Chereads / The Entropy Generated by Evolution / Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Empathy

Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Empathy

Being in the dark and not seeing was strange, feeling uncomfortable when no light was visible. Did other species live like this? Fearing the darkness that was always so kind to 'him'?

The goblin didn't know how any creature could live like that. He didn't want to spend much longer like that, so he tried to reach the top.

He flapped his arms and swung his legs, no longer as helpless as when he challenged the rushing water and showed it by climbing closer to the surface. He ceased his movement only when he noticed something close to him.

Some being he couldn't identify, if he opened his eyes, it would only hurt them. He was in the dark and he didn't feel well. Rarely had he found himself in a situation that made his stomach twist like this.

He only knew what was approaching when he was caught by such a creature. The vine's mouth that says 'sssss' closed around his neck, there he imagined it was over.

It wasn't as nerve-wracking as he'd imagined the arrival of eternal sleep would be. He even felt like laughing, after all "he", a goblin, tried to face a naturally stronger animal. Such idiocy could only end in failure and yet he tried.

Wasn't it funny?

He thought so, however he still considered it somehow necessary. That made him different from his, almost unique. He had never felt that he was special before, if he were to die like this, he would die better than any other goblin.

And slower too, that was taking time. He wasn't looking forward to its end, however he always imagined it would be sooner than how it was happening.

The vine bite that says 'sssss' wasn't killing or hurting him. It served only the purpose of holding him immobile, unable to defend himself as the creature's body wrapped around his. The grip growing tighter, not enough to keep her chest from pounding, not enough to crush her lungs. If the animal wanted to achieve something with that action, it wasn't getting close to doing it. Death seemed too slow to catch him and the goblin would take that chance.

Since the vine's bite didn't cause her pain, so his would.

He closed his mouth around the enemy's smooth skin, sank his teeth into the soft yet dense flesh. He felt the blood run over the surface of his lips and get lost in the water.

Still with no effect, he continued with his bite and sank his claws into the animal. He tore the creature's skin with repeated strokes, leaving many open wounds from which red liquid oozed.

The enemy's bite didn't put an end to the conflict, the bite that 'he' gave didn't either.

Maybe the third bite would do something.

The bite of the one who rested at the bottom of the lake of dark waters. His peaceful sleep was interrupted when he felt the softness of blood, opened his eyes and went after the sweet trail that betrayed the presence of prey.

The goblin did not notice that this third element rose towards them from the depths, however the vine that says 'ssssss' did. The animal even aiming to kill the monster, noticed the ripple in the water and felt the approaching heat.

Large size, four legs, a tough leathery skin that had a dark green color. Long jaw with a huge row of sharp teeth. This creature was terrifying and would have stopped the goblin's heart had he been able to see anything there.

His captor chose a priority, released the one who caused him so much trouble, and used his slender body to dodge the oncoming attack. The animal to one side and the monster to the opposite direction, so the bite of the one coming from the bottom bit into the void.

He didn't need to see or have superior senses to understand that something else had joined the conflict. 'He' seized this unexpected opportunity and swam to the surface. When half of his body emerged from the water, he sucked in air with desperation and anxiety as he started his journey to land.

The goblin reached the wet earth and tried to pull himself up onto it. A few times he fell from slipping, but was able to get away from the water. He laid his back on the ground and breathed a sigh of relief, he was alive, but he hadn't won.

I felt that the conflict was not even over. One of the two creatures would emerge from the bottom of the lake, either the vine that says 'sssss' or the one that appeared unexpectedly. Anyone who came to the surface would aim to devour the monster.

The strange human weapon must have sunk by then, the pointed sticks probably resting in the depths of the water. If he was going to fight, he would have to find a new way to kill his enemy, regardless of which one it was. He didn't feel confident.

He would find out which one soon, as the two reached the surface. Its first enemy wrapped itself around the body of the second, preventing it from moving its short limbs or its long tail. Restraining the deadly attacks of its terrifying mouth.

So still that someone unnoticed might believe he was dead, but the goblin knew he wasn't. What told him that wasn't the sounds coming from the choking throat, or the way the animal mouth trembled trying to open. What 'he' saw were the green eyes running from one side to the other, desperately looking for something, anything that would save him.

This was something the monster could understand, animals also feared for the end of their life. Maybe all beings did that. What's the name of this feeling? To understand what the other was going through and put yourself in their place?

It didn't matter anyway, it was for just mere seconds that he could feel what the other felt. He had someone more important to worry about, the vine that says 'sssss' and itself.

Once the desperate eyes became as still as the body that possessed them, the goblin silently wished the animal a good sleep and rose.

The vine that says 'sssss' unrolled itself smoothly and headed towards the mainland. He didn't rush forward, he didn't jump in despair. He just followed calmly with his undulating movements almost mesmerizing. He glared at the goblin during the ride and reared up when out of the water.

'He' raised his show claws and growled as he took a deep breath. He would take this once and for all into his own hands.

Or he would die trying.