LivingBeing!

9.

Rhinne's species was a species that love the land, mountain and forest. To summary it into a single term, they are animals that live on earth, not in water. Of course, they still drink water, enjoy bathing or swimming in the sea, but do not live in it as fish does. The ocean is great and all but not habitable for this man's species.

But this is where things got weird. It would be understandable if he was trained to fight, to use swords or spears but what he received is a full-time drowning kick. He was forced to swim in the sea or... inside it to be exact. He almost dies to asphyxiation many times, if not for the fish's rescue.

- Graaaaa!

- Damn you...!

It isn't only water and pressure that attack him, but also legendary and mythical beings constantly tried to make him their dessert. Their throat is so threatening as they were bigger than whales while possessing a slim and fast body like sharks. The shadow of it moving in the dark water produce low sounds.

Ucckk....

Its body was small, but compared to him then it is big. He cursed it when he gets out of the water before he dived down again. He knew he would be kicked back if he stays there any longer than he needed to breathe. It is useless for him to fight back the fishes - if that worldly monsters down there could actually be called fishes - as his punch can't even knock down a thin branch of a tree, not to mention a being with skin that as thick as his wrist, scales as durable as turtle's shell while swimming with that speed.

'' This is...! ''

He swam upward and just two seconds after that, the scales on the fish's back parted the water under his feet, He swam further as the fish turned its body back with smooth movements of its dorsal, pectoral, caudal and pelvic fins. The pointed head is suited for swimming underwater. Even at this distance, its teeth are still dimly visible under the dim light. From various encounters, he knew that it fangs - with crown, shoulder, root and root lobe - longer than his entire arm. Its body turned back and dashed forward with frightening speed.

'' ... Damned that dermal denticles. ''

He cursed the evolution that gave the fish that structure, which minimizes the consumption of energy and reduces the resistance of water. It even protects it against parasites, to boot. It isn't important, but he couldn't help but listing its usefulness.

Krrrrruuunnng-

It violently turned its caudal keel and caudal fin to accelerate the speed. Rhinne just screams inside his mind and swim as fast as he could, prepare to turn his course away from the direction where the fish would bite. From experience, he knew never to underestimate that thick neck. Its mobility can easily catch someone with surprise, as it fins - these things made it looks like a sea hedgehog - can redirect balance very well.

'' - Hey, stay right there!

- Ahahaha! "

Because he was tortured by Monera's tail, which always helped her in escaping his punishment so he always stared at his opponent's tail or any body parts that could help redirect the balance. It bit him and the small rows of saws at the side of its fangs slide through his vision. He resists the temptation of giving it a revenge kick at the unguarded body but kicking at it would break his leg so he just swims back to the surface.

'' Dragon or these ridiculous things could help me survive in water perhaps?''

The thing he had thrown back to the one who gave him. It isn't like he regret it, but this guy's big body reminded him of that. He used one hand to pressed on his nose and continued the ridiculous lesson of dodging sharks.

Swim, swim and swim. Swim, swim more, swim forever. He even lost his arms and legs. He was healed by using needle and thread, but thanks to his superhuman's will, it can't make him scream for help at all. He warmed himself by the campfire to the point he nearly stuff his entire hands into the fire as his flesh and bones were frozen by the water. The shark chasing him is small compare to the one who stayed at the branch of the star river, but it is threatening nevertheless. His skin got eaten by the water, and it became moldy. Some parts of his skin seem like flour got into water.

- Are you cold?

- You damn Heavenly Demon.

- I'm a Heavenly Demon.

- ... I hate you.

- I hate myself.

-.......

It was the absolute defense of her. He always fails, as her head was too strong. Nothing can enrage her and if he, Rhinne ever managed to make her angry, that is when he is dead. That is his conclusion, as he is a bit meek himself. He rarely got angry - which was not scary at all due to his weak body - and when he got angry, he nearly choked a male classmate that bullied him three years to death if not for other hurry intervention. So, to this woman, he bet that she would kill the one she hates instantly.

Hasn't it been proved? She just sat there, opposite to him and aside from some questions or helped in setting the fire, she did nothing for him. Not even a pat on his shoulder. It is true that he also hadn't done anything for her so it is fair enough, but Rhinne's heart got hurt. He is quite fond of her due to how long they have been together.

- You are a statue, right? No emotion.

- I have emotions and can laugh, get sad. - She denied with annoyed eyes while setting the fire with a stick - You are being rude.

- You let me get eaten, then use a needle to stick my limbs back. How is that not merciless?

Rhinne roasted a small, treasured, great, super-super-extra-rare item in this world, a fish by himself. A fish without fangs that crush steel, scales blocks cannon's shells and edible flesh. He also does this himself, that statue not even help. She answered with a perked eyebrow like he just said something nonsense :

- So you expected me to soothe, embrace you and heating you up with my body?

- You would kill me with that body.

- Or do you want sweet words like a girl in love?

- You do not even love yourself. - Rhinne shrugged while turning his wrist to roast the food - If you said you love me then it is just fake love, and I would become a bug due to the stomping of my own heart.

- Perhaps... reward? Want diamond or gems?

- God helps me. - He slammed his fist on the ground in frustration - Do these useless things help me in this world?

- God doesn't exist.

- Kuekkk....!

He can't even curse, as he had grasped one of her weak points - which could enrage her -, curse and profanity. Tries to do it and you will reincarnate into a demon right next moment. Particularly, the red sword, Illisium she always held on her belt. That thing will s***h anyone she wants it to s***h. She combed her hair.

- So, you want me to cook for you?

- I rather do it myself.

