Chapter 25: The Titan Beneath the Cliff
The cold morning air greeted me as I stepped out of the cave. Everyone was still asleep, their quiet breathing echoing softly within the rocky walls. I decided to start my day the usual way—training.
I strapped my shield onto my back, feeling its heavy weight press against me with every movement. Jogging through uneven ground, the chill wind brushed against my face, each breath turning into a faint mist. The forest was silent, except for the rhythm of my steps.
As I moved farther from camp, something caught my eye—a faint movement down below the cliffs. I slowed down, squinting through the distance. There, nestled under a thick layer of fog, was a massive creature.
A bear.
But not an ordinary one.
Its fur was jet black, its size enormous—easily five times the size of a normal bear. What made it even more terrifying was the sight of four powerful arms, each ending in claws sharp enough to shred a boulder. It was asleep, the ground trembling lightly with every breath it took.
Curiosity—or maybe recklessness—got the better of me. I activated my System Scan.
> [Black Titan Bear]
Level: 55
Status: Dormant – Territorial Beast
Your level is too low to analyze full stats.
A chill ran down my spine.
Level 55…
I stepped back slowly, careful not to make a sound. If that thing woke up, there was no chance we'd survive.
As I returned to camp, I couldn't stop thinking about it. For every monster we'd fought, there were still creatures out there that could crush us like insects. Maybe this world wasn't just about strength—it was about surviving long enough to understand it.
When I got back, everyone was awake. Loiuse was cleaning his weapon, Megan fed the fire with a flick of her fingers, and Astro was munching on dried meat.
"You're up early," Loiuse said without looking up. "Went scouting?"
"Something like that," I replied. "But… there's something you should know. Down the cliffside—there's a massive bear sleeping there. Black fur. Four arms."
Loiuse froze. His expression darkened.
"A bear with four arms?"
"Yeah"
He let out a low whistle. "So it's true…"
"True?" I asked.
He nodded grimly. "That thing's been seen before. The Black Titan Bear—a territorial beast. It wiped out six adventurers last month. Some of them were students from Myrran Academy."
The others went silent. Even Megan's usual calm wavered for a moment.
"That's… terrible," Megan muttered.
Loiuse sighed. "Yeah. They said those students had potential too. It's a waste… but that's how this world is. Strength decides everything."
He stood up and stretched, forcing a grin. "Anyway, let's not get near it. Not yet, at least."
"Not yet?" I repeated.
He smirked. "Who knows? Maybe one day we'll be strong enough to hunt it. When that day comes… that beast won't even see it coming."