David and Lucy were struggling to stay afloat on the water's surface. Circling around them, waiting for the right moment, was a shark-like demon, ready to strike at the first mistake.
A short distance away, two of the same creatures had surrounded Emma. She watched every movement carefully, knowing that even the slightest misstep would be her last.
"Be ready," David said quietly to Lucy. "When I give the signal, take off my blindfold."
"Alright…" the girl replied just as softly, trying not to tremble with fear.
The demon waited, but when it realized the prey wasn't moving, it suddenly lunged forward with terrifying speed.
"Now!" David shouted sharply.
Lucy tore the blindfold from his eyes. David saw the creature rushing straight toward them and, in the same instant, shoved Lucy aside.
The shark-like demon slammed directly into him. David managed to raise his hands and hold the beast's jaws apart, but the force of the impact and the surge of water pushed them both forward. Water was an alien element to him, and holding his ground was becoming harder and harder.
Then he remembered his teacher's words. These creatures have weak spots. Gritting his teeth, David struck the demon hard on the nose. It shuddered and slowed. Seizing the moment, David drove his fingers into its gills, forcing the beast to convulse in pain. The demon thrashed, shoved him away, and for a moment lost its orientation.
Meanwhile, Emma was fending off two opponents at once. They attacked in perfect coordination, giving her no chance to rest. She felt that in just another instant, one of them would strike her.
A shadow flashed behind her. One of the demons suddenly spun around and lashed out with its fin, sharp enough to cut through steel. Sensing the danger, Emma instantly pulled her sword from her soul space and, whirling around, sliced the fin clean off.
Blood sprayed from the wound. Smelling it, the second demon immediately turned on its injured kin, tearing into its flesh. For a heartbeat, Emma froze in horror, but quickly regained control and hurled her sword. The blade pierced straight into the head of the feeding monster. With a single throw, she had destroyed them both.
"Good thing they're so sensitive to blood," she thought, catching her breath.
When her gaze fell on David, she saw him drive his hand deep into the gills of his opponent. The demon convulsed, losing its strength, and, suffocating from lack of oxygen, began to die in spasms.
Breathing heavily, David swam back to Lucy and said:
"We need to get out of here."
"You're right," Emma replied and hurried over to them.
They started swimming away. Hour after hour they forced themselves forward, but their strength was fading. They managed to cover ten kilometers; only five remained to reach the shore, but David and Emma were barely staying afloat.
"We… almost made it," David rasped, his arms shaking from exhaustion.
And then, in the distance, the silhouette of a ship appeared.
"Emma! Do you see it?!" he shouted, hope in his voice.
"Yes… but what if they're enemies?" she answered cautiously.
"I don't think so," David shook his head. "See the Pillar of Return ahead? They must be humans."
Emma thought for a moment, then said curtly:
"Do as you wish."
Gathering every last ounce of strength, David shouted as loudly as he could:
"We're here!!!"
His cry echoed across the sea. Lucy's ears rang, and Emma squinted at the deafening sound.
On the deck of the ship sat five men in their thirties. Hearing the voice, they turned, walked to the edge, and saw three young survivors in the water.
One of them, shocked, exclaimed:
"It can't be… They survived the forbidden zone!"