The Anomalocaris dismally flailed its numerous sleek swimming appendages, drifting aimlessly. The wound on its back slowly drained its already limited life force, steadily decreasing its mobility.

Once, they were the undisputed overlords of this ocean; once, they were the super predators of this planet's seas; once, all creatures were merely items on their menu.

Their massive size and hard but lightweight shells rendered attacks from smaller creatures nothing more than an itch.

Their powerful mandibles could turn the hardest shells of prey into mere tofu before them.

And with several pairs of swift, agile swimming appendages, their massive bodies could move relatively flexibly in the water, meaning no matter how fast the prey crawled on the seafloor, it could not escape their pursuit.

Predators or herbivores alike, Anomalocaris could transform them into its prey.

But that was once.

Now, all they could do was feel proud of the past.

The appearance of endoskeletons gave animals more agile bodies, larger sizes, and quicker growth; bizarre escape methods flustered Anomalocaris during hunts; and the evolution of brains became the final nail in their coffin.

Although still large, in today's ocean world, this seemed to have become synonymous with clumsiness.

If Anomalocaris were epic-quality super predators at the top of the food chain when they first appeared, now they are maybe only boss-level large predators.

Just moments ago, this Anomalocaris luckily found a snail that was even less evolved than its own species. Snails hide in their thick shells, their soft bodies showing no evolution for hundreds of millions of years, moving at a pace that clearly showcased their supreme indifference to all things. At that moment, the snail was the perfect food for Anomalocaris.

Using its formidable mandibles, it cracked the snail's hard shell, as it envisioned the tender, delicious snail meat beckoning to it. Unfortunately, Anomalocaris wasn't the only one around; another rushed in to snatch the freshly caught meal.

Even though Anomalocaris had been demoted to boss-level predators, they still faced no shortage of food. However, their large size increased their need for food, and their combative and solitary nature further burdened their hunt. The battle between two evenly matched Anomalocaris over a once-ignored piece of snail meat was inevitable.

The Anomalocaris guarding its food won, while the other left behind several severed limbs, retreating with a battered body. Whether its rival would survive the coming days wasn't something Anomalocaris cared about. After all, guarding its food had cost it long gashes on its back and damage to several swimming appendages, slowly yet surely draining its life.

Consuming the hard-earned snail meat and the severed limbs from both its enemy and itself, Anomalocaris continued seeking its next prey, the wounds on its shell leaking life-giving blood. Even though it wouldn't live much longer, Anomalocaris had no intention of waiting idly for death.

Surviving each day as it comes might be a universal truth among all creatures in nature.

Meanwhile, the Swordfish school approached slowly.

Not long ago, Swordfish had led the still-massive school away from their transformed home and swam in the opposite direction to the continental shelf lost to earthquakes in Gar's memory.

“That direction should lead closer to land,” Swordfish reasoned.

Whether the current land could support Swordfish life and reproduction, or whether Swordfish could even go ashore, were concerns Swordfish chose not to dwell on. “Let’s think about that upon reaching land.”

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

Swordfish had plenty to consider, but it all boiled down to one priority: “The survival of the school.”

Though having evolved flexible movement and decent attack power at the aquatic stage, Swordfish were still mid-tier in the food chain. Leading several hundred Swordfish, food requirements, predator defenses, and species reproduction remained crucial concerns for Swordfish.

“We must first secure our position in this stage before considering further development.”

This was Gar's perspective. To be precise, Gar preferred stability, advancing only after meeting most requirements. But Gar also wouldn't miss chances with high success rates, like the forthcoming event.

Then, the school, after traveling for a period, encountered this unfortunate Anomalocaris.

Once a super predator and a potential future planetary ruler met when their strengths were closest: who would become the ultimate predator?

※※※

With their eyes now developed, both predators could spot each other early.

Upon noticing the severely injured opponent, Swordfish quickly decided to attack and seize the food—the massive body of Anomalocaris—while aiming to extract any useful components from this exoskeletal creature. Meanwhile, the dying Anomalocaris, spotting the Swordfish school, resolved to eliminate them to gain more nutrients (the numerous Swordfish bodies) to meet its needs.

Despite its injuries, Anomalocaris, once a super predator, hadn't lost confidence.

Charging head-on, both sides formed trails of water, one large and one small.

The massive body of Anomalocaris crashed into the Swordfish school, swinging its mandibles capable of shattering shells to instantly smash several slow-reacting Swordfish into pieces and gulp them down. With a twist, it flung away several clinging Swordfish, using its sharp swimming appendages to slice others, then charged into the school again.

Leading the attack, Swordfish noticed several severe gashes on Anomalocaris’s shell—a fortress breached.

Turning with the school, Swordfish led them for another strike.

If Anomalocaris weren't injured, it might have eliminated several Swordfish and leisurely swum away with its food. But now, mortally wounded, it refused to abandon this abundant source of food, especially since it didn’t perceive the Swordfish capable of harm.

Swordfish? Merely a scare for children.

The collision repeated, but this time, the Swordfish dodged the main assault of Anomalocaris’s mandibles. Other Swordfish circled around, using the back wounds as entry points. Swordfish, with companions, thrust their long teeth, even bodies, inside the openings.

Remaining Swordfish, using their agility, dodged the powerful mandibles while disrupting Anomalocaris’s movements with electric shocks. Only occasionally did an unlucky one get cut by the swinging swimming appendages—a wound the Swordfish could soon heal, unlike Anomalocaris, unable to shed its shell, which could die from such injuries.

Realizing trouble, Anomalocaris attempted to flee. Despite nearing death, every day alive was precious. But the battle was already decided once Swordfish accessed its internal wounds.

A single Swordfish couldn’t electrify Anomalocaris enough to matter, but multiple circumvented its tough shell to discharge internally, ending the fight.

With its remaining life force quickly sapped by internal electric shocks, Anomalocaris’s faint struggles ceased, its once-mighty mandibles drooping. Its body became a feast open to the Swordfish.

[20 evolution points gained]

[New component acquired]

Inside the sinking Anomalocaris, Swordfish, using its upper jaw teeth, tore apart the flesh before swallowing, once again heard the frequently ignored system notification.

※※※

Anomalocaris’s glory days had ended. They might continue existing for some time, but unless they evolve further, nature would ultimately phase them out, reducing them to exhibits for future planetary rulers, perhaps gaining brief silver screen fame.

“Tastes not bad,” Swordfish thought, savoring the faint taste from the earlier meal.

“A shame there’s still no sense of smell.”

Full and content, Swordfish leisurely twisted its tail, exiting the now-spacious Anomalocaris shell through a vast wound. The school had stripped it clean, leaving behind only an inedible shell. With wide tails swaying behind them, the Swordfish circled Swordfish, awaiting further orders.

“Let’s continue toward land. The ocean is the past and present, not the future.” Surveying the clear, slightly bloody water, Swordfish guided the school towards the continent, set to be their future home. They left an empty shell behind, with a few scraps drifting away on the currents…

On a distant sunlit beach, a group of dark-shelled scorpions emerged from the ocean, brandishing their large pincers and powerful tails, inspecting the barren land. Droplets on their shells refracted into a spectrum under the sun.

Scattered ferns dotted the empty land.

After a brief pause, the scorpions ventured further inland.

Among these dark scorpions, a few stood out.

Their shells were silvery and nearly transparent, resembling scorpions in form, but with tail tips sharp as gems. Occasionally, arcs of electricity danced across them, sending nearby black scorpions scurrying away.

The emergence of ferns and scorpions signaled the dawn of Twin Moon Star’s terrestrial era.

Meanwhile, Swordfish continued leading the school towards the land.