Then, an immense force hurled the bear to the ground!

It struggled to rise, eyes no longer fierce but filled with fear at the giant before it.

The bear turned to flee, but its spear-wounded leg slowed it!

Orion didn't chase, instead uprooting a towering tree.

Using the tree as a weapon, he struck the bear down after 40 meters!

At that moment, the panel prompted—[The Flame Magical Bear fears death and wants to become your battle companion.]

[Battle pets can provide additional benefits. Taming the Flame Magical Bear as a battle companion will grant you an extra +2 to your magic attributes.]

"Do you deserve it?"

Orion sneered, rage clouding his reason.

He approached, grabbing the Flame Magical Bear, tearing it in half.

Then, a red vortex appeared at Orion's heart, absorbing the bear's body.

Afterward, Orion felt unbearably heavy, unable to lift his arms.

He collapsed.

The battle ended, only the flames continued to burn.

Time passed.

Blood Rage subsided, Orion returned to his original size, consciousness clearing.

"My head hurts... what happened?" Orion rubbed his forehead, feeling groggy, his memory stuck at Woofer's death by fireball.

Suddenly, Orion noticed a panel prompt:

[You've gained Basic Resistance Skin]

[Basic Resistance Skin: Defense +10, Fire Element Resistance +5%]

Orion rubbed his chin.

This was likely the reward for completing the newbie task, but where did the extra elemental resistance come from, and what happened to the Flame Magical Bear's body?

Did other beasts eat it while I was unconscious?

Orion pondered, then saw firelight in the distance.

Another beast? Orion tensed, then relaxed, seeing figures.

"Someone, there's signs of battle here!"

"Look, it's a giant from our tribe!"

Elder Rendall and some guards arrived.

"Orion?" Elder Rendall asked cautiously, the figure resembling Orion but much darker, burned perhaps?

"It's me." Orion replied weakly.

"Thank the Titan God. Where have you been these three days? I thought you..." Elder Rendall sighed in relief seeing Orion alive.

"Three days? Did I really pass out that long after taking the Titan Potion?"

Orion was surprised but didn't show it, instead looking around and asking, "Where are my parents?"

Orion was puzzled. He'd been gone three days, yet his parents weren't worried?

Even elite-level elders needed to exercise caution in the Black Forest at night.

Were his parents really okay with him being out here?

"Orion, what happened here, why is the land burning?" Elder Rendall changed the subject, asking.

Orion thought, then half-truthfully said, "An elite Flame Magical Bear appeared here. It fought a fire lizard of the same level, the battle was intense, and I hid to escape."

"The fire lizard seemed to flee into the forest, and the bear chased it."

The giant guards were amazed. "Wow, a flame magical bear."

"And a fire lizard, terrifying."

Rendall was skeptical but patted Orion's shoulder. "You're a lucky one, small enough to avoid detection."

"Hehe." Orion nodded, saying no more.

"Don't take it lightly, elite beasts are tough, especially a Flame Magical Bear." Rendall pointed to a tree stump. "Look, a 50-meter tree was knocked down."

"Knocked down?" Orion was puzzled.

In his memory, the Flame Magical Bear wasn't known for strength, excelling in fire magic, as the burning surroundings showed.

But the bear's strength couldn't fell a 50-meter tree.

What really happened?

Orion tried to recall, but his head ached.

Forget it, not now.

Orion followed Elder Rendall back to the tribe, wanting to tell his father about the Firestone discovery.

With the Firestone, the Blackstone Tribe could not only survive winter comfortably but also train more bloodline warriors.

Orion glanced at Elder Rendall, sensing hidden worry and anger, not directed at him.

Something happened while he was gone... a bad feeling lingered.