Soft golden sunlight filtered through the high canopy, warm and kind against his skin as he stirred awake the next morning. The bone-deep exhaustion and terror from the night before had melted away like mist, leaving behind a quiet, unexpected peace.
Something wonderfully warm and soft was curled against his side.
He turned his head slowly — and felt his heart melt completely.
Beside him sat the single most adorable creature he had ever seen in his life.
She was a small bear girl, no taller than a child, with the fluffiest honey-brown and cream fur imaginable — so plush and cloud-like it begged to be touched. Two round, velvety ears perched atop her head, twitching with gentle curiosity. Her enormous, sparkling amber eyes shimmered with pure, innocent joy as they blinked up at him. Chubby pinchable cheeks, a tiny button nose that wiggled adorably, and the softest little paws with pink pads completed the picture. A small fluffy tail swished happily behind her.
The instant she noticed he was awake, she let out a high-pitched, heart-melting squeal.
"Kyuu~! Hey! Hey!"
She sat up on her hind legs and raised both soft paws high, waving them excitedly as if greeting her very favorite person in the whole wide world.
In that moment, without a single word, he understood perfectly.
She was a girl.
The little bear girl tilted her head cutely, then reached beside her and picked up a neatly folded set of clothes with both paws. She held them out to him, eyes bright and expectant, tail still wagging.
A gentle smile curved his lips — the first real one in what felt like forever. Warmth bloomed quietly in his chest.
"Thank you," he whispered, voice soft with gratitude.
The clothes were simple and comforting — a clean white t-shirt and loose black night pants. He slipped them on right there. To his quiet relief, they fit perfectly, as if they had been made just for him. The soft fabric settled against his skin like a gentle hug.
Dressed and warm, he sat there in the peaceful morning light, looking down at his new companion who was still watching him with those shining, patient eyes.
"So… the fruit I ate yesterday really was a beast-taming fruit," he murmured with a soft, disbelieving chuckle. "Which means… I'm a beast tamer now."
The little bear girl squealed happily and nuzzled against his leg, her fluffy warmth chasing away the last shadows of the night.
For the first time since the glowing circle had taken him, everything felt… okay. Safe. Almost like a new beginning.
**The Cosmic Secret and a Fluffy Hug**
Curious, he suddenly looked down at the little bear girl still nestled warmly against him.
"Wait… if I eat that fruit again, will I get another ability?"
Excitement sparkled in his eyes. He quickly scanned the trees around them, hoping to spot another one of those sweet, red-gold fruits. But the mysterious tree had vanished completely, as if it had never existed.
He let out a soft, disappointed sigh and scratched the back of his head.
The little bear cub instantly noticed the greedy glint in her master's eyes. She puffed out her chubby cheeks, huffed and puffed in the most comical way, waving her tiny paws frantically as if scolding him: *No no!*
Then, in the proudest, sweetest voice imaginable, she declared,
"Master, do you know who I am? I am a Cosmic Bear!"
To prove it, she stood up on her hind legs and let out the cutest little roar — more of an enthusiastic, high-pitched squeak than anything fierce.
He burst into warm, genuine laughter. Without thinking, he bent down, scooped her fluffy body into his arms, and hugged her gently against his chest. She felt incredibly soft and warm, like a living cloud.
"Alright, my little Cosmic Bear," he said with a smile, still chuckling. "Let's go find some breakfast."
Carrying her securely, he began walking deeper into the peaceful forest, gently teasing her along the way. She played along happily, nuzzling into his shirt and making delighted little sounds, clearly loving every moment.
And truthfully… he really liked this adorable bear cub too.
Far away, in an entirely different cosmic dimension, a majestic adult Cosmic Bear slowly opened her ancient, star-filled eyes.
"Hmm… Not bad," she murmured with quiet approval. "This human has some potential. He adapted quite quickly."
Her mate — a much larger and more imposing Cosmic Bear — snorted in amusement.
"When he first arrived, he was crying like a baby. He'd better treat our daughter well."
The mother bear let out a soft, melodic laugh. "He will. I'm sure of it."
They exchanged a knowing glance and peacefully shifted their conversation to other matters of the cosmos.
Completely unaware that his cheerful little companion was actually the beloved daughter of two supreme Cosmic Bears, the young man continued walking through the sun-dappled forest, laughing and teasing his new fluffy friend with a light heart he hadn't felt in years.
**The First Hunt**
They walked for only a few quiet minutes, yet the forest felt endless. Towering trees pressed in on every side, thick with leaves but completely bare of fruit. Not a single red-gold apple dangled from the branches. He sighed, the sound heavy in the stillness. "Why am I not surprised…"
He kept Nova tucked securely against his chest, her soft honey-brown fur warm and comforting against his shirt. The little cosmic bear cub nuzzled closer, her tiny paws resting trustingly on his collarbone, big amber eyes blinking up at him with pure affection.
But the longer they walked without stopping, the worse it got.
His legs grew heavier with every step. A deep, hollow ache spread through his muscles as his stamina pool drained faster than it should have. Nova's usual bouncy energy faded too — her fluffy ears drooped, and her breathing turned soft and tired. The hunger from earlier had become a sharp, gnawing pain that made his vision blur at the edges.
"I need to find food," he muttered under his breath, voice tight. "For both of us."
He pushed forward anyway, jaw clenched.
Then he saw it.
Half-hidden between two thick bushes, standing alone in a small clearing, was a goblin.
Small, green-skinned, hunched and ugly, its long ears twitching as it sniffed at the air. A crude stone knife hung at its belt. It looked harmless enough on its own… but something about it made every hair on his body stand up.
He dropped into a crouch behind the nearest bush, heart suddenly hammering. Nova stiffened in his arms. She let out a tiny, urgent warning squeak, paw tapping his chest rapidly — *Danger! Bad! Don't go!* At the same time, his instincts screamed the same thing: *Turn around. Run. Do NOT get closer.*
The forest itself seemed to hold its breath. Even the wind died.
Nova fell completely silent, her big eyes wide with worry, tiny body trembling slightly against him.
He hesitated, pulse roaring in his ears. He had no idea if killing this thing would actually help… or make everything worse. But the sight of that green bastard standing there, so close, so real, made his skin crawl with deep, instinctive disgust.
"I have to try," he whispered.
Gently, he lowered Nova into the soft moss behind the thickest bush. She let out one soft, heartbroken squeal — a tiny, pleading sound that clearly meant *Be careful… and good luck, Master.*
He gave her the best smile he could manage and nodded. "I'll be right back, little one."
Then he rose.
Every footstep was placed with painful care. Not a single leaf crunched. Not a twig snapped. His breathing stayed shallow, controlled, while cold sweat trickled down his spine.
Ten meters away, the goblin still hadn't noticed him.
He focused inward, feeling the strange new power stir in his veins.
"Grasp of the Mountain," he breathed.
**Active.**
A low, heavy rumble echoed deep inside his chest — like ancient stone grinding together. Power flooded his arms and shoulders, thick and unyielding. His hands tingled with raw, crushing strength.
The goblin suddenly froze… and slowly turned its head toward the bushes.
Its yellow eyes narrowed.
Tension crackled in the air like lightning about to strike.
The hunt had begun.