Splurge!

A lamia clinging to the Nadeko-Illumi-Masaki canoe exploded, and Nadeko screamed.

Splat!

Blood and viscera splattered against their boat. Everyone else looked for the source and saw a roughly thirty-foot-long lance kitsu extending from the preceptors' canoe. It looked like a bolt of lightning, white as ivory.

Yuuki had funneled raiki into a kitsu synthesis weapon, which he held on to with both arms. A kitsu sequence had manifested the weapon, but it weighed as much as a thirty-foot wooden lance. One could wonder what inhuman strength Yuuki possessed. He could change the lance's length at will and skiver the lamia from a distance.

Pluck! Splurge! Splat!

One by one, Yuuki impaled the vicious creatures. Unfortunately, they were more than a few. A live lamia replaced a casualty almost immediately.

The canoes had slowed down to a drift.

Plop!

A large lamia jumped onto the Shigeo-Akako-Kento canoe.

Click! Cackle! Snap!

The young ones hurled themselves to the opposite deck, avoiding the creature's snapping jaws.

Kento realized that no amount of taekkyon ability could put down such a beast. He looked around and saw Shigeo hiding in a corner. Kento considered jumping off the canoe.

Bam!

Akako took a forward step, formed a fistful of kitsu, and punched the lamia on its head.

The beast clicked and cackled, momentarily disoriented.

Flip! It hopped into the air once and landed on the boat.

Thump! Splash! The impact levered the canoe to a slant, throwing Kento and Akako into the water.

Meanwhile, several small lamia had already clung onto the Nadeko-Illumi-Masaki canoe.

Kento was underwater.

Swish! Gurgle! While being twisted and turned by the river torrent, he looked around and saw two large shapes approaching him in the water. Kento had never imagined he would ever be in mortal danger. He had been raised as a Prince. Right then, all his delusions had come crashing apart.

The cold, freezing water somehow made him come to terms with death. It was easy to give in and give up.

'This is the end,' Kento concluded.

Three events happened simultaneously and at blazing speed.

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Splash! Lieutenant Yorokobi jumped into the water.

Thunk! Yuuki shortened his lance, drove it vertically into the river floor, and pole-vaulted. Whoosh! It catapulted him into the siege area.

The third event was so surreal that the other young sailors could not believe their eyes.

Tip! Tap! Swish! Splosh! Keiji was running on water!

It was so fast that it seemed as if he was gliding on the river current.

The preceptor reached the site within a couple of seconds. He squatted on the water surface without coming to a halt, skimming ankle-deep.

Splash! He plunged both arms underwater, yanking the two lamia circling Kento. Cackle! Splat! The creatures convulsed and disintegrated in his hands.

Swish! The miraculous Keiji ran on further, reaching the Nadeko-Illumi-Masaki canoe.

Whoosh! He circled the boat as if it were firm ground, plucking off the smaller lamia.

Splurge! The creatures exploded with his touch.

Yorokobi had swum underwater to rescue Kento, seizing him by the middle and hoisting him onto the canoe again.

On the other side, Yuuki tried to heave Akako, who was in shock and clung to him tightly. Shigeo had to pry her off the preceptor.

Yorokobi and Yuuki restored the kitsu operations of the canoes, and they soon caught up with the others. Within five minutes, Kento and Akako had come to their senses. Everyone was back on track.

The party had reached the mouth of the backwaters. As they entered the Kegare, the water seemed to turn clearer, and the current became idle.

The lamia did not follow the party into the creek. Perhaps there must be scarier predators on this side of the land.

Their canoes sailed close to each other in the narrow creek, propelled only by kitsu.

Kento and the rest shared their horrifying experiences with each other.

The military sub-squad and preceptor canoes sailed ahead.

Yorokobi, from the abutting canoe, looked deep in thought.

Keiji: "Lamia have never been this bold. They aren't this strong in the east usually, are they?"

Yuuki: "Not usually, no."

Keiji: "Something's not right here. What do you think it is, Yuuki?"

Yuuki looked around at the harsh natural surroundings and took in the acrid smells.

Yuuki: "I have a feeling we are going to find out soon."