'Why is that one so hell-bent on chasing me...' Turning around, Nolan found the monkey was still chasing.
Except this one, every other monster had either returned deep into the jungle or had begun to fight among themselves, but this one… this bastard was still after his flesh.
'I can't outrun it...'
He thought, and for a second, the thought of trying to fight it appeared in his head. In his current situation, fighting seemed rather easier than running. But the quicker it had come, the instant it went away as well.
Nolan knew the only reason he was still alive was because of two legs... if he ever thought of fighting it out, there would be no returning from it.
The monkeys on earth were already considered smart and strong enough to take a human out... not to mention the fact that the monkey that was chasing him was already well above the two-and-a-half-meter mark.
Not only was its body monstrous enough to tear him apart if he ever thought of fighting... but Nolan had a feeling that the feathers on its body weren't just for show either.
'Is there no other way than to run myself to death...'
With all the running he had done, he had a feeling the body of his was reaching its limit.
Nolan wasn't just talking about the physical limit—the mental one had begun to show its effect as well.
Screechhhh!
As if mocking his pitiful existence, the monster cried out.
With all the shouting, Nolan had begun to get frustrated. For a second, he thought of turning and saying why can't it just chase in silence. Why did it have to announce that it was getting closer and closer by each second... Of course, he didn't say it.
Instead he shouted, "Fuck you... I'm not even that appetizing, you fucker… why don't you pick a fight with something your size?"
Screechhhh!
The monster replied in its own shout… which put Nolan back to focusing all his strength on running.
A minute had passed, and soon he was reaching the final limit. He had a feeling that he wouldn't be able to run if he stopped this time.
Arggghhh!!
Instead of just feeling like it, the act of running itself had begun to actively hurt him.
With all the burning in his chest, Nolan couldn't even take a full breath without feeling like standing in the middle of a volcano... no, more like in the deepest depth of hell.
Sweat was dripping down his temples, soaking his shirt on top of that, the sun above his head wasn't making it any easier as well. At this point, instead of whole, the world appeared more like a hazy and blurred version of its past glory.
With all the suffering, Nolan could almost question—was running even worth it?
Wasn't death more peaceful than this hell?
Who was to say he would escape the monster and be safe, even with all the running?
Was there anyone to guarantee that he would be safe if he continued running?
No… There wasn't anyone…
If not...
And if he were to still die even with all the suffering he was enduring... then what was the point then?
Wasn't it nice to just stop the act and accept defeat?
Just lay there and let the monster satisfy its hunger.
Just submit to it and die.
No...
...to hell with that.
If this is the last day on this world... Nolan wanted to make it worthwhile. What's the fun in just lying and accepting death? He wasn't the type to just accept anything for free. And death seemed more than anything.
If today was the day he was going to die... he would earn it and accept it for free.
Running frantically, Nolan scanned his surroundings, trying to find a way to escape or at least find something that would help him in a fight with the monster.
The very first thing he checked was his own pocket... and to his surprise, there were a few things in it... of which only two of them had caught his attention.
One of them was a lighter—it wasn't exactly his and was instead handed to him by his friend this morning when the principal had called him to the office.
Nolan thought, but he couldn't find any way to harm the monster with the lighter while they were running.
If he were to somehow simultaneously break the bottle and ignite the lighter on the monster's face, there was a chance to blind it... but he knew it was nothing short of fantastical.
The second item was instead more appealing... it was a pen. A heavy, sturdy pen. The reason for such a choice of pen was because of cheating... in a pen fight no less.
'This could work as a temporary weapon.' He made up his mind, gripping the pen in his hand.
Nolan had considered it, but wasn't stupid enough to just engage in a battle with just that... no, it was more like a last resort.
Pen would be used only if there was no other way... but to his surprise, there was one, and he was looking at it.
A lake? River?... or ocean...?
There was a body of water right in front of him.
'Could... could this be useful...??' Nolan thought, ideas forming in his head. The thought of diving into the dirty, muddy water appeared in his mind.
Having attended one or two survival camps before, he knew how to swim. Not only swimming—he knew a great deal of other things as well... but only the former would be of use at the moment.
'No... wait... I remember monkeys can swim as well... shit.' He almost cursed himself for this hindsight, but soon realized that it might not be as bad as he had thought.
The monkeys who were able to swim in the river were on the small side of the stick, even compared to his world's standards. But the behemoth in front of him seemed more the type to sink to the bottom rather than be able to swim.
Of course, that wasn't the only thing that made Nolan sure. The second and most obvious was feathers. Yes, the feathers that seemed menacing just moments ago... now appeared like stairs to his salvation.
If one paid attention to a little bit of facts surrounding animals—which Nolan did quite a lot, in fact—they would know beings with feathers tend to avoid diving deep into the water.
Of course, there might be exceptions to this because of the change in worlds, but Nolan was more than happy to bet on something logical rather than his ability to run any longer.
Water it is then...
With a last push of strength, Nolan sprinted toward the water. While he was somewhat happy, a frown had appeared on the monster's face.
Like Nolan, the monster increased its speed as well. It wasn't keen on letting its prey be others today.