“Prepare for battle,” Joker said, his feet planted shoulder-width apart.

  “Is it them?”

  Galilahi immediately aimed her spear at the tentacled fish. There were only five of them, not an army like the Deep Gold Fish the group had faced before. They were silent, holding no weapons, and speaking no words. And yet, the tension in the air was tighter than a bowstring.

  POW!

  An invisible force slammed into Joker, sending a jolt of pain through him. Looking to his sides, he saw the others were in the same predicament, pinned motionlessly against the wall like decals. But something was wrong.

  "Jarek?" Joker frowned. "How are you caught too?"

  “A bit unexpected… I lack a foothold and can’t grasp their Dream energy,” Jarek said with a sheepish laugh.

  “This invisible thing… it’s going to flatten me like a leaf!” Galilahi roared.

  “It’s like standing under a waterfall!” Góy?n tried to move, her joints cracking under the unseen pressure, but her limbs were too heavy to move more than a few agonizing centimeters.

  “Any ideas, Jozo?” Yong asked, his voice strained.

  Joker didn’t answer. He began to reach for his Bag of Holding. Every movement was as laborious as digging through solid rock. A jet of water shot from his hand, helping him push his hand into the bag. His thumb frantically swiped across an item inside.

  We're no strangers to love You know the rules and so do I Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down

  The sound of a phone’s ringtone filled the long, flesh-lined corridor. The octopus-like fish looked around, unsure which creature the strange sound was coming from. As their eyes shifted away, Joker felt the pressure on his body lighten.

  Whoosh!

  Jarek created a knife no less than three meters long and threw it. The blade whistled as it tore through the air toward the fish.

  Wh…

  The whistling sound stopped abruptly. The knife hung motionless in the air, a short distance from the tentacled creatures.

  “Eh?” Jarek exclaimed. “It didn’t work?”

  “They stopped it!” “...Seriously!”

  Góy?n’s jaw dropped, while Galilahi’s eyes went wide at the sight. Their wolf ears probably would have shot up or flattened if not for the crushing Psionic pressure.

  “Wǒ de tiān a,” a lava-like glow sparked in the corner of Yong’s eye. “If even Jarek is helpless, this is a truly thorny problem…”

  Beep beep beep

  The sound of a device chirped, not quite drowning out the music. The group followed the sound and saw Jarek holding a smartphone. On the screen was a map with two bright dots rapidly converging.

  “The ship is heading for the Jaci village’s shelter!” Jarek cried out.

  “This isn’t good!” Góy?n’s wolf ears perked up as she began to push off the wall with her feet.

  “We need to finish these monsters, fast!”

  Galilahi gritted her teeth, veins bulging on her arms and legs. Pushing away from the wall, the wolf-girl began to advance on all fours toward the monstrous school.

  BOOM!

  A massive cloud of white flour erupted from Joker. It spread quickly, filling the corridor and obscuring the fishes’ vision.

  Arf!

  The wolf burst from the white smoke, and the hawk dove from the ceiling, both targeting the tentacled fish. But they met the same fate as the knife; both wolf and hawk were frozen in mid-air, bound by invisible chains.

  SPLASH!

  From within the floury mist, a column of water erupted. It slammed into the knife, sending it forward to knock one of the fish down. For a moment, the wolf and hawk fell to the ground, freed from the Psionic hold. However, the counterattack didn't seem to affect the creatures' expressions in the slightest. Even the one that had fallen slowly began to float back up into the air.

  “Tch, what a pain.”

  Joker stepped out of the smoke. Behind him, the rest of the group had their weapons, shields, or fists raised toward the enemy. They stared intently, their eyes fixed on the dead, fish-like gazes of their foes.

  “Are you two okay?” Góy?n asked. The wolf and hawk whimpered and retreated to their master’s side.

  “Let’s charge and crush them!” Galilahi shouted. She took one step forward but was stopped by Joker’s raised hand.

