Generally speaking, the temperature of flames is closely tied to their color. When the heat is low, combustion is incomplete, and the flames appear dark. Black flames, though visually striking, rarely exceed three hundred degrees Celsius. Red flames, on the other hand, indicate a temperature around a thousand degrees, while blue flames burn even hotter.
On Earth, there is a saying: "blue flame perfection"—meaning blue is the peak temperature a flame can reach under normal conditions. At such temperatures, heat often exceeds two thousand degrees, enough to melt iron.
This presented a serious challenge…
Richard's brow furrowed even further. According to the original plan, the Firebear shouldn't have been this strong; the flames on its body should have died out after a brief moment. Yet reality had clearly deviated.
But… it wasn't actually a problem.
Plans go awry all the time. That's why backup strategies exist.
If the Firebear was so powerful and its flames so intense, why not use that against it?
Richard squinted, turning his gaze toward Turk and the others in the distance.
By now, the group was struggling. The Firebear's body blazed with flames half a meter high, resembling a bonfire, radiating intense heat even tens of meters away. Its iron armor scorched the skin beneath; sweat dripped and instantly evaporated, leaving throats parched as if aflame.
Yet that wasn't the worst. The Firebear's anger escalated uncontrollably, threatening to tip into full rage at any moment. Even Turk, as ferocious as he was, couldn't help feeling apprehensive.
At that moment, Richard's voice cut through the tension. "Retreat. Scatter the flour."
"Huh? Understood." The guards hesitated briefly before responding. Arrows flew toward the Firebear as the men began retreating, scattering flour from their bags as instructed. None of them knew why, but they followed Richard's orders without question.
White flour descended like a gentle snowfall, enveloping the Firebear within a ten-meter radius.
The enraged creature halted, startled, eyes flicking toward the floating powder. Its flames dimmed slightly.
As more flour fell, the air thickened with particles. The Firebear, confused, ceased its rage. Curious, it pawed at the powder, only to fail. It scratched its head in frustration, unaware that a creeping sense of danger lingered in its bloodline instincts, warning it to stay clear.
The Firebear's flames flickered with renewed intensity, yet the instinctual sense of threat kept it cautious, forcing it to move away from the flour-shrouded zone.
A low growl escaped its throat as it lunged forward.
But it was too late. A flaming arrow streaked through the air—Turk and the guards pressed to the ground, covering their ears, while Richard calmly lowered a crossbow.
"ROAR!"
The Firebear bellowed in defiance.
The flaming arrow struck the flour-laden air. Sparks erupted, igniting pockets of airborne powder. Within moments, the entire cloud combusted in a dazzling explosion.
BOOM!
The deafening shockwave slammed into the forest. Branches snapped, grasses flattened to the ground, and flying debris rattled against tree trunks. Even Richard's noble robes flared in the blast before settling back with a soft rustle.
After a tense moment, the dust settled. Richard squinted at the scorched area where the Firebear had stood. The powder had vanished; the creature lay sprawled on the ground, barely able to lift itself, its resistance extinguished.
"Execute the next phase," Richard ordered.
"Yes, Master," Turk's team responded without hesitation. They loaded reinforced crossbows and fired, shooting rope-tipped bolts through the Firebear's body. The ropes tightened, immobilizing it entirely. Struggling weakly, the creature twitched slightly before surrendering to gravity.
Turk's lips twisted into a grim, satisfied smile. He drew his longsword and sprinted toward the restrained beast. Heavy footsteps thudded against the soil as his armor clanged with each stride.
When he reached the Firebear, he thrust with full force. The blade pierced the heart in a single, merciless strike.
SPURT! Deep crimson blood sprayed like a fountain, splattering Turk's face. The Firebear convulsed a few times before finally closing its eyes.
"Master Richard, the Firebear is dead," Turk reported, wiping blood from his face.
Richard nodded. He stepped closer, now able to examine the creature firsthand. Previously, he had stayed in a safe zone to observe from a distance. Now he saw that the fur leaned toward a reddish-brown hue.
"Hmm… a type of brown bear, then?" Richard muttered to himself, roughly analyzing the creature's anatomy.
He bent to inspect the mouth, counting the teeth. "One, two, three, four…" Forty-two teeth in total. The canines were sharp but moderate in size; molars were broad, designed for grinding. Premolars behind the canines showed signs of degeneration—classic brown bear traits.
Richard stood, inspecting the shoulders and forelimbs. Prominent muscle ridges lined the back and neck. The forearms were short yet thick; the claws extended over ten centimeters, non-retractable. These traits aligned perfectly with the brown bear's profile on Earth.
Satisfied, Richard's eyes narrowed as he scanned the body.
The classification was confirmed: this Firebear was indeed biologically a brown bear, enhanced by extraordinary flames.