Week 1:
-- -- --
Hey hey, Mari here with a weekly report~
My hunt on the [Lance Sharks] is moving along nicely, too nicely if I'm honest. Killing every single one of their scouts may turned out a mistake. Of course, it's very tempting to just plunge in on them, but the last few days I noticed they started to guess something´s up. They´re wary now.
As unfortunate as it sounds, I probably need to reel myself in a bit. I don't think they will entirely stop sending out scouts even if I were to continue like this, but I already noticed some... unbecoming changes for me.
First, they won't swim out alone anymore. They always go in parties of at least 5 now, that's too risky to fight. For now, that is. I could probably take on a few of them at a time now, but I'll be hardly pressed if they can occupy me long enough until help arrives. The last thing I want is to flee for my life again...
I wonder if it'll be easier to escape now with my high level and improved [Skills]? Not that I want to find out. And either way, I don't want them to know who they're up against. I know [Lance Sharks] are vengeful and cunning bastards, with those sorts of groups caution and patience is key... I think?
What do you mean I can take myself as reference? Screw you!
Anyway, better safe than sorry. I will take my time with this, there's nowhere to hurry, and nowhere for me to be. Revenge should be served slowly and on a cold plate. Why not enjoy their suffering for a bit longer?
Week 2:
-- -- --
And another week says goodbye, I didn't even notice it swim by.
The plan of lowering their guards again is in good progress. By my observation, the [Lance Sharks] send out parties to scout the area for four times a day in more or less regular intervals. I let them be for the first few days, which led them to decrease the number of scouts to a single fish again, back to how it was. I guess although they are fish, swimming around for long periods of time is an inconvenience. How stupid. I don't really get it, but – some way or another – it appears they dash around for a short time to catch their game and then barely move.
Anyway, leaving them be when they're right in front of my eyes leaves a bad aftertaste in my mouth – or no aftertaste at all, to be exact. I had planned to leave them be until the end of this week, but don´t blame me I begun my hunt again a few days ago. It´s their fault for being so tempting, swinging those big juicy fins around.
Still, I can´t get too greedy now. For now, only attacking one of the four per day will have to suffice. The fish don't appear too happy with losing members regularly, especially not knowing to what, but it seems this is an acceptable rate of 'scouts-successfully-returning' for them to not change anything in their methods.
Today, I plan to take out two of them and see how they will react. I probably won't be able to go any higher than that or they will increase security again, but with this their numbers should start dwindling fairly soon.
It´s only a matter of time, and I have enough of that resource.
Week 3:
-- -- --
I'm becoming really hungry lately, only two meals a day suck ass.
Well, that's not fully true – Aside from the few slugs I find between corral riffs every now and then, I've been snacking on worms for a while now, but it'd be too optimistic to call them a meal. Slimy, no Life Force whatsoever, and disgusting to boot. I tried eating them with my second mouth that´s more capable of taste, turns out that was stupid. I almost puked. Didn´t even know I could do that. Honestly, I find it incredible how those [Deep Tuna] survive on that shit.
Ahhh... What would I give for some [Deep Tunas] now...
It´s so bad I´ll probably cancel my plans of revenge if this ought to go on. No, let´s be real here that´s out of question. But... Should I take a break watching over [Lance Sharks] for a few days maybe? They won´t go anywhere, and I could improve my strength and some [Skills] in the meantime.
Hmm, it sounds good at first but on the other hand I´m not too sure about that. We haven't been moving much, but we still swam a considerable distance in the past few weeks. I don't even know where they're headed, but that doesn't matter. What matters ist that in all this time, I haven't encountered any other [Lance Shark] schools whatsoever. The more time passes, the more the thought roots that I was lucky stumbling upon this group so soon after I crawled out of that abyss.
If I leave them now, only god knows how long I'll have to search to find them again.
What to do... I guess I should distract- Err, focus on improving some important [Skills] for now; [Poison Resistance] is leveling good, and I'm almost a fifth done with [Concoct Poison], I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited to finally unlock it.
I'll still keep leaving the [Lance Sharks] temporarily in the back of my smarts, maybe I´ll have a good idea how to best do it later.
