Derek’s mind raced as he assessed the dire situation unfolding before him. The sheer number of Razorfin fish congregated ahead was staggering—their sleek, menacing forms moving in unison beneath the water's surface, creating a shimmering, deadly tapestry of scales and fins. The collective aura of predatory intent emanating from the school was palpable, sending a chill down his spine despite the warmth of the surrounding water. Or maybe he was imagining it all. It did not matter.

One Razorfin, he could handle. Two, maybe, if luck was on his side and he played his cards right. But an entire school? That was suicide.

"Nope. Not today," Derek muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible even to himself.

The only logical option was to flee and to do so as quietly and inconspicuously as possible. Any sudden movement or disturbance could draw the attention of the entire school, turning him into an easy meal within moments.

Taking a slow, measured breath, Derek began to inch backward, his movements deliberate and controlled. He kept his body streamlined, minimizing resistance and reducing the chance of creating ripples that could alert the Razorfin to his presence. Every muscle in his body was tense, coiled and ready to react at the slightest hint of danger.

He carefully shifted his gaze, scanning his surroundings for any possible escape routes or hiding spots. The vast expanse of water stretched endlessly in all directions, offering little in terms of cover or concealment. The only advantage he had was distance and the hope that the school was preoccupied with something else—or simply hadn't noticed him yet.

"Just keep moving, nice and easy."

As he slowly retreated, Derek's senses were on high alert. He strained to pick up any changes in the water's flow, any shifts in light or movement that might indicate he had been spotted. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoing loudly in his ears.

Several agonizingly slow moments passed without incident, and Derek allowed himself a glimmer of hope. Perhaps he could slip away unnoticed after all.

But fate, it seemed, had other plans.

A sudden disturbance rippled through the water behind him—a subtle but unmistakable shift that sent a jolt of fear through Derek's body. He halted instantly, muscles tensing as he tried to discern the source of the disturbance without making any sudden movements.

Slowly turning his head, he caught sight of a lone Razorfin breaking away from the main group, its sleek form cutting through the water with elegant grace. Derek's heart sank as he realized that its trajectory was angled directly toward him. The fish had either sensed him or in the best-case scenario was simply seconds away from sensing him.

"Damn it," he cursed silently, weighing his options with lightning speed. Fighting one Razorfin was within his capabilities, but any commotion could easily draw the attention of the rest. No, he needed to run. Fleeing was the only answer.

Throwing caution to the wind, Derek kicked off the water with as much force as he could muster, abandoning all attempts at stealth. The time for subtlety had passed. His only hope now was to put as much distance as possible between himself and the approaching Razorfin before it could alert the rest of the school.

The water parted around him as he swam with desperate speed, his arms slicing through the liquid with practiced efficiency. Every muscle in his body burned with exertion, but he pushed the pain aside, focusing only on survival.

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Derek didn’t dare look back. He knew that any hesitation, any glance over his shoulder, could slow him down just enough to spell his doom. Instead, he kept his eyes forward and swam as fast as he could. A familiar feeling welled up in his heart, the feeling of using every ounce of strength in his body to propel himself forward in the water. Except this time he was racing for his life.

Every stroke, every kick, was executed with precision born from years of training, muscle memory taking over as his body worked in perfect harmony with the water. The familiar rhythm of swimming, once a source of joy and achievement, was now his only lifeline.

The water rushed past his ears, muting the sounds of the Razorfin pursuing him, but Derek could sense its presence. The subtle changes in water pressure, the vibrations of something large and deadly closing in, fueled his desperation. He could almost feel the razor-sharp teeth snapping at his heels.

“Faster,” Derek urged himself, his breath coming in sharp, controlled bursts. He dug deep, summoning every ounce of strength left in his body. The muscles in his arms and legs screamed in protest, but he ignored the pain. Pain was a luxury he couldn’t afford right now.

The world around him blurred as he pushed harder, faster, his body a streamlined missile cutting through the water. He was gaining speed, but he knew it wouldn’t be enough. He needed more and his improved body responded to his will. Squeezing more juice out of his legs, his speed increased some more.

He dumped all three of his stored stat points into agility and

The increased muscle power, the quicker reflexes, the heightened stamina—working in concert to drive him forward with an intensity he had never experienced before. It was almost as if he had become water itself as he pushed forward.

[Ding! Swimming - lvl 3 > Swimming - lvl 4]

[Ding! You have gained experience points]

[Ding! You have learned a new skill Wave Shift]

[Wave Shift: Allows you to merge with the natural flow of water, significantly enhancing speed and maneuverability]

Derek’s body trembled as the new skill, Wave Shift, took hold of him. He could feel the water around him change, almost as if it recognized him as one of its own. The currents seemed to welcome him, offering their strength to propel him forward with even greater speed and agility.

His body seemed to meld with the water, becoming one with the fluid environment. The resistance he had been fighting against vanished, and he surged forward with a velocity that left even the Razorfin in the dust.

It was an exhilarating sensation as if the water itself had become an extension of his will. He twisted and turned effortlessly, navigating through the ocean with a grace and speed that defied logic. He could no longer feel anything behind his back.

He continued speeding away, and the distance between him and the Razorfin grew rapidly. The once-imminent threat faded into the background as Derek slipped further and further away, leaving the school of Razorfin behind.

He felt giddy with happiness and power. The feeling of the connection with water was addictive. He wanted more of it. A lot more of it. The world around him became a tunnel of blue, the water rushing past in a symphony of motion. He was unstoppable—or so he thought.

Suddenly, his forward momentum was brought to a jarring halt as he slammed into something solid. The impact was so unexpected, so forceful, that it sent shockwaves of pain through his entire body. The breath was knocked out of him, and he felt his vision blur as his mind struggled to process what had just happened.

Stunned, Derek’s trance-like state shattered. He blinked, disoriented, as he tried to make sense of the world around him. With a great effort, Derek lifted his head to see what he had collided with, and his heart nearly stopped. Looming before him was a beautiful woman, no she was half-woman and half-fish.

Mermaid? Yes, mermaid. Why shouldn’t they exist when everything else in the fantasy world was turning into his reality? Maybe finally his luck was turning for the better. Maybe he would find food, shelter, and some answers with the merpeople.

As he stared into those kind eyes, Derek’s strength ebbed away, his willpower-fueled drive replaced by an all-encompassing exhaustion. His vision darkened at the edges, the world around him fading into an indistinct blur. He tried to move, to do anything, but his limbs were too heavy, too weak.

The last thing Derek saw before he lost consciousness was the pair of kind eyes moving toward him. The water around him seemed to grow colder, the weight of his exhaustion pulling him down into darkness.

Suddenly, the eyes that he was staring into morphed. They were not kind at all. They were cruel and monstrous with a face that matched the profile.

And then, everything went black.