A small fish weaved through the dense seaweed, its tiny mouth nibbling on algae drifting in the water. It was no larger than a human palm, its gills opening and closing in a steady rhythm as it breathed and fed simultaneously.
Then, without warning—like a sudden storm striking from a clear sky—a massive mouth snapped shut around it. The attack was so swift, so merciless, that the fish never even realized what had happened. One moment, it was swimming peacefully; the next, it was gone.
"Hmmm, hmmm," Fang Mu murmured as he chewed on the fish, savoring the taste. He had woken up feeling hungry and instinctively set out to hunt. Gliding through the swamp’s murky waters, he relied on his keen sense of smell to track his prey, carefully avoiding the razor-toothed, piranha-like creatures that lurked in the depths. He had no intention of returning to the village to hunt chicks—not when the chaos he had left behind was still so fresh.
For as long as he could remember, Fang Mu had been a hunter. He swam with practiced ease, propelling himself forward with his two powerful feet and the assistance of his fins, moving so swiftly that his prey never stood a chance. The swamp had been his hunting ground since birth, and he knew every hidden crevice, every tangled mass of reeds, every lurking predator.
Yet today, a new thought took root in his mind—one that had never occurred to him before.
What lies beyond?
He had spent his life confined to the familiar corners of this swamp, never daring to venture too far. But now, an unfamiliar curiosity stirred within him. He wanted to see it all—to explore every stretch of water, every unknown shadow beneath the surface.
Propelled by newfound determination, he paddled his feet and set off. The water around him gradually shifted, transforming from its usual murky, porcelain-like hue to a deeper green, thick with moss. Strange creatures filled these waters—small fish darting between reeds, some as large as his head, their scales flashing like silver. Long, slender fish drifted silently, their needle-like teeth barely visible. Water snakes coiled through the currents, their beady eyes watching, while a beast resembling a caiman lay motionless near the riverbed, its rough hide blending seamlessly with the muddy floor.
Fang Mu did not provoke them. He was not here to hunt.
For now, he was simply an explorer, taking in the unknown sights of a world he had never dared to venture into before.
Until he spotted a boat—it looked similar to a kayak—with two people sitting inside. One man held a fishing rod, and the other did the same.
"It seems like they’re here to fish," Fang Mu thought. A playful idea popped into his head, and a mischievous smile spread across his face. He propelled himself toward the boat with unbelievable speed.
"Gulo, do you think Maria will marry Ernest?" Jesko asked, breaking the silence.
"I don’t know," Gulo replied curtly.
"Even I don’t think Maria will marry Ernest, but do you think there’s any possibility?" Jesko pressed, his tone curious.
"I don’t know, and I don’t care," Gulo replied, his focus entirely on waiting for a fish to bite his hook.
"Boring. You’re no fun to talk to," Jesko said, turning his attention back to his own fishing rod.
Gulo rolled his eyes and ignored Jesko.
A moment later, Gulo felt a tug on his line. Slowly, he began to reel it in, but abruptly, the handle of his fishing rod spun rapidly, and the line was yanked forcefully into the water. Gulo’s eyes lit up—he thought he had caught a big fish.
Meanwhile, Jesko also felt a tug on his hook. He pulled the line with all his strength.
"Gulo, I caught something!" Jesko exclaimed as he struggled to reel in his line.
"Don’t talk to me," Gulo muttered, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he focused on his own catch.
Unbeknownst to them, underwater, the fishhooks of Gulo and Jesko had become tangled together. What they thought were fish pulling on their lines were actually each other.
Fang Mu laughed so hard that he had to paddle his feet and fins in the water to keep himself steady. The sight of the two fishermen unknowingly battling each other was too hilarious for him to contain his amusement.
"What kind of fish is this?" Gulo thought, his muscular arms trembling as he struggled to yank his fishing rod. His eyes were bloodshot, and his face was flushed with effort.
