The task that lay ahead would be considered suicidal by many. The very thought of going man to man with a bear seemed absurd if not totally and utterly insane. However for a few remarkable individuals it was possible to not only take on but also win against a bear. In the past as one of the ultimate tests of fortitude men would challenge black bears with nothing but a small blade or mace. Weighing far less than a brown or polar bear the black variety were however highly vicious and would attack violently if given the slightest hint of provocation. It was of course one of these bears that was attempting to claim the Valley of Mountains as it's own.



However this was not something that Kyōbōna could allow. The tengu had clearly stated that until the bear was six feet underground  they would not continue to teach him how to block his new senses. This was to be a test of his fortitude and resolve. That was fine with Kyōbōna - he did not like competition on what he considered his territory and would fight the bear whether they had ordered him to or not. After all the Amida was no ordinary man himself  at seven feet in height and weighing somewhere around 160kgs he himself was much stronger than the average individual and though his third eye had not yet opened it and the small horns on his forehead marked him as something clearly not entirely natural. Even a bear would not find him easy prey especially combined with the new jutsu that he had learned from the crow men.



The first part of the mission was defiantly the longest not only tracking the bear through the claw marks it left on trees but also through prints , stool and smell was intensive enough but the mission also called for an ambush. Thus the attack would have to come at exactly the right time in order to gain the maximum amount of advantage so they battle could be swayed in Kyōbōna's favour. Kyōbōna was good at ambushes after all he had been planning and executing them on bandits and other travellers for years.



Taking the high road and watching for signs Kyōbōna finally located the man eater in a small clearing finishing off the remains of one of the mountain goats that were so numerous in the region. Quietly he began to collect large logs and place them carefully on top of the slope that wound up to the mountain peaks. The bear engrossed with it's mean did not seem to notice this activity as it was to busy gorging itself on fresh meat. Kyōbōna knew the feeling himself and indeed he was beginning to feel hungry after all the hours of tracking the large carnivore.



But there was still more work to be done - the ogre began to collect great armfuls of dry grass and began to pile it slightly above where the logs were held. Finally right as the bear was pulling it's bloody snout from the billy goat Kyōbōna sent a stone twice the size of a mans fist hurtling towards the bears head. To a man this missile could have easily caused concussion or death were it to hit the skull but as the object smashed into the bears skull it simply wounded and angered in equal measure.  



Spinning around to face the attacker the bears beady eyes focused on Kyōbōna standing atop the incline. However the Amida did not turn and run as the bear expected but continued to stand defiantly challenging the bear. Utterly livid that the mere (though abnormally large) human was daring to take any action against it the bear dropped to all fours and began to charge Kyōbōna at a tremendous speed. Two hundred kg of hate filled muscle and fury hurtled towards Kyōbōna but still the Amida did not balk but reached a hand down and removed a central log pinning the log pile from collapsing.



Now it was the logs themselves that were making an unstoppable path down the hill picking up speed as the bumped and rolled over jutting stones and tussocks. Realising it's folly the bear heroically tried to abort but it was far to late. The rolling pillars of wood smashed into the bear first striking it's front paws then hammering it's chest with a series of devastating blows. Something cracked and the wind was knocked from the bears lungs. It was down but not out and  Kyōbōna knew that this was indeed the moment to capitalise. Leaping over the ridge he almost flew down the hill gaining momentum as he went.



The bear was slowly rising to it's feet as the punch took it in the side of the face. Pain lanced through Kyōbōna's hand as he felt it connect - good that mean the bear probably felt it even worse. This was followed up with a flurry of extra blows and a kick to the chest where the logs had taken the animal. It's pained growls were music to Kyōbōna's ears and he roared feeling the thrill of battle overtake him. Thus the bears first hit caught Kyōbōna unawares. Even though the blow was only glancing it threw the large berserker back a good 3 meters his feet grinding into the soil as he landed against the slope.



The bears second swipe was better telegraphed and thus Kyōbōna managed to dodge to a side. Thankfully his bones seemed to be intact after the hit though the bruising around the area was going to be immense and florid in colour. returning to the battle with a spinning lariat to the face Kyōbōna followed up with an elbow to the eye. The bear un-phased by these blows slashed Kyōbōna across the shoulder raking flesh off with it's claws as it dragged deep furrows into the muscle tissue. Kyōbōna's roar turned into a howl at the shock of the pain and for now the bear seemed to gain the upper hand. Surging forward the massive ursine creature opened it's arms wide and wrapped it's paws around Kyōbōna's midsection in order to pull it's signature bear hug manoeuvre. 



Vast amounts of pressure were exerted upon Kyōbōna's skeletal structure as the bear literally attempted crush him to death in it's deadly hug. Kyōbōna struggled valiantly against the terrible sensation wrenching one arm free from the bears grip. Alas it was the one that had previously been subject to the bears claws and below he felt something inside him crack under the strain. Mind racing Kyōbōna searched for a way to come out of the plight when it hit him. Rearing his head back Kyōbōna brought one of his small but now sharp horns into the bears eye gouging the milky orb  from it's socket and mercifully causing the bear to lighten it's grip as it flailed in shock and horror.


After taking a few seconds to catch his breath Kyobona started to sprint at max speed up the hill. The journey was a figurative hell - his body aching and battered and his shoulder bleeding freely. No doubt the bear who was now charging up after him felt the same and would only be consoled by his death and dismemberment. That was not going to happen though -  Kyobona had a second part to his plan. However it would not work if the bear was at full strength though so he needed to wear the beast down - something he had been doing for what seemed like several hours. Finally reaching where he had stored the dried grass  Kyobona channelled flame chakra through his palm and set the pile of fuel alight letting it catch on and crackle to life hungrily. As the bear dragged it'self over the pile it was too late and the flames were already beginning to spread and it's underside was torched by the flames.  Kyobona's body was tensed storing energy for what could perhaps be the most devastating technique in his arsenal - the fist of Fei. First developed by an ancient general who used the move to topple and sometimes kill enemy horses the tengu Oshara had taught Kyobona how to focus all his power into one devastating strike that could deal immense damage even to targets as large and tough as the bear.

Letting the strike lose Kyobona's fist soared through the air like a meteor slamming directly into the bears solar plexus. Even with the bears great weight the creature was thrown back stunned by the force of the blow. Into the flames the bear fell and as it's fur caught aflame it gave off a terrible sound somewhere between a shriek and a moan. Thrashing a few times it kicked and pawed at the ground but eventually it's energy was simply spent and it ceased to fight against the consuming flames. Kyobona waited for the fuel to burn out and as if by the will of the gods it started to rain coming down in large slow droplets that slid down his back and made his mane of hair wet clingy.

 At this point Kyobona was utterly sore, hungry and tired. The first problem he could do nothing about but the second and third were easily enough solved and the smell of roast bear was so appetising he  was already drooling over it. Flesh and blood contained power and eating the bear would make him strong. Reaching out a hand he ripped of the first chunk of flesh and thrust it into his maw chewing with great relish.

Word Count 1602/1500