"Then, the prey is... you."

Staring at a cluster of pale yellow, slightly spotted... let's call them spotted crocodiles, moving along the riverbank with their broad tails, accompanied by their companions in a slow procession.

"I've found the prey," he continued, "but... can someone tell me why hundreds of these creatures are gathered here?"

The riverbanks were crowded with innumerable spotted crocodiles, while those too tired or uninterested in competing for land swam leisurely in the water, seemingly enjoying themselves.

"So many legs," he mused. Indeed, in this water, there didn’t seem to be anything that could threaten such a large group of spotted crocodiles, allowing them to wander carefreely. This was the sight that greeted the lone horn fish as they rounded a small corner, moving from their previous ambush spot into this section of the river.

However, the sudden appearance of countless legs overhead when they turned the corner nearly scared the lone horn fish to death.

"Even if I wanted legs, the system is a bit too generous," he thought, speechless, as he carefully navigated the school of fish around the periphery. "What is this, some kind of family gathering?" (Clearly forgetting that his own species often did the same.)

"Why are they going onto the land?" Curiosity piqued again, the lone horn fish found himself wary of such impulses. Yet, "without curiosity, there is no progress," he mused, even if it was said about humans.

So, cautiously, he allowed the fish school to feed at a less frequented corner, thinking he himself could swim ahead to investigate the situation.

Parting from the school, the lone horn fish glided along the riverbank towards the cluster of crocodiles, his fins and tail moving silently. As he drew closer, he rounded a rock, poised to glimpse the situation on land.

Then...

A sudden burst of electricity flashed from the water behind him, catching the attention of the hundreds of spotted crocodiles, all of which turned simultaneously towards the disturbance.

[20 Evolution Points Gained]

[New Component Acquired]

This sound was only audible to the lone horn fish, but he couldn't shake the feeling that those hundreds of eyes, if they had ears, heard it too.

"Damn it, who did you guys kill back there to cause such a commotion?"

Being stared at by hundreds of large predators felt unnerving, even more so than when he was watched by his own kind and subordinates. It made his skin crawl.

"Didn't I tell you to be careful? Why unleash such a strong current?" He scolded the lone horn fish in the background. Meanwhile, the spotted crocodiles seemed to wait for something, focusing their eyes on the water where the electric flash had occurred.

"Good thing they’re not all looking at me, or I might have been petrified by their gaze."

A shadow gradually surfaced from the water—a tragic spotted crocodile floating belly-up, its hind leg twitching slightly from the electric shock, and several holes smoldering on its body, evidence of the lone horn fish's attack. A few carefree creatures were still tearing at the flesh around the holes.

The glimmering horn of the lone horn fish, still sparking faintly, shone brilliantly in the sunlight.

"Damn it, stop eating, retreat quickly!" With a flip of his body, the lone horn fish turned and darted back to the school, bringing a few reluctant fish along, still yearning for the discarded meat, as they swiftly swam back to the area where the dragonfish had roamed.

"I have no confidence in taking on hundreds of boss-level creatures," he thought. Earning 20 evolution points from this crocodile marked it as a boss-level being. "These creatures took down a boss-level spotted crocodile so easily—could it be my poor command or their strong capabilities?"

Looking back at the loyal fish following him despite their reluctance to leave the feast, he thought, "The crazy part is only one of them died from a torn belly just now."

"Well, it's good to have minimal casualties. In any battle, there will be losses," he reassured himself, finding it hard to accept the death of his gradually evolving species. "Perhaps leading from the front isn't suited for me."

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

However, the fish school slowly came to a stop—not due to newfound confidence or resignation, but because the anticipated crocodile pursuit didn’t happen.

"At least I can unite the species and lead them toward civilization."

The expected chase never materialized; only one crocodile seemed interested in bullying the weak, and that one was swiftly eliminated when the lone horn fish turned and let his fish handle it. The lone horn fish didn't even need to lift a fin.

Without direct guidance, the lone horn fish relied on their agility and teamwork, dodging the crocodile's jaws and utilizing side attacks to embed their horns into it. Then, almost simultaneously, they released electric shocks, finishing the lone pursuer with ease.

"......"

Watching the jubilant fish feast on their prey, the lone horn fish reflected, "They've grown up..."

"Wait, why does this sound like parents watching their children get married?"

"Their attack methods, mobility, skeletal structure, and unity are all cultivated by me," he mused, gazing warmly at the dozens of lone horn fish. "So I am their primary consciousness, like an elder to them."

