Chapter 337 - 292: The First Frogman to Surf

Wa Er San Wu Qi Yi trembled as he rode a floating log, nervously scanning his surroundings.

Just a short while ago, he had been standing with the other Frogmen, watching with great interest as the outsiders "fished" for the monster fish. He'd even cheered along with his kin for the Centaurs and goblins locked in a tug-of-war with the beast. But then, before he knew it, the Clan Leader had called him over and given him a daunting mission.

'To be honest, ever since they'd first knocked him out and then woken him up, he'd secretly hoped these guys were the saviors from the prophecy. After all, the clan had spoken of it for ages—that one day, someone would enter their cavern through the Egg-Birth Gate. He'd heard the tale since he was a tadpole. The Frogmen always joked about it privately; basically, no one believed it would ever come true.'

The goblin had even laughed and said, "It's like someone saying that if you keep buying lottery tickets, you're bound to win the grand prize someday." Wa Er San Wu Qi Yi didn't know what a "grand prize" was, but he knew that he had stumbled right into that improbable event.

So when he returned to the clan, he told everyone he was the luckiest Frogman alive—that thousands of years of good fortune had all landed on him.

And the Clan Leader had said, "Since you're so lucky, we'll definitely need that luck for the next mission."

'Are these outsiders really our saviors, croak?' He stared intently at the surface of the water, his voice trembling and his body rigid with tension.

'How could that green, bald monster have smiled while telling me to go paddle out onto the pool? How did he even come up with an idea like that?'

The thought flashed through Wa Er San Wu Qi Yi's mind. 'Doesn't he know that monster fish eats Frogmen, croak?'

Unfortunately, no one could see how terrified he was, and no one was coming to save him. On the shore not far away, the goblin was waving his arms and shouting, but all Wa Er San Wu Qi Yi could hear was a bunch of gibberish; he couldn't understand a single word.

'Is he calling me back, croak?' He glanced back at the goblin, who was waving his hands frantically and pointing toward the center of the pool. 'Oh, so he thinks I'm paddling too slowly, croak.'

Wa Er San Wu Qi Yi sighed, his heart filled with regret. He regretted agreeing to the Clan Leader's request. He regretted telling everyone he met how incredibly lucky he was. He regretted going to check on the Egg-Birth Gate just because he'd heard a noise.

But it was too late for regrets. Ignoring the yelling goblin on the shore, he turned his head forward again, preparing to resume paddling toward the center of the pool.

But just as he turned his head, he froze. A round, bulging object had appeared in front of him, blocking his log. It took Wa Er San Wu Qi Yi a moment to realize what it was: the monster fish.

His entire body tensed, limbs locking up so stiffly he couldn't move. The blue-black monster fish had its whole head out of the water. Three blood-red eyes, arranged in a vertical column on its crown, were locked onto him. The beast slowly opened its maw. The two fleshy tendrils beside its mouth quivered with a RUSTLING sound. Inside that gaping mouth, four or five rows of sharp, triangular teeth glinted coldly in the rippling water.

A faint chattering sound escaped Wa Er San Wu Qi Yi's mouth. His mind was a complete blank; he had no idea what to do. Suddenly, a loud shout from the shore jolted him back to his senses.

'R-run? For my life, croak?' he stammered. But fear had already sapped all his strength; it was taking all his effort just to stay seated on the log. 'I-I'm going to... be eaten, croak.'

RUSTLE RUSTLE RUSTLE. The sound from the monster fish's twitching tendrils grew louder, as if signaling its growing impatience.

'What... what was I supposed to do? Croak.' Wa Er San Wu Qi Yi frantically tried to recall what the goblin had taught him. 'If I just do that... I-I can survive, croak.'

He struggled, shakily raising both hands. He then clenched them into fists and stuck up his middle fingers.

Frogmen only have four fingers on each hand, one of which is a thumb. When Shire had taught Wa Er San Wu Qi Yi the middle-finger gesture, he'd also told him to shout a few choice words. Unfortunately, right now, Wa Er San Wu Qi Yi had completely forgotten what to say.

"Y-you... you stay away! Croak."

He said to the monster fish, holding up both arms with his middle fingers extended.

Seeing the gesture and the Frogman's expression, the Bottom-dwelling Demon Fish's three eyes flashed red. It had no idea what the creature was saying or doing, but it was annoyed. This tiny thing dared to taunt it.

The Bottom-dwelling Demon Fish opened its mouth, then slowly raised its head. With a powerful thrash of its submerged tentacles and tail, its entire body launched into the air, lunging down at Wa Er San Wu Qi Yi with jaws agape.

...

"Now! Pull!" Shire shouted the moment he saw the giant fish leap into the air.

In the distance behind him, several strong Centaurs, led by Oreco, heaved on the rope with all their might. They pulled with coordinated, rhythmic effort, rapidly hauling the line in. The other end of the rope was tied to Wa Er San Wu Qi Yi.

"Don't stop! Keep pulling! Haul him in!" Shire yelled, while also ordering his subordinates to clear everyone else away, making a large open space around the area.

Under the immense force, the rope went taut and was yanked swiftly out of the water.

Meanwhile, Wa Er San Wu Qi Yi, still on his log, could only stare, his top-set eyes wide with terror. He craned his head back to watch as the monster fish leaped, showering water everywhere. Its three blood-red eyes burned with greed and contempt as its massive, tooth-filled maw came crashing down on him from above.