I tried to control my plight in the middle of enfeeblement. The labored breaths that reacted earlier, I forced them to react normally. I wiped the sweats pouring profusely down with my right hand forcefully in the midst of suffering. The sensation of my previous pains and the impact of hitting a large tree trunk increased the severity that I've experienced. My nervous system received every single one of the pains to stage of unbearable intensity. Both my legs and my right hand were still able to move. Luckily , although I received several bear claw injuries from that bear.
(Come on... think... like... usually!) I thought while observing the surroundings. My eyes kept a close eye on the movements of that creature.
On the other hand, the bear sniffed my blood until my urine, which scattered on the ground. Its ferocious mouth until its sharp teeth are covered by my blood. Several skins until my flesh clung to its sharp claws. Seeing this scene, it's more than enough for me to make my head filled furious...
(Must... rise... the fuck up...!) I tried to stand up to the ordeal. Slowly, I rose and endured all the excruciating pain. My teeth chattered intensely. The facial expression furrows the brow, making the face veins visible clearly. I pushed with my hands, attempting to support myself with my right hand until my severed left forearm. Desperation to survive became the driving fuel of all that I do.
With extreme difficulty and struggle, I managed to stand up amidst of powerful trembling of my body. My breathing slowly began to control. I fixed both my eyes on the bear, observing as it started to lick my blood and my urine that had scattered on the ground. Realizing the sight that was so ironic...
Is this what it feels like to be helpless...?
Is this what it feels like to challenge death...?
Is this what it feels like... to die without doing anything...?
Damn it! I didn't want to... I... didn't accept dying in humiliation like this!
The struggle between life and death shook my inner self. However, my will to live thumps fiercely within my body. The anger contained in my stomach felt hot to the point that my brain was boiling. I was so unbearable with this fury, suddenly screamed out with all my might...
"AAAAARGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" I let out all my fury through that scream. Screams mixed with anger, helplessness, despair, and profound suffering that was very sad reverberated very loudly. I felt as if all the veins in my neck tightened. My stomach seemed to provide extra energy to my screams. My eyes gaze sharply at the bear together, with my screams even though tears come out.
The bear was startled by my scream. But it quickly reacted by rising up on its hind legs. In response to my screams earlier, the bear let out a deafened roar…
*ROOOAARRRRRRR!*
I, no longer care about the consequences, continued raising my screams. Louder, fiercer, deeper, more than the bear...
"AAAAARGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" I raised both my arms, assuming a more imposing posture. Despite the excruciating pain, I stood on tiptoe and leaned against a tree trunk. The rough bark rubbed against my wounded back, somehow adding to the power of my scream.
We engaged in a battle of screams. We were like two animals vying for dominance but with different intentions.
This went on for a while. Surprisingly, the bear gradually lowered its body posture and took a few steps back. It retreated, creating distance between us.
Sensing the creature's change in demeanor, I slowly walked toward it, showing no fear. I maintained my posture and continued my earlier screams, mustering all my strength despite the unbearable pain...
(Hold... Nagao... just a little longer... hold...!) I thought while encouraging myself.
The bear kept retreating, choosing a different path. Although it moved away, it occasionally glanced back at me. Meeting its gaze, I held my stance and screamed for several more moments. Finally, the bear moved farther away from me.
Once I was assured the bear had left, I slowly walked backward without altering my posture. Gradually, I leaned against the familiar tree once again. Exhausted to the bone, I maintained my gaze and spoke,
"So, this is... what it truly means... to be alive...!" So, this is... what it truly means... to be alive...!" A smile of indescribable satisfaction adorned my face.
***
After attacks the human... the human showed... strange. Tried... approach the human. The human... big... screamed. Loudly...
"AAAAARGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"
The human... strange. The human voices... loudly. The human voice... annoying...
(Noisy!) Screamed also loudly.
*ROOOAARRRRRRR!*
Replied... human screams. That human... screams... more loudly. Scream out loud. One creature... dare... reply scream...
(Human... food... Human... dare... daunt!) The heart skipped... fast... that human scream.
Tired. No food. Saw... that human again... the human remains... same...
Human... change...
That human... against...
That human... brave...
(Avoid... eat... Human! He... strong...!) Rushes back... Rushes away... from that human.
***
At the same time, but in a different place...
Adolf, Mr. Schmidt, Mr. Eddie, and several bodyguards were already at the last spot where Nagao was last seen. All of them were looking for finding clues. The clues would be used to find out Nagao's whereabouts. Searching continued for a while along the stream.
