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nCrackle.

nA fire was burning as several pieces of meat hung around it.

nIn the middle above the fire hung a bucket.

nAlex had felled an entire tree with his sword and had hollowed out a big part of its trunk, creating his bucket.

nThen, Alex had felled an even bigger tree, creating two round bowls.

nThe sharpness of Alex’s sword was what allowed him to achieve this feat.

nAlex had filled the bucket with pig blood and hung it above the fire.

nAlex put one of the bowls over the bucket and put a long branch on it, which led to the side.

nThe bowl would catch the evaporating water, and when enough water gathered, it would trickle down to the lowest edge of the bowl, where the branch was.

nThe branch led the trickling water to the side, to a different bowl.

nThis was how Alex would solve the issue of water.

nSadly, this would be distilled water, and he also couldn’t wash his tools since he didn’t have any water to begin with.

nThe water in the other bucket didn’t look refreshing or delicious, but it was water.

nStrewn around the clearing were the remaining parts of the hog.

nAlex couldn’t finish the entire thing on his own, even if he ate for several days, and the meat would go bad anyway.

nSo, Alex decided to cut the pig apart and scattered the pieces around the clearing.

nWhy?

nTo ward off predators.

nSure, the smell of blood would gather many of them, but predators were also just animals.

nIf they could get food for free, they wouldn’t want to fight.

nIf a predator came to the clearing, they would see a black creature of unknown size, thanks to the coat, sitting beside a hot fire.

nEvery normal predator would grab one of the pieces of the hog and would run away, leaving Alex alone.

nWhile Alex’s food and water were being prepared, Alex decided to get some more training in.

nAlex put his coat away and climbed the tree.

nBOOM!

nAs Alex hit the ground, a loud slam echoed throughout the forest.

nThis sound would also deter any animal from coming to this spot.

nAfter all, only something big and powerful could make such loud sounds.

nAfter three jumps, Alex heard some rustling.

nHis entire body hurt, but all of the pain was forgotten as he realized something else was close.

nIn the light of the fire, Alex could see two eyes in the dark.

nThey weren’t very high up, and the animal was looking at Alex warily.

nHowever, it didn’t look at Alex with fear.

nIt was more like an evaluating expression.

nAlex looked back.

nAfter a bit, Alex could see the owner of the eyes.

nIt was the green lizard that had killed two of the four wolves.

nAfter a bit, the lizard bit down on one of the pieces of meat and fled.

nWhen Alex saw the lizard retreating, he amended his plans.

nAlex grabbed his coat and put it around himself before he continued training.

nWhy?

nBecause the lizard had the ability to shoot fireballs. If one beast could shoot fireballs, it was possible that other beasts could do the same. However, the coat of the creature should offer some protection. Even if it caught fire, Alex could always ditch it.

nAlex’s masochistic training continued, and after a couple of jumps, Alex concentrated on healing himself with Mana.

nAlex always looked forward to this part of his training since this was the part that increased his power.

nOn top of that, it wasn’t as painful as the other part.

nThunk! Thunk!

nAlex heard rhythmic, loud sounds.

nAlex looked in the direction of the sounds but couldn’t see anything.

nThey came from too far away.

n‘What’s making that sound?’ Alex thought.

nThunk! Thunk!

nThe sounds continued, and Alex only looked in that direction.

nSpring! Spring!

nThe sound of something elastic being stretched and snapping back into place could also be heard.

nEeeeeh! Creak! Creak! Snap! Snap!

nThe sounds of bending and cracking wood joined in the cacophony of sounds, and the sounds were getting louder.

nAlex’s eyes widened.

nSomething big was coming!

nAlex immediately abandoned everything and climbed the closest tree.

nWhen he found a good spot, he stopped moving and grew silent.

nThe sounds continued and grew even louder.

nSnap!

nEventually, Alex saw what created these weird sounds, and his eyes widened.

nIt was an absolutely humongous beast!

nIt was probably four meters high, excluding its needles.

nNeedles?

nYes, this was the green hedgehog Alex had seen when he had arrived in this world!

nThe loud thumping sounds were its footsteps.

nThe creaking sounds of wood were its flexible needles getting hung up on the trees.

nThe snapping sounds were its flexible needles jumping back into place after passing a tree.

