Floating downstream wasn't too bad, you know, ignoring the burning scales and all. I'm surprised that the few thin scales I have are actually lasting me this long, even taking into account my cultivation it's still impressive. Granted it's only been 5 minutes since I jumped in because of the collapsing ground. But I'll take that as a win.

The stream isn't even that wide, only about 4 feet. So it's quite scary as I'm not far away from the ground. Well, I don't think I can even call it that now.

The consistency is now that of a very creamy paste. It's a very interesting thing to see. But it ends there. I'm still very scared of it. All the trees have already long since sunk into the ground. But despite the lack of trees I still can't see very far, It's like a very faint black fog is covering me. Pretty spooky if I do say so myself. Of course, it's not like I can really feel fear. But I can still logically feel it, does that make sence? Ah, whatever.

As long as I keep the top half of my body above the water then I should be fine. I just can't risk losing Decorite or the map at this stage. Only if I have no choice would I risk loosing either of them, as they're my only real source of security for the future.

I just need to keep following this stream. Well, it's not that I really have a choice but that's beside the point. Only one of two things can happen. Either I manage to find the orb on my way and escape, or I just float out of this forest. The only real worry I have is that this lake goes in a loop, in which case I'll be stuck burning alive for eternity. But I still haven't seen the river curve so the chances of it being a loop are unlikely at best.

I feel movement in my mouth. It seems that Decorite finally decided to wake up. Ah, I wonder how he's going to react to the scenery.

He's still a bit drowsy but not Completely unaware. Oh, he's fully woken up now. Crap, he's trying to break free.

You little dipshit you'll fall into the acidic water!

Ah, I don't want to break him but I can't afford to loosen my grip on him. But he's not slowing. I'll just put a bit more force. Now he's only fighting back even harder. It's not like it hurts or anything, but I can't afford to have divided attention while the map is on my back, and there's acid all around me.

The little bugger is really getting on my nerves.

I can just drop him right now if I wanted to. It'll also free up my mouth. Just yawn and all my problems would be gone. How simple. Oh, thinking about yawning is making me tired. Would you look at that, my grip is loosening.

Ah, now he starts to hold on. Well, I'm not stopping my yawn just for you. So you better have a strong grip or it's not going to be pretty.

*Yawn*

The little guy's shaking. I can't afford to lose my property just like that. That'd just be a waste.

But I really wonder how long this lake is. I've been floating for a while now but I still can't see the end.

At least I have my ma- wheres my map!

I can't feel my map anymore. It probably fell in the struggle with Decorite. I really want to burn that thing so bad. But I have to resist.

I've already lost the fucking map. And I can't even kill the fucking thing that made me drop it. What luck. There's no point even trying to stay here, but It's not like I can just leave. I have to follow the damn stream and not even gain anything out of it by the end, instead, I lost my prized possession.

I wanted to go into a cursing fit so bad, just to relieve the stress. But from the corner of my mind, a small piece of paper came floating by. Completely unharmed. It was the map.

Oh thank god, I didn't lose the map. But it's completely unharmed, odd. Does this water only harm biological creatures? My eyes couldn't help drift towards the small shit that almost gave me a heart attack.