As I watch the insect carefully, I try to figure out how to deal with it.
— The caterpillar has poison on its body, right? Where was it again…?
I remember that these creatures can make someone sick just by touching them, but I can't quite recall exactly where on their bodies the poison is concentrated.
— I’m almost certain it was in those hairs, but…
Just to be safe, I keep my distance, watching every movement of its segmented body while I wonder if the same strategy I used with the slug would work here too.
— It must be tougher than the slug… And I don’t know how much my spear can take — I look at the already worn wood. — Better to leave it alone and run?
I try to find an escape route, but as I search, I end up finding something even worse.
— That cockroach… So that’s where it was. — I sigh, realizing it’ll be much worse if I just run away and end up being chased by it. — You know what? Change of plans, it’s time to hunt!
I grab a rock and throw it at the cockroach, which seems to be approaching the water. The rock lands in the stream, splashing a few drops on it.
At that very moment, it spreads its wings and begins to fly over the stream, until it spots me next to the caterpillar and darts toward me.
— At least it’s not as fast as the little ones… — I think, planting my feet firmly on the ground as if I were about to hit a ball. — …Now!
As soon as it gets close enough, I use all my strength to swing the spear, as if I were wielding a bat. The wood splits in half on impact, but I manage to disorient the cockroach, which plummets directly onto the caterpillar.
Without thinking twice, I run to a nearby tree and hide behind it.
Soon I witness a disturbing scene. The two insects struggle, trying to get away from each other. The cockroach, affected by the impact and the poison, tries to fly but loses control, crashing into trunks and branches. The caterpillar, more cautious, takes advantage of the confusion to crawl toward another corner of the woods.
I remain motionless behind the tree, breathing slowly, alert to any sign of danger while making no sound at all.
My hands are shaking, and I can’t tell if it’s from the impact or from fear.
— That really worked…
I don’t know exactly how much time has passed, but when I realize there’s no more noise, I move silently back to the spot and see the cockroach upside down, trying to move.
— Seriously… what a horrible sight… — I think, picking up the other part of the spear that broke off. — …Here goes!
I thrust the tip of the spear into the cockroach’s head and quickly step back, as it begins to struggle violently. A few minutes later, it finally stops moving, and I let out a sigh of relief.
— Seriously… What did I do to deserve this?
I don’t dare get any closer, since they say cockroaches can survive even without a head.
I wait a few more minutes just to be sure before returning to the spring to drink water, since my throat has gone dry again.
— …Wonder if anything has changed?
After finding a spot that seems safe, I check my status.
— Open panel.
═══════════════════════════════════
| [Name]: Rafael | | [Race]: Human |
| [Level]: 01 |
───────────────────────────────────
[Skills]
| [Spearman]: 05 |
═══════════════════════════════════
— I wasn't expecting Spearman to level up, since I didn't even use the spear properly… Come to think of it, why isn't my level going up? Even killing a rabbit should raise my level!
As I stare indignantly at the level 1 in front of me, I decide to head back to the hut, thinking of ways to get food.
— I could eat that cockroach… I’m not that desperate yet.
I head back along the stream toward the sea.
[…]
The way back is longer, and it feels like it takes forever to get there because I’m so tired.
I look at the small stream, wondering if I should fish, but I see there’s no sign of fish in it. The water is clear enough to see the bottom, and the bottom is completely empty.
There’s also the problem of not having a fishing rod, along with the spear that’s broken in half.
— There's the beach…
I see the stream flowing into the sea a little further ahead, a sign that I’m getting closer to home.
I just need to walk along the shore until I reach it, and then I’ll finally be able to rest.
Looking up at the sky, I see it’s mid-afternoon, which shows that it really does take quite a while to get from the cabin to the spring.
— I wonder if I can carry water with that bucket?
I try to plan what to do the next day, but I’m too tired to think deeply.
[…]
Finally, I see the small cabin in the distance, making my exhaustion even worse. I look around and realize that nothing seems to have changed, which relieves me.
— At last… I’m back…
I hurry to reach it and rush inside, feeling that I finally have some protection.
— …How do I get out of here!? Tell me! Panel! — I shout, but there’s no answer. — Just… How do I get out of here…
Despair is hitting me after discovering that I’m on an island full of giant insects.
I’m not terrified or afraid of insects, but that’s when they’re small and I can kill them with a swipe of my flip-flop.
I look down and see my feet, which are burning after walking so much in flip-flops. At least it’s new, so it doesn’t seem like it’s in danger of breaking yet.
I have no idea how I managed to run around in them all day without falling.
— Am I going to have to live here for a month? Have I come to hell!?
I throw myself onto the bed on my back and stare at the shelter’s ceiling. I see the old wooden beams that could snap at any moment as my eyes grow heavier.
This exhaustion makes me a little calmer, allowing me to think about some details before falling asleep.
— I still couldn't level up, and the magic power hasn't appeared… But the skills section, which didn't exist before, popped up after I used the spear…
I close my eyes completely, but I keep thinking.
— Would it be possible to gain magic power? I don’t remember anything like that in the story… It would be very useful to have magic.
Despite the discomfort throughout my body, thanks to everything that happened today, I feel a slight sense of comfort.
— Magic… Creating fire… Controlling water… I can’t wait for that…
Using normal magic, that’s the goal…
My goal…
[To be continued…]
[???]:
— That goal… Complicated.