Suddenly, the rumble of heavy steps approaches us, and from the darkness, our comrades—the orcs—emerge. They immediately catch the scent of fresh fish, stranded by the receding waters. The orcs not only gather the fish and store them in their sacks, but they also eat them right away. The foul smell of the fresh fish pierces my nose, forcing me to cover it. I am not a cook, and I seldom spend time in the kitchen, so I am not accustomed to such smells. However, I suddenly remember that we are making a raft to catch fish, yet these orcs are simply taking the fish for themselves. I am about to stop them when...

  “No! Let them be,” Mau’Ti grasps my arm firmly and adds,

  “It’s better to let them have these fish now and leave the rest for tomorrow, rather than have us eaten by them.”

  “What do you mean...?” I am just about to ask what he meant when...

  “Spaaaasssshhhh!!”

  “Aaaaaahhhhh!!!!”

  A splash of water is sprinkled over us as I hear the terrified screams of the orcs. When I turn to look at the source, I see the silhouettes of giant, grotesque humanoid beings. Their bodies resemble the ogre we fought in the underground arena, but they have only one head, and long, flowing hair with a greenish tint. As the moonlight begins to reveal their features, their large, bloated bellies become visible, along with their swamp-colored, thick skin. Their mouths resemble water cannons, but the streams they unleash are far stronger than those used in riot control.

  The force of the water pushes the orcs to the ground, with some being flung several feet into the air. The water ogres seize the opportunity to grab the fallen orcs and devour them. Some of the ogres fill their bloated bellies with water from the lake, causing the shoreline to recede, and then they unleash powerful blasts of water.

  "WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!"

  Mau’Ti shouts to alert our companions.

  Suddenly, I feel someone grab my arm, and I hear a soft yet worried voice from behind me.

  "Pull back, Godwin! It's dangerous here!"

  When I look over my shoulder, I see Mikay, using her body weight to pull me back. Behind her, torches blaze as the rest of our band scream for us to retreat. Moments later, a flurry of flaming arrows rains down upon the ogres.

  "BERBEROKAAAAAA!!" Niela shouted, "Fire at will! And help our comrades get away from the shore!"

  Suddenly, the waters come rushing back, and the howls of feral creatures echo from the darkness. Growls and snarls surround our rescuers. In the briefest moment of silence, someone is snatched and mangled in the shadows. His screams add to the growing chaos of our dire situation.

  “What was that?” Mikay trembles, her voice shaky, as she struggles to figure out which way we should go.

  A moment later, the creatures surrounding our rescuers reveal themselves.

  A host of beings woven from the darkest threads of forgotten lore. Their eyes, glowing with spectral luminescence, pierce through the twilight, holding a gaze that seems timeless, as though they have witnessed centuries of untold mysteries hidden in the dark. Their forms, lithe yet unnervingly fluid, shimmer with the essence of shadow, like the surface of still waters awaiting disruption.

  Their elongated limbs, bending unnaturally, move with a grace that defies earthly understanding. Their steps are silent, yet each movement seems to carry an ancient weight in the air. From their mouths come growls that send chills through everyone. They are feral creatures, crafted from flesh and shadow.

  “ASWANG! EVERYONE, LOOK FOR BAWANG!” Katibo shouts, but he fails to recall that earlier this afternoon, those runts called Nise had stolen all of our rations—including essential ingredients like garlic.

  Our situation becomes dire in an instant. We must choose whether to fight the Berberoka on the shorelines or face the Aswang in the darkness of the forest.

  Now, the orcs are retreating from the shorelines while our would-be rescuers flee from the shadows of the forest.

  “WHERE SHOULD WE GO!?” I yell to Mikay, who trembles beside me.

  “I... I... I DON’T KNOW!!!” Mikay cries out.

  In the distance, I see A’Yeel fighting with all his might, with Persis standing beside him. A wave of guilt washes over me; I’ve always daydreamed about saving a damsel in distress in shining armor, and now here it is. But Mikay is beside me, not with him.

  Beside me.

  If only I had brought the Mithril; if only I had time to forge a silver-mithril weapon, perhaps I wouldn’t feel so pathetic right now. In this darkness, I could dive into the shadows with Pen-pen and escape this situation. However, I can't reveal my ability, and I can't leave Mikay here. Diving into the shadows with someone else might be risky for them. So, I clutch my lit torch, ready to smack anyone who dares to attack us.

  But I doubt. I doubt that this torch, which I have carried since descending from the mountains, is enough to face the water ogres and Aswangs.

  The atmosphere is cold, yet I am sweating profusely, perhaps due to the thick fur of my costume. The air begins to sting my nose as the stench of blood from fallen comrades spreads, both from the shorelines and from the darkness opposite them.

  “Where is our angel? Where is our guardian?” I mutter to myself, trembling as I try to shield Mikay with my own body, ready to strike at anyone who discovers our vulnerability.

  Mikay seems to read my lips as she answers my question.

  “Angels lose all of their power during the night!” she replies. “That’s the reason they despise the creatures of darkness.”

