I am just... a deadweight.

{Eric's POV}

'Why… is this creature helping me?'

Such a thought appeared inside my mind as I ate the meat obediently.

The reason why I became so obedient is because, every time I showed signs of opening my mouth, trying to vomit the meat away. The creature always acts faster to pounce my mouth. All just to force me to swallow the flesh.

And yes, it hurts my chin like hell.

So rather than hurting my mouth, I forced myself to eat it. It's disgusting yes, and the urge to vomit does come every time I munch it.

But if I even show signs of opening my mouth, the creature would pounce my chin again. Hence, I can only force myself.

And so, time had been passing by silently with some cheerful "Kuru~~" sound slipping in once in a while.

And soon, I began to feel a sensation that I thought I would never ever feel again. It was the lack of desire for food.

I felt full… and maybe because of the blood. I don't feel the thirst anymore.

(Note : Do not try this at home. Ingesting large quantities of blood is actually dangerous)

"Kurrruu~~"

All of a sudden, I felt something sitting on my lap. It felt a bit heavy. As if a toddler had sat on my legs.

It wasn't hard to figure out that it was the creature.

After a few seconds, the creature seems to stop moving and truly becomes silent…

'Is it... resting? Sleeping?'

A while had passed yet the creature never moved.

Thus, although I was nervous at first, I gather up a bit of courage to touch the creature on my lap.

'It feels… like a scale? Is it a reptile?'

I lightly touch the creature, caressing it. Always made sure not to annoy it as I tried to make out its shape and size.

I felt like a pervert while doing so but fortunately, no one is witnessing this, so I guess that's fine.

'Hmm… it's quite a big lizard. But still smaller than the Komodo dragon shown on the tv'

'…What's this?'

Suddenly I felt something on its back, it's thin as paper, but it's still durable.

"Kurrrr"

The creature suddenly twitches, clearly showing that it is sensitive and alerted when I touch that part.

Hoping that it will calm down for a bit. I instinctively pat its head.

"Kurrruu~~"

And thankfully it works. It gave out a noise of euphoria as if it's enjoying it.

...What are you? A cat? A scaly cat?

Soon it let its guard down once again and fell asleep.

This time, I don't want to aggravate it any further. So, I just quietly pat its head as I tried to gather my thoughts on what had happened.

Let's call this creature as lizard for now.

'This lizard must be the one that killed the worm'

'The question is, why did it help me? Is there anything that it wants from me? …Hm?'

As I tried to form my thoughts, I felt something swaying on the lizard.

'Is it the tai- Ughh!'

Something suddenly struck my side.

'T-that hurt! Did the tail just attac-Huk?!'

Again, I felt something strong punching me. This time it's on my face.

"Kur~~~" The lizard gave off a relaxed tone.

'T-that hurts…. What is this tail made of?! Metal?!'

'Oi wake up! Your tail is literally killin- Buk!'

Soon, a cry of harmony for pain rang out quietly.

Duk!

Bak!

Hok!

…..

'Huff huff huff'

I finally manage to catch my breath after that damn lizard finally woke up from its sleep.

Currently, I'm still rubbing my cheek hoping that the pain will quickly go away.

The lizard in response, gave out a small confused voice when it noticed my action.

"Kuru???"

'Dammit … I will never let you sleep on my lap ever again!'

As I try to take note of this. I felt something grabbing my hand.

'Hmm? What is this lizard doing?'

The lizard seems to be trying to lead me somewhere.

Although I was hesitant at first. I decided to follow it.

But it was quickly revealed that the lizard felt a bit impatient from how slow I am walking. Hence, it tried to pull me faster.

Well, my leg still felt heavy and a stinging pain does appear every time I took a step. This is why, I didn't budge to much when the lizard pulled me faster.

And because of it, the lizard gave a sulking noise before began to walk even slower than me...

This lizard is so childish... gosh.

Time passes by with my steps sounding out every second.

It has been quite a while since we moved, but considering how slow I am walking and with how the lizard moving even slower. I believe we haven't gone too far yet...

All of a sudden, the lizard stopped in its track. It releases its tail that was holding my hand.

'What happens? Have we arrived?'

To tell the truth, I was hoping that the creature would lead me outside or perhaps to a place where there is some light.

