When he woke up, Nick was sore as shit. The good news was that it wasn’t as bad as he had expected, thanks to his improved Toughness. While he winced with every step, he could walk without issue and even run if he had to. Although if he was forced to sprint, he would pay for it later.
After going through a light version of his morning exercises, he walked over to the forest’s edge and picked a half-dozen ripe berries for breakfast. Then he resumed his exploration of the southern coast. He wanted to check out the shipwreck that he’d spotted from the treetop, then keep on going until he had a clear view of the northern shore.
Nick planned to camp somewhere in the area, finish scouting the far side of the island, then make his way back to the obelisk tomorrow afternoon. On his way, he hoped to locate a secure shelter. Right now, he was far too vulnerable while he was asleep.
With the beach surveyed, it would be time for him to decide where he would enter the forest. He needed to tackle the woods eventually, but he wanted to raise his baseline Strength to 5 and reach Level 3 before he did.
Hopefully, his exercises combined with a multiday hike would do the trick. If he pushed himself hard, he might even boost some of his physical attributes to six. Although he was worried that the only reliable way to raise his baseline Toughness past 5 was to take a beating. He would have to use some KP to learn more about the process when he had a few points to spare.
As he walked, he felt a cool breeze blowing in from the east, heavy with the promise of rain. Sure enough, when he looked up, he saw a cluster of dark clouds crossing over the mountain. They looked like normal rainclouds, not the weird green ones he had seen from the treetop, and didn’t seem to be part of a larger storm system. Thus, he decided to press on and continue his scouting run as planned.
Fifteen minutes later, the first drops hit him, a refreshing patter that helped cool Nick down. He was glad for his straw sunhat, as it kept his head dry and the rain out of his eyes. By the time he rounded the bay, the shower had blown past, leaving the sand sparkling in the sunlight.
On this pass through the area, he intended to find the precise boundary of the komos’ territory. While they seemed to avoid the bay, he had spotted several lizards after gaining the far side. He doubted that their claim extended much further because he suspected that the beefy crabs were another of the island’s beasts—although they were passive enough that Nick wouldn’t be certain until he got close enough to use Size Up on them.
Not long after, he came to a stop at the top of a tall dune, eyes drawn to a big crustacean moving across the sands below. While he waited, frozen in place, the brawny creature drew closer, letting him make out more details than he had the day before.
That’s definitely a beast, he decided after using his skill. The crabs felt dangerous in general, although not directly threatening like the komos and the lurk. Since he was going to have to deal with them if he wanted to explore the rest of the coast, Nick took a long look. He began analyzing the creature’s abilities while coming up with a name.
Thick shell, retractable limbs. Stops every few minutes to touch the sand, likely sensing vibrations. Since it looks like a crab with swords for claws, that’s what I’ll call it. He continued to catalog the features of the newly named swordclaw.
It looks strong but not too fast, although I won’t be sure until I see one run. Less aggressive than the komos, but less friendly than the lemurs, judging by how they responded to my intrusion yesterday.
Adding it all together, this species is likely a defensive specialist, unless it can spit acid or something equally crazy. Even if one decides to approach, I should be able to outpace it. This area should be safer than the komos’ domain, unless the swordclaws share the shoreline with another species of beast.
Nick realized that a few of these insights went beyond the details he had witnessed firsthand. He would be careful not to rely on this knowledge blindly, but it must be part of the information provided by Size Up. He reminded himself that there were likely pieces missing due to the low level of the skill.
Just knowing that the swordclaws weren’t likely to be a threat was invaluable. While he was busy analyzing its capabilities, the crab found a starfish that had washed ashore. It was busy devouring the unfortunate creature, garnishing its meal with a few bites of kelp.
He was in the middle of coming up with potential strategies, just in case he was forced to fight a swordclaw after all, when the sand above the crab exploded. His heart leapt into his throat when a komo burst forth from the side of the dune and struck from concealment.
Nick’s initial reaction was sheer terror. The tactic shattered the fragile sense of security he had been forming as he learned more about the island. If the komos could rise from below and attack at any time, nowhere was safe. His ability to see through their camouflage was worthless if they could enhance the effect by covering themselves with sand. There could be dozens of lizards surrounding him at this very moment, waiting to strike.
Calm down. That doesn’t make any sense. They have no reason to invest in an ambush unless they’ve already spotted a target. Be extra careful until you collect more data, but you should only have to worry about this style of attack when you’re walking along the dunes on the border of the lizards’ territory. It should still be safe to travel along the surf.
As the komo closed the distance, the swordclaw spun to face it, having noticed the reptile’s approach at the last possible moment. This marked the beginning of a fierce battle. Nick realized that a prime opportunity had landed in his lap. He could wait up here until one of the creatures finished the other off, then race down and steal the prize.
He wasn’t desperate enough to try eating raw lizard or uncooked shellfish. But if he could establish a camp and figure out how to build a fire, his plunder could solve his food problem for the next several days.