  “You guys go on ahead,” Joker said, lowering his arm and taking two steps forward. “Find the Eldritch pilot or destroy this place.” He turned the smartphone's volume up. ”I’ll handle these things.”

  “But you can’t handle them alone!” Yong protested without hesitation.

  “I’m immortal, and I can’t be defeated.”

  Bang bang bang!

  A volley of steel chopsticks and flour shot from Joker’s hands, tearing through the air towards the Deep Gold Fish. But once again, the projectiles froze just before hitting their targets. Refusing to stand by, Joker fired another barrage. This time, sealed bowls of ramen noodles flew through the air. They too were stopped in their tracks, only to be slammed into by the next wave of bowls from behind.

  Crack!

  The bowls shattered, and clouds of flour once again filled the area.

  “But—” Jarek’s voice called out from the dust.

  “GO!”

  Joker roared and charged directly at the fish. Though he got further than his projectiles, he was still stopped a hand’s breadth from their eyeballs.

  “Trust in Joker!”

  Yong flapped his wings, skimming the ceiling as he flew past the monsters. Jarek followed a beat behind him, her leap so powerful it blew the flour dust away. They both sped towards the end of the corridor, aiming for the membrane-covered door. Four of the five fish turned. They were targeting Yong and Jarek, preparing to use their Psionic power.

  Splash!

  Joker fired threads of noodle dough and steel chopsticks from his hands. Their velocity was reduced as they flew, but it was just enough to hit the four fish that weren’t watching him. Even so, the attack only made the Deep Gold Fish sway, failing to pierce their scales. They turned their dull eyes on Joker and sent him flying once more.

  Thud!

  This time, it wasn’t a wall of flesh that stopped him. Looking back, Joker saw the two Beastfolk sisters, along with their wolf and hawk.

  “Cough! Cough! Your dust got all in my eyes and nose,” Galilahi sputtered. “The thick scent of blood on you isn’t very convincing, you know.” She gave him a provocative smirk.

  “Let us share this burden,” Góy?n said, placing a hand on Joker’s shoulder. The two girls let him go. The scene seemed to make the fish pause for a moment.

  BOOM!

  Once again, Joker created a smokescreen for the group to hide. He pulled the two Beastfolk sisters back into a winding section of the corridor, ensuring the enemy wouldn't see them immediately.

  “Tch, you two missed your chance,” Joker clicked his tongue.

  “Or maybe this is the perfect chance to help you,” Góy?n said, stroking her wolf’s head and whispering, “Thank you, both of you.”

  Woof! Kee!

  The wolf and hawk cried in response. Though bruised, their sparkling eyes remained fixed on their master.

  “My sister and I are about to put on a show for you, with this moonstone!” Galilahi grinned, revealing her sharp teeth. She grasped a necklace around her neck, from which hung a stone shimmering with silver light.

  “Everyone has done their best, so we will also give our all to fulfill our duty as warriors,” Góy?n said, taking hold of her own necklace.

  “O ancestors and moon, grant us your strength!”

  The two sisters chanted the prayer in unison. The stones on their necklaces erupted in a blinding silver light, which coalesced into shimmering threads that wrapped around their bodies. The light seeped into their very skin. Their limbs grew thick wolf fur the same color as their brown hair. Red tattoos that looked like savage claw marks appeared all over their bodies. Their muscles swelled, and both girls grew slightly taller.

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “...Shapeshifters.”

  Joker realized what was happening to Góy?n and Galilahi. It seemed they weren't just Beastfolk but possessed an ability similar to Yong and Jarek—the power to change their form. Knowing how formidable the two wolf-girls already were, a smirk involuntarily crept onto his face.

  “...You really like doing unnecessary things,” Joker commented, stepping back towards where the fish stood guard. “If you two get in my way, I’ll throw you out of here myself.”

  “Deal!”

  KONG!

  The two wolf-women replied, striking their spears against their shields like war drums. The wolf and hawk howled along, their voices joining the warriors' battle hymn.

  Thump!

