Charge Down

On the battered sailboat.

Kolong, transformed into a mandrill, had just killed a Sky Fish. He braced his hands on his knees, panting hard.

After more than two straight hours of fighting, he had used up most of his strength.

He was no monster. He couldn't fight here for days and nights on end.

I have to find a way out!

But how?

The cloud sea below was teeming with schools of Sky Fish!

There was no end to the beasts. Staying here meant waiting to die.

Trying to escape in the sailboat's Skiff would be even more suicidal.

By now, he had no hope of esca

pe.

"Huff..."

"Huh?"

Kolong raised his head and glanced around in confusion. Why had no strange fish attacked him for so long?

Had he killed enough to scare them off?

"Impossible!"

Kolong shook his head. After fighting them for so long, he knew they were mindless beasts. Killing them wouldn't frighten them; the smell of blood would only drive them into a greater frenzy.

If he hadn't scared them off, then what had?

"Hmm..."

As a thought struck him, the raging Kolong, who had seemed afraid of nothing a moment ago, went still as though someone had seized a snake just behind its head.

His whole body tensed with caution. Every strand of brown fur stood straight up, as if electrified.

He didn't dare look up. Sweat poured from him like water through a broken floodgate, quickly soaking his fur and running to its tips.

One drop!

Another drop!

And another!

They fell to the deck.

Before long, a sizable puddle had gathered beneath him.

"Well, you noticed?"

Kuta stood atop the ship's only Mast.

The strong wind whipped his clothes and hair.

His Azure Eyes looked down at Kolong as though he