Bloodline Evolution: I Can Choose Opposing Paths-Chapter 102: The Mangroves (1)
For a few disorienting seconds, Aren didn’t know which way was up. Cold water rushed past his ears as the violent current dragged him sideways through the mangrove roots beneath the surface.
Through the blur, he barely managed to spot Luna sinking just ahead of him. Aren kicked hard and lunged forward, grabbing her arm before the river could pull her deeper downstream.
Not good...she’s unconscious. I need to get out of this current as soon as possible.
He wrapped one arm around her waist and kicked upward with everything he had, assisted by his water Element resisting the current.
Aren’s lungs burned by the time his head finally broke the surface. He sucked in a sharp breath and dragged Luna with him, coughing river water from his throat as he forced his body toward the nearest patch of muddy land.
"Luna...!"
She didn’t respond.
Aren practically threw her onto the muddy patch before dragging himself up after her. Around them, more splashes echoed through the river as the others surfaced one by one.
But Aren’s attention was locked entirely on Luna. He rolled her gently onto her back. Her face was pale, strands of wet silver hair clinging to her cheeks.
There’s too much water lodged in her chest!
Aren knew what to do as he bent toward her face immediately, but a sudden thought made him hesitate.
Isn’t this kind of awkward...? Never mind, now’s not the time, Aren!
He took a deep breath before tilting over and sealing his mouth over hers, breathing the air into her lungs.
Then, with both hands pressed against her chest, he began pushing against it.
"One... two... three..."
Aren repeated the process three or four more times before...
"—Khh!"
Luna’s body jerked violently beneath his hands.
Aren recoiled slightly as she coughed hard, water spilling from her mouth as her chest convulsed.
She rolled onto her side instinctively, coughing again and again while muddy river water poured out onto the ground beneath her.
Air rushed back into her lungs as she took a big inhale. Aren let out a breath he didn’t even realize he was holding.
"...Good."
Luna coughed one more time before blinking weakly up at him.
"Aren...?"
He sat back on the mud with a tired sigh, wiping water from his face.
"Welcome back."
That was when another hand popped up from behind Aren—Professor Sterling’s. She dragged herself out of the water and climbed onto one of the thicker mangrove roots, steadying herself before immediately scanning the group.
"Everyone alive?" she asked.
A series of groans and nods came from the other four before she nodded. No one was seriously injured, just bruised and exhausted.
Sterling let out a quiet breath.
"Good."
The relief didn’t last long.
The moment someone shifted their footing, the muddy ground between the mangrove roots sank slightly under their weight. One step nearly sent someone slipping back toward the river.
Emily muttered under her breath.
"...This ground is garbage."
The mangrove bank wasn’t really a bank at all. Thick roots twisted out of the swamp like tangled ribs while dark water pooled between them. Every step felt uncertain, like the whole thing might give way at any minute.
Marcus glanced down at the unstable footing before stepping forward.
"Give me a second."
He crouched and placed one hand against the mud. Instantly, the soft muck started to compact, forcing water out of the surface until the entire thing became stable.
Marcus stood again, wiping his hand against his pants.
"That’ll hold."
The group instinctively gathered onto the newly formed patch of earth. Only then did Sterling lift her gaze and properly study their surroundings.
"This is not good..."
Aren noticed the change in her expression.
"Why not?"
Her gaze swept across the twisted root labyrinth around them before she spoke.
"We’re in the Mangroves."
A brief silence followed before Luna asked.
"What are the Mangroves?"
"The Wildlands are divided into four major regions," Sterling explained. "Each one has its own ecosystem and danger rating."
She gestured toward the swamp around them.
"This one sits roughly in the middle."
"Most of the wildlife here averages around Semi-General class," she added calmly, "But the apex predators can reach Ruler class."
Ruler-class? That’s way worse than I expected.
"Fuck..." the professor muttered under her breath. "We were supposed to land in the Highlands. It’s one of the safer regions."
Her eyes swept over the swamp again.
"But now we’re stuck in the Mangroves... without any of our gear."
Daniel exhaled slowly and ran a hand through his wet hair.
"Alright," he said finally. "Then the first thing we should do is find the crash site."
"All our gear was on the plane," he continued. "Weapons, supplies, communicators—everything."
He gestured vaguely back toward the river. "If we can recover even half of it, our chances of surviving out here go up a lot."
Aren nodded slowly.
Makes sense.
Before anyone else could respond, Emily suddenly straightened.
"Oh!"
Everyone turned toward her.
"I can find it," she said quickly.
She lifted her hand, sparks jumping across her fingers. Moments later, several small dragonflies formed out of the sparks, their wings beating rapidly as they hovered in the air.
"If the plane went down nearby, I should be able to spot it from above the canopy."
"Perfect," Daniel snapped his fingers. "Then that’s our starting point."
Everyone nodded and started to move, yet their Professor hadn’t budged an inch.
"...Hold on."
Daniel frowned slightly. "Something the matter, Professor?"
"You’re not wrong," she said. "The crash site is our best chance at recovering supplies."
Her tone hardened slightly.
"But if you think we can just walk straight there..." she shook her head. "Then you’re underestimating where we landed."
Aren felt the weight in her words immediately. Sterling gestured toward the swamp around them.
"The Mangroves aren’t dangerous only because of the beasts."
Her boot nudged the edge of the muddy ground, which sank slightly under the pressure.
"The terrain itself will try to kill you."
"And it did...to many of my friends."
