I woke up because of the noises I was hearing, annoyed by them, I got up and stepped outside. What I saw was the least I expected. The fishmen has invaded our camp. Some of the rangers got their flesh ripped apart, and the others were being devoured. I went back inside to find anything I could use to help outside. I then found the mace I acquired from the wreckages back at the ship.
I got out, and tried to find the captain but he was nowhere to be seen. A ranger was in sight, he was struggling as his arrows weren't piercing the fishmen's scale. I rushed towards the enemy, swinging my mace to its head. I bashed its head again and again until it was dead. I then preceded to another fishman, I striked the arms and legs for me to immobilize its movement and then I striked a blow directly to its head.
They kept coming, and I kept slaying each of them. The other rangers got back up on their feet and they shot multiple arrows towards the approaching enemies, but none of them pierced. I indicated to them to try aiming at the fishmen's eyes as it is the only area where it's not protected by their firm scales. The rangers hesitated, but the other who I rescued earlier didn't bother, and shot an arrow towards the fishmen's eye. It pierced, causing it to collapse.
The ranger then shouted, "Aim for their eyes!!!" All the other rangers then followed.
I decided to go where they were coming from, the shore. I ran towards the forest, striking any fishmen that were in my way. At least that could limit the enemies the rangers are going to face. Corpses were scattered, I couldn't even imagine the massacre that happened here earlier.
Afterwards, I saw several fishmen coming to my way. I knew myself alone wouldn't be able to handle tons of fishmen, so I went straight a different route, avoiding them. I also saw up the hill that those fishmen had crossed the border where the rangers are.
As I was going down, I stopped. A sudden fog appeared, covering the whole forest. I couldn't see a thing, making me at a deep disadvantage; knowing a fishman could attack me at any moment now without me realizing. I slowly worked my way down to the coast, but then a fishman lunged at me. I anticipated its attack and parried it, and then I followed up with a kick knocking him down. I knew the fog was a nuisance as the fishmen could use it to their advantages.
I got lost caused by the fog. I then tried finding the way using my ears as I couldn't rely on my eyes at that time. Luckily, I heard the sound of the waves and some men clashing with fishmen. I hurriedly went towards it. As I got closer, the fog became thinner and thinner, and there I found myself at the coast.
The fishmen's dead bodies were scattered throughout the shore, but the remaining kept emerging from the sea. I rushed at them and bashed their head as hard as I could.
I continued striking them from knees, arms to head. I was filled with anger, but then I heard a familiar voice, it was the Dzil's, but I assumed that he hasn't recognize me. He screams as loud as he could, "Young man, would you please fend that side of the shore from the fishmen that are emerging from the sea!!" I didn't reply back and continued attacking the approaching fishmen.
After some time, they've stopped from surfacing, and so I killed the remaining two. I assumed that's the last of them. I was exhausted but the other group including Dzil needed help, I unhurriedly went to them. As I reached their area, I sighted two fainted folks and Dzil who then recognized me.
"Aston? I didn't recognize it was you who slayed those fishmen at the other side." He said.
"You got that right, though I am drained to my very bottom from wielding that mace for some time." I replied.
"Bastards… what are their intentions?"
"I have no idea either, all I know is when I woke up, chaos was everywhere."
"My rangers, are they safe?"
"Probably, they discovered how to handle those fishmen before I left them."'
"Good to hear, how about you? Are you injured?"
"I'm fine, I've managed to come here without any injury—talk about luck."
"We should get the hell out of here before more of them come again, we should join our group as soon as possible. Would you help me carry one of my folks?"
"Surely, who is the other guy anyway?"
"He's an apprentice of mine; I haven't introduced him to you yet, have I?"
"You haven't, but that's fine. We should be focusing on our safety first."
We both carried the fainted folks by our shoulders and will be continuing our way back to camp, but then a sudden growl was heard by the sea. We turned our back and glanced something was arising from the water. Dzil drew his sword from the sheath, while I held my mace firmly. I've noticed Dzil's left arm is broken, so whatever we'll be fighting, we're surely be in difficulties. Dzil then talked.
