Michael is currently stretching.
A day passed since Michael’s declaration to Evelyn.
Despite having a period of relaxation, Michael was still recovering. Each time he moved, he felt his wounds sting. He didn’t like staying in bed so he forced himself to train.
It helped since he believed in the phrase “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.” In the world of Teremarae, this was literal.
So, he made sure to keep moving. If he spent all his time resting, he would feel restless.
At first, Evelyn and Bob tried to stop him from moving around but he was adamant that he was against staying all day in bed. To reassure the two of them and prevent them from worrying, Michael made sure not to push his body too far.
If he did, Bob would annoy him all day and Evelyn would nag him.
Michael continued to stretch.
Despite his weakened body, he still felt strong, a result of his current stage in superhuman evolution.
Making use of his powerful senses, Michael looks for Evelyn.
She isn’t back yet.
After telling Evelyn that they have to kill the Draco, Michael started drafting plans on what to do next.
The first step was to find out its everyday routine.
Michael used to regularly track the Draco’s routine but ever since it expanded its territory to cover an extremely large area, it wasn’t feasible for Michael to continue following its routine.
But now, if they have any intention of killing it, they have to map out its schedule.
To track the Draco, Michael instructed Evelyn to return to the brine cave where the night beasts were massacred. He told her to follow the tracks of the other super reptiles. If she tracked the non-evolved super reptiles, she would eventually find the Draco.
If they tracked the Draco and mapped out its everyday patterns, they could prepare to hunt it.
The second step would be to prepare the area of its routine so that when they do hunt it, Michael and Evelyn would have an advantage.
They could put weighted traps, tough nets, or other lethal tools that could impede the Draco. These traps would weaken the Draco, allowing the two of them to deliver a killing blow.
The final step would be enacting the plan.
But there was a major issue. Taking into account all the tools and weapons they have, Michael wasn’t sure if any of them could even pierce the Draco’s tough hide.
He hasn’t started on the creation of metal tools. He was learning how to forge but Evelyn showed up and many other things happened that prevented him from focusing his time on learning how to forge.
If he could learn how to forge weapons, the two of them will most likely pierce the Draco’s scales.
A wrought iron knife, even a poorly made one, was probably deadlier compared to his sharpened rock.
I… We need to learn how to forge…
Michael was deep in thought when he heard some rustling nearby.
He looked around to see what was approaching.
There was a distinct lack of animal noises. The noise was mostly rustling. There were no roars, snarls, or growling.
Evelyn?
Michael senses the movement behind him.
He clutches the stone knife beside him.
When the creature behind him gets closer, Michael quickly turns around and brandishes his knife.
“Woah there!”
Evelyn backs away a bit so Michael doesn’t shatter the knife if he hits her body.
Michael’s tension immediately disappears when he sees Evelyn.
+You were almost silent.+
Evelyn smiles
“Heh. I’m getting better huh?”
Michael nods. He looks around but he notices that his monkey friend is nowhere to be found.
+Where’s Bob?+
As if on cue, Bob leaps out from the bush.
Michael catches the very excited monkey.
+And you’re perfectly silent.+
Bob gives Evelyn a smug smile.
“Yes, well not everyone is built to hide in the forest or jungle.”
+Don’t be jealous of Bob. He’s been with me longer than you. He’s learned way more skills than you.+
Evelyn rolls her eyes and chuckles.
“Yes yes, you and your boyfriend Bob.”
Bob tilts his head. He curiously signs to Michael.
+Boy friend? What boy friend?+
Michael smiles. He pats Bob’s head.
+It’s a person that is a friend.+
Bob gives Michael a large smile.
+Michael boy friend?+
Evelyn laughs.
“Yes Bob, he is your boyfriend.”
Michael pats Bob’s head. He then asks Bob a favor.
+Enough of that. Bob, can you hunt some fish in the pond again?+
Bob makes an affirmative noise and jumps off Michael’s arms. He takes his small spear and goes to the pond to get some fish.