One of Mr. Eddie's bodyguards noticed something peculiar beneath. He saw something was stuck in one of the river rocks...
"Milord!" he pointed with his hand. "I found something right beneath one of the river rocks!"
Mr. Eddie immediately approached on his horse. Realizing the clues discovered by his men,
"Does anyone know the route to that location?!"
"Allow me to escort you and other colleagues to the location, Lord Eddie Otis!" responded The big guard. "To reach the location using a safe route, it will take some time. Is this acceptable for you, Lord Eddie?"
"Permission has been given!" Mr. Eddie replied assertively.
The big guard began leading the escort. Urging their horses to speed up, they quickly headed to the location. Although they followed the safe route, they needed to detour before reaching the exact spot.
After a while, they arrived at the spot where the guard had found a clue. The guard immediately examined his findings. As he surveyed the clues, he discovered something unexpected...
"FOR GOD'S SAKE! Lord Eddie!" he exclaimed while revealing his discovery.
"?!!!" They showed different expressions of shock. However, Adolph and Mr. Schmidt showed an obvious shock. Even Adolph dismounted from her horse to examine it.
Adolph's eyes widened to see it. She was aware while holding it. Her expression changed drastically, with tears rolling down her cheeks unconsciously. She fell to her knees immediately while hugging it. The hand that reached her out from the mire of life until giving meaning to being a human...
"N-Nagao... N-agao... Khh!!" Her tears flowed profusely and fell down her cheeks and hands, although she held back sobs so hard. Beautifully futile.
Mr. Schmidt could only keep his head down languidly...
"Brat... you...!" His veins were visible when he gripped the reins horse tightly.
Mr. Eddie and his men just watched the scene unfold in silence.
Suddenly, Adolph immediately stood up and tried to leave them while bringing it. Realizing her demeanor, Mr. Schmidt dismounted and restrained her acts...
"Stop that act of yours...!"
Shockingly, Adolph reacted violently,
"Get the fuck your hands off me, you selfish bastard!" she shook off his hand forcibly and angrily. "If his corpse isn't there... that means... he's still alive! I... have to save Nagao...! To atone for... Kkh... m-my mistake...!" Her aching vulnerability expression with bittersweet lips uncontrollably like expecting the uncertain string of hopes amidst the storm.
Aware of her reactions, Mr. Eddie immediately mediated to her,
"Pull yourself together, Mrs. Adolph!" he held both of her shoulders. "Mr. Schmidt just wants you not to be careless. We really don't know where your partner is now. But that doesn't mean you have to lose control of yourself. Thinks his reactions when you became like this. Recklessness is the upstream that leads you to the estuary of death!"
Hearing his suggestion, she gradually calmed down. Despite being calmed down, her face still holds a worried expression while holding Nagao's hand. She immediately wiped away her tears and replied,
"Let us go!" She said assertively. The tears that fell now turned into focused stares like a string of hope, slightly appearing amidst a storm of sadness.
Immediately, they searched for Nagao's whereabouts in every spot carefully.
...
After a while of searching for Nagao's whereabouts...
Adolph saw a figure sitting leaning against a tree. Feeling curious, she immediately approached the figure. When she could see clearly, Adolph immediately reacted...
"AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" she screamed hysterically.
All of them quickly approached her location. When they arrived at Adolph's location...
"!!!" they who arrived just now, except Adolph, were shocked when they saw before them.
"I couldn't believe this!" Mr. Eddie while watching the scene before him.
"Based on his injuries received, it came from The Goliath attacks, Milord!" Said the big guard.
"The Goliath??" Mr. Schmidt asked confusedly.
"It's a monster bear that is occupying this place," the big guard replied in a formal tone. "I've never thought this person will fight against it!"
Realizing Nagao's condition by seeing it, Mr. Schmidt reacted,
"Don't talk too much. Now, let us bandage his wound and get Nagao away from here!"
Mr. Eddie ordered his five guards to check and bandage Nagao's wound immediately. All of that job was done by five of them swiftly.
After finishing bandaging his wound, they immediately carried Nagao in their arms. With extra care, Nagao was carried by the horse. They took Nagao quickly while maintaining his body position.
On the way back, all of their minds were busy. All their mouths were just adrift silent even though their physique was working optimally in this chaotic situation. They all gamble in this situation. Gambling with circumstances, time, until death.