The horses grew uneasy the closer they came to the cave. They stamped their hooves and tossed their heads, snorting clouds of steam into the cold air.
"They can sense it," Henry muttered, tightening his reins.
Jiang Ning dismounted and ran a hand along his horse's neck to calm it. "We walk from here," he ordered quietly, his voice echoing faintly in the still gorge.
The others followed suit, leading their mounts to a patch of flat rock near the stream. The cave loomed ahead, its jagged mouth like a wound in the red cliffside.
The entrance was narrow, the ground uneven and scattered with sharp stones that would tear through even a Wind Horse's hooves. Better to leave them behind.
The moment Jiang Ning stepped through the mouth of the cave, a wave of heat struck him. The air inside was thick and humid, smelling of damp fur, earth, and something fouler, the sharp tang of animal urine. He wrinkled his nose and glanced around.
"Light it," he whispered.
Aldrin nodded, struck a flint, and lit the torch. The flame flickered to life, its glow dancing over slick stone walls and long, glistening stalactites that dripped with steady droplets of water.
The walls were slick with green moss, and the ground was muddy beneath their boots. The flame revealed claw marks gouged deep into the stone, thick, ragged scars that could only have been made by something monstrous.
Jiang Ning's grip tightened on his rifle. The weapon felt heavy and reassuring in his hands.
"Rigor, rear. Aldrin, keep the torch high," he said quietly.
Ronan moved to the front, his broadsword already unsheathed. The Elite Knight's eyes glinted faintly in the torchlight, sharp and predatory. Every movement he made was controlled, silent.
The group advanced slowly. The faint sound of dripping water was the only thing breaking the silence.
Then, the earth trembled.
A deep, guttural roar tore through the tunnel, reverberating off the stone walls. It wasn't loud; it was massive, a physical force that made their bones vibrate.
Aldrin flinched, his torch trembling in his hand. "What was that-"
Ronan raised his hand sharply, silencing him. Then, with slow precision, he signed a series of hand signals toward Jiang Ning.
Slight movement ahead.
One.
Large.
Stationary.
Jiang Ning's heart pounded. He nodded once, then gestured for the torch.
Aldrin hesitated but handed it over. Jiang Ning turned it in his hand, took one careful step forward, and threw it.
The torch spun through the air and landed several meters ahead, rolling across the rocky floor before coming to rest against a mound of fur and flesh.
For a heartbeat, the cave was still. Then the mound moved.
The beast lifted its massive head, its blood-red eyes reflecting the torchlight. Its hide shimmered with coarse brown fur, and from its back rose dozens of black spikes glinting like spears.
It exhaled, a long, heavy breath that sounded like a furnace.
Then it roared.
The cave shook. Dust rained from the ceiling.
"Positions!" Jiang Ning shouted.
The knights snapped into action, forming a wide semicircle. Henry moved to the left flank, Rigor to the right, and Aldrin stayed behind with his spear ready.
The Spiked Grizzly Bear was enormous, easily four meters tall when it reared up. Its claws gouged the rock as it stepped forward, its growl echoing like thunder.
Jiang Ning steadied his breath, raised his rifle, and sighted down the barrel.
"On my count," he whispered. "One… two…"
"Three!"
They surged forward.
Ronan was first. His broadsword cut through the air with a low, whistling hum, striking the bear across the chest. Blood splattered, dark and thick. The beast roared in pain, staggering back a step.
Henry and Aldrin darted in next, their swords flashing in the firelight. Steel bit into the bear's flank, but the creature's hide was tough as iron; their blades barely left scratches.
Rigor slammed his shield forward, bashing into the bear's leg to unbalance it.
"Go for the legs!" he bellowed. "Bring it down!"
The bear reared up, its claws flashing. One massive paw slammed down where Henry had been standing. The old knight barely dodged in time, rolling across the mud.
"Damn beast-!" Henry cursed, scrambling back to his feet.
Jiang Ning fired.
The sharp crack of the rifle echoed through the cave, the muzzle flash briefly blinding in the darkness. The bullet struck the bear's shoulder, not deep enough to pierce the bone, but enough to make the creature flinch.
"Nice shot!" Rigor shouted.
Jiang Ning chambered another round. He didn't waste time; every motion was smooth, practiced. He fired again, this time at the bear's front leg. The bullet ricocheted off the stony floor and struck the underside of its paw.
The beast bellowed in fury, stumbling for half a second, long enough for Ronan to move.
The Elite Knight roared back, swinging his sword in a brutal overhead strike. The blade bit deep into the creature's neck.
Blood sprayed, hot and thick. The bear staggered, roaring in rage and pain.
"Keep pressure on it!" Jiang Ning shouted.
The others obeyed. Henry slashed at the beast's flank, Aldrin thrust his spear between its ribs, and Rigor used his shield to drive it backward. The bear's movements grew wilder, more desperate. It swung its claws blindly, gouging deep furrows into the rock walls.
"Watch the spikes!" Rigor yelled suddenly. "It's going to-"
The bear's back rippled. A heartbeat later, the spikes shot outward like arrows.
"Down!"
Everyone dropped flat.
The air filled with the deadly hiss of flying spikes. They tore through the cave walls, embedding deep into the stone. One grazed Aldrin's arm, slicing through his armor.
When the barrage ended, the only sound was their ragged breathing.
"Report!" Jiang Ning called.
"I'm fine!" Aldrin grunted, clutching his bleeding arm.
"Same here!" Henry replied.
Then Rigor swayed on his knees. Blood dripped down his arm where a black spike jutted from his shoulder.
"Rigor!" Jiang Ning was beside him in seconds.
The big knight grimaced, trying to laugh. "Just a scratch, my lord."
"Don't move."
Jiang Ning dropped his rifle and tore open his satchel, pulling out a roll of bandages and a pouch of dried herbs. The movements were quick, precise, the kind of medical routine born from years of field work.
"Bite this."
Rigor obeyed. Jiang Ning grasped the spike, braced his hand against the wound, and yanked. The knight's muffled cry echoed off the stone.
Blood welled, but Jiang Ning was already chewing the herbs and pressing the paste into the wound before binding it tight.
Within a minute, the bleeding slowed.
"You're lucky," Jiang Ning muttered. "A little deeper and it would've hit the bone."
Rigor managed a weak grin. "Still hurts like hell, though."
Jiang Ning gave his shoulder a light pat, then winced when Rigor flinched. "Good. Pain means you're alive."
Henry chuckled despite the tension. "You treat your men like soldiers, my lord."
"That's what they are," Jiang Ning said, standing and retrieving his rifle. "Now get ready. It's not dead yet."
All eyes turned toward the bear.
The creature lay on its side, blood pooling beneath it. Its breathing was ragged, but the red glow in its eyes hadn't dimmed. Slowly, it pushed itself up with trembling arms.
Jiang Ning could see the wound Ronan had inflicted, a gaping slash across its neck. Somehow, it was still alive.
"Unbelievable," Aldrin whispered.
"End it," Jiang Ning said coldly.
Ronan nodded. The Elite Knight stepped forward, raising his sword high. The blade caught the torchlight as it descended in one swift, merciless arc.
A wet thud echoed through the cave.
The bear shuddered once, then went still.
Silence.
The group stayed frozen for several seconds, waiting to be sure. Then Henry exhaled and leaned on his sword. "By the gods… what a monster."
Jiang Ning lowered his rifle and finally allowed himself a breath. His muscles ached, and the smell of blood was thick in the air.