Island Survival: Starts by chopping a tree-Chapter 26

Though he couldn’t pinpoint the exact source, he quickly realized what it meant.

The scent had likely been left behind by the wild animal that lived here, likely marking its territory with a pungent warning to intruders.

As Jeff ventured deeper into the cave, the musky odor gradually faded, replaced by the faint sound of water.

He navigated carefully through the darkness, guided only by the dim light filtering in from the cave entrance.

He stepped into a vast chamber where the sunlight barely reached, casting a gentle glow over the surroundings.

Before him lay a large, crystal-clear spring. The water reflected the soft light, shimmering gently even in the dim conditions.

He could see the smooth, polished stones lining the bottom, and small fish glinting as they swam.

The spring was bordered by lush, green moss that thrived in the damp environment, adding a touch of life to the otherwise stark cave walls.

The cool air was filled with the gentle sound of trickling water from a small waterfall at the far end of the chamber.

The waterfall cascaded over a series of rock ledges, creating a soothing, melodic sound that echoed softly through the cave.

The walls around the spring were adorned with intricate mineral deposits, forming stunning patterns of stalactites and stalagmites.

Some formations sparkled faintly as the light touched them, adding a charming atmosphere of the place.

Jeff couldn’t help but smile. This hidden oasis was a perfect spot for shelter, like whenever they were thirsty they can just scooped water from this springs.

"Let’s do a taste test. Even if it’s risky, it might help me determine if the water is contaminated with any metallic or chemical substances," he said, cupping his hands to scoop up the water.

The cold, clear liquid glistened in his palms as he brought it close to his mouth.

Taking a sip, he let the water flow over his tongue. It tasted fresh and clean, with no strange flavors or hints of contamination.

"Still, to be on the safe side, I should boil it for at least a minute," he muttered to himself.

"Boiling will kill any pathogens, bacteria, or viruses that could cause diseases. Better safe than sorry."

Jeff stood up, ready to leave the cave, when something caught his eye in the far-left corner.

The light didn’t fully illuminate it, but a faint, crystal-like gleam shimmered in the dimness of the cave, drawing his attention.

Curious, he moved closer, as the faint glow partially obscured by shadows. As he approached, his heart quickened.

What could it be? Each step echoed softly in the cavern, amplifying the tension in the quiet space.

Finally, Jeff reached the spot. Extending his hand cautiously, he brushed away some loose debris.

His breath hitched as he uncovered a large piece of shed skin. It glistened faintly, an evidence to the creature that had left it behind.

The skin was textured with intricate patterns of scales, resembling those of a snake but entirely different since it was on a much larger scale.

The shed skin was remarkably well-preserved, stretching out in a long, undulating sheet. Each scale was thick and rugged, with a leathery feel under his touch.

The skin had a faint, musky odor, adding to the sense of wildness and raw power that the creature must have possessed.

"This is so big, what kind of creature could shed a skin like this?" Jeff said with a frown, as he marveled at the size and structure of the shed skin.

He ran his fingers over the surface cautiously, noting the sharp edges where the scales had been attached.

His mind raced, like a motor. "This isn’t just a regular snake. Whatever left this behind is... enormous."

The patterns on the scales glinted slightly in the dim light, creating an almost mesmerizing effect.

"I better get out of this place. Just from the touch and its appearance, it seems to have been shed 1-2 days ago," Jeff said, after thinking for a while.

He dropped the shed skin to the ground and turned to look back at the entrance of the cave.

As he did, his breath caught in his throat. Emerging from his view, blocking the cave entrance, was a colossal beast.

The creature’s length stretched a staggering 22 feet, with a massive body that weighed around 2,000 kg. Its scales were thick and rugged, shining faintly with a menacing gleam.

Jeff’s eyes widened in horror as he saw the Komodo Dragon that is plenty times bigger than any other beast he had ever seen in his life, a crocodile could be explanatory but this?

The giant lizard’s eyes glinted with a predatory aura, its forked tongue flickering in and out, tasting the air. Its powerful limbs and muscular tail indicated that this was a creature of immense strength and speed.

