Page 98 of Galactic Sentinels: Vol. 1
Before either of us can react, the abyssal giant erupts from the water and swallows Noviosk and his craft in a single, monstrous gulp.
We freeze, stunned—then scramble for the SIL.
“SILMAR, it’s me—Pherebos, ID two-one-five. Get us out of here, now!” I bark.
“Hello, Pherebos. We’ll depart as soon as the ramp is secured,” she replies calmly.
Seconds later, I feel the SIL lift—just a gentle upward motion, but enough to put us out of reach of that thing. I can finally breathe.
Exhausted, my body gives out. I slide down the wall and collapse onto the floor. I’ve burned through every last reserve just to make it here. I’m about to black out.
With one final breath, I give my last order.
“SILMAR… follow any instructions Ileana gives you.”
And with that, everything fades...
Chapter 26.
Ileana.
I’m shaking like a leaf.
I was already on edge after seeing that sea monster rise behind Pherebos just as he reached the flat islet. That’s why I rushed to pull him out of the water.
Then, moments later, we were in the crosshairs of the terrifying Noviosk—ready to obliterate us if we dared to reach the SIL.
And then… I watched that same Srebat get swallowed whole, along with his vehicle, by the creature.
As the SIL’s access hatch slowly closes, I can’t stop trembling.
I was so scared.
“SILMAR, follow all of Ileana’s instructions,” Pherebos tells the ship’s AI, his voice unsteady.
Wait—what? No!
I watch in horror as my beautiful Asgarnian collapses onto the cabin floor.
“Pherebos!” I cry, rushing to his side.
It’s no surprise—he picked up more of those yellow leeches during the crossing. He’s unconscious. His pulse is erratic, and his chest and shoulders are a mess.He’s wheezing too—probably reacting to whatever toxins those things secrete.
I strip off his clothes and grab the magic pen, the one that kills the parasites. One by one, I burn them off. The stench fills the cabin as they drop to the floor, twitching.
Wingo, who’s just arrived and spots the pile of yellow creatures, raises an eyebrow.
“Oh, nice,”he says casually.“You brought me snacks?”
“I wouldn’t recommend them, though,” I mutter, still shaken. “They’re pretty tough to digest. They’re the reason Pherebos got hurt!”
“Yuck! I’m not that hungry after all,”Wingo sighs, sounding almost apologetic.
“You got that right. Wingo, can you help me move him? He’s unconscious, as you can see.”
“Ileana, I think he can wait a few more minutes. The priority is to talk to Akifumi. Pherebos told me the traitor was on Vagantu.”
I hesitate. My instinct is to take care of Pherebos—my beautiful, unconscious Asgarnian. But Wingo’s right. Her mission, and maybe the fate of others like me, could depend on this.
