NOVEL SIMPLE 0056 – Zoe Vs. Black Bear
The path up the mountain started off relatively easy.
There were some grass trails and rudimentary stone brick paths left behind by occasional hikers.
However, the deeper she ventured into the mountains, the more these traces of civilization began to fade. The grass trails became faint, and the rudimentary stone paths disappeared entirely.
The number of cut stumps and discarded trash dwindled, as human traces gradually decreased, while the pristine marks of nature became more prominent.
This was a nearly forgotten corner of the world, rarely visited by humans, yet it was brimming with the most primal and magnificent vitality of nature.
The mountain had been sculpted by time into steep, rugged peaks, with vines clinging to its sides like green veins embedded in the wrinkles of an ancient elder.
A perpetual mist enveloped the summit, as if the mountains were breathing in a slow, rhythmic manner, adding to their mysterious and profound aura.
Within these towering peaks lay an expansive, boundless forest. The trunks of the trees were thick and dark, covered in moss and parasitic plants, bearing witness to the passage of time and the vicissitudes of life.
Zoe made her way through this forest, moving swiftly and effortlessly.
The vines and undergrowth posed no obstacle to her progress, and even the insects dared not approach her within the range of her killing intent.
Truth be told, she felt more attuned to the natural environment than any wild animal.
She didn’t need to eat or sleep, her stamina was nearly limitless, she grew stronger every seven days, her skin was almost as hard as steel, and her normal strength was that of a ton...
These traits, combined, made her nearly invincible in the food chain, excluding humans armed with various deadly weapons and nuclear arms.
With these thoughts, Zoe quickened her pace through the forest.
She didn’t bother avoiding the obstructing brambles and vines, charging straight through them with her steel-like body, bulldozing her way forward.
Her body remained unscathed, though her clothes became tattered and torn in the process, clearly unable to withstand such harsh treatment.
However, she didn’t care. The exhilaration of running freely like this was far more enjoyable than staying cooped up at home studying.
In her excitement, she couldn’t help but let out a few shouts. While it wasn’t quite the same as Tarzan swinging on vines and hollering, it carried a similar spirit.
Just then, a low growl echoed in response from a distance, causing Zoe to pause.
A slight embarrassment flickered across her face. It was a bit awkward to have her carefree shouting heard, but realizing it was an animal’s call made it less embarrassing.
Curious, Zoe looked in the direction of the growl and, without hesitation, accelerated towards it.
In the past, she would never have ventured into such a remote, desolate forest, and certainly wouldn’t have approached the sound of a wild animal.
But now, there was no fear or hesitation in her heart.
Her instincts told her there was nothing left to fear.
After a swift burst of speed, Zoe found herself close to the source of the roar.
Taking a closer look, she immediately recognized it.
It was a black bear! Its fur was glossy and long, black as night, with a white chin and a distinctive V-shaped white patch on its chest. From its length of nearly 1.8 meters, it was evident this was a fully grown adult bear.
Zoe had never been this close to such a formidable beast. Even though black bears aren’t the top predators among wild animals, they were still far too dangerous for the old Zoe to approach.
This experience compelled her to intensify her World Transparency 2.0, meticulously scanning the bear from top to bottom. She could even "see" the scent of the bear's lunch from yesterday, the vegetable leaves stuck in its teeth, and the dust on its fur.
The black bear, which had been munching on berries, slowly raised its head due to the commotion caused by Zoe's approach. Their eyes met, filled with curiosity.
For a moment, the air seemed to freeze.
In the next instant, the bear stood up straight, trying to appear as large and intimidating as possible, as if ready to charge.
Most creatures would have been subtly intimidated at this point. Considering the rule of nature that injury often leads to death, even a tiger would likely choose to avoid confrontation unless driven by unbearable hunger.
But for Zoe, this display had no effect. She merely looked at the bear with a faint hint of... expectation?
The black bear was clearly taken aback by Zoe's lack of reaction. Faced with a female human who stood quite tall herself, the bear hesitated, adhering to the natural principle that bigger often means stronger.
Seeing this, Zoe smiled slightly and took a step back, feigning weakness.
As expected, the bear roared and charged on all fours.
Zoe immediately stopped retreating, laughing with satisfaction. "You started this fight," she said with a hint of amusement. Then she stepped forward, extending her hand.
Rather than using her killing intent to suppress the bear directly, she preferred a visceral, hand-to-hand combat in this scenario.
A real player fights!
In the next moment, the bear’s furry paw collided with Zoe’s seemingly fragile hand. The bear’s paw, capable of crushing skulls, merely caused a slight indentation on Zoe’s smooth skin, unable to do any further damage.
The bear's formidable strength was neutralized in an instant, unable to manifest its true power.
Zoe chuckled, gripping the bear’s paw firmly. The human hand, with its superior grasping ability, became the ultimate weapon at this moment.
In an instant, the dynamics shifted. Zoe pulled the bear towards her effortlessly, the massive creature powerless to resist.
Then, without hesitation, she drove her knee upwards in a powerful strike.
A sizeable fraction of her normal strength and speed, which was equivalent to a ton, surged through her knee. The bear, just getting close enough to bite, was instantly rendered unconscious by the blow, its eyes rolling back dramatically.
Despite its hefty weight of just under half a ton, the bear was momentarily airborne from the impact.
Then, with a thud, it collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
The fight was over in an instant.
Had Zoe not discovered the implanted tracker in the bear’s body and held back her strength, the bear would not have merely fainted. It would have died on the spot.
“Hiss~”
“This feeling... It’s strong and powerful, incredibly powerful!” Zoe murmured with her eyes closed.
The thrill of effortlessly defeating a beast she once wouldn’t dare approach was unparalleled. It was far more satisfying than intimidating shady shopkeepers or exploitative taxi drivers.
She now stood at an entirely different level!
