Tempting Fate

131 Chapter 131: The Water Demon

“So? Do you know how to swim?” Devin asked.

Everyone looked at each other and nodded except for Emy. There is no such thing as a river where you can swim in the squatter’s area. It was also her first time reaching the river.

“You can’t swim?” Reed asked.

Emy shook her head shyly. “Maybe it’s okay to leave Miss Emy here. It’s dangerous for her to go into the water.” Jasmin said. She looked at Emy. “I’m sorry, Miss Emy. I’m only thinking about your safety.”

Emy smiled and nodded slightly. “I know that.” Emy looked at Reed. “I’m fine here.”

“I can make you breathe underwater. You don’t need to be left here any longer.” Reed said.

“Well, I can swim with you,” Devin said.

“I’m fine. I’ll be left here.” Emy said.

“Well, in that case, I can be left here,” Devin said, smiling.

.....

“I’m not young enough to watch anymore. Go with Reed and Avery if you don’t want me to be angry with you.” Emy said to Devin.

“But they can...”

“I’ll be left with Miss Emy,” Jasmin said. “I don’t think I can help either.”

“It’s even better,” Reed said. He looked at Devin. “After you.”

Devin smirked. “I’m going to be first?” Devin just shook his head and jumped into the water.

Avery followed. Reed turned to Emy first. He approached the girl, and Emy was a little embarrassed.

“Go ahead. What are you still doing?” Emy said.

Reed just touched Emy’s cheek then she smiled. Reed turned around and immediately jumped into the water. Emy and Jasmin were left on the shore.

“You don’t have to leave, Jasmin,” Emy said.

“We’re the same who can’t help them even though I know how to swim,” Jasmin said.

Meanwhile, Avery and Devin looked around, Devin looking for the way to the dimension where the water demon was, but he couldn’t see it. Reed arrives and immediately releases black smoke for Avery.

“Damn, what a relief. Thanks, Sir Reed.” Avery said, then immediately gasped for air.

“I can’t see the dimension...” Devin couldn’t finish what he was going to say when suddenly an arrow flew towards him, and Reed stopped it. He immediately grabbed the arrow with his hand. It was made of water and suddenly disappeared from Reed’s grip.

“That was close...” Devin said.

They were surprised when Avery suddenly struggled. There was a rope in the shape of a cord wrapped around Avery’s neck. Avery immediately grabbed her neck to stop it from tightening. Devin immediately came over and tried to remove the wrap around Avery’s neck. He had used black smoke, but instead of loosening it, it was getting tighter.

Reed was looking at the creature swimming towards them. It stopped a few meters from them.

“What is a king doing in my dimension? Do you want to go to war with me?”

A creature with slightly sallow eyes, with long white hair. It has a crown of skin and flesh resting on its head while its body is covered in scales. It does not have a tail, but it has two legs, and its feet have long fins that help it to swim. It has a big mouth, and its sharp teeth can be seen as similar to those of sharks. It holds a trident that is also made of water.

“I didn’t come to fight. I just wanted to know something.” Reed said.

The scaly forehead of the creature in front of him frowned. “But I want you to release my companion,” Reed said.

“She’s a human and a shaman!” said the creature. “What do you want me to do? Let her hurt me again?”

“Again?” Reed asked with a frown. “Don’t hurt her. I want to talk to you.”

“What are we going to talk about?”

“You are taking on young people’s lives...” Avery said, even though it was hard for her to speak.

The creature turned to Avery. It swam closer to Avery.

“Who came first? Who hurts first? Aren’t you human?” said the creature. “We won’t retaliate if you don’t start.”

“But you’re punishing the wrong human,” Reed said.

“They are also human and deserve to be punished.”

Avery looked at Reed. The creature was now facing Reed. Devin winked at him and then pulled the rope made of water with all his strength until it dissolved.

“You!” the creature growled to Avery.

Avery grabbed her katana and quickly dodged it at the creature.

“Avery...” Reed said.

