and Kiita looked. A giant, green figure emerged from the forest, its fur densely packed in emerald green. Its muscles were tense and flexed. The same knife was still deeply embedded in its left eye, only the handle protruding. Although the wound had dried and healed, the scar and the blade remained.

  The Emerald-fur Bear!

  As it reached its usual hunting spot, Nitaan raised his fist to the sky before lightly pressing it down. The ground beneath its feet trembled as if about to crumble.

  The Emerald-fur Bear, sensing danger, bristled its fur. Its animal instincts told it to leap forward swiftly, plunging away from its position. Even though its reaction was incredibly quick, Nitaan was prepared. The bear's feet felt an unfamiliar sensation, something it had experienced years ago.

  Link!

  Nitaan used the same method, linking the bear's paw to the ground, momentarily halting its movement.

  The experienced Emerald-fur Bear made a swift decision. A faint glow emanated from its body, and immense strength surged forth. With a single tug on its foot, Nitaan's Link was ineffective. The moment it lunged away again, Link was broken. A dark shadow leaped down from the tree, aiming at the left side of the bear's face, which was no longer clearly visible.

  Kiita, now holding a small spear in his mouth, coiled and aimed at its remaining right eye. As the spearhead drew closer, The Emerald-fur Bear instincts warned him of the danger again.

  The Emerald-fur bear bristled again, this time with sharp thorns shooting out in all directions, obscuring all attacks.

  Hundreds of sharp needles shot out in all directions, piercing the ground, trees, rocks, and everything around them.

  Kiita, already prepared, rolled again. The large brown cloak on his back spread out. Nitaan stared at the horde of needles, using his power to manipulate some of them, causing them to collide, while simultaneously reducing the weight of others to minimize damage to Kiita.

  The remaining needles struck Kiita's body, enveloped in the brown cloak. Upon impact, the cloak hardened like bark, and a cracking sound echoed throughout the area. When the needle shower stopped, Kiita emerged from behind the cloak unharmed.

  Nitaan drew his bow and unleashed a barrage of high-quality arrows at the Emerald-fur bear, then linked them into its right eye, forcing it to raise its front paw to defend itself. As it paused, a dark figure leaped out again.

  Kiita leaped from the trees, soaring high into the sky, his weightless body made him incredibly agile. Kiita appeared in the air behind the Emerald-fur bear. Nitaan focused his power on Kiita, and instantly, Kiita's body became heavy, like a giant rock falling from the sky.

  Seeing Kiita disappear from sight, the Emerald-fur bear puffed up its fur, preparing to shoot out in all directions again.

  Seeing this, Kiita placed his brown cloak underneath himself. When the cloak touched the sharp needles on the giant bear's back, it instantly solidified, becoming a safe foothold for Kiita. He stomped violently on the bear's back.

  The bear's weight combined with Kiita's momentum overwhelmed the ground, collapsing into a pit that submerged more than half of the Emerald-fur bear's body, leaving only its upper torso visible above the ground.

  Inside the pit were dozens of spears protruding from the hole. The reflection of the spearheads indicated their sharpness, ready to pierce and destroy anyone who fell into their trap.

  However, when the Emerald-fur bear's body touched the spears, a loud cracking sound of wood breaking echoed simultaneously.

  Dozens of well-prepared spears failed to penetrate the bear's tough hide, shattering into pieces within the trap itself.

  The Emerald-fur bear roared in fury. While the spears couldn't harm its body, the impact undoubtedly caused it pain.

  Nitaan had anticipated this, hoping the broken pieces of wood would further fill the trap, hindering the bear's movement and delaying its trapped position. He drew his bow again, unleashing a barrage of arrows at the half-buried body.

  Kiita, having retreated after stomping on the bear's back, slams his body into surrounding trees.

  The seemingly sturdy trees easily snapped, their trunks showing a clean, smooth cut. Only a few sections remained firmly attached, held together seamlessly by a delicate Link. The impact of Kiita’s slam caused these remaining sections to collapse, easily toppling the large tree.

  Kiita didn't stop there. He continued to slam into the surrounding large trees. Numerous trees fell perfectly into the trap.

  Lots of wood and leaves were scattered across the ground as large trees fell. A massive cloud of dust billowed, creating a thick smoke screen that obscured visibility. Branches and bark flew everywhere. The once peaceful forest was now filled with a deafening commotion.

  Amidst the chaos, a figure darted into the smoke at high speed. A long-handled spear appeared in his hand.

  Nitaan lunged at the Emerald-fur bear with perfect timing, synchronized with the rising dust and smoke. He gripped the spear firmly, tensing his entire body to add weight to the tip.

  Nitaan memorized the final split second before the dust and smoke covered everything, focusing on the Emerald-fur bear's last known position. The spear shot forward, thrusting into its remaining right eye.

  Nittan felt the resistance when he struck his spear into something soft.

  "Missed us?" Nitaan smiled.