Chapter 655 - 6: Great Horned Deer
600,000 square kilometers, roughly equivalent to the entire territory of Ukraine, which is the second-largest country in Europe.
If adjusted to be a rectangle, it can reach a length of 1,000 kilometers and a width of 600 kilometers.
This vast expanse of land includes grasslands, lakes, mountains, rivers, swamps, and even permafrost wastelands and hilly terrains.
Different environments nurture different ecosystems, with lush vegetation stretching all the way from high-latitude to low-latitude regions, and temperatures gradually increasing along the way.
...
Chen Zhou and Paul are heading south.
The rising sun casts its rays over the primordial forest, with light penetrating the morning mist, forming visible paths of light.
This splendid Tyndall effect can be seen everywhere in the forest.
In the chilly morning air, one can occasionally spot small-sized deer darting through the bushes, and wolves appearing from time to time.
However, these wolves do not gather in large packs, typically traveling in groups of two or three, sometimes a male and female pair, or adult wolves training their pups to hunt.
They are clearly too focused on tracking their prey to pay any attention to Chen Zhou and Paul.
Autumn in the Northern Territory is not prolonged, as the harsh winter will soon arrive. Herbivores consume all kinds of vegetation like giant lawn mowers, while carnivores urgently stockpile fat.
If they do not migrate further south and fail to accumulate sufficient fat reserves, the bitter cold of winter alone could claim their lives.
...
Last night’s roasted hyena leg barely filled Chen Zhou and Paul’s stomachs, but they haven’t replenished any water since all night.
Chen Zhou is managing, but Paul’s lips are somewhat dry.
Although the wounded Slavic man hasn’t spoken, Chen Zhou knows his need—
They should find a water source to drink some water.
Using sharp hearing to catch the sound of flowing water in the forest, while observing the fur and footprints left by herbivores in the woods.
Adjusting their direction based on animal tracks, they advanced about 5 kilometers before the height of the trees suddenly dropped, turning into expanses of low shrubs.
At the end of the shrubs, slender willow trees haphazardly rooted in the mudflats, a wide river cutting through the grasslands, winding and stretching into the distance.
Feeling parched for a while, Paul became excited upon seeing the river’s glint from afar, and hearing the sound of water, his steps grew larger.
...
"Be careful, at this time, quite a few herbivores might be drinking water by the river, which could lure predators. Don’t fall into a trap."
Chen Zhou reminded Paul, pulling out a Wooden Spear from his back.
This river is evidently a prime resource station, where they can replenish water and food, as well as collect hard pebbles to craft sharp spearheads, and use river willows to attach stones to sticks to make Stone Hammers or Stone Axes.
Moreover, Chen Zhou could weave simple Vine Armor from river willows to protect his body against animal attacks.
With the enhancement of these weapons and equipment, they can gain advantages in future hunts or conflicts with other challengers.
Most crucially, from the cave hyena attack last night, Chen Zhou realized Paul’s combat strength clearly could not compare to his own.
In this world filled with peril and roaming giant beasts, while Chen Zhou might thrive, survival is much harder for Paul.
Unless Paul’s equipment is strengthened, should they encounter large predators like Cave Lions, Cave Bears, Giant Hyenas, or Blade-toothed Tigers, if Chen Zhou doesn’t protect Paul timely, he risks losing Paul as a companion.
Humans managed to survive the Ice Age and rise in the long history to become Earth’s rulers, due in large part to mutual aid.
Chen Zhou knows his physical prowess far exceeds Paul’s, but even without formidable combat strength, Paul’s contribution during challenges is far greater than if Chen Zhou were to face them alone.
Therefore, to protect this companion, he is willing to invest effort to arm Paul appropriately—
No individual is invincible forever, nor can they prevent illness or injury. Having a companion means having an extra set of eyes, an additional brain, a margin of error that no tool can replace.
...
Remaining on alert, the two left the forest, crossed a high slope covered in wild grass, and approached the riverbank.
On either side of the riverbank lay mudflats and sandy areas piled with river sand, where no grass grows, offering an open view, favored by herbivores for drinking.
In these unobstructed sandy areas, predators cannot ambush from the grass to attack, and even if they spread their forelegs for a drink, they won’t face an assault.
Still, while the sandy area lacks troublesome predators, there exists competition among herbivores—
Not every animal is entitled to this uniquely advantageous watering site.
Chen Zhou first noticed a group of small deer claiming the sandy area.
They arrived early, a herd of about twenty, estimated shoulder height no taller than 1 meter, weighing around forty to fifty pounds, coated with fur matching the dead grass, yellow with light white spots scattered across their bodies, glistening in the sunlight, hinting at a dense fur texture.
Typically, such animals have tender meat, and their thin, soft pelts are ideal for crafting clothes. They possess no noteworthy combat prowess, only capable of swift escapes, making them Chen Zhou’s preferred prey.
But before he could make a move, the small deer herd was chased away by some colossal beings.
The newcomers on the sandy ground were also deer, but their size was truly awe-inspiring—
These deer had shoulder heights exceeding 2 meters, crowned with gigantic antlers, robust in frame, featuring extraordinarily tall stags and slightly smaller hinds.