The next morning, Ethan woke up feeling worse than the day before. His stomach ached with hunger, a deep, gnawing pain that spread through his body, and his throat was so dry it felt like it was filled with sand.
The early sunlight filtered through the trees above, casting patches of light and shadow on the ground, but Ethan was too focused on survival to notice. Every movement was a struggle. His body felt stiff and unresponsive, as if it were actively working against him.
Most people in Ethan's condition—starving and dehydrated—wouldn't be able to sleep at all. The constant need for food and water would keep them awake, their thoughts consumed by survival. But Ethan had been through this before.
His past experiences had taught him how to endure the pain of hunger and dehydration and find moments of rest, even in the worst situations. This skill, born out of necessity, had saved his life many times in his ruined world.
As Ethan began climbing down from the tree where he had slept, he heard the faint popping of his joints in the quiet morning air. His movements were slow and careful, his muscles sore from hours of lying still.
His joints ached, and his arms and legs felt heavy. Still, there was a small sense of relief in his mind as his body began to wake up, the stiffness easing as he moved.
Around him, the forest was coming to life. Birds chirped in the distance, and the leaves rustled in the breeze, a sharp contrast to the silence of the night.
Once he reached the ground, Ethan crouched behind a fallen log, his breathing quick and his thoughts racing. His need for water was urgent, but the river—his only source—was guarded by a group of crocodiles.
Their rough, scaly bodies were half-hidden in the water, their eyes sharp and focused, watching for any movement. The sight sent a shiver down his spine.
Going near the river was too dangerous, and Ethan knew it. But without water, he wouldn't last much longer. He looked around, his eyes scanning the area for anything that could help him.
The forest was a maze of tall trees, thick bushes, and scattered rocks, but Ethan's focus was unwavering. His survival instincts kicked in, sharpened by years of hardship.
His attention fell on the stone in his hand, its surface rough and cool to the touch. It was a simple object, but to Ethan, it could be a tool—a weapon or a way to create a distraction.
An idea started to form in his mind. At first, it was just a thought, but it quickly grew into a plan. It was a risky one, and there were no guarantees, but it might work. In a world where every day was a fight for survival, Ethan was ready to take the risk.
Ethan moved quietly to a nearby tree, one with low-hanging branches that he could climb. Once he was safely perched about ten feet above the ground, he took a deep breath and aimed the stone at one of the larger crocodiles.
With a swift, practiced motion, Ethan hurled the stone. It struck the reptile squarely on the side of its head, the impact echoing with a dull thud.
The crocodile let out a guttural hiss, its body thrashing violently in the water as it attacked one of its neighbors. Its teeth sank into the leg of the other creature, and with a brutal twist, it ripped the limb clean off.
The wounded crocodile roared in pain, its tail whipping wildly as it retaliated, clamping down on its attacker's snout. The sudden fight between the two startled the others, causing chaos to erupt.
The river turned into a battleground. The pack of crocodiles, driven by instinct and rage, turned on each other. Jaws snapped, tails thrashed, and the water churned with blood and foam.
Ethan watched from his perch in the tree, his face expressionless as he thought, "No matter how physically superior you are to me, you're still just a bunch of beasts. If someone plots against you and you can't even see it, then you deserve your fate."
The battle among the reptiles was brutal, a raw display of nature's ferocity. Ethan knew better than to intervene. He waited, biding his time, as the chaos unfolded below.
Minutes felt like hours as the crocodiles continued their savage fight. Eventually, the river grew quieter. Several of the creatures lay motionless, their bodies floating in the now-murky water.
Others were badly injured, dragging themselves onto the riverbank to escape the carnage. Ethan's plan had worked—the pack was weakened.
Carefully, he climbed down from the tree, his eyes never leaving the surviving crocodiles. He moved slowly and deliberately, avoiding any sudden movements that might draw their attention.
