36. Survival
Alex quickly ran around the Forest as he looked at signs of Animal territory and quickly found a relatively remote and untouched part of the forest.
He shuffled through the entire place and collected some vines and some big leaves to make a small shelter there.
He also cut some wood with his hands as he enhanced them with Hamon to act like blades and made a small bed for himself quickly.
'Sleeping on the ground in not advisable in a forest'. Alex thought as he made the bed.
After setting up the bed and the shelter. He went to get some wood for a bonfire. After getting some branches and drying them with Hamon. He was ready to call it a day.
'Well a month here doesn't sound that bad'. He thought and drifted off to sleep.
——Back to the Future——
It's been half a month since Alex was put inside the forest. 'It's been a very fruitful harvest'. He thought as he looked at the killed bear in front of him.
'There might strong beasts here but the normal beasts here are also in quite the abundance'. He thought and lugged the beast on his shoulder.
He returned back to camp and started to mix some herbs he found here and also some plants that had a high salt content.
'All the nutrients are important'. He thought and quickly set up the meat on fire.
He started to eat the food in the wooden utensils that he had made. He had also made a small hut for himself with Gold Experience's help.
He had the precision of Star Platinum that helped a lot in the building as it could pinpoint any small holes or leaks in the roof and the sides.
After eating the food and washing the dishes. Alex stood up and did some stretching for what he was about to do next.
He was glad that he had Gold Experience as it made his job easier to do some menial chores and he had a companion to talk to even if he doesn't say anything back.
'Now time for some real fun'. He thought as he stepped into the forest and flew like a bullet as he made his way towards the marsh.
'I have analysed their habits and strength. The strength is nothing to scoff. My full power can only match a single Hydra. No wonder, Heracles had so much trouble with these guys'. He thought as he entered the marsh and looked for a relatively young Hydra.
He quickly made his over to the known place and hid atop some trees and waited for it show itself. It would take time but he had all the time in the world.
After waiting for a while, Alex perceived a hydra approaching that was much smaller and weaker than the others in the marsh.
Alex prepared himself as he stood atop the branch of the rotting tree. He was using a technique to not stress the branch and break it.
The young Hydra surveyed the surroundings as it was suspicious of being watched. Alex quickly jumped and kicked its head back into the marsh.
The hydra gave a groan as a loud thud was heard and a big splash happened in the marsh. The poisonous mud flew everywhere as Alex dodged it all effortlessly.
Other Hydras noticed the commotion but didn't act at all. They just silently slithered about and did their own thing. They won't move unless the commotion gets into their territory.
Hydras are cold blooded. They won't help each other unless the threat is too big to them. They could clearly tell that the attack wasn't even enough to seriously injure the young Hydra. So they didn't care at all.
The hydra lifted its injured head as it looked at Alex menacingly. Alex was currently standing on the marsh and his feet weren't sinking at all.
He was using Hamon to keep himself afloat. He has been developing various abilities with Hamon that can be crucial during a battle. His Hamon was special, he was mixing his chi into it to make it more versatile.
They stared into each other's eyes menacingly. No one was willing to back down from this challenge. Alex was fully concentrating on the face off.
He used his fear manipulation and projected a giant demon behind him as the manifestation of his will.
The Hydra faced off for a bit but then backed off and looked in another direction with all three of its heads.
'Now to use shockwaves as they can ignore outer Defence and attack from the inside'. He thought and leapt to attack.
He infused Hamon and Chi into his hands and punched its head. The punch ignored its defence and directly rattled its brain.
The hydra shrieked as it spat venom at Alex. Alex ducked and dodged it at a hair's breadth. He quickly got ready and leapt again as he used the technique more accurately this time.
The first one was to get the structure of its hide and then formulate accurate countermeasure. This time the punch would be more effective.
He quickly closed in as he punched its head again but the Hydra had more speed and dodged but got stuck in the neck as a blast happened from the inside and a good chunk of its neck was blown off.
Alex quickly backed off as its other heads were about bite and spit venom at him. He was being cautious.
They went at it for couple more rounds and Alex suddenly ducked under its body as he entered the marsh.
He quickly appeared below where the heart of the Hydra should be and threw a shockwave punch that literally turned its heart into mush.
The Hydra gave a one last shriek and died unwillingly as it looked at Alex with loathing eyes. Alex smiled triumphantly at his win.
"Gold Experience, take it. We need to leave quickly". Alex ordered as he prepared to leave as he knew that he didn't have much time before other hydras notice.
They may be cold blooded but if their kind is killed then they will never let him go easily. He needs to leave before he gets surrounded. This battle had satiated his thirst for battle.
'This one was good for target practice and honing my defence ignoring ability. Now to start at the big ones for real'. Alex thought with a massive grin on his face.