Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Battling the Rampaging Demon Bear
The area around them had already been cleared of dangerous monsters.
Only some first-level beasts remained.
Renji Takahashi, Yuna Hoshizaki, Shun Hayashi, and Mei Kobayashi soon encountered a formidable enemy—a Rampaging Demon Bear, a mid-level first-rank monster with fire attributes!
The beast stood over two meters tall on its hind legs, muscles rippling beneath its scorched fur.
With those massive arms, one swipe could turn a person into pulp.
"That's... a mid-tier first-rank Rampaging Demon Bear. Can we really handle it?" Mei Kobayashi asked, her voice tinged with concern.
It wasn't that she lacked confidence—it was just that Demon Bears were infamous for their savage power.
And their team was full of support-types. Could they really take it down?
"Renji, what's the plan?" Yuna turned to Renji, seeking guidance.
Renji scratched his head casually. "Plan? It's just a bear. We charge it."
No strategy, no complicated tactics—just brute force.
"I'll take the front. You three support me from behind."
He drew his dagger, practically buzzing with excitement. He was itching for a real fight.
"Go for it, Takahashi! We've got your back!" Shun cheered, eyes shining with admiration.
"...You make it sound like I'm going off to my death."
Rolling his eyes, Renji tightened his grip on the dagger and charged straight at the bear.
The First Clash
"ROOAAARRR!"
The Rampaging Demon Bear spotted him instantly, beat its chest like a drum, and barreled forward on all fours.
"Water Chain Bind!"
Yuna and Mei moved swiftly, conjuring thick water chains that wrapped tightly around the bear's arms, stopping it mid-swing.
"Now's my chance!"
Renji darted forward, driving his dagger toward the bear's exposed chest.
Thunk!
The blade sank in—but only a few centimeters. Its thick hide stopped the dagger from going deeper.
"ROAR!!"
The Demon Bear roared in pain, thrashing wildly. With a sudden burst of strength, it tore through the water chains and raised both fists overhead.
Renji's eyes sharpened.
"Sharingan!"
In an instant, his triple-tomoe Sharingan spun into life.
The world slowed down. Reacting at lightning speed, Renji ripped his dagger free, slammed his foot into the dirt, and leaped backward.
BOOM!
The bear's fists smashed the ground where he had just been, sending chunks of earth flying.
Round Two: The Assist
"ROAR!!"
The bear lunged again, bloodthirsty rage in its eyes.
"Bind it, now!" Renji shouted.
Shun raised his hand. "Tangle!"
Two thick vines shot from the ground, wrapping around the bear's legs and locking them in place.
"Water Chain Bind!"
Yuna and Mei launched another attack, summoning four more water chains that tightly coiled around its arms.
This time, the Demon Bear toppled over, crashing to the ground.
"Let's see you shrug this off!"
Renji gripped the dagger with both hands, leapt into the air, and drove it deep into the bear's chest.
CRACK!
This time, the blade pierced nearly ten centimeters into its flesh.
The bear roared in agony, thrashing violently—but it couldn't break free.
"Hold it down!" Yuna commanded.
The three support-users poured more energy into their abilities, tightening the restraints.
But the Rampaging Demon Bear wasn't finished yet.
With a deafening roar, its entire body erupted in flames, burning away the water chains and vines instantly.
"It's using Burnout Mode! Renji, fall back!" Yuna shouted.
But it was too late.
The bear was free.
Danger Strikes
Instead of charging Renji, the bear turned its blazing fury toward the trio in the back—the ones who had bound it.
It opened its mouth wide and unleashed three massive fireballs straight at them.
"Oh no—it's targeting us!" Mei gasped.
"Water Shield!"
"Wooden Wall!"
Yuna and Shun summoned protective barriers.
BOOM!
The fireballs collided with their defenses. Mei's water shield and Shun's wooden wall shattered instantly. Only Yuna's barrier held firm.
Before they could recover, the bear lunged toward them, fists raised.
"Exploding Water Jet!"
Thinking fast, Yuna summoned a powerful torrent of water from above, blasting the bear just as it attacked.
BOOM!
The bear's punch missed its mark but the shockwave sent Mei and Shun flying backwards.
Panting from exhaustion, Yuna barely had the strength to stay upright. The bear turned its burning body toward her next.
Yuna gritted her teeth, unable to summon another defense in time.
Renji's Counterattack
But Renji wouldn't let her fall.
"Mokuton: Tree Wall!"
A thick barrier of vines and branches erupted from the ground, blocking the bear's charge.
BOOM!
The wall shook violently but held strong—Renji's Wood Release was far sturdier than Shun's basic techniques.
"Don't think you can ignore me!"
Frustrated at being sidelined, Renji prepared his next move.
"Wood Release: Piercing Spears!"
Dozens of thick wooden spears erupted from the earth, lancing toward the bear from every angle.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
The spears pierced the bear's hide, drawing blood and forcing it to stagger back.
Howling in pain, the bear turned its rage on Renji, unleashing three enormous fireballs.
Defense and Resolve
Renji formed a seal.
"Mokuton: Wooden Barrier!"
A dome-like wooden structure burst up from the ground, shielding him inside.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The first two fireballs smashed against the barrier, leaving it cracked but standing. The third one finally blasted a hole through it—but Renji remained unharmed inside.
He grinned.
"Is that all you've got? You're out of tricks."
Clapping his hands together, Renji unleashed his finishing move.
"Wood Release: Explosive Seed Cannon!"
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