The ground cracked beneath the bear's charge.
Each step—
A shockwave.
Each breath—
Heavy with killing intent.
—
Draven didn't slow.
Didn't hesitate.
He stepped in.
—
The moment they met—
**BOOM**
His fist collided with the bear's claw mid-swing.
The impact exploded outward—
Air splitting—
Dust and leaves blasting away in every direction.
—
The bear roared.
It pushed forward.
Its strength was monstrous.
Overwhelming.
—
But Draven didn't give ground.
Not even an inch.
His feet dug into the earth—
Body steady—
Eyes locked.
—
Then—
He moved.
—
A shift of his weight—
A slight turn—
He slipped past the claw—
Closing the distance instantly—
His elbow drove forward—
**THUD**
Slamming into the bear's side.
—
The impact echoed.
But—
It didn't break.
—
The fox girl's eyes narrowed.
"…Iron-hide…"
Low.
"…Its defense is insane."
—
The bear swung again—
Faster this time—
Closer—
Draven raised his arm—
Blocked—
**BANG**
The force surged through his body—
But he held.
—
Then—
His hand shot forward—
Grabbing into its fur—
Fingers digging deep—
Hooking into muscle beneath.
—
He twisted.
—
Using its own momentum—
He pulled—
Hard—
Dragging the massive body off balance—
Then drove his knee upward—
**THUD**
Straight into its chest.
—
The ground beneath them cracked again—
But still—
The bear endured.
—
Behind—
The other two moved.
Flanking.
—
"Sir—!"
The boy shouted—
But Draven was already moving.
—
He released the first—
Spun—
His chain snapping outward—
Wrapping around the second bear's foreleg—
He yanked—
Hard—
Pulling it forward—
—
The bear stumbled—
Just slightly—
But enough.
—
Draven stepped in—
His palm struck its jaw—
**CRACK**
The head snapped to the side—
Bone strained—
But didn't fully break.
—
"Tch."
A faint irritation.
—
The third bear lunged from behind—
Massive jaws aiming to crush—
—
The fox girl moved.
Fast.
Intercepting—
Her claws flashed—
Striking its eye—
—
**ROAR**
The bear recoiled—
Just enough—
—
Draven turned instantly—
His foot slammed into its side—
**BOOM**
Driving it back several steps.
—
Silence didn't return.
Because now—
It wasn't one fight.
It was three.
—
The bears regrouped.
Circling.
Wounded—
But far from finished.
—
Draven stood at the center.
Rolling his shoulder slightly.
Chains dangling loosely from his arms.
—
His eyes sharpened.
Just a little.
—
"…Good."
A faint breath left him.
—
Because now—
They were worth hitting.
—
Draven exhaled once.
Slow.
Controlled.
Then—
He shifted.
—
His stance changed completely.
Feet light.
Body loose.
Hands rising—
Not like a warrior.
Not like a beast.
—
Like a boxer.
—
A small hop forward—
Then—
He vanished.
—
The first bear barely had time to react—
Before—
**THUD**
A fist slammed into its jaw.
Clean.
Sharp.
Precise.
—
Its head snapped sideways—
But before the motion even finished—
—
**THUD**
Another punch followed.
Opposite side.
Faster.
—
Then—
Another.
—
And another.
—
Each strike tighter.
Cleaner.
Perfectly placed.
—
**THUD—THUD—THUD—THUD**
—
The air cracked with every hit.
The bear staggered—
Massive body shifting—
Trying to respond—
Trying to swing—
But it couldn't.
—
Because Draven wasn't there anymore.
—
He moved—
Around it—
Inside its reach—
Outside its timing.
—
Every step small.
Every motion minimal.
Every punch—
Perfect.
—
The boy's eyes widened.
"…He's not even letting it attack…"
—
The fox girl watched closely.
Focused.
"…He's controlling the rhythm…"
—
Draven's fists didn't slow.
Didn't hesitate.
