Losses

"Split up!"

"You go that way, and the others head in the opposite direction. The rest, follow me."

My strategy was to send two boats to the left and two to the right to deceive. If that monster enters the water, all we can do is pray. It's funny, considering religions haven't even been created yet.

But if it decides to hunt us, I just hope the stone powder has some effect.

During the journey, I made many discoveries but also conducted experiments. This is a world without technology, and the most intelligent beings are in the Stone Age.

So, I could only rely on myself and animals or those who deserved severe punishment. The tribe originally had 123 members—63 males, 37 females, 13 offspring, and 10 elders. These numbers were before the journey; now we have 54 males, 39 females, 25 offspring, and 8 elders. Two offspring turned females upon reaching maturity, and we lost nine males, either attacked or attempting rebellion against me. The two elders died due to lack of strength to continue, despite the journey being less strenuous for them.

For those who rebelled, I used them as test subjects. In a modern society, laws against violence towards animals or human rights would be on my tail. Still, as I am what can be called the law, I make the rules.

The result was that I discovered, cataloged, and tested various plant types. Among them, I found one that enhances the paralyzing effect, unused before due to quantity constraints, but now that's the least of my problems.

"Row out of the river!"

"Chief, what about that creature?"

"Don't let your guard down. Just do as I said."

At this moment, the giant crocodile made its first move. It had been still before, but now it decided to move.

"Damn, stay alert. It might be under the w..."

Suddenly.

Oh my God, it ate the boat on the right, with everyone inside.

No waves in the water, no warning. A boat with five was devoured in an instant.

"Row out of the lake, quickly!"

After that, despair took over, and we started rowing as fast as possible.

The problem was that we were still a few minutes away from getting out of the lake.

Then, as suddenly as the first, a boat on the left disappeared, along with the five in it.

"Damn! Faster, row!"

Suddenly, the crocodile stuck its head out behind us, but the strange thing was that it didn't attack, just stood there.

What the hell is this? Why is it standing there while laughing at us? As I wondered this, it made a sound, a crocodile sound.

"Roar, roar, roar..."

Despite not understanding the sound, I could feel it; it was laughing. A laughing crocodile? Not only is it giant, but it's also laughing at us! What a jerk. I was enjoying watching our desperation.

While he laughed, we kept rowing, and finally, we left the lake and completed the crossing, but we lost 10 of us, and the crocodile was still laughing, seemingly increasing its volume to ensure we kept hearing.

"You, take out that weapon and get away from the water, now!"

"Are you going to use that now? Here? What if you miss?"

"I won't let those who died do so in vain."

A bow, that's the weapon I'll use, but the issue isn't the weapon, it's the ammunition.

I hope you work; otherwise, it might be over for me.

I aimed the arrow at the laughing crocodile, and what happened surprised me, but I was prepared in case it did something abnormal due to its strange behavior.

When the crocodile saw that I aimed the arrow at it, it stopped laughing and dove.

I waited for some sign.

"Come on, where are you?"

At that moment, it was small, but I noticed waves in the lake. It was almost imperceptible, but I could see it.

Without a sound, it lunged with its enormous mouth.

It was close, but I managed to dodge at the right moment.

"Hahaha, I'll make you pay."

The moment it fell out of the water, I shot the arrow towards its face.

And what was on the arrow wasn't an iron or strong material tip, or even poisoned, but it was a 'bomb.'

To be more accurate, it was the closest thing to a bomb. It didn't explode like a bomb, but it scattered a stronger stone powder.

Tied to the arrow was a bag with fortified stone powder.

The moment the arrow hit something, the powder spread everywhere.

And the result was that.

It worked.