Xiao Guang led a swarm of beetle-like creatures resembling fighter jets, diving towards the crocodiles at the stern of the ship.
In just a few short moments, the situation had become extremely dire. The crocodiles were now dangerously close to the ship. At the stern, a group of people had gathered, all aiming their crossbows at the approaching crocodiles, firing with all their might.
Li Ji gave a stern order, taking aim at the eyes of the crocodiles and firing haphazardly.
"Prepare to abandon ship!"
Several of the largest crossbows were positioned at the ship's rear. The archers kept their bows drawn taut, waiting for the final moment. Their faces were resolute, embodying the spirit of soldiers who would hold their ground until the end. As the crocodiles opened their mouths, these last crossbow bolts would be shot into their mouths, buying time for others to jump off the ship, while they themselves would forfeit their last chance.
Li Ji was one of them, as were Huang Zhong and Li Hao. Aside from Shi Xiao Fang who was injured, they were all part of this group.
Su Lao and most of the others gathered at the bow of the ship. The area was crowded, and if the crocodiles made their final attack, they would have to abandon ship into the sea. In the final stretch, they would swim to the shore.
The seemingly inconspicuous waves, which were usually mere ripples to humans, transformed into waves large enough to capsize the ship when juxtaposed with the diminutive figures of the humans. The beach that lay within sight might take a full hour of swimming to reach. With most of their strength already drained, crossing this final hurdle seemed impossible. Their only hope was for the ship to come closer, stabilize a bit more, and endure for a while longer.
Su Lao shouted loudly from the ship's bow.
"Listen up, everyone! Once the ship is destroyed, everyone must quickly enter the sea. Remember, swim with all your might towards the beach and gather there. No stopping midway." Observing the reluctant glances exchanged among the people, Su Lao knew that after a year of life and death together, they couldn't possibly abandon their injured comrades or their fellow comrades who had faced life and death with them.
However, even he knew he couldn't make it to the other side. His strength would only allow him to endure for a dozen minutes against the current. But he couldn't burden anyone else; at this moment, only those with good stamina and luck had a chance at survival.
"Don't worry about others. Fight to live or die, every individual for themselves. Do you hear me?" Su Lao clenched his teeth and issued the most resolute command.
Evidently, this command had no effect. The people below had already spontaneously organized into small groups. Those who were adept swimmers tied ropes around their injured companions, the strong ones securing the weak. Some, injured and frail, attempting to quietly slip away, were forcefully brought back by others. Even Su Lao and Elder Ma were approached by two soldiers, holding ropes to bind them together. Those who had faced life and death had a single thought: they would never be separated, and they would never survive alone.
The ship, the waves, the crocodiles, the blue sky, and the swift-moving swarm of beetle-like creatures became a silent tableau at this moment, with the souls of those aboard tightly clutching the hands of their companions.
The roaring sea breeze brushed across Xiao Guang's face. It had been several days since he had last had a haircut or shaved. He squinted his eyes, allowing the sea breeze to tousle his hair. His young face was clouded with worries, while his eyes carried the weight of experience, holding a resolute gaze that fixed on the crocodiles at the ship's stern.
As the crocodile right at the stern opened its massive jaws, Li Ji seized the opportunity and shouted loudly,
"Fire!"
"Fire!"
The sounds of "whoosh, whoosh!" accompanied the crossbow bolts and javelins slicing through the air. A crocodile that had just opened its mouth, full of splinters, quickly fell back into the water, causing a cascade of waves that sent those at the ship's stern stumbling.
However, the situation was far from over. As the crocodile at the forefront hit the water and submerged, no one knew when it might resurface. Another crocodile closely followed, poised to pounce at the ship's stern.
The people who had been knocked over by the enormous waves hadn't yet regrouped for a second attack when Xiao Guang, leading the swarm of beetles, swooped down from above. Following Xiao Guang's lead, they descended upon the crocodile's back with a swift and precise movement.
Simultaneously, dozens of beetles landed on the relatively small crocodile's back, immediately causing discomfort. The crocodile wriggled its body, preparing to dive once more.
Xiao Guang sensed the crocodile's impatience upon landing and within seconds, activated the beetles for flight once again. With a resounding hum, they took to the air. However, some were not quick enough, and a portion of the beetles ended up submerged.
In mid-air, Xiao Guang quickly reorganized the beetles. With the remaining beetles, he circled around, and as he spotted a crocodile that had been driven back by the arrows, he saw it resurface.
With determination, Xiao Guang urged the beetles into action, flying toward the crocodile that had just emerged from the water.
The crocodile paid no attention to the beetles hovering in front of it. Oblivious, it continued its pursuit of the ship. Xiao Guang clenched his teeth and flew just above the water's surface, almost skimming it, right in front of the crocodile. The gathered beetles successfully diverted the crocodile's gaze, causing it to stop chasing the ship. Instead, its attention was now fixed on the beetles in mid-air. However, as Xiao Guang gained altitude, the crocodile began swimming towards the ship once again.
