Chapter 5: Sade’s Entrance and the Road to Crocodile Valley

System dey happy well.

First quest, full mark!

First time I ever get perfect score, you this big fish.

Just three more quests, get 100 points, we go revive, dey jolly.

System dey excited, me too I happy.

I drag my pale lips inside Umaru hand.

Okay.

Suddenly, everywhere shake.

Big Kun swim come, use tail scatter water prison.

Na the original novel female lead, Sade, she come rescue Umaru.

Sade land, wrapper tie strong for waist, gold bangle dey jangle for hand.

As Sade see Umaru, she turn to human.

High ponytail, black tight cloth, dey shine like man-woman.

Crocodile Lord, your person don late.

Sade eye me wickedly.

This demoness, see as she wound Crocodile Lord—now we catch am, no pity am o!

She bring out silver cutlass, point am to stab me.

The blade cold, e flash for water like lightning for rain time. I wan run, but my tail wound—I slow like say I dey swim inside wall, I dey move but I no dey go anywhere.

System remind me:

No stress, male lead don catch you for neck.

Umaru lift me for neck, then carry me enter him arm with one hand.

The other hand, e use block Sade sword.

Carry Ijeoma go Crocodile Valley first.

Sade think say dem go use me threaten merfolk king.

She nod: I hear you.

On the road—

Umaru show him black crocodile body, put me for back, use dorsal fin cover me.

E don get crocodile scale everywhere, but horn never show.

E need go Crocodile Valley, gather spiritual power, break through become full crocodile.

System dey suspect.

For the real story, male lead tie you for tail, drag you go. Why now you dey ride for him back?

I even buy you medicine wey go block your sense—how story come change? All my points don waste!

As I hear am, I feel bad for am too.

I gently drag Umaru dorsal fin.

Umaru look back.

Wetin?

I talk small:

You fit... drag me?

Umaru sharply turn face, crocodile body red, even dey stammer.

Princess, your mind... I don already know.

Voice dey low small small.

But some things, no rush.

I no understand wetin Umaru mean, I ask system.

But system no dey hear at all.

This black crocodile fierce for face, but just small swim, e don dey blush. Like woman.

Abi river water burn him claw?

Umaru look like say e burn, swim fast like say e dey run.

Fear make me hold dorsal fin tight, I hug am for chest.

Next thing, Umaru knack palm tree root straight.

System dey laugh bad.

See as river water don fry him brain.

Mist full everywhere, spirits dey whisper, and my heart dey pound—if I miss this step, wahala go land.