Chereads / THROUGH STONE AND FIRE / Chapter 7 - A Test of Courage

Chapter 7 - A Test of Courage

The blade sliced cleanly through the slime's gelatinous body, but stopped abruptly as it struck the core. The impact sent a small jolt through Jordan's hands, almost making him lose his grip.

"Uhhh..." he muttered, glancing down at his trembling hands and then back at the slime.

The creature's body began to tremble violently, ripples spreading across its surface. Before he could react, a small, compact sphere of slime formed at its edge.

With surprising speed, the sphere shot out, striking him squarely in the face.

"Ugh!" Jordan stumbled back, nearly losing his footing. His grip on the knife held firm, but his free hand shot up to his face, covering his nose.

"Shit," he hissed, his voice muffled by his hand. The pain radiated from his nose, sharp and immediate. It wasn't bleeding, but it hurt like hell.

He blinked rapidly, his vision clearing just in time to see the slime undulating in preparation for another attack.

"That's what I get for being cocky," he muttered to himself, adjusting his stance. His confidence had wavered, but he wasn't about to let the slime get the upper hand.

Jordan wiped his face with the back of his hand and steadied his breathing. The slime wasn't invincible, and he knew its weakness.

"Alright, round two," he muttered under his breath, his grip on the knife tightening as he prepared to finish what he started.

Jordan wiped his face again, the sting on his nose still lingering. He steadied his breathing, keeping his focus on the slime. It wasn't invincible, and its weakness was clear: the core. All he had to do was separate it from the gelatinous body.

"Alright, round two," he muttered, his grip on the knife tightening. This time, he wouldn't waste time with flashy moves.

He launched himself forward, his hand outstretched, aiming directly for the glistening core at the center of the slime. The creature, sensing the imminent danger, began to form another slime ball.

"Swish!" Jordan darted to the left, narrowly avoiding the projectile. He didn't slow down. Closing the distance in seconds, his hand plunged into the slime's body, the gelatinous mass cold and resisting against his skin.

His fingers wrapped firmly around the core, the solid object smooth and slick. With one swift yank, he tore it free from the slime's body.

The reaction was immediate. The slime quivered violently, then began to dissolve, its gelatinous form losing cohesion and disintegrating into a harmless puddle.

Jordan watched the process, then sighed, shaking his head. "Why did I try slicing it? Who was I trying to impress?"

He couldn't help but laugh at himself, albeit a little bitterly. The whole ordeal could've been over in seconds if he had just gone for the core from the start. The knife had been completely unnecessary for such a weak creature.

Holding the core up, he examined it for a moment. It was small and smooth, faintly glowing. It wasn't much different from the ones he'd collected before. With a shrug, he slipped it into his top pocket. Upgrading the knife could wait. For now, he had other priorities—like food.

Rubbing his nose again, he began walking back toward the river, murmuring to himself about his earlier idiocy. His stomach growled as he moved, reminding him that he still hadn't eaten.

"Alright, focus, Jordan," he said to himself. "First breakfast, then maybe something for lunch while I'm at it."

He scanned his surroundings, keeping his senses sharp. If he was lucky, he'd stumble across more of those fanged rabbits—or anything else edible.

Soon enough he stumbled upon two single fanged rabbits.

Jordan moved silently, his steps careful and deliberate as he crept closer to the two single-fanged rabbits. They were distracted, nibbling on patches of grass, completely unaware of his presence.

Once he was close enough, he sprang into action.

In one swift motion, he lunged forward and pinned one of the rabbits to the ground. The creature let out a high-pitched shriek, its sharp fang glinting in the light. Startled by the commotion, the second rabbit bolted, its powerful legs carrying it away with surprising speed.

"Not so fast," Jordan muttered, plunging his knife into the rabbit he held down. It went limp instantly, and without hesitation, he pulled the blade free and hurled it at the fleeing rabbit.

The knife cut through the air, hitting its mark with deadly precision. The sharp blade pierced the creature's side, but the hilt stopped it from passing all the way through. The rabbit stumbled and fell, writhing on the ground in pain.

Jordan quickly stood, carrying the lifeless rabbit in his hands as he approached the injured one. Its squirming grew weaker with each passing second, its cries sharp and desperate.

Kneeling down, he ended its suffering with a swift motion of his knife.

The forest grew silent again, the only sounds left were his heavy breaths and the faint rustling of leaves in the wind.

"Sorry, but I need this more than you do," he said softly, wiping the blade on the rabbit's fur to clean it.

With both creatures in his possession, he made his way back to camp, mentally preparing himself for the long process of skinning and cooking them. At least now, he had enough food to last through the day—and perhaps even the next.

After finishing with one of the rabbits, Jordan came up with an idea—barbaric, perhaps, but practical. He decided to keep the skulls of both rabbits. Though gruesome, they might serve a purpose in the long run.

He took the skulls to the river, carefully cleaning them until they were spotless. Once done, he placed them near the fire to dry. It felt strange, even unsettling, but survival had forced him to think in ways he wouldn't have back on Earth.

Breakfast was satisfying, more so than it had been in yesterday. The fire crackled warmly as he ate, giving him a rare sense of comfort in the hostile wilderness.

With the rest of the day still ahead, he turned to other tasks. He left the second rabbit unprocessed, reasoning it might last longer that way. This time, instead of discarding the hide, he laid it out to dry near the fire, hoping it could be useful later.

Satisfied with his preparations, Jordan grabbed his knife and ventured back into the forest. There was more to explore before night fell.