Evelyn woke up.

She looked at the cave window to check if it was already morning.

A ray of sunlight shone over her body.

Looking out the window, Evelyn notices that the sun was rising.

Without any delay, Evelyn started to stretch to wake her body. After a few minutes of warm-up, Evelyn wears her newly skinned fur blankets and goes out of her room.

The fur blankets felt a bit uncomfortable but it was better than walking around naked. She trusted Michael but she didn’t like giving him a free show. At least, Michael had the decency to look away.

Despite wanting to wear proper clothes, Evelyn was too tired yesterday to sew them together. Evelyn intended to make her clothes and cloak later on.

Once Evelyn exits her room, she goes to Michael’s room and finds that he isn’t in his room.

That’s odd… He should still be sleeping since he worked late into the night.

She goes inside Michael’s room and finds Bob still asleep.

Well at least, Bob is having a great sleep.

As Evelyn slowly exits the cave, she hears the sound of metal hitting metal.

Metal??

Evelyn rushes outside. Bright sunlight covers her vision but once it subsides, she sees Michael stripped down to his lower-body clothes. His hair and upper body were dripping wet.

While it was a sight to behold, what caught Evelyn’s attention was the object in Michael’s hand.

A metal hammer!

Michael was molding a hot piece of metal.

Evelyn watched Michael in rapt attention as he continued to strike the molten metal.

After the metal cools down, Michael quickly inserts it back into the forge. He wipes his sweat off with a piece of cloth. After the metal heats up, he takes it out again and starts to strike it again.

Michael was so focused on his work that he didn’t notice Evelyn approach him.

While Michael continues his task, Evelyn takes a look at a nearby table. She covered her mouth in surprise as she saw the extent of Michael’s work.

Evelyn saw two dozen small metal arrowheads. They were still dull but she knew that Michael intended to sharpen them. She knew that Michael worked overnight and couldn’t be a burden. She remembers the chest full of supplies inside the cave and decides to reduce some of Michael’s workload.

She quickly runs to the cave and retrieves a sack full of carved sticks and a small bag full of feathers. She returns to the table and starts to fix the arrow’s shaft by fletching its end with the feathers they gathered from the birds around their territory.

Evelyn doesn’t touch the arrowheads themselves since she knows that they haven’t been sharpened yet.

While Evelyn worked on the shafts of the arrows, Michael continued to hammer the metal. Slowly but surely, the metal was being molded into something that they could use against the Draco.

The two continued to work without speaking.

They slowly build a rhythm and by the end of it, Michael quenches the metal into a bucket of water while Evelyn finishes fletching all the arrow shafts.

Evelyn observes her work and nods with satisfaction.

While she has never used a bow and arrow before, Michael taught her how to fletch the arrow shafts with the intention to one day teach her how to use a bow. While Evelyn knew that arrows had feathers, she didn’t understand why. Michael explained to her that the feather creates wind drag and causes the arrow to spin similar to a rifle bullet, providing stability and accuracy in flight.

Evelyn feels Michael tap her shoulders and she turns around.

“Hey there.”

Michael sees the fletched arrow shafts and he smiles at her.

+How long have you been here?+

“I’ve been here for a while now.”

+And you did all of this?+

Michael gestures at the table full of fletched arrow shafts.

Evelyn chuckles then she nods.

“Well, you did all of that, right?”

Evelyn gestures to the metal arrowheads and the quenched metal in the bucket.

Michael nods.

“What was it? Did you feel productive? You haven’t even slept yet.”

When she mentions sleep, Michael yawns. Evelyn can’t help but mimic his yawn since she just woke up.

+Yeah, I feel full of energy. I just need to finish this one and I can rest.+

“Why though?”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Michael was about to answer but he yawned again. Evelyn raises an inquisitive eyebrow.

“Maybe you should rest?”

+Can’t.+

“Why not?”

+If I leave this thing now, the metal might develop some irregularities or something I don’t thoroughly know about.+

“Is it difficult?”

Michael thinks for a bit.

+Not really. Just very time-consuming. It’s also very tiring.+

“You think I can learn it?”

Michael nods.

+Yeah, I’m sure you can learn how to do this too given enough time.+

“Yeah, 'cause I have to admit, you looked cool hammering that piece of metal.”

