The Tirnu River was unlike most rivers. It was huge, calm, and mesmerizing. However, the dangers that lurk beneath its surface far exceed the beauty it offers.

The place was as desolate as the road leading to Tera, except for a single boat nearly half the size of a proper ship.

The boat was reinforced with steel, along with the jagged protrusions on its metal hull.

Erubin came forward as he knocked three times on the steel-plated boat, breaking the unnerving silence shrouding the land.

It didn't take long before three resounding bangs replied back.

Erubin released a sigh, his shoulders easing down as he spoke.

"It's me! Erubin! The one who hired the ride!" Erubin called out.

Samael's ears perked up as footsteps slowly inched closer, revealing an old man adorned in a simple gray tunic. His beard was unkempt, and dark circles marred his visage.

"What took you so long!?" the man roared, his face distorted in anger.

Erubin came forward as he replied. "I'm sorry! We had to make a stop as some of my men were injured in an ambush."

The old man's gaze wandered to the group.

"Is this all?" The man asked.

Erubin gave a brief nod.

"Come! We must make haste! I don't know when those abominations may come for me," the man said as he hurriedly gestured for the group to come aboard.

Samael and Ajax exchanged looks as they set foot inside the boat.

The interior was as simple as it was outside. It was spacious, as there is no furniture and each corner is encased in welded metal. On the side hung sharp Harpoons attached to steel cables.

Erubin has really prepared for this voyage, huh? Samael thought as he inched towards the deck, where everyone had gathered.

"What's our plan?" Ajax asked.

Erubin gave a nod as one of his men laid down a sanctuary map of Tera, including its neighboring land.

"In simple terms, our plan is to cross the Tirnu River as fast as we can," Erubin said.

"In a deeper context, crossing Tirnu River usually takes around 20 minutes, but with this boat and the paddling force of a dozen men, we should be able to cross in at least 10 minutes," Erubin resumed, his finger hovering over Tirnu River.

"Aside from Arfin's, what are the other downsides?" Samael asked.

Erubin's jaw clenched as he replied. "The currents are strong; this means most of us will have to focus our power on paddling, which means..."

"You'll be defenseless, and we'll be short on hands," Ajax said.

The atmosphere fell grim, the air stale, and the wind as cold as winter snow.

"Unfortunately, it doesn't end there," Erubin said, luring everyone's attention.

"There are many other abominations lying in wait within those waters; we don't know whether they'll strike or not. We also have to take into account the condition of the boat," Erubin resumed.

"What will be our division?" Ajax asked.

Erubin straightened his back as he responded. "Including you two, we have about 21 men, 12 of whom will paddle; three will go and protect them, while the other six will be up here, warding off the abominations more than willing to feast on our flesh."

Only six? Against a horde? Samael thought, his brows furrowed tight. Their odds were not looking good.

"When do we depart?" Samael inquired.

"As soon as everyone is ready," Erubin replied, marking the end of the meeting.

With that, everyone dispersed in their own ways. Ajax and Samael did a round of maintenance as they checked their gear and their concoctions.

I have eight healing and stamina potions, two paralysis potions, three antidotes, and three starlight concoctions. Will these be enough? Samael wondered.

It has to; he has no choice.

Samael's gaze traveled upwards. The sun is at its peak, and we have enough sunlight to spot the abominations. That's good.

Shifting his gaze towards the harpoons, Samael couldn't help but ask. "What are the harpoons for?"

"For larger abominations," Ajax briefly replied.

***

"Get into position, men!" Erubin roared.

Samael rose to his feet as he approached the deck of the boat, where Ajax stood tall, his blade unsheathed.

Erubin's men hastily ran for their posts, their weapons at hand. Their footsteps left trails of echoes in the air.

"Good luck to the best of us," Erubin said.

Ajax and Samael gave a stiff nod.

Then came the tremors under Samael's sole.

The boat was officially in the water.

"We're sailing! Men, keep a sharp eye out!" The old man roared.

Samael's grip tightened, a lone cold bead of sweat meandering down his forehead, some drenching his back.