※※※

"So, 8051..."

[Yes?]

"It's like I've nurtured them step by step, pouring my heart and soul into their growth. Whether good or bad, it's my achievement."

"That's the joy of nurturing."

[You've said similar things repeatedly since you arrived. Haven't you said enough? 8051 is pleased with your affection for your race but finds your rambling tiresome.]

"Well, you only really understand once you've experienced it," the cotton-candy-like consciousness wobbled. Previously an irregular blob, it had begun to take on the faint outline of a fish.

Subtle yet unmistakable.

"It seems my consciousness is also evolving to align with my species," Gal thought with mild reflection. "It implies I'm gradually accepting myself as I am now. Human memories becoming the past, perhaps."

[Indeed. How do you feel about that?] 8051 inquired curiously.

"Well, past, present, future... Fixating on the past for too long isn't healthy for any creature."

"Thus, my goal remains the boundless stars and sea."

[Hehe.]

"Huh, 8051, there was a strange laugh."

[What strange laugh? You must be hallucinating,] 8051 quickly corrected.

"Okay, but when I first arrived in this world, I identified absolutely as human. Why, then, was my consciousness just formless? And now, with a hint of recognition, it begins to resemble my species?"

[Cough, that’s because your conscious strength was weak when you first arrived in this world, incapable of maintaining a defined shape.]

"So, why can it now?"

[Because your species' numbers have reached a certain level, they are now feeding back consciousness and spirit to you. Didn't you notice your perception radius expanding before?]

"Now that you mention it, maybe it did, possibly, perhaps expand a bit, but it's still too little."

[Don't be ungrateful,] 8051 admonished, although mostly because the principal consciousness was unaware of the full situation.

[For the principal consciousness, mental perception is indeed a scale.]

"A scale?"

[Yes, for instance, initially, your total consciousness was 100, controlling 10,000 units of spirit.]

"Okay."

[Initially, your body could withstand 1 unit of consciousness, controlling 10 units of spirit. Since your kin couldn’t produce consciousness, part of the remaining 99 consciousness was allocated to them, while their numbers grew. As your body evolved, your tolerance for consciousness and distributed consciousness increased, thus expanding your mental perception, the total of 100 continuously decreasing. Eventually, the sum of your bodily-tolerated consciousness and distributed consciousness equaled 100, stopping perception growth.]

"Seems my perception range did stop growing before."

[Then, if your kin couldn’t produce independent consciousness, they’d draw from your consciousness to satisfy those needs as their numbers continued to rise. During this time, your mental perception would decrease.]

"I feel a chill. Why's there such a sensation here?"

[Heh, beast instinct perhaps?]

"What beast..."

[Indeed, if your kin never evolve their consciousness, your body will eventually become an ordinary individual, and the principal consciousness will cease to exist,] 8051 explained coldly.

"That's a tragic bad end. Good thing I don't have that problem, right? You said my perception range increased."

[Indeed, but why did it react so quickly this time?]

"......"

[If your species reaches a point where they start independently developing consciousness, even a sliver means they no longer need substantial consciousness from you. As their numbers grow, they begin to give back to your consciousness. The conscious entities influenced by your guidance become inclined towards you, creating a bond, albeit not direct control, but convenient and effective nonetheless.]

"Wait, does that mean the lone horn fish have begun to develop independent consciousness, and regardless of what race I evolve into, due to my conscious guidance, they and future species will have this affinity for me?"

[Yes, this means your species’ relationship with others won't just be predation and prey but will start developing socially. Although effective communication is still required,] 8051 elaborated thoughtfully.

"Isn't that great? My species won’t be as lonely anymore."

[Indeed, but let's return to the main topic,] 8051 felt the conversation had drifted.

[Your enhanced consciousness is due to the kin’s consciousness reaching a level that allows them to give back to you, however minuscule. For instance, if one lone horn fish consciousness is 1, they’d return 1/1000th to you. With tens of thousands of them, your consciousness rises.]

[Congratulations,] 8051 announced cheerfully, [your consciousness can now form unstable shapes.]

"Thanks, so my consciousness and spirit will grow stronger."

[Not entirely. If your species declines in number or loses consciousness, you’d stop ascending or even decrease. But don’t worry, 8051 has faith in you,] 8051 encouraged, unsure if it was sincere.

"..."

"Alright, I'll be cautious."

"They've grown, my lone horn fish."