  The Black Giant Snake, its eyes shining like the moon, slammed its head into the sand, creating a massive desert shockwave. Allan raised his gun and fired, a lightning-bright beam piercing through the wall of sand. When the desert fell silent and the snake’s head rose again, Allan found himself at the bottom of a crater.

  “...Yona!” He scanned the area, shouting. “Yoru! Albina! Kuzunoha! Where is everyone!”

  Allan scrambled out of the crater, his eyes darting around, searching for any sign of his sister and comrades. The only reply was silence and the gaze of the giant monster.

  [Allan, are you okay over there!] Jei’s voice came through the comms.

  “I’m fine, but Yona and the others are gone!” the young man reported, his voice urgent. A second later, he froze as he looked at the Black Giant Snake. “No way… did that snake…”

  [Calm down, Allan!] Elina cut in. [There’s no proof of that yet.]

  [Take a deep breath, kid,] Cide’s advice followed.

  “But…” Allan’s voice trembled.

  [Don’t do anything rash, keep your distance from the snake!]

  Jei gave the order, which was the group’s top priority now. Allan swallowed hard, gritting his teeth as he stared at the colossal serpent. It was a living mountain, a breathing catastrophe, something his survival instincts screamed at him to flee from. Yet, a fire was raging inside him. With just one push, or one clear confirmation, he wouldn't hesitate to charge that monster!

  [It’s so dark in here…] [And it’s damp and smelly!]

  The voices of Yona and Kuzunoha crackled through the comms. Allan’s eyes widened, his hand flying to the earpiece on his helmet.

  “Yona, Kuzunoha!” he cried out. “Are Yoru and Albina with you!”

  [Here, here,] Yoru replied. [But we have no idea where ‘here’ is…]

  [This warmth and humidity…] Albina’s steady voice came through. [Plus the strong metallic smell, and the soft, tissue-like surroundings… it’s consistent with the inside of a living creature.]

  [Great, the kid said exactly what I didn’t want to hear!] Kuzunoha’s complaint followed.

  [Wait, we’ve been eaten?!] Yona shouted.

  “Stay calm, I’m coming to save you!” Allan aimed his rifle at the snake.

  [Allan, calm down!] Elina immediately stopped him.

  [If you shoot blindly, you might hit the girls inside,] Cide warned.

  “But…” Allan froze, his hand tightening on his gun.

  [Easy now, I haven’t even gotten a chance to fire an RPG yet,] Jei said. [Yoru, I need you to manage things in there.]

  [Understood, Doc,] Yoru’s voice remained calm.

  [Get us out of here, mercenary!] Kuzunoha demanded. Allan wondered why the fox-girl was so insistent. Was she in danger, or did she simply not like being inside a snake?

  “Please be patient…”

  Allan replied, though perhaps he was also talking to himself. He wanted to pull the trigger and rescue Yona and the others, but the words of Jei and Cide were locking his finger in place. As much as he wanted to, he knew he couldn’t risk their safety on an uncertain shot.

  [Who are you?]

  A man’s voice reached Allan. It didn’t come through his ears but seemed to echo directly in his mind.

  “Who’s there!”

  Allan shouted, looking around for the source of the voice.

  [Up here.]

  Following the direction, Allan slowly looked up. The sky was as black as ink, save for the bright orb of the moon. He glanced towards the Black Giant Snake, which was as tall as a pillar supporting the heavens; it remained motionless, its eyes fixed on him. Looking closely at the top of the monster’s head, he saw a human figure. His helmet’s visor zoomed in, allowing him to identify the target: a man wearing a cloak covered in snake-like scales. He had glowing yellow eyes like candles, and sharp, black reptilian pupils.

  “...Who are you?” Allan yelled, hoping his voice would reach the figure.

  [What’s going on?] Jei asked over the comms.

  “There’s someone on top of the snake’s head,” he reported.

  [A person?] Elina exclaimed.

  [The only human in this place… be careful on approach,] Jei instructed. [That mess of snakes for hair is giving me Medusa vibes, the original furry!]

