Ch. 14 – Giant Panda vs. Grizzly Bear!
Not wasting any time, Yves quickly checked out the special traits and abilities of the Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bear, just like he did with the Giant Glacial Terra Panda.
⋖ ⸻ +++:-:+:-:+:-:+:-:+++ ⸻ ⋗
Special Trait:
⊂ King's Aura ⊃
: Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bear is surrounded by a warm and glowing aura. This heat not only covers the bear but also spreads to the surroundings, making everything pleasantly warm. What makes this aura special is its ability to counter ice magic, making the creature resistant to freezing attacks.
Activation: Always active as long as the Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bear feels confident in itself.
⋖ ⸻ +++:-:+:-:+:-:+:-:+++ ⸻ ⋗
⋖ ⸻ +++:-:+:-:+:-:+:-:+++ ⸻ ⋗
Ability:
⊂ Boulder Barrier Stomp ⊃
: With a powerful stomp, the Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bear channels earth magic, causing the ground to tremble. As the bear raises its massive paws, a sturdy wall of boulders erupts, forming an impenetrable barrier that shields against incoming attacks.
⊂ Bountiful Healing Roar ⊃
: Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bear lets out a powerful roar, carrying soothing magic in the sound waves. As the roar ripples through the area, both the bear and its allies feel their wounds and injuries gradually heal and recover.
⊂ Crown of Thorns ⊃
: Using plant magic, the Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bear envelops itself in a blossoming layer of thorns. Each thorn acts as both armor and weapon, weaving into its fur. This enhancement provides increased protection and boosts the creature's physical attack.
⊂ Primal Antler Thrust ⊃
: Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bearbear charges forward, jabbing its antlers with primal power. It's a strong, focused attack that pierces through enemies.
⊂ Rooted Claw Rampage ⊃
: Drawing upon both plant and earth magic, the bear's claws are shrouded in tough roots. In this heightened state, the bear charges forward, executing a relentless series of claw strikes.
⋖ ⸻ +++:-:+:-:+:-:+:-:+++ ⸻ ⋗
As he read through and absorbed each detail of the Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bear's abilities, a realization struck him. The immediate thought that crossed his mind was that the the Giant Glacial Terra Panda, or rather the owner of the Giant Glacial Terra Panda had chosen an unfavorable opponent.
It was a bad matchup because the Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bear not only had a healing skill but also possessed special traits that directly countered ice magic. Moreover, the other abilities of the Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bear were quite powerful in their own right.
Yves shook his head, unable to escape the thought. "This bear is practically a walking counter to the poor panda's abilities."
"Don't get me wrong, the Giant Glacial Terra Panda is strong too, but going against a healing, ice-resistant bear? That's like bringing snow to a desert, it's just not the right battlefield."
"Maybe this girl needs a crash course in monster matchups. It's like pitting fire against water and expecting the flames to win."
Yves sighed, a thoughtful expression crossing his face as he weighed the situation. The benefits of intervening in the confrontation began to play out in his mind like a strategic game.
"Firstly." he mused. "If I step in, I could potentially prevent further harm to the Giant Glacial Terra Panda. Those wounds on the panda are severe, and the grizzly bear doesn't seem to be letting up."
"Secondly, helping out might have its advantages. For one, I could gain the favor of the girl. If I play my cards right, I could make her feel indebted to me. People tend to appreciate those who come to their aid, especially in tough situations."
"And when someone owes you a favor, it opens up possibilities for future collaboration, or perhaps she might be willing to pay some money. After all, a little reward for being the hero wouldn't hurt."
"On the other hand, interfering might bring unwanted attention. I don't know the full story here. The girl and her Giant Glacial Terra Panda might have reasons for taking on such a challenge. Maybe she is testing the panda's limits or training it for some specific purpose."
"If I decide to intervene, there's also the chance of things getting worse. What if this grizzly bear has an owner who doesn't appreciate outside involvement? I could unintentionally become part of a larger conflict."
"Although I don't see any people around the area besides the girl, there might be someone hiding who is the owner of the Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bear. I could unknowingly step into a dispute or personal training session."
"And who's to say that either of these heavyweight monsters won't see us as a threat too? I might just end up being the third wheel in a clash that doesn't concern me."
As Yves overthought the situation, weighing the pros and cons of intervening, the Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bear made its move. A powerful roar reverberated through the air, but instead of aggression, it carried a soothing vibe.
The warm aura surrounding the bear intensified, spreading a comfortable warmth across the forest field. The scene was like a gentle breeze during a storm.
Yves watched in amazement as the wounded areas on the grizzly bear began to glow with a soft, green light. It was as if nature itself had decided to lend a helping hand. The wounds on the bear's fur began to shut, and the injuries looked like they were magically fixing themselves.
"That must be the Bountiful Healing Roar ability of the grizzly bear, right?" Yves thought.
However, the Giant Glacial Terra Panda wasn't just standing idly by, observing the Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bear regenerate. It swiftly sprang into action. With a powerful stomp, the panda slammed the ground, sending debris scattering. Yves sensed the surge of ice magic as a frost-coated boulder materialized in the panda's grasp.
Similar to a pitcher in a baseball game, the Giant Glacial Terra Panda threw the icy boulder straight at the Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bear.
The frosty boulder sailed through the air, leaving a trail of cold air in its path. As it approached its target, the Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bear reacted. With both claws extended, covered in dark brown roots, the grizzly bear made a forceful upward motion, intercepting the incoming icy projectile.
CRASH!
The impact echoed through the forest like a thunderclap. The collision sent fragments of the boulder flying in all directions.
The exchange, however, wasn't one-sided. The explosion of ice magic was not without consequences. Some shards of the boulder had managed to break free, taking unexpected trajectories. One large fragment, in particular, spiraled towards the Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bear's rear end.
The bear, momentarily caught off guard, screamed in pain as the ice shard struck its hind leg. The impact caused a burst of frost to envelop the affected area, freezing the fur and forming a temporary icy coating. The claws that were extended towards the boulder were now encased in a layer of ice.
At the same time, the earth surrounding the Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bear solidified due to the ice magic eruption. The bear was now positioned on a patch of frozen terrain, restricting its ability to move.
"Seems the giant panda got a solid hit in, but we need more than a chunk of ice to bring down that grizzly bear." Yves quietly muttered, his eyes narrowing as he judged the situation.
As if in response to Yves' observation, the King's Aura of the Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bear began to assert its dominance over the encroaching ice. The warm and glowing aura surrounding the bear intensified, and heat emanated from its massive form.
The ice that had coated the bear's fur and claws began to respond to the influence of the King's Aura. Slowly but steadily, the frost on the fur started to melt away, revealing the dark brown coat beneath. The encased claws, initially bound in ice, showed signs of regaining their natural flexibility as the warmth permeated through the frost.
The frozen ground under the bear's feet started to break and melt. Small streams of water formed, making a little path in the icy parts.
But just when it seemed the grizzly bear was getting back on track, the Giant Glacial Terra Panda wasn't done yet. It unleashed another skill, the Tectonic Glacier Smash.
Slamming its massive paws onto the partially frozen ground. The impact sent shockwaves through the icy terrain, causing fissures to form and extending towards the Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bear.
As the Tectonic Glacier Smash took effect, the frozen terrain holding up the Mossback Crowned Grizzly Bear broke apart, making it lose its footing. The bear, frustrated, let out a deafening growl as it struggled to stay steady amidst the shaking ground.
Yves, witnessing the clash, nodded approvingly. "Good move. Using the environment to gain an upper hand."
"Will that really be enough? I highly doubt it. Let's see how the grizzly bear handles this attack."