"Coil two nylons together, and then stitch a third one in between." - were an old man's words as he taught me how to make strong ropes. And even up until now, that method had still been used by me continuously. It's quite vexing that I never bothered to learn a new coiling technique really.
I released a sigh as I reminisced about the past, before continuing to make more ropes. I'll have a need for them once I actually construct the basic shelter I'll use to stay out of the storm.
I never realized I was cold blooded up until a cold breeze struck my skin, making me feel nauseous and just down right sick.
The blowing winds had gotten worse to the point where I was forced to dismantle the fish traps I had set up and use the thatch and make a very ineffective Lean-to instead. "Ah for fucks sake!" I complained as another breeze attacked my skin, my body still became lethargic and weak despite the fact that I was sitting beside a burning campfire.
"There goes the plan for hunting down game in the middle of rain," I sulked, the so called Guardian of this forest had apparently made a deal with my God that- right as long as I help protect this forest, she'll let me kill one carnivore every 3 days or so. And once I had learned this, I of course, became even more eager and prepared hunting tools for future use; Bolas, Nets, Traps, and Javelins with sharpened deer bones for their tip. Hell, I even made a spear out of a sternum I had carved out!
But all of it came to waste once I learned that I, unsurprisingly, could not hunt in cold weather.
"Then again, I'm already on the way to make myself new winter clothing..." I muttered whilst looking at the hanging deer pelts,
Feeling even weaker now, I grabbed the meat that had been cooking over the fire and ate it half raw. I prepared to smoke another batch, fed the fire more fuel to keep it burning all throughout the night, and slept; unable to resist the feeling of lethargic feeling that had washed over me.
It was still dark when I woke up, my fire was still burning, but it was on it's last embers. I gave it more firewood before checking if the deer hide had become dry, and fortunately, it has.
I turned the pelts into a coat, put it on, strapped a few ropes around my back to keep the cloth closed and the three Javelins in place, put my Bola on my waist, grabbed my spear, then ran off into the night, not caring as to whether or not I'll freeze to death. I hoped to find either a megafauna, or some sort of hypervore to hunt.
My new coat had kept my body heat within me as I sprinted, and thankfully, my muscles produced body heat during the process.
The night was still young, so I decided to set up a few decently sized snare traps hoping that I'll come back to them catching some sort of animal in the morning. I continued my search after that.
After about 3 hours, I had finally caught a glimpse of an animal trekking on the forest floor, the sound of it's hooves crunching down leaves caught my attention as I passed by.
"It's huge..." I muttered, a megafauna almost twice the size of a canadian moose walked beneath the moonlight, a body covered in heavily plated armor and a mouth that was armed with two protuding fangs- similar to hippos- adorned it's scaley face.
Then a tail, filled to the brim with barbs, swayed left and right with each step the creature took, claws the size of my arm were connected to the animal's fingers.
The creature stopped, then looked up before releasing a purple tongue that lashed out of it's mouth. a small *Pop* went out as the soft appendage hit something that hid in the trees, then, with a grunt- the beast retracted it's tongue, a newly attached ape like animal struggling against the tongue's sticky grasp.
The megafauna fully opened it's mouth, revealing rows upon rows of serrated teeth. The pitiful cries of the ape's struggles came to a stop once the mouth closed, crushing the smaller creature in between. Then, the knife-like teeth did their work as the beast's jaws moved to chew it's prey, tearing the corpse apart in mere seconds, evident by the sudden sound of swallowing that came from the beast's deepest core.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
My spine shivered from excitement as I saw the satisfactory smile of the damn thing, "over the top features that can turn an eco system upside down, check. A gigantic body that shouldn't be possible? Also check. Is this... one of the monsters that goddess was talking about? So she wanted me to kill creatures that are on par, if not even stronger than something like this?" I muttered, merrily.
Grunts of pleasure came out of my mouth as my bones popped whilst I stretched,"Welp, nows a better time than ever."
I grabbed the bola on my waist and spun it around, I looked at the creature's closed mouth, "this should be strong enough I think?" I smirked to myself, thinking- just how did things end up like this really?
My grip on the Javelin tightened once I was far enough to give myself a head start and still be able to throw it in secret.
Quite frankly? I do not know the upper limits of my current body's strength, but I fucking hope it's strong enough to throw a bola to temporarily close that thing's mouth.
I jumped up and down before taking a deep breath, "a monster, I'm about to fight a fucking monster." I giggled thrillfully.