  [I’ll be ready to snipe him if things go south, take your time,] Cide stated his intention, then added. [But Medusa had scales, not fur.] While the team was discussing, the strange man spoke again.

  [I am H?ggormur, the Archdruid of this land. Forgive me, for I have forgotten its name,] the man introduced himself. [Who are you, armored warrior?]

  “Allan, a gamer and Dreamer from England!” Allan shouted back, his rifle still aimed at the Archdruid. “Why did your snake attack us!”

  [Why, you ask...] H?ggormur stroked his chin, his yellow eyes closing for a moment. [It has been a long time since someone asked me that.] He looked up at the moon thoughtfully. [I once lived in a land where the ruler believed that power was synonymous with justice, treasure, and beauty.]

  He looked down, his hand caressing the scales of the Black Giant Snake, his deep voice still echoing in Allan’s mind. [I, who was judged as not very strong, or rather, weak, became a slave, an inferior, a worthless thing. And so, I decided to become the most perfect being, together with these wonderful children.]

  “...And what was the result?”

  Allan asked, his gaze and his rifle never leaving the target. He quietly relayed the conversation through his comms so the team could understand.

  [A resounding success,] H?ggormur replied, a sound like a chuckle escaping him. [But alas, the beauty he so praised only turned this land to dust, as no other creature could stand against me and my children. How disappointing, don't you think?]

  “But your snake attacked us!” Allan shouted.

  [If you are strong, you survive. It is as simple as that.]

  Rip!

  As H?ggormur finished speaking, the Black Giant Snake began to bite at the other snake corpses that clung to its head like a mane of hair. It bit into the smaller snakes, yanking its head violently to tear them off.

  [AAAAAAAH!]

  Goosebumps erupted all over Allan’s skin as the screams of Yona’s group assaulted his ears. He instantly understood that they were being attacked by those same snake corpses!

  [Yona, are you okay!] he yelled, waiting for a reply. But his hope that the worst hadn’t happened was met with only silence.

  “AAAAAAAAAAH!”

  Allan roared, pulling the trigger. His assault rifle unleashed a torrent of electric blasts at the strange, dark-robed figure. The bullets paused for a split second upon impact before piercing through the target the next.

  [Impressive,] H?ggormur touched the holes in his body. He trembled, a mixture of pain and excitement. [It seems you were the one who defeated my snakes, Allan. Heal!]

  As the Archdruid’s fingers left the wounds, the bullet holes on his body sealed themselves shut!

  “Bullets… don’t work?!” Allan’s jaw dropped.

  [The master of a snake that big won’t go down with just a few shots,] Jei warned.

  [Against a Druid, if you don’t finish him off, his wounds will heal. He might even regenerate,] Cide explained.

  [If the enemy is like a snake, aim for the head. Destroy its brain stem,] Elina said quickly. [A snake can survive for hours even after being decapitated!] Allan froze for a moment. He had never seen Elina actively encourage him to attack an enemy in the game Meta Child.

  [We have to save Yona and the others, Allan!] Elina added.

  “Right!”

  Her words gave Allan his answer. Elina, just like him, wanted to save Yona and the others more than anything. Realizing her instruction could take down the enemy without harming his teammates, he lowered his rifle and aimed for the Black Giant Snake’s head.

  ZAP!

  The electric beam shot forward, striking the monster’s black scales. But the beam ricocheted off, creating a sharp angle in the air before fizzling out.

  “...No effect?!” Allan’s eyes widened.

  [My, my, ignoring me right after my invitation, Allan of England?] H?ggormur complained. The Black Giant Snake began to move, and the sea of sand trembled once more. Its long, mountain-range-like body slithered forward, creating waves of sand. With his accelerated boots, Allan easily launched himself into the air, short-range teleporting to escape the crushing wave.

  [We’re okay…] Yona’s weak voice reached Allan’s ears.

  [I’m not!] Kuzunoha complained.

