Chapter 55 A Fearsome Encounter

"What on earth did they do to make such a big noise?"

Armin's voice trembled with worry as the chilling roar of a beast echoed through the mountains. The sound was eerie, and the thought of their companions facing such a threat sent a wave of anxiety through him.

"I don't know. Should we go check it out?" Eren asked, concern evident in his voice. His instincts urged him to help their friends, despite the danger.

Mikasa quickly interjected, her calm demeanor steadying them both. "No. It's night, and descending the mountain in the dark is far too dangerous. A single slip could be fatal."

Armin nodded in agreement. "She's right. We can't risk it."

Eren clenched his fists, frustration evident. "It's just like before... standing by while my companions might be in danger!"

Armin placed a hand on his shoulder. "Remember, Ryo is with them. With him there, they should be okay."

Reluctantly, Eren nodded. "I hope you're right."

---

Meanwhile, in the depths of the forest, Ryo stood over the colossal black bear's fallen body as the surrounding trainees erupted in cheers.

"Killed! The black bear was killed! Amazing!"

"As expected of Master Ryo! I didn't even see how he did it!"

"He just stood there, and the bear went down by itself. Incredible!"

Ryo sighed at the newfound title of "Master Ryo," feeling both amused and slightly awkward.

"Here, your daggers." He handed back the weapons to their rightful owners, gesturing toward the five still lodged in the bear. "You can retrieve the rest yourselves."

Though victorious, Ryo wasn't satisfied. He had hoped to test his precision with the throwing knives, but his accuracy left much to be desired. Striking the bear's heart required multiple adjustments, and even then, it wasn't until the beast was mere meters away that he landed a fatal blow.

It was clear—his skills with the flying knife technique needed significant improvement.

---

Back at the camp, Krista's face lit up when Ryo returned. "Ryo, are you okay?"

Ryo chuckled, easing her concern. "Worried about me, huh? It was just a bear. Nothing I couldn't handle."

The trainees approached Ryo with a respectful air. "Master Ryo, we've brought the bear back. How should we handle it?"

Ryo frowned, considering their options. While he knew bear paws were edible, he wasn't certain about the rest of the meat. "What do you plan to do with it?"

One of the hunters in the group spoke up. "The bear weighs around 800 pounds. With over 150 of us here, we thought cooking it into a soup would replenish everyone's energy after the long march."

Ryo nodded. "Alright, go ahead. Just save a few pounds of meat for me. I've got other plans for it."

He envisioned roasting the meat over an open flame, seasoned with cumin and spices—a hearty treat to warm the soul in the cold, snowy night.

As the camp settled into preparation for the feast, Ryo glanced at the snowy mountains above. The beast was dealt with, but the challenges of survival in this harsh environment were far from over.