One Day Later…
The day had started quite actively for Aethryon.
The sun had barely risen through the forest canopy when the small serpent had already begun hunting. Now he was moving along the edges of the 100-Year Spirit Beast region, searching for increasingly powerful prey.
He didn't have to wait long for his first hunt.
Near the roots of a tree, he noticed a 76-Year Poison Thorn Beetle crawling slowly across the ground. Its shell was hard, and dark green venom dripped from the spikes along its back.
Aethryon didn't hesitate.
He lunged forward.
Snap!
His fangs pierced beneath the beetle's shell. The creature struggled wildly, but within seconds it stopped moving.
Aethryon calmly began devouring it.
The toxic fluids flowed into his body.
[Poison Hunger activated: +0.3]
[Fire Venom → Corrosive Venom: 0.4 / 100]
[76-Year Poison Thorn Beetle consumed: +1.6 System Points]
Aethryon flicked his tail with satisfaction.
Then he continued hunting.
Soon after, he encountered a 95-Year Sharp-Fang Weasel hiding within the bushes.
The weasel was incredibly fast.
But Aethryon was no longer the same as before.
The moment the weasel attacked, Aethryon twisted his body sideways and lashed out with his tail like a whip.
Crack!
The venomous spike on his tail pierced into the weasel's ribs.
The creature staggered a few steps…
Then collapsed.
[95-Year Spirit Beast consumed: +2.1 System Points]
Aethryon didn't stop.
Later in the afternoon, near a swampy pond, he encountered a 110-Year Venom Swamp Snake.
This battle was much fiercer.
The two serpents circled each other cautiously.
Venomous fangs snapped through the air several times.
Finally, Aethryon found an opening.
He lunged forward and sank his fangs into the enemy snake's neck.
Within minutes, the battle was over.
[Poison Hunger activated: +0.6]
[Fire Venom → Corrosive Venom: 1.0 / 100]
[110-Year Venom Swamp Snake consumed: +2.6 System Points]
As the day continued, his prey became stronger and stronger.
[120-Year Stone Shell Turtle consumed: +2.8 System Points]
[128-Year Black Claw Monkey consumed: +3.1 System Points]
[134-Year Swamp Lizard consumed: +3.5 System Points]
Aethryon's system points were steadily increasing.
But the most dangerous moment of the day had not yet arrived.
As evening approached, Aethryon moved deeper into the forest and suddenly stopped.
The air had changed.
The small animals around him had gone completely silent.
Massive claw marks were visible in the soil.
Aethryon flicked his tongue and tasted the air.
A powerful spirit beast scent.
Very powerful.
From the bushes ahead, a massive shadow slowly emerged.
A gigantic 190-Year Spirit Beast Iron-Shell Forest Bear.
The bear stood nearly three meters tall. Its thick black fur looked like armor.
The bear noticed Aethryon.
Its eyes narrowed.
Then it let out a furious roar.
The ground trembled.
Aethryon narrowed his eyes.
"…That one is a bit big."
The Iron-Shell Forest Bear was furious.
Aethryon had stepped directly into its territory, and for a dominant spirit beast, that was an unforgivable provocation.
The bear lowered its massive head.
Then
ROOOOAR!
The thunderous roar echoed through the forest, shaking leaves from the trees.
For a creature of its enormous size, the Iron-Shell Forest Bear moved terrifyingly fast.
The moment it roared, its massive body exploded forward like a charging boulder.
Aethryon barely reacted in time.
His body twisted sharply as the bear's gigantic paw smashed into the ground where he had been just a moment earlier.
BOOM!
The earth cracked.
Chunks of soil and stone flew into the air.
Aethryon slid across the ground, his crimson scales scraping against the dirt as he quickly regained his balance.
His eyes narrowed.
This opponent was clearly stronger than him.
In fact, the oppressive aura radiating from the bear was comparable to the Flame Lion he had once stolen the fire flower from.
Which meant one thing.
This fight…
would not be easy.
The bear attacked again.
Its massive paw swung horizontally, tearing through the air with terrifying force.
Aethryon slithered backward just in time, the wind from the strike rushing past his scales like a blade.
"Okay…"
Aethryon thought calmly.
"This one hits very hard."
The bear charged again, attempting to crush him with its enormous weight.
But Aethryon had an advantage.
Speed.
His body twisted and curved through the forest floor like flowing water.
He circled around the bear, searching for an opening.
The bear roared again and slammed both paws down toward him.
BOOM!
Aethryon narrowly escaped by darting sideways.
Then he struck.
His body shot forward like a crimson spear.
His fangs sank into the bear's leg.
Venom injected.
The Ignition Venom immediately began burning through the bear's flesh.
The bear roared in rage and swung its paw wildly.
Aethryon released his bite instantly and retreated before the counterattack could land.
The bear staggered slightly as the poison burned inside its body…
But it did not fall.
Instead, its rage only intensified.
The Iron-Shell Forest Bear slammed its chest with both paws and charged again with even greater fury.
Aethryon watched carefully.
"…Right."
"This one has very thick skin."
He quickly changed tactics.
Instead of aiming for the body, he targeted weak points.
The next time the bear attacked, Aethryon slid beneath its massive body and whipped his tail upward.
CRACK!
The venomous spike struck the bear's lower jaw.
The bear howled in pain.
Aethryon struck again.
A bite to the shoulder.
Another to the neck.
Another to the inner leg.
Each strike lasted only a fraction of a second before he retreated again.
The bear's attacks grew slower.
Its breathing became heavier.
The burning poison was slowly weakening it.
But even in this state, the bear remained terrifyingly dangerous.
Suddenly
The bear spun around and slammed its entire body sideways.
Aethryon barely dodged, but the shockwave from the impact still threw him several meters away.
He slid across the ground and quickly lifted his head.
"…Okay."
The small serpent flicked his tongue.
"That one almost worked."
The bear staggered again.
Its movements were becoming unstable.
The poison had finally begun to overwhelm its massive body.
Seeing this opportunity, Aethryon launched his final attack.
His body shot forward like lightning.
This time, his fangs pierced directly into the bear's throat.
The venom flooded into the wound.
The bear roared one last time.
Its massive body trembled violently.
Then
THUD.
The Iron-Shell Forest Bear collapsed to the ground.
Silence returned to the forest.
Aethryon stared at the enormous corpse for a moment.
Then he flicked his tail and sighed.
"…That was a lot of meat."
Aethryon stared at the massive bear corpse for several seconds.
Then he tilted his head slightly and examined it carefully.
The bear was really… very big.
Aethryon flicked his tongue and tasted the air.
Then he made a very serious calculation in his mind.
"…Eating this is going to take a while."
He lowered his tail to the ground and thought for a moment.
"Actually…"
He looked back at the bear again.
"This might be good supplies for the winter."