I raced over to the where that person was. The storm cloud in the sky, the pressure from the strong wind, all of that reasons pushed me as the waves sending me backwards, much harder for me to reached my destination in a short amount of time. I forced to open my eyes as I dived into the cold, salty water, and I barely could see anything in the pitch black sea. And, since it started raining, every time I reached the surface for air, raindrops hit my head as if I was poked with needles. Worse, the slight sting on my sight made everything blurred together from the surface.
But I already knew the consequences when I'd jump straight into the sea. In fact, I had a choice back then—and I chose this.
I closed my eyes, then drew in a breath, sucked into my stomach, and dived again.
Pit-pat! Pit-pat! Pit-pat!
Sounds of the heavy downpour and rumbles from the thunder caused me distractions. I couldn't even use my hearing, all that left was my sight. Despite getting drifted away by the waves, I used all my strength to swim even faster. I hope I wasn't too late to save that person.
For the countless time, I gasped for air, trying to fill my lungs with fair amount of oxygen. Out from the rhythmic downpour, my ears caught the sound of water splashing hard several times. I scanned around quickly, and when I met the moving shadowy figure, a wave of emotion hit me—heart-quickening excitement.
I took my chances as I crawled myself closer to it. The next moment, I heard a groaned or probably from the thunder.
I saw a hint of a human body—still couldn't tell the gender or age—resurfacing, and then submerging. Alarmed, I yelled after the person. "Are you alright?!"
"I... fight... don't you... dare!"
It sounded vaguely mixed with a murmur underwater, and seemed halting as though it was gasping for a breath of air. But that person did reply me... Bhurush! A splash of water hit right on my face. Okay, okay, enough with the unanswered question, this person was definitely drowning.
Taking a deep breath, once again I dived through the murky and hazy sea. My mind screamed, hold on lungs!
My eyes sting as I vaguely reached behind the person's back, preparing to grabbed his arms. Before I could do anything, a deafening boom—far more monstrous than the thunder. My ears ringing, I reflexively gritted my teeth with both of my eyes closed tight. I swallowed and a salty taste jerked my tongue.
"A human?"
That person sounded right beside me. I turned around, and it was a "he". I had to clamp my lips to keep from shrieking in surprise. I didn't know that there was someone who could breathe and talk normally underwater.
His long light-blonde hair disheveled as he was underwater. Up close, he had two twig-like sharp horns on the sides of his forehead, an otherworldly beauty for a monstrous look. He had a winter white skin with a hint of scales. His neck seemed to cut into slits, opened and closed, like a fish gill. His fury green eyes punctuated with black pupils narrowed to slits.
"Why would a human like you bother to come h'sss here?" The hiss was unbearable, as he spoke he flicked his long slender tongue out. "What a mess'sss."
His sprang up his razor-sharped fingernails. What were those? They looked like chicken feet but longer and horrorsome. I was so busy in thought that he was going to pierce me. Instead, his elegant hand was circling in motion, then he pushed it right towards me. Bhurush!
I spontaneously closed my eyes against the powerful gravity. My face felt like it was distorted from my bones. Gracious, this water demon was trying to kill me! Since when I get so unlucky with guys with handsome and attractive features? Did I have the effect of Mercury Retrograde?
Gods! You're treating me unfairly! Was I destined only with ugly-faced people?! Heavens, no!
"You're 'ssstill alive. Now, go along, human!" he hissed impatiently.
Eh? My eyes fluttered open, staying absolutely, completely still, barely daring to breathe and desperately wished that I was just a part of the sea.
Wait... I could breathe normally underwater! My eyes weren't stinging anymore! I was confused. Totally outmanoeuvred. My head was covered in a opaque bubble-type helmet, like an astronaut's but way cooler. I couldn't harness it consciously. It just existed. All right, I had to admit it was fascinating.
As though he heard something, the water demon's pointy ears twitching. He tsked, dropping his gaze on me while raising his eyebrows.
Tingles ran down my spine, and I could hear him hissing at my dumbfounded expression.
