" Okay! It's gone! Ethan hurry up! Bastian get ready!" Tyrion shouted
Ethan used his chains and climbed with the fastest speed he could muster but it still took him 3 minutes to reach the nest which was not at the top of the tree. He jumped in, found exactly two eggs, but he could only carry one at most so he picked one up and got down to a suitable height then threw it down towards Bastian who ran the tree up vertically and jumped catching the falling egg mid-air. Tyrion who had been waiting positioned himself to catch Bastian and help him break the fall.
Ethan had already gone up once again he had enough trust in his brothers not to doubt such a simple task. When he picked up the second one and was about to go down he saw Bastian speeding away already and he could swear his speed exceeded 90 miles per hour which is equivalent to 40 meters per second!
Tyrion followed Bastian but was still far behind, however planting the egg took priority because Ethan would have to drop the one at his hands back at their lair then chase after them. After all, they still needed his chains to rescue Bastian if need to.
Ethan had smoothly done his job, Elora was already at the entrance of the tree waiting for him as he dropped the egg and ran off in a flash as well.
Bastian reached the lake, put down the egg near the shore, he then noticed that it could actually float and not drown in. With a smile on his face, he picked it up once again and threw with all his strength far away in the lake. It made a splash sound as it dived and once again ran up to the surface.
Tyrion managed to catch up and saw how far the egg was and smiled nervously though. Around 2 more minutes, Ethan made it, before he even reached them he swung his chains that coiled around Bastian's waist who also immediately dived in.
Bastian swam towards where he had seen the blue fruit, he found that underwater he really could not see how deep this lake was! He kept on dodging the algae and vines before he saw it once again. It had was like a lamp lighting the space around it. He tried to touch it but took his hands back which were now numb. So he cut off the stalk instead and then pulled the chain around him after which he felt a strong suction pull him which actually made him let go of the breath he had been holding inside the water.
Ethan and Tyrion looked at Bastian who drew an ark before falling down on his butt. He looked as if he was in pain.
" Are you ok? Did you get attacked." Tyrion asked.
" Yes! By you!" Bastian growled as he held his stomach.
" What?"
"Your strength must have been too much which caused him to suffer," Ethan said, his lips kept on twitching when he imagined how much strength was needed to pull someone who was in deep water out like he was flying.
" Anyway let's move to the location!" They ran as if their life depended on it which was actually was the case.
Screech!
The screaming voice of the enraged flying beast sounded.
" Hurry! Cover us!" Said the trio who had already dug a similar lair in another tree. First it was in case there was not enough time to make it back which was an idea suggested by Elora making them realize that she was really helpful in her own way. Even though they were smart they will never be able to see all the angles of a situation so an extra brain is always helpful.
However, it changed, because they planned to hide and watch the fight between the two beasts so that they will be able to gauge and determine the strength needed for survival in this unknown world. They, of course, stayed far away but able to see the fight nonetheless. After all, who wanted to be collateral damage.
The flaming bird just arrived to see the lightning snake swallowing its egg. Another screech sounded as its fire burned even more. The snake, however, was not intimidated because the usual lightning around it intensified as well.
The bird opened its beak and spit out flames that headed to the snake. The snake dodged quite easily and launched a lightning bolt of its own which was also dodged by the bird. The fight stayed like this for quite a bit, launching and dodging before the bird spread its wings and pushed them forward as if it's falling back.
However, that was not the case because feathers flew like a hail of bullets and before the snake could dodge it was injured in it eye by one of the feathers with multiple scratches on its skin. Apparently, those feathers broke its defence.
Hiss!
The snake was enraged, its whole body was now covered with lightning. Then it launched a huge thick lightning bolt that split midway into countless smaller ones leaving the bird with no way to dodge as well being injured in the process. One of its wings now had three holes in it!
As both of them grew more enraged, the flaming bird kept on channelling his fire into a huge fireball that was bigger than it. The before toothless snake had no way to avoid it, now grew some and they left its mouth towards the fireball but only after a pained sound.
The collision of the tooth and fireball caused an explosion that hurt both of them once again. Yellow blood and blue blood were all over the place! Feathers and scales scattered around.
