CHAPTER 35: CHAPTER 35- STRETCHED WATERS CROCS

Chapter 35- Stretched Waters Crocs

It happened in a split second—faster than most people could even register.

But Jack was far from "most people" at that moment. With his body enhanced by Time Essence and a surge of newfound strength, his senses moved in overdrive. Every flicker of motion, every ripple in the air, he could see it all long before anyone else could react.

Even more importantly, he had been expecting an attack.

So, when the faintest blur passed through the edge of his vision, Jack was already moving—his body surging forward, sword thrust ahead to intercept before the creature even had a chance to strike.

At the same time, Evelyn’s eyes darted to the side. A glint of wet light caught her attention—rows of jagged teeth, mere inches away from snapping shut on her arm. Her pulse spiked, breath hitching as her body froze for a fraction of a second. Then instinct roared to life. She skidded to a halt, twisting to evade the gaping maw.

The monster was faster.

Swish!

’I’m going to get bitten.’ Her jaw tightened. She braced for the pain—

BANG!

A blur of steel cut across her vision.

Jack appeared between her and the beast, his sword driving through the creature’s skull with ruthless precision. The blade punched out the other side, and a spray of hot blood streaked the air. The monster gave a twitch, then collapsed back into the water with a heavy splash.

Evelyn’s eyes tracked the sinking body. It looked like a crocodile, but wrong—its neck disturbingly long, limbs tipped with clawed paws, and its scaled body mottled with patches of wet fur.

"That was close," Jack muttered, pulling his blade free. "I knew it would attack once one of us moved."

"...You..." Evelyn stared at him, shock rippling across her features. ’I didn’t even see him move. Just... how fast is he?’

Then his words sank in, and her expression sharpened. "Wait. You knew it would attack me?"

"Yeah."

"So... you used me as bait?"

"Yeah. I figured it targeted movement, not specific people. When you bolted for the manhole, I used that as my chance to take it down."

Her lips parted, but nothing came out.

"Talk about ruthless," Lune whistled from above, clearly impressed. "I knew running for the exit wasn’t his only reason for going along with that plan."

Evelyn still didn’t know what to feel—annoyance at being used, or begrudging admiration for the quick thinking that saved them.

"You... I—"

She froze.

A faint glint flickered in the dark tunnel ahead. The beam of their flashlight reflected off two pale, circular shapes. Eyes.

Then two became four. Four became eight. And the number kept climbing.

Jack’s gaze hardened. "We’re surrounded." His fingers tightened around his sword. ’So many of them... and I didn’t sense a single one until now. They’re damn good at hiding.’

Shapes stirred in the murky water, moving closer.

"Evelyn," Jack said without looking at her, "do you have a weapon?"

"No."

He fished into his pocket and handed her a small bundle of throwing knives. "Here. Aim for the head. Don’t let them close in—their necks give them longer reach than you think."

"I understand." She gripped the knives, her stance steady.

’At least she’s not panicking,’ Jack thought, the edge of his irritation fading. If she froze now, they’d be finished.

Swish!

A crocodile lunged from the water, covering a shocking distance in a single leap. Jack’s aura flared, his sword flashing upward. He felt the jarring resistance of thick hide, but gritted his teeth and forced the blade through.

[You have killed a Chrono-Born Stretched Waters Croc.][You have...][...][...]

He ignored the system messages.

Two more surged toward him, jaws wide. The narrow tunnel left no space for hesitation. Jack pivoted, striking the first with an essence-infused palm strike.

BOOM!

The impact rippled through the creature’s body, hurling it backward into the water. In the same motion, his sword plunged into the second crocodile’s throat.

CLANK!

But there was no time to breathe—fresh shapes slid into the gaps, snapping at him from every angle.

’Dammit.’

He dropped low, feeling the rush of air as two sets of jaws slammed shut above him. Planting his hands on the wet stone, he kicked upward—both feet slamming into gaping mouths. The beasts reeled, and Jack rolled back to his feet, punching another across the snout.

But there were too many.

CHOMP!

Agony ripped through his leg as a crocodile clamped down from the shadows. He looked down to see rows of teeth buried in his flesh. Snarling, he drove his heel into its skull.

It didn’t let go.

’Thick-skulled bastard!’ He stomped again, pain spiking as the creature yanked at his leg, trying to drag him under. Its jaws were shockingly strong, crushing Jack’s leg without mercy. If it were a normal human being, then their leg would’ve been torn off cleanly. However, with Jack’s tougher skin and bones, it lasted way longer.

A ripple of movement caught his eye—two more pairs of cold, unblinking eyes, jaws yawning wide, rushing him.

"Jac—" Lune started forward, but before he could move, a shadow darted past. Evelyn’s boot slammed into the crocodile on Jack’s leg, knocking it loose. The beast tumbled across the stone and splashed into the water.

Jack crushed the dazed monster’s head beneath his heel. Brain matter mixed with blood flew everywhere as a disgusting wet sound permeated the place.

"Are you okay?" Evelyn asked, stepping back to his side. "We’re getting swarmed."

"I’m fine." He shook out his leg, feeling the warm trickle of blood through his pants. ’Deep bite. Numbness setting in. We can’t last like this.’

The situation was spiraling. More creatures were gathering, the ripples in the water multiplying. Running sounded nice, but the open causeway ahead was a killing ground. If they focused on running, then they wouldn’t be able to defend themselves properly as the attacks came from a very uncomfortable angle. But, at the same time, if they remained there then they would be killed sooner or later.

They edged back, hemmed in tighter with every step.

Another lunged—Jack split its head with a swift slash, then turned to see Evelyn driving a kick into another’s snout.

"Duck!"

She dropped instantly. Jack’s blade whistled over her head, skewering a crocodile mid-lunge. Behind her, she spotted movement—another trying to slip in unnoticed. One of her knives spun from her hand and buried itself in its eye. The beast recoiled with a shriek.

Their movements were shockingly coordinated and smooth, as if they understood each other even though they were strangers. Lune watched that scene with great interest.

’How did she immediately trust my Jack and duck down?’ She mused as she squinted her eyes. ’Something is very wrong here.’

Her eyes, trained by countless years of battles and blood, knew when two people have chemistry in battle and when they don’t. Chemistry isn’t something that could be gained immediately, it comes from a strong bond, whether it was in the past or the present. Or, going through many battles together to grow that chemistry.

’The second is clearly not possible... That only leaves...’ Lune pursed her lips as a dark smile appeared on her face. "Well, someone is certainly lying."

Meanwhile, down there, Jack’s grip tightened on his sword. ’I need a plan. Now.’