Leaving the tears aside, it's time to start the hunt.
Her mind went back to the footprints of the previous day.
Something made the wolves leave, and honestly, I can only see two possible scenarios for this happening.
First scenario: A bigger, stronger, and larger predator scared them off.
Second but less likely scenario: They lost interest in their prey for whatever reason.
She sat down and looked toward the direction where the deer was discovered.
After performing some stretching, she took her sharp stone, which now was the size of a palm, refined it, and stored it in her pocket carefully.
Hunting barehanded is not ideal, so I guess I need to start making some weapons.
A sword would be amazing, but probably the easy way out would be making a spear.
Which reminds me, yesterday I did not take the deer bones, composing some tools out of them might be interesting.
The girl reached the marked trees, and following them, approached what was left of the corpse she was looking for.
She started working.
Using a large dead branch on the ground as an anvil, she started hitting a large bone with the stone, and ultimately, after one hour of work, changing its shape into a slight but solid pole.
She separated the rib cage of the deer from the rest of the body, removed the shorter bones on the top, and wore it like armor.
The girl suddenly heard the sound of rustling leaves behind her, followed by a hiss.
She did not have time to react.
The snake bit her right leg, spreading its poison inside her body.
Acute nausea permeated her body, she tried to kick it away, but couldn't do it.
The excruciating pain flowed through, but she did not scream.
Instead, she used her remaining lucidity to violently hit its head with the sharp tip of the stone, while the snake tightened its bite.
Her leg went numb and, she collapsed on the ground.
Breathing was hard, she could feel her heartbeat getting faster and faster.
But she kept hitting.
Until finally, she crushed the snake's head, which fell to the ground, now harmless.
She hurriedly bandaged the wound with leaves while suppressing the vomit, and after wobbling and sighing in relief, she lost her senses.
The sun was setting.
A calm breeze cuddled her.
She slowly opened her eyes.
Her head was buzzing like a wasp nest.
Her body was paralyzed.
She tried to talk, but no sound came out.
After discerning she was safe, she fell asleep again.
* * *
??? was being sucked into the depths of the ocean handcuffed.
At her feet, two big heavy pieces of lead restrained her movements.
She reminisced about her hometown, and the nights spent fishing.
But now, all she could do was sinking into the abyss, powerless.
Any resistance was futile.
The ocean devoured her effortlessly.
She died.
* * *
The sun was setting.
But her body was feeling hot.
By reflex, she tried to stand up but to no avail.
She opened her eyes and found herself tied to what seemed to be a table.
Excited and hungry growls were surrounding her.
The tights ropes on her hands were crushing her wrists.
She could feel her veins popping.
Several fires were forming a circle with the table at the center.
A large number of giant humanoid lizards were about to feast.
And she was the main dish.
Her body shrugged, and the current situation sent shivers down her spine.
But, she did not waste any time.
While they were celebrating and preparing seasonings for the banquet, guided by her instincts, she mustered all her strength to slid down closer to fires in the vicinity of her hands, stretched her body, and burned her whole hands down to the wrist, setting the ropes on fire.
The entire table started burning every inch of her body, but she was now free.
The lizards noticing that something was amiss rushed towards her, using the large water barrels to extinguish the fire.
They succeeded, and loud growls of satisfaction spread through the area.
Till they noticed.
A black figure was slowly advancing towards them.
Her hair was ash-like.
Her body was charred, and her blood was boiling.
But her eyes were more energetic than ever.
Bloodlust was now breaking through like a raging river.
She took one of the greatswords nearby.
It was crushingly heavy, but she did not care.
The tremendous amount of adrenaline and bloodlust was taking her body to the next level.
There was no room for pain or fear.
She smoothly lifted the iron greatsword, dashed towards the closest lizard, jumped, and thrust the sword in the middle of its eyes, ripping the head wide open.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Several weapons tried to hit her, but with precise movements, she blocked the ones aiming for her vital points with her sword abusing the lizard corpse for extra cover.
Her legs, her shoulders, her arms, her back, and her stomach were bleeding.
But none of those injuries were deep enough to stop her.
Letting the corpse of the lizard fall, she used it as a jumping platform, extending the blade towards the night sky with the whole length of her arm and sliced in two another victim.
The enormous impact knocked her back while what remained of the lizard's insides was pouring out.
She backrolled on the ground and using the momentum of the spin chopped a pair of bulky lizard legs, causing it to collapse to the ground.
Quickly standing up, she approached its back and finished her target by burying her sword in its body beginning from the top of his head, crushing the skull and the brains.
A pool of shining green liquid, apparently lizard blood, was splattered all over the place.
Fear started to take control of the tribe.
What they thought was easy prey, revealed to be a nightmare.
The females ran towards their nests to pick up their babies while the males were covering them.
But fear has two sides.
While it may work as a buff, and boost your capabilities, it may also paralyze or slow you down.
Male lizards' movements, due to the general chaos spreading, became sloppy and predictable, mutating into easy targets for the fury in front of them.
Enjoying the situation, her energy never ceased, but it kept renewing.
She slaughtered all the enemies that tried to stop her.
A male lizard, noticing that all his kin was being decimated tried to run away.
She assumed a throwing position, gripping firmly the sword from the hilt, perpendicular to her body, and aimed.
Lizards, especially giant ones, thanks to their muscular bodies, can move pretty fast.
