"Yes, back in our generation, we had three or four hundred young men alone. Nothing like now, when the entire village has fewer than two hundred people."
"Back then, a flood like this would have been nothing to us. What a shame... we never thought to develop these flood barriers. So many people were swept away..."
At that moment, the village elders sighed with emotion, remembering the village's most glorious days.
The village back then had been ten times larger than it was now. Over the decades, countless people had lost their lives to the floods.
Now, only thirty-two elders from their generation remained.
"We'll be joining them soon enough, too. But first, we have to get these little ones out."
"Let them see what we were like when we were young!"
At the Village Chief's words, all the elders laughed, their wrinkled smiles brimming with fierce fighting spirit.
"All right!" All the elders roared, fired up as adrenaline surged through them. Their thin, withered bodies filled with strength that rivaled the young men's.
"Let go and move up ahead. I can hold!" The elder at the very back of the line was the first to speak.
"Grandfather Pan..."
"I said, go!!!!" the elder bellowed furiously, startling the young man.
Then the young man began easing off, slowly and carefully loosening his grip.
Once the young man had completely let go, the elder immediately felt an overwhelming force slam into him. He staggered half a step backward, his already stooped body looking even more fragile.
Seeing this, the young man immediately tried to help brace the barrier again, but before he could touch it, Grandfather Pan shot him a furious glare.
For an instant, the young man felt as though a ferocious beast were staring him down, and a flicker