Chapter 4: Dancing with voltage

The coral reef teemed with life, its vibrant ecosystem bathed in shafts of shimmering light filtering from the ocean's surface. Colorful corals grew abundantly, their intricate patterns and delicate formations forming a mesmerizing underwater tapestry. Among them, small golden fish darted through the currents, their sleek bodies shimmering like liquid sunlight. One particularly agile golden fish swam among its siblings, their tiny fins and tails flicking in harmony as they navigated the labyrinth of coral.Xena orginally had no idea how long she'd been in this world. The passage of time blurred in this aquatic environment. Due to her daily quest and the notification that she had finished it, she managed to sum up that she's only been here for three days, she had gotten a total of 9 pearl coins, however it seems like the system shop is still not open. Her siblings, who had hatched alongside her, had grown larger, their shimmering scales a testament to their development. Despite her confusion about her circumstances, Xena had adjusted somewhat to her new life, though boredom often gnawed at the edges of her sanity.The crashing of waves against the reef was a constant presence, a rhythmic white noise that Xena found neither soothing nor ignorable. Her days were an endless loop of swimming, avoiding predators, and playing with her younger siblings, who always struggled to keep up with her agility. Their parents occasionally appeared, their large golden forms radiating strength and security, but they were fleeting presences in the chaotic life of the reef.Her primary source of entertainment came from observing the endless variety of marine creatures that shared her habitat. Still, she found herself frequently pestering the system embedded within her consciousness with a litany of questions. Questions about her reincarnation, the system itself, and her place in this strange world were often met with the same cold, metallic response: "Unauthorized information."Xena was swimming idly, weaving through the coral when something caught her attention. In the distance, a small, distinctively colored fish with bright orange and white stripes darted nervously near the edge of the reef."Nemo? Is that you? ArIaNa wHat aRe yoU doiNg here?" Xena thought, a spark of excitement and amusement lighting up her otherwise monotonous day.But before she could move closer, a shadow loomed over the clownfish. Her heart froze as a long, sinuous creature emerged from the reef-a gray, serpentine eel. Its dull hue allowed it to blend almost seamlessly with the surroundings. Activating her Eye of Truth skill, the system displayed the creature's name and level in green bright color: Eel (Level 5)."Level 5? That's just one level higher than me," she thought. But relief did not come. Eels were notorious predators, their sharp teeth and electrifying attacks more than enough to spell doom for a fish like her. This one resembled the menacing moray eels she'd seen in movies, and it exuded a predatory aura that made her scales tingle with fear.The eel seemed to be toying with the clownfish, stalking it like a cat would a mouse. Xena considered leaving the scene-this wasn't her fight. But before she could retreat, the clownfish darted toward her, a blur of orange and white heading straight in her direction."Oh, for fucks sake!" she cursed internally as the eel's attention shifted, its predatory eyes locking onto her.Instinctively, Xena turned tail and swam. Her fins and tail worked furiously, propelling her through the coral reef with the desperate speed of prey evading a predator. The clownfish trailed behind her, and the eel followed them both, its body undulating like a dark ribbon of death."Ding! Sudden Quest Activated: Eel Slayer 

Objective: Defeat the Level 5 Eel to protect yourself and others in the reef.

Failure Consequences:

- Death.

- Loss of all stored EXP.

Rewards:

- EXP boost.

- Random loot drop (item or skill).

- Title: Eel Slayer (Grants combat buffs)"

As the quest activates, Xena's panic increases as she realizes her survival is now tied to completing it.

"A quest? Now?! I was already planning not to die, but thanks for the reminder, system!"

The system notification sounded in her mind while she swimming fast, she didn't have the time to look into it, too focus on her life threatening run of her life. Good thing the system notification didn't show up in her vision cause that could obscure her way.Her heart pounded as she realized she couldn't lead the eel to her siblings. Veering sharply to the left, she detoured away from their hiding place, threading through the intricate coral structures that offered some semblance of protection. The eel, relentless in its pursuit, weaved through the reef with predatory precision.Xena glanced back, the sight of the eel closing the distance sending a fresh wave of panic through her. Activating her Hydro Boost skill, she felt a surge of energy as her speed temporarily increased, allowing her to pull ahead. Narrow paths and tight spaces became her allies, as the eel's larger body struggled to navigate the complex coral maze.Despite her efforts, the eel was persistent. At one particularly narrow passage, it appeared suddenly at the other end, cutting off her escape. Its sharp teeth snapped dangerously close to her tail, forcing her to dive sharply downward. The movement was too quick, and sharp coral edges grazed her golden scales, leaving small wounds that stung painfully."I'm not dying like this!" Xena swore to herself, her mind racing as she darted through the reef. She realized she could use the terrain to her advantage. Luring the eel toward tighter spaces, she dodged and weaved, provoking it into crashing into sharp coral edges. The eel thrashed in frustration but continued its pursuit, its anger evident in the way its movements became more erratic.Her Hydro Boost began to wane, the temporary agility boost fading as exhaustion set in. Her small body was covered in scrapes, and every movement sent jolts of pain through her fins. Just as despair began to creep in, she noticed a particularly sharp piece of coral jutting out like a spear.A plan formed in her mind. Summoning the last of her strength, she accelerated toward the sharp edge, timing her movements carefully. The eel lunged after her, its jaws snapping dangerously close. At the last second, Xena darted upward, narrowly avoiding the eel's attack. The predator's momentum carried it forward, impaling its head on the sharp coral.The eel twitched violently for a few moments before going still. Xena circled back cautiously, her Eye of Truth skill confirming the change in status: the green "Eel (Level 5)" text was now red."Deserved" she muttered mentally to the eel, a mixture of relief and triumph washing over her.Activating her Devour skill, a mist-like aura enveloped the eel's lifeless body. The system chimed as the eel disintegrated into energy: "+15 EXP."Then, another notification appeared:

"Ding! Sudden quest accomplished!

- EXP boost

+50% EXP for all actions related to defeating predators for 24 hours.

- Title earned: Eel Slayer Awarded for killing and devouring an eel.

Buffs:

+5% attack power against elongated sea creatures.

Increases intimidation factor, reducing weaker predators' aggression radius by 10%.

-Electric Pulse: Releases a weak electric shockwave in a small area, stunning nearby enemies for 2 seconds.

Cooldown: 30 seconds.

MP Usage: 3"

The system followed up with another message: "Ding! Level up. 3 stat points awarded. Choose one of these skills to unlock:- Healing Current: summons a soothing underwater current that restores 20% HP over 10 seconds.

Cooldown: 1 hour.

MP usage: 3.

- Aqua Slash: Shoots a high-pressure blade of water at an enemy, dealing moderate damage.

Cooldown: 30 seconds.

MP usage: 3"

Still bleeding, exhausted, and the pain of leveling up and making her fish body grow, Xena chose Healing Current. Allocating her remaining stat points to MP, she activated the skill. A gentle, swirling current enveloped her body, soothing her wounds and knitting her damaged scales together. The relief was almost immediate, though her MP almost drained in the process.After ensuring the eel was no longer a threat, Xena swam back to her siblings' hiding place, her movements slower but purposeful. She collapsed beside them, her large form now dwarfing theirs. As she rested, she reflected on the harrowing experience. Survival in this world was brutal, but she wasn't going down without a fight.