Chapter 95: An Ode To Desperation

The night ended and another morning came. A few days went by like that. Every day was like a new adventure. To my surprise, I was enjoying my life again. (And then there was the day when we found the island of goblins…. The next day, I erased it from my memory.) Which is why I couldn't let my guard down. After all, I knew how always bad things happen whenever I was content with my life.

"Land ahoy!"

At this point, I had no real expectations from this island. Just from a distance, I could tell, shit was about to go down again. Even the smell of the air was different.

The island looked uninhabited; it had two mountains and a dense forest covering the entire surface. But from my personal experience, I could tell that no matter where we went, monsters won't stop appearing, and the forest looked ominous. Did I forget to mention, I didn't have even a shred of interest to venture within?

The ship stayed away from the reefs at a fair distance and about ten pirates including me, headed to the island. I wasn't part of the pirates and I didn't want to be on this island. But they still forced me to come anyway. The old man stayed back at the ship. How the hell did the old man managed to always have the best outcome for himself though? I'd never seen anyone asking him to do anything. While everyone just had to make me do all sorts of chores.

The island was covered in some sort of eerie fog near the top but maybe that was just because of the pressure up high. This island was bigger than the previous one, in fact it might have been even bigger than the one I was stranded one. Why do I have to come to this island! I had no intention of roaming around in this island but they dragged me out anyway.

No matter how many days I spent in this world I just couldn't get over my fear of monsters. I suppose that was only natural. But hey, at least I had company.

"Look sharp lads. We've got company!" Literal company.

Before even touching land we were outnumbered by incoming pelican like monsters. But unlike pelicans their beak featured teeth, which were sticking out.

We started the day by fighting pelicans; not a great way of starting the day.

"Lucky we. We found thro- I mean food even before heading inside," Gack said. Okay…? His slicing days were far from over. Not a single head were left unsliced. I felt kind of sorry for the monsters. "Listen up! We will divide into three teams of three. One of us will guard the ships and the rest will forage for food," Gack said.

I suppose that's only logical.

The area we were was the beach and ahead of us remained the jungle. I wouldn't lie, I was nervous at the thought of heading inside. "Wouldn't it be-" I wanted to be the one who'd guard the ships.

But he didn't let me finish. "Marr, Hera, and Jelcor, ye three search for herbs and alike. Rokkan, Zing, and Sanax, ye three search for drinking water. Finally Brend, Jowy, and the newbie, ye three head inside the deep forest and scout the area. While yer at it search for fruits too!"

My name isn't even worth mentioning? I still tried to be persistent. "Hey isn't-"

Again I couldn't finish.

"AYE!" The pirates said in unison. I was the only sore thumb sticking out. No one paid any attention to me and Brend dragged me inside the forest whether I liked it or not.

Gack stayed behind to guard the boats. Or more like, he wanted to slice up pelicans a bit too badly.

Never thought I'd be back to the forest's so quick. Why is my destiny filled with nothing but forests? Regretfully, I was yet to find an answer to this question.

The forest reminded me of that day I spent inside the insect zone of the island, again. Just thinking about the leeches were enough to send shivers down my spine. However I was not alone this time. I had two comrades with me; although they were pirates. But nostalgia was definitely not something you'd like about these damn forests.

Brend pointed across the distance. "Don't you think that's edible?"

Before even venturing about one hundred meters we encountered potential food. "Looks like banana."

There were a few banana like trees near us. The forest was not that dense where we were. So we went there and took a look. They were bigger than normal bananas. Probably everything in this world emphasized on size a bit too much.

"These seem to be ripe. Daarc, be sure to carry them," Brend said.

Wait, I have to carry them? When he went there to cut the stalk, the tree vibrated. At first I thought it was my imagination but soon it literally moved. It's moving! "Brend get back!"

I couldn't believe my eyes. Why in the world would trees need to move? Well, I suppose being surprised at this point was only dumb of me.

"Ye don't have to tell me that!"

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"Hey other guy, get ready!" I said.

"It's Jowy!" The other guy or rather Jowy was kind of weird. He was all covered up even during such sunny-tropical weather. Even his face was covered, apart from his eyes. Somehow I felt a familiar vibe from him. His ears resembled that of an elves' but maybe I was mistaken. Oh and he was also the same bow guy from before. Jowy had two crossbows on his back this time.

For an instance the plant became lively (more like life taking). Vicious jagged teeth appeared on its face, if you can call that a face. It came towards us using its vines, like we were long lost partners or something. I for once didn't want to take any part in that.

Brend was running around throwing knives. But I couldn't do much. Both of those guys were long rangers but I was the only melee fighter. So instead of waiting for those two to fall pray, I had to decide. I didn't train for two months to cower at the last moment! With my sword unsheathed I charged.

"I'll back you up," Jowy said.

With a nod I went for it. Although at first I thought it was fast, by the time I got close to it, it couldn't even be compared to the undead. This plant monster was slow... very slow.

With the first slash I sliced of the vines; most of them. It didn't have any eyes but somehow it could predict our movements. Jowy continued to fire his crossbows. He was butchering the vines. Brend on the other hand had run out of knives.

I leaned forward and thrust my sword through the plant monster. That should do it…. What the…

The plant was still moving. It caught me with the remaining vines. I couldn't pull my sword or even use my arms properly.

"Daarc!"

Yet again I acted irrationally. The old man taught me so much yet I acted like a complete novice. Damn it!

"Keep him busy like that," Jowy said.

Jowy's arrows weren't that effective but his aim was perfect. He shot through the plants mouth but the plant was still moving around. Then he shot close to the vines and I became free. The knife!

I don't know why but I always forgot about the knife. I unsheathed the knife; it shimmered a little. I plunged the knife deep into the monster; it was still moving. What is this thing? How is it still moving? But one thing was clear. It wasn't an undead. The monsters in the last island couldn't even compare to this one. Even calling this thing a monster might have been a compliment to it.

I couldn't get the sword out but the knife was relatively easy to pull out. I shoved the knife inside the monster again and again. Even I lost count of how many times I stabbed the monster's mouth. After countless stabs it still moved. The damn thing was tough if nothing else. What was this, a last boss of some sorts? Then why the hell did it have bananas as prize?

I could locate the source of the monster's life force; the red glowing heart. I hadn't noticed it before. But there was a red glow coming from inside its mouth. When I had stabbed the monster with my sword I missed it by an inch. This time I didn't waste the effort and shoved my hand inside the monster's mouth and stabbed the heart. It closed its mouth to stop me but I was stubborn like an old man, or maybe more. The teeth sank in and it hurt almost as much as the goblin's bite. But it was too late, for my knife was inside its heart.

The poor thing wilted away leaving the delicious fruit behind. I was skeptical though whether those bananas could be delicious or not. Maybe they had the same kind or even deadlier poison?

"I didn't know you were that brave," Brend said. Giving me a PR grin.

What was brave about that? All I did was out of desperation!

"Can I see that knife of yours?" Aren't you supposed to be worried about me? Jowy said that without even paying attention to my wounds. For some reason, his eyes were fixed on the knife. "Where did you get this?"

"A friend of mine gave it to me," I said. At least I consider her a friend.

Brend was busy tending my wound as Jowy inspected the Knife.

"Here you go," said Jowy. He gave it back.

"So, what was it?"

"Nothing. It just piqued my interest." People don't do that just because something piques their interest. Don't tell me pirates do these kinds of things even under extreme situations! I sighed, but I didn't rebuke him.

After that, we trod carefully. Brend picked up his knives and we marched on. My wound didn't bother me all that much. It wasn't deep.. It did hurt though.

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