“So, when did you make Bob’s small spear? This is the first time I’m seeing it.”
+I made it earlier when I was resting. I just sharpened a small but sturdy stick.+
Michael turns to Evelyn.
+So, how was it?+
Realizing that the small talk is over, Evelyn talks about their plan.
“Well, I followed our tracks back to the cave. Since it was morning, it was way easier. There were traces of a battle but as we already know that it’s more of a massacre than an actual battle. There were corpses of half-eaten and half-chewed night beasts. It was actually quite disgusting.”
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Michael nods and he gestures for her to continue.
“Okay okay. So, I surveyed the area first to see if any super reptiles were hiding in the greenery or if the Draco was flying overhead. Fortunately for me, it was clear. After that, I followed the tracks left by the super reptiles. The Draco had a few footmarks here and there but it didn’t have any easily found tracks.”
Evelyn chuckles a bit and she continues.
“Flying really is an unfair advantage.”
Michael agrees.
+What did you do then?+
“Well… Instead of returning to its territory, the one we’re familiar with, the Draco flew past the cave.”
Michael frowns.
+What?+
“They’re going further out of their territory.”
Michael thinks.
+That’s not good.+
“Why?”
Michael looks at Evelyn with a rather worried look.
+It means that these things are expanding past their territory.+
Evelyn groans.
“Michael, you already know that you have to goddamn spoon-feed me this stuff. I haven’t been here for a year yet.”
Michael shrugs.
“Ugh… Please explain to me what their territory expansion means?”
Evelyn knew that Michael was usually a composed person so anything he was worried about could be considered serious.
+Well, it could mean many things. First, it could mean that their territory was running out of food.+
Evelyn shakes her head.
“That’s not possible, you were hunting near the edge of their territory a week ago.”
Michael nods, agreeing with Evelyn.
+I think that’s the case as well. The second possibility is that something pushed them out of their territory, a possibility that I refuse to believe.+
Evelyn frowned at the thought of another superspecies that could force the Draco to move out of its home.
“Yeah… That… that seems impossible.”
Michael shakes his head.
+While I don’t want to believe it, it is possible.+
“Tsk.”
Michael purses his lips.
“Why are you acting like there’s something more dangerous than a superspecies stronger than the Draco?"
Michael signs.
+The third and final possibility, the worst out of the three, is that the Draco’s eggs are finally hatching.+
Evelyn frowns as she is suddenly assaulted by the thought of the sun being covered by the wings of the Draco and its offspring.
“It has eggs???”
Michael nods.
+I’ve never seen another Draco so I always thought that the evolved superspecies couldn’t properly mate and reproduce with their non-evolved kin. The log disproved it though and I think the reason that I haven’t seen any Dracos is most likely because either their incubation period takes a very long time or they mature very slowly. Another possible reason is that the Draco has yet to find a mate that can fit its new size.+
“Okay… Assuming that the Draco found someone to accommodate its new size, does that mean they already laid eggs? And if they already laid eggs, are they about to hatch, or are they already hatched but it’s taking a lot of time to mature?”
Michael shrugs.
+We don’t really know what the situation is. But we do know that if the eggs hatched, the Draco wouldn’t be expanding outward.+
“Uh-huh, why’s that?”
+Its offspring are weak and need protection. The super reptiles and the Draco wouldn’t risk going out.+
“Makes sense. But why are they expanding now?”
+You saw how large the Draco got, right?+
Evelyn nods.
+It’s expanding its territory so it can hunt more food to feed its eventual offspring.+
“Eventual offspring?”
Michael gives Evelyn a grim look.
+I think the Draco already found a mate which laid eggs for it. This means that they’re expanding because the eggs are about to hatch.+
Evelyn’s face pales at the grim revelation.
“What do we do?? Do we try to kill the Draco?”
Michael immediately nods.
+We have to. Not only the Draco but also its eggs.+
Evelyn nods.
