0.6
I was back on track making my way through the exploration zone. I had to travel further west away from the border which had mostly Tephlir and other Yoggus plants for healing. The elevation of the terrain has started to rise as I traversed but it wasn't too much of an issue.
I had an empty section of my backpack that I could store medicines, materials and foods of my liking. It was the ideal place to put all the flowers and plants I would be collecting for this mission.
The rain still poured and I could see dark figures in the distance. I was safe from where I was standing but I had to still be cautious. I used my binoculars to scout out where the Tephlir plants were exactly.
Just as I spotted them I noticed that there was an animal walking around the bed of plants. It was around 1.5 miles away from me and it would be an easy take down if I prepared it properly.
I didn't have any long range weapon that I could use so I would have to do a close up attack forcing me on my feet. I was already getting pretty exhausted and tired from all this walking around especially with the incline.
I took a moment to breathe and catch up with myself. In that moment I heard a deep growl from behind me. I turned around rapidly trying to catch sight of what I had heard. But there was nothing. I tried to stabilise myself and think clearly. Maybe it was the virus that was inside my body playing tricks?
No, it couldn't be that. I definitely heard something. And it was real. I know it was. I could feel it in my bones.
The bushes and shrubs were thick around the trees that barely covered the sky. I then shifted my way away from the trees and down towards the fields that would put me back at low elevation again.
I made it half way down the slope and towards the other stream of water that had broken off from the ravine earlier and created a new stream completely. The rocks and vegetation was a lot heavier down there so I would be able to collect some fruits or berries before traversing further to the Yogus plants.
The growl occurred once again. I looked behind me and in the shadows I could see a horn stick out from the trees. It had an advantage since I was no longer on the same level as it was. It would take some time to reach its way from the top of the hill to me.
I couldn't figure out what the creature was or what could be lurking behind it but all I knew was that I needed to make enough distance. I walked a lot faster in the direction of the fields which were quite far but I sped up trying not to startle this creature.
When I checked back to see if it was still there or not, the creature decided to reveal itself to me. It then stood stop of a cliff looking down on me. I couldn't figure out what it was thinking or what it would do next but my suit started to become hotter the longer I stared at it.
The beast had pale yellow sharp scales like heavy amour plastered all over it's legs and body wearing a sort of shell protecting its flesh. It was dinosaur-like, with a large tail that looked like it could kill if you were in close range. The head was disgusting with it's teeth struggling to stay inside the mouth, sharp and jagged. The saliva dripped off the top of the mouth to the bottom of the landscape floor.
I looked down and it created a stream of saliva that reached my shoes. I looked back up towards the creature seeing that it was hungry. It didn't speak but it's mouth opened up to growl one more time. I couldn't tell what it was signalling but it was my sign to leave.
I started to run towards the fields unsure of what other creatures might even show up behind the trees and large rocks and uphill elevations that made small caves below. I just ran and ran and ran.
I heard a little shriek that sounded deafening and frightening. It started debilitating me making the headache monstrous and neverending. I was close to passing out. The ground vibrated more and more. I could tell the creature was approaching.
I then stumbled my way hiding behind a tree that could barely cover me. But I had a strong feeling that I would be killed at any moment if this sound didn't stop.
And then it did stop. I opened my eyes trying to balance myself out. What the fuck is this place is what I thought to myself. I then grabbed my Y Bracket Gun that was effective for most things, but I was unsure if it would work on whatever this massive thing that was looking for me.
I then decided that I needed to see if the creature stopped chasing me. As I crept around the tree I looked at the hillside I was standing from earlier and saw that there it was.
It was extremely large. Around 10 metres big. It's legs carried so much weight that trees started to tilt in the direction of the footprints. Saliva kept dripping from its mouth. It was desperate for something to eat.
The storm was loud, so I figured that if I moved at the same time that the lightning striked I could potentially move to the next tree and then the next one and re route myself around the Forrest to the field and into the garden that held the plants. I was unfamiliar with this route though so everything about this plan could mess up.
I had to trust that I'd make it around and that there wouldn't be other creatures lurking in the dark corners of the landscape.
A deep and warm growl that was slow but knew I was close. The rain and sweat began to mix together. My heart was thumping like drums. If it got any closer my opportunity of escape would be down to zero.
So I moved quickly, the lightning didn't strike but I couldn't wait for it. I ran as fast as I could towards the other tree towards the right side of the forest edging on the perimeter.
The stomping was big and heavy. I could hear the roots of trees being pulled out forcefully making way for this large almost tortoise creature.
I looked down at my Y Bracket and tried to think of another way to distract it. 'Cmon, cmon, think. Fuck.'I then grabbed a stone from nearby holding it to my chest tightly. I only had one shot at doing this and if I messed up, there's no going back.
I peaked around the corner and noticed it wasn't looking in my direction but it was still searching desperately. The rock was tight in my hand, I eyed up the distance between me and the creature ready for the perfect hit.
The clouds caused heavy rain which had made the creature blink a lot more to clear its vision properly. I just had to time it right.
I pulled my arm back and threw the rock at one of the giant eyes of the creature. It flinched just barely and then roared in utter anger.
I then swapped my hands to my Y Bracket and pointed the gun at the same eye while it was barely squinting and made a clean shot.
Weird juices came out from the eye as the energy source made its way through. It ruptured the eye making it partially blind. It moved about trying to stamp on me but it struggled to do so.
I dashed in the other direction towards more of the trees onto the right edge of the forest area and towards a more stoney path. The more I moved north, the more likely I was going to enter the Bliptic City which was a massive risk that I didn't want to take. But I had to keep moving.
The pounding steps behind me didn't stop, and the thrashing sound of trees being pulled out in groups as it pushed through chasing me with a burning passion to kill me.
As I was running for my dear life I could see that there was a cut off point near the edge of the forest that I couldn't see any further.
I looked back and the creature was still chasing me relentlessly. His desire for human blood was non-stop.
The edge was about to come up, and I didn't know what I would be facing the moment I jumped over the edge or not. But in that moment I paused all my thinking and just said to myself "fuck it." And jumped.