  Inside, I feel a shout rising within me, urging me to call for help—calling the names of Mau’Ti, A’Yeel, Persis, anyone capable of defending us.

  The cries of the fallen, the chaos, and the stench of blood heighten my sense of impending doom. Even though my wolf is not by my side, I can’t shake the feeling of fear. I keep reminding myself to stand firm and to attack any grotesque figure that dares to step closer to us. No matter what happens to me, I must protect Mikay.

  Suddenly,

  “WHHHOOSSSHHH!!!...” The sound of gushing water rushes in, and before I know it, I am being swept away.

  “MIIIIKKKAAAAYYYY!!!...” I shout to Mikay as I am washed away from her, but my screams are merely part of the cacophony created by the people caught in the rushing flood. It’s hard not to think that destiny is playing with me. I am forced to consider shouting for help from those I despise the most. Now the waters are carrying me away from my loved one.

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  I am not a professional swimmer, but I know how to swim. However, the soaked fur of my costume prevents me from doing so. Not only is my costume hindering my survival, but the people caught in the wave are desperately clinging to me. It seems the deepest waters the citizens of Silver City are familiar with are the public pools and tubs in their homes. This reminds me of Persis and Pen-pen. Are they capable of swimming?

  “Spakkkk!!!” I am hit by someone, and as I do my best to tread through the flood, I see a body stumbling near me—it’s a dead dwarf.

  “Persis!… Persis!… Persis!” I mutter frantically to myself as I scan my surroundings, searching for him.

  “PERSIIISSS!!!!…” I shout his name as the realization sinks in that dwarves spend their lives in cave mines and at their forges, most likely never learning to swim in their lifetimes. My arms start to move, attempting to swim against the current, but for some reason, my costume begins to feel heavier and heavier.

  Until...

  “GLOCK!... GLOCK!... GLOCK!... GLOCK!...”

  Air escapes from my mouth in bubbles as the darkness of the night deepens while I sink, deeper and deeper.

  I think this is it; this is the end—me dying without achieving anything. Once again, just like in my previous life, I waste my time chasing geese, pursuing something worthless.

  “WHAPPP!!!”

  I feel a stinging pain in my face; it seems the torment from Mau’Ti still continues.

  “WHAPPP!!!”

  “WHAPPP!!!”

  “I AM NOT THAT PERSON YOU MET BEFOREEE!!!”

  And just like that, my fist goes flying, trying to hit something without knowing where to strike.

  “HEY! THIS ONE IS A FIGHTER! DEAL WITH IT YOURSELF!”

  As my eyes open and my vision adjusts, I notice a silhouette—Is it even a person?

  The creature before me has a shell-like back, resembling a turtle, which immediately brings to mind the Ninja Turtles I used to beg my parents to see when I was a child. But, due to our poverty, we could never afford to go to the cinema.

  “Ninja Turtle?” I blurt out.

  “Oh great! This one’s fully awake now! I should carry a cucumber every time someone mistakes me for a turtle, くそがき!” the strange creature sneers at me.

  As I sit up, I feel the heavy, soaked fur of my costume clinging to me, which reminds me... where am I, and how did I get here?

  What do you think I should focus on next—figuring out where I am or what this strange creature is?

  “PERSIS!… MIKAY!… GROG!” I exclaim.

  “WHERE AM I?” I add, instinctively reaching for the nearest person for clarification. My hand grabs the arm of the individual beside me, but I am momentarily stunned by their bizarre appearance.

  What do you think I should do next? Should I confront this strange figure or continue searching for my friends?

  Yes, it really does have a turtle shell on its back. Its form resembles that of a small humanoid, no taller than a child, yet its skin glistens with a slick, amphibian green, as if perpetually damp. The top of its head features a strange depression—a bowl-like cavity that holds water. Its face is both comical and unnerving: sharp, beady eyes set deep within its wrinkled skin, a wide mouth stretched into a perpetual grimace, and a beak-like nose that curves downward.

  Upon its back, the shell gleams with a hard, mottled surface, while webbed hands and feet hint at its aquatic nature. I have encountered different kinds of creatures now, but I still can't quite get used to meeting a new race like this one.

  What do you think my next move should be? Should I try to communicate with this creature, or continue searching for my friends?

  “Mister!?” I awkwardly call for his attention.

  “WHAT!?” the grumpy creature responds.

  “Where am I?” I ask.

  The small turtle ninja sighs. “I think you’re okay enough to stand.” He extends his hand to help me up. I grasp his hand and pull myself upward until I can stand straight. He guides me to an open area where I find myself on some sort of balcony. Below, I see my comrades lying down, being attended to by more ninja turtles.

  But I also notice beautiful women whose hair, if not blue, is green, and their skin is paler, reminiscent of Slavic descent. Their beauty rivals that of Niela and Mikay. I immediately rush down to look for the people I am worried about, but as my gaze scans the area, my eyes accidentally lock onto one of the beautiful women.

