At dusk, the faint warmth of the dim yellow sunlight fell from the sky, turning into a heavy twilight.
The pungent smell of sulfur permeated Coniferous Valley, and the rising hot mist refracted the afterglow of the setting sun into distorted ripples.
Six sub-adult Storm Bears sat around a boiling, high-temperature sulfur pool. Pyrite crystals condensed on their thick fur, resembling thick rock armor.
The Storm Bear Leader, Broken-Tooth Gore, was among them.
He was the largest in size. His fur was a mix of deep yellow and dark red, with many visible scars on his body and one broken fang in his mouth.
These were proofs of past battles against powerful Vicious Beasts and monsters.
In the Earth Storm Bear clan, they were symbols of bravery and honor, medals to be proud of.
Including Gor.
All the Earth Storm Bears were stirring the sulfur pool water with their claws.
In this sulfur pool water, the young Storm Bears would throw in a special metallic mineral sand to continuously enhance its special effects.
Greenish-bronze bubbles burst continuously, making a corrosive sizzling sound.
This was the "Claw Tempering" that this Storm Bear clan had practiced for decades; whoever's bear claws were sharper and harder could last longer in this sulfur pool, and the tempered claws would become even more formidable after recovery.
On the rocks at the northwest corner of the hot spring, several cubs were sticking their heads out, pausing to watch.
Gor's stirring of the pool water made the most noise, creating ripples like whirlpools that the other Storm Bears could not hope to match.
As time passed, one by one, the sub-adult Storm Bears felt the sharp pain in their claws and could not hold on, withdrawing from the pool. They bowed their heads slightly to the leader to show their awe and respect. After receiving a grunt from Leader Gor, they turned and left. Only old Gor continued to temper his claws in the sulfur pool, even pouring the corrosive pool water over himself, making a sizzling sound.
While the leader was still in the sulfur pool.
There was also a two-year-old adult male Storm Bear, Raymond, who sneakily and stealthily arrived at the area where the female Storm Bears stayed. Then, baring his teeth, he threw a Thunderbird wing hidden behind his back toward a female Storm Bear.
In the culture of the Earth Storm Bear clan.
Females are not loyal to a fixed partner and will accept courtship from multiple male bears at the same time, but mating rights must be bought with food.
The female Storm Bear glanced at Raymond, did not accept the Thunderbird wing, and did not look at him further.
This meant rejection.
Although she was not loyal to a fixed partner, she needed to be loyal to the strongest Storm Bear.
Leader Gor monopolized all the female bears and strictly forbade them from having relationships with other male Storm Bears. If discovered, he would beat the male bear half to death and expel him from the territory, while the female bear would be punished by having her food supply cut off for a long time.
The lustful male bear did not leave; instead, he thickheadedly sat down beside the female Storm Bear.
He used his tail to vaguely rub against the female Storm Bear's hind leg, flirting with her.
It was currently mating season. Being provoked by Raymond, the female bear gradually became unable to restrain herself and grew restless.
Seeing that Leader Gor was not around, the female bear finally wiggled her plump bear buttocks, signaling the male bear to follow her into a more secluded thicket.
Rustle, rustle, rustle.
The bushes began to shake and tremble.
Ten minutes later.
The male bear Raymond stood up on his hind legs and walked out of the bushes with a joyful stride, only to run straight into the Storm Bear Leader.
The Storm Bear Leader's expression was calm, but a dangerous light flickered in his brown eyes.
"Raymond, you've crossed the line."
A thunderous low growl came from his mouth.
"Leader, hear my excuse!"
The male bear was terrified.
Before his words could land, a massive bear paw struck him.
This sub-adult Storm Bear, over seven meters tall, flew backward like a broken kite. The fur on his chest was a mess, his flesh was deeply sunken, and even his bones were shattered.
The Storm Bear Leader stepped forward coldly with heavy strides and launched a fierce attack on the rule-breaking male bear. The male bear did not dare to resist, only wailing and begging for mercy.
The other male bears were silent as cicadas in winter, trembling with fear.
Just a few minutes later, the male bear Raymond stopped moving, and his life force completely vanished—he had actually been beaten to death.
Such things had rarely happened before.
Because when facing a rule-breaking sub-adult Storm Bear, especially his own offspring, Leader Gor would usually choose to beat him half to death and throw him out of the territory instead of killing him outright.
The old bear seemed exceptionally irritable today.
"Whoever dares to disobey again or challenge my authority..."
"I will snap their neck!"
The old Storm Bear let out a low growl, his fur surging, making the other Storm Bears afraid to make a sound.
Only after seeing the light of fear flash in the eyes of the other Storm Bears, especially the males, did he nod in satisfaction.
As he aged, old Gor's fur was no longer as glossy and bright as it was in his prime. Some grayish-white, lifeless hairs had appeared on his body, and he also felt his strength gradually declining and his physical attributes weakening. This time, his Claw Tempering lasted a bit shorter than before.
Time is a blade a hundred times sharper than the teeth of a Vicious Beast.
Not all creatures are like Dragonkin, whose attributes grow stronger with age. Gor had already passed his Peak; from then on, his strength would decline every day.
He felt irritable and uneasy because of this.
To maintain his ruling position in the clan, the irritable bear decided to adopt a colder method, killing even his own offspring without mercy.
Suddenly.
A rustling sound came from the coniferous pine forest ahead, causing the old bear to instantly prick up his ears. He stood upright, turning his head to look.
Another Earth Storm Bear pushed aside the vines and branches blocking the way and appeared in the old bear's sight.
"My dear father, you are becoming more and more tyrannical."
Sweeping his gaze over the corpse at the old bear's feet, Mobel said.
"Mobel, my foolish offspring who once disobeyed me, you're still alive."
The old bear grinned, revealing the obsidian embedded in his toothless gums.
He felt no threat from Mobel.
Although he was somewhat old and had become weaker, that was only compared to his Peak; he was still much stronger than an ordinary Storm Bear.
"Why have you come before me?"
"Is it to challenge my authority and status, or is it to seek death?"
A fierce light appeared in his eyes as his blade-like claws extended one by one.
Mobel bared his teeth and stood upright with his arms akimbo, saying gruffly, "Of course it's to beat you to death, replace you, and then take all your female bears!"
Hearing this, Gor was furious.
He arched his back and pushed off with his hind legs, about to pounce and kill this rebellious son.
However, as soon as Mobel's declaration ended, he turned and ran, sprinting on all fours. Some runes on his limbs lit up, making his body lighter and his speed faster.
"You won't get away, I'll slaughter you!"
The Storm Bear Leader roared, his paws shattering the ground. He charged forward like a cannonball, knocking away all obstacles in his path as he chased after Mobel.
The other Storm Bears looked at each other but did not follow.
This kind of challenge to the leader was not a defense against an external enemy; the other Storm Bears did not need to intervene.