Chapter 290: Temporary Truce

[Island]

Upon seeing Shun, Goran couldn't help but felt a relief on his chest, before he suddenly became wary and glared at Shun himself. Seeing his expression, Goran must have thought that Shun came to tale him out himself, after all this island test initially dictates that each and every single individual on the island is a potential enemy even if they are from the same academy and it is up to them to decide how to survive the longest on the island.

"Don't look at me like that, I just literally saved you"

"How can I trust you that you won't attack me?"

"Then don't trust me, I never said anything about trusting me... in this test, the only one you can trust is yourself... that's how you survive"

After saying that, Shun pulled out a health potion from his book inventory, as he threw it towards Goran and waited for him to slowly recover. Upon seeing that Shun is just silently watching him recover, Goran felt a sudden sense of guilt for doubting Shun's good intentions and somewhat wanted to apologize.

After all staying in this island with a need of 24/7 on guard, can literally drain a person's mentality to act rational. Since he was tired and sleepy, Goran couldn't help but be wary even towards Shun.

"Sorry about what I said earlier"

"No! Don't be! Your practically did the right thing... in fact I would've been quite angry if you just easily dropped your guard around people from the same academy... after all, in survival... humanity and humility are often the reason why people die... so if you want to survive, you need to adapt.

Hearing his words, Goran couldn't help but fully understand what he means, since it is all for his own good.

Adaptation is the process through which an organism adjusts to a novel environment in order to survive. The necessity of adaptation: Animals can defend themselves against predators or harsh weather by adapting. To protect themselves from predators, several animals have developed camouflage.

This ability to rapidly adapt to varying environmental conditions has made it possible for us to survive in most regions of the world. We live successfully in humid tropical forests, harsh deserts, arctic wastelands, and even densely populated cities with considerable amounts of pollution.

In that moment Goran's stomach rumbled as it literally begged him for food. Apparently due to him not fully adapted yet in this island, Goran had no choice but to stay wary while forgetting to feed himself.

"Well this is embarrassing" said by Goran

"Ugh! Fine! Here!" Said by Shun as he handed a ganoderma towards Goran

"What's this? A mushroom?" Asked by Goran as he examined the ganoderma mushroom

Upon seeing his wariness towards a herb, Shun couldn't help but shook his head in disappointment, as he explained the Ganoderma Mushroom.

"Thats an herb, a pure one at that"

"!!!"

Seeing that Shun insisted for him to eat it first before actually doing anything, Goran then had no choice but to believe Shun and bite off the ganoderma mushroom.

Not long after, Goran felt full from just eating the ganoderma mushroom. At first Goran was shocked by the miracle that the mushroom had done for him, but not long after, he simply accepted it as anything that belongs to Shun is completely out of ordinary.

In that moment Shun faced Goran as he  asked.

"Hey! I know that your still wary of me somewhat, but let's team up"

"You... well that's fine! It's better to form an alliance before it's all over"

"Thank you! With the both of us, are options on how to survive just increases"

After that Goran picked up his weapon, as he head towards Shun and asked on what to do now.

"So what do we do now?" Asked by Goran

"I was planning to head over to the place where there is a river, after arriving there I plan to head upstream and somehow base there I think"

Following the upstream of a river in a survival situation is often recommended for several reasons. The upstream part of a river is closer to the source, which typically means cleaner and fresher water. The further downstream you go, the more likely the water has been contaminated by pollutants, waste, and other harmful substances.

In many cases, following a river upstream can lead you to the source, which might be a spring or a small stream. Human settlements are often established near water sources, so moving upstream increases your chances of finding a village, town, or other signs of human habitation. In this case he may come across students from other academy who thought the same as him.

Rivers can serve as natural pathways that are easier to follow compared to navigating through dense forests or rugged terrain. By following a river upstream, you have a clear and consistent direction to move in, which can be crucial if you are disoriented. Following a river can help you avoid some hazards such as getting lost in thick forests or navigating difficult terrains. The river itself can act as a guide to help you maintain a consistent path.

Moving upstream generally means heading towards higher ground, which can be beneficial in avoiding flood-prone areas, especially during heavy rains or storms. Overall, following the upstream of a river can be a strategic decision in a survival scenario to ensure access to clean water, increase the chances of finding help, and navigate more effectively.

"So what do you think Goran?" Asked by Shun

"Well I go where you go"

"Thats great! Now we just need to find a river"

"Well Animals, especially herbivores, frequently travel to water sources. Look for well-trodden paths and follow them they often lead to water... or Lush, green vegetation often indicates the presence of water. Look for plants that thrive in wet conditions, such as willows, reeds, or cattails, which usually grow near water sources"

"I see! Either through an animal or a plant... alright! Let's get started" cheered by Goran as he followed Shun