"Can you handle that shield of mine over there? I can't hold it considering I broke my arm, so I want you to wield it."
"Okay." I replied
I went to get the shield and wielded it with my left hand. It was a magnificent rectangular shield, presumably made from iron, and its weight is exceedingly light. I then took my stance, as a creature then emerged from the sea.
A massive creature that has an immense body mass and its face resembles as of a catfish, sharp nails capable of tearing a human without any effort. It then advanced itself to land, revealing it wielding an enormous anchor. I and Dzil shivered in fear as we haven't encountered such a creature. The massive being had its eyes on Dzil. The creature then talked in a deeply voice.
"Dzil, my friend, how have you been?" The creature said.
"I have no such friends like you!!" Dzil yelled.
"You seem to have forgotten, or is it because of the changes on my appearance?"
"What do you mean by that? Are you stating that I've known you?"
"Da—Ze—Lo—Ro"
"Dazeloro Purstart? Is that you?"
"Indeed, Dzil."
"What happened to you? The others, our fellow villagers, where are they?"
"They've already been devoured by mother."
"You've changed totally. You're one of them, you shit."
"It's not my fault that I'm one of the chosen one. Our mother gave birth to us; the three of us serves our mother very well. My siblings are staying in the cavern beneath us, and now I'm the one who's assigned to obliterate this village."
"Obliterate? This mother of yours, is she Noora?"
"Yes, our dearly loved mother."
"I'll be the one who'll obliterate Noora then, you sick bastard."
"You dare say harsh words towards our mother!"
Dazeloro was enraged with what Dzil said. He rushed towards us with his anchor, ready to strike us. Dzil was mobile considering he only had his sword and nothing else. He then dashed aside to avoid the anchor swing, leaving me behind. With the creature's speed and the amount of equipment with me, I had no choice but to embrace the impact with the shield. I held my shield firmly and was in a stance. I heard the sound of him swinging his anchor, and then he lands his powerful blow to me.
I was astonished as I myself was still standing after I embraced the strike he gave, but the impact penetrated through my shield and causing the shock throughout my body. I endured the pain and screamed while I gave him a strike to his body. He then flinched, it convinced me I can inflict some damage to him, and defeat him. He striked again but I managed to block in time. The damage was not comparable to the first one, as he has no momentum with his blows at the moment. I followed with a strike to his legs causing him to fall down in his knees. His head was wide open so I bashed his head as hard as I could, but he followed up with a strike from beneath, I managed to block it but it drove me meters away causing me to knockdown.
Dzil went and sneak attacked Dazeloro behind. He turned around and tried to hit Dzil with his anchor but with Dzil's mobility, he couldn't even land a single blow. I knew this time that even though he has become a monster, he's still has not adapted to it.
I got back on my foot and was prepared for another exchange of blows. On the other hand, Dzil was still handling him properly, not until the creature swept the floor with its lacerating tongue, causing Dzil to fall. He grabbed him and slammed him on the ground. Before Dazeloro was about to strike Dzil, I charged at him stating, "Over here!" he then turned his back around and as he was about to strike me, I timed it perfectly and parried him. I got four blows to his body; legs, arms, stomach, chest.
We were both drained at that time; I felt all of my bones were broken. I took my chance and charged at him first, but he then let his lacerating tongue out. He was about to whip me with his tongue but I got another block in; I proceeded to bash his kneecaps, causing him to fall down. I was about to bash his head while he was down, but he got me by my neck and tried to choke me.
I was unable to move as his grip was compact. He stated, "You've might have won if you weren't greedy…ha-ha" I lost my hope as he was about to crush my throat, but I soon realized that he was already on the verge of death caused by my strikes earlier, presumably from internal bleeding. His grip then got loose, and so I got out of it.
I took my momentum and striked his head with all the force I had. As I striked, my mace broke in pieces, what matters to me was that Dazeloro has died. I collapsed cause of exhaustion, but was delighted as I have defeated Dazeloro.