  She is not just any woman with a lovely appearance; she is a beauty who happens to be in a woman's form. Her deep green eyes demand attention, and her pointy nose pulls my thoughts away from everything else. Her thin, small lips enchant my body, urging me to walk toward her, while her cheeks seem to beg me to munch on them.

  What do you think I should do next? Should I approach her, or should I focus on finding my comrades?

  “WAAAPPPAAKKK!!!!...”

  “What are you staring at?” the grumpy ninja turtle says. “I didn’t save your ass to be drowned by a water nymph!”

  “For God’s sake, Leonardo, it’s obvious that any guy would rather be saved by a mermaid than a ninja turtle!”

  “You….” Suddenly, his eyes widen. “Maybe it’s you!” He immediately grabs my hand and pulls me, forcing me to follow him. His strength does not match his small stature.

  “What’s going through your mind!?” I ask out of frustration, trying to free my arm from his grasp, but his grip is strong.

  “Hey! Unhand me! You’re hurting me!” I exclaim.

  What do you think I should do next? Should I try to reason with him or continue struggling against his grip?

  “You!” he points at one of his fellow ninja turtles. “And you!” he points at another ninja turtle who is minding his own business. “Come to me! The prophecy of Maria has come true. Make sure no one comes near the grotto,” he commands.

  “What are you talking about?” At this point, I am utterly confused by what is happening.

  My mind races with confusion and fear over his words. I can hear everything he is saying, but I’ve watched too many horror movies not to notice the similarities to people being abducted by indigenous tribes. The look of the surroundings confirms my fears; I see scary skulls and bones scattered here and there. The only thing that provides me with any calmness is the western beauty of the human-looking women.

  What do you think I should do next? Should I try to find a way to escape, or should I stay and gather more information about what’s going on?

  We finally enter some sort of room with an altar.

  Candles are lit at the feet of a very old, cracked, mossy statue of a woman. Her right hand perches a broken statue of a bird, while her left hand rests on what might be a rock; the only thing left of her left hand is a piece of concrete that I believe is part of another statue, though I can’t tell what it once was.

  The ninja turtles kneel and bow down to the statue, even kicking my calves to force me to kneel with them.

  I don’t know if it’s because I’ve watched too many movies, but I am waiting for something to happen—like a gust of wind, a statue coming to life, or some sort of mechanism activating—but nothing occurs. I don’t know how much time has passed, but my knees feel numb from the forced kneeling secured by my captor. The other ninja turtles continue their chanting, non-stop, their mantras or perhaps prayers directed toward this statue.

  It's very hard not to remember the time when I was a child. My mother would always drag me to her evening rosary. We lived in a very small house, but my mother, being a traditional religious person, kept a tidy and clean space for an altar. We had a wooden statue of Mother Mary. As a child, I was not fond of praying because it seemed so boring to me. However, as I grew older, I learned to appreciate the act of prayer, though I am not as devoted as my mother was. Those happy memories help keep my knees from feeling too painful while kneeling.

  “My son, you are finally here!”

  My eyes suddenly widened as I heard the soothing, motherly voice. Her voice is different from my mother’s, so I know it’s not her, but still, her voice brings comfort and belonging, as if she raised me since I was a child.

  The ninja turtles spoke, “Oh! Mother, please be with us longer, for a human is now with us!”

  And for some reason, my mouth opens and speaks on its own. “Maria Makiling!”

  “My children,” the statue spoke.

  “Thank you for the journey, for the time we've shared,

  Now the long-awaited human, a Filipino, is here, prepared.”

  The creatures started mourning for some reason.

  “Godwin, my child, I can't fathom your strife,

  But you must push onward, for the sake of life.

  For future children and those who have fallen,

  Your strength and your courage must keep on callen’!”

  I lifted my eyes and looked at her intently.

  “The Kapa and water nymphs are here by my side,

  Doing their best to keep this cove's pride.

  Protecting it fiercely from creatures of night,

  For Berberoka and aswangs are causing a fright,

  Since the return of fantasies, chaos has grown,

  But with their brave hearts, I’m never alone.”

  With that knowledge, I replied, “My Lady, where have you been all this time? Our people have suffered under the tyranny of the angels. Since I awoke from cryogenic sleep, I have not met a single human, and the records of events are impossible to find. If you had only been with us during that time, maybe things would have changed.”

  “Oh, I swear, one more disrespect to Mother would result in your head being detached from your shoulders,” the ringleader of the Kappas threatened me. For some reason, I noticed a katana in his hand, gripping firmly and ready to behead me.

  “Kentaro, I ask you, extend your grace,

  To my child Godwin, in this challenging place.

  His ignorance, dear child, is not his own crime,

  So please show him patience as we navigate time.”

  the statue soothed Kentaro's temper to calmness.

  “Godwin, my child, your frustration is clear,

  For I too am mourning those we hold dear.

  Their unjust deaths weigh heavy on my heart,

  So heed my words, let this be our start.

  I’ll share the tale of our people’s great fall,

  And the chance you must seize, to rise above all.”