My arm moved in an arc as the bola it was holding was thrown in the air, then without missing a beat- I tossed my Javelin to my right hand before running to build momentum for my throw, all the while staring at the creatures eye.
I was behind my bola - that had I regretfully failed to toss properly, it didn't even come close to reaching it's target -when my lungs finally started to feel hot, letting out a breath I had been holding, I stopped moving and postured myself to fully utilize the Frictional force that came from my sudden stop; my throw gave the bone tipped Javelin the velocity of a bullet as it whipped through the air, aiming for the monster's visual organ.
I pulled the spear I prepared out of the ground before making a beeline for the monster.
...
The monster had just eaten it's prey, satisfied about it's taste. And he could feel another one staring at him somewhere, he needed to pretend, to act like he does not know...
The monster's grin grew wider as he continued to lick his claws, acting like he was cleaning them, acting like he was oblivious to the other's presence.
A projectile that had been thrown, rapidly made it's way to the intended target.
The Javelin's pointed tip made contact with the monster's soft eye, with the weapon immediately burrowing deep inside the socket, only for it to come to a sudden halt; stopped by the creature's highly specialized eye orbit. For humans, the bone only acted as a second hand defense to prevent any fatal injury to the brain when the eye had been stabbed.
But for monsters, the bone acts the same, but it had been built to be something far more different- it had become tougher and stronger and instead of three major holes, the bone instead possess multiple, smaller one's that only act as a gateway for nerves, and nerves alone. Anything bigger would prove to be unable to pass through the small holes, nor would it have hopes of piercing the thick skeleton.
Still, the eyes were an organ filled with hyper sensitive nerves that cause pain with but a simple touch, stabbing them would not only cause serious bleeding, but severe pain as well.
The adrenaline filled monster suddenly gained the sufficient strength to lift his 4000 ton body high up into the air, before falling faster than he had risen- his forelimbs; despite being built for lifting his heavy weight, got crushed and shattered, causing the beast even more pain as his upper body fell down.
He wailed as he tried to carry and properly distribute his armor's weight, but to his dismay- it proved fruitless.
Then, the beast heard the sudden rustling of leaves up in the tree tops, the place where he had gotten his 14th prey for the night, the monster once again felt the presence he had forgotten five seconds ago. This time, his prey was far nearer, and he could smell it's scent.
Even if the scent had indeed been partially blocked by smell of his own blood, the monster was still able to hear his movements. And his prey was starting to move and relocate himself on the monster's left side, the side where his remaining functional eye was on.
Panic struck the Beast, and with a last ditch attempt- swung his tail on the place where he last heard the hunter's movement.
...
I jumped back as the thing shot his tail spikes straight into my face, blood was unable to circulate into my pale hands as I gripped the spear with all I had.
I almost lost my life,
My muscles tensed and my tail stopped swinging. The monster still had barbs on it's tail as well.
I started to move away from the crippled beast as I prepared myself for another Javelin throw, I hastily jumped from branch to branch with nimbleness that even I was surprised with,
Once I was at a safe distance, the whole process once again started, I get a headstart, then, once I get enough momentum- I throw.
And the monster did the same,
A tail spike made it's way and into my stomach; piercing all the way through and going out the other side.
Fortunately, my throw still connected, and the creature became blind and was now on the process of bleeding to death.
The wail that left the monster's colorless lips as it tried to get up with it's broken legs filled me with excitement. Yeah, I could wait for it to die, leave it alone and let it blindly bleed to death as I tended to my stomach wound, but then I thought- why should I?
I made a mad dash, and the only thing on my mind was the thought of my spear impaling the creature's brain- knowing that it would soon happen filled me with glee, my heart raced from the expectation of the monster's blood slowly flowing down my spear and unto my arms. It made me feel happy, happy enough that I forgot the pain on my stomach had even existed in the first place. And with my body ignoring the potential damage I may cause to my wound widening due to running, I became even faster.
If I didn't feel pain, is the wound even there?
The creature seemed to have sense me approached and had opened it's mouth, it's disgusting teeth still having bits of monkey flesh attached on some of them.
"Good job, Dipshit." I said as I got closer, pulled back my arm and turned it into a quick thrust that aimed for it's throat- the spear pierced and plunged deep, the monster stopped moving, and everything was over.
I collapsed on the ground with my strength leaving me like it had never existed at all.