Chapter 3 – Looking for Trouble

He needed a target. Something big. Something challenging. Something that would really make him feel like he was climbing the food chain.

And for that, he needed a good vantage point.

He raised his hand, and the shadow bird took off, quickly gaining altitude. Too small to be a threat, but perfect for spotting something that was.

While he waited, he crossed his arms and watched the wind rustle the trees.

At the very least, his situation was… interesting.

Not that he was complaining. Far from it. With every shadow he took, he felt like he was heading in the right direction. As if there was an invisible staircase ahead of him, and all he had to do was keep climbing.

Of course, he still had no idea how he had ended up here. But honestly? That mattered less than he thought it would.

He remembered everything about the world. The stories, the people, even the smallest details that shouldn't have mattered.

But he didn't remember his own name.

That was strange. How could he forget that and nothing else? Should he be worried? Probably.

But he preferred to see it from another perspective, it meant he could choose any name he wanted.

Maybe something grand. Intimidating.

Or something ridiculously long, just to see people's reactions.

The sound of wings caught his attention. The bird was returning, circling in the sky.

He got the message.

Something big had been found.

He followed the direction it indicated, moving quickly but carefully. With three wolves at his side, he felt more confident, but he wasn't foolish enough to think he was invincible.

Before long, he spotted a clearing.

And in the center of it, a bear.

Large. Powerful. Sniffing the air.

The wolves beside him tensed, ancient instincts surfacing even in death.

He smiled.

"Now this is a challenge."

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The three wolves spread out around the bear, forming a semicircle. They didn't hesitate. In the next instant, they all attacked at the same time, baring their fangs, eyes gleaming with sharp instincts.

The bear roared and rose onto its hind legs, trying to appear even more imposing, but the wolves weren't intimidated. They were shadows now, they knew no fear.

The first wolf struck directly at the flank, sinking its teeth into the bear's side. The second went for the other leg, aiming at the upper part to immobilize one of the beast's limbs. The third, bolder, leaped toward the neck, attempting a fatal bite.

The bear grunted in pain and reacted instinctively. It slammed its front paws down with brutal force, shaking the ground and forcing the wolves to adjust. With a swift movement, it twisted its body and landed a powerful blow on the second wolf. The impact was devastating. The wolf was sent flying into a nearby tree with a sickening thud.

The protagonist immediately felt the connection with the shadow vanish.

— … Damn.

A chill ran down his spine, not because he had lost the wolf, but because he realized something crucial at that moment—the shadow wouldn't return immediately.

A countdown appeared in his mind.

30 seconds.

He wouldn't be able to summon it before then.

The bear turned to the two remaining wolves, who were now at a disadvantage, but the smaller shadows didn't let up. They moved frantically around the bear, slipping between its legs and launching themselves at its eyes. They weren't strong enough to injure it, but they were annoying—just enough to make it hesitate.

The first wolf seized the opening and attacked again, biting into the side of the bear's neck. The second went lower, sinking its teeth into the front paw to try and limit its movements.

The bear roared in frustration and pain, but it wasn't defeated yet.

The protagonist kept his eyes fixed on the fight, feeling the seconds ticking down in his mind.

15 seconds.

He took a deep breath. They just had to hold out a little longer.

The bear thrashed violently, managing to throw off the first wolf, which crashed onto the ground hard. Without wasting time, it brought its paw down to crush it, but the wolf rolled to the side at the last second, narrowly escaping.

5 seconds.

The bear turned to the other wolf, blood now dripping from its neck, but still fighting. It raised a paw, ready to strike—

0 seconds.

The lost wolf reappeared and attacked without hesitation.

Its fangs sank into the bear's heel with brutal force, stopping the blow that would have landed on its companion.

The protagonist grinned.

The wolves attacked without hesitation, but the bear was even more resilient than he had expected.

Even with their fangs sinking into its thick hide, the beast refused to fall. Its strength was absurd.

With a brutal motion, it shook off the wolf clinging to its leg and struck another straight in the snout. The shadow dissipated into the air.

30 seconds.

The protagonist felt the absence instantly.

The two remaining wolves kept attacking, but the bear, now covered in wounds, moved with fury.

Another strike crushed another wolf to the ground.

30 seconds.

Only one remained.

The bear roared and charged with everything it had, using its weight to crush the last wolf.

30 seconds.

The protagonist remained still, watching.

The bear was a wall of muscle and rage. But no matter how strong it was, it couldn't fight forever.

And he could.

Half a minute later, the three wolves reappeared and attacked again.

The cycle repeated. The wolves tore into it, forced it to burn energy, and the bear struck them down with devastating blows.

But every time it killed them, they came back.

Always.

Another 30 seconds.

More wounds.

More exhaustion.

This time, when the wolves attacked, the bear could no longer fight back with the same strength. One lunged for its throat. Another for its back. The last one sank its teeth into its front leg.

The bear collapsed.

It let out one last roar before finally going still.

Silence.

The protagonist exhaled and stepped closer to the body.

Now, the most important part.

He glanced at his shadows.

He knew he only had space for ten. And he knew he wouldn't part with the wolves.

His eyes landed on one of the rabbits.

He gave a slight nod.

— Thank you.

With a simple thought, the connection was severed. The rabbit's shadow faded away.

Now, he had space.

He reached out toward the bear and commanded its shadow to rise.

Nothing.

He frowned. Tried again, more focused.

Still nothing.

— Hm…

He crouched, touching the bear's thick fur.

Maybe it was too big. Or maybe…

He took a deep breath and tried one last time.

This time, he felt something.

The shadow trembled.

Then, it began to rise.

Slow. Heavy. But inevitable.

The bear's eyes opened again—now as hollow as the wolves'.

The protagonist smiled.

— Welcome back.