Kane twisted his body mid-air, utilizing the incredible momentum his high strength stat provided.

He brought the right axe down with savage force, aiming for the vulnerable spot where the bear’s skull met its spine.

The iron blade bit deep into the muscle, drawing a spray of hot blood. Grimfang roared in sudden fury and pain, thrashing wildly to the side to throw the annoying human off its back.

But Kane held on tight, pulling the blade free and gripping the rough fur with his left hand to anchor himself.

He was not going to let this boss reset its attack pattern.

"You are just a walking loot piñata," Kane growled, tasting blood and sweat on his lips.

The bear stood up on its hind legs, reaching back with a massive claw to swipe Kane away.

Kane anticipated the move. He kicked off the bear’s broad shoulder, launching himself backward right before the sharp claws sliced through empty air.

He landed smoothly on the grass and immediately threw the left axe.

It spun rapidly and struck the beast directly in the chest, embedding itself deep into the matted fur.

Grimfang charged forward again, infuriated by the new wound. It opened its jaws wide, ready to bite Kane in half.

’Now,’ Kane thought, focusing entirely on the timing.

He waited until the bear was only a few feet away, practically feeling the hot breath on his face. He dropped low to his knees, sliding under the sweeping bite, and drove his remaining axe straight up into the soft flesh of the beast’s exposed underbelly.

The blade sank in deep, ripping a long slash across the monster’s stomach as it passed over him, its insides falling to the ground.

The Ancient Cursed Bear stumbled forward, letting out an earth-shaking bellow before its giant body collapsed onto the dirt. The ground shook beneath them, sending a cloud of dust into the misty air.

Kane rolled away from the falling carcass and stood up, breathing hard.

A series of blue notifications filled his vision.

[Hidden Boss Defeated]

[Target: Ancient Cursed Bear Grimfang]

[Level 50]

[Experience Gained: 14,500 XP]

[Level Up!]

[Level 23 changed to Level 25]

[Level Up!]

[Level 25 changed to Level 28]

[Stat Increases Applied]

[Strength +9]

[Vitality +10]

[Agility +4]

[Charisma +5]

[Dominance +8]

[System Reward: 1,000 Gold Coins Added to Inventory]

[Rare Material Obtained: Grimfang Corrupted Heart]

[Description: A powerful, still-beating core filled with ancient primal energy. Can be used to craft high-grade weapons or consumed directly to permanently increase base Strength and Vitality by 15 points.]

Kane stood over the fallen giant, breathing hard. He was covered head to toe in blood and sweat, but a satisfied grin spread across his face.

Now he knew why the game characters ran out of stamina quickly.

’Consumed directly,’ he read the description again, tapping his chin thoughtfully.

’Crafting a better weapon sounds great, but a permanent fifteen-point boost to my base stats is way more valuable in the long run. I can always buy another sword.’

He pulled his axes free from the carcass and walked to the front of the beast. He drove his right hand directly into the deep wound on its chest and ripped the red heart out and stored it safely in his digital inventory.

The bloody organ vanished in a flash of light.

"Not bad for a solo grind," Kane muttered to himself, wiping a streak of monster blood off his forehead with the back of his hand.

He secured the twin axes onto his leather belt and began the trek back to his camp, carrying the bear on his back.

They are going to feast tonight.

The chilling mist slowly faded as he walked out of the hidden ravine. A fresh surge of power washed through his muscles from the recent level-ups. His body felt lighter, stronger, and more alive than ever before.

When he finally stepped out of the tree line and back into the clearing, the Bloodfang warriors noticed him immediately. They stopped their training drills and stared at their new chief.

He was drenched in the blood of a powerful beast, and his primal aura was practically suffocating.

Seeing two days’ worth of food on his back, everyone’s eyes widened.

Loud cheers erupted across the camp. The men banged their new iron weapons against their shields in a display of pure respect.

"Chief Kane," Brak shouted, running over with wide, surprised eyes.

He stopped a few feet away, looking at the blood dripping from Kane’s armor.

"You are alive. What in the ancestors’ name happened to you out there?"

Kane smirked and unhooked one of his axes, slamming the flat of the blade into the ground.

"I just went hunting," he said simply, letting the confident tone carry over the cheering crowd

"And I brought dinner. Keep training hard."

He threw the bear on the ground.

They recognized true power when they saw it.

"This is just the beginning," Kane declared, his voice booming with unquestionable authority.

"I will make every single one of you stronger. I will lead you to riches you cannot even imagine. But for now, keep training hard. When we leave, we conquer."

The camp erupted into another wave of excited shouts. Brak practically vibrated with eager energy, ready to push his men through the final drills.

Kane gave Brak a few more specific orders regarding the supply wagons, then turned away from the crowd.

He walked straight toward the chieftain’s hut, his blood-covered body radiating raw dominance.

The moment he pushed open the heavy leather flap, both women inside looked up at him.

Thora and Sira were resting on the large pile of furs in the corner of the room. Their eyes widened at the sight of him.

He stood tall in the doorway, towering over them, muscular and absolutely drenched in the dark blood of his latest victory. The aura rolling off his shoulders made both women instinctively shiver.

Kane stood in the entrance for a long moment, not saying a word. He just stared at them with possessive eyes.

Thora flushed instantly, a red color spreading across her pale cheeks. She sat up slightly, her breathing catching in her throat.

Sira tried very hard to maintain her usual defiant look, lifting her chin to meet his gaze, but even she couldn’t hide the way her hands gripped the fur blankets.

He stepped fully inside the hut and let the leather flap fall shut behind him, plunging the room into comfortable shadows.

"Strip," he commanded, his voice low and rough, leaving absolutely no room for argument.

"Both of you. Right now."