Two hours later, Vic finally saw the island. It was huge, with a large lake in the middle and towering trees all around it.
Even from a distance, Vic could feel it: an ancient, desolate aura radiated from the island, washing over him with such force that he was awestruck and could not help but feel like submitting.
Vic used Geppo to land on the island, where the aura was even stronger. Perhaps this was what attracted the Sea Kings. That primeval vastness was just what those ferocious beasts loved.
Vic did not know how long he would be staying here, so he decided to build a shelter first. The animals on the island were too powerful; without protection, he would be done for if one carried him off in the night.
Vic explored along the edge of the island. Huge drag marks covered many parts of the beach. Koshiro had told him that Sea Kings came ashore on the island, and Vic reckoned they had left the marks. "It's not safe to build a shelter by the sea either," he muttered.
After searching for a long time, Vic finally found a seaside cliff and decided to build his shelter beside it. The cliff was high, and there were no signs of Sea Kings coming ashore there. He reckoned it was a somewhat safer spot.
He got straight to work. For a swordsman, building materials were available in whatever quantity he wanted. Vic cut some long blocks of stone and wooden planks, then spent half a day building a wooden cabin with a simple, elegant appearance. He left a back door on the side facing the cliff, then set up alarm devices in a semicircle twenty meters from the cabin to guard against sneak attacks while he slept.
After building the cabin, he stacked stone slabs into a simple stove, then made a stone pot, bowls, spatula, and other cooking utensils out of stone.
He had been working all day, and the mutton he had eaten that morning had long since been used up. His stomach was growling with hunger.
"I'll rest a bit, then go hunting. It'll be dark soon, and I still don't know what the forest is like at night. I'll explore it another time," Vic muttered to himself.
After resting, Vic left his backpack in the cabin and set off into the forest with Yubashiri at his waist.
Most of the trees and flowers in the forest were unfamiliar to Vic, as were the insects and small animals.
Vic studied the plants and animals along the way. This island developed differently from many other islands. The creatures here are all so strange; I've never seen them outside, he thought.
He had not gone far when he spotted a creature grazing. Vic rubbed his chin.
"That looks like some kind of dinosaur. Its big head is a bit like a triceratops's, except it doesn't have horns, and its legs are longer and slimmer. It looks kind of goofy. I wonder if its meat tastes good."
Hearing the noise, the dinosaur turned and glanced at Vic. It paid him no attention and went back to grazing, its short, thick tail swishing back and forth. It did not take Vic seriously at all.
After all, the dinosaur was nearly five meters tall and about ten meters long from head to tail, like a double-decker bus. To it, Vic was a tiny speck, nothing to put it on alert.
Vic was so annoyed that he laughed. "Looking down on me? I've decided-you're dinner today! Ha ha!"
With that, Vic drew Yubashiri and leaped toward the dinosaur's neck, intending to chop its head off in one stroke.
Clang! Vic felt as though he had struck a mountain, and the impact numbed his arm. There was only a white mark on the dinosaur's neck; it was completely unharmed. Vic sucked air through his teeth. What kind of defense was that? It was a little ridiculous.
Vic was still in the air, wondering where to aim his next strike, when a dark shadow came at him. He was suddenly sent flying and did not stop until he had crashed through two large trees.
The dinosaur had not been idle when Vic struck it. It had whipped its tail around and sent him flying. It was so fast that Vic could not react at all.
After sending Vic flying, the dinosaur glanced back at him, then whooshed away. It was almost as fast as Soru, leaving only an afterimage.
Vic thought about it and understood. Animals without strong bodies or great speed would have a hard time surviving on this island. "You got lucky. I'm hungry today and don't have any strength. Just you wait."
Vic lay on the ground, cursing in the direction the dinosaur had disappeared.
Vic was not badly hurt, just a little annoyed. After years of training, his body had become quite tough; he could even smash rocks with it without a problem. He had simply been a little careless this time. Who would have thought a grass eater would have such strong defenses? He had thought he could cut it clean in two, but his sword had nearly broken instead.
After lying there for a while to calm himself, Vic got up and headed in another direction. There was no point going after the dinosaur; he reckoned the animals along its path had all been frightened away.
Since he did not know the area, Vic did not dare travel at full speed. It took him half an hour to see any sign of animals. The sounds of the fight had carried quite a distance, and animals had only begun to appear again once he reached this point.
Vic continued forward and soon found a target. It was not as big, standing only a little over a meter tall, but it was very long and slender. It looked somewhat like a horse and had mottled markings on its body. The horse was highly alert and fled as soon as it sensed danger, moving even faster than the dinosaur. But there was no way Vic would let it escape.
Vic could move faster than sound, and he caught up with the long horse at once. He drew his sword and slashed diagonally, opening a large gash in the wild horse's neck. Blood poured out freely. Despite the massive, fatal wound, the wild horse did not stop. It kept running, growing slower and slower until it finally fell, unwilling to give up.
This wild horse was faster than that dinosaur, but its defense wasn't as good. Its vitality really is tenacious, though. It ran so far after losing so much blood. The animals on this island are all extraordinary, Vic thought.
Vic hurriedly hoisted the wild horse onto his shoulders and took off at full speed. Though the horse was not tall, its body was long, and its flesh was very firm.
The wild horse weighed nearly a ton, yet Vic carried it as though it weighed nothing, racing back the way he had come. He feared that if he took too long, the smell of blood would attract stronger carnivores.
Vic was fast. Going all out, he reached the cabin in less than ten minutes. Then he carried the wild horse down to the rocks below the cliff using Geppo. After dressing it there, he used Geppo to fly back up the cliff.
Vic planned to red-braise some of it and barbecue the rest, as well as make a meat soup.
He built a bonfire outside the cabin and set the remaining horse meat beside it to roast, then went back inside to simmer the soup and red-braise the horse meat.
The moon was out by the time Vic finished preparing all the food. The red-braised meat was piled on a large wooden platter, and he carried the soup out in its pot. It looked like quite a feast. Vic took a sip of the soup, found it delicious, and dug in.
After eating, Vic felt his stamina recovering quickly and his strength increasing considerably. He guessed that the animals on this island contained a great deal of "Primal Spirit." "This place is a treasure trove! I can come hunting here more often in the future. When I leave, I'll take some dried meat back for Rebecca and Kuina."
Vic ate and drank his fill, saving a portion for the next morning and polishing off everything else.
After eating the horse meat, Vic felt warm all over and full of strength.
"If only I could stay here a few more days. My body would grow even stronger. Too bad I can't neglect my swordsmanship training. I'll come back when I get another chance." After eating, Vic lay on the ground to rest.
Looking at the moon in the sky, Vic's thoughts drifted. I wonder if Rebecca's swordsmanship has improved, and if Grandma Maria's health is any better. I need to learn the later stages of swordsmanship as quickly as I can, then go back and see them. Vic missed his family a little.