Even with his Survivor trait, Nick hadn’t been getting enough to eat. Hunger pains had become a constant companion. One that he would be happy to leave by the wayside. Besides, his vegan diet wasn’t ideal for building muscle, though it had done wonders for taking some air out of his spare tire and melting the edges off his love handles.
His musings were driven from his mind as the komo and swordclaw faced off, each beast fighting with its life on the line. The crustacean was perhaps half the size of the vicious reptile, but its massive shears offered better reach than the lizard’s teeth and claws.
Watching the powerful creatures exchange a fearsome barrage of blows, he grasped that this was an opportunity to gain something even more valuable than securing his next meal. Nick could learn how to fight by watching two creatures that had been born for battle duel—begin bridging the gap between the tactical theory he had learned while gaming and the visceral reality of embodied combat.
The first detail that he absorbed was that the komo’s ambush had borne fruit. One of the crab’s legs was protruding from the lizard’s mouth. While this wasn’t a fatal wound, the crustacean was bleeding a fair amount as it scrambled for position, splatters of blue soaking into the sand below its shell. The injury meant that the crab would grow weaker over the next few minutes until its body could form a clot and staunch the flow.
Losing a second limb would likely cause the swordclaw to bleed out, or at least weaken the beast enough for the komo to overpower. The crab was slower than its assailant to begin with, and now that it was injured, it was having trouble keeping up. The dynamics of the battle were forcing the swordclaw to assume an offensive stance, racing to score a critical blow before it grew too weak.
While it had to remain in the area to keep its opponent from escaping, the komo could stay out of range of the crab’s claws until it saw an opportunity to follow up. The passage of time was now the lizard’s ally and the crab’s foe.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Nick watched on, riveted by the epic struggle taking place before his eyes.
In the opening move of the battle, the komo scored a debilitating wound and took control of the flow of combat. No, that attack was premeditated. The lizard’s advantage was won before the fight even began.
As he analyzed their tactics, the battle between the beasts raged on. Although its gambit had paid off, the komo’s victory was by no means assured. The crab’s claws were strong and agile. They hung low, guarding its eyes and legs, now that it was facing its foe. The razored blades could easily tear into the komo’s flesh if it was able to land a hit, whereas the lizard would have a hard time cracking the crab’s shell unless it could pluck another limb and disable the beast.
This was a lesson that Nick could only have learned while watching the fight with his own eyes. The nature documentaries he had binged back home didn’t convey the overwhelming tension and split-second timing of a life-and-death struggle. Or perhaps this insight was a consequence of accepting his new, conflict-oriented reality now that the System was in charge.
He grasped that each beast was a specialist in a different style of fighting, which took advantage of their unique natural weapons and divergent physical attributes.
Although the komo had been willing to launch an attack, it soon became clear that neither species was an ideal match for the other. The lizard could outrun the crab but couldn’t wound its opponent while its guard was raised. The swordclaw could end the battle with a single, decisive blow. But the komo refused to face the crab head-on, letting blood loss weaken it over time instead.
No matter what direction I guide my development, I need to invent my own fighting style or learn from someone more experienced. To fend off beasts with powerful bodies and deadly natural weapons, I need to develop strategies to mitigate their strengths and exploit their weaknesses. Catalog their tendencies and anticipate likely moves, but remain on guard for surprises.
To round things off, I need to have some viable contingencies already in place so that I can react to surprises effectively when I don’t have time to engage in extensive planning. Like what to do if I’m surrounded or forced to fight beasts capable of using ranged attacks.
Nick had let his mind wander while the battle below remained deadlocked. But he returned his attention to the conflict when the melee entered a new phase.
The crab had clearly decided that it wasn’t going to be able to catch the lizard before it grew too weak to hold its own. After a feinting charge, the swordclaw changed tactics. It tried to retreat and dive into the sea. Before it gained the safety of the surf, the lizard darted around to cut off its approach, forcing the crustacean to abort its rush or risk losing another limb in passing.
This close to the water’s edge, the komo couldn’t move out of the way without abandoning its meal. Nick watched with avid attention as the beasts faced each other head-on for the first time. The swordclaw used its enemy’s intentions to constrain its movement, countering the komo’s evasion tactics while boosting its odds of escape.
He watched on in awe, committing each detail to memory as claw and tooth, shell and scale, struck, dodged, and parried in a blur of motion. As it was forced deeper into the surf, the lizard appeared to make a mistake, dodging too slowly as the crab’s claws sheered a foot off the end of its tail.
The swordclaw expected the komo to back off after receiving the wound, unaware that it had fallen for the lizard’s ploy. Instead of retreating, the komo spun along the inside of the blow and bit. Its jaws tore one massive claw free from the crab’s body, then its talons raked out an eye.
Half-blinded and overwhelmed with pain, the crab darted back. It started to circle futilely, spilling its life essence into the thirsty sands to form a ring of blue blood. Every revolution cost the swordclaw more of its remaining strength.
It soon started to falter, like a clockwork toy, just before the gears stopped turning. Eventually, the crab collapsed, and the lizard struck. It tore the crustacean’s face off before dragging it far enough back that the ocean couldn’t claim its prize from under it.
