A few days later, Nicholas had recovered enough to walk for short periods, though he still avoided excessive activity. Ang and the others decided to wait until their mentor had fully recovered before setting out again. This brief stop gave them time to sort out their thoughts and fully prepare for the journey ahead.
During their rest, they gathered more herbs near the camp and, at Hepburn's suggestion, practiced using the Coma Potion. By imagining and simulating encounters with dread crocodiles, they devised several different tactics.
Considering Mentor Nicholas's limited mobility, Ang made a simple wheelchair out of wooden planks and a metal frame. Though crude, it was enough to spare Nicholas from overexertion. Qatar volunteered to be the "pusher," wheeling Nicholas along behind the group so he could oversee the entire team. Though inconveniently mobile, Nicholas's presence made the team feel especially secure. After all, this experienced mentor remained a dependable pillar in critical moments.
Standing on the bank of a tributary of the Danube River, everyone watched nervously as the shapes of dread crocodiles gradually emerged from the water. These dread crocodiles clearly remembered Ang and the others crossing the river a few days ago. Seeing the humans again, their eyes were filled with wariness and menace. Ang and his teammates discussed how to carry out their plan, their gazes occasionally meeting those of the dread crocodiles in the river. The low, steady beasts silently watched these two-legged creatures, as if judging whether the humans were new prey.
Ang took out a piece of Shadow Leopard meat that he had prepared long ago. It had been specially treated with the Coma Potion Nicholas had given them. He tied the meat tightly to a long rope, then carefully tossed it into the shallow waters near the bank. The team