34 Human skin drums

The sticky bush expands and weighs down Silvia. Upon contact with water, these bush has been designed to increase in size, however, there is a limit to it. If there's too much water The bush would break and lose all its size.

Currently, the bush covered about 3 meters in size and Silvia can't move her body at all. This situation continues until the bush reaches 4 meters in size. Then it pops open with all it water inside.

Her figure rises up. She is pissed off by this situation. The rain comes at the worst time possible for her. Now she can't hear them anymore. The sound of rain suppresses all the sounds from the forest.

'This damn weather...'

She has heard about this unique condition of Boniah island before however, she didn't think that they would be this unlucky to get it the day they raid this place. With the rain, most of their metal monster would cease their function and she herself would need to stop playing around.

She turns on her glasses and the surrounding has turned into a blue hue. With the rain around the temperature of the forest has dropped considerably however, she could still detect the heat coming from the two children.

She pursues once she sees her target.

-----

On the other side

"Stop holding my hand! Why did you help me?!"

"Because you help me!"

"That's because you also help me! Our debt has been settled already!!"

"S...Shut up! I don't want you to die OK?"

"....."

Michael is stressed out. The water level is already at the toes. Every time they run it creates a splash of water. It's like they are calling for the predator to their position. And they are running out of time. In about two hours this place would be flooded and the water predator would become active.

Micahel has used all of the healing herbs they had and Layla is not in a good condition. She got wounds all over her body and some are deep cuts that render her left arm useless. With that in mind, he ran through his option.

First, he could climb the trees, however, with Layla's arm being injured it would be hard to bring them both to the height that considers safe. Since he didn't bring the tree climber here it would take him a long time to climb it. However, they will be a still target if that woman ever finds them again.

The second option is to run to the mountain and seeks refuge with the apex predator. With their speed, they could reach the foot of the mountain in about an hour and avoid the water. This is a rather risky option since it's the apex predator territory. but, the upside to it is that if the predator doesn't mind them they could get a free pass.

The third choice is to stumble across other people. He could try to find folks as they are currently in the southern portion of the forest, but it is unlikely. Since there was a base there that housed hunters, most residents fled the burning settlement to the north forest.

With the three options he could think of Michael decided to go to the mountain. The third option is too random and unreliable. If they can't find another hunter of Boniha people in an hour they would have to swim in the water.

The first option would be good if the pirate lady couldn't find them however, Michael has a feeling that it's not a coincidence that she ran into him. however, Micahel has no idea how. He has to go with his gut feeling.

"Are we going to the mountain?"

"Y...Yeah..."

"Are you out of your mind!?"

"Do you have a better idea?"

"..." She looks at her own arm and sighs "Can't we just find other people to help?"

"No, we are on the south side of the forest, there aren't many people here."

Michael explains, he is quite confident in his reasoning since his decision has often been right... He thinks. Since his primary concern, for now, is simply surviving, his depression has lessened.

"Why are you here in the first place?"

"I... The same goes for you! Why are you here!? Shouldn't you be in the north forest!?"

"I have no choice! It was dark and that pirate lady is chasing me!"

"Why is she chasing you!? You're not even that strong!"

That hit him right where it hurts. Micahel can't say anything since it's true. Thinking about it. Why does she chase him? Micahel could deduce from her work that she chase after him but, why?

If he were a pirate what would he do?

Does Michael imagine that if you were as strong as SIlvia who could overwhelm Layla? She wouldn't waste time chasing him. The pirate would likely get her to deal with people like Belga of Gurara. He doesn't seem to have anything valuable on him.

Leather armor silver knife and a toolbelt filled with some miscellanies stuff that doesn't sell for much. The only thing that he thinks that it's little value is the Silver necklace he wore all the time. However, the necklace doesn't have any jewels on it. The only thing that would be of value is its weird square shape design.

It's unlikely that they would pursue him for the necklace. Does she want his body? NO, the Boniha kids are more valuable, She wants to... have fun bullying him? That's... the most likely possibility.

"She might... want to torture me..."

"What!?"

"Well... she always goes on and on about instrument right? Maybe she wants to turn us into Flute or Drum! A human skin Drums!"

"Eww, Why would anyone do that!?"

"I don't know, If you were a pirate what would you do?"

"What a dumb question! I would go for meat! and treasure! You get to eat seafood every day and find hidden treasures from a thousand ago! Life wouldn't be so boring stuck on this island with a loser like you."

"..." Layla answers with gleaming eyes. Micahel sulked hearing her called him that. From Michael's perspective, she's not wrong about this. he did lose to Graha and cried about it.

Approaching the mountain they could see that towering height of it. Up close it feels like a monster that could stomp you out of existence in a mere second.

"Are we really doing this?"

"..... the water is rising... we have no other option."

"Grrr...I got it.. fine... Let's just pray that the Apex predator won't notice us." She did not like this idea.

They both enter the foot of the mountain. while walking up the water level also decreases with the hights. While walking on normal ground the water would reach up to their knee but, on the foot of the mountain, the water level could only reach their feet. They scale the steep mountain and arrive at a rather wired monolith.

Michael has a feeling that he has seen it before but, he couldn't remember it.