The bird's yellow blood kept on dropping from the sky, suddenly even the blood seemed to glow before its flames reached an unprecedented peak and it launched forward attacking the snake.
The snake used its toothless mouth to bite the incoming bird and managed to do so, and just as it was about to paralyze it with lightning. The bird exploded right in its mouth blowing up its brain all over the place!
The fight ended with mutual destruction. This was not the outcome the trio was waiting for, however, this was not the thought on their minds right now. Their head was just blank after seeing that fight.
Any feather of those would have been enough to end their lives multiple times! Any lightning bolt could do the same. They literally could not hold a fight against any of the beasts especially apparent from the damage left from the fight.
" There's always a way!" That's what they kept on muttering.
They looked at each other, their will to survive and get stronger raged on. Without even talking they walked out and headed towards the two corpses. Ethan picked as many feathers as he could. Bastian went to the snake picking up the scale which they could use as a shield for defence. Tyrion looked around for some while before finding a bead like blue crystal near a pile of snake brain matter. Then the same for a red one in the remains of the deceased flaming beast. However, these two were much bigger than the yellow one and seemed more pure and translucent.
They didn't dare stay too long, such a big fight would definitely bring the attention of other territorial beasts that would probably venture. However, they still took some meat from both monsters to eat. The heart didn't give them any advantage which was honestly disappointing but maybe it's because that one was an infant or so guessed Ethan.
The hearts of these two can no longer be found in the mash of meat around them. They picked up big pieces of meat and avoided organs and such. Then they dashed with their bounty back to their lair.
Elora was surprised by all of the things they brought. She didn't question though from the still pale look on their faces. They handed the meat, scales and feathers for her to process. They then sat down.
" Ethan, do you think we'll ever be able to reach a level of power enough to survive?"
" I do! While we still don't know about this world! Just on how much we progressed in these days we came here I believe that the opportunity to evolve is there! we just have to grasp it!"
" Evolve?" Tyrion asked.
" Yes! I don't think we can be called normal humans anymore? is it superhumans, but even so it's still nothing here?"
" Why?"
" No one at Earth could ever have your strength or Bastian's speed, but in this world, it's not even enough to live so what do you think?"
" I agree, can you guess how far we can progress this time," Bastian said.
" I honestly have no idea, The best I can deduce is that our cells have somehow mutated. I think the adjustment and as we adapt into this world for longer and longer we might unlock some other pleasant surprises."
" What do you mean?"
" Have you all not noticed, We eat a lot, like a lot more, the amount of energy we can expend is also getting bigger and bigger. Just look at Elora, do you think a man at Earth can match her?"
" No! she can kill him with a slap." They replied, aware of her current abilities. She also got a lot stronger after eating that fruit.
"I think we should keep harvesting what we can, and when we're strong enough to hunt we'll be able to progress even faster."
" I see, so what do we do now? eat the meat, the fruit or egg?" Tyrion asked somewhat hungry, they already got over their fear and calmed down.
" The egg first! but what is this about the fruit? there's only one and barely enough for one person!"
" You think only one person should eat it?" Tyrion asked Ethan;
" Yes! If my theory is correct, if we split it, it would lose its potency and would do much but if one eats it whole he might go a level higher." Ethan explained.
" Then just give it to Bastian!" Tyrion said with a bitter smile.
" I thought as much." Ethan nodded bitterly.
" What do you mean?" Asked Elora who finished and had been listening all along. She was a lot more at ease now and could act carefree.
" We decide with rock-paper-scissors, but no one and I mean no one can ever beat Bastian at it." Tyrion explained.
" I don't believe it!" She pouted not accepting the idea, how can one person never lose.
" I believe it!" She said after losing for the 50th time.
" But if it's always like this, he will always get everything." She said confused.
" We change the method every time. And in the next, I don't participate if it's Rock-paper-scissors. The times they win are the times I let them." Bastian said
"Ah, I see" She nodded in understanding.
" Let's eat the egg then see what will happen to Bastian!" Said Tyrion
" Ok let's cook it! I'll help" Said Ethan who got up to help Elora.
" But aren't you going to tame it?" she asked once again
" Ethan said it won't hatch because it still needs the warmth of its mother who is now dead". Bastian explained after which she nodded and started preparing.