But I guess I was hoping too-

BAM!

I suddenly felt a tremor on the ground.

It wasn't as strong as an earthquake but the fact that it's not a natural phenomenon makes it even worse.

'What? What happen?!'

"GGggrrrr…"

Instantly, I heard a sound on my far left.

This time it was foreign. Unlike the voice of that lizard, it sounded like a savage beast.

Panic quickly filled my mind.

I don't know what to do.

Should I run? But what about the lizard?

No! What am I thinking about! That lizard must have run away already! I need to escape now!

When I finally made up my decision, I quickly realize that it was too late.

A light breeze was felt just beside me… and it smells really… really bad.

As I tried to cover my nose from the bad smell. A realization came upon me.

'Is that… it's breathing?'

BUUM!

Before I can react, another tremor happened in the surrounding.

"GGGRAAH!"

For some reason, the cry of pain from that savage beast sounded much far away now.

It was as if it had been bumped and pushed away from me.

'Wait.. pushed away?'

"Kuurrr"

In front of me, a familiar voice of that lizard appeared again.

And following that, I felt my hand was grabbed by its familiar tail.

It quickly pulled me away from the spot.

…..

'Hahh… hahhh… hahhh'

It must have been tens of minutes since we started running.

And every once in a while, we would stop before a tremor of either the ground or the wall happened.

Even I wasn't so stupid.

It was clear that the lizard was protecting me.

I don't know whether the beast that we are fighting is the same or different each time.

But I know for sure that none of them were weak.

At least, if a human were to get smashed so hard into the ground. They would have died for sure.

And although it seems fine and all. I began to realize something.

The lizard is getting tired.

At first, it was a light breathing. But this time, I can hear the lizard clearly huffing for more air.

It's getting tired from all the fighting.

'Even though this lizard can just leave me behind...'

BAM!

Once again, another beast was assaulted to a wall.

And again, the sound of a painful beast echoed throughout the place.

The lizard, on the other hand, grabbed my hand as we began to swiftly escape this place.

"Kuru!" It urges me to escape.

'Dammit... I am being a deadweight'

I... felt frustrated.

Deep down, I know why we keep meeting these beasts so often.

It was because I'm slow. Too slow.

At first, my speed was fine, but as I grew tired, my speed also slows down considerably.

But it doesn't matter how much frustration I have, I can't do anything to help the lizard.

I can't even hear the beast coming. Not to mention fighting them.

The only time the beast would reveal their position was when they get bashed into the ground.

I am completely useless here.

Bum! TAM! BAAMM!

And again, a beast was slammed into a wall not far away from us. Of course, the cry of that beast quickly followed.

"GUAARRHH!!"

This time, I fuelled myself with determination, I quickly prepare my body to run even faster now.

I want to at least lessen myself as a deadweight.

Thus, I wait for the tail of that lizard to grab my hand as a signal.

I wait.. I wait.. I wait... It never came.

Distressed rapidly filled my mind.

I immediately crouched down. Pathetically, trying to grab onto something near me.

And soon, I quickly found the lizard.

The lizard was lying on the ground with its chest heaving up and down.

"Kuurrr…."

The lizard gave out a weak voice.

"No!"

Once again, I finally let out my voice outside. Although it was much better than before, I can still feel some pain in my throat.

"Hey, you ok?"

My voice was filled with worry.

"Kuuru…"

Once again, the lizard responded to me weakly.

Did the lizard got hurt somewhere preventing it to move? ...Or did it exhaust all of its energy? ...I-I don't know

'Shit... all of this is because I can't see'

I blame my uselessness on my situation.

"GRRROAAHH!!"

The howl of a beast was heard far behind me.

It was a crazy scream filled with rage.

For a few seconds, I was petrified by its roar.

But I quickly recovered from it.

I lifted the lizard and carried it in my hand as I tried to run from the furious beast.

But with how there is no light. As expected, accidents will happen.

I bump myself into a random wall multiple times. Not only that, I would also trip over a rock at random intervals.

Yes, it was painful, but I didn't dare to stop as I kept running to my fullest ability.

But even after all my effort. The sound of that beast felt closer than ever.

"Huff… huff… huf-"

Buk

I once again tripped myself.