"What the fuck? This fish must be huge!" Jesko exclaimed, breathing heavily, his face also turning red from the strain.
"Gulo, help me here!" Jesko shouted, struggling with his own rod.
"Shut up, shut up!" Gulo bellowed with all his might, yanking his fishing rod with every ounce of strength he had. Suddenly, the line snapped, and the force caused his fishing rod to buck upward before it was dragged into the swamp and sank beneath the murky water. Gulo lost his balance and tumbled into the swamp with a splash.
At the same time, Jesko yanked his rod with such force that he lost his balance as well, falling back into the boat with a heavy thud.
"Jesko, help me! I can’t swim!" Gulo shouted, flailing in the swamp, completely drenched.
"Wait!" Jesko said, scrambling to his feet. He squeezed himself to the edge of the boat, stretching out his arm to reach Gulo.
Underwater, Fang Mu couldn’t contain his laughter. He clutched his stomach, struggling to breathe as he watched the chaos unfold. Soon, an idea popped into his head.
Once Gulo grabbed Jesko’s hand, Jesko pulled him with all his strength, dragging Gulo’s heavy body back into the boat with another heavy thud. Both men sprawled in the boat, gasping for air, looking like wet, exhausted chicks.
"Shit, what kind of fish was that?" Gulo said between gasps, still trying to catch his breath.
"I don’t know," Jesko replied, equally breathless.
Suddenly, there was a loud *thud* as something perched on the boat. When the two men saw it, they were flabbergasted. It was an animal with two feet like a frog and two fins. Its rough, thick skin glistened, and it had two yellow eyes. It was about the size of an adult’s head.
Jesko and Gulo exchanged glances, their faces filled with shock and confusion.
"Shoo! Shoo! Go away!" Jesko said, waving his hand to shoo the creature away.
Gulo stared at the creature, which seemed to be mocking them. The creature didn’t budge, completely unfazed by Jesko’s attempts to scare it off.
"You’re stubborn, huh?" Jesko stood up, ready to hit the creature. But before he could swing, the creature lashed out its tongue, striking Jesko’s arm and leaving it numb.
"Ouch!" Jesko cried out, clutching his limp hand.
"Are you alright?" Gulo stood up and grabbed Jesko’s limp hand to inspect it.
"This beast bit me!" Jesko said, his voice trembling. Suddenly, his hand began to stiffen and lose all sensation.
"Gulo, help! I’ve been poisoned!" Jesko said, his breathing rapid and panicked.
"What?!" Gulo exclaimed.
"Let me see!"
"I can’t move," Jesko said, gradually kneeling down as his body became paralyzed.
Gulo knelt beside him and examined the wound, which was already swelling.
"You beast!" Gulo shouted, grabbing his weapon. But before he could swing it, Fang Mu lashed out his tongue again, this time striking Gulo’s chest.
Gulo winced in pain as a searing heat spread across his chest. Moments later, his entire body went numb, and he collapsed to his knees. Both men were now paralyzed, unable to move.
Fang Mu smiled, satisfied with his handiwork. He leaped to the front of the two men, ridiculing them for being so foolish. The two men stared at Fang Mu, their minds consumed by fear. They didn’t know if the poison would kill them or how long their paralyzed state would last.
Fang Mu leaped again, looking around the boat. He spotted their food and the fish they had caught, likely meant for their journey. Using his mouth, he grabbed the food and fish and tossed them into the swamp. The men’s eyes widened, bloodshot with frustration and helplessness. They couldn’t understand why a beast would act this way—it seemed as though Fang Mu was toying with their lives.
After finishing his mischief, Fang Mu leaped to the edge of the boat. He turned around to face the two men, waving at them with his fins in a mocking gesture. With a final leap, he plunged back into the swamp, leaving them with a silent farewell and a sarcastic wish of good luck.
As Fang Mu disappeared into the murky waters, the boat began to drift aimlessly, gradually carrying the two men further away from the scene.