Man in the Tree

Suddenly, one of the Alipins yelled

"Look! There is a gorilla atop of that tree. This is my first time seeing a gorilla up close."

The smallest Alipin also shouted in response with the tallest Alipin.

"That's not a gorilla, it's a monkey!"

Witnessing this huge debacle happening in front of his eyes...

Miguel was dumbfounded to what he just heard, truly his first impression of this bunch of slaves was right. He could only sigh in his heart as he mumbles

"What a bunch of idiots."

One of the slaves finally couldn't help it anymore as he swept his gaze towards them.

This slave at the middle of the three, who seems to look like a decent fellow who also appears to be slightly timid, replied at his two fellow Alipin.

"Stop! Both of you! That's not a monkey or a gorilla.. ... ... that's... that's an ape!"

"This idio—"

"Sigh"

Miguel then sighed in surrender to how much of an idiot they could be.

"Are their eyes blinded by some dirt?"

"Can't they see?"

Miguel frowned at this bunch of clowns.

He can't tell what kind of eyes they have. Or do their brains fail to function? Or do they even have brains, to begin with?

Anyway, that's not the point here, Miguel clearly knows that it doesn't really matter, right now a person's life is at stake and that's what should matter!

"These stupid mongrels! Heck! I'll go on my own."

With that, he left the three, still hanged in a debate.

"I remember during a crisis in our camp, two strategists came up with a plan, but both had debated if each of their plans could work or not and when the two turned to ask me what's my opinion... I answered with action. I went straight to the enemy's camp and obliterated their scouts, took some hostage, and there we found the head camp of the enemy."

"Those are the times," Miguel smirked, recollecting his mighty endeavors, back in his own timeline as a newbie platoon leader.

Miguel hates debate. If there is one thing good about it, its just that it can put you into someone's shoes and understand them better, but it never gave you any answer.

What matters most to him is solution. There's no use making the already difficult problem, complex—A straight fire in a hole!

After two to three breaths, Miguel regained his calm, paid little attention to them, and observed the man at the top of the tree. Large crocodiles are seen, surrounding a man beneath the tree.

The steep mountains covered the rising sun and the Acacia Tree where the robust man clung his life with, were located at the end of it.

At the bottom of the steep mountain, there are Styx of water with crocodiles as its death reapers.

The river flowed serenely but the man at the tree sighed sorrowfully...

He seems to believe that nobody could save him now.

Adding the fact that he himself just witnessed the three stupid mongrels, staging up their own plaza as clowns! What hope could he get from them?

But he never thought that from these bunch of clowns, a savior will emerge!

"I am not a cold-blooded man with no regard to life. I'll save him" Miguel inwardly thought and went close to the man.

Slowly approaching the tree, his gaze swept a pass to a bush near the tree.

He slowly approached the bush while crouching on the floor.

"State your affiliations! Which tribe do you belong to?"

The robust guard swept his gaze unto Miguel and he snorted looking disappointed.

He thought at first that perhaps he can now be saved because a person approached him but the voice which he heard, came from a brat.

He now felt no need to even answer this brat's questions.

He then yelled with a look of disappointment.

"Brat! Don't get near here, the crocodiles might attack you."

Miguel smiled, he replied as calm as he can be, striking back with a question.

"Is that the reason you are there? Cowardly hiding atop of a tree?"

But his words made the man immediately startled, it came like a thunderclap that mocks the very soul of his tribal being.

The robust man exclaimed furiously at Miguel, clearly insulted by the term coward.

"Insolent fool, there is a huge difference between a coward and injured."

With that, the man showed the injury near his ankle gouged deep by the crocodile's teeth.

Certainly unpleasant to see, Miguel smelled the blood oozing from his destroyed feet.

The blood was dripping down the river which attracted more crocodiles.

They were all in for a picnic!

Miguel couldn't believe the air of arrogance that this man is currently displaying.

It is clear how arrogant this man must be, leading him to this pitiful state.

If you can't admit that you are weak, at least put your pride down.

"You looked like you needed some help, but why are you acting this way?"

"Put your pride to rest and let me handle the rest!"

The robust man felt like he is being looked down upon and could not accept it.

"Why am I looked down by a brat?" the man helplessly thought.

His was flushed red, mixed in anger and embarrassment.

He is clearly furious to what Miguel had just said but looking at the situation he was in, although he refuses to believe the capability of this brat to save him, he could only hope that he really can thus he finally calmed down himself and replied with anticipation as his brows furrowed.

He began to slowly trust his words "Alright, get my spear over there" pointing to a stack of piled rubbles. In it, there was a long spear decorated in animistic designs, particularly a gecko and vines that coiled around the spear's handle.

"See if you can make these guys leave, so I can safely swim down the river. I can't pull myself up, my strength is escaping me."

Miguel revealed a smile. "Remember, put your pride to rest and let me handle the rest."

"Hmp. cheeky brat."—the robust man harrumphed in a "we'll see" manner

With this special encounter, Miguel would one day smile in delight that his choice to save this man is actually worth it.

For this man shall play a vital role in his conquest, to this newfound world.