The tentacled Deep Golden Fish hovered toward the door, homing in on the two intruders who had bypassed their defenses. Their orders were simple: eliminate the intruders. Priority was given to the two primary threats, while three other less important targets were secondary. Within the minds of the fish, a light erupted—brighter than the sun, stronger than any physical tentacle. They surged through the air, reaching for the two targets who had their backs turned.
Bang!
An atmospheric explosion rang out from behind, incredibly close. They jerked to a halt, the tentacles in their mouths swaying sluggishly. Once again, small pieces of metal hovered before their eyes. The bipedal intruder clad in black cloth stood before them again, two limbs extended with fingers spread wide. The Deep Gold Fish telepathically flung those soft metal fragments away, along with the pitch-black intruder.
BAM!
Both the metal scraps and the bipedal creature were slammed into the wall, flattened into a fresh layer of red smear. It was easy. Too easy. Yet, the creatures were confused. How could this creature not get back up after being crushed?
Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
A series of unusual sounds echoed through the corridor, accompanied by a rhythmic voice. It was a voice that did not belong to the intruders. They rolled their eyes around, but saw no one else.
Splash!
Another sound erupted, drawing the attention of the tentacled fish back to the wall where the black creature had been crushed. The creature was gone; the wall of red flesh looked smoother than usual. Yet, the strange music and voice continued to play relentlessly.
The Deep Gold Fish ceased their mental energy. They hovered toward the wall and the left turn, searching for the source of the suspicious sound.
Tchuk!
Two of the Deep Gold Fish had their heads pierced from above by something hard. They dropped to the floor instantly. The remaining three rolled their eyes upward to find two bipedal intruders with beast ears driving long iron rods into their kin. They released a burst of energy at the two ambushers. Unlike the previous targets who were easily slammed into walls, these two drove their metal rods into the ground. They strained to stay on their feet, hands gripping their weapons, fangs bared and clenched. They were determined to resist, but their efforts seemed futile.
Bang!
The familiar explosion rang out again. The foreheads of the two remaining tentacle fish were gouged with small holes that punched through their entire bodies. The last Deep Gold Fish looked toward the source of the blast; the red flesh wall now had two holes. Inside were two forelimbs with ten crooked, bone-exposed fingers.
Tchuk!
In a single moment of distraction, the crushing pressure on the enemies plummeted as only one fish remained. The two intruders immediately drove their bent iron rods into each side of the last Deep Gold Fish’s head.
“Hah… hah…”
The two sisters, Góy?n and Galilahi, sat flat on the ground, tongues out, exhaling thick clouds of steam.
“You two did great.” Joker emerged from the wall—or rather, from a thin red layer that matched the wall’s color. “Rice dough marinated in meat sauce; it’s perfect for hiding like a ninja.”
He stood with hands on his hips. Watching the two wolf Beastfolk sisters panting, Joker thought of dogs after a run in the heat. Then he thought of his mother, Skoll, after she finished "playing" with him and old man Sabata. A natural disaster breathed just like that.
“Any injuries?” Joker asked, holding out his hands.
“I could fight all day!” Galilahi grinned and gripped his hand. She stood up as Joker pulled her. “And your plan to take down those fish was really fast!”
“Just some techniques I saw on the internet,” Joker replied.
“Thank you for worrying.” Góy?n gave a slim smile, placing her hand on Joker’s smooth hand. “But I can’t stay still while this giant thing is still rushing toward Jaci Village.” She expressed her thoughts as he helped her up.
“I didn’t tell those other two to go ahead for no reason.” Joker let go of their hands and started running toward the door. “If there are any injuries, Yong can heal them instantly once we get there.”
“Then let’s hurry!” Galilahi’s wolf ears twitched as she dashed after him with light, agile steps.
“I hope they’re okay.”
Góy?n kicked off the floor, her body launching forward dozens of meters. In just over a second, the two girls had caught up to Joker. Galilahi tucked one arm around his waist and lifted him up.
“Let me give you a lift~.” Galilahi grinned, her wolf ears fluttering in the rushing wind.
Instead of a witty comeback, Joker remained silent. To him, flying through the air while being carried by this wolf Beastfolk was much the same: fast, with wind pressing hard against his face. He was already impressed by the sisters' abilities. They far exceeded him in physical prowess, and their transformation via the magic stones had pushed them even further. He had expected the counter-offensive against the tentacle fish to take much longer. Yet, Góy?n and Galilahi had finished it in under a minute.
“It’s hilarious that you have all this power yet let yourselves be led around by the nose by those seafood snacks.”
Joker shrugged, the corner of his mouth twitching upward behind his black mask. Traveling with them didn't feel much different from traveling with Jarek. They handled problems with ease, and he became a spectator for most of the action.
“What do you mean by that?” Galilahi quirked an eyebrow, her ears standing straight up.
