Chapter 166
"Let's hurry."
Han Yaseong scooped up the ostrich-chicken's two legs again and started walking. There was no point in wasting any more time. They needed to escape this dangerous zone before some ferocious carnivore showed up. Fortunately, it seemed the savage beasts stayed away from this area. He made it to the safe forest with Yadong without any predator attacks along the way. Still, the constant tension had cold sweat soaking his back. He doubted he could pull this off twice. The stress felt like it had shaved years off his life.
Yadong looked equally drained, clearly not eager for a repeat. He sheathed his dagger in the scabbard on his leg and trudged along with a weary expression.
They finally reached the safe zone of Forest 1, where the wild animals came bounding out to stare at them. Their faces seemed to say, You went to that dangerous place and came back alive? Curious eyes gleamed all around. Watching them, Han Yaseong figured the local wildlife either never ventured into the dangerous forest or never returned if they did.
Hauling the ostrich-chicken's heavy legs with great effort, Han Yaseong barely made it back to his lodging in Forest 0.
"Whew, that was brutal..."
He chugged the last of the water from his small bottle and collapsed onto the bedding. His body was drenched in sweat, his arms utterly spent. His legs trembled, and his back ached a bit. Next hunt, he'd have to fashion a proper carrying pole. Holding those massive legs had left his arms numb, like they might fall off.
"But hey, we got meat. Heh."
Han Yaseong chuckled at the thought of a proper feast after so long.
Yadong lapped up all the water in his bowl, flopped down to rest, and smacked his chops with his saber teeth bared. At least their training hadn't been for nothing. He'd dodged that body slam from the ostrich-chicken. The old Han Yaseong would've taken it head-on and died. That charge was like a compact dump truck barreling in out of nowhere—impossible to evade back then.
But after two years of training, he'd slipped aside at the perfect moment. A direct hit would've shattered his right shoulder blade. The damn thing must've weighed over 300 kilos. Dodging saved his bones; he only had some sore muscles now.
But Yadong's feat was even more impressive. How had he slashed its ankle with a dagger in that split second? All that rearing clearly paid off.
The ostrich-chicken's combat power was probably over 200,000. With so many colossal beasts around, power levels skyrocketed exponentially. Compared to the giant creatures on that plain, Earth's grizzlies or elephants were just puppies. The mega-fauna here were generally over three meters tall, weighing hundreds of kilos or even tons.
Even by body-slam force alone, the ostrich-chicken outpowered any lion or tiger from the other world. No predator could take that hit without serious injury.
Yet he and Yadong had teamed up and taken it down effortlessly. Combined, their combat power had to exceed 400,000.
"Good job, Yadong. That's how we do it from now on. We're the invincible tag team."
Two-man cells made fighting a breeze. Though... was it really two-man with Yadong not being human? One man, one beast combo? Whatever. Han Yaseong got up from the bedding and eyed the ostrich-chicken they'd brought back. Time to prep it—roast or boil. He grabbed the legs and headed to the stream.
Yadong, mission accomplished, lounged back at the lodging without stirring.
At the stream, Han Yaseong butchered the legs with his knife. He severed the feet, skinned them, and rinsed thoroughly. The thighs and haunches were packed with red meat marbled in white fat. His mouth watered instantly.
One leg for roasting over the fire, the other for boiling in the big pot. He carried the cleaned legs back, skewered one on a long branch, and stuck it in the ground by the campfire. The other he hacked into chunks with the hand axe he'd bought last time. The sharp, vicious blade shattered bone after a few solid chops.
He dumped the pieces in the pot, filled it with water, and set it over the flames. Already, the roasting leg sizzled, filling the air with savory meat aromas.
Yadong, stomach rumbling, sat by the fire, licking his chops as he watched.
In the meantime, Han Yaseong sketched the dangerous zone onto his map. From Forest 1, head right five kilometers to a vast plain. A long mountain range stretched beyond. What lay on the other side? Pure curiosity gnawed at him. Was this how Europe's explorers and conquerors roamed America and South America—driven by endless wonder until they claimed it all?
Han Yaseong felt like one of those pioneers now. He was the first human stepping onto this untouched world's plains. Everywhere he went was conquest. This planet ought to be named after him: Planet Han Yaseong. Perfect.
Someday, he'd tread every inch. It might take decades or centuries, but it'd be a thrilling life. To do that, he had to train relentlessly. Grow stronger. Reach the point where an ostrich-chicken died in one stroke.
His real foes were the massive carnivores—dino-sized predators. Getting cocky over one ostrich-chicken with Yadong's help was foolish. The road ahead was long. To take down T-Rex or raptor-class beasts, he'd need at least ten years of training.
Originally, he'd planned to train until winter back home—about two years here. But he scrapped that. Ten years it was.
Crunching the numbers, lifespans here seemed fifty times longer than Earth's. He'd had Yadong for months, yet the beast barely aged. Three months there equaled over thirty-five years here, but Yadong looked unchanged. He could live 500 years, maybe a millennium.
Han Yaseong himself had barely aged after two years here. Ten years wouldn't add much—maybe a few months' worth back home.
So, ten-year plan: Portal in daily, spend a month or two each time. That'd net two to five years per Earth month. He'd finish before winter break. Then, two or three more years for full planetary exploration. Back home, he'd just say he was traveling solo and vanish for a week.
For that future, he'd train like hell. No more holing up safe in Forest 0 after glimpsing this new world. Time to pioneer—like Siberia or Alaska. Korea's ancestors lacked that spirit, missing out on vast lands. With it, they'd have claimed Siberia and the North Sea.
Han Yaseong refused a complacent life like his forebears. Even if it killed him, he'd push into new frontiers. That was humanity's purpose.
His dream of becoming an explorer or adventurer was coming true—heart swelling with fulfillment.
By then, one ostrich leg had roasted golden, dripping fat.
"Time to eat, Yadong."
He sliced off thin pieces, gave one to Yadong, and blew on his own before tasting. Juices burst on his tongue. Tender yet chewy, like prime beef sirloin. No gaminess, no toughness—just melting perfection. No seasonings needed.
Yadong chomped away happily with his saber teeth.
Han Yaseong carved more for Yadong and himself.
"Man, this is delicious."
The more he ate, the more he craved. Worth every bit of the ordeal. Any guilt over killing it? Long gone. He'd hunt more. Earlier he'd sworn off that dangerous plain; now he eyed it as prime hunting ground. Humans were fickle like that.
Han Yaseong and Yadong gorged until they were panting and stuffed.
That night, Han Yaseong grabbed his real sword and trained at the ruined temple site. The heavy meal made digestion tough, but moving helped. Consistent sword practice paid off—he'd beheaded the ostrich-chicken in one clean stroke.