Though I'd kill for some [Deep Tuna]... especially the next scout I see.
Week 4:
-- -- --
I´ve realized something funny. Not only funny, this could be a chance to find the [Lance Shark] school again were I to leave them for a bit. Finally!
Uhh, I mean, It's not like the thought of [Deep Tunas] have been giving me sleepless nights or anything, okay?
Anyways, I have taken the closer inspection of our surroundings a little bit more serious the past few days and look how it already bore fruit: Apparently, the fish most likely designate a location as their territory, and then circle it for the rest of their lives.
This is ridiculous!
No wonder they know exactly where and when to send their scouts. This also explains why they´re able to survive in such a dangerous place; They know the places to avoid and when big guys will most likely appear, or pass. I don´t know, they probably feel it in the currents, or by pure instinct. In their fins maybe. Point is that they make it work somehow.
Circling one place for the rest of their lives... sounds pitiful. Though, have I been doing the same until now?
They´d probably be a big fan of Merry-go-arounds.
Huh? What´s a Merry-go-around anyway?
Well, I´m glad I realized their eternal circle was even a thing. Let´s admit it, guess I was desperate. The confirmation to my theory was this unnerving feeling that surfaced in my stomach at one time, reminding me of the ´Danger Zone´ where I went on a nice date-meal with Sir Leviathan. Apparently, it actually was the same place, because the school and I had to flee from the [Ancient Marauder Megalodon] soon after we came close to its territory. Thank god it doesn´t take much interest in small fry like us.
All in all, the result is awesome, so I´ll let it at that. Now that I know where I can find the [Lance Shark] school even if I were to leave it for a few days, I can do so no problem.
NOT! If only it were that easy...
Even though I know now they´ll be coming back to this place, it´s no use if I can´t find my way back here were I to leave. I don´t have the slightest clue anymore how I swam here the first time, everything looks more or less the same in deep waters.
Well, not everything everything. There are some incredibly small differences in stones and small riffs. But, well, no, that´s pretty unrealistic. Though I could leave a marking or something behind. I have just about the perfect tool for that, no? [Ink Spray]? It did say the [Skill] got some upgrades too, maybe I´ll be able to leave Marks on some larger stones in the area? Like signs, that point me in the right direction. Signposts.
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
I can also try and stick some left-over bones in the riffs? Can´t say the current won´t wash them away though, it can get pretty strong in certain areas. Maybe do both and hope at least one survives?
Oh, here comes my next meal! How long did I ramble for them to be here already? Usually my head would´ve started hurting by now or something. Well, guess I´ll indulge my fans with some extra content this week, lucky you~
Week 5:
-- -- --
I did it! I finally did it! I can´t believe [Ink Spray] actually won´t wear off anymore after hitting Level 40.
I was getting pretty desperate here, nothing seemed to work until this. The ink wouldn´t stick, the bones drifted away and I memorizing the place was impossible no matter how hard I tried.
That aside, I realized in the last few days that the area we are swimming around in isn´t as big as I initially thought. Or at least isn´t that big, it´s still a good chunk to swim to complete a round, but I´d guess we take about four days per cycle. If I were to go at it at full speed, it would probably take me half the time.
Honestly, taking that into account, the typical [Lance Shark]-life seems fairly sad. It´s so incredibly limited, they don´t get to see anything of the world, not that I´m in any position to say that... but if everything goes well, I´ll soon be! I´m so jealous of future me.
Now that I think about it, they wouldn´t even know what a [Deep Tuna] is. All I have seen them hunt were the same big guys.
I assume they specialized, evolved their features to a single type of prey over time. Sure, I know first-hand their poison is lethal, but maybe even more so against [Acro Whales]? It´s been bugging me from the beginning how I was able to survive that but those giants weren´t. Or maybe I´m just awesome, who knows.
Hm? Oh, [Acro Whale´s] the name of the big guys I always see the [Lance Sharks] hunting. Probably figured that already didn´t you? Maybe should´ve checked on their names earlier, on the other hand, eh, whatever.
Way more importantly, I´m all ready to take some days off. Overseeing the school is hard work, you know? They´re a group of kids after all. Not really, but cut me some slack will you? I´m off to vacation and all I have to remember is to leave ink-marks on the way. Not really worried about that.
