Ethan heard a sound in the distance.
He stopped and listened.
Then he continued walking.
Something was coming into view.
A low growl echoed through the dungeon.
Grrrrr
Ethan looked ahead.
Two creatures slowly appeared.
His eyes narrowed.
"Grizzly bears?"
They were two C rank Grizzly Bears.
Ethan stood still for a moment.
The bears noticed him and moved slightly to the side, giving him some space.
Then they suddenly ran forward.
One of them glanced at Ethan before noticing the dead Lord Minotaur.
It immediately ran toward the corpse.
The other Grizzly Bear didn't even glance at the Minotaur.
It paused and stared directly at Ethan.
Ethan slowly began walking toward it.
The two creatures were clearly still young.
"They're C rank"
He looked at them carefully.
"They're still very young."
"Even though they're young, they're already much larger than a human."
Ethan looked around the dungeon.
"Why are they even on this floor?"
His eyes narrowed.
"If these are the cubs"
"Their mother is probably somewhere nearby."
Then
ROOOOAR!
A terrifying roar suddenly echoed through the dungeon.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Heavy footsteps followed.
Ethan turned around.
This time, the footsteps were much heavier than the others.
Something enormous emerged from the darkness.
It stood upright, towering over everything around it.
The gigantic creature raised one massive paw and roared.
ROOOOOOOAR!
Thick fur covered its entire body.
Its claws were long and silver, extending from its massive paws.
The creature stood upright as it stared directly at Ethan.
Another roar erupted from its mouth.
The sound was so powerful that it seemed to fill the entire dungeon.
The air itself shook around Ethan.
He quickly raised his arm and covered his face.
"What the hell?"
He stared at the enormous creature from a distance.
"That's pretty scary."
The creature was still far away.
But then it began advancing toward him.
At the same time, the two C rank Grizzly Bears watched Ethan.
Then they suddenly started running toward him.
Ethan paused.
He looked at them.
Then he smiled.
"What do I do?"
He clenched his fist.
"How about I test the Minotaur's strength?"
His smile widened.
"There's no need for me to run anymore."
"This time"
"I won't run."
"I'll strike."
Ethan suddenly charged forward.
The C rank Grizzly Bear opened its mouth and prepared to bite him.
Ethan slipped sideways at the last moment.
The bear's jaws snapped shut behind him.
Ethan pulled his arm backward.
He clenched his fist.
Then
He drove his fist upward.
"Full Minotaur strength!"
[Strength ability activated.]
BOOM!
Ethan's fist slammed directly under the Grizzly Bear's jaw.
The impact was tremendous.
The C rank Grizzly Bear was instantly launched into the air.
It flew upward and slammed into the ceiling of the dungeon.
BOOOOOOM!
The entire ceiling shook.
The Grizzly Bear fell back down.
BOOM!
It crashed onto the ground and let out a painful wail.
"GRAAAH!"
Its body trembled.
It couldn't move.
The other C rank Grizzly Bear, which had been eating the Lord Minotaur, suddenly stopped.
The enormous A rank mother Grizzly Bear also stopped.
Both creatures stared at Ethan.
Ethan stood there calmly.
He looked at his fist.
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
The other Grizzly Bear began stamping its feet against the ground.
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
It growled at Ethan.
Then the mother moved.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Each step shook the dungeon.
She looked at her fallen cub.
Then she looked at Ethan.
The enormous Grizzly Bear moved forward.
It let out another massive roar.
ROOOOOAR!
Ethan smiled.
"Your breath stinks."
He stared at the massive creature.
"And this doesn't scare me in the slightest."
The mother Grizzly Bear raised one enormous paw.
Then she swung it through the air.
SWOOSH!
Ethan didn't notice anything at first.
But then
He saw something.
The air itself had been cut.
A massive slash shaped like the creature's claws raced toward him.
Ethan's eyes widened.
He quickly raised his hand to cover his face.
SLASH!
A sharp sound echoed through the dungeon.
Blood dripped from Ethan's hand.
He stared at it.
"I don't think anything"
Before he could finish, something strange happened.
The blood dripping from his hand began moving.
It flowed backward.
The blood returned to the wound.
Instantly, the injury closed.
His skin returned to normal.
Ethan paused.
He stared at his hand.
"Oh"
His eyes widened.
"Now I remember."
"I'm fighting a monster."
He looked toward the mother Grizzly Bear.
"And from what I did to the Lord Minotaur"
Ethan clenched his fist.
"With the Lord Minotaur's strength, it should be enough to defeat this thing."
He looked at the enormous creature.
"From what I know, an A rank monster should be able to defeat a Lord Minotaur in a fight."
Ethan smiled.
"I won't hesitate."
He suddenly charged forward.
The mother Grizzly Bear raised its paw.
It slashed through the air again.
SWOOSH!
Another air slash came flying toward Ethan.
This time, he saw it clearly.
He dodged sideways.
The air slash passed beside him.
Ethan continued running.
He closed the distance between them.
When he got close enough, he pulled his fist backward.
"Take this!"
He punched forward.
BOOM!
The mother Grizzly Bear moved backward.
Ethan looked at his fist.
"The Minotaur's strength still isn't enough to defeat it."
He stared at the enormous creature.
"Not even close."
"With that massive cutting attack"
"There's no way my strength alone will be enough to put it down."
Ethan rushed forward again.
"I don't have time anymore."
He clenched his fist.
"I'm not that fast myself"
"But I'm still faster than before."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Why don't I just take its ability?"
Ethan accelerated toward the Grizzly Bear.
The mother watched him approach.
Ethan reached out his hand.
His fingers were almost touching the creature.
"Got you"
But
The Grizzly Bear suddenly moved.
WHOOSH!
Its enormous body disappeared from in front of him.
Ethan's eyes widened.
"What the hell?"
The creature had moved around him at a terrifying speed.
It was suddenly behind him.
Ethan swiftly turned around.
But he was too late.
The mother Grizzly Bear raised its paw.
POW!
It slammed Ethan across the face.
His body was sent flying.
BOOM!
He crashed into the dungeon floor.
Blood filled his mouth.
Ethan slowly pushed himself up.
He wiped the blood from his lips.
His eyes remained fixed on the Grizzly Bear.