And again, I raise my body and began running.

Swish!

But before my leg even moved, a sudden sharp pain appeared on my back.

"Guk!"

I clenched my teeth from the intense pain.

The beast had scraped my back.

And because of it, I lost my footing and crash to the ground.

I weakly push the ground to support my body as I cough myself from all the dust.

'...Thank goodness. I didn't crush the lizard'

But before I can even catch a breath. The beast blasted me to a wall.

Bam!

"GAH!"

A mouthful of blood quickly gushed out of my mouth.

But before the blood even flowed over, I cough the blood even faster.

'I… I can't breathe well'

For some reason, I can feel an extremely sharp pain in my chest.

"H…Hey you ok?"

I ignore the stinging pain and nudge the lizard just a little bit.

"Kurrr.."

When I heard its weak voice, relief quickly filled my expression.

But I didn't indulge in this feeling for long.

I forced my body to stand and began running once again.

Yet no matter how hard I tried to run. I can't. I can only walk slowly from the beast.

But I refuse to stop. I kept walking and walking.

'I know... I know that this is meaningless, but I truly don't know what to do other than that'

'This is... the only thing that I can do'

I ignore the sound of that beast moving closer to me and just focus on the path in front.

…..

{Third Person's POV}

As Eric walks aimlessly. Unbeknownst to him, he was actually moving towards another beast.

This beast was even more ferocious and savage than the one behind him.

The four-legged beast had a white callous skin tougher than metal.

Its back and its shoulder were filled with spikes as sharp as a sword.

Its forehead had 3 protruding horns. 2 goat-like horns on the side and 1 thin horn on the front.

What was peculiar with this beast was that it doesn't have eyes or ears. But only a mouth that was filled with spikey teeth to tear its prey apart.

When it noticed Eric walking towards it. It became vigilant.

But it didn't create a single sound. Instead, it carefully observed the being in front of him.

Suddenly, it jolted in fear when it noticed the creature held by the human.

But it didn't last long as it quickly grew happy when it noticed how weak that creature had become.

The horned beast decided to kill them.

But before it moves, it noticed another creature behind the human.

That beast had an appearance of a white salamander.

Its length, however, was at least 3-5 meters with a height of around a meter. It has teeth that were razor-sharp like a shark. And just like the horned beast, this beast doesn't have eyes or ears.

It quickly noticed that the salamander wanted to kill its prey.

The beast quickly ran to interrupt it.

With its full speed, it stabbed the salamander with its middle horn. Slamming it into the wall nearby.

BAAAM!

The surrounding shakes for a little bit, but just that, a bit.

The salamander on the other hand promptly uses its sharp claws to graze its opponent's face. Making it bleed out profusely.

Soon, a fight between 2 ferocious beasts played out. The ground frequently tremored to signify just how strong those beasts are.

…..

{Eric's POV}

BAM! BUM! BOM!

"GRAAARRHH!!" "HHHRROOMM!"

'Good, it seems that another creature had suddenly joined in and fought the beast behind me'

I don't know whether this is pure luck or not.

What I know is that this is our chance to safely escape this place.

Hence, with all my effort. I firmly hold the lizard as we escaped slowly but surely despite my legs wobbling like crazy.

I felt like my body is going to collapse soon…

As my mind was corroded by the pain, I felt something in my eyes.

After such a long time, I finally saw it.

Light.

A tiny light within this pure darkness appeared in front of me.

It's small. But for me, it was a light of salvation.

I was filled with even more determination to move forwards into the light.

As I get closer to it. The pain in my chest suddenly grew even sharper.

It felt like someone is stabbing me in my chest.

I quickly stopped myself as I felt short of breath.

'I-It's hard… to breathe…'

I tried to calmly take several deep breaths.

But before I even took a proper one.

I quickly gave a dry cough.

For some reason, the pain only worsens and even felt like it spread onto my shoulder and back.

I felt suffocated.

But on my hand, I can still feel the lizard breathing. I can feel its heart pulsing.

I began to move again.

This time, I won't let my leg stop. Not even for a moment.

Soon, the light grew bigger and stronger.

'Just... a little… mor-'

Just when I was a few stepped away from it.

My body collapsed and I lost my consciousness.