As Nathan leaped off the branch, spear in hand, a surge of exhilaration rushed through his veins like never before. In mid-air, he set his sights on the boar's vulnerable target—the creature's eyes, which were visible in its immobilized state, gazing upward. With a surreal ease, despite his airborne position, the spear's tip found no resistance as it penetrated the boar's eye, delving deeper into its skull, reaching what he assumed to be the creature’s brain. Despite the spear impaling the boar's eyes and what Nathan believed to be its brain, the creature didn't succumb immediately. Nathan found himself gripping the spear tightly, his body suspended in mid-air as the boar fought furiously to break free from the tree. The struggle continued, accompanied by the anguished cries of pain from Brandon, adding to the tense and chaotic scene. Nathan couldn't help but be astonished by the boar's resilience. Despite the severe injury it had sustained, the creature continued to fight for its life, refusing to succumb to its wounds. The determination displayed by the boar left Nathan both impressed and wary, realizing that he had underestimated the sheer strength and willpower of this formidable creatures.
Even with the boar's valiant efforts, it remained unable to dislodge itself from the tree. Its struggles gradually weakened as its life force drained away, leaving Nathan to witness the fading vitality of the once-fierce creature, as the boar's life force faded away, Nathan's mind was flooded with a series of notifications, alerting him to various updates and rewards. However, amidst the flurry of information, he remained focused on the immediate predicament. The boar's body remained impaled on the tree, leaving Brandon in a precarious and vulnerable position. Releasing his grip on the spear, which was still lodged in the boar's head, Nathan swiftly descended to the ground. With a sense of urgency, he rushed over to where the man was impaled and activated his "Analyse" skill to gather information his first human encounter.
Human: Brandon Nolles
Looking at Brandon impaled against the tree sent a shockwave through Nathan. He couldn't help but reflect on the stark reality of witnessing someone bleeding to death first-hand. Brandon's mouth and nose oozed blood, his leg had a gaping hole running through it, and his abdomen was skewered through.
As Nathan approached the man, Brandon looked at him and said:
“I don’t think I’ll be able to make it”, Brandon said and weakly smiled.
Nathan appreciated the attempt at humour but found himself incapable of returning the smile, burdened by the weight of his perceived failure to save the man. On closer inspection, Nathan realized Brandon was an older man, around 40 years of age.
"I am sorry I couldn't help you, I..." Nathan's voice trailed off as Brandon's face was pale, the scent of iron heavy in the air amidst the pool of blood.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
"Don't blame yourself," Brandon managed to utter through coughs, blood gushing forth. "Tell my wife I lov..." Brandon's eyes glazed over, leaving Nathan staring at the lifeless body before him. The forest seemed to hold its breath in an eerie silence as Nathan stood there, paralyzed. Desperate pleas escaped Nathan's lips, "Please don't die... don't die just yet. Your wife needs you." Overwhelmed, he sank to the ground, tears streaming down his face. His mind replayed the events leading up to this tragic moment—the choices he made, his abilities and skills, the decision to embark on tutorial.
Overwhelmed by guilt, he blamed himself for being inadequate, for not acting swiftly enough, for his arrogance in thinking he could handle it all. If he hadn't called Brandon over, perhaps he would still be alive. It was his fault for being useless. Moreover, he realized that if the boar had pursued him instead, he would be the one lying dead. Anxiety surged within him, but he forcefully suppressed it, recognizing there was no room for it in this moment. Moments turned into minutes as Nathan sat there, not knowing what to do. He had never witnessed death first-hand, nor had he encountered a lifeless body. Blood stained the surroundings, and once again anxiety came but this time it overwhelmed him, leading to an outpouring of vomit. After some time, as he gradually regained his composure, he noticed the faint light of the sun filtering through the forest. Night approached rapidly, and he concluded that he would have to wait until morning to bury Brandon—a gesture he felt was right and something Nathan would have wanted. With the encroaching darkness, Nathan walked over to the man whose name he didn't even know moments ago and gently closed his eyes. Searching through Brandon's backpack, Nathan discovered a towel in Brandon's backpack, which he used to respectfully cover the lifeless body. Among the belongings, he stumbled upon a small textbook with only Brandon's name inscribed on it, confirming his identity. It became apparent that Brandon had been far better prepared for navigating the forest than Nathan. Once again, Nathan recognized his own foolishness and sheer luck. Seizing the opportunity to secure his own survival, Nathan retrieved Brandon's sleeping bag and hoisted it up onto one of the tree's sturdiest branches. He carefully retrieved his spear from the boar's eye, diligently cleaning it with water and a rag he discovered within Brandon's backpack. Nathan's heart sank as he realized that he didn't even know Brandon's wife's name or her whereabouts. The weight of the responsibility to deliver the message and let her know what had happened to Brandon intensified. In the midst of the forest, with darkness descending, he felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness. Nathan understood the importance of honouring Brandon's final wish and finding a way to reach out to his wife, even if he didn't yet have the necessary information Nathan acknowledged that his own self-blame played a significant role in his commitment to find Brandon's wife but also his own survival sank in, Nathan knew that he needed to prioritize himself in this challenging situation. While he felt a profound responsibility to deliver Brandon's message to his wife, he also recognized that ensuring his own well-being was paramount. He knew that once he had established a stable foundation and regained his strength, he could better explore options for fulfilling Brandon's final request. It was a painful realization, but he understood that his own survival would ultimately serve as the key to honouring Brandon's memory in the long run.
With all his essential belongings now gathered and securely placed on the tree, Nathan finally turned his attention to his own survival and opened his screens.