Well, I guess I´ll give these guys some time to recover too. Take these days graciously, because once I´m back, your numbers will dwindle faster than ever.
On that note, their numbers did get considerably lower these past weeks. I can´t believe I did all this. Well, yes, I absolutely can though, I´ve been taking them out on a daily basis after all.
[Deep Tunas], you haven´t done anything wrong, but I'm coming for you anyway!
Week 6:
-- -- --
A never ending All-you-can-eat-buffet of world-class delicacy. What a dream! Paradise! Oh how I missed eating to my hearts content, this is truly the meaning behind living life to its fullest
It took me less time than I worried it would to find the [Deep Tunas] again. Once I stumbled upon one of them, there followed many more. These fish really are the best. Easy game, tasty, and there´s an endless supply. I´m surprised they´re still around for how perfect of a prey they are. Where do they keep coming from anyway? To be honest, I couldn´t care less if they end up in my stomach at the end of the day.
I can´t even begin to describe how amazingly delicious they are.
I´ll try anyways, just for you. I don´t care if you find that boring just shut up and listen. You see, the fish has parts that taste really good, and some less so. Say the head and tail, meh, could be better. But the center, the back and stomach? Oh boy, that´s some crazy stuff.
Personally, I would rank the red meat from its back in third place. Yes, it is full of flavor – I swear it´s called Umami or something – and still absolutely spreading the freshness of the sea across every inch of your mouth, I have to give it that. But! The stomach? The soft and white slice that melts on your tongue? Can anything even hold a candle to that? No way! The meat to the tail´s side still has some red meat intertwining with the fatty white, but the part near the head is purely the good stuff. It´s glistening so beautifully in the water, I love to stare at it before eating, it´s almost hypnotizing. Then, I just press it up against my tongue, there's no need to do anything else. Heaven.
Everything I´ve said about hating how my body changed? Yeah, screw that. If there´s a god who watches from above, heck I don´t care if you´re the devil, I´m deeply grateful for giving me this second mouth that is able of so much taste. This is seriously the best.
I think I´ll stay here for a bit longer, because my levels went up nicely ever since too. Although I´m not increasing my resistance to poison much, swimming faster and making my grip stronger can´t possibly be that bad. The [Lance Sharks] won´t go anywhere anyways. Be grateful to the [Deep Tunas] for every second longer you're allowed to live.
Now, were was I again? Ah yes, eating... and that too. How nice, what bliss.
Week 9:
-- -- --
Uhm, you see, I can explain. It was a... yes! I was testing how much Life-Essence I could absorb daily and measuring fluctuations! There´s no way I lost myself and spent way more time here than I initially planned!
What? No don´t ´Sure´ me! I´m telling the truth here!
Fine, jokes aside, I did manage to find out something interesting: First of all, I had the leeway... Uhh, needed time to figure out how much [Mana] all my [Skills] cost. No ´cost´ is a bit off, how much they consume hits closer.
For example [Camouflage] only needs an ´activation fee´, after that it doesn´t drain another single point of my [Mana]. [Ink Spray] on the other hand takes [Mana] according to the amount created, which can quickly amass to a lot, in exchange I can use it any time I want.
Not to say all that´s not intuitive anyway, because it is, but nothing beats exact numbers. I wouldn´t be able to calculate before a fight for example.
But that aside, there´s something way more important I found out: Around once a week, I can apparently eat an extraordinary amount in one sitting.
I'm fairly sure I couldn't do this before – and since the Leviathan incident I didn't have the opportunity to eat a whole lot anyways – so first I thought I was just especially hungry every now and then. But after gobbling up fish after fish after fish after fish after fish after fish... to the point I didn´t even know myself where all that [Deep Tuna] went, I knew there was more to it.
I have done some math – which was a huge pain by the way because it interrupted my sweet time – and figured it usually takes around 100 Life-Essence to fill me up. Then I wait a few hours for digestion to do its job, it's fairly simple. But with this uhm, [Skill] or something I assume? I don´t exactly know what it is, but with it active, I can take in 6 to 7 times the amount.