“Yeah… If the eggs hatch, we’ll be dealing with multiple Dracos!”
Michael purses his lips again.
+But there’s an issue.+
“What?”
+We can only target one at a time. We can focus on attempting to kill the Draco but if we take too long, its eggs could have already hatched. Worst case scenario, we fail to kill it and it evolves into a more dangerous form.+
“What about the eggs?”
+If we focus on attempting to destroy its unhatched eggs, the Draco will not only get angry, but it will also be more careful next time. And if we’re not careful, it could evolve due to losing its offspring.+
“That sounds like a nightmare.”
Michael grits his teeth.
+I know. Both are hopeless situations.+
Evelyn sighs.
“What do we do…”
They stare at each other with difficult looks.
Michael crosses his arms. He recalls a similar situation a few months before Evelyn came to Teremarae.
Another almost impossible problem.
Evelyn sighs and looks to the side.
That goddamn dragon has got to be our biggest problem here! Except maybe our lack of new clothes… Tsk… After this, I’m going to hunt big game so I can get a new fur coat… I just have to ask Michael to teach me how to sew.
With her thoughts focused on the Draco’s effect on their future lives, Evelyn felt a fire burn inside her. She started to feel burgeoning hate for the Draco.
Annoyed, an idea comes to Evelyn’s mind.
“Michael!”
Michael looks surprised when Evelyn shouts his name. He shushes her.
“Ignore that, I have an idea!”
+And?+
“Okay, hear me out. The Draco and its deadly little critters are a danger to our future in this world.”
Michael nods.
+Obviously.+
“Okay okay, now instead of picking which to target between the two, why don’t we just kill both of them???”
Michael looks at Evelyn to see if she is serious about what she said.
+Wait, you’re serious?+
“Dead serious.”
+First, the two of us can’t be in two places at once.+
Evelyn makes an error sound and she speaks quickly.
“That’s a lie! We can be in different places at once.”
Michael frowns. He knew what Evelyn was going to suggest.
“We can split up. One of us can distract the Draco while the other finishes off the eggs!”
With a serious look, Michael asks Evelyn a grim question.
+Do you have the stomach to kill children, even if they were animals?+
Evelyn flinches a bit at Michael’s question.
She couldn’t answer.
+Can you?+
Evelyn opens her mouth but she quickly closes it again.
Michael doesn’t sign again. He knows she couldn’t.
+Remember that time when you let those wolf-like creatures escape?+
“That was an accident! I didn’t know the gravity of the situation yet… How would I know that evolution occurred that way.”
Michael nods.
+I killed their children.+
Evelyn stares at Michael. She tried her best to hide her surprise but Michael easily noticed it.
+Was it cruel? Yes. Was it necessary? I believe it was.+
“... then… I’ll face the alpha!”
Michael frowns.
+No.+
“What do you mean no!?”
+Are you sure that your body can take the Draco’s claws and teeth? You can’t even hurt me yet you’re telling me that you want to face the alpha alone?+
“Yes!”
Michael angrily signs at Evelyn.
+NO!+
“Michael, this would be hitting two birds with one stone except that the birds can literally kill us. Let me handle the Draco. I am tough. I’ll outlast it, just until you finish killing all of its offspring.”
+Evelyn, that’s not fair.+
“What’s not fair?”
+You know that I can distract the Draco long enough. Why won’t you take the job of smashing the eggs? It’s safer.+
“I…”
Michael frowns.
+Don’t you understand?”
“What? What don’t I understand?”
+If you don’t have the guts to shatter the eggs, why are you putting the job on me?+
“Wait, I thought you were fine with that?!”
+I didn’t say I was. What I’m saying is that you’re willing to put your life in danger just because you’re afraid of killing animals.+
“Young animals!”
+It doesn’t matter! We’re not in a world where these things are endangered or about to be extinct. What if these things grow up to be our next enemies? Will you finally be able to kill them then?+
Evelyn is stumped by that question.
