Chapter 116: Trial Phase 1! (11)
The raft rocked violently as water splashed across its sides, and everyone’s heads snapped toward the riverbank where the massive Stage 5 treeman had just launched itself into the river like a homicidal missile.
For the next three seconds, no one said a word.
The only sound was the bubbling of the water and the slow, menacing approach of the creature beneath its surface, like a sea monster awakened from centuries of slumber.
Then Creed broke the silence.
"...So that thing really just jumped?" he asked, blinking in disbelief, his soaked bangs sticking to his forehead.
"I told you it might," Lilith huffed, already clutching her sickle with both hands and glancing anxiously over the side of the raft. "You jinxed it!"
Amara folded her arms coolly, though even she looked a little startled. "Clearly, someone made it mad."
"Yeah," Lilith added with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Who was it that butchered its entire family again? Oh right... Creed."
"Wasn’t even me alone!" Creed protested, arms raised. "Tierra was there too! She sliced like... at least eight of them! You were there too!"
Tierra tilted her head thoughtfully. "I killed twelve."
"SEE?!" Creed pointed accusingly at her. "Why is no one blaming her?!"