This was somewhat by chance too, but I noticed the number is fairly close to the ´Total Power´ on my [Status].
I was more or less lost in thoughts, then got a level and saw my total power exceed 700. A happy accident, some may call it.
I plan to keep an eye on how this will develop. Though even if my assumption of it being connected to my ´Total Power´ turns out wrong, alone the fact that my body is able of this...
What should I call it anyway? Feast? No [Feast] maybe? Yeah, [Feast] sounds good, why not.
-- -- --
Congratulations! You have obtained a new-
[Redacted]
Uhh? Okay?
Anyways, alone that my body is able of a [Feast] once a week is invaluable information. I surely don´t have to say how good it feels to have this much Life-Essence rushing through your body at once, do I?
Well, still, slowly but surely I guess I need to return to the extermination site. The [Lance Sharks] had enough of a break time... as had I. It´s tough leaving all this behind, but there surely is even better finds out there. The world is big, right? Besides, with all the Life-Essence I gained, the hunt should go a lot easier now:
[Mari - ♀️ (Female)]
Ancient Cephalopod (?) -- Level 58 / Ꝏ (Next Level: 501 / 580)
Mana: 514/514
(Maximum Mana-Pool: Undefined)
[Humanoid Pursuit] -- 89 / 100 %
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[Total Power]: 711
Composite → Physical: 367 / Magical: 344
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[Skills]
[Camouflage], [Quick Dash], [Ink Spray], [[Life-Essence Administrator]], [Life-Essence Plunderer], [Fast Swimming] Level 57 (478 / 580), [Strong Grip] LV 13 (872 / 1400), [Poison Resistance] Level 26 (243 / 270), [[Circuit Awakening]]
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[Slots]
1: [Concoct Poison] (3759 / 10000)
2: [Empty]
3: [Empty]
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I really made progress ever since. Tentacle, pat my shoulder, I deserve that much.
...
Dang I´m way too lonely, huh? Can´t say I hate this way of life, but something´s surely missing.
Haaa, where was I? Right, now that I look at it again, maybe I should stay one or two more days to reach level 60. [Strong Grip] would gain a level too.
Tempting...
Week 10:
-- -- --
So I reached Level 60 and the next upgrade for [Strong Grip] before making my way back.
Leaving the infinite food-source behind was more difficult than I thought. Initially, that is. Once I began swimming, it became easier with each stroke of my tentacles, probably because my mind didn't have the leeway to be preoccupied with useless thoughts any longer; There was a much more pressing matter, no matter how long I searched, I couldn't find any markings I've left on the riffs and stones.
I remember there was this bad feeling in my guts fairly early into the 'search for the way back', but I convinced myself for the longest of times that I'd soon find something. It took me a while to accept that my markings probably faded and the bones were washed away.
Haaa, I know I checked on their durability, and they had no problem holding a few days, but a few weeks seems a different story.
I was enjoying my time so much, I can't believe I neglected this so badly.
Well, there's no use in complaining, it will probably take a bit longer than I wanted it to, but I will eventually find my way back.
Is what I thought optimistically back then...
Well let me tell you now, this is all in the past. I did find my way to the Danger Zone eventually, but it took me 4 whole days of aimless and incredibly exhausting roaming at full speed. All that and I still haven't encountered the [Lance Shark] school. I swear if I missed them by an hour or two...
I really want to sigh right now. And eat, and sleep and relax maybe too.
But, of course, I can't do any of that. Firstly, I'm in the danger zone. And secondly, I need to watch out for when the [Lance Sharks] will swim by. It would be a pain if I were to miss them because I was sleeping. They may even attack me if I'm not careful. Hell, everything that's close to the danger zone will probably attack me if I´m not careful.
Now that I think about it, a few days are really nothing, but why do they have to feel like an eternity when they're no fun?
I sure wish time wouldn't be such a jerk...
Week 22:
-- -- --
Their numbers may still be the same, but their ranks are in disarray. Their reproduction rate has increased drastically to negate losses, but because of that there are almost no veteran fighters left anymore. They´re weakened, and even more so ignorant.
Enough playing games, let´s get down to business.