Fang Mu’s webbed feet stirred the thick, stagnant water, sending ripples across the swamp’s dark surface. The air was damp, heavy with the stench of rotting vegetation. Somewhere in the distance, an unseen creature let out a low, guttural croak. His golden eyes flickered, scanning the shadows.
His gaze landed on a familiar sight—a tree that reminded him of his old world, a towering mangrove with thick, twisted roots rising from the water.
Above, nestled within its tangled branches, he spotted a nest. His lips curled into a grin, and his tongue flicked over them in anticipation. The memory of the tender chick and rich eggs he had devoured back in the village resurfaced. That meal had been a rare satisfaction in his otherwise brutal existence. And now, fate seemed to favor him once more—another nest.
But was it filled with eggs or helpless chicks?
With practiced ease, he pressed his sticky, slimed-covered feet against the bark and began to climb. Each movement left a faint, slick imprint as he ascended, his body pressing close to the tree. Higher and higher he went, his breath coming in controlled pants, his limbs coiling and stretching with precision.
When he finally reached the nest, his sharp eyes locked onto the prize—three tiny chicks, their eyes still sealed shut, fragile and weak, perched helplessly within the woven twigs.
Fang Mu licked his lips. His throat rumbled with a low chuckle.
"Come to daddy," he murmured, his tone dripping with hunger and anticipation.
As he inched closer, the baby birds let out weak, pitiful cries. Even blind, they could sense a predator looming near.
But his feast did not end there. His gaze shifted, and a thrill shot through him at the sight of four unhatched eggs nestled beside the chicks.
"My boy, fate just gave me a slap of luck," he thought with a smirk.
After all the torment he had endured, after the suffering he had faced, he had come to believe his life was cursed with misfortune. But now? Now, it seemed luck had finally decided to smile upon him.
Slowly, Fang Mu opened his mouth wide, his throat expanding unnaturally as he swallowed a chick whole. The tiny creature wriggled weakly, its warm body sliding down his throat, its raw flesh quivering against his tongue. He savored the sensation—the helpless cries, the twitching movements—it was all so satisfying.
One wasn’t enough.
He swallowed another. Then another. And another.
By the time he had devoured them all, his belly bulged slightly, and he let out a deep belch, his long tongue flicking out to taste the lingering flavor. Yet, he still wasn’t satisfied. Not entirely. The real delicacy remained—the eggs.
Fang Mu turned toward them, his eyes gleaming with hunger. Slowly, he slithered closer, his mouth opening wide, ready to engulf the first egg whole—A piercing cry rang through the air.
His body tensed. His head snapped upward.
From above, a red-headed bird hurtled toward him like a streak of fury, its talons outstretched, its eyes blazing with vengeance.
"Fuck," Fang Mu hissed, his muscles coiling. Without hesitation, he sprang from the nest, plummeting toward the swamp below.
Splash!
Cold, murky water swallowed him as he kicked his webbed feet, bolting forward in a desperate escape. He barely had time to recover before the bird dove again, its sharp beak slicing through the air just inches from his head.
"Shit! I didn’t even eat all your babies! There are still eggs left!" he shouted, frustration lacing his voice.
But the enraged bird wasn’t listening.
It let out another furious cry, its wings flaring wide as it plunged toward him once more, its deadly talons aimed straight for his skull. 
"Fuck, Fuck!" Fang Mu cursed as he plunged beneath the swamp’s murky surface.
A sharp pain shot through his back—the bird’s talons had grazed him, leaving behind a fresh wound. Blood seeped into the water, swirling in thin crimson tendrils.
Holding his breath, he kicked his webbed feet, staying submerged. Above, the furious bird circled the sky, its sharp eyes scanning the water, waiting for any sign of movement.
Fang Mu knew he couldn’t stay down forever. His lungs were already burning, and he had no idea what lurked in this swamp. If this was the territory of another vicious predator, he might escape the bird only to end up as someone else’s meal.
Kicking with all his might, he swam through the murky depths, moving as far as possible from the bird’s hunting zone. His muscles screamed for air, his vision darkening at the edges.
Then, finally—
He broke the surface, gasping.
Panting heavily, he dragged himself onto a patch of muddy land, sprawling onto his back.
"Heh… heh…" He chuckled breathlessly, staring up at the sky.