Aside from the violent waves crashing upon the steel hull, there was nothing but the prevailing silence engulfing the boat and the cold morning wind searing their skin.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Samael's nose scrunched up, his jaws clenching tight. He could smell it—the familiar stench of rotten corpses, albeit faintly. Overshadowed by the malevolent waves.

Samael's Void compass reached far and wide, his ears perked up, and his senses were at max.

He speared a glance ahead, his gaze scouring the horizon for any odd movement.

Everyone sewed their lips tight, and their eyes peered open.

Seconds ticked by, yet for them, it felt like an eternity.

Samael gulped, Crimson Raven hovering near him as his gaze wandered about.

Slowly, the seconds turned to a minute.

One minute...

Samael's feet felt rooted on the floor, his figure stuck in place as though frozen in time.

Two minutes...

The sound of water droplets striking the wooden floor of the boat reverberated in the air, along with the raging wind wafting through Samael's hair.

Three minutes...

Under the unbending tension coursing through the air, Samael found himself counting every second passing by.

32... 33... 34...

Each second felt longer than the last. Each minute felt unreachable as time went on.

47... 48... 4—

Samael's gaze froze in place, his breath hitched, and his blood cold. A smudge of confusion lingered in his pupils.

On the rightmost side of the deck, above the steel railings, crouched a creature—no, an abomination.

Its scaly skin was as green as moss as it oozed puss-like substance from its pores, staining the deck with its filth. It's fingers connected by a flab of flesh akin to a web.

It had large maws extending near its ears, gills near its neck, and a pair of dead eyes peering into Samael's soul.

Samael has fought many enemies.

Yet he froze as he watched the creature tilt its head, as though it found their presence amusing.

He couldn't feel it.

I couldn't feel its presence, Samael thought, his hands pale as snow under his grueling grip.

He couldn't feel the creature, even with his Void compass on max.

Samael's eyes quivered, his movements seized as he fixed his gaze on the abomination.

Why didn't he feel it?

How did he miss it?

Samael's blood froze as the abominations face morphed, a wide grin etching on its horrid face.

Without another second wasted, Samael roared.

"ENEMIES ON DECK!"

Ajax and Erubin jerked their heads towards Samael. A single thought wreaking havoc in their heads.

They didn't feel anything.

The creature's maw cracked open, its throat trembling as it grew twice its size.

Erubin's face paled. "SAMAEL DON'T LET IT SCRE—"

It was too late.

A blaring sound thundered in the air, mercilessly shattering the silence of the river and engulfing everyone's heart in dread.

Samael's figure zoomed forward, his blade swiftly severing the neck of the beast as its head soared in the sky, its neon green blood smearing everywhere.

Devoured Void Essence of "Arfin" [Larvae II]: +170 pts.

Your power grows stronger...

"DAMN IT! PREPARE FOR COMBAT!" Erubin roared in a frenzy.

Samael's ears perked up as the men moved in waves. They huddled closer, their blades upright.

How did I miss it? Samael thought, confusion burning in his eyes.

His senses are highly honed; he even has his Void Compass at max. Yet he failed to sense the presence of the Arfin.

Unlike the astral compass, which most strong echoes possess, Samael's void compass works in a different way.

The astral compass allows the user to sense danger through shifts in wind, tremors of the earth, and noises.

However, Samael's Void Compass mends his element with his astral compass, filling the area within his range in Void essence. Therefore, unlike most astral compasses, his isn't hollow, and anything within his range is interacting within those Void essences, and essentially, Samael can feel them, even if slightly.

It's as though a person is moving through water; any movement done can form a ripple or a wave, and Samael will know.

Yet he failed to notice the abomination.

Samael gritted his teeth.

Was something wrong with his Void Compass?

Samael shut his eyes tight. He could feel the direction of the wind, the intensity of the currents, and everyone's presence within the boat.

My Void Compass is fine! So how...? Samael couldn't help but ask himself.

Just what is happening?

"Ajax, did you...?" Samael inquired.

"No, I did not," Ajax replied, further fueling the confusion Samael felt.

He also failed to detect the Arfin. But how? Samael wondered.

