The silence of the forest was shattered by a deafening roar as the bear lunged at the alpha wolf. The two titans collided with such force that the ground trembled. The wolf, agile and fierce, dodged the bear's first strike, sliding to the side with fluid, savage movements. But the bear, despite its wounds from the earlier battle, was no slow beast it spun with a claw raised, grazing the wolf's side and leaving a bloody gash on its dark fur.
The wolf growled in fury, baring its fangs. Without hesitation, it leapt straight at the bear's neck. The beast staggered back under the weight, and the wolf bit down hard, tearing into the bear's shoulder. The bear roared in pain and shook violently, slamming the wolf to the ground.
The earth was soaked with blood. The metallic scent was so strong that Long Tian, hidden among the bushes, had to cover his nose. His eyes didn't blink once. The scene before him was savage, brutal more intense than any human fight he had seen in his past life.
The wolf quickly got back on its feet, its legs trembling slightly, but its gaze showed no fear only a wild, killing intent. It lunged again, this time for the bear's chest. Its jaws clamped down once more, but the bear retaliated with a powerful swipe, tearing through the wolf's shoulder down to its leg, opening a deep, bleeding wound.
The wolf staggered back, panting. The bear, breathing heavily, stepped backward and, without taking its eyes off its foe, lowered its snout to one of the glowing stalks beside it. With a single bite, it devoured one of the Moon Herbs. Instantly, its body emitted a soft blue glow, and its wounds began to close not entirely, but enough to give it a second wind.
Long Tian gritted his teeth. "That bastard ate it," he muttered. Now it would be even harder to deal with the bear if it survived the fight.
The wolf didn't retreat. Instead, it charged with renewed ferocity, as if understanding its enemy had just regained strength. This time, its fangs sank into the bear's thigh, momentarily immobilizing the beast. The bear tried to shake it off with a kick, but the wolf clung on like a steel trap.
The bear's roar thundered through the forest. In a desperate move, it raised both arms and slammed them down onto the wolf's body. The impact was so brutal that a crunch was heard several of the wolf's ribs cracked instantly. The wolf released its grip and fell to the ground, coughing up blood.
And yet, the wolf didn't run.
It stood again, struggling, but its eyes burned like fire. The bear was also badly hurt. Even though the Moon Herb had healed some of its wounds, its movements had slowed, and blood still poured from countless cuts.
The two beasts stared at each other in silence. The air turned heavy. Then, as if they shared a final, wordless agreement, they charged for one last clash.
The wolf leapt straight for the bear's throat, while the bear raised both claws to crush it midair. They met in the center, a savage collision of teeth, claws, and muscle. A howl and a roar mixed in the night, shaking the nearby trees.
The wolf managed to sink its teeth into the bear's neck, but the bear drove a claw into the wolf's belly. Blood poured like a fountain. They fell to the ground, locked together, rolling in pain and fury biting, clawing, striking, ignoring the agony, consumed by the primal instinct to survive.
At last, the bear managed to free itself. With a powerful kick, it threw the wolf several meters away. The alpha crashed into a rock and collapsed, breathing heavily. Its side was torn open. The bear stumbled to the side, vomiting blood, then dropped to its knees. Both were on the brink of death.
Long Tian, still hidden, felt the tension peak. The battlefield, now littered with corpses, blood, and torn plants, was deathly silent. The bear still lived, though barely able to move. The wolf, too, clung to life with labored breath.
"Is this the moment?" Long Tian whispered, sensing that his opportunity was near.
He didn't move yet. He knew that acting too soon could get him killed with a single blow. But waiting too long might cost him everything. He had to choose carefully...
And so, in the middle of a quiet clearing under the pale moonlight, the two mighty predators hovered at the edge of death.
Long Tian knew this was his only chance. The wolf was barely breathing, lying on a rock with its ribs exposed, while the bear, though still standing, swayed as if the slightest breeze could topple it.
With the woodcutting axe gripped tightly in his hands, he leapt out from the bushes without a sound, his steps as light as those of a seasoned hunter. The system hadn't given any direct instructions, but his instincts screamed that it was now or never.
He crept up behind the bear, which still had its eyes fixed on the wolf, as if waiting for it to rise for a final strike.
Long Tian gritted his teeth, raised the axe with both hands, and struck directly at the beast's side, right between the ribs.
CRACK!
The bear's roar was terrifying a mix of pain and surprise. It turned with fury, but before it could react, Long Tian rammed into it with all the strength his body could muster, slamming his shoulder into the beast.
The animal staggered back… and its hind leg stepped right onto the edge of the massive ravine behind the clearing.
Long Tian didn't hesitate. With a second push, he struck the bear's chest with the handle of the axe.
The ground gave way under the creature's weight.
And with a muffled roar, the bear plummeted into the darkness of the chasm, vanishing into its bottomless depths.
The echo of its fall echoed for several seconds… then silence.
Long Tian dropped to his knees, gasping for breath. His heart was pounding, and a cold sweat ran down his spine.
"Almost… killed me," he muttered, staring at his trembling hands.
He had won. Not with brute strength, but with cunning, timing… and a bit of luck.
When he looked up, he saw that the wolf was still alive, breathing weakly. Its golden eyes looked at himnot with hatred, but with something akin to respect.
Long Tian didn't approach. He knew the animal no longer had the strength to fight, but he wouldn't underestimate it. Even wounded, it was dangerous.
He collected the few Moon Herbs that hadn't been crushed during the fight. Carefully, he placed them in a makeshift cloth pouch and slowly backed away, never taking his eyes off the wolf.
"Thanks for keeping him busy long enough," he whispered to the wind.
And with the herbs in his possession and his body exhausted, he began the journey back to the village.