—
Each impact dug deeper.
Past fur.
Past muscle.
Into bone.
—
Cracks began to form.
Subtle at first—
Then—
Clear.
—
The bear roared—
Trying to swipe—
—
Draven dipped under it—
A sharp pivot—
Then—
**BOOM**
A heavy hook slammed into its ribs.
—
Something gave.
—
The bear's body folded slightly—
Air bursting from its lungs—
—
Draven stepped in again—
Closer now—
Too close—
—
His fist drew back—
For just a fraction of a second—
—
Then—
**CRACK**
A final punch drove straight into its skull.
—
Everything stopped.
—
The massive body froze—
Then slowly—
Collapsed.
—
**THUD**
—
Silence—
For half a breath.
—
Draven stood there.
Hand still extended.
Breathing steady.
—
Then he lowered it.
—
"…One."
Flat.
—
Behind him—
The other two bears roared.
Louder.
Angrier.
—
And this time—
They charged together.
—
Draven rolled his wrist once.
Loose.
Relaxed.
But his eyes—
Sharpened.
—
"…Tch."
A faint click of his tongue.
As he glanced at the fallen bear.
*…Tough.*
His gaze shifted to the two charging at him.
Their steps heavier.
Faster.
Angrier.
*Their bodies are thick…*
A brief pause.
*Even holding back… it still took time.*
His stance adjusted slightly.
Lower.
More grounded.
*Annoying.*
—
The ground trembled as both bears closed in—
One from the front—
The other circling to crush him from the side.
—
Draven stepped forward.
Again.
—
The first claw came down—
Massive—
Enough to flatten him—
—
He slipped inside it.
Barely a movement.
The claw slammed into the ground behind him—
**BOOM**
—
Draven was already in range.
His fist drove forward—
**THUD**
Into its chest.
—
This time—
He didn't stop.
—
A second strike—
Deeper.
—
A third—
Twisting his hips—
Driving power through his entire body—
—
**CRACK**
A faint fracture echoed beneath the surface.
—
The bear roared—
Trying to clamp down with its jaws—
—
Draven's hand shot up—
Grabbing its lower jaw—
Holding it back—
Muscles tightening—
Veins rising slightly under his skin—
—
For a moment—
They clashed.
Raw strength.
—
Then—
He shifted.
—
His other hand slammed upward—
**BOOM**
Straight into the upper jaw—
—
The force snapped its mouth shut violently—
—
Then—
He pulled.
—
**CRACK—RIP**
The jaws split apart.
Blood spraying outward.
—
The body went limp.
—
But—
No pause.
—
—
The second bear was already there.
Right behind him.
—
Its full weight crashed forward—
A tackle meant to crush—
—
Draven turned—
Too late to dodge fully—
—
**BOOM**
The impact drove him back—
Feet sliding across the ground—
Carving through dirt—
—
The boy shouted—
"Sir—!"
—
But Draven's feet dug in.
Stopped.
—
The bear roared in his face—
Trying to overpower him—
—
Draven looked up.
Calm.
Even now.
—
"…This one's a little stronger."
A faint breath.
—
Then—
He leaned forward.
Into it.
—
His head snapped forward—
**CRACK**
A brutal headbutt smashed into its skull.
—
The bear staggered—
Just slightly—
—
Enough.
—
Draven's hands shot up—
Grabbing its head—
Fingers digging into fur and bone—
—
Then—
He twisted.
—
His knee drove upward—
**THUD**
Into its throat—
—
Once.
—
Twice.
—
Three times—
—
**CRUSH**
Something collapsed.
—
The bear choked—
Body seizing—
—
Draven didn't stop.
—
He shifted his grip—
Then slammed its head straight down—
—
**BOOM**
The ground shattered beneath the impact.
—
Silence.
—
The last body twitched—
Then stilled.
—
Draven stood there.
Breathing steady.
Surrounded by corpses.
—
A faint exhale.
"…Done."