Michael smirks.

+Thanks. I felt cool too.+

“Ironic since you were so covered with sweat.”

+Iron-ic?+

Evelyn chuckles and rolls her eyes.

“Yes yes, now are you going to stop? Did you even eat breakfast? Take a bath? Wash up? Any form of hygienic maintenance?”

Michael sheepishly shakes his head. Evelyn chuckles.

“So, stop working, and let’s eat. You can leave that for now.”

Michael looks at the molded metal in the water bucket. He reluctantly agrees.

+Sure, let’s eat. We can eat the meat you brought home yesterday. Although, what animals did you hunt?+

“Ah, the usual. I hunted some black beasts, carabiches, and some… taldeks.”

Evelyn purposefully drags out the last word. Michael’s eyes widened a bit at the mention of the taldek. He smiles at the thought of eating one.

+Oh, taldeks are rare. I’m surprised you managed to track one.+

“Yeah, hehe. They’re tasty too. Actually! We can eat the taldek as our breakfast.”

Michael was amused by Evelyn’s excitement.

+Seems kind of overindulgent?+

“Nah! We’re creating weapons that can kill that son of a bitch. This is worth a celebration!”

The taldek was a type of pig-like creature that Michael and Evelyn rarely encountered. The reason for this was due to their slow reproduction rate. While that may seem like a counterproductive type of evolution, the taldek regularly releases an intoxicating fume around it that renders other animals, including the Draco and its weaker kin, confused and docile.

This allowed the taldek to live its life in relative peace as most creatures haven’t evolved to resist its mind-numbing fumes. Fortunately, Michael and Evelyn managed to observe this phenomenon.

They took advantage of the taldek’s moments of weakness where it didn’t release its fumes. Once the creature was resting, Michael and Evelyn would quickly kill it.

Most importantly, the taldek was the tastiest animal they’ve eaten on Teremarae so far. The fumes that the taldek released was a combination of many chemicals that had the side effect of making its meat tastier. Its fumes combined with its stress-free life, the taldek’s meat could be likened to Earth’s high-class wagyu but better. It was like eating high-quality steak but with the added effects of ecstasy minus its negative side effects.

Michael and Evelyn treated the taldek as a prized type of meat reserved for good occasions. For the two of them, progress towards killing the Draco was a good occasion worthy of celebration.

Michael stretches a bit while Evelyn helps him clean up.

After some cleanup, Michael and Evelyn go towards the dining table which is just a large elevated flat stone near the river. In fact, Michael could still observe the forge while eating.

“So… what are you making? I saw the arrowheads but that last one is definitely bigger.”

Michael sits down and relaxes a bit then he replies to Evelyn’s question.

+I’m planning on making a spearhead. The Draco’s scales are so tough that a stone spear wouldn’t be able to pierce its body even if I used my full strength.+

“Oh shit… how do you know? Have you tried it before?”

Michael nods.

+Before you came here, I’ve encountered the Draco three times, not including the time I saved you. In one of our meetings, I threw a spear toward its body. The stone spearhead shattered on impact and the Draco almost killed me.+

Michael frowns when he remembers his near-death experience.

Evelyn imagines the Draco’s unstoppable charge.

Could I survive its charge?

She hadn't fought the Draco but after seeing it twice, she knew that she would be treated as a chew toy if it came down to an actual fight, similar to how the berserker ape beat her to a pulp when she hasn’t evolved her divine gift yet.

Fortunately enough, Evelyn was only meant to distract the Draco while Michael destroyed the nest and its eggs. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t risk a fight she knew she had no chance to win but it didn’t mean she didn’t like the challenge.

“So… this metal spear will be able to damage its body?”

+In theory, yes but we’ll still need to test it.”

“You’re not confident it can?”

Michael shrugs.

+I’m confident it can but I don’t know. The Draco might undergo another insane evolution and just kill both of us.+

“Tsk, I hope it doesn’t happen…”

Evelyn remembers the berserker ape’s transformation. While it wasn’t as strong or as oppressive as the Draco, Evelyn feared the berserker ape more since it was her first experience with a creature that evolved right in front of her.

She would never want to see another creature spontaneously evolve in front of her, especially the Draco.

