Chapter 3: The Blue Zone
The motorboat cut through the lake as Ronan leaned back, his arms stretched. "We finally escaped the kingdom," he said with a relieved grin.
Nova, sitting beside him, looked out at the endless water. "Escaping is just the beginning. We need to find out what lies beyond Rua."
But fate had other plans.
Suddenly, something slammed into the motorboat with a violent jolt. The boat flipped, hurling both of them into the water.
Nova gasped, struggling to breathe. Something massive brushed against his leg. He looked down eyes widening as a crocodile surged toward him with jaws wide open.
Ronan was fighting to stay afloat, but the crocodile was focused on Nova.
Nova gritted his teeth, gripped his axe underwater, and with a powerful swing, slashed the beast across the head. Blood exploded into the water, and the crocodile floated lifelessly.
He surfaced, gasping, pulling Ronan with him. Coughing and panting, Nova dragged him back into the boat.
"Damn it! You don't know how to swim?" Nova shouted.
Ronan coughed out water. "I do! I'm a pro swimmer!"
"Then why were you drowning?"
"I panicked, okay?!"
Nova growled, starting the engine again and pushing the boat to its limits. Water sloshed around their feet. The adrenaline was still pumping in his veins.
"Hey, Nova!" Ronan shouted, pointing ahead. "Land! I see an island!"
Nova squinted. "No way... you're right! Land! Finally!"
They powered toward the distant island, waves splashing against their faces. As they neared the shore, excitement surged through both of them.
The boat hit the sand. They jumped off, boots sinking into the wet shore.
"Footprints," Ronan muttered, staring at the ground. "Someone lives here."
Nova knelt down. "Yeah, and they're human... not too old either."
They ventured deeper into the dense forest. The trees were tall, thick, and full of life. Nova spotted bunches of bananas hanging from branches.
"Bananas?" he said. "Maybe a silverback gorilla lives here."
"I could take one down with my bare hands," Ronan bragged.
"Shut the hell up," Nova said, rolling his eyes.
They moved cautiously until a large hut came into view. It stood silently among the trees, built from thick logs and vines.
"Quiet," Ronan whispered. "Someone definitely lives here."
Nova grinned. "What if it's the gorilla?"
They crept forward, step by step.
Suddenly, a dark shadow leapt out of the trees moving too fast to react. Both of them were knocked to the ground in an instant.
"Hey! We're not here to steal anything!" Ronan said, groaning.
A rugged voice replied, "Visitors... after all this time?"
The figure stepped into the light an old man with white hair tied back, muscles still hardened by age and time.
"Who are you?" Nova demanded, brushing dust off his shirt.
"I'm Navy," the old man said, his voice calm but stern. "Protector of the Blue Zone."
Nova blinked. "Blue Zone?"
"Yes. The Blue Zone lies between the Rua Kingdom and the Wool Kingdom," Navy said.
Ronan sat up quickly. "Did you say... kingdom? There's another kingdom besides Rua?"
"Of course," Navy replied. "You two are from Rua, aren't you?"
Nova exchanged glances with Ronan. "We are. Why does that matter?"
Navy's face darkened slightly. "Then you've got a lot to learn."