From deep within the forest, crashing through bushes and young trees, burst two enormous bears.

  The ground shook beneath their weight; the air thickened with bloodlust. Leaves rained down from the branches under the pounding of their paws, clumps of dirt flew in all directions, and frightened birds shot skyward with desperate flapping wings. Zhang Min’s insides quivered from the low, bone-rattling roar. It felt as though two heavily loaded wagons, each weighing half a ton, were charging at him on four legs.

  The beasts looked as if they had crawled straight out of a nightmare. Their dark, almost black hides glistened with a greasy, steel-like sheen. On the largest bear’s back bristled coarse, porcupine-like hairs that gleamed like iron when they moved. Shaking heads the size of barrels, the monsters rushed straight toward the men, hurling mud and dust aside. Zhang Min gaped in astonishment; even the polar bears of his world were smaller.

  Why did no one mention that the bears here are the size of cars? How are you even supposed to kill something like that? He licked his dry lips. Damn it! What have I gotten myself into?

  The mercenaries reacted instantly, leaping aside from the heavy beasts’ charge and drawing their blades. Following their example, Zhang Min hid behind a tree, pulled the shield from his back, drew his sword, and readied himself for battle, though he had no idea how to fight such a creature. Getting close to either bear would mean instant death. Their claws were like sharp daggers, and judging by the gouges in the trees, just as strong. A single swipe could slice a man to pieces or shatter every bone in his body. The tree he hid behind trembled with every thundering step.

  "I don’t want to die like a dog here", Zhang Min whispered, feeling sweat soak his back and his fingers ache on the sword hilt.

  While he hid behind the tree, the mercenaries attacked from different sides. The commander and Li Chén distracted the smaller bear, while the others went after the larger one with the quill-like fur. They struck at weak spots, dodged nimbly, drew the beasts’ attention and attacked in turns, most importantly, they kept moving. Clearly, the mercenaries had experience fighting wild beasts.

  Their coordinated assault gave Zhang Min a spark of confidence. Seizing the moment, he burst from behind the tree and swung with all his strength at the beast’s hind leg. The sword simply slid off the black pelt. The bear didn’t even notice. Despite the failure, Zhang Min attacked again, but his efforts achieved nothing, only thrusts left faint marks on the tough hide.

  Looks like the brute’s stopped reacting to provocations. It only defends itself against those who can actually hurt it, Zhang Min realized. It’s not some dumb animal!

  "The bear’s almost turned into a beast-demon!" the squad commander shouted, echoing his thought. "Stay alert!"

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  The sounds of battle grew more ferocious. Weapons barely pierced the beasts’ hides, doing too little harm, or the mercenaries simply lacked the strength to land truly heavy blows. On the smaller beast, thin rivulets of blood began to show, but that only enraged both bears further. They lunged forward with doubled fury.

  In the next instant the larger bear suddenly changed direction. One mercenary failed to dodge and took the full blow of its paw. He was flung into the air, soaring like a broken kite through the brush.

  Rolling across the ground, he struggled to rise; blood covered his chin. With great effort he propped himself on one elbow and coughed up more blood. The bear had likely broken his ribs, and the bone fragments had pierced his organs. An ordinary man would have died on the spot, but the mercenary endured, gritting his teeth through the agony. The bear moved in to finish him, ignoring the others.

  "Damn it!" the commander roared and rushed to intercept. "I’ll hold the beast! Grab the wounded!"

  With strength no normal man possessed, he slammed into the bear, making it stumble, then without pause struck several heavy blows at its face. Despite its massive size, the predator dodged, but it broke off its attack on the wounded. Meanwhile, two mercenaries dragged their bloodied comrade away from the fight. The second bear charged to aid its mate and, snapping its jaws, nearly tore the commander in half.

  "We can’t handle them! We have to get out!" Li Chén shouted, unable to hold the beast alone.

  The mercenaries began retreating one after another, covering each other. The forest air, once smelling of earth, was now thick with sweat and the reek of blood. Branches snapped underfoot; the seasoned fighters darted through the woods like the wind.

  Zhang Min ran after them with all his strength. His lungs felt as though they were melting from the inside, but the will to live drove him on. His endurance was being tested for the second time that day; and for a man with little experience, everything was happening far too fast. He quickly grew exhausted and began to fall behind. Li Chén rushed past him, and behind came the sound of cracking branches and furious roars.

  "Hey!" Zhang Min shouted after him, but the man pretended not to hear, never turning his head.

  I’m not from their guild … or whatever it’s called. … They just left me here. Bastards! Zhang Min cursed inwardly. Come on, legs! Don’t fail me now!

  He ran for all he was worth. Branches whipped his face. His muscles cramped from pain, his strength draining fast. His imagination was already showing him his death in a beast’s jaws when suddenly, nearby, came a faint splash, like a fish leaping from the river and diving back in.

  A flicker of hope shot through him. Summoning the last of his will, he veered toward the sound. His legs threatened to give out at any moment, his vision blurred, his lungs burned as if on fire, but he ran on desperately. He completely forgot that bears could swim too.

  Through the trees the river glimmered—broad and cold, its silvery surface scattering sunlight into a thousand sparks. Cursing his own greed, Zhang Min, without looking back, leapt from a low cliff into the water. The impact knocked the air from his chest; icy waves closed over him. He choked, flailed his arms, but the heaviness of exhaustion dragged him down.

  The current caught him, hurling him against rocks, spinning and squeezing before letting go. Several times he managed to surface and gasp a ragged breath, only to sink again. The last thing he felt was a sharp pain in his chest, then the deep, pounding rush of blood in his ears, and after that, darkness swallowed him.