Prey and Predator
For several seconds we just staring at each other.
((Graoooo Ghhhh))
((Gugaha Gahuga))
((GRAOOOOO))
Oh shit, shit.
They began to chase me. I immediately run to escape them. I run back towards the tree-branches pathway, but their speed is inhuman. In just a matter of seconds, before I even got halfway on the tree-branches pathway, they already catch up with me, and one of them swiping its' oversized left arm at me.
((Swooopp))
"Guh…" I roll out of the way, before continuing to run. Alas, it's pointless, as one of them now catching up with me from the side and body checks me.
"Gahh" I lost balance, and now it's swinging its' left arm on me. I have no room to dodge since I still stabilizing my balance, and then it happens.
((Brakk))
"GAHHHH!!!" I fall.
The swing hits hard on me the force is big enough to send me flying. I got knocked out of the tree-branches pathway and now dive hard to the bushes below.
((Bughhhh))
"Arrghhhhh!!"
Damn hell.
I fall so hard that it's hard for me to get up now. My entire body hurts so much. I fall about 10 meters high. If it's not for the status system and the mutation on my body I would have been dead by now, but what happens is I only took fall damage. I check on my HP, and it shows that my health is now 19.7/80, which means that it's just several more hits or another heavy damage before I'm free from this world.
Dammit, and my journey was even just started.
((Gauhaaa))
Ohh, shit.
The Moonewks are now climbing down to finish me off. I'm still struggling to get up, but they got closer and closer.
Is this really the end for me?
.
.
.
((Ssssshhhhhhh))
((Hisssssss))
((Shaaaa))
((Graooo))
Just suddenly, from behind me, two Ulos are jumping on the Moonewk that is just about to finish me off, biting it.
Turf war. It seems the Moonewks are seen by the Ulos as invaders on their territory. I don't know how they don't notice me, but perhaps it's due to myself sprawling on the ground right now.
The Ulos, for a flash they look like a cobra in appearance, but with purple skin, big scales, and a rattle attached on their tail. It stands around 200 cm in height, and 350 cm in length.
The Moonewk, bitten like that, is now trying to remove those Ulos from its' body.
((Gauhaa))
With force, it manages to remove the Ulos. Now detached, the Ulos finally show their true form. From the half end of its body, sprouts four crooked skinny legs, but looks weirdly rigid. The structure is like a combination between wolf and chicken legs, with three sharp claws attached on the end of the legs. The Ulos now rattling the rattle on their tail, trying to distract the Ulos while circling it.
I, seeing a chance to escape, immediately force myself harder to get up and pull myself out of that situation. With quite an effort, I try to carry myself through the high and thick bushes outta their way. The sound of the battle between monsters rages on, which gets faint with each passing time.
I cross through the bushes with no clear way to go. Well, it's so high and thick, I might be getting away from them, but what now? I'm lost. Not just that, I got another problem. Since this is probably a territory of Ulos, it would be trouble if I encounter one that I have to deal with it.
Not right now. Not when I'm low on health.
Goddammit, my provisions are in the bag which is still up there on the tree-branches pathway.
Hey, that's it.
Maybe if I just follow the tree-branches pathway by looking up, I would find a way out?
I decided to just follow it anyway. I don't care what's on the other side. Perhaps there're some vines I can use to get back up there. My concerns are now this. How to cross these bushes without encountering any of the Ulos. The bushes are white in color, which matches exactly with their skin color.
Hey, wait a minute.
What did Enggar say about Ulos, huh?
I try to reminisce what he said.
.
.
Purple in color, and…
Shit.
Camouflage, they can camouflage, which makes it even harder for me to detect them. I need to stay vigilant and even sharping my senses higher than before.
I walk slowly, strolling through the bushes. Continuously looking left, right, left, right, I try to avoid any encounter right now. It's not only unnecessary but also risky.
Through the bushes, I walk, while constantly looking up once in a while to check if I'm going in the right direction. For minutes I walk and thank God I haven't encountered any Ulos or other potential danger. Following the tree branches, I keep moving on.
Hold up.
I see an Ulo laying in front of me, head facing to the side. It looks like it's sleeping. Walking cautiously, I try my best to avoid it, but alas, my problem's not stopping there. I see another one laying in front of me.
Is this their nest?
Strolling around cautiously, I manage to avoid Ulos after Ulos. It was tense but worth it. I now reach the end of the bush area. Above me, I see the end of the tree-branches pathway, but I see no vines or anything that can be used to help me get up there. If I really want to go up there from here, I will need to climb the rock wall at the end of this area. I look around, and lucky me, on the right lies a cave, and in this cave lies another path. Perhaps if I follow that path, it will lead me back up or to another safe area, away from these treacherous monsters.
So, there I go, toward the cave lying on the right end of these bushes. Now, there's no more Ulos standing in my path, and seeing an exit, I somehow forgot to keep vigilant and cautious and got a little hasty towards the cave, and that's where my mistake is. Before I realize, I hear some slithering sound, but this time the sound is louder than the one regular Ulo's made. Not just that, I hear the rattling sound, and again it's louder than usual. When I take a look behind…
OH, SHIT!!
I see a figure similar to Ulo, but bigger. It reaches almost 5 meters in height and 10 meters in length. The difference is, it has spikes branching out radially along the sides of its' head, and along its' back. Not only that, the rattle on its' tail which is like a spiked bludgeon is also another distinction. It's like a pineapple with a durian shell.
((KHHHAAAAAAAKKK))
It screams.
Fuck, fuck, fuck!!!
I run immediately, as fast as I could towards the cave. The cave entrance is small enough for that monster to enter. Yet, the problem now is to get to that cave before that monster catches me up. The distance between me and the cave is about 100 meters left, but the monster is 50 meters behind me.
"Hahh… Hahhh…" The sound of my breath as I push myself to get away from that monster. Right now, not even I can handle any Ulos or Moonewks, let alone facing that monster head-on.
"Just a little bit left, come on, I can do this!" I shout to myself as I'm getting closer to the cave, and so does that monster to me.
"GAHHHHHHH!!!!!"
((BRAKKKKKK))
I manage to reach the cave, just a moment before that monster opens up its' mouth, trying to chomp me down with its' fang and strong jaw. I jump on the last second, exactly at the moment, it throws itself towards me. I manage to dodge that attack, and losing its' prey, it now turns away from the cave entrance.
"Hahhh…. Hahhhhh… Hahhh…" I breathe heavily. My chest feels like it's burning. What supposed to be a hundred meters run feels like a 10 km marathon. It was a mix of heavy adrenaline and high stamina consumption. The feeling of relief when I just got out from a life-death situation, it's just both thrilling and relaxing at the same time.
After taking some break, yes, I take quite some time to calm myself and recover from heavy exhaustion. I'm thirsty, my throat is dry, and my bag along with my provisions is still up there. What I need to do now is to find a way out of here and get back up there.
Shit.
I might have to deal with the Moonewks again, but hell, that is my job here. I'll think about it later, but now, how to go back up is what I need to concern about.