Ethan stumbled back, pain shooting through his leg, but his survival instincts kicked in. With a swift motion, he grabbed the snake by its head and hurled it toward the bear. It flew through the air, landing in a thud near the massive creature, which momentarily diverted its attention from Ethan.
Without a second thought, Ethan continued to run, the jungle closing in around him. Branches whipped against his skin, and the sound of the bear's furious growl faded behind him. He could feel the poison from the snake seeping into his bloodstream, making him lightheaded and sluggish.
He burst through the trees and found himself at the edge of a swiftly flowing river, the water gleaming under the sunlight. Without hesitating, he plunged into the water, thrashing like a headless chicken, his instincts screaming at him to move. But he quickly realized he had no idea how to swim.
He gasped for air, the currents dragging him under. Panic gripped him as he flailed, struggling to find solid ground. Just when he thought he would drown, he grasped what felt like a tail. With a primal surge, he used it as a springboard, propelling himself out of the water onto the muddy bank.
Gasping for air, he looked around, his breath hitching in his throat. Before him lay an unexpected sight—an enormous crocodile, its cold eyes fixed on him. To Ethan's horror, it seemed to regard him with a glint of mockery, as if it were wondering, *"Which fool delivered food for me?"*