Chapter 40: Even The Protagonist Almost Died...

Reon stood frozen, his breath catching in his throat as he took in the monstrous sight before him. Cloudia, beside him, had stilled completely, her body tense as if paralyzed by the sheer dread emanating from the creature.

Every detail of the beast struck like a thunderclap in his mind.

The creature was enormous—taller than any being Reon had ever encountered, its hulking form wrapped in thick, matted fur that clung to its skin like shadows woven with the night itself.

Its sickly yellow eyes glowed with a menacing intensity in the dimming twilight, casting an unearthly gleam through the darkened forest. 

The shoulders of the beast bulged with muscle, each movement sending a ripple through its frame as it prowled forward, the ground quaking beneath its weight.

An acrid stench radiated off it in waves, thick and suffocating, masking the familiar scent of the pine trees and turning the air into something foul.

Even in his shock, Reon could feel the comparison building in his mind—Cloudia, even in her true form, was already a towering force of nature, as tall as a two-storey building.

Yet this beast was larger still, looming over her with a presence that swallowed the surrounding trees.

The thought turned his fear cold and heavy; this was something beyond natural, a predator that belonged to the realm of nightmare for him.

The forest around them seemed to shift, the shadows stretching and deepening as if bending in reverence to the creature's power.

Its hide, like fused stone and shadow, formed a near-impenetrable armor that faintly gleamed in the dusky light.

But what gripped Reon most was the creature's eyes. They glowed like embers, a dark crimson that burned with a feral hunger.

Those eyes locked onto him and Cloudia, narrowing with a focus that sent a tremor of dread through his veins.

He recognized the creature immediately; its silhouette was unmistakable.

It was the Shadow Claw Bear, a beast spoken of in hushed whispers, feared even among the Inner Disciples.

This was the very creature the protagonist of the novel had battled during his own mission. He had encountered it after completing his training and while searching for the herb.

Although he ultimately triumphed, the fight had pushed him to his limits.

Now, as Reon stood before it, he could tell that this was no ordinary Shadow Claw Bear.

Its massive size and oppressive aura indicated that it was at least a Mid-Ranked Demonic Soldier Beast—a nightmare made flesh, poised to unleash its wrath.

A quick glance at Cloudia confirmed his worst fears. She was a High-Ranked Demonic Beast, a force of immense strength in her own right, yet Reon could feel the tremor of her breath beneath him.

For the first time, he sensed hesitation in her, her muscles taut with a fear she could barely suppress.

She let out a small gasp, her gaze flicking up to meet his. In that fleeting moment, they shared a silent, desperate understanding.

Her eyes reflected the same mixture of fear and determination that he felt, a wild urge to protect each other, despite the overwhelming threat that loomed before them.

Reon's hand closed around the hilt of his sword, though the weight of it felt almost mocking in the face of the creature's enormity.

His fingers tingled with numbness, his grip faltering as he forced himself to hold steady.

He knew, as did Cloudia, that every ounce of strength they possessed would barely be a match for the beast's brutal power. 

A single misstep, a fraction of hesitation, and they'd both meet a brutal end. Yet in the silent exchange between them, there was an unspoken promise: they would make it out of this forest alive, no matter what.

"Cloudia," Reon's voice was low but urgent. "Run as fast as you can."

The moment the words left his mouth, Cloudia dashed to the side, her movement fluid and swift, but not enough to escape the notice of the Shadow Claw Bear.

The beast's monstrous paw swung at her, claws slicing the air with a lethal whistle. It missed by a few meters as she picked up speed, her form a blur through the dense undergrowth. 

Her movements flowed like water, graceful and unyielding, her speed almost as swift as the wind itself. But the Bear was relentless—fast and deadly, far faster than anything that size should be.

With a rumbling roar, it charged, closing the distance, its massive frame crushing everything in its path.

A paw arced down toward Cloudia; she leaped to dodge, but this time, she wasn't quick enough.

The Bear's blow struck with a force that echoed like a thunderclap.

Reon lunged forward, sword raised to intercept, but the beast's strength was overwhelming, and the impact sent them both hurtling backward like ragdolls.

They collided with a tree, the shock reverberating through their bodies.

"Aaarrgggh!"

Reon's scream out as pain erupted within him, hot and relentless. Blood trickled from his mouth and nose, and he could feel shards of bone grinding inside him, his ribs and arm splintered from the impact. Cloudia lay nearby, equally battered, struggling to rise.

Reon's vision blurred, the edges darkening as his grip on consciousness slipped. But he knew one thing: giving in meant death—for both of them.