Primitive Man

Baktou walked along the newly built road of the seaside village, the patterns in the construction reminding him of his brother's craftsmanship. Most villagers had learned the basics from Garnt, and the distinct patterns reflected his influence. Nostalgia filled Baktou as he observed the familiar designs.

However, his sense of nostalgia was short-lived. Kids quickly scattered, and villagers closed their windows upon spotting Baktou. Despite being one of the original supporters of the village's development, his betrayal of Garnt had tainted his reputation without any limits and now with his invasion, he had become an enemy of Garnt's faction.

"Leader, are you planning to stay here? I thought we'd return after capturing this place," questioned one of Baktou's followers, puzzled by their unexpected stay in the seaside village.

Garnt, the leader, was in the main village, and they currently held a significant advantage due to a shortage of food, if they could invade the main village. It seemed counterintuitive for Baktou to stay in the seaside village, and his followers sought clarification.

"Not your business. Follow orders and wait until I say we're going back," Baktou replied tersely, eager to avoid drawing attention to himself.

As he moved away, he overheard something intriguing from the sailors near the harbour, who, despite their defeat by Baktou, continued their daily fishing tasks to ensure their children wouldn't go hungry during the winter.

"As expected, it is getting close. It is a giant looking fish, but I couldn't see the whole thing. But from the way water reacted to its movement, I can tell it is at least five times our ship's size"

"Isn't it dangerous? Last time it was in the middle of the sea, but now it is getting close to our harbour,"

"Should we report about this?"

All the sailors questioned each other, but then they had the realization that they were indeed pseudo prisoners inside this village right now.

"I'm not going to bow my head to that traitor, even if it meant that giant fish attacking us," One of the sailors suddenly replied without seeing that Baktou was watching them, and the others nodded their heads.

The guard who had been following Baktou suddenly became furious and attempted to attack him. However, Baktou swiftly intervened, urging the guard to calm down. He then approached the sailors who had been speaking ill of him and greeted them with a friendly demeanour, seemingly unfazed by their derogatory remarks.

"How was the yield today? I'm not well-versed in fishing, but I've heard that winter is a great season for it, as you can easily detect fish," he inquired, as if trying to establish a connection.

Initially, the sailors seemed inclined to ignore him, but upon recognizing his association with Garnt, they reluctantly responded, providing information without displaying much friendliness.

"Is that so? If you were to report this to him, he'd probably be here by now. I guess it's my lucky day that you didn't," Baktou remarked with a smile, attempting to inject humour into the conversation. However, his comment only seemed to irritate the sailors, who promptly began unloading their equipment and fish to retreat and relax.

Once the sailors departed, Baktou gazed out at the ocean, contemplating the circumstances that led him to this moment. Memories of the life-altering battle flooded his mind, and thoughts of his sister Unami, now likely a mother, stirred within him. However, he acknowledged the unwelcome reality that he could not reconnect with his family.

*Sigh

'Stay strong! I'm doing all this for my brother. Once that wench is out of his body, I can ensure that I'll grovel and apologize until then-'

Contemplating the consequences of his actions and their impact on his future, Baktou suddenly heard a voice inside his head—a presence that had been aiding him throughout the years, much like how Eva assisted Garnt.

[That's true, Baktou. You won't regret listening to me, as your partner. Believe me when I say that Eva woman is not someone your brother should believe. She is a devil in the skin of a kind and beautiful woman. She is rotten inside. She would do anything to achieve her goals, and the only reason she supports your brother is that.]

The voice said as Baktou nodded his head, showing she was indeed right. However, he then asked a question that the voice had to answer,

"And why do you think you're different? Aren't you using me to achieve your goals? Didn't you use Amel to do that and fail because of that useless man?"

[I am not expecting anything strange from you, Baktou. I just want you to prevent that woman from doing anything to your brother, which will benefit both you and me. Unlike her, who is trying to take full advantage of him.]

"I guess that's fair, and I know you're not lying because it is impossible for both of us to lie to each other when we are connected like this."

[Yes! And you're the best host I can get. The reason I didn't care about that Amel guy was that he was a piece of garbage that I had no choice but to use. You're different. You're a pleasant kid that I genuinely want to help, and Garnt is also like that. He is a good kid who is being used by that vile woman.]

Baktou continued his internal conversation with the mysterious voice, still contemplating the complexities of his situation. As they conversed, the atmosphere around the seaside village began to change. The once calm sea now exhibited an unusual turbulence, and Baktou couldn't help but notice the water taking on a violent nature, as if something was trying to come out of the water.

"What in the world is happening?" Baktou muttered to himself, his gaze fixated on the sea.

[Hold on, Baktou. It seems like something extraordinary is about to occur. Your instincts are reacting to it. Look closely,]

The voice whispered in his mind.

Suddenly, a massive head emerged from the water, catching everyone's attention. Baktou's eyes widened in surprise and, unexpectedly, anger. The colossal creature's scales glimmered in the sunlight as it hovered near the harbour, dwarfing the ships anchored there. Nobody could see anything beyond the top of their head, but they knew it was not something normal.

"What is that thing? Some kind of sea fish?" one of the guards exclaimed.

Baktou felt an unusual surge of rage bubbling within him as he stared at the enormous fish. It was as if a primal instinct had been awakened, and the voice in his head spoke with an urgency.

[The anger you feel toward that creature... it's the result of your injected DNA. It seems to be responding to your DNA, and right now, you're harbouring anger towards it. But don't worry, I can control it. Let me handle this.]

As the voice assured him, Baktou's focus shifted from the creature to the internal dialogue. His anger subsided, replaced by a sense of curiosity and cautious trust as he took his daily dose of Budival injection.

He attempted to distance himself from the unfolding chaos, but just as he turned to leave, a deafening crash echoed through the harbour. The sea beneath him erupted in a violent upheaval, throwing him off balance including the others who were standing on the platform.

"What the...?" Baktou exclaimed, stumbling backwards as the ground shook beneath him. The massive creature, now revealed to be a colossal fish, thrashed about beneath the harbour's surface, causing the water to churn with fury.

The soldiers around him shouted in panic, their attention torn between the sea monster and the unexpected turmoil. Baktou struggled to regain his composure, but before he could react, the ground beneath him gave way. With a disorienting lurch, he found himself plummeting into the cold, dark waters.

The sudden immersion shocked Baktou, and as he fought to swim back to the surface, he couldn't help but worry about the soldiers who had fallen with him. The sea's turbulent currents made the rescue efforts challenging, but eventually, he emerged, gasping for breath.

As he reached sea level, he surveyed the chaotic scene. The guards on the harbour were desperately trying to maintain order, shouting his name in search of their leader. However, amidst the confusion, the cry of one guard who fell into the water was abruptly cut short. Baktou's eyes widened in confusion as he witnessed blood seeping into the water where the guard had been.

"What in the world is happening?" Baktou muttered confusion gripping him. Before he could comprehend the situation, the voice in his head resonated with urgency.

[Get ready, Baktou. That is a creature called a shark that is more than just a sea fish It's a powerful force, and we need to figure out how to control it before more harm is done. Quickly try to get back to the surface of the earth where you don't have any contact with water.]

He heard the voice, but for a second he wanted to see what this creature that he felt angry toward looked like so determined, Baktou took a deep breath and dove beneath the surface. The water around him was murky, but as his eyes adjusted, he beheld the colossal form of the shark gliding gracefully beneath the waves. The voice guided him, revealing the creature's origins and the extent of its connection to Baktou.