“You flatter us too much,” Góy?n giggled, her tail wagging slightly.
“You two can handle that crowd easily, yet you were taking orders from guys who just throw spears randomly. If that isn't funny, what is?” Joker shrugged.
“Are you teasing me again?” Galilahi instinctively felt like letting him go into a freefall.
“I’m happy you see it that way, it’s just…” Góy?n looked at Joker with shimmering eyes. “Our strength can’t do many of the things you, Yong, and Jarek can.”
“You mean…” Galilahi’s ears twitched, her eyes widening. “He’s saying we’re really strong?”
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“Mm-hmm,” Góy?n nodded.
“Hmhmhm, you should have just said so clearly~.”
The wolf-girl’s face broke into a smile as she looked at Joker. Of course, her pitch-black friend simply looked away instead of answering.
“To be this strong while so young. with this much power, it wouldn't be strange if he became an Alpha of a pack. No, maybe even more, like the leader of a city.”
Góy?n spoke as if she were telling a legend of a hero. Instead of feeling excited, Joker sighed. He couldn’t die, he couldn’t be weakened, and his inability to grow stronger was also "enforced." He looked at Góy?n and Galilahi and saw the one thing he could never have: the ability to become more than what he currently was.
“You two act like you’re ancient. As long as you’re healthy, you can go far.” He shot back with another compliment wrapped in sarcasm.
“Well, we’ve lived nearly half a wolf’s life,” Góy?n said, scratching her cheek with a sharp claw.
“How many seasons have you seen?” Galilahi asked curiously.
“Seasons? What do you mean?” Joker asked bluntly.
“A person belongs to the season they were born in. Counting how many of those seasons have passed is how the people of Jaci and the big cities calculate maturity,” Góy?n explained simply. “For instance, I have seen 30 springs.”
“I see…”
Joker rubbed his chin. This other world had a simpler but more interesting way of calculating age than he thought.
“So, how many seasons for you?” Galilahi circled back, clearly not wanting to miss this chance.
“...18,” Joker answered after a silence longer than the question deserved.
“Heheh, you’re younger than me~.” Galilahi laughed out loud. “You’re ten autumns younger than me. So remember to call me Big Sister Galilahi~!”
“...”
Joker fell silent, pinching the bridge of his nose. He knew he had only just reached adulthood, but being the youngest in the group left a bitter taste in his mouth. Suddenly, the realization that Yong was around his age brought him a sense of relief.
“And here I thought you wanted to call him 'husband' after finding out he was the one who saved you?” Góy?n tilted her head, glancing at her younger sister.
“T-t-that!”
Galilahi’s tail instantly tucked, and her ears flopped down. Joker watched the scene and guessed that Jarek was a magnet for others as usual, even when the "others" were women. It wouldn't be strange if Galilahi hated him; besides saving her life, he hadn't exactly been kind to her. He only did what needed to be done: defeat the enemy, find a way back. Simple and brief.
--- A few minutes later ---
The two Beastfolk sisters ran down the long corridors, following the scent of Jarek and Yong. Joker could smell it too, but the overwhelming stench of fishy fluids made it take longer for him to track.
BAM!
Góy?n and Galilahi delivered a joint flying kick, destroying a door that was soft as flesh but tougher than muscle. The door shattered, and the three entered a room that was entirely different in color. There was no more red or bodily warmth; the surroundings were dyed in a deep, dark blue with freezing air, as if they were in the home of the Deep Gold Fish.
On the walls were many transparent membranes like glass that he had seen several times in this world. Inside them were clusters of tiny round beads, reminding him of aquatic eggs. Others contained Deep Gold Fish floating inside.
[It seems all the intruders have gathered here.]
The sound rang out in Joker’s head, just as the Deep Gold Fish had always done. Right in the center of the room, a humanoid figure caught his attention. This individual was dressed in clothes even darker than his own, with a deep hood. But beneath the fabric were glowing eyes and squirming octopus tentacles. That appearance, that distinct intelligence—the answer hit Joker immediately. This was the mastermind, a Mindflayer. An Eldritch.
[It is quite rare to see other creatures here so full of Psionic energy, let alone three of them.] The Mindflayer began to levitate, the hem of his cloak rising off the ground. [I am Yz'ombrulbh, master of this vessel and this workshop. Feel honored, you low-born creatures and you chosen ones.] The voice echoed in everyone's minds.
“Looks like your food-powered cameras are working well,” Joker said, circling his fingers near his temples.
[Of course. The minds of the fish are all connected to me.] The two glowing pupils narrowed, though their intent was unclear.
“JAREK! YONG!”
Góy?n screamed after looking up. Joker followed her gaze; there was Yong, stuck upside down on the ceiling, and Jarek, fused into a pillar. He frowned and looked back down. The two wolf-girls were already standing with legs wide, the tips of their dented metal spears pointed at Yz'. Joker took a deep breath and spoke.