  [Don’t worry, Albina and I are here to treat the injuries. We can hold on for a while,] Yoru reported, though her voice was breathy.

  [Hang in there, Yona! Mom and everyone will come help you!] Elina reassured her.

  [Hang in there, Yoru. If you get digested, you won’t get a salary,] Jei encouraged in his usual deadpan tone. Landing on the sand, Allan breathed a sigh of relief. His sister and their comrades were still alive, even inside the Giant Black Snake. The good news brought an involuntary smile to his face.

  [Firestorm.]

  H?ggormur chanted a spell. A vast area of sand was instantly consumed by flames, leaving behind a field of glass that reflected the moonlight, a deadly silver sheen.

  When the smoke cleared, the Archdruid looked down but saw no ash, no molten metal, nothing that looked like Allan’s remains. His yellow eyes scanned the area, seeing nothing but the rest of the enemy’s group in the distance.

  Bang bang bang!

  A rain of electric blasts descended from the sky, turning H?ggormur into a sieve. He looked up and smiled. His gaze fell upon the warrior whose armor reflected the silver moonlight and the flashing lightning.

  [How interesting. Investiture of Wind.]

  Winds swirled around H?ggormur. His lips curled back, revealing a set of sharp, white teeth. The cold blood within him now rushed faster, hotter than ever. Allan landed, slashing with his gun like a blade. The air was filled with arcs of flashing electricity, severing one of H?ggormur’s arms. But the smile on the Archdruid’s face didn’t fade.

  Shing!

  H?ggormur’s remaining arm transformed. He swung it, and a deafening screech of metal erupted and then vanished. The man’s sharp-clawed fingers left five deep gashes on Allan’s armor.

  “Fast, tough, and strong,” H?ggormur spoke, his voice now reaching Allan’s ears directly. “I’m starting to like you, Allan of England!”

  “Well, I don’t like you!”

  Allan yelled, pulling the trigger and unleashing another volley. All the shots were aimed at the Archdruid’s head, but they were always deflected from his forehead as if hitting something impossibly hard.

  “Release Yona and the others, you barbaric Spellcaster!” Allan grimaced, not wanting to waste another second.

  “They will survive if they are strong enough.”

  H?ggormur raised his hand, and a swirling vortex erupted from his body, blasting the levitating Allan away. The young man crashed into the sand, creating a small explosion. He flipped himself up, launching out of the crater. A yellow glow that hadn't been there before was shining on him. He looked up at the source: it was coming from the Black Giant Snake. Allan frowned, not understanding what the light was.

  “Huh?”

  Allan tried to lift his leg but found it was stuck. A numbness spread through it until he couldn’t feel it at all. A display inside his helmet showed an image of his body: his legs were turning a stony grey, the skin cracking and becoming rough like rock!

  “That snake… it can use spells?!” Allan was shocked.

  [It's only Flesh to Stone,] H?ggormur sneered. [It has been with me long enough. Its wisdom has far surpassed its kind.] His gaze never left Allan. [Can you withstand this spell?]

  “Gr…”

  Allan gritted his teeth. He didn’t know if his armor could resist this magic. The numbness was spreading from his legs to his abdomen, urging him to make a decision. Pushing aside all other thoughts, Allan followed Cide’s instructions: stock pressed firmly, breath steady, reticle locked on the center of the enemy's forehead. The longest six seconds of his life passed, and his finger squeezed the trigger.

  ZAP!

  A beam of light shot from the barrel, piercing the air and painting a streak of light under the moonlit night. The electric blast shot through the target’s head—but it was through the Archdruid's cheek.

  “...I failed,” Allan bit his lip, his eyelids closing in bitter disappointment. “I’m sorry, Yona…”

  Far away, the rest of the team watched the battle unfold, unable to find a suitable moment to intervene.

  [This is bad…] Cide commented grimly, looking through his scope.

  “He’s completely stiff. Looks like he’s been turned to stone!” Jei clicked his tongue.

  “ALLAN!” Elina screamed.