56-Fast hunter

Nexha woke up early, grabbed his knife and net, and slipped out quietly so as not to wake Lilay and Krahs. But just as he reached the door, he heard the shark’s voice.

— Leaving without saying where you’re going?

He pouted and walked back to Krahs. Half-awake, the shark smiled at the sight.

— I’m going hunting near the Tide Mother Algae, Dad.

Krahs ran a hand over Nexha’s head.

— Are you taking everything you need?

— Yes.

Nexha checked his things again to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything.

— Aren’t you going to drink your milk?

— I’ll eat fish there, Dad.

Krahs pulled him close for a hug.

— Remember, be careful. Run if you find something you can’t fight.

— I will, Dad.

The shark let go of Nexha.

— Good luck.

— See you later, Dad!

Nexha swam off at full speed. At that moment, Krahs sighed and nudged little Lilay, who was still asleep beside him.

— Wake up, Lilay. You’re coming hunting with me too.

The sea was quiet that morning. Nexha had already caught plenty of fish for breakfast. After eating, he grabbed his net, swapped the stones at the edges to increase its weight, and swam among the Tide Mother Algae in search of his next prey.

This time, he wasn’t satisfied with ordinary fish. He wanted a real challenge—something that would make him stronger. That’s when he felt a chill down his spine. The ocean around him had become eerily silent.

The once-abundant schools of fish had vanished in an instant.

Nexha’s instincts screamed a warning, but before he could react, a massive shadow grazed past him, leaving a shallow cut on his stomach. The attack had nearly hit him head-on.

Cold sweat mixed with the salty water as Nexha turned to see a barracuda preparing for another strike.

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The predator was nearly three times Nexha’s size. Its sleek, silver body reflected what little light filtered through the water. Its yellow, hunger-filled eyes locked onto him, and then—with a sudden burst—it shot forward at terrifying speed, ready to attack again.

Nexha barely had time to dodge. He rolled to the side, feeling the razor-sharp rush of the creature’s body pass just inches from his arm. The barracuda’s jaws snapped shut on nothing but water, but the force of its strike displaced the currents, slamming Nexha against a bed of moray algae.

— Damn, is this thing a torpedo?! It’s way too fast!

Realizing he couldn’t win a speed battle, Nexha activated his ability. His scales darkened and hardened, becoming far more resistant.

— If I hesitate, I’m dead. So come at me. You’ll be my afternoon snack.

He gripped his obsidian knife tightly, trying to recall everything he had learned from hunting smaller fish. But this was different. This wasn’t prey—it was a hunter.

But this speedster had chosen the wrong opponent. Speed alone doesn’t beat a tank.

The barracuda twisted its body swiftly, muscles coiling like a spring about to snap. Nexha held his net firm in his other hand, waiting for the right moment.

The beast lunged again, jaws wide open, filled with rows of sharp teeth.

At the last second, Nexha threw the net!

The weighted stones dragged the mesh down over the barracuda’s head, slowing its momentum. But it wasn’t enough. With a violent thrash, the monster twisted its body and dragged Nexha along with the net.

The impact made his vision blur, bubbles escaping his lips as he clung on tightly. He had underestimated its strength.

It was like swimming against a raging current.

But Nexha gritted his teeth, pressing forward through the struggle. As the barracuda writhed, trying to free itself, Nexha’s fingers tightened around the handle of his black blade.

He gathered all his strength and drove the knife between the predator’s scales—right at the joint near its head.

The barracuda thrashed furiously, its tail whipping the water hard enough to stir up sand from the seafloor.

Nexha was flung backward, slamming against a submerged rock. Pain rippled through his body, but he didn’t let go of the knife.

The predator tried to lunge at him again—but something was wrong.

Its body trembled.

Its strength was fading.

Nexha realized what had happened—and a victorious grin spread across his face.

The strike had been fatal.

The barracuda finally stopped moving, sinking slowly to the ocean floor.

Nexha floated there, gasping for breath, his muscles burning from exertion. His chest rose and fell rapidly, while the predator’s blood dissolved into the water around him.

That was when the adrenaline began to fade, and the cut on his stomach started to sting.

Even so, the grin of victory never left his face.

Then, in his mind, the chime rang.

{Congratulations! You have reached Level 7! Check your status to see the changes.}

— Soon, I’ll be as strong as Krahs...

He tied a strip of seaweed over his wound and checked his status.

[CRYSTAL-SCALED MERMAID]

Name: Nexha

Age: Baby

Status: Normal

Lv: 7 | XP: 1,280/1,100

HP: 45/55 | MP: 40/40

Attack: 8 (+1) | Defense: 37 (+1)

Intelligence: 17 (+1) | Luck: 7 | Beauty: 30

— Whoa! That thing almost gave me two whole levels?! What kind of monster was this?!

Nexha turned to look at the barracuda’s lifeless body… but then, a strange chill crept down his spine.

There was something lodged inside the fish’s mouth—something he hadn’t noticed in the heat of battle.

— This…? What the hell...?