It had been nearly a hundred days. All this time, I’d been trying to figure out how the giant bears breathed fire. I hadn’t cracked the secret during my sixth chase by one of those beasts. Now, wrapped in a huge, warm bearskin cloak, I faced my seventh giant bear—naturally, in a ghoul-transformed frenzy state.

This grizzly seemed like an upgraded firepower model. Its swipes were easier to dodge than the previous six, but its fiery breath came nonstop. *Perfect test subject.*

I studied its breathing pattern. There had to be an ignition mechanism somewhere inside its body. This time, with my sharpened senses, I’d uncover the truth. Gray flames roared from the beast, vicious and relentless.

The heat didn’t come from its throat—I’d confirmed that last time. *So… does the heart generate the flames?* I darted through gaps between claws and fire, closing in. I struck hard at the calculated spot. The flames flickered slightly but didn’t die.

*Damn, that’s hot!* My arm seared.

*So the heart only fuels the burn…*

*Then the real ignition source must be—here!* I plunged my hand into its chest, tearing out a chunk of solidified magma-like stone above its heart.

Scorching heat. Flames vanished instantly. My hand turned scalded crimson. *Too hot!*

I hurled the stone away. But the searing pain snapped my last thread of sanity. Again, I lost control, lunging at the bear in a savage frenzy.

Even in madness, I’d grown used to this. Half my mind watched the ghoul-transformed me battle like a movie spectator, while the other half clawed for control. Just as my frenzied body raised a claw to sever the bear’s left foot—I seized back command.

*Ugh. This pain and bloodlust are such a hassle.* My stiffened body took a bear-paw slap, slamming into the ground. I nearly lost control again.

"Why don’t you just die already, you cursed frenzy?" I spat, pushing myself up. The battered bear stood across from me. *Wait—you haven’t breathed fire since I ripped out that stone. So that was the ignition organ?* I scooped up the tennis-sized stone. The fire-breathing bear, seemingly terrified of my ghoul-frenzy earlier, didn’t approach. Instead, it roared—a deafening, futile attempt to ignite flames.

*Give it a rest already.* Fine. I’d observe its movements. Maybe learn fire-making.

"Oh? Something’s flowing from your heart to where the stone was… and getting stuck. Alright, let me try."

I gripped the stone, focusing hard to channel energy inside. Nothing after a minute. *Impossible. Fighting this frenzy while concentrating?* What if I surrendered to the bloodlust—just dumped raw power into the stone?

I let the killing impulse take over. Miraculously, a vivid crimson flame erupted above the stone in my hand. My uncontrolled body naturally aimed at the hesitant bear, roaring back in challenge. Then—a wave of scarlet fire, fiercer than any bear’s breath I’d seen, surged from my palm and swallowed the beast whole.

My vision whited out. Pain, bloodlust—all gone. Even the frenzy felt exhausted. I crumpled to the ground.

I woke at nightfall, human again. The bear’s stone still clutched in my hand. Only a charred carcass remained of the giant bear.

*Disaster!* If Corpse Eaters or another bear had found me unconscious… *Never use fire carelessly again.* I reminded myself sternly, replaying what happened before I blacked out.

*Right. Channel energy like that.* I mimicked my body’s earlier motion. A small, pale-red flame flickered to life on my palm.

Exhausting. The flame died within a minute, draining me completely. But worth it—I finally understood fire-making. In this forest, I’d tried everything: rubbing sticks, flint, nothing worked. The bears’ breath was the only flame I’d ever seen here. Strangely, even their fire couldn’t ignite the trees. Mastering this was my only hope for cooked meals—a lifeline to survival.

*Heh. That charred carcass still smells amazing, even cold.* Today deserved celebration. Before monsters arrived, it was time to eat. Smiling, I tossed the bear-stone into my cloak pocket and skipped toward the carcass, humming a tune. My days of survival were finally beginning!