"Guys, come over here!" I called out to my teammates, urging them to witness the scene unfolding before me.

The boatman stood before us, its head severed, and a viscous black liquid oozing from its neck stump like a corrosive substance.

My companions hurried over, joining me in examining the peculiar sight. We soon realised that during our intense battle, a sharp bone from one of the creatures had been flung towards the boatman, severing its head. The bone lay on the ground beside the boatman’s lifeless head.

"Is it dead?" Kei asked, his voice filled with unease.

"What do we do now?" Elsie questioned her, her disbelief evident.

Wait, something is happening," I replied, sensing a shift in the situation.

To our astonishment, the severed head lying on the ground began to tremble. Small tentacles emerged from the base of the head, and it started moving on its own accord.

"Eek!" Elsie shrieked, instinctively retreating.

"Silence!" I commanded in a hushed tone.

We watched in awe as the conscious head climbed back onto the boatman’s body, reattaching itself where it belonged.

With a rumbling sound, two white dots reappeared, resembling the boatman’s eyes. It had come back to life.

He's immortal," Kei remarked, capturing the essence of what we had just witnessed.

Indeed, there was no other explanation for this phenomenon that unfolded right before our eyes.

"What if it perceives us as the ones who attacked and severed its head? We can’t even fathom fighting against such a creature!" Elsie exclaimed anxiously from behind me.

Suddenly, the boatman started advancing towards us, its once-white eyes turning a fiery shade of red, a clear sign of its anger.

It unleashed a deafening roar, nearly piercing my eardrums.

"Guys, don’t attempt to attack or provoke this creature. I have a feeling that any such action will result in instant death," I cautioned my companions, who quickly stepped back.

Approaching the creature, its eyes now tinged with a lighter shade of red, I deduced that the intensity of its anger could be gauged by the color of its eyes. At the moment, it wasn’t fully enraged.

"It was a mistake. Look at this," I said, picking up the bone responsible for the chaos and presenting it to the mystical creature.

The boatman paused, taking a moment to examine the bone. Gradually, the lighter shade of red began to fade, and the boatman returned to the steering wheel, resuming its role of guiding the ship in the right direction.

"Phew!" I let out a sigh of relief.

"We should take precautions to ensure this doesn’t happen again. This creature is a ticking time bomb. I voiced my concerns to my companions.

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*

"What do we do now?" Kei inquired during our breakfast in the boat’s single room.

"Our journey is far from complete, and we must be prepared for the upcoming night. Our first priority is to clean up the mess left behind by our battle," I explained. Bones from the defeated creatures were scattered all over the boat, hindering our preparations for the next wave.

"Our second task is to rest as much as possible."

This step was crucial, as we would need to stay awake throughout the night. Fatigue had already taken its toll on me, evident in my dishevelled hair and darkened eyes from the lack of energy and sleep.

"And the final task is to set traps for our nocturnal visitors. Let’s prioritise getting some rest for now, and I’ll explain the plan later," I concluded.

**

The day swiftly passed by, during which we successfully cleaned the boat and managed to get a few hours of sleep. As nightfall approached, I gathered my companions to explain my plan.

"Elsie, as a first-phase crystal weaver, could you form a protective layer of crystal near the edges of our boat, particularly around the boatman? This would provide us with boosted protection against the attacking creatures," I requested.

An expression of wonder and astonishment spread across Elsie’s face.

"I never thought of that idea," she replied, pausing for a moment before continuing, but it is certainly possible, but it will require a significant amount of my energy. I won’t be able to fight if I do it. Is that acceptable?"

"The benefits outweigh the drawbacks. You can focus on watching over the boatman instead of engaging in combat," I assured her.

"Eek! Anything but that!" she pleaded.

"Please," I calmly requested, hoping she would agree.

"Ah, fine. I’m only doing this to repay a small portion of the debt I owe you for saving me," she replied, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Wallace, we also need to consider the placement of the crystals. We must be careful not to overload the boat, as it could sink. The crystals should be spread out evenly," Kei suggested.

"Of course. Let’s begin creating our protective layer," I agreed.

With our plan in motion, we watched in awe as Elsie skillfully manifested a thin yet sturdy protective layer along the edges of the boat. We had strategically opted for a cover-like structure that would offer maximum protection while conserving our resources.

Elsie’s crystal layer enveloped the boat, transforming its once-white appearance into a shimmering hue. It glistened under the sunlight, showcasing the strength and beauty of our newfound defence.

Not only did this approach address Kei’s concerns about the boat’s stability, but it also ensured that the layer of protection was evenly spread across the entire vessel, minimising the risk of it sinking.

With our preparations complete, the night descended upon us mere minutes after our work had finished.

"Elsie, go to the boatman. Kei, form up behind me," I requested.

They promptly followed my instructions, positioning themselves accordingly. Within moments, an onslaught of creatures commenced, and we braced ourselves for the impending battle.

***

"Kiiiii!" The piercing scream reverberated through the air as Kei’s dagger found its mark, ending the life of the final skeletal creature.

Surviving the second night had been an arduous task. The skeletal creatures we faced this time were larger and more powerful than any we had encountered before. I glanced at the delicate cracks that marred the surface of the crystal cover protecting our boat, evidence of the relentless assault we had endured.

"These creatures are growing in strength with each passing night. We must be even more prepared to face the challenges that lie ahead," I asserted, my gaze lingering on the fresh wound on my hand, a reminder of a close encounter that had breached my defences.

After replenishing ourselves with a nourishing breakfast and stealing a brief moment of rest, the sun had climbed high in the sky, signalling the onset of noon. We gathered ourselves to survey the aftermath of the chaotic night, venturing out onto the deck of the boat.

As we assessed the scene, Kei’s sharp eyes caught sight of something in the distance. "I can make out a faint shape, though it’s still blurry," he observed, squinting to discern the obscured object.

Intrigued, I walked to where he was standing , focusing my gaze in the same direction. Gradually, the indistinct form sharpened into view, steadily growing larger and more defined.

"I believe… It's the other shore, our long-awaited destination!" I exclaimed, a surge of anticipation flooding my weary heart.