As soon as the engine was running, Axel shifted the gear stick to reverse and floored the accelerator. The vehicle roared like an angry predator as its wheels spun rapidly in reverse.

"…?!"

But a problem ensued.

The Humvee wasn't moving at all!

Axel pressed and released the gas several times, but the wheels just kept spinning in place, unable to pull them out.

"Shit! We're stuck in the mud!" Axel growled, half-panicking.

In an attempt to escape, he switched to four-wheel drive and repeated the steps he'd taken before. However, it gave him the same result.

The river water had already risen to their wheels, turning the ground beneath them into mud. There was no grip at all, as the wheels continued digging deeper and deeper with each revolution!

Axel knew it was futile to try any longer. Instead, he needed a different approach.

With swift control, he skimmed through the shop and bought two raincoats. It was better than nothing, at least.

"Eve, wear these!" he said. "After that, we'll be getting out of the Humvee!"

If they stayed inside, then sooner or later, it would become a boat floating down the river toward downstream. Thus, the most logical option was to leave the Humvee, place it in the inventory, then move to a "drier" spot where they could deploy it once again.

That way, they could bypass the slippery mud and resume driving!

Viva la Inventory!

Although scared, Eve quickly donned the raincoat she was given. It was a simple, transparent blue coat that didn't even have a spot for arms—a poncho raincoat. Thanks to that, it didn't take them long to equip the item and carefully go outside.

"Ugh…!"

But as soon as Axel did, the large drops of rain hit him heavily.

It was painful enough that he wondered if hail was mixed with the raindrops!

For safety purposes, Axel asked Eve to get down from the driver's side. That way, they could stay close to each other and prepare for if something weird happened. Although it took a few seconds longer than normal, it was worth the wait.

As soon as they both left the vehicle, Axel didn't delay and placed it in his inventory.

The Humvee disappeared, leaving only the muddy traces its wheels left behind.

"Let's move!"

Axel shouted near Eve's ears, ensuring his voice wouldn't get overshadowed by the pouring rain.

Of course, he didn't forget to hold Eve tight, protecting her from the painful torrent coming from overhead.

But another problem hit them.

The ground, turned to mud, was slowly swallowing their legs like a bog. The dried earth had absorbed way too much water, making it hard to even take a single step forward!

"S-Sir Axel…!" Eve cried in panic, unable to pull her leg from the mud. "I can't move a step!"

"This…"

Axel gritted his teeth.

Even he was struggling to pull his leg out of the mud—much less the weaker Eve!

"Huh?"

But as the saying goes, when it rains, it pours.

Hidden behind the torrential rain, a rumbling sound could be heard. Axel narrowed his eyes, trying to figure out where the sound was coming from and…

"…!"

He turned behind, toward the river upstream.

As he feared, through the fog and curtain of droplets, he could see a large shadow rushing toward them, along with debris like fallen trees and broken branches.

"SHIT, SHIT, SHIT!"

"Whoa?!"

And unable to even explain it, he just grabbed Eve under his arm and worked his darnedest to escape. He no longer dared to look back, as he didn't have enough time. He just pulled his leg out of the mud, stepped forward, did the same with the other leg, then repeated.

He was single-mindedly moving out of the muddy parts, but still, he was too slow.

Five seconds later, the "tragedy" he was running from came for them—a sudden rush of river water, gathered by the mountain streams meeting and merging. A flash flood!

"Hold onto me tight!"

Axel called to Eve and hugged her tight as well.

The water was already there, clearly visible, and obviously dangerous.

What was dangerous in a flash flood wasn't drowning, really. It was getting hit by the debris carried by the currents… though drowning was also a valid worry.

But Axel had a trump card.

As the rushing rapids, carrying logs and whatnot, hit them, Axel shouted, "Store…!"

Of course, he wasn't opening the Shop, but rather storing all items in his vicinity into his inventory! It was a crude attempt, but it still kept them safe from getting stabbed or crushed by debris, so it worked!

"Ablublub…! S-Sir…!"

Still, getting carried by the rapids was dangerous. Eve could barely keep her head afloat.

If not for Axel lifting her, she could've drowned or worse, been pulled into the bottom of the river by the wild currents.

"Just… hang tight…!" Axel growled.

Below the water, he was desperately kicking his legs, trying to stay afloat. After all, once they got sucked into the water, the chances of surviving would drop like a rock thrown into water.

If I knew this would happen, I would've just stayed in the Humvee…!

Axel lamented his choices a bit too late.

With his nerves taut from concentration, he quickly lost track of time. Like a robot, he just kept on storing anything and everything that tried to touch him or Eve's body. Endlessly.

Fatigue quickly set in.

But with his and Eve's lives on the line, he was able to endure for a bit longer.

"…!"

Within his almost hazy consciousness, and through the thick mist, he noticed something up ahead—a single tree that stood proud near the riverbank.

A chance!

Of course, he wouldn't let go of what might be their last and only hope of survival.

But he only had a few seconds before this chance would be lost. With nothing but determination backing his actions, he opened the Shop panel using his mind. Then, from it, he bought a simple hemp rope… long enough to reach the target.

Through the crafting panel, trusting his instincts, he crafted the rope and added a lump of metal on its end. It wasn't based on any recipe he had before, but on expectations formed by experience.

Luckily, the crafting succeeded.

In his hand came a long rope with a heavy claw at the end!

Without wasting time, he quickly unfurled some of it before spinning the heavy bit overhead. He swung it round and round until the tree he was eyeing got close enough to them.

"GOOOO…!"

And with a shout containing all his hopes and prayers, he sent the heavy end flying through the air.

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