“Umm…”
+Don’t tell me, you can’t handle it. Do you feel guilty?+
“...”
+This is what I meant when I was ruthless. I wasn’t just thinking of who to abandon or what to kill. I was and still am willing to make sacrifices to survive. Now, can you make that decision?+
Evelyn purses her lips.
“I can’t.”
+Then when?+
“What do you mean when?~
+When are you going to make the hard decisions?+
Evelyn’s face slowly turns into one of anger.
“You think I haven’t made hard decisions?”
Michael didn’t reply. He knew he hit a nerve.
“When I came here, after almost dying, I went with you, stayed with you, and lived in the same roof as you. Do you think it was easy for me? Being with a stranger. A man I didn’t know. A man that could brutally kill monsters with only his hands and a crude knife. Do you know how much I feared for my life those first days? I decided that being used by you was less horrible than being chewed and ripped to death by the monsters here.”
Michael was silent.
“When you started beating me due to training, you thought it wasn’t hard for me? I know I’m tough but it didn’t mean I liked being woken up in the middle of the night and getting stabbed, punched, or kicked. I grit my teeth through that because despite being hard, I knew I would have a higher chance of surviving in the future, especially if I left you.”
+You were going to leave?+
Evelyn’s anger was slowly interrupted.
“Uhhh no… yes… before… I wasn’t sure yet… At first, I was scared of you but then you offered me a room, a bath, and clothes. Then I started to feel secure. Then our training started. I realized how powerful you were and if you suddenly decided that your gentlemanly approach wasn’t panning out, there was little I could do to stop you. This doesn’t even include the shit you pulled on me when you put me in that pit with that monster.”
Michael nodded, a bit apologetic.
“Then we went there. In the stupid dark caves where you almost died! I realized that… you were vulnerable. You were just as human as me. I could have left you there, left you to your death, and at least, I wouldn’t be scared of anyone, except the monsters here.”
Michael sighs. He turns around to think but Evelyn continues.
“I realized… that you were a good person… you only did all of those to make sure I could survive. There was no ulterior motive, only purpose, and reason. You were right. You are pragmatic and rational.”
Michael was about to speak but Evelyn spoke first.
“So when I ask you to do stuff like this… it’s because I decided that I wanted to rely on you. We’re the only ones in this place right now and I can’t imagine the isolation you spent here alone… but let’s keep each other sane. Be as ruthless as you can imagine and I promise… when the times you need to stop being ruthless, I’ll be there to help.”
Michael couldn’t reply.
“Michael?”
Michael turns around with a neutral face.
Evelyn stares at him with a serious and hopeful face.
For a moment, the two only stares at each other and they study each other’s faces.
+I didn’t have an ulterior motive but... I already told you this before but I think you are very beautiful.+
Evelyn blushes a bit at Michael’s compliment.
“It’s not me… Goddess made me look extra nice-looking.”
+Yeah but that’s you, right? I’m not looking at any other person, right? This beautiful girl in front of me is you, right?+
Evelyn nods.
“Well, I also found you very han-”
Before she could finish, Michael asks her a question.
+Are you sure you can handle the Draco?+
Evelyn brightens a bit.
“I can! I won’t engage it face to face. I’ll only do my best to dodge it. I’ll only tank the attacks that I can’t escape from.”
Michael nods, approving Evelyn’s strategy.
+You’ll focus on dodging, escaping, and leading it away from its nest.+
“Yes!”
+Keep it distracted as long as you can. I’ll do my best to splatter all of the eggs as fast as possible.+
Evelyn cringes a bit at the word splatter.
“And while you’re doing that, I’ll distract the Draco.”
Michael nods. Evelyn gives him a determined look.
“I promise that I’ll come back alive.”
Michael smiles.
Then his smile seems to mellow down when Evelyn grabs his hand.
“So promise me, you’ll come back alive.”
Michael looks at Evelyn’s resolute eyes.
He nods.
+I promise.+