Reed was about to stop Avery, but she was already casting the spell and hit the creature. The creature was shot in the stomach, which made him very angry. The beast began to use its power to attack the three of them. Reed and Devin released black smoke. They immediately swam closer to Avery. The creature was surprised and laughed loudly.

“Am I seeing right?” said the creature.

“You two are helping someone? Why? What agreement do you have?”

Reed didn’t answer. Devin laughed a little. From behind, the creature came out its soldiers. They rushed quickly, but Reed spoke again.

“Wait a minute,” Reed said.

The creature raised its hand, causing its soldiers to stop in their tracks.

“We don’t need to fight. Say what people need to do to stop taking young people.” Reed said.

“Are you making a deal with me?” the creature asked with a frown.

“Not me,” Reed said, then turned to Avery.

Avery frowned. “I will not reconcile with them.”

“Think, Avery. Not all fights have to be fought with violence. That creature wants to get something from humans. The human who is guilty of him. If you can give the human it needs in exchange for the life of the whole barangay, why not you do?”

“Are you a coward Sir Reed?” Avery asked.

They both turned to Devin, who laughed a little.

“I’m not a coward, Avery. First of all, this is not my fight. It also has nothing to do with me losing my power. Why would I fight a fight that isn’t mine? Second, I’m giving you a chance to live. Do you think you can fight them or you alone? Let’s say that Devin will accompany you but what are you against its army? We are in its dimension. What are you against?”

“But we will give him life...”

“Do you want to increase the youth he takes?”

“What are you talking about? Maybe you want to talk to me?” said the creature.

Reed and Avery stared. Reed looked away from Avery and faced the creature.

“I want to know what people have done to you so they know what they have done wrong,” Reed said.

“Alright, I’ll tell.” said the creature. “My daughter Madena came out of the water twice to walk around the river. At first, her walk was fine. But one day, a group of men tricked my daughter. We just saw that she was lifeless by the river, the body uncovered and full of wounds. Tell me, don’t I have the right to take revenge? My only daughter, people, insulted and even killed.”

They feel the creature’s anguish and anger. Avery was silent.

“You know who did that thing to your son?” Reed asked.

“I met.” said the creature.

“How did you know? You’re not there...” Avery said.

Avery was startled by a hard thing entering her body. And he saw a scenario.

——-

“Why are they taking so long?” Amy said.

It stands by the water and looks at the bottom.

“Do you need anything here? You are not allowed to come here now.” Jasmin said.

Emy turned to Jasmin and saw the three men Jasmin was talking to. Emy noticed the strange expression on the men’s faces. Jasmin seems to know that, but there is also a trace of fear on her face. Emy took a rock and quickly hit Jasmin with its handle on the man. When one of the boys fell, Emy immediately grabbed Avery’s hand, and the two promptly ran away from the boys.

Run to the rock holding hands. The men followed them and continued to chase them. Emy tripped several times because of the slippery rocks, and Jasmin helped her.

Meanwhile, Avery gasped after a scenario the creature showed her.

“Now, will you bring me the men who insulted my daughter in exchange for the freedom of your people?”

Avery turned to Reed. The creature wanted three men. After a while, they saw a newly arrived creature. It whispered to their leader.

“Good news. The men I’m looking for are by the river, ” the creature then turned his back on them.

“What if humans still don’t agree?” Avery asked.

“They will agree.” said the creature smiling.

“Why do you seem so sure?” Devin asked.

“Why not?” said the creature. “Looks like those men have a new victim. They’re after two women by the river now.”

“Emy!” “Jasmin!”

.....

The three quickly swim up. Avery, Devin, and Reed came up in less than a minute. Reed promptly teleported to the riverside, and so did Devin. Jasmin and Emy are no longer there. They turned around.

“Sir, the creatures...” Avery said, pointing to the group of creatures from under the water.

The three of them quickly followed the edge of the river. Reed is sure that the three men are their target and will also see Jasmin and Emy where the boys are.