- See, I can't do anything while you are like that.

-... I want to punch you.

- Really?

She laughed and stuck out her face, said :

- Punch me as much as you want.

-... Only if you can feel pain.

Rhinne snorted in complex emotions and looked into the fire, as it is the only light in this world. The world is dark, pure dark, without trees or birds. Only a few creatures live on a cliff like ginsengs or flowers, which would fetch a high-sky price in anyone's eyes due to their rarity and value. The winds are howling like the rage of a world, as the storms are still in action. Monera touched her barrier again.

- How often these storms be active?

- Always, or almost. - Her eyes looked at the wind that was visible to Rhinne's eyes - This is an abandoned world. Not recoverable, so this kind of weather is normal.

- Heh. So, why this place was abandoned, and by whom?

- Me.

-...

Rhinne gulped down his heart that was just about to jump out of his throat. She continued :

- Or, my siblings. This place was one of many worlds invaded by the fallen dragons, and they sucked them dry, only left enough for it to recover after a long time.

- Ah, they want to shorten the time that needs for them to grows. - He nodded - These defenders failed to repel it, perhaps.

- They... How to put it in your term? - The woman put down her hand away from the barrier - They still have the hope to resist the army of that dragon, but it pulled a few tricks. What type of tricks, even I don't know, but it managed to call in reinforcement.

- Hell?

- Oh, uh, yes, not original, but the free ones.

- Isn't that the fault of this world?

- Many factors decided that, and the reason you said is true. Entirely. Share that fish with me.

Rhinne's face stiffened, and his mood fallen. The air around him realized into a dark hood even in the pure darkness of this world. He sniffed pitifully and wiped away the tears.

- Hauck. So you, sniff, even want to take away my food. Not only you have stolen my heart but even my food, hiccup.

- Hey, I'm joking. - She was bewildered - Why I want to steal your food which you have spent your blood to find? And what? I had stolen YOUR heart?

She knocked on her head like she wants to check something.

- If your heart can be moved then I must dissect your mind to find out why.

- Hey, stop that thought of you right there.

Rhinne scolded her and after a few more turnings, the roasted fish was ready.

How tasty the hot fish after the whole cold lesson and under the dark sky, decorated by blue thunder is. He even has a woman - a bit beautiful - to accompany him. He cried.

- Hey, why do you cry?

- I hate you. You make me suffered.

-...

- This fish is too small, yet you prohibit me from taking food from my garden. I have grown them myself, yet you don't let me eat just one fruit.

-... I'm sorry.

- Your face is decent, yet you are a statue that can't be hugged.

- Exclude the crazy, weird, blind people and children, I can absolutely take the 1st spot for beautiful women in your world.

She made a proud expression, and the man before her just ignore it.

- Heh.

- What, what is that expression for?!

She jumped up and he bites down on the fish, rolled the fish like a toy while tore up its flesh with frightening precision. Rhinne pat the blue leather band that was hanged on his shoulder, embroidered with his name, Rhinne Kagaras by white silk.

- I'm myself.

- Uh?

- You. - He pointed at her with fish's bone - This is just a polymorph version of you. You are just a... an alien in my world's sense.

- Yes. But you know what? - She sat down - They still see me beautiful if they saw me. Except for you, as you don't even care about my appearance.

- That right.

The duo was kicking at each other's stomachs with words. The white leather bandages that were stacked on the woman's left arm touch the gray stone they were sitting on. Monera's left arm is always inside bandages, and the red armor of her - occasionally, she also changed her armor - is purely for combat.

- You are a warrior. How could they stay sane if they saw this appearance of yours?

- I'm not a destroyer.

Rhinne moved to his favorite part of the fish, which he loves to call '' balloon '' like his mother, the part which fishes use to float to the surface. He ignored her and looked at the skin, where the syringe had stabbed many times. Rhinne knew that he had a good resistance toward poisons - not just snakes - but his strength is still... normal.

- The fish tasted very good.

- Does your language subject good?

- Don't dampen my mood... Kuh...! Kuh...!

He coughed again. As usual, his lungs are still suffered and the man pats his chest a few times. His friend seems to think about some matters due to her gaze. She said :

- If you had used the...

- Shut up. - He snapped.

- Aren't you being rude right now?

She sighed and patted the ground. He explained :

- You want my efforts can be denied by that thing? If I used just one external bit of help, then all my efforts could be denied. I want to become great at my own efforts, can you understand?

He smiled weakly and put down his sleeves. It has some fresh, red dots over the cloth. He coughed out blood. Monera stiffened.

- See, I can't be that great as I wish doesn't I?

-... Not everyone is special.

- And I'm that normal person, no,... - He looked at the sky - This is a great adventure for me already, don't you agree? Rahahahhahaha!! I'm pretty special!

The woman crossed her arms like she was being cold. Rhinne laughed and nodded himself while closing his eyes like he was satisfied and happy.

- I had tasted fish of this world, grown trees in a castle of gods, saw beings of legend. I experienced this huge world! And... I also met you, isn't it?

The woman with power like a god looked away from a man that was weak. Both of them stayed in a huge stone of a cliff near the violent ocean. Waves like a tsunami swept through the sea like the wrath of nature while a thunderbolt dividing the sky, enlight the world with white, blindly blue light. The thunder god roared, express the wrath of the sea, threaten anyone who dares to cross their territory. The cape of the standing woman fluttered by the wind.

Ssk.

The campfire got cut off, and Rhinne's face under the sky vanished. Monera's cape got clear in his vision due to the thunder behind his back. Storms howled and hurricanes surged up, took away the property of the magnificent sea.

The world was indeed large.