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Adrenaline surged through the bear’s veins, driving its regenerative abilities into overdrive. The infernal flames of the Furnace roared around it, but the heat radiating from its own body—burning away the venom coursing through its system—was even fiercer. With feral determination, the bear stomped, kicked, bit, and clawed at the fiery vipers. Each strike reduced one to ash, yet more slithered from the swirling inferno, their numbers unrelenting.

“AUNGHAAUGH!!!!” — I don’t have time for this!!

Even as the battle raged, the ethereal forms of tormented souls scattered into the air, passing effortlessly through any physical barrier. Every second spent fighting was a child the bear couldn’t save—a soul slipping beyond its reach. It had promised to save them all. Every single one.

With a desperate roar, the bear broke free of the vipers’ burning coils and barreled toward the walls of the pit, crushing any serpent foolish enough to block its path. Momentum carried it to the sloped wall, and with a powerful leap, it aimed to rebound off the surface and launch itself toward the scattering souls above.

But—

Hiss.

The flames ahead twisted, coalescing into a massive, fiery tail. It lashed out with devastating force, striking the bear mid-air and slamming it back into the depths of the pit.

“You fool,” the fire crackled, its voice low and ominous as the bear struggled to rise. “You cannot escape me.”

As if summoned by those words, countless vipers began pouring from the swirling inferno, their molten bodies writhing as they surged toward the bear. No matter how fiercely it fought, their endless numbers overwhelmed it, engulfing its frame in a searing tide. The fiery serpents coiled tightly, lifting the bear off the ground, their combined strength suspending it in midair like prey ensnared by a predator.

And then, the pit began to change.

Through the writhing mass of vipers, the bear glimpsed swirling flames churning violently, and from within the inferno, the ashes of the fallen children began to rise, stirring as if alive. The gray dust rose and began assembling into a skeletal frame—a monstrous snake, its size dwarfing even the bear’s mighty form. The flames rushed toward the skeletal structure, clinging to its bones and igniting them into flesh. The vipers encircling the bear dissolved, their fiery bodies fusing with the growing serpent, coiling around the bear as though part of its form.

In that moment, the Bear God understood.

This wasn’t just another foe.

This was the Pit itself.

“Foolish, foolish bear, jumping into my den,” the giant viper crackled as if cackling. “I’ve waited so long for this moment—to devour you.”

“HNNGGRUH!!” — You’re just another one of his creations!

The bear snarled, thrashing in defiance, but the coils only tightened, draining its strength. The Pit, undeterred, let out a deep, rumbling laugh that reverberated through the burning chamber.

“No, no, no. Not that human you call the Doctor, he merely facilitates my creation — it is you. You created me. Only a God can beget a God.”

“You are their Hope, and I am their Despair. You stand as their salvation, and so must I as their ruin. I awakened the moment you came to this world — Your very existence gave birth to me.” The serpent’s coils tightened as its voice grew darker, more triumphant. “And now, I shall devour you and finally be complete.”

With a deafening hiss, the viper opened its massive jaws wide enough to swallow the bear whole. The bear fought with every ounce of strength, struggling against the unyielding coils that had it in a vice-like grip, but it couldn’t break free.

Then, the jaws slammed shut, their crushing force snapping off part of the viper’s own body. With a victorious gulp, the serpent swallowed the mass, its throat bulging as it consumed the bear whole.

It didn’t matter how fiercely the bear had struggled—nothing could fight against the suffocating grip of despair.

…but then, nothing happened. No surge of power. No sudden ascension.

The viper paused, confusion creeping into its fiery gaze. It glanced around, scanning the flames, wondering if it had truly swallowed the Bear God. But instead, it caught sight of a small, insignificant creature—the size of a kitten—hopping and scurrying through the flames.

“YOU!!”

The viper’s hissed fury echoed through the pit as it lunged after the tiny creature. But the animal… the bear, it seemed, was growing. Slowly, at first, but steadily.

The bear’s form expanded, swelling in size until it was undeniably larger than the viper. Still, the serpent refused to be outdone. With a snarl, it absorbed more of the Furnace’s flames, feeding on its infernal heat, and grew to match the bear’s size.

The pit felt suffocatingly small as the two colossal beasts clashed, their every blow shaking the very foundation of the facility. The oppressive heat and swirling flames seemed to shrink under the ferocity of their battle.

“YOU’RE INSIGNIFICANT! A TINY FLAME FOR ME TO STOMP ON!!”

Coiling itself around the bear’s neck, the viper constricted tighter, its grip suffocating.

“GRROAAWWWWGH!!” — YOU’RE NOTHING MORE THAN AN OBSTACLE!!

With raw strength, the bear slammed its massive frame into the wall, crushing the serpent against the unyielding stone.

