TUG-of-WAR IV

"Wuahh!" Steve's voice brings me back to the main reason we were here in the first place. Steve was pulled in the water. However, Crusher was also pulled in due to the monster wacking its tail on their platform.

"Nya-haha! That's what I'm talking about!" Meu flies around us. 

"H-help me up!" Steve cries. Mark and I quickly make our way to him. As we pull him out, Crusher was still in the water.

"Monster must die!" He yells. Is he trying to kill himself!?!

"Get him out of there!?" Business man commands. All of the thugs grabbed Crusher out of the water. 

"Hehehe. Since both fell in the water, it's a tie! Both sides gets no points. Still 1-1." Meu laughs, "I hope the last two would be interesting. Now that we have a friend swimming around us." The water underneath us had a shadowy figure moving back in an eight shape. Every so often, it would stick its head out to stare at us.

"Nya-nya-nya! Okay! I get to pick who goes next now!" Meu snaps. Jung-woo's hand that was in mine had disappeared. Not only that but I was standing on a platform mid-air. Business man was across me. I panicked.

"Jung-woo! Jung-woo! Where the---" I pull my knives out and walk towards the cat.

"Noona!"

I whip my head to where his voice was at. I look below and see that Jung-woo was at the  platform where we were at. I can see that the biggest guy in the blue team stood across him.

"Nya-haha! We'll have these you four tug-it-out. Get it-nya?!?" The crazy cat grins evilly.

"I hope you don't hold a grudge against me." Business man says, as he takes his jacket off and roll his sleeves up. For some reason why I didn't notice this man's looks, but now that I have a good look at him I had to do a double take. I swooned when he combs his hair out of his face, revealing a chiseled face, sharp eyes under his square glasses, and clear skin.

"Hmph. It's not you I'm mad at." I put my weapons away. It's the damn gods and demons... and this psychotic cat.

We both hold on to the rope. The rough texture was making my already sweaty hands clampier. Meu then starts the countdown.

5

4

3

2

1

TING! TING! TING!

" ! ! ! "

" . . . "

I lean back as hard as I could and pull the rope towards me. However, Business man tugs hard enough more me to lose my footing and slip down on my bottom. I scream as he drags me closer to the edge, and I knew the sea serpent was waiting right below me.

"Ahhh!" I dig my foot down as hard as I could, making a small indent on the ground which stops me from moving any further.

"You're quite persistent. You should have fallen by now." He huffs out.

"I need to win." Was all I could say before I dug my foot on the ground again and again, stepping back. Business man's eyes widen and desperately tries to pull the rope. However, I put all myself and pull the rope so hard that he flew out of the platform and up in the air.

"Wahhhaaa!" He yells, still holding on the rope. I didn't let go and watch him fall past the platform down. I creep towards the edge and see him dangling on the end of the rope.

"You're pretty persistent yourself four-eye." I'm surprised he was able to keep his glasses on.

Just as he was about to say something, I can hear Jung-woo let out a piercing war cry. He looked like he could hold up against the giant thug.

COUGH! COUGH!

"Ahem." Business man catches my attention, "Since you have won, can you please pull me up? I don't exactly want to be monster food."

"Oh, yeah, give me a sec." I pull him up. Once he was able to get back on, he focused his attention to the last battle down below.

Wow... can't get a thank you now a days? I roll my eyes and stood at the edge to watch Jung-woo.

Jung-woo was slowly being dragged to the edge. I could feel my anxiety spike when the sea serpent circles around them.

"Do you know that child's level?" Business man asks. When I didn't say anything he just continues talking, "He must be at least level 15, but his stamina is probably lower."

"Excuse me, but are you insulting my kid." I growl.

"You're his mother? You look too young, but I'm not judging." He side comments.

"You-!" I raise my hand, but thought better than to fight, "No. His my friend I befriend during the Survival of the Fittest scenario." I then add in, "And I'm 24."

"Ahhhh!" Jung-woo's scream pulls my attention.

Following the sound, I watch him being thrown in the water. And to my horror, he had to be thrown towards the sea serpent. 

"Nooo!" I didn't care. I step back and run towards the edge. Jumping off, I dive towards the sea serpent.

"Nyaaaa!" Meu screams at me, hitting the water head first, "What are you doing-nya!?!"

Holding my breath, I swim after the sea serpent. I grab hold of its scales and pull myself towards the head. I was just about to wedge my knife to its eyes when it suddenly  changes direction and swims up.

"Blub, club, blug." I was starting to lose oxygen. Black spots appear in my sight. The sea serpent bursts it's head along with me out of the water. Like a fish desperate for water, I greedily inhale the oxygen my lungs needed.

"Wuah!" Feeling the strength come back to me, I climb up the monster and make my way to its snout.

"Give Jung-woo back to me!" I scream at it. In response, something wet and hard hits the side of my body. CRACK! I fly off and fall straight into the water.

[AUTO-HEALING] is activated.

My whole body feels cold and numb. I couldn't move my body and panic slowly overcomes my mind.

SPLASH!

A figure dives into the water. They swim towards me. Recognition hits me when I realize it was Business man who had dived after me. As soon as he was an arms length away, I cough out the last bit of oxygen my body held... because he was shirtless and and glassesless that my virgin eyes could not handle seeing a fine human male... but that's not the point.

He swims up to me. With one hand around my waist and the other on the back of my nape.

Pulling me in, he puts his mouth on mine. Oxygen floods my lungs, but his actions almost made me lose it. He then pulls my injured body to the surface.

Mark and Steve pull my body out of the water and on the platform.

"Marianne!" Dee stumbles next to me.

Everyone gathers around me with a concerned look. 

"Give her space." Business man walks up. He crouched next ylto me, "Can you move anything? Where does it hurt. If you can't talk just blink." Does he know any medical knowledge before the apocalypse?

"I can feel everything." I gasp out. He just simply nods, "You must be in shock. It will wear off. Does anything feel broken?"

I'm pretty sure my hips were dislocated and my rib cage broken, but I'm in too much pain to say all of that. I just nodded at him.

"Jung-woo..." I could feel hot tears running down my cold face. Not only had I not protected him, but I failed to keep my promise altogether. How can I protect someone when I couldn't even protect myself.

"Nya-nya-nya! Finally! You've been an interesting human so far. Looks like this is the end of your puny human life." Meu calls next to us. Everyone, except Business man and I, obviously, took a few steps away from the crazy cat. Meu hovers to my face. 

"Since both teams were tied at 2-2. Both teams will have to decide who they want to leave here to take everyone's punishment. Two unlucky souls.

This little fucker.