章節 18: Eaten alive
The reptiles were bipedal, yes, but anyone would be a fool to assume they couldn't move with terrifying speed on all fours. Their shorter forelimbs acted like springs, pushing them off the dense roots and propelling them vertically up tree trunks. The sleek, flexible bodies slithered through the jungle's tangled flora like fish through water, unhindered by the very terrain that would trap anything else.
Shaun had barely taken ten steps before he had to duck, the snap of jaws above his head so close that the force of it sent his ears ringing. His heart leaped into his throat—those rows of teeth had been mere inches from his skull. Had he been even a fraction slower, his scalp would've been peeled off like fruit skin.
Instinct kicked in as Shaun spun low to the ground, thrusting his spear upward, hoping to catch the beast off guard. But it was already gone, its claws digging into the bark of a nearby tree as it scrambled to a higher vantage point, its movements disturbingly fluid.
He barely had time to register the movement of the second reptile, which was charging low to the ground, aiming for his legs. Shaun reacted on pure adrenaline, kicking out just in time to catch the creature in the snout before it could open its mouth. The impact did nothing to the beast—it merely sneezed, as if brushing off an itch. But Shaun was thrown into the air, the combined force of his kick and the creature's charge sending him flying.
He twisted mid-air, narrowly avoiding the other reptile as it launched itself at him, missing him by a hair's breadth. He hit the ground hard, rolling several times before slamming into the base of a tree.
He scrambled to his feet, but there was no time to catch his breath. The two reptiles were already circling him, weaving over and under each other in a dizzying dance of death. Their cold, calculating eyes locked onto him, their intent clear: they were toying with their prey, enjoying the hunt.
Through it all, the largest of the three had yet to make a move. It took slow, deliberate steps, its unblinking gaze never straying from the scene. Occasionally, it let out a low rattle, to which the smaller ones would immediately react, adjusting their positions with almost military precision.
Shaun's breath came in ragged gasps. He was in their territory now, their killing ground. He couldn't run fast enough to escape them, and he certainly couldn't outmaneuver them.
One of the reptiles leapt at him, its powerful hind leg planting itself on his chest as its jaws snapped toward his neck. Shaun barely managed to wedge the spear between his body and the creature, using it as a makeshift barrier. The impact sent shockwaves through his body, his muscles straining against the beast's weight. He felt the spear bend under the pressure, but somehow it held.
The two of them tumbled down a slope, the reptile's jaws gnashing just inches from Shaun's throat. They crashed through bushes and low-hanging branches, one of which snapped back with such force that it slapped the second reptile mid-jump, sending it sprawling.
As they hit the ground, the reptile sprang off him, landing several meters away with feline grace. Shaun, on the other hand, was left gasping on the forest floor, the wind knocked out of him. He winced as he tried to move his arm—its teeth had grazed his shoulder, breaking the skin just under his collarbone. A tingling numbness spread from the wound, his arm growing sluggish. Panic surged through him as the realization set in—this was the same paralytic toxin that had brought down the massive boar.
These reptiles were no mere predators; they were sadistic hunters. The boar had been a behemoth of muscle and fury, yet these creatures had brought it down with precise, calculated bites. They would have circled it, nipping at its heels, injecting their venom with each strike, until the mighty beast was too weak to fight back. By the time Shaun had delivered the mercy blow, the boar was already living on borrowed time.
Now, it was his turn.
The two reptiles circled him, their movements slow, almost lazy. Were they regrouping, perhaps reassessing their approach? Or were they simply waiting, confident that their venom was already working its way through his system, weakening him with each passing second?
Either way, Shaun knew he had precious little time. He stayed still, feigning paralysis, hoping to buy a moment to think. His mind raced as he replayed the fight, searching for any detail, any mistake he could exploit.
His eyes darted to the leader, the largest of the three. It had finally stepped into view, its sinister gaze locked onto Shaun. It had been content to watch from the sidelines, letting its underlings wear him down, but now it was ready to claim the kill.
An idea sparked in Shaun's mind. If they truly believed he was paralyzed, he might have a chance at a surprise attack. If he could take out the leader, the others might falter, lose their coordination—or, if luck was on his side, they might even retreat.
But fate had other plans. As Shaun tensed in preparation, the finger on his spear hand twitched involuntarily. The leader's eyes narrowed, a low rattle vibrating in its throat. It signaled to one of its underlings, the closest to Shaun.
Shaun cursed himself for the slip, lying as still as he could, praying the reptile hadn't noticed. But it had. The creature moved forward with a predator's caution, its eyes locked on Shaun's every movement.
The greed that had fueled Shaun's plan vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating awareness in the creature's eyes. It circled to his right, its gaze locked onto the spear within Shaun's reach. He remained perfectly still, knowing that any premature move now would only seal his fate.
With a casual flick of its toe, the reptile sent the spear skittering out of reach, leaving Shaun defenseless. He could only watch as it inched closer, its snout just inches from his ear. The creature opened its mouth wide, releasing a guttural howl that blasted Shaun's face with hot, rancid breath, spittle spraying from between its jagged teeth.
Shaun squinted, fighting the urge to gag as the creature's breath assaulted his senses. His mind raced—this was it. He'd have to use every trick he had left. All this time, he'd been fighting like a normal human, forgetting the tools that had kept him alive this long.
The creature reared back, its forelimb claws hovering above Shaun's torso. It pressed down, and Shaun felt the sharp points begin to dig into his flesh. His mind screamed at him to move, to do something, anything.
Just as the claws began to break the skin, Shaun's eyes snapped open.
The time for the counterattack had come.
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