Miguel's stomach growled so loudly it almost echoed inside the cave. He groaned and sat back, clutching his abdomen. "Damn it… I feel like I'm dying."
Nick wasn't in much better shape. His small frame looked like it could collapse at any moment, his face pale from exhaustion and hunger. Still, unlike Miguel, he forced a grin. "Listen, partner, we need three things if we want to survive: food, clothing, and shelter."
Miguel lifted his head with dead eyes. "Bro, we don't even have one of those. Look at these rags. One hit and they'd rip apart. We're broke."
Nick chuckled despite his hunger. "Exactly why we're going to fix that, starting now. First priority—food."
At that single word, Miguel's weak body straightened slightly. "Food…" His tone carried desperate longing.
Nick clapped his hands together dramatically. "Hell yeah! If we don't eat now, we'll just end up as skeletons in this forest. Let's go hunting."
Miguel sighed but nodded. "Fine. Lead the way, magic otaku."
Together, they stepped out of the cave into the bright morning light. The air was fresh, the forest alive with rustling leaves and distant bird calls. Miguel was about to complain again when he froze. Ahead, a herd of bulky shapes moved between the trees.
Boars.
Not the small, farm-like pigs from Earth—these were massive beasts, their tusks gleaming like daggers, their bodies covered in thick, bristly hair. Each looked powerful enough to overturn a tree.
Nick's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Perfect. Meat delivery service has arrived!"
Miguel muttered, "More like death delivery…" Still, he raised his hand, summoning spheres of shimmering water. His aim wasn't perfect, but he was practicing throwing faster.
The first ball of water shot forward, striking a boar's flank. It squealed in fury, turning toward him. Before it could charge, Nick dashed forward, flames coiling around his fists.
"Let's see how this works in real combat," Nick muttered under his breath. He thrust his fist forward, the fire exploding with the impact.
BOOM!
The boar was sent sprawling, flames searing its thick hide. Another squeal echoed as it collapsed. Nick grinned like a child on Christmas morning. "Hah! Flame Fist!"
Miguel dodged as another boar lunged. He unleashed three rapid-fire water bullets, striking its face and legs, staggering it long enough for Nick to dash in and finish the beast with two heavy punches.
The battle raged for several minutes. Miguel focused on speed, peppering enemies with water balls while trying not to get trampled. Nick, however, fought like a madman, laughing as flames engulfed his fists, punching with explosive force.
When the last boar charged, both boys attacked together—Miguel's water slammed into its side while Nick's fiery fist struck its head. The beast toppled with a final squeal, the smell of singed hair rising into the air.
Breathing hard, Miguel leaned against a tree. "Score check: I took down five."
Nick wiped sweat from his forehead and smirked. "Nine. Victory goes to me."
Miguel rolled his eyes. "We weren't even competing. And still… you're way too powerful compared to me."
Nick clenched his fists, admiring the faint heat that lingered around them. "I'm calling this technique Flame Fist. It sounds badass."
Miguel muttered, "Sounds like something ripped from a shounen manga…"
score
nick : 9 , miguel : 7
Nick shouted " I won"
Miguel sighed " who said we were competing "
But soon, the smell of roasting meat drowned out their banter. Using fire and water in perfect teamwork, they cooked the boars over a controlled flame. When the first bites of tender meat touched their tongues, both boys groaned in delight.
"This… this is heaven," Miguel said with his mouth full.
Nick tore into another piece, juices dripping down his chin. "Who knew boars tasted this good? That's step one done—food secured!"
They ate until their bellies ached. Then, using the hides of the slain beasts and weaving in leaves from the surrounding forest, they fashioned crude garments. The stitching was messy, but the result was wearable.
When they finished, Miguel struck a ridiculous pose in his makeshift boar-hide tunic. "Second thing done—new clothes unlocked."
Nick laughed so hard he nearly fell over. "We look like cave kids! But hey, at least we're not running around in rags anymore."
Satisfied, they turned their attention to the last necessity.
"Now comes the tough part," Nick said seriously. "Shelter."
Miguel groaned. "What are you planning this time?"
Nick crossed his arms confidently. "Wood and stone. We'll build a proper hut."
Miguel raised an eyebrow. "You say that like we're playing Minecraft."
"Not Minecraft. Real life survival."
"And how, pray tell, do you plan to cut wood? And stone? We don't even have tools."
Nick placed a hand dramatically on Miguel's shoulder, his grin widening. "That's where you come in."
Miguel blinked. "…My help?"
"Yes. Think about it. Your water magic isn't just for throwing little water balls. With enough control, you can cut through things—like an invisible blade."
Miguel stared at him like he was insane. "You want me to… water-saw trees?"
"Exactly!"
Miguel sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. "Sometimes I regret teaming up with you."
But after a few moments of silence, he couldn't deny the logic. He'd felt the cutting pressure of his water before. If he focused, maybe he could turn it into something sharp.
Reluctantly, he extended his hand, forming a thin stream of high-pressure water. It hissed as it struck the bark of a nearby tree, carving a faint groove.
Nick's eyes sparkled. "It works! Keep going!"
Miguel groaned again, muttering curses, but continued. Slowly, the stream dug deeper, and with Nick pushing at the weakened spot with fiery fists, the tree eventually toppled.
The sound of it crashing to the ground made both boys laugh in triumph.
"One tree down," Nick said proudly. "Dozens more to go."
Miguel wiped sweat from his brow. "This better not turn into child labor."
By the time the sun began to set, they had managed to cut enough trees ,but the problem is ...
Miguel : how do we lift these logs
To Be Continued ...