But for this one, today was not quite his lucky day.
The sword pierced it from side to side.
Screeching, it tried to crawl away, but it was too late.
She had reached it.
I won't let you run away.
Its head was severed from the body.
The females and the babies, without anyone defending them, cried out.
"Crocodile tears, ain't it funny?"
The girl said with a wide grin on her face.
"Sorry to break it for you, but today it's your last day.
Enjoy the lizard afterlife or whatever"
She slew down every single one of them, ripping, slashing, crushing, and tearing, until finally, it was done.
A river of blood and lizard tears was now flowing down the hill.
A single girl stood in the middle of the carnage, her soulless eyes, glaring at the ground.
<< You have slain a large number of giant lizards, your reward is: Container X2 >>
<< Due to excessive generation of banned substance: epinephrine, your reward has been revoked >>
Getting too heated in battle is prohibited, I see.
<< You have earned the title: Burnt nugget. >>
<< You have collected: Container x1 for unlocking a unique title. >>
<< Due to the excessive strain of the user's muscles, the standard capacities of the body will be obstructed for one day. >>
<< During this time, the user will be hybernated and won't be able to move from the current position or protect from external attacks. >>
<< System prays for your success. >>
...great was the last thought she had before her body was hybernated.
"This is awful..."
Two adventurers had received a commission to exterminate the lizard nest.
After reaching their destination, astounded, all they could find was a pile of butchered corpses.
"I mean," one of them stated "we can just take the merit for it, after all, we need to retrieve what is left of those lizards. We can just say they were asleep and we took them by surprise"
"No, that's not what I meant, look, even the babies and the females were not spared"
"The guild already confirmed that it's not necessary to kill the lizards that cannot fight."
answered the other one.
"Exactly, it's not necessary, but it does not mean that some crazy bastard would not do it. Anyway, let's pack them up and get the fuck out of here, this place is giving me the creeps."
It's time.
They suddenly heard a noise coming from behind them.
A crying, short and fragile girl extended her hand towards them.
"Who are you?"
"I am... I don't know, I got lost and somehow ended up in here, I don't even remember my name, please help me..." the black-haired girl said begging them with big eyes.
I am a perfectly normal girl, in a perfectly normal place, yep.
"You are way too suspicious," said one of them, and after distancing him and his colleague deeming that their conversation could not be heard, he suggested
Of course I am.
"Check if she is telling the t-"
"She is. What do you say about we having our way with her and deleting her memories afterwards?"
As expected.
"That sounds good to me, but are you sure you want to spend your containers for this shit?"
"What do you mean? We will get new ones as reward for the mission and saving a civilian, not only that, we can buy more containers of the same type in bulk, and try to get even more girls, more rewards, and so on!"
"You are right, we are taking turns right?"
"Yep, but I will be first since I suggested the idea."
"Fine, fine."
Aw man, why am I this excited at the idea of beheading them?
Well, let's have some fun then.
After they finished chatting, they approached the girl again, who was looking at them with an interrogative and innocent face. They gave her a Container and told her to ingest it.
The girl took the marble, erotically opened her mouth, and...
Let the show begin.
punched one of them in the face, causing him to fall to the ground.
The other one, taken by surprise, did not fully understand the situation and stood in place.
The girl took one of the lizards' spears and stabbed his chest, killing him.
She kicked him away from the spear and approached the other one, who was looking at her horrified.
"You crazy bitch, what the fuck you think you are doi-" he was interrupted by a kick in the face.
"You fuckers really are a disappointment."
"Taking the merits and trying to rape someone is forgivable." said the girl with a smug face.
"T-then" his face was brimming with hope.
"Let me finish, you shithead." She scoffed.
"As I was saying, taking the merits and raping someone is forgivable, unless..." She closed the distance between them and patted his head.
"Unless you try to do that to me." She sliced his throat clean.
Phew, with this, even if the knights come to investigate, they probably will think they died fighting the lizards.
Now let's see, hm, Alsatia empire adventurer guild members and...
She looked at the containers on the ground.
One of them was broken, while the other was in perfect shape.
I guess the broken one was used to see if I was telling the truth or not, while the other one is for...clearing memories.
She took the marble, and the prompt screen appeared
<< You have slain two individuals of your same species, you have earned: Nothing >>
<< You obtained "Memory eraser: 7 hours" >>
Interesting, this might be pretty useful, oh right, while I am at it, I will claim the reward from the title.
<< You have obtained: Container x1. Do you wish to check the chance table? >>
Gacha? Sure
<< 90%: nothing, 9% death aura, 1% random skill of the holy slash series. >>
Alright, let's roll.
The container lighted up, shining like a small star, bringing happiness and joy.
A special effect of a small meteorite and fanfare played, and it opened.
<< Congratulations! You have obtained: Nothing!" >>
<< System hopes you will enjoy your new prize! >>
The girl looked at the newly acquired marble with empty eyes and stored it in its pocket.
It will still work as a throwable, I am totally not dejected or anything.
Well, whatever, let's head back.
She started walking, but soon enough, noticed she was not familiar with the area.
Ah right, I got taken away by the lizards and got transported here.
Looking around for clues on her current position, she spotted the waterfall on her left, which now seemed remarkably far, and the city on the right, which was close.
It's settled then, to the city it is.
Thus, after throwing away the spear used to kill the two adventurers, she departed.