"I said, get losssst!" He suddenly motioned his hand, and I felt my neck was grabbed by an invisible power, literally throwing me like flushing the toilet. When I stopped spinning, I attempted to avoid the faint feeling of nausea casting over me.
Boom! Another explosion loud explosion caused shaking to the ground, followed by a burst of waves hit me to the side. The darkness obscured my visions, and when the moment passed, I could see clearly. Cold shock fell onto me in a sudden rush. My breath caught my throat, and I realized where the explosion came from.
There was something crawling closer, and closer.
Something dark. Something sinister. It was deadly.
As that monstrous body tumbled into a view, I understood why that demon water kept pushing me away. She was a human lady but her arms and feet were in the same form, they were tentacles in red shade. Her soft limbs broke everything as she passed through, all slashing and swishing. Her black hair hissed as she moved, like the hair of medusa's. After all this time, that giant octopus woman was behind me the whole time?!
She turned her head and sniffed enthusiastically. Her black eyes stared directly at me. Her blood-red lips turned into a greedy grin, "Ho-ho, what a flavorous surprise we have here. A human and what a beautiful case you have there."
If I wasn't mistaken, this giant octopus lady was calling me beautiful. Hell, a monster just praised me. It was more like she was calling me delicious!
"Who gave you the nerve to devour humans'sss here? You evil octopus spirit, eight-legged lady. How dare you forgotten that this is my master's territory?"
"How dare I? How dare I?" she laughed as if it sounded so absurd, "Tell me, you bratty snake. Did you own the entire sea? No! You hoarded it! You people of Sky Realm took everything from us! This is our home!"
"Same old days, same old days. You evil spirits never learn your lesson," he scoffed. "You take peasants lives like they are corns. I, in my master's dignity, can't let you make any tainted this sea with that ink of yours!"
"I'm a evil spirit of a thousand years, even celestial-beings have been my supper for decades. My cultivation is higher than any mere evil spirit. Even if you're a mythical beast, you're betting your life." She said brashly.
"Bet my life? I 'ssstill need to report to my master. I can't die too early. You tell that so soon, eight-legged."
"Shut up, and just make your move!"
One of her limbs struck to the water demon, followed with the other one. So quickly, that it seemed like never ending flying bullets. Seeing those limbs targeting him, the demon water didn't even flinch. He stood still as though he was waiting for the attack. Then, when those limbs finally an inch close, he snapped them with his sharp fingernails like a pair of scissors.
She wheezed as she was strained to draw her limbs back. Again, with the same repetitive attacks, she threw her limbs directly on the water demon. But he was dodging her attacks easily. A cryptical smile aroused across his face. It was as if... he was having fun. Amused.
"You had my hopes high, eight-legged. Cheers'sss to your cultivation for a thousand years evil spirit."
Instead of shivering of fear or irritated by his mockery, an eerie smile haunted that octopus lady's face. She looked up at me like she had forgotten my presence in their fight, scooted closer to my direction. My mind was suddenly on super-high-alert, but before I could hide, her suckers had already found itself wrapping several loops onto me.
Her tentacles just gripped my whole body deathly, her suckers stuck hard on my skin. I felt unfathomable pain as I tried to pull myself to escape from her. Each movement I made, only made her strength grew tighter and left me breathless.
"Human hostage—old tactics. You dare to use that to a mighty mythical beast like I am?" He said in demeaning tone, but the corners of his mouth quirked. A faint scowl threatened his ignorant expression.
She repulsed, shamelessly responded. "Any tactics can be used for victory. You're just too slow bratty snake."
This was the dumbest thing ever. Why I became the damsel in distress now? I supposed to be the one rescuing, not the other way around. Most of all, I became a hostage from a giant octopus to a water demon. What could be more hellish fantasy that happening to me? Maybe, Mercury Retrograde had effects on me.
Gods, please let me live, I still love my life! I hadn't explained anything about Jie Moshu to Baba. About that silly condition. Just not now!!! Let me live!!!!