Chapter 17: Piranha! Piranha!
"According to the general information on the map about the real rulers of snake island, the barbarian tribes combine are only second-rated powerhouse. The true rulers are the Big Five.
They control ninety-eight percent of the island and never allow foreign forces to enter.
If I cause too much commotion, they might notice me. And that's the last thing I need right now.
Who knows, with their connections, they must have already heard about the bounty on my head."
Apolo thought as he stood on the edge of the fishing island, staring at the huge green glowing land far across the ocean.
Unlike the tiny landmarks nearby, this one was enormous—more than a hundred times bigger than the fishing island.
"So that's the barbarian island? It looks absolutely demuring"
Taking his eyes off the huge island, Apolo focus of the endless, and boundless silvery and blue ocean separating him and the island.
Earlier, when he'd just arrived, he'd seen a fish-type chaos beast leap out of the water and snatch a giant bird from the sky. That memory was still fresh and made his chest tighten.
"If this were land, I wouldn't worry. But water is different. I've never fought anything in it."
A sudden wave rolled toward him. Apolo quickly stepped back as it crashed against the rocks.
"SPLASH..."
A piranha-type fish, over three meters long, pushed its massive head out of the water. Its cold black eyes studied him for a few seconds, as if warning him. Then it slowly sank back beneath the surface.
Apolo's muscles tensed. His heartbeat started growing louder in his ears.
"My first time facing chaos beasts, I was overwhelmed and helpless"
He thought as the image of the huge cobra and jaguar from sky city briefly flashed in his head.
"But this time, it will be different."
He stepped into the water, though his body clearly showed he wasn't calm.
But the moment the cold sea touched his feet, the memory of him falling from the sky and slamming into the ocean flashed sharply in his mind again. His bones breaking, the blood, the helpless spinning and he froze.
"Fighting this piranha isn't worth it. They move in groups. I should just find another way to cross."
He stepped out of the water again. And turned to leave.
But then he stopped.
Something in him refused to walk away.
He looked back at the calm, silver surface and whispered to himself,
"Forget it."
Then he dove in.
Cold water wrapped around him—sharp and refreshing at the same time. The chill bit into his skin instantly, but his vision was crystal clear.
Even when the salt water enters into his eyes, they didn't stung a bit, it was as if he is immune to them. That was one thing he was grateful for.
"If this were land, I could cross twenty kilometers in minutes. But in water, and I can't even swim properly, well... sigh... who knows wh—"
"THRUM..."
A deep sound vibrated through the water.
Apolo snapped his eyes downward.
To his horror, he saw a dark shadow shooting toward him from the left.
"Holy shit... it went to call its family."
Panic crashed into him like a punch. He kicked hard and began swimming as fast as he could, every stroke was of a desperate call. The ocean pressed against him from all sides—heavy, resisting his every movement.
From above, one would see a lone human cutting across the surface like a streak of light. Behind him, a swarm of monstrous piranhas chasing with terrifying speed.
Each one was over three meters long, with huge heads and bone-like teeth that looked sharp enough to crush stone.
He glanced back briefly. Only five meters remained between him and them.
"I can't fight them head-on. What do I do?"
His lungs already burned. Saltwater clung to his lips, the taste was sharp and unpleasant.
He stopped suddenly and dove deeper.
The water darkened instantly, wrapping him like a cold blanket. The pressure try to squeezed his chest. Every sound became muffled and distant—as if the ocean itself were swallowing all noise.
Thanks to his night vision, he could still see clearly. Saltwater washed across his eyes, but he felt nothing. It was almost as if it was just am ordinary water except for the ones entering his mouth.
"I don't think they can see well down here."
He hid stood a huge rock under water, peeking at the approaching shadows. Trying to hide from them.
"Holy crap... they can see me very well."
His eyes widened. He tried to shout, but water rushed into his mouth instead, burning his throat even more.
He twisted his body and shot forward like a snake, leaving a long trail of bubbles behind. But the piranhas were faster. They closed in alarmingly quick.
"I'm already halfway across. I can't go back."
He burst out of the water and jumped several meters into the air, barely escaping a piranha that snapped its jaws near his feet.
The cold air hit his wet skin like ice and caused shivers to run down his spine.
"They're in striking range now. If they surround me, I'm done."
He dropped back into the water. The impact drove what little air remained from his lungs. Cold saltwater rushed into his nose, making him gag.
Closing his eyes, he reached for his bloodline and try to activate it.
"This strange feeling?"
Apolo thought as he was trying to contact with it.
Ever since he'd woken up, this feeling in his heart has been there—but he didn't understand it.
He'd planned to ask Allison, but then her grandfather disappeared.
"Why can't I feel my bloodline? Those ten warriors from the village transformed easily. Mine only comes out when I'm angry."
Back in Sky City, rage had triggered it. Against the warriors, desperation had. But now, trying to summon it consciously... nothing is happening.
Was emotion the only key? Or was he missing something?
He opened his eyes again.
"I'll think about it later. These things are almost on me."
The island was now less than five kilometers away. His arms was already felling numb from stroking the ocean wildly. His legs cramped with each kick. Salt crusted his lips, and every breath tasted of exhaustion.
He aimed for it and kicked harder.
"GURU... GLURU..."
A deep, frightening sound echoed below him.
Apolo's heart dropped.
"Oh no..."
He shot upward with everything he had. One leap sent him flying almost twenty meters into the air.
But there was no joy on his face. Only horror.
Below him, a massive mouth opened from the darkness. Its jaws were more than ten meters wide—rows of teeth like serrated blades. Three piranhas vanished into that darkness without even a chance to struggle. The water around it turned red.
Then the mouth snapped shut.
"SPLASH..."
"What kind of monster is that?"
Apolo hit the water again, the impact jarring his entire body.
He looked back.
His breath caught.
A towering wave rose behind him—over fifty meters high, blotting out the sunlight.
Falling out of it was a giant shark, over twenty meters long, its massive bulk crashing through the water like a falling mountain.