834 Bear Fights with the Big Monkey Part 1 - Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

The Goblin King, its arm and neck severed, collapses to the ground. “Ugh.” Witnessing the beheading of the Goblin King, Lydia averts her gaze. The Goblin King is an enemy— a creature to be defeated if it attacks. I’ve dispatched a Goblin King before, too. Humans dismantle defeated monsters, but that’s for survival, not for amusement. Admittedly, I’ve desired the pelt of a Tiger Wolf in the past, but only when it attacked or during a quest. Yet the giant ape used the body of the slain Goblin King for a sword practice. The red apes surrounding it cheer jubilantly as the Goblin King falls. Amidst this, the giant ape pierces the Goblin King’s body with its sword, extracting something. For a moment, I thought it was the heart, but it wasn’t. “A mana stone?” Mane murmured, observing as the giant ape places the Goblin King's mana stone into its mouth and swallows it. “Did it just eat a mana stone?” In an instant, the giant ape’s red fur blazes brightly, the radiance subsiding within seconds. “Was that...?” “Unless my eyes deceived me, didn’t the giant ape’s body grow larger?” Zect states while observing the giant ape. I can't tell from this distance. “Yeah, not just its body—the arms and legs appear to have gained mass.” “The red glow we just saw... it doesn’t sit right with me.” “Does this mean it’s stronger than it was when it fought the Goblin King?” “Hey, just to confirm... the Goblin King isn’t weak, right?” Lydia inquires, seeking reassurance. “The Goblin King is indeed strong, not weak. Observing its battle with the giant ape was proof of its strength. However, the giant ape was even stronger.” “But the giant ape consumed the Goblin King's mana stone and became even stronger, didn’t it?” “It’s unclear, but we should assume that’s the case.” The giant ape, already troublesome when fighting the Goblin King, has grown even stronger. “Are those white things scattered around the apes... bones?” With my eyesight, I can see something white on the ground, but I can’t discern if they’re bones. However, Mane and the others, with sharper vision, seem to perceive them clearly. “They do resemble bones.” “Are you kidding?” “This suggests a fierce struggle occurred here, and they’ve been feasting on one another.” Perhaps that’s how this monstrous giant ape came to be. What a troublesome magical formation was left as an unwelcome gift. Without that magic circle, the monsters wouldn’t have gathered, and without them gathering, there might not have been conflict. Without conflict, perhaps strong monsters wouldn't have emerged. Yet, possibly due to the conflicts, the forest hasn't been overrun by monsters. Still, it resulted in the birth of such an abomination. “It’s possible that magic circle doesn’t merely attract monsters. They seem to be more berserk. Could the damaged magic circle be causing their aggression? Maybe the growth of the Goblin King and the giant snake was influenced by this magic circle.” The giant ape grasps a Goblin King’s arm, devouring it. The red apes feast on the wolves. “This is something we must report to the royal capital. But to send knights or soldiers here? Maybe a special squad, or perhaps adventurers? Consulting with Ellelaura and Sanya might be best...” While Mane considers aloud, I keep my eyes fixed on the apes. Suddenly, the giant ape raises its head and looks toward us. My gaze meets the giant ape’s. It grins. “Everyone, the ape spotted us!” As I shout, the giant ape charges toward us. We scramble to our feet. “Fall back!” Simultaneously, the giant ape climbs up the cliff beside the waterfall and appears right before me. I lunge at the giant ape, launching an attack to draw its attention. I summon the bear’s wind magic. My heart tells me there’s no need to hold back. Blades of the bear’s wind fly toward the giant ape. It dodges nimbly, and as it lands, it charges straight at me—swiftly, decisively. The distance between us closes in no time. The giant ape swings a punch. I cross my arms to defend and am thrown backward, but I manage to land on my feet. Without my bear gear, I wouldn’t have deflected that blow. “Yuna!” “Mane, get out of here!” I shout backward. “Kumayuru, Kumakyu, please look after them!” At my call, Kumayuru and Kumakyu give a soft cry. I can’t look back, so I activate my detection skill, indicating Mane and the others are moving away with Kumayuru and Kumakyu. This giant ape poses a serious threat. If it attacks, not even Kumayuru and Kumakyu might withstand it. There's no telling if I’d have time to deploy the bear’s teleportation gate, open the door, and let everyone enter in time. That leaves me no choice but to fight and defeat it here. I exhale slowly, steadying myself. “I’ll take you on.” I summon an array of wind blades shaped like bears. However, the ape dodges them with agile movements, flipping and twisting like a performer. Alarmingly agile for such a massive creature. It evades all my attacks, grinning as if mocking me. Distracted by my concern for Mane and the others behind me, the giant ape lets out a loud cackle, “Kikikikii.” What now? The giant ape grins, and the reason becomes apparent shortly as smaller apes climb the cliff beside the waterfall. Are they planning to chase Mane and the others? But even if they pursue now, they should be too late. In merely a minute or so, Kumayuru and Kumakyu would be far out of reach. Nonetheless, I can’t allow the slightest chance. I unleash countless wind blades. While some apes manage to dodge, others that can’t evade are cut down. Apes struck by the wind magic collapse to the ground. I continue casting wind spells repeatedly. Blood sprays as red apes fall one by one. This is bad. I got too distracted by the red apes. In a split second after looking away, I turn back to where the giant ape had been—only it’s no longer there. Where? A shadow looms from above. I glance up to see the giant ape airborne. Above! While casting wind magic at the charging red apes, I cast more wind blades upward. The red apes continue their assault, forcing me to avert my gaze again. I hear the giant ape land behind me. I try a roundhouse kick, but it only slices through empty air. It misses. The giant ape grins as it swings its sword downward. Using the foot that remains planted on the ground, I leap back just in time. The ground where I stood is gouged deeply by its blade. The giant ape halts for a moment, and I take a quick breath, using my detection skill to assess the situation. The responses of the red apes are innumerable, surrounding me in all directions. Was I their target from the start? Yet, there are others moving as if to follow Mane and the others. If it’s just a few, I trust Kumayuru and Kumakyu can handle it. Still, bringing the giant ape and countless red apes with them would worsen the situation. For now, I place my trust in Kumayuru and Kumakyu. I disable my detection skill and focus on the giant ape. It watches me with an expression of enjoyment. My sole focus now is to defeat the giant ape before me. If magic won’t hit, I'll just have to keep firing until it does. I take a deep breath and unleash a torrent of bear-shaped blades, so numerous that evasion becomes impossible. I fire indiscriminately, predicting even where the giant ape might attempt to move. However, the giant ape doesn’t bother dodging. It simply swings its sword once, slicing through the airborne blades, allowing the wind to pass harmlessly by. Unquestionably, it's stronger than the Goblin King. Faster, more intelligent, more powerful, and skilled with a sword — the giant ape surpasses the Goblin King in every way. Its swordsmanship is on a higher level, too. I retrieve a black mithril knife from my bear box, holding it in my right hand while keeping my left hand free for magic. The giant ape notices the mithril knife and glances between its sword and the knife in my hand. Then it suddenly bursts into laughter. Using its thumb and forefinger to measure, it seemingly mocks the smaller size of my knife. “This knife,” I retort, “is the blade that will cut you down.” I point the mithril knife directly at the giant ape.