The three of them arrived at a small patch of bushes, startling two small warthogs, but Friedrick's arrow missed its target.
Nash and Shōgo both felt regret as the roasted pork they had been anticipating got away.
Crossing the bushes, they reached a small pond. Yesterday's catfish and clean water were obtained here.
Friedrick set up the fishing net, while Nash and Shōgo kept watch. After Friedrick finished setting up the net and returned, the three of them crouched in a small thicket near the pond.
With everything set up, the experienced hunter Friedrick turned to Shōgo and Nash.
"Speak softly, there might be antelopes who'll come here to drink later. Maybe we'll have meat to eat tonight."
"Are you good with archery? Should we set up a trap?"
"Yeah, how about you? Are you skilled?"
Friedrick, with a confident yet somewhat resentful expression, raised the bow and arrow in his hand without saying a word.
The area around the pond fell silent, with only the calls of unidentified birds lingering nearby.
Soon, a cautious antelope approached the water's edge to drink, step by step.
Seeing this scene, Shōgo, Nash, and Friedrick were all excited. Among them, Friedrick had already drawn his bow and aimed at the antelope.
"Whoosh!"
The antelope was hit by an arrow, most likely in the lung area. The three were overjoyed and immediately left the thicket to chase after the antelope.
One after another, they followed the antelope into the bushes. Nash was in the lead, followed by Shōgo, and Friedrick, being tall, brought up the rear.
"Let me and Nash chase, you go check the fishing net, Friedrick."
"Alright!"
Considering Friedrick's size, it wasn't suitable for him to chase. Shōgo asked him to check the net while he and Nash chased after the antelope.
As Shōgo was following Nash's steps to pursue the antelope, Nash suddenly stopped. Shōgo was puzzled, and then he heard Nash's low voice from up ahead.
"Don't move, there's a cheetah in the grass."
Hearing this, Shōgo immediately halted, gripping the spear tightly and staying vigilant.
"Where is it?"
"To the left, around 10 o'clock direction. Be careful, don't look over."
Shōgo didn't turn his head but used his peripheral vision to glance in the 10 o'clock direction. Indeed, a large cheetah was lurking in the bushes, motionless.
Seeing the cheetah, Shōgo felt neither fear nor panic; he was excited and eager to take action.
In a hushed tone, Shōgo's voice rang out, making Nash's hair stand on end.
"Nash, are you interested in teaming up to hunt down this cheetah?"
Nash, who was ahead, froze for a moment, and then his voice came low and even a bit maniacal.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm very sure. I want to make it into a scarf. Hahaha!"
"How should we do it?"
"I'll attack aggressively, and you guard the rear path of this beast. How about that?"
"I'm okay with that."
"Alright, after I finish speaking, we'll count down for 3 seconds and then start."
3, 2, 1.
With a "swish," the spear rapidly cut through the air.
Shōgo's gray eyes crackled with electric currents. The spear in his hand executed a lightning-fast thrust, resembling a dragon probing the depths of the sea, sharp and extraordinary. It struck the lurking cheetah with immense force.
"Roar... Roar... Roar..."
A roar that seemed like a mix between a tiger and a cat resounded. The spear precisely impaled the cheetah's neck, pinning it to the ground.
Meanwhile, Shōgo had already released the spear, which he had thrown with all his might a moment ago.
Nash, by his side, reacted swiftly as well. When the spear hit the cheetah, his Belial's Eye sparkled with two rings of light, and he swiftly drew his knife. In just three strikes, he severed the cheetah's head from its neck.
Pulling the spear out of the lifeless cheetah, Shōgo couldn't help but praise Nash.
"Great knife skills, fast, accurate, and ruthless. I like it."
"You're not bad either. Seeing how you handle the spear, you must be quite experienced. And you can enter the 'zone,' impressive!"
"Haha! Let's not flatter each other too much. Help me skin the cheetah, though. I want a cheetah-skin scarf."
"No problem, just wait!"
"Sure, you work on that, and I'll go pick up the antelope."
Just now, Shōgo had already noticed the fallen antelope not far away.
Walking up to the antelope, he saw an arrow lodged halfway into its lung. The antelope had suffocated.
Judging by the shot's accuracy, it was clear that Friedrick was an experienced hunter, likely a veteran.
Dragging the antelope, Shōgo rejoined Nash. Nash quickly skinned the leopard and handed the skin to Shōgo.
Then Nash turned his attention back to the antelope, beginning to gut it and discard the unwanted organs.
Afterward, Nash single-handedly dragged the antelope back, displaying quite formidable strength.
"Do you need my help?"
"No, no need. It's a piece of cake, won't take much effort."
Seeing that Nash indeed wasn't exerting much effort, Shōgo, holding the leopard skin, led the way forward, guiding Nash back to the pond.
Nash had already skinned the cheetah and tossed the skin to Shōgo. Then he focused on the antelope, beginning to gut it and discard the unwanted organs.
Then Nash himself dragged the antelope, moving ahead.
Friedrick looked at the spear on his shoulder, the foul-smelling bloody scent, and the dripping blood. His eyes were filled with an incredulous expression.
Not long after, the three of them returned to the camp. Nash was responsible for processing the gazelle and catfish. The excess fresh meat needed to be turned into dried meat and fish as soon as possible, or else, within a couple of days, this meat would start to smell bad.
Shōgo, on the other hand, was in charge of cooking the catfish and setting up a large campfire to start roasting the meat.
As for Friedrick, he had gone around to gather firewood.
No firewood meant no campfire, and African nights without campfires were not where you'd want to stay.
"Shōgo, do you play basketball?"
"I do. How about you?"
"I play too. It seems we're both quite into it."
"I feel the same way."
While roasting the meat, Shōgo chatted casually with Nash.
"You crazy guy, hunting a cheetah! Aren't you afraid of death?"
"If I want to kill, I dare to think about it. If I dare to think about it, I'll ask you! As for death, are you afraid of it?"
"You madman!! But I like it. I accept you as my brother, Shōgo!"
"Haha, from the moment you agreed to help me hunt the cheetah, I also accepted you as my brother."
Shōgo and Nash exchanged a glance, then burst into hearty laughter. Some things didn't need to be said, understanding was enough.
Listening to Nash and Shōgo's laughter, Friedrick, who had returned with firewood, looked puzzled.
"Guys, did I miss out on something fun?"
"No, the meat is about to be ready for roasting. Are you happy?"
"Hahaha, this should be joyful, we finally have meat to eat."