Chapter 5: The golden Predator
The coral reef shimmered with vibrant hues, a kaleidoscope of colors that danced in the gentle sway of the current. Tiny golden fish darted to and fro, their glistening scales catching the light as they moved in playful synchrony. It was a lively, picturesque scene, but amidst the bustling reef, one creature stood out: a large golden fish, starkly contrasting her smaller siblings.Xena floated quietly, observing the smaller golden fish around her. She was much larger now, her growth spurred on by her recent leveling. The changes in her size and appearance were undeniable, and the small golden fish couldn't hide their confusion. Though they couldn't speak, she could sense their bewilderment through subtle movements and their curious glances.Their unspoken question hung in the water: Why does our big sister keep growing so fast?Xena chuckled internally. "It's a good thing they're kind of dumb" she mused. They didn't dwell on their confusion for long. Soon enough, they resumed their playful antics, darting around her in carefree circles. Despite her growing size, they still treated her the same. It was comforting in its own way.But Xena had little time to enjoy their company. After her harrowing encounter with the eel, she had sought refuge here to recuperate. The battle had been brutal, leaving her both physically and mentally shaken. She had narrowly escaped death, and the experience had forced her to confront a harsh truth about her new existence: the ocean was unforgiving, and survival required constant vigilance.She took a deep breath, steadying her nerves. Her body still ached from the fight, but she knew she couldn't afford to rest for long. Her mind wandered back to the system reward she had received after slaying the eel. Choosing her next skill had been a difficult decision. Ultimately, she had opted for Healing Current, reasoning that having a healing skill could be a lifesaver. The thought of relying solely on her one-time-use healing bubble was too risky. "What if I never get another healing skill option?" she had reasoned.Her decision made, Xena focused on the task at hand. The system had granted her a 50% EXP boost for the next 24 hours, and every second counted. She couldn't waste this opportunity. Swimming out from her hiding spot, she resolved to find suitable prey."System window," she called out, her thoughts immediately manifesting the translucent screen in her vision.Name: Xena
Level: 5
EXP: 37/50
Species: Fish
Gender: Female
HP: 90/100
MP: 2/6
Agility: 6
Strength: 4
Intelligence: 8
Charm: 10
Skills: Devour, Eye of Truth, Hydro Boost, Electric Pulse, Healing Current
Titles: Eel Slayer
Remaining Stats: 0
Pearl Coins: 9
Examining her stats, Xena frowned. She only had 2 MP left, which meant she could use her Devour skill four more times before she ran out. Each use of the skill required 0.5 MP, and with her limited reserves, she needed to be strategic."I need to find creatures that are large but not too strong, ones that give a significant amount of EXP," she muttered. "I can't afford to waste MP on weaker targets."A twinge of regret gnawed at her as she reviewed her stats. She wished she had prioritized MP when allocating her points earlier. But regret wouldn't change the past. Shaking her head, she pushed those thoughts aside. "Focus on the present" she reminded herself. "The past is done. Dwelling on it won't do me any good."Xena cautiously swam through the reef, her golden eyes scanning the vibrant seascape for potential prey. The corals and rocks that once seemed intimidating now felt familiar. Schools of fish darted around her, some indifferent, others casting curious glances in her direction.She could easily devour some of these smaller fish, but she dismissed the thought. "I need to save my MP for larger targets," she mused with a wry smile. "There are bigger fish in the sea, after all."The system "..." it's host is really mentally retarder. The system rolled its nonexistent eyes at her joke.Her search eventually led her to an unusual sight. Nestled beneath a cluster of rocks were two enormous starfish. Their vibrant hues were slightly muted by the sediment, but their sheer size was unmistakable. Each one spanned nearly three feet in diameter, their rough, bumpy skin glistening with a slimy mucus.Xena's eyes gleamed as she activated Eye of Truth, her skill revealing their stats."Large Starfish: Level 4EXP Drop: 13"
"They're perfect," Xena whispered. These creatures were slow-moving, defenseless, and incapable of evasion. They were practically begging to be devoured. Although she was a bit surprised by the additional information provided by her skill eye of truth, it seems like it upgraded due to her constant use.Carefully, she approached the nearest starfish, her movements slow and deliberate to avoid startling it. When she was close enough for her Devour skill to activate, a mist-like energy surrounded the starfish. Its life force was drained in an instant, and a notification appeared before her eyes."+20 EXP""Ding! Level up. 3 stat points awarded. Choose a skill to unlock:
- Aqua Slash: Shoots a high-pressure blade of water at an enemy, dealing moderate damage. (MP Cost: 3, Cooldown: 30 seconds)
- Coral Camouflage: Blends into the environment when near coral or rocks, reducing the chance of being detected. (Passive Skill)
The large golden fish's body trembled as it levels up, her body growing larger and her bones feels like it's being broken and then repaired every second. As the pain subdue, she had the chance to carefully look at the system window. level 4 drops 13 exp then with the +50exp boost that she was awarded it would 13 + (13 × 0.5) = 13 + 6.5 = 19.5 EXP. The system had rounded up her EXP gain, generously awarding her the full 20 points. "You're surprisingly kind," she remarked to the system."You're welcome, host," the metallic voice replied, startling her. She winced. The system's ability to read her thoughts was unsettling.Shaking off the unease, she quickly allocated her 3 stat points to MP, bringing her reserves to 9 MP however she only has 4 usable MP since it hasn't even been a day, her full XP can't recharge yet. She then turned her attention to the second starfish. It had begun to move away, but its sluggish pace made escape impossible."Sorry," Xena murmured as she activated Devour once more. The starfish's life force was drained, and another notification appeared."+20 EXP""Ding! Level up. 3 stat points awarded. Since the host didn't choose, the skill aqua slash and coral camouflage is automatically chosen by the system"
Xena felt a twinge of guilt. Preying on such defenseless creatures felt wrong, but survival was her priority. In the unforgiving depths of the ocean, only the strong survived. And if she didn't eat, she would eventually become someone else's prey. She snap out of her feelings when she heard the system notification and processed it "system you can't just automatically pick for me, can't you see I'm busy devouring here?" She said with twinge of annoyance but her scammer system just ignored her complaints.Satisfied with her progress, Xena swam deeper into the reef, her golden scales glinting like a beacon. There was still time left on her EXP boost, and she intended to make the most of it.