The Komodo Dragon let out a low, guttural growl, its massive jaws opening slightly to reveal rows of sharp, deadly teeth.

Jeff’s heart raced as he stood immobilized, and suddenly, an image of the beast from a paleontology book he had read flashed through his memory.

"This animal is a Megalania also known as Varanus priscus. From the records, this creature was already extinct and a relative of the Komodo dragons" He muttered in low breathes, remembering the text.

This giant monitor lizard lived in Australia during the Pleistocene epoch and is believed to have been one of the largest terrestrial carnivores of its time.

Megalania could grow up to 7 meters (23 feet) in length and weighed around 1,940 kg (4,300 lbs).

"How come this wild creature still exists? The Megalania, also known as Varanus priscus, is believed to have gone extinct around 40,000 to 50,000 years ago," he exclaimed inwardly, making him wonder how is that possible.

The primary reason for its extinction is thought to be human activity. When humans first arrived in Australia around 65,000 years ago, they likely played a significant role in the decline of Megalania, along with other megafauna of the time.

"Is it because the island was an uncharted one, making this creature alive and well? Then that means other extinct animals are also.." Jeff pondered as a scary idea emerged in his mind.

But he shook it off in denial because if it is, then surviving this place is not actually easy as it’s supposed to be.

The Komodo dragon fixed its menacing glare on Jeff, its posture exuding dominance. This was its home, its territory, and how dare a smaller intruder step foot on it?

"I better get out of here," he muttered under his breath, that is barely audible.

"This kind of beast is extremely territorial. As a dominant predator, a Megalania—or something like it—will fiercely defend its territory against anyone, especially me."

Every muscle in his body tensed as he prepared to make his move. His face remained calm, not showing any panic, knowing that panicking would only make matters worse.

His mind raced with thoughts of how he might fight the beast, but the only viable option that still came to his mind is to get out of here.

With his trusty axe in hand, Jeff steeled himself. The Megalania, sensing its prey’s challenge, let out an angry growl and charged towards him with terrifying speed.

Jeff quickly dodged to the side just in time, feeling the rush of air as the colossal lizard barreled past him.

He stumbled but quickly regained his footing, sprinting towards the cave entrance. The ground was uneven, and sharp rocks cut into his feet, but he pushed through the pain.

The Megalania wasn’t far behind. It swung its massive tail, catching Jeff off guard but luckily he raised the Fire Axe to block it sending him sprawling onto the rocky ground with minimum injury.

"Damn, that hurts," he cursed.

The pain shot through his side as he felt the impact of the tail’s blow, but he forced himself to get up, knowing he couldn’t afford to stay down.

Blood trickled from a gash on his arm that is long and deep where the rough cave floor had scraped him.

Ignoring the throbbing pain, Jeff kept running, adrenaline was fueling his every step.

As the light from the cave entrance intensified, his heart felt relief with every passing second.

With a final burst of energy, Jeff lunged towards the entrance, just as the Megalania’s jaws snapped inches from his heels.

He tumbled out into the daylight, rolling down a short incline and landing in a heap outside the cave.

Breathing heavily, Jeff looked back to see the Megalania retreating into the shadows, its eyes were glowing with pure malice and threat.

The Komodo Dragon seems to tell him that he must leaved, and consider his action as a warning.

Understanding what it meant Alexander stood up from the ground as it went to the depths being swallowed by the dark.

He was safe, but only just. He clutched his injured arm that a deep cut that was very much visible, he was very much grateful that he was let go.

If the beast had decided to chase him, the injuries could have been far worse or possibly became a fatal one.

"I’ll get my revenge, and for this cave. It will be mine sooner or later!" Alexander declared resolutely, gripping the fire axe in his left hand since his injured left arm was unusable.

He knew he needed to tend to the wound soon, using medicinal plants to prevent infection.

If it became infected, a fever could set in, and the risk of succumbing to illness would rise significantly.

Turning away from the cave, Alexander walked back. Although he was already familiar with the area, he left marks along the way to ensure he could find the cave again.

After some time, he emerged back at the bamboo forest, the familiar rustling of the tall stalks offered a brief sense of comfort to him.