I didn't have much more time to think back over my experiences. The only reason I had the time to do so was simple-
I was tied up as of now.
Finding myself strapped to a sturdy wooden pole as soon as I roused from an unnatural and unprecedented state of unconsciousness, I really had to wonder what was up with my luck in terms of this birthday and the last. What a pain in the ass.
Currently, despite the troubling circumstances, I knew who I was dealing with- though I was still mentally kicking myself for not anticipating normal humans working together with the Failed Hosts.
The Failed Hosts were the group of madmen that I first saw on the 5th day of this new world... after my "enhancement." They weren't only the ones I had seen that day- there were many more of them out there.
To be frank, they are completely batshit, and unmistakably hostile toward normal humans, despite their origins being from them.
They were called Failed Hosts for a simple reason- the process of "enhancement" warped their bodies and minds completely.
They are differentiated not by skin color, age, or gender in comparison to human beings- in fact, anyone previously could have become a Failed Host. Instead, their defining feature was the massively swelled veins around their body, that wriggled like a collection of grotesque, massive insects beneath their skin when they exerted themselves. Outside of then, they were still uncomfortable to look at.
My capture by this group was actually due to the uncharacteristic kind intentions I displayed just an hour or so prior- or so I assumed, judging from the fact that it seemed to be the beginning of the night when I was prepping to settle down- in deep contrast to the black as pitch area in front of me, lit only by the red, glowing veins of the Failed Hosts.
I normally ignore human contact to the utmost, due to the bad impressions I've had previously in my beginning days trying to stay alive. There were only a few exceptions.
This time around, the collapsed young man slumped alone, battered, and bruised against the trunk of one of the many massive trees about the place brought to my heart a twinge of pity. Unnaturally pale for having survived a years time, I, for the first time in a long time, moved forward without thinking.
Then the dickhead quickly flicked a poisoned splinter at my arm as soon as I was about to put my hand on his forehead to feel his temperature.
There was no time to react. What an amateur mistake.
"Oh you motherfu..."
And then I fell surprisingly quickly.
However, even as one of the group of the 3 Failed Hosts leader clad in the barest of rags approached me with what looked like a reinforced and sharpened metal rake, I still was wondering how a "normal" human being managed to establish a cooperative relationship with the insane Failed Hosts.
As I mused over the fact that I still had much to learn (and also I hadn't prepared for the thought of suffering from poison in this new world, since I had never seen it's efficacy previously), the four sharp prongs thrust toward me even as I was tied, not giving me the chance to even begin to resist-
Then I grabbed it's haft just before it struck me.
"Hek ?"
"Bweh?"
"Guh?"
So they can't speak... now I am even more curious as to how a deal was made between them and that young man.
In an instant, even as I had my hand on the haft, my bronze colored skin swelled around my currently grasping left arm, pushing back the spear's blunt hilt into the Failed Host-
Piercing directly through his muscular chest with sheer force.
With the facade of still being tied being dispelled, I threw the corpse, pitchfork and all, to the side and quickly dashed over to the unarmed two Failed Hosts, grasping both of their heads, and smashing them together.
They smashed like an overripe fruit, spewing brain matter, skull bits, and blood over my hands and the forest floor, dampening both.
This was why I wasn't worried. Because among anyone I had seen-
I was by far one of the strongest.
Failed Hosts are usually not this unintelligent. This group was merely used to easy prey it seems. They enjoy raw human meat more than anything- though that really is the only realistic option for the meat eaters nowadays.
The various beasts, whether they fly or run, are all out of the question for two reasons.
One, there is no way even with training that they could be considered simple enough to hunt for food. They are very very tough to take down.
And two, they probably taste like shit.
I've eaten exclusively different greens and fruits raw- I didn't want to risk starting a fire, attracting who knows what. I've really begun to crave even the most mediocre fast food burger.
My nonchalance as I washed my hands off as best I could made me recall my first kill. I always take a form of satisfaction reviewing my past trials. I can even think about it now...
But first... where's that asshole kid, and does he have my backpack?
How annoying. Looks like it's time to give out some discipline.