+We need to prepare for that. In the case it undergoes a spontaneous evolution, the Draco will be momentarily vulnerable. We need to kill it before another evolution completes itself.+

Evelyn nods. She wholeheartedly agreed with the notion of slaying the Draco as fast as possible.

While the two continued to communicate and complain about their arduous task, Evelyn was preparing the taldek meat. Michael stoked the campfire so that they could cook the spiced taldek meat.

Once the fire is ready, Evelyn places the taldek shish kebabs on top of the fire. Michael holds some of the shish kebabs.

While waiting for their meal to cook, the duo relaxes a bit under the shade of a fully-grown tree.

The two continue to enjoy the peace. Evelyn speaks in a relaxed and slow voice.

“I like this… I really really like this… the only thing better would be relaxing in a cool pool with some… iced tea…maybe some music by the side…”

Michael smiles as he hears some of Evelyn’s pleasures.

Once the taldek meat was toasted, the two of them started to eat. They melt in satisfaction as the meat sends them into a peaceful and relaxing mood.

After finishing their meals, Michael looks beside him and sees Evelyn sleeping.

He chuckles.

A bad side effect of taldek meat is that it induces sleep in creatures with weaker constitutions. Since Evelyn is still in the proto-human stage, she hasn’t evolved a body capable of removing toxins quickly.

Michael on the other hand has already gained a body that was far above that of a normal human. Not only did he enjoy the positive side effects of the taldek meat, but he also didn’t suffer any of its negative effects. And if he did suffer any negative effects, it was very minor, to the point that he barely felt any of it.

Despite the taldek meat’s bad side effects, it was so delicious that they still decided to eat it. But they would never eat it out of a safe zone.

Michael stretches for a bit then he returns to his forge. He takes out the quenched spearhead and puts it on a flat surface. Taking out his whetstone, Michael starts to grind the tips of the spear into a thin and sharp edge.

He continues to do this task without any pause.

Before Evelyn came, Michael was mostly running on fumes.

To be honest, he would have been able to finish the spear without resting but there was a high chance for error. Now that he is both well-fed and well-rested, Michael believes that his chance for error is significantly low.

It also helps that Evelyn provided a calming presence. Whether she knew or not, Evelyn helped calm the animalistic Michael. If not for her sudden intrusion into the world, he would have become a creature that was just as brutal as the Draco.

Who knows, Michael might have evolved into something that was no longer human.

Michael knew this and he decided that he wanted to keep this peace. The only way to keep this type of peace was to make sure that the Draco was dead.

Once the Draco was dead, Michael and Evelyn could have more relaxing days like this.

While thinking of such positive thoughts, Michael finished sharpening the spearhead.

Raising the spearhead, Michael admires the steel tip that would slay the Draco.

Michael smiles to himself.

He then takes a spear shaft made out of resin-coated wood and then puts the spearhead on top of it. He takes out a crude steel nail and starts to hammer it into the spear. Once the nail is embedded in the center of the spearhead, Michael bends the nail to lock the spear in place.

Once the spearhead is locked in place, Michael observes his work.

Michael names the spear the Dragon Slayer.

The Draco slayer was a 6’5 foot long spear made out of a type of wood that was harder and tougher than Earth’s Quebracho variant. It was coated with a resin that prevented rotting and internal breaking. It was tipped with a steel edge capable of piercing most materials. With Michael’s almost supernatural strength, the spear acted like a close-combat firearm.

Michael flourishes the spear around him.

It was at a comfortable length, one that he was familiar with. He then practices a few thrusts with each thrust augmented by the strength of a superhuman.

After a few practice thrusts and strikes, Michael hefts the spear and throws it to a nearby boulder.

Small amounts of dust and debris scatter as the spear lodges itself deep into the rock.

Michael approaches the spear and pulls it out.

Inspecting his work, Michael was more than satisfied.

He closes his eyes for a bit. For a moment, Michael imagines the spear piercing the Draco’s body.

Opening his eyes, Michael returns to the table to sharpen the remaining arrowheads.

Despite the powerful spear, Michael couldn’t fully relax.

He had to make sure the two of them would have adequate tools to fight the Draco and its other family members.

Resolving himself, Michael continues to grind the remaining arrowheads.

The next time Michael would throw his spear, it would be flying toward the Draco’s heart.