Muck, the book. Final day (part 2)
Day 10 – Part 2
The dragon’s words still echoed in Fred’s ears.
“No one leaves this island, ever.”
And then… The island began to sink. At first, it was just a low rumble beneath Fred’s feet, then, cracks split the earth, and water exploded into the air. The ocean roared as massive waves swept over the land, drowning forests, swallowing mountains, and sending Gobblins screaming into the abyss.
Fred’s eyes widened.
“OH NO, NO, NO, I DID NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS.”
Without wasting a second, he sprinted for the boat, dodging collapsing trees and jumping over chunks of land breaking apart beneath him. The water raced behind him, swallowing everything in its path. Fred ran. The ocean chased. With one final leap, he threw himself onto the deck just as the last bit of island vanished beneath the waves. Fred lay on his back, gasping for air.
“…Okay. I made it.”
He turned his head and saw nothing but endless water. The entire island was gone.
“Okay… NOT GOOD.”
Then the water moved. A massive whirlpool formed in the distance, swirling faster and faster until it became a colossal vortex, and from the center of the abyss, rising like an ancient god, came Bob. The dragon was even bigger than before— its emerald-green scales shimmered with dark energy, and its eyes glowed like molten fire.
Bob flapped his wings, sending out shockwaves that rocked Fred’s boat. Then he spoke, his voice booming across the ocean.
“YOU CANNOT ESCAPE THE MUCK!”
Fred, still lying on the deck, groaned. “Of course he says that.”
Then Bob attacked.
Fred barely had time to roll out of the way before a massive fireball slammed into the deck, exploding on impact. The boat lurched, wood splintering from the blast. Fred scrambled to his feet, pulling out his best weapon—a fully upgraded Chunky Hammer.
“Alright, Bob,” he muttered. “Let’s see how YOU like getting smacked.”
Bob roared and dove at the boat, claws outstretched. Fred jumped at the last second, swinging his hammer with all his strength.
WHAM!
Bob’s head snapped sideways from the hit, but he recovered instantly and swung his massive tail— Fred tried to dodge, but—
SMASH!
The tail sent him flying across the boat, crashing into a mast.
“ASJKDHASKJDH—”
Fred barely had time to breathe before Bob blasted a beam of fire at him. He dived off the deck, landing on a floating piece of debris just as the mast exploded into flames.
“OKAY, THAT WAS TOO CLOSE.”
Fred pulled out his ancient bow and fired a charged shot at Bob’s head. The arrow glowed with lightning energy, streaking through the air and—
BOOM!
A direct hit.
Bob screeched, shaking the ocean.
Fred grinned. “That’s right! I can do ranged combat too, bozo!”
Bob growled, his eyes flashing.
The water began to rise. The ocean swirled violently, forming towering waves that crashed down around the boat.
Fred’s eyes widened. “Wait, WAIT, I CAN’T SWIM—”
WHOOSH!
A tidal wave smashed into him, pulling him under. Bubbles swirled around him as he sank into the abyss. Above, Bob dived into the water, his body moving effortlessly through the depths. Fred struggled to stay afloat, but then—he remembered. He reached into his inventory… And pulled out a sugon shroom. He chomped it down, his lungs filled with oxygen, and suddenly—he could breathe underwater.
“YES! I LOVE SHROOMS!”
Just then, Bob rushed him like a torpedo. Fred barely dodged as massive jaws snapped inches from his face. He swung his hammer, smashing Bob in the snout— But underwater, his attack was slower, and Bob easily dodged.
Then Bob opened his mouth— and instead of fire, he unleashed a shockwave, sending Fred spiralling backward. Fred’s vision blurred. He was fatigued. He reached for a health potion, but Bob was already charging at him again.
Fred was out of time.
Fred thought fast. As Bob charged, he pulled out one last weapon— a ballista arrow! Bob’s jaws opened, ready to end Fred for good. Fred aimed— And fired.
BOOM.
The arrow pierced straight through Bob’s skull. The dragon froze, eyes widening in shock.
Then— a massive explosion of light erupted from his body. Bob let out one final roar, before disintegrating into nothingness. The sea grew calm. The water stopped rising and Fred floated alone in the endless ocean.
Moments later, Fred climbed back onto his ruined boat, coughing up water. He stared at the sky, exhausted.
“…Did I win?”
Fred blinked. Then he laughed.
“…I actually did it.”
He lay back on the deck, staring up at the stars. For the first time in ten days, he had no enemies to fight. No bosses to chase him. No Daves trying to kill him. He had won.
He heard ominous laughter and passed out on the deck…
Fred opened his eyes to the blinding sun and the gentle sound of waves lapping against the shore. "Wow," he muttered, rubbing his head. "Where am I? And why do I feel like I just lost a wrestling match with a tree…"