nThe forest and trees seemingly moved with the hedgehog as it bent all of the trees while passing.

nIt was moving slowly and in a relaxed manner towards the place Alex had stayed.

nThen, it slowly bent down as it consumed a huge part of the hog!

n‘I totally forgot! Even though hedgehogs are cute, they are also technically omnivores. They eat a ton of insects! A hedgehog of that size obviously also eats meat!’ Alex thought as he remained completely silent.

nThis monster was far above his ability!

nThe creature Alex had killed by luck was nothing in comparison to this hedgehog!

nAs the hedgehog came closer, it ate all the pieces of the pig, including the ones that were being cooked.

nAfter it reached the fire, it stopped above it.

nAlex was confused for a second, but he realized what the hedgehog was doing.

nIt was warming its belly!

nThe sizzling fire directly below its belly didn’t even bother the hedgehog!

nThis was an absolute monster!

nAlex kept his breath as he watched the hedgehog warm itself.

nThunk!

nApparently, the fire wasn’t warm enough, so it lowered its belly and lied down.

nSadly, this suffocated the fire.

nAfter some seconds, the hedgehog stood up again, displeased.

nIt scratched the fire with his hind leg in displeasure but continued eating.

n‘Well, there goes food,’ Alex thought.

nAfter the hedgehog was done, it turned its head slowly.

nAnd it directly looked into Alex’s eyes.

nAlex’s entire body shivered as he realized that the hedgehog had known where he was the entire time!

nOtherwise, its gaze wouldn’t have homed in on him with such accuracy!

nAlex didn’t dare to move.

nCreak! Creak! Creak!

nThe humongous body of the hedgehog slowly shook as its needles swayed back and forth.

nPlonk! Plonk! Plonk!

nSome things fell off the hedgehog’s needles.

nAlex still didn’t dare to move!

nAfter the hedgehog shook itself a little bit, it continued walking.

nAfter the hedgehog was a couple meters away, Alex jumped down from the tree and looked at his campsite.

nThe hedgehog already knew that he was there, so it made no sense to keep hiding.

nEverything was destroyed.

nAll the meat was gone, the fire was out, and the water was spilled.

nNothing had been spared.

nAlex had to sigh when he saw that.

nHowever, Alex’s eyes spied something new in the clearing.

nIt was a round object, but Alex couldn’t see it clearly in the dark.

nAlex walked closer and inspected it.

n‘Is that a fruit?’ Alex thought with surprise. ‘Where did that come from?’

nAlex remembered how the hedgehog had shaken itself and that he had heard several sounds of things falling to the ground.

n‘Did these things come from the hedgehog’s needles? Since when do hedgehogs grow fruit?!’ Alex thought.

nAlex looked at the hedgehog in the distance, and sure enough, after looking closer, Alex saw some round objects on the hedgehog’s needles. They shone a bit under the moonlight.

nAlex remembered how the hedgehog had eaten everything, had looked at him, and had then shaken its body.

n‘Is this a kind of trade?’ Alex thought with surprise. ‘Is it familiar with humans? Could it be possible that it gives humans fruits in exchange for meat? I mean, the hedgehog is big and cumbersome. Everything probably flees from it, making it surprisingly hard for it to hunt.’

nAlex gathered the fruits, but before he got to the last one, something happened.

nHSSSSSSS!

nThe loud sound of hissing came from Alex’s front, and he jumped back out of reflex.

nSnap!

nThe animal quickly grabbed the fruit, turned around, and fled into the distance.

nIt was that lizard again!

nIt had intimidated Alex and took that opportunity to run with one of the fruits!

nHowever, Alex’s eyebrows furrowed as he scratched his chin in thought.

n‘It could have launched a fireball at me, but it didn’t. Instead, it hissed at me, grabbed the fruit, and ran. It’s probably wary of my power, but the fruit was enticing enough for it to take the risk,’ Alex thought.

nAlex looked at the fruits with more interest.

n‘Anything coming from such a fearsome beast couldn’t be simple! It’s a risk, but I think it’s worth trying to eat the fruits!’

nAlex climbed a tree and ate one of the fruits.

nAs soon as he swallowed the first bite, something happened.

nA burning pain shot throughout Alex’s body!

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