“I AM THE FIRE THAT TAKES!” The serpent hissed, sinking its fangs deep into the bear’s arm. “I AM THE HATRED THAT SPREADS! I AM THE TRAGEDY BEFORE HOPE, AND THE DESPAIR THAT FOLLOWS!! I AM YOUR FINAL DESTINATION!! I AM TORMENT MADE MANIFEST!!!”

“AAUUUNNNGGHHHH!!!” — I DO NOT CARE!!!

With a primal snarl, the bear twisted and sank its powerful jaws into the serpent’s neck, just behind its head. Flaming blood gushed from the wound, the searing liquid hissing as it splattered onto the pit’s ashen floor.

The viper writhed in desperation, its coils tightening in one final attempt to suffocate the bear. But the bear’s bite was unyielding. With a mighty yank, the serpent’s head tore free from its body.

Ptooey. The bear spat the head out, watching as the lifeless coils of the viper unraveled and slumped to the ground. Yet victory came at a cost—venom coursed through the bear’s veins, its regenerative abilities struggling to keep up. Its massive form began to shrink, the strength of the Bear God reduced.

The bear stood still, panting, as the colossal frame of the viper dissolved into flickering embers, its once-mighty body disintegrating into the air. But even in death, the viper’s voice lingered, a mocking echo in the suffocating silence.

“I exist as long as you exist,” the flames crackled weakly. “What will you do, wish-bearer, when there is nothing left you can do? What else can you do but despair?”

“Aungh…” — I don’t know.

The answer came swift, almost hollow, but true.

— …I don’t know.

The flames flickered one last time before reducing to smoldering embers, and then nothing. The Furnace, once a roaring inferno, was now a vast, silent grave of ash and soot. The tormented souls had escaped, scattered to some unknown realm, far beyond reach.

The bear stood alone, surrounded by the remnants of a battle fought too late. Once again it failed to deliver a promise…

………

……

…

“Are you crying, Mama?”

The ghostly boy appeared suddenly, wrapping his small arms around the bear. He must have turned invisible during the fight. With utmost care, the bear reached out, gently ruffling the boy’s hair. His ethereal form felt cold to the touch, like a wisp of winter air.

“Hehehe,” the boy giggled, his laugh light and carefree.

The bear’s heart sank. The boy’s lingering presence as a ghost meant his soul was still tethered to this world by regret. Freeing him from that, too, was part of the promise the bear had made to the girl.

“Don’t worry, Mama!” the boy said with a bright grin. “Everyone saw how cool you were!”

“Garfh?” — Everyone?

“Yup!”

As if summoned by his words, a faint shimmer appeared near the walls. A timid soul stepped forward, followed by another, and another, until dozens began to materialize, their glowing forms filling the ash-laden space.

“What happened?” “Is it gone?” “Where’s the fire?” “Mama?” “It’s a bear.” “The snake was scary.” “I hate the snake.” “The bear defeated the snake.” “Mama defeated the snake.” “Bear is Mama?” “I’m hurt.” “Are we free?” “I want my brother.” “My tummy aches.” “Is it the snake?” “No it’s the bear.” “The bear was cool.” “The bear was cute.” “The bear was big.” “The bear was small.” “The bear protected us.” “The bear freed us.” “The bear saved us.” “Thank you.” “Thank you.” “Thank you.” “Thank you.” “Thank you, mama.” “Mama?”

Whispers filled the air, overlapping in a chorus of voices. Scarred, tormented, and mutilated beyond recognition, they still clung to their innocence. Their emotions were raw, their minds fragile, yet they swayed so easily by the presence of one another.

The bear’s chest tightened. It hadn’t expected gratitude—only doing what it believed was right—yet their words washed over it like a tidal wave. It tried to speak, but the words stuck in its throat, unspoken. Unbidden tears welled in its eyes, spilling down its soot-covered fur.

“Oh no!” “Are you okay?” “Are you hurt?” “Is it the snake?” “It’s the bear.” “The bear is crying.” “Oh no!” “Why is the bear crying?” “Is the bear okay?” “Is the bear hurt?” “Is the bear Mama?” “Mama?” “I want to cry too.” “Please don’t cry.”

The souls began to gather around the bear, their translucent forms swarming it in a flurry of curiosity and worry. Their memories had been torn asunder; they likely couldn’t even remember their own names. And yet, they showed compassion—a pure, untainted kindness that defied their suffering.

The bear smiled, despite the tears still streaking its face. This is it, it thought. This is what is right.

This is why it had come to this world—to save these souls from their fate.

“Auunggh?” —Do you want to come with me?

The bear asked, its heart light as a feather. For a brief moment, the souls froze, their whispers silent—then, like ripples across a pond, the voices buzzed back to life, overlapping in a cacophony of wonder.

“Coming? Where?” “With the bear?” “Are we going out?” “Are we going to see my brother?” “I want to go out.” “I hate this place.” “Where are we going?” “I want to see the sea.” “The sea is big.” “The bear is big.” “Bigger than the sea?” “I don’t know.”