Things are getting worse by the second. They're outnumbered within enemy territory, and now their senses are effectively cut off.

"Erubin, did you know about this?" Ajax asked.

Erubin shook his head vigorously. "I swear upon my name that I had no information regarding this phenomenon."

Samael's gaze darted back and forth, his heart racing in his chest.

The arfin earlier released a scream—no, a warning call.

Was it a scout? Samael wondered.

If the Arfin was indeed a scout, then they should expect the horde soon.

"How much longer do we need to reach our destination?" Samael asked.

"Roughly 6 minutes!" The old man replied.

6 minutes... We just have to survive for 6—

In the corner of his eyes, Samael caught a silhouette lunge at him.

Samael swiftly dove down, the creature zooming right past him. Without another thought, Samael darted forward as he delivered two consecutive slashes, cleaving the Arfin in three.

"THEY'RE HERE!" Samael bellowed in alarm.

Jerking his head back, Samael saw another abomination set foot on the boat.

With a forceful kick to the ground, Samael flew forward like an arrow.

"Void Augmentation," he said, his hands and arms morphing black.

The arfin screeched in return as it ran to him on all fours, maws wide open. However, Samael was far faster.

Crimson Raven bisected the Arfin in half, its body slamming down the deck as its blood formed a puddle.

But as though a joke, another pair of webbed fingers peeked over the railings, revealing another arfin.

No, you don't! Samael thought as he catapulted Crimson Raven forward, beheading the abomination before it could even reveal half its body.

Return! Samael commanded as the weapon flew back to his palms.

"The boat has slowed down! Paddle harder, men!" The old man roared.

It slowed down? That can't be! Samael thought.

These men were echoes just like him; they won't get tired by merely paddling for a few minutes.

Then... Samael's eyes widened as he ran towards the edge.

"Fuck," Samael muttered.

Dozens upon dozens of Arfins crawled their way towards the deck, tightly clinging to the hull.

Many of them were shredded by the sharp protrusions, but the rest used the dead carcasses of their kind to crawl up unharmed.

Erubin's men weren't tired; they were simply being weighed down.

"THE ENEMIES ARE ON THE HULL!" Samael roared, luring Ajax and the others attention towards the edge.

The waters surrounding the boat appeared as though they were boiling as hundreds of Arfins swam under its surface, all swarming their way.

Samael swung his blade back and forth, tearing through the abominations without mercy.

However, the creature's march remained steadfast.

A few Arfin's eventually got within the boat as they charged mercilessly towards Samael.

Assessing the situation calmly, Samael weaved to the side, nimbly dodging the claws of the creature as he countered with a side kick, sending the creature flying as it struck more of its kind away from the railings.

The other arfin threw itself forward, but a sharp edge greeted it head-on.

"Void Cleave," Samael muttered as he sent three consecutive slashes forward, tearing through the abominations climbing through the deck.

"Duck," Ajax warned.

Samael lowered his stance as a group of Arfin's flew back to the water.

"Strong currents ahead!" The old man roared, luring Samael's attention.

Oh shi—Samael's thoughts were cut short as the boat shook wildly, nearly sweeping him off his feet.

Spearing a glance ahead, Samael's eyes widened as two Arfin's dashed forward, their jaws fried open.

"Void Aegis!" Samael bellowed, a gush of solidified Void matter surging forth, halting the abominations in place.

Blood curdling racks thundered in the air as the Arfin's fell down with a sickening thud, their skulls caved in as the Void matter slowly ate through their flesh.

Shifting his gaze to the side, Samael hastily rose to his feet as he spoke. "Discharge."

The Void Aegis gleamed purple as a small wave of energy catapulted forward, sending the climbing abominations flying.

"HOW LONG!?" Erubin roared as he swung his blade, ending the life of an approaching Arfin.

"4 minutes!" The old man roared.

"We need to hurry! We might not have that much time!" Samael roared as he slowly backed away.

Soon, webbed fingers clung tight on the railings, revealing the grotesque heads of the Arfin's swarming their boat.

4 minutes...

They must survive for 4 minutes.