“By the way… isn't this place a bit too big for just you?”
[The compatibility of these beasts is quite poor.] The tentacles on Yz's mouth swayed. [Initially, I used them to breed more of my kind. They failed.] Yz' floated to a wall, his tentacles touching a membrane like a merchant inspecting goods. [So I pivoted to food, fuel, and subordinates. Simpler, actually.] The tentacles touched a membrane, behind which a Deep Gold Fish was swimming, its mouth opening and closing repeatedly. [And things get worse when some creatures try to change their appearance yet still fail to perform the necessary reproductive functions.]
His red eyes scanned the group, lingering on no one in particular.
[As for my plans—] He paused, his tentacles swaying rhythmically. [I see no reason to hide them. It makes no difference whether you hear them or not.]
A grinding sound came from Galilahi. Joker glanced over; the wolf-girl’s tail and ears were standing on end. She was gritting her teeth so hard that her fingerprints were beginning to indent the metal spear shaft.
“Calm down,” Joker said, lightly tapping her shoulder. “That indifferent commentary isn't worth letting into your ears.”
“Sorry,” Galilahi jumped, her tail lowering and her ear fur flattening.
“If you need, I can help you become a 'true mother',” Joker said, snapping his fingers.
“Eh!” The wolf-girl’s ears and tail shot up again. “I-I thought you turned that down!” Her lips stammered uncontrollably.
“You two, now is not the time,” Góy?n said, her eyelids half-drooping as she looked at them.
“...I was talking about introducing you to a specialist to adjust your body.”
Joker pinched his forehead. He paused for a moment and then pointed his index finger at the floating Eldritch.
“Also, would you mind pausing this flying ship? It’s getting in our way, and you’re scaring people who don't know how to fight.” Joker pointed at the floor. “Unless you’re not confident about fighting 'low-born creatures,' Mr. High-grade Seafood.” He wiggled his arm like a tentacle.
The room fell silent as six eyes stared at Joker. His hands didn't stop wiggling. A few seconds passed as the thought of a surprise attack began to brew in his mind.
Rumble
The floor and walls shook, vibrating through the group’s feet. The tremor caused Góy?n and Galilahi to lose their balance slightly. As for Joker, he fell flat on his face.
[Fine.] Yz' said, his voice growing louder. [If I defeat you, I’ll be in no hurry to fly this ship to your base and harvest it.] He tilted his head back slightly. [And if I lose, others will simply take my place. It is very simple.]
“You underestimate us that much?!” Galilahi bared her fangs, glaring at the Eldritch.
“Now, now, Galilahi.” Unlike her sister, Góy?n was smiling. “If he’s offering, we must respond with total sincerity.”
Fwwhhh
Góy?n spun her spear in her hand like a fan. A whistling sound arose as wind began to flood the room. Joker could clearly see both his cloak and the enemy’s fluttering.
[Feel free to think of ways to deal with me,] Yz' said, clutching his forehead as he let out a long laugh, the tentacles on his mouth dancing. [Because it will all be useless.]
Fwwhhh
Two strands of rice dough shot out from Joker’s hands.
Splash!
They zoomed toward the cloaked Eldritch in a straight line, but suddenly swerved to the sides, hitting the wall inches away from the target’s cloak.
[If you want to test me, you should aim a bit better.] Yz' touched one of his four fingers to the rice dough strand. [If you want to bind me, you’ll need much more than this.]
Fwwhhh
The wind howled. Galilahi lunged directly in front of Yz’. Góy?n kicked off the wall and vaulted behind the enemy. Both held their spears, one thrusting and one slashing. Both metal weapons missed their mark, and the two wolf-girls lost their momentum and fell.
Bam!
“I couldn't hit him?!” Galilahi landed hard on the ground, her eyes wide.
“Seems he’s harder to handle than those fish.” Góy?n dug her claws into a pillar instead of landing, her brows furrowed.
Whuup!
The sound of bursting flames erupted as Yong appeared on the ground, the knives in his hands glowing with fire.
Bam!
A stone slammed into the pillar, leaving a deep hole. Jarek was standing upside down on the ceiling, one hand still following through from an athletic throw.
“Wǒ de tiān na,” Yong sighed, his shoulders slumping.
“Still didn't hit…” Jarek scratched her cheek. Her Dragon tail and long hair hung down toward the floor.
[5 against 1. Is it to your liking, Joker?] Yz' replied, his tone remaining calm. [It is a bit disappointing that for Psionic users, this is all you can manage.]
“Using Detect Thought and feeling pretty confident, aren’t you?” Joker shrugged.
Footnotes:
-
Never gonna give you up...: A legendary song by Rick Astley.
-
Wǒ de tiān na: "Oh my God" in Chinese.