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Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Ferocious reptiles

A raft was smoothly drifting amid a massive river. The ride was getting interesting with a little horse and a little monkey on board.

"Prince Aiji, how about you give this little monkey a name?" 

"Let's call it Red." Without a second thought, the prince said. 

The name is simple yet good and reasonable. Vince turned his eyes to the little horse.

"Shall we change Gorgeous' name to White?" 

"No need, Gorgeous is a good name." 

The sun was sinking on the horizon. After passing the dense forest, the river was getting wider and deeper. The forested riverbanks on both sides were covered with vines that hang from the tree branches, down to the water. The current was getting rapid too. The prince stood in front of the raft, examining the surroundings, looking uneasy.

Vince was sitting at the center, feeding the little animals. "Prince Aiji, what's wrong?"

"The water in this area is deep and murky, I'm inspecting the surroundings." 

"Is there any danger?" 

"Yes, crocodiles. They are mostly found in big rivers." 

"Croco...diles!?" Vince suddenly stood up.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?!" Crocodiles are dangerous, Vince was anxiously looking at the surroundings.

"Because you said we can reach the sea faster by traveling here, and besides the river we left was fine. It's just that this part is unsafe." 

"Prince Aiji, what shall we do now?" The prince knew the ancient place well compared to Vince who was used to using modern weapons. If only he had his rifle here with unlimited bullets, Vince wouldn't be troubled.

"We will try to land. Dari, please find a safe area in the bank."  

"Okay." Facing a possible danger, Vince initially panicked, but looking at the prince beside him, those feelings slowly faded.

The raft floats forward, riding the current. Vince didn't paddle to avoid any movements, but they were still sensed by the reptiles. At the back of the raft, the lying Gorgeous stood and neighed. Two crocodile heads slowly moved towards the raft.

"Crap!" 

Vince's heart was alarmed. He anxiously turned at the prince, but he was still looking composed. 

"This gentle prince is fearless!"

Prince Aiji took his metal-tipped spear and the sturdy vines he gathered earlier and went to the rear end of the raft, preparing to attack the reptiles. Gorgeous moved to the center and laid down. Little Red was wailing.

"Prince Aiji, it's dangerous!"

"But it's more dangerous if they hit our raft."

"Let me do it!" Vince grabbed the spear. He knew he couldn't beat those reptiles with just a metal-tipped spear, but sending a gentle prince to fight those ferocious reptiles is absurd.

"No!, Dari, you forgot everything, even your fighting skills. You cannot beat them."

"But those reptiles are fierce!"

"I can beat them. Dari, I am inferior to you, but I'm not a chicken..."

There was a silent stalemate. Later, Vince released the spear. 

"Be careful!" 

"I will. Dari, no matter what happened, don't jump in the water. Just stay in front and try to paddle to a safer side."

Prince Aiji didn't waste time and jumped to the back of the nearest crocodile. He pierced its head with full might. The spear passes through the reptile's head down to its lower jaw, locking its nasty mouth. He then quickly tied its head with a sturdy vine and quickly swam back to the raft.

Vince, who was holding his breath, puffed out. He picked the wailing Red. The prince is capable, but there was still another one, so he wasn't relieved yet.

The reptile whose jaw was tied became violent, wagging its body. It made the other crocodile disoriented. The prince seized the opportunity and dived down towards the disoriented crocodile.

Seeing the prince's reckless move, Vince ran to the back. A few meters away, he saw a disturbance beneath the surface. The water in the big river was murky, making the commotion underwater blurry. Vince's heart was beating wildly.

A few minutes later, blood surfaced. Vince, who was holding his breath, unknowingly tightened his grip on the little monkey in his arm, making it wail even louder.

Every second was unbearable. Vince wanted to jump, but his thoughts told him to wait. Fortunately, Prince Aiji emerged a few seconds later. There was a loud sigh of relief. Vince weakly sat down.

The prince swam back to the raft.

"You jumped without saying a word, I was nervous and worried!" 

Prince Aiji stared at him for a while, then sat beside him, squeezing his wet hair.

"I need to attack it first. It wouldn't be good if it got close to the raft." 

"But it was too risky!" Vince was mad, but not to the prince but to himself for being useless. He was a capable captain. He was used to being relied on by his subordinates. He was useless in this ancient place, and it was too depressing.

The prince, who seemed to understand his troubled feelings, smiled.

"Dari, don't think too much. Whether it's you or me who defeated them, it doesn't matter. The important thing is our safety."

Vince knew this, but he was a dignified man from the modern world, so being useless is what he hated the most. 

"Dari, don't get mad. The danger is not over yet. I beat the two that tailed us, but there are still many hiding under the thick vines on the banks. The blood of those beaten crocodiles and the commotion we made will attract their attention. More will emerge in no time."

This fact alarmed Vince again. His injured pride was suddenly forgotten and paddled forward. He cannot allow the prince to fight more of those reptiles.

"Prince Aiji, I can't see a safer side. Both banks are covered with thick vines." 

"Dari, there's a massive tree leaning to the water ahead. I will throw these vines to the branch and use these to climb up. We will then tie the raft to the branches to make some time pulling Gorgeous." 

Vince looked ahead. Climbing up would be challenging because the water current was rapid, but they had no other option.

"Okay." 

Vince paddled while Prince Aiji prepared the vines. They were getting closer, but few heads emerged on both sides.

"Crap! Prince Aiji, I will paddle faster!" 

It's too awful to end up in these reptiles' stomachs, so Vince paddled quickly.

The prince stretched the coiled vines. Vince paddled as fast as he could, but getting closer, he saw around ten heads floating under the leaning massive tree.

The paddle fell on the raft.

"Our last chance... is blocked." 

They weren't only blocked but were also surrounded. The ever calm and composed prince was slightly alarmed. 

"Dari, I will attack those blocking our way, try to climb up as quick as you can." The prince handed the vines to Vince.

"No! You can't fight them all. The current is strong, the raft will move farther before I can climb up!"

"But you have to secure yourself, I will find ways later. Hurry! We're getting closer to the tree, the crocodiles on both sides are getting closer too!" 

"I can't leave you. I can't leave the little animals. I will stay here!" 

The images of him and Jester escaping the rebels and jumping off the cliff flashed in Vince's mind. If there's no other way, he would prefer to die with Prince Aiji. This world is strange anyway. It's better to perish together. 

Vince sat down, closing his eyes ignoring the extended hand that was holding a vine.

Looking at the stubborn 'Dari', the prince was helpless.

"How can I stay in this ancient world alone? It would be better to get eaten together." Vince thought, but a few seconds later, with his eyes still closed, he heard a sound of raging water from the distance behind them. And it was getting louder!

Vince immediately opened his eyes and saw Prince Aiji's anxious face. The ferocious reptiles were retreating to the sides too. 

"Flash... flood?!"