Out of everything that Nick had learned from watching the battle, this was the most important lesson of all. Sometimes, you must sacrifice something in order to gain something. Especially when facing off against a powerful foe.
He nodded and rubbed his chin, offering his thanks to the formidable hunter for the lessons it had taught him. With the battle won, it was time for the victor to tend to its wounds. The komo walked over to where the shore was dry, then drove the end of its shorn tail into the sand, which stuck to the bloody stump to form a seal. Then the lizard began to feast on the swordclaw’s remains.
Having learned a valuable lesson on attacking while your enemy was distracted, Nick rose to his feet and crept down the side of the dune. Approaching the wounded komo from behind, he raised his stick above his head, ready to incorporate the insights he had gleaned.
He inched his way across the white sands, every scrap of concentration focused on the lethal reptile feeding in front of him. He kept his breathing slow and steady, stepping as lightly as he could.
Every time that the komo raised its head from its gory buffet, he froze in place, praying that the beast wouldn’t turn around. Before long, Nick was almost close enough to strike. The next time that the lizard took a bite, he took a big step to channel his strength and brought the stick down as hard as he could.
A hearty crack resounded across the dunes as the branch stuck the lizard square in the back. It hissed and spun to face him. But he was already darting back, out of range of its teeth and claws. He reached into the pocket of his bathrobe and took out one of the stones he had gathered. Before the enraged reptile could close the distance, he took aim and threw, clocking the lizard in the head with a satisfying thunk.
The beast came to a skidding stop, seeing Nick as a threat for the first time. At this point, he knew that he had a decision to make. While his attack had been successful, he wasn’t doing much damage with his primitive weapons. He could continue the battle, but the odds of winning without being injured in the process were poor.
In the end, it was only practical for him to drive the komo back, grab the shorn tail and claw, then beat a hasty retreat. There wasn’t anything else he could accomplish that would justify the danger. He wouldn’t have been able to carry any of the extra meat with him. While he needed to obtain combat experience to survive the days ahead, this wasn’t the right time or place to take a chance.
He didn’t have a problem killing one of the hyper-aggressive, carnivorous lizards. But he wasn’t willing to risk his life to finish off a single komo when there were hundreds more roaming the beach. Especially when he had only his walking stick to fend off the lizard’s talons and teeth.
After making sure that the wounded reptile went to devour the swordclaw’s corpse instead of following him, Nick turned his attention to the meat he had stolen. He was trying not to think about the fact that the rapidly cooling chunks of flesh had been parts of living creatures only a few minutes prior.
He had no idea how to skin or dress an animal, but the severed appendages seemed like they would be relatively easy to cook over an open fire. He had other plans for the claw too. He was hoping to convert its edge into a weapon. Or at least a basic cutting tool, letting him start a few projects that were beyond the scale of what his tiny scissors could handle.
Once the site of the ambush was far enough behind him, he stopped to catch his breath. Judging by the crustaceans meandering in the distance, he was now at least a quarter mile into the swordclaws’ territory. He hadn’t seen any more lizards, but now that Nick knew they could burrow, he walked over to the surf and scanned the closest dunes with extra vigilance.
When he was certain that no hidden beasts were lurking nearby, he was ready to find a better way to carry the meat until he was able to cook it. To start, he rinsed off the blood in the ocean. After a bit of trial and error, Nick wrapped the appendages in palm fronds, bound them with cord, and then hung the bundles off his belt using the tie of his bathrobe.
The prospect of eating grilled meat made him hungry enough to drool. But he forced his attention back to scanning his surroundings and resumed his trek along the coast. He was glad to leave the ever-present tension of traversing the komos’ domain behind him. While the swordclaw crabs were fearsome fighters, their territory proved to be almost as safe to cross as the lemurs’ domain.
After running a few tests, he discovered that the crabs wouldn’t respond to his presence until he was fairly close. Even when they assumed an aggressive posture, the swordclaws did not seem inclined to pursue him. Either because Nick didn’t fit their image of predator or prey, or because it required far less effort to harvest the sea’s bounty than to battle a creature larger than themselves.
If the lemurs were friendly and the komos were hostile, he would classify the swordclaws’ temperament as neutral. Even if he accidentally goaded them into attacking, if he didn’t let the crabs box him in, he could easily evade them, and their presence kept the other predators away from the region.
He made good time from that point on. Judging by the position of the mountain and the giant tree, it would take Nick another hour or so to arrive at the first stop on his journey—the sprawling wreckage set along the southeastern shoreline.
He realized that he would soon be passing by the part of the forest claimed by the giant spiders. He walked as close to the ocean as he could, where he could see anything coming out of the trees early enough to double back the way he had come.
As he pressed on, he remembered to check out the scratch he had drawn on his belt. The mark had already repaired itself, and the drops of beast blood that had splattered on the leather had vanished without a trace.
He wished that the rest of his clothing had self-maintenance modifications too. His other garments were filthy, and his jeans were becoming more ragged by the mile. With any luck, Nick would receive the next upgrade to his wardrobe sooner rather than later.