“Mama, can you fulfill our wishes?”

One voice pierced through the chatter, clear and fragile. The bear paused, its gentle gaze sweeping across the crowd of souls. Then, with unwavering resolve, it spoke softly.

“Aungh” — I promise, I will.

“Okay!” said the soul, her voice brimming with trust, and she leapt into the bear’s psyche.

The weight struck immediately. The pain, the sorrow, the burden she carried seeped into the bear’s very being. And she was only the first.

One by one, the others followed.

What came next was a torrent—a storm of built-up pain, sadness, and torment. Each soul brought with it the weight of its regrets, unfulfilled dreams, and shattered hopes. The bear’s legs trembled, its massive form sagging as though the entire world now rested upon its shoulders.

“I was hungry.” “I was alone.” “I wanted to see my brother.” “Why me?” “I never got to say goodbye.” “It hurts, Mama… It still hurts.”

The voices swirled in its mind like a relentless tide, threatening to pull it under. The bear staggered, its breathing ragged. It closed its eyes, feeling their sorrow gnawing at its spirit.

And yet—

“Grrfh” — I know.

The bear’s voice rumbled through the stillness, soft yet unyielding, like distant thunder before a cleansing rain.

— I will carry it for you.

♢♦♢♦♢

The Bear God climbed out of the Furnace’s pit. Gone was its majestic form; its silver fur was matted with soot and scorched with burns. It faltered, limping along with slow, weary steps. It wanted to rest—needed to—but remaining in this place would be unwise. The Furnace was a symbol of their torment, and the souls it carried needed to be somewhere else, somewhere safe.

Ahead stretched the dark corridors, now littered with debris. Despite their maze-like nature, the bear’s nose guided it forward, drawn to a place teeming with spiritual energy. And so, with weak but determined steps, it ventured into the darkness.

“…!”

Someone spotted the bear, and the bear, in turn, spotted him. The man was unrecognizable, covered in blood from head to toe—whether priest, doctor, or Emperor, it was impossible to tell.

For a moment, they stared at one another in silence. Then the bear moved on, prioritizing the children over the man.

“…”

The man hesitated, then turned and ran in the opposite direction.

Before long, the bear found itself in an unfamiliar space—an underground cave. Light crystals glittered from the ceiling and walls, casting an ethereal glow over a massive lake. At its center stood a small, weathered shrine.

The Bear God didn’t know what this place was—likely part of the ritual—but the entire cavern brimmed with spiritual energy. It was perfect. Here, it could replenish its strength and tend to its wounds.

The world outside was still a dangerous place. Venturing out in its current state would be far too risky. And so, the Bear God made its decision. It would hibernate. It would wait—for the wars to end, for the world to become a place where those it carried could find peace.

Besides, it still had so many voices to listen to—each little whisper that now filled its mind.

♢♦♢♦♢

November 1st, 1672 of the Sun Calendar — This day marked the downfall of the Old Empire.

With the Emperor mysteriously absent from his throne, Adalhard’s revolutionary army—composed largely of elite troops who once served under the Hero’s Party and accompanied by an aerial force of colossal dragons led by Pendragon—swiftly seized the Royal Capital within days. The Empire’s defenses proved futile as dragons rained fire from the skies, far beyond the reach of its once-imposing walls. An estimated 50,000 lives were lost—soldiers and civilians alike—during the assault.

In the days following the capital’s fall, newspapers flooded the streets, exposing the Empire’s sins and corrupt deeds. Public executions were held for those deemed guilty of conspiracy or complicity, further cementing the revolution’s grip.

Word of the Royal Capital’s collapse spread quickly to the vassal states. Armies rallied to reclaim the capital, but the effort crumbled as old grievances resurfaced. Vassal states once “liberated” under Adalhard’s banner turned against their former allies, seeking independence and vengeance for years of oppression. What began as a campaign to restore order ignited a full-scale civil war.

Overseas soldiers, stranded without orders or a home to return to, turned to banditry, ravaging the countryside. Sensing opportunity, foreign kingdoms joined the chaos, carving out their share of land from the crumbling empire.

Thus began an era of unrest, a turbulent decade that reshaped the world.

When the bloodshed finally subsided, peace was brokered. The Old Empire was no more, reborn as Dragonsworne, the Land of Dragons, with Adalhard the Usurper crowned as its king. Many vassal states regained their independence, some uniting to form the United States of Piresfall, while others were absorbed by opportunistic neighboring kingdoms. In the shadows, purists of the Old Empire plotted in secret, hoping to restore the Emperor to the throne and reclaim their former glory.

And in the quiet, far from the wars and bloodshed, the Bear God slumbered peacefully, waiting for its time to awaken once more.

{Arc 1 End}

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