By this point, there were hardly any usable crossbows or javelins left on the ship. Most had been washed away by the massive waves. The people who had been rowing with all their might were now exhausted. Some had collapsed outright, while others persisted mechanically. Li Ji, with the remaining strength in his crossbowmen, quickly replenished their ammunition. Anxious, he watched Xiao Guang battling the crocodile.
Li Ji was deeply concerned. As a soldier, he understood Xiao Guang's actions well. In one moment, he was deciding to leave the hope of survival to others, and in the next, he was worrying for Xiao Guang, who had made the same decision.
He could see Xiao Guang's determination in the face of life and death. As a soldier, Li Ji could grasp the meaning behind such a fight, one without regard for personal cost. Over the past year, those fallen warriors, exceptional commanders—none of them had returned.
Li Ji, accompanied by a dozen soldiers, expressionless, operated the crossbows. Arrow after arrow was released, aimed at the crocodiles breaking the surface of the water. The wooden bolts, thin as chopsticks, struck the crocodile's thick hide, bouncing off time and time again. But Li Ji kept firing, relentlessly.
Flying low was extremely perilous, yet Xiao Guang paid no heed, descending closer and closer to the water's surface. Finally, with Xiao Guang's effort, the crocodile was successfully distracted, and following his lead, the crocodile chased after a beetle that was hovering low in the air, moving in the opposite direction.
Old Ma, who had been observing the entire process, let out a sigh of relief. However, he was caught off guard when suddenly a crocodile leaped out of the water, creating an even larger splash than before. In an instant, countless beetles were soaked, and a few fortunate ones that remained didn't heed Xiao Guang's command any longer; they soared high and away. With a smack, the crocodile crashed back into the water from mid-air. At this point, the sea was quite shallow, and the broken surface revealed the sand beneath.
The crocodile fixed its sights on the ship ahead and resumed its pursuit. Xiao Guang, circling in the air, gazed at the people who were about to reach the shore. He gritted his teeth and swooped down once again, heading straight for the crocodile on the water's surface.
Alone, Xiao Guang controlled the beetles, dancing before the crocodile's eyes. He flew perilously close to its jaws, luring the crocodile to snap at him multiple times, each time barely evading the deadly bite.
Xiao Guang's efforts bore fruit as the people on the ship rowed with all their might. The shore drew nearer and nearer, and even the most pessimistic among them began to think, maybe we can survive.
Xiao Guang narrowly escaped the jaws of the crocodile multiple times. Seeing that the ship was about to reach the shore and that the sea was getting shallower, most of the crocodiles turned and swam away. Yet, one exceptionally large crocodile continued to follow relentlessly, undeterred by the chaos.
With a loud thud, the ship collided with the shore, causing Li Ji and the soldiers who had been firing the crossbows just a second ago to tumble over.
"Quick, ashore, abandon ship!" Old Su shouted loudly.
Great, they finally reached the shore, but how could hundreds of people disembark so quickly? Li Ji and the soldiers who had scrambled to their feet after the fall, their faces smeared with blood, frantically carried the wounded who couldn't run anymore and leapt off the ship. Compared to the danger of being crushed by the crocodile, landing on the muddy beach felt much safer.
The wide-open jaws of the crocodile remained right before them. If it were to clamp down on the ship with a single bite, those who hadn't yet disembarked might not make it. Today, Xiao Guang couldn't forget the harm the giant rodents had caused at the beginning. Under the weight of the enormous crocodile, how many could survive?
"Xiao Guang, these poison stingers are highly toxic. A single one can incapacitate a giant eagle. There are very few of them, they're hard to come by. Keep them for emergencies." This description accompanied the poison stingers that his teacher had prepared for him among other equipment.
As he watched the crocodile, which resembled a swift velociraptor, plunge towards the ship, Xiao Guang once again dove, hurtling toward the crocodile. As he passed over the ship on the beach, he glanced back mid-air, observing the beach, the sunlight, the blue sky, the ship, and the united people. It was as if he were watching a sequence of frames. His gaze swept across Old Su, Li Ji, and those who were struggling relentlessly.
Li Ji, who was busy rescuing people, had an intuitive sense. He raised his head and caught a glimpse of the beetles passing overhead. He happened to see Xiao Guang looking back and read the calm determination in his eyes.
"Come back!" Li Ji understood the message in his eyes. "Come back to me!"
Covered in blood, Li Ji couldn't control his emotions any longer and shouted, "What are you doing? Come back to me!"
Old Su, battered and bruised, and Old Ma, supporting each other, half-reclined in the mud, their eyes unblinking as they stared at the figure in the sky.
Time and space seemed to stand still. A brave warrior charged at a behemoth many times larger than himself. Just as the creature was about to bite him, he agilely dodged, but he didn't flee. Instead, he collided fiercely with the creature's eye. The monster extended its talons, sweeping the beetle from its eye into the water, yet it failed to notice the inconspicuous human clinging to its eyelid. From his pocket, the human withdrew a venomous stinger and plunged it into the creature's eye.
Stung by the intense pain, the crocodile ceased its frenzied leap, hopping backward in place. In a few bounds, it plunged into the deep water, leaving only churned waves and disturbed silt on the surface, evidence of the fierce underwater struggle.