Chapter 4 – My first step

Congratulations! Unique skill, “Land Walker” successfully gained.

I, who had just finished a pair of lungs that one of my servants brought me, had finally obtained the unique skill. I don’t know how many lungs I’ve eaten, but I am sure it was a lot. Most of the ships that came by later on were from ONE. Perhaps I can pretend to be one of the captured girls that survived the shipwreck of the pirate-like people and be rescued by ONE? That would be extremely interesting.

However, first, I need to see how this skill works. My screen friend doesn’t show up all the time when I want it to, unfortunately. I’ve asked it a few things concerning myself and the skill but there was no response. Nonetheless, it was the only type of communication I had these few years here on this island with my guards and servants. I’ve even acquired some land servants on the island! All of them were mutated and there were no animals that I was used to seeing.

I focused on my fins. Nothing happened. I looked around and noticed that I was still under the water in one of the handmade caves underneath my island. Perhaps I should go on land to activate this skill.

Once on land I once again focused my sensation on my fins. It took a while but I could start to feel the muscles and then the blood flow. I started to imagine the legs I once had and my muscles, scales, veins, arteries, and skin start to distort. Slowly my legs formed into a more than perfect shape. Lovely…

Congratulations on forming your land walking legs!

This skill is an active skill that would not be affected by any water, unlike some myths. However, the duration of the skill depends on the amount of lungs consumed.

Duration: 120d; 17h; 45m; 32s

Well, I guess this means I can’t stop eating people’s lungs. Not like I planned on stopping anyway. Now I need to find human habitat. I shall wait until I spot a ship again.

I don’t know how long I’ve waited but soon I heard that there was a ship nearby from my patrol servants. I decided to use my beasts to make for a believable story. I’m not going to be a good actor. I’m pretty nervous. It’s been a while since I’ve interacted with anyone. Here I go!

“Captain, there seems to be a lot of sea beasts in this area. I don’t think it’s safe. We should head back and report.” A man’s voice sounded.

“Quiet! I have a feeling that there’s something that these beasts are protecting. We can’t leave without knowing what got our brothers! How can I respond to their families if they asked?! ‘While I was exploring safe waters nearby the beasts attacked and killed your family member as I just ran away to report the situation’? I’ve already done my part in reporting. So now I have to find out.” The captain responded.

“But sir, you need to live in order to protect the citizens. Not to mention your own family!”

“I’ve stated my goals on coming out here today. You all have chosen to follow me so I hope you can carry out that duty.”

“We will, but captain must also follow the safety first rule. If it gets too dangerous we are leaving! I won’t let anymore of my brothers and sisters die in the line of duty.” The man said determinedly.

I guess they will do. I need to get my Island will be found out sooner or later. Let’s see which method is the least suspicious: attacked by beast? No, people don’t survive that and they might feel that it’s too dangerous to help out. Ah, I guess that’ll do. I hope it’s not too disbelieving.

“Captain! I see something in the distance!”

A bright light shone through the mists showing a dense amount of rocks and ship debris.

“My god! How many had perished here.” The captain gasped.

“How come they all crashed into these rocks? They should have the skills to avoid these or at least not run straight into them.” A whisper was heard.

“Shall we get a closer look? There doesn’t seem to be any beasts nearby.”

“Jacob, take a group of 5 to go and inspect the ship debris. Find out from when it crashed and who was aboard.” The captain stated.

““Yes, sir!””

The men took a smaller boat and rowed their way towards the shipwreck. They climb aboard it and started to inspect.

“This…this is one of our ship!” One of the men exclaimed.

“Yes, but it seems to have been stolen by those rebels.”

“Though this seemed like it crashed here a long while ago. We should go and inspect the others.” Jacob said.

They went to another ship nearby and inspected. This time they showed grief.

“T-this was one of our brother’s ship! It crashed pretty recently as well. Look there’s still blood marks!” One of the men cried out sadly.

They gave their respect towards the dead using some hand signals I didn’t know about. They went further in towards my island. Now they can see a vague outline of the island but I won’t let them get any closer than that.

“Jacob! Is that an island?!”

“It looks like it,” he looked around, “but I think we should head back. I feel an ominous creature observing us from that pla—”

His sentence stopped midway.

“Jacob, what is it?” The other men then followed Jacob’s view and saw a vague outline of a person in the distance. Of course that person was I.

“I-is that a person?!”

“Quick! We need to save them!”

As the men rushed forward rowing the small boat Jacob held out a hand stalling the other men.

“What is it now?”

“Why is there a person here? Through all of the destroyed ships there was one thing in common. It was that there were absolutely no survivors. So why is there one now?” Jacob questioned.

“Jacob, you are overthinking! Just because there were no survivors before doesn’t mean there can’t be any. Let’s go! Any moment wasted might be dangerous for that person who might have been our brother or sister!”

They came closer and closer with Jacob holding out a flashlight. I pretended to have been unconscious. I was wearing the clothes of one of the village girls that were captured by pirates, the rebels as ONE calls them. My wings didn’t disappear but they were wrapped firmly around my breasts and weren’t that noticeable.

“A-a beauty?” The men gasped.

‘Tch. It’s not like I want to be a beauty. Beauty brings trouble.’ I thought inwardly.

One of the men grabbed me from the rocks and pulled me onto the small boat. I subconsciously shuddered from their touch. They noticed. I can’t pretend to be unconscious anymore so I opened my eyes. I looked at them and I froze in fear. I don’t like this. The memories returned. I trembled uncontrollably. I started to push them away as I backed away from them. Fear and anxiety overtook my emotions.

“Don’t touch her and back off. She seems to be traumatized.” Jacob told the others. They backed off away from me.

They quickly rowed the small boat back to the main one. I was extremely conscious of them throughout the short journey, as they stayed quiet. We have arrived at the ship. They hooked the small boat to the ship and pulled us up from the waters. Jacob held out his hand towards me after climbing onto the ship.

“I won’t do anything.” He said. He didn’t smile though. I’d be more wary if he did though. I took his hand and took my first step aboard the ONE ship. Stage One of my plans has been completed, though differently than I had hoped.