His target was one of the corpses floating near the riverbank. It was a risky move, but he was determined to make the most of his opportunity.
Using a sturdy stick, Ethan prodded the water, testing the distance. When he was close enough, he reached out and grabbed the tail of the dead crocodile.
It was heavier than he expected, and he had to use all his strength just to drag it onto the shore. His muscles burned with the effort, but he didn't stop until the carcass was safely on dry land.
Taking the empty pot from his worn-out bag, Ethan filled it to the brim with water from the river before setting it down near the tree.
Now that his task was complete, Ethan turned his attention to the crocodile as he began to work. Using the sharp edge of his stone, he began to skin the creature, carefully removing its tough hide.
The meat underneath was fresh, and though the idea of eating raw crocodile meat wasn't appealing, Ethan knew it was necessary for his survival. He also wanted to test how his Evolved Organism power worked.
As Ethan cut off a small piece of the crocodile and chewed it slowly, forcing himself to swallow it, he found the meat tough and gamey, but it was food. While Ethan ate, he kept a wary eye on the river.
The surviving crocodiles had retreated to the far bank, their injuries keeping them at bay. For now, Ethan was safe. But he knew the jungle was full of dangers, and this was only the beginning of his struggle for survival.
An interesting thing happened, however. No matter how much Ethan ate of the crocodile's raw meat, he still felt a relentless hunger coursing through his body. It made the minutes flash by without his notice, driving him to consume the entire crocodile, leaving behind only its hide and bones.
When Ethan finally came to his senses, his body was sore and his mind was still hazy, but he knew he had to move fast. The jungle around him was noisy with the sounds of birds, rustling leaves, and distant animal noises, but he didn't have the luxury of taking it all in.
His only goal was survival. He looked down at the remains of the animal he had eaten—its skin and bones were scattered on the ground.
These items would be crucial for building shelter or crafting tools, and Ethan's mind was already racing ahead.
He knew every choice he made now would decide whether he lived or died on this strange island.
With his bag now heavier but filled with useful items, Ethan turned his attention to the pot of dirty water he had collected earlier. The water wasn't safe to drink, but he had a plan. Holding the pot carefully, he started the walk back to his temporary camp—a large tree whose roots gave him some cover.
The walk back was slow and tiring. Uneven ground and thick plants made it difficult to move. Every step reminded him how alone he was in this wild place.
But Ethan kept going, driven by the need to take care of his basic needs. By the time he reached his tree, the sun was starting to set, turning the sky shades of orange and pink. Ethan, however, didn't pay much attention to the sunset; his focus was entirely on staying alive.
Putting down his bag and the pot of water, Ethan got to work. He arranged the small sticks he had gathered into a pile, then began rubbing two sticks together to start a fire.
His hands had gone sore after many tries, but he didn't give up. After what felt like forever, a small flame finally appeared. Ethan carefully fed it, adding more sticks until he had a steady fire. The warmth was a small comfort, but it helped a little.
With the fire going, Ethan placed the pot of water over it. He watched as the water slowly started to boil, the bubbles showing it was becoming safe to drink. It took time, but Ethan waited patiently.
He had no other option. As the sky darkened and the jungle grew quieter, the firelight cast flickering shadows on the trees around him, creating an eerie yet oddly calming atmosphere.
Finally, after hours of work, the water was ready. Ethan took the pot off the fire and let it cool for a bit before taking his first sip. The clean, warm water felt like a small victory in his fight for survival.
For a moment, Ethan allowed himself to enjoy it—the simple relief of quenching his thirst was evident on his face. But the moment didn't last long, as his expression returned to its usual seriousness. He knew this was just one step in his long and uncertain journey.
As the last light of the day disappeared and the jungle turned dark, Ethan sat by the fire, already thinking about what he needed to do next.
The challenges ahead were tough, but he was determined to face them. With a calm expression, Ethan endured another day on the unknown island, his determination to survive unshaken despite the overwhelming odds.