Tribesman's New Life

Chapter 36: Tag

Upon reaching the ground after his fall, Aries was met with both pain and fear. Bruises and a fractured arm were the immediate consequences of his landing. Despite his injuries, he knew he couldn't afford to hesitate. The wingless wyvern, relentless in its pursuit, charged once more, its swift movements giving Aries a clear understanding of the danger he was facing. The creature's speed was such that a normal tribesman would struggle to react in time.

Faced with a formidable adversary armed only with a stone knife, Aries recognized the futility of a direct confrontation. The beast's size belied its strength and lethality. Its claws were razor-sharp, capable of cleaving through thick trees with ease. Evading its attacks became Aries' top priority. He narrowly avoided the creature's assault, narrowly escaping dismemberment by a mere inch.

The wyvern, displaying an unexpected level of intelligence, changed tactics by entering the forest and seeking cover. Aries marveled at the creature's ability to adapt and strategize. Seizing the opportunity, Aries decided to shed the weights and burdens that might hinder his movements. Food, water, and any non-essential equipment were discarded. Survival demanded speed and agility.

Aries' sharpened senses enabled him to anticipate the creature's movements, and he deftly evaded another charging attack. He recognized that silence was his ally in the forest, helping him detect even the faintest sound. Taking advantage of his honed awareness, he narrowly dodged the wyvern's charge.

With a final attempt at defense, Aries aimed for the creature's lower body with his stone knife. However, it proved futile, as the weapon barely made a scratch on the creature's tough hide. Realizing the dire predicament he was in, Aries understood that his current path was unsustainable. Despite the seemingly insurmountable odds, he stood his ground, refusing to show fear in the face of the monstrous beast. Deep within the forest, Aries had a purpose, and he was determined not to become prey.

Aries decided to employ a bold strategy to turn the tide against the relentless wingless wyvern. He taunted the creature with a game of tag, luring it into pursuit while he deftly maneuvered through the forest. In his hand, he held a small black stone, a tool he had fashioned for this very purpose.

As Aries moved, the wyvern's eyes gleamed with anticipation, its predatory instincts honed for the kill. The beast lunged forward with its deadly claws, but Aries sidestepped with agility, avoiding the imminent attack. His plan was set into motion, and he executed each move with calculated precision.

Aries led the wyvern on a bewildering chase, exploiting its increasing aggression to his advantage. The creature's furious pursuit only accelerated its charges, allowing Aries to control the pace of the engagement. With each twist and turn, the forest became a maze of evasion, and the wyvern's frustration mounted.

As Aries paused, panting from the exertion, he sensed an opportunity to shift the dynamics of the encounter. The wyvern, its instincts firing, charged forward, ready to seize its prey. But something was amiss. The creature's limbs seemed entangled, hindered by an invisible force. Panic flickered in its eyes as it struggled against the unseen restraints.

The forest around the wyvern seemed to shift, its trees and terrain responding to an unseen influence. The beast's attempts to break free only intensified its predicament, the ethereal threads wrapping around its body with increasing force. Aries' plan had worked, and the creature was now trapped in a web of its own disarray.

With the night's light illuminating the scene, Aries raised his hand, revealing the small black stone he had held. Connected to the stone was a thin, glimmering thread that extended toward the entangled wyvern. A network of radiant threads crisscrossed the creature's body, binding it with an otherworldly power.

As the creature struggled in vain, Aries tightened his grip on the thread. The wyvern's struggle became more desperate, its ruby eyes wide with terror. With a sudden, forceful motion, Aries pulled on the thread, and the threads reacted in turn. The wyvern's limbs were severed, its body collapsing to the forest floor in a gruesome display of dismemberment.

Aries stood there, adrenaline coursing through his veins, victorious in his confrontation with the formidable predator. The forest was quiet once again, save for the rustling of leaves and the hushed sounds of the night. Aries had triumphed, his cunning and resourcefulness proving to be powerful weapons in the face of danger.

"Damn, it's called a Trapper's thread for a reason," Aries muttered, collapsing to the ground as his entire body trembled. This had been the most thrilling experience he had encountered in this world. Every move he made had been critical, as a single mistake could have led to the trap's failure. But driven by his unyielding determination to survive, he remained steadfast, knowing that even the smallest error was unacceptable. However, his body was now excessively fatigued, and the presence of predators like the dark wolves and circling scavengers hinted at a grim outcome. Regardless, whether they succeeded or failed, these predators were about to feast.

Aries had been prepared for this situation; he had noticed the lurking predators in the vicinity. Summoning every ounce of his strength, he slowly advanced toward the lifeless beast. Since the trap's threads were uncuttable, he gathered nearby vines and secured the severed head of the wyvern to his back. Before he left the scene, a glimmer caught his eye—a radiant glint emanating from the dead creature's chest. It was the heart of the fallen beast, aglow with an otherworldly light. Acting swiftly, Aries used his stone knife to carve into the wyvern's chest and retrieved its pulsating heart. The heart's radiance illuminated the surrounding area with an eerie yet captivating luminosity.

Armed with the wyvern's severed head and its radiant heart, Aries embarked on his return journey to the village. This display of his trophies communicated a profound message: he was not merely an inventive mind but a formidable hunter and protector. His triumphant return was a testament to his ingenuity, his resourcefulness in the face of danger, and his dedication to the tribe's wellbeing.