I Was The Only Omega In The Beast World-Chapter 61: CP: Meeting With The Bear Chief

"How did the tribe react?" Naga asked carefully.

"Not well," the young bear admitted.

"Everyone’s worried. Chief’s still strong, but he’s not young anymore, and females don’t want an old mate. Plus, if he steps down without an heir..."

He trailed off, clearly uncomfortable.

"The tribe weakens," Alex finished quietly. "Other territories might see it as an opportunity."

"Exactly." The young bear looked impressed. "You understand politics."

"I’ve had practice," Alex said dryly.

[UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE CENTURY!]

They followed the young bear—whose name turned out to be Clay—up the mountain path. The terrain grew steeper, rockier, but the path was well-maintained and clearly traveled frequently.

After about thirty minutes of climbing, they emerged into a massive clearing.

And Alex’s breath caught.

The bear settlement was built into the mountainside itself—dens carved directly into the rock face, multiple levels connected by carved stairs and natural ledges.

Wooden platforms extended from the dens, creating communal spaces for work and gathering. A central fire pit—easily twenty feet across—blazed in the middle of the clearing, and around it sat hundreds of bears.

All of them turned to look as the travelers entered.

[POPULATION ESTIMATE: 300-400 bears

CURRENT MOOD: Anxious, uncertain, very interested in the newcomers

THREAT LEVEL: Low (unless you do something stupid)

CUTENESS LEVEL: Off the charts (there are SO MANY CUBS)]

Alex tried not to stare at the sheer number of cubs—small brown balls of fluff tumbling over each other near the fire, supervised by watchful adults.

And at the center of it all, seated on a raised stone platform, was Chief Granite.

He was massive even by bear standards—easily eight feet tall in humanoid form, with hair so dark it was almost black, shot through with silver at the temples. His face was broad and weathered, hazel eyes sharp despite the exhaustion that lined his features. He wore ceremonial fabric, decorated with bone and stone beads, and a heavy fur cloak that made him look like the mountain itself had taken form. He looked like a man in his forties by the human standard.

He watched them approach with an expression Alex couldn’t quite read.

Boulder stood at his right hand, and several other large bears—advisors, probably—flanked him on both sides.

Clay led them to the center of the clearing, then bowed and scurried back to the crowd.

Silence fell.

Chief Granite studied them—his gaze lingering on Alex’s belly, on the two apex predators standing guard, on the packs they carried.

Then he spoke, voice carrying across the clearing like distant thunder.

"Welcome, travelers. I am Granite, chief of the mountain bears. You come at an interesting time."

"We heard the drums," Alex said, keeping his voice respectful but steady. "We didn’t mean to intrude on tribal matters."

"And yet here you are." Granite’s expression was unreadable. "Boulder tells me you seek to trade.

" That you carry crystal sweet syrup as a gift."

"We do." Alex glanced at the system floating nearby, who carefully withdrew one of the jars from the thin air—and magically appearing on Alex’s hands and the amber liquid caught the firelight, glowing like captured sunlight.

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.

Granite’s eyes widened—just slightly.

" Did she_"

" She brought out the sweet syrup out of nowhere. "

" What an amazing female? Is she a Saintess? "

" She’s so pretty too. She must be carefully raised by some sacred tribe. "

" Wonder if I can be her mate? "

Murmurs started among the bears. Each one speculating anything that comes to their mind.

[HOST THEY THINK YOU’RE A SAINTESS NOW. ALSO THEY’RE CALLING YOU ’SHE’ AGAIN. ꉂ(๑¯ਊ¯)╭σ’’’hahaha ]

" Shut up. I’ve noticed," Alex muttered under his breath.

Granite raised one massive hand and the murmurs died instantly.

"That is no ordinary gift," he said, eyes still fixed on the jar. "Crystal sugar syrup is rare. Precious. Where did a traveling bearer acquire three jars of it?"

"Trade," Alex said simply. "And careful planning. We knew we’d be entering bear territory, and we wanted to show proper respect."

[GOOD ANSWER! Vague but not evasive!]

Granite gestured, and Boulder came forward to accept the jar. He opened it carefully, inhaled deeply, and his entire expression transformed—pure bliss.

"It’s real," Boulder confirmed. "High quality. Maybe the best I’ve ever smelled."

"There are two more jars," Alex said. "For the chief and the tribe, if our proposal is accepted."

"Your proposal." Granite leaned forward slightly, massive hands resting on his knees. "What could a pregnant bearer and two apex predators possibly want from us that requires such generous gifts?"

Alex took a breath—felt Naga’s subtle touch at his lower back, felt Leo’s solid presence at his shoulder.

"We’re collecting the Seven Divine Artifacts," he said clearly. "We already have the Void Stone, the Golden Stone, and the Silver Fang. We’ve come to request the Bronze Stone—the Stone of Vitality."

The clearing erupted.

Bears surged to their feet, roaring protests and questions. The advisors on the platform looked shocked, then angry. Even Boulder took a step back, eyebrows climbing toward his hairline.

Only Granite remained still—watching Alex with those sharp hazel eyes.

He raised his hand again. Silence returned, though the tension remained thick enough to choke on.

"You ask for our most sacred treasure," Granite said, voice dangerously soft.

"The stone that has protected this tribe for five generations. The source of our strength and vitality. You ask us to simply... hand it over?"

"No," Alex said firmly. "I ask to trade for it. Fair exchange. Something of equal or greater value."

"And what could you possibly offer that equals five generations of protection?" one of the advisors demanded—a scarred female with gray-streaked fur. "What do you have that we need?"

[Oooh, good question! What DO you have that they need?]

Alex’s mind raced.

The healing angle wouldn’t work—bears didn’t have the fertility crisis wolves had. They were strong, healthy, recovering well from hibernation.

But they DID have a succession crisis.

They DID have an anxious tribe facing uncertain future.

They DID have a chief who was exhausted and running out of time.

"What if," Alex said slowly, "I could help ensure your tribe’s future? Not just for one generation, but permanently?"

Granite’s eyes narrowed. "Explain."

"I have access to abilities through my spirit guide,"

Alex continued, touching his chest where the system interface would appear. "I’ve proven this to other tribes. The wolves of the Northern Pack can testify—I gave them the Essence of Renewal that restored their fertility permanently. Before that, I negotiated with a dragon god and left his territory with his blessing."

[Negotiated with a dragon? More like getting chased by. ]

" Shut up. Anything for extra trust and proof. " Alex replied.

Murmurs rippled through the crowd again—impressed, skeptical, curious.

"The wolves traded you the Silver Fang?" Boulder asked, surprised. "That Lucas actually parted with it?"

"He did," Naga confirmed. "After Alex proved he could deliver what he promised."

"But we don’t need fertility help," the scarred advisor said. "Our cubs are healthy. Our females bear strong litters. What could you offer us?"

Alex looked directly at Granite.

"You announced you’re giving the tribe one season to find you a mate," he said carefully.

"And if that fails, you’ll choose a successor and step down. The tribe is anxious because neither option is ideal—you’re still strong enough to lead, but without an heir, the succession will be contested. And contested successions weaken tribes."

"I understand leadership," Alex said. "I understand the weight of responsibility. And I understand that sometimes the hardest thing is admitting you can’t do it all alone."

[OOH, THAT WAS GOOD! Very diplomatic!]

Silence stretched.