Madness string 93414

Random mermaid
The power of one man doesn't amount to much. But, however little strength I'm capable of, I'll do everything humanly possible to protect the people I love. In turn, they will protect the ones they love. It seems like the least we tiny humans can do for each other.
It's a last-ditch survival tactic. The brain expends as much energy as it can to look for any possible way of getting out of a deadly situation, which gives the impression that time is slowing down because you're thinking so much more in that one second. If it works you're left suddenly exhausted but alive; if it doesn't you're just dead.