He was alive. He had survived. A breathless chuckle escaped him, part relief, part disbelief. With a groan, he pushed himself upright. His stomach churned with hunger, his back throbbed from the wound, but he was still breathing. And for now, that was enough. For now
Suddenly, an eye emerged from the swamp beside him. Fang Mu turned his head slowly, his body frozen, heart pounding like a drum. His limbs wouldn’t move—not out of paralyse, but out of sheer shock.
A beast, eerily similar to a crocodile, rose from the muddy water, its yellow eyes glistening as they locked onto him. Its rough, brown-green skin blended seamlessly with the surrounding grass and mud, a perfect camouflage.
"Fuck."
Just when he thought he was safe—just when he had outrun the bird—fate decided to throw another nightmare in his path.
With a swift motion, he leaped backward. The crocodile beast lunged, its massive jaws snapping shut just inches from his skin.
Fang Mu bolted.
The creature chased after him, its movements shockingly fast. It slithered through the mud with the agility of a snake, gliding rather than stomping.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" Luck, my ass. First, fate hands me a feast, then it slaps me in the face, and now it’s trying to drown me in a shit storm of bad luck. What’s next, a snake up my ass?"
The beast's growls grew louder behind him. Thinking fast, Fang Mu zigzagged as he ran, hoping to create more distance. It was working—slowly, but surely, he was getting further away.
Then—
A furious cry from above. His blood ran cold as he looked up. He saw the damn bird.It had tracked him from the sky. Now, he had a crocodile beast on land and a vengeful bird above him.
Double fucking bad luck.
The bird dived. Fang Mu leaped to the side just in time—the talons missed. But the beast behind him surged forward, closing the gap fast. Gritting his teeth, he flicked his tongue toward the crocodile, hoping his poison would slow it down. Few moment—nothing happen. The thick brown armor on its skin rendered his attack useless.
The bird dived again.This time, it struck. Sharp talons clamped onto Fang Mu, lifting him off the ground. He struggled, cursing under his breath as he was carried upward.
The bird screeched triumphantly. It had finally caught him.
Below, the crocodile beast let out an enraged roar, frustrated at losing its prey.
But before the bird could celebrate—
A sharp, searing pain shot through its thigh.
It screeched in agony, its grip loosening.
Fang Mu had flicked his tongue, his poison striking true this time.
The bird wobbled in the air, struggling to stay aloft. But the poison spread quickly. Its movements became sluggish.
And then—
They both plummeted.
Fang Mu crashed into the ground, rolling over the mud, pain exploding across his body.
The bird flapped desperately, but its leg had gone completely numb. It tumbled down as well, landing hard.
It twitched, its beady eyes wide with panic as it tried to move—but it was too late.
The crocodile beast roared in delight.
It lunged forward.
With a sickening crunch, its powerful jaws clamped down on the paralyzed bird. The bird shrieked, thrashing weakly in its grip.
Fang Mu lay there, gasping for air, unable to move. His entire body ached from the impact.
He watched, exhausted, as the crocodile beast dragged the dying bird toward the swamp. The bird’s cries grew fainter and fainter—until finally, silence.
Then, they disappeared beneath the water.
Fang Mu lay motionless, panting. His limbs felt like lead. He knew one thing for certain—if he didn’t move soon, another predator might come. And next time, he might not be so lucky.
Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to move. His body screamed in protest, every muscle aching from the brutal chase and fall. He stumbled forward, dragging himself through the damp grass, his webbed feet leaving faint imprints in the mud.
He needed a safe haven—a place to rest, to heal his wounds.
The swamp stretched endlessly around him, shrouded in thick mist. Every rustling leaf, every distant splash, sent a fresh wave of tension through his battered body. He knew better than to trust the silence. Predators lurked in the shadows, watching, waiting.
Pushing through the reeds, he spotted a large fallen log, half-submerged in the murky water. Thick moss covered its surface, blending it seamlessly with the surroundings. It wasn’t much, but it was shelter—at least for now.
With a heavy sigh, Fang Mu collapsed against the damp wood, his body sinking into the soft, decayed bark. His breathing steadied, but his mind remained sharp. He flicked his tongue, tasting the air for any signs of nearby threats. Nothing immediate. For now, he was safe.
His golden eyes flickered shut, exhaustion finally creeping in. As his body began to mend, only one thought lingered in his mind.
"I need to get stronger. Or next time, I won’t survive."