[You have consumed the flesh of a Red Sea Starfish. You have received 12 bio-growth points...]
[You have consumed the plated exoskeleton of a Red Sea Starfish. You have received 8 bio-growth points...]
[You have acquired the genetic DNA sequence of the Red Sea Starfish. {Lesser Regeneration}{Plated Armor}{Tube Tendrils} unlocked...]
I and the little ghost shrimp start to devour the severed limb of the red sea starfish before our very eyes. Its meat was quite brittle, and minced, slightly a bit chewy, but it tastes like dirt granules, giving off an earthy flavor. Nevertheless, I'm not the type to complain about the food, after I've spent so many hours preparing it.
The exoskeleton of the red sea starfish was quite tough and a bit hard, so only I'm allowed to eat it since I'm used to eating hard seashells. In order for the little ghost shrimp to be able to experience some meager growth, it first needs to be able to defend itself. So it needs to build up its defense by increasing the thickness of its armored exoskeleton. This is done by consuming calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate can be found in almost all crustacean and mollusks aquatical creatures. So basically anything that has a harden exoskeleton or invertebrates.
So instead I broke a piece of the red sea starfish plated exoskeleton and crushed it into tiny little bits, into swallowable size, with my mandible. I then gave it to the little ghost shrimp, so that it can ingest the tiny fragments of the calcium carbonate, and convert it into nutrients to build its shell.
[You have reached the maximum skill proficiency. The skill { Weak Bite Lv1} acquired...]
Due to me breaking down the plated armored exoskeleton, with my mandibles, into tiny little bits. I sort of learned a new skill, in the process, which helps increase the strength of my bite attacks.
'Pretty helpful if I do say so myself... wait a minute, does this count as force-feeding. Nah, I'm only breaking it down into sizeable bits and chunks, which little one could easily eat himself. Just like a mother bird, but I'm not barfing it out from my stomach, that is just gross.' I thought.
'Say how many bio-growth points have you acquired, little one?' I asked having grown rather curious.
'Just about 11 bio-growth points, boss. 9 from the red sea starfish's flesh, and 3 from the plated exoskeleton which you gave me.' The little ghost shrimp said, feeling a sense of joy, and a growing sense of attachment and trust towards me.
'Say boss!' The little ghost shrimp asked me, looking in my particular direction.
'What is it, little one?' I responded.
'Boss, thanks to the meal that you gave me. I've obtained brand new skills, it is called {Weak Armor}{Reinforced Exoskeleton}.' The little ghost shrimp said.
'Those were the skills you were supposed to have learned in the beginning, either you kill and consumed the carcass of our brethren, or eaten the scattered eggshell remains of the incubation sphere.' I responded to the little ghost shrimp's quote.
'Oh!' Having heard what I've just said, the little ghost shrimp recounted what happened just a few days ago.
It was carnage. Dead bodies and remains of our brethren and siblings littered everywhere, either partially consumed or just dumped above ground, without any proper burial. The little ghost shrimp was almost killed due to that incident, hanging on its dear life, if it didn't manage to escape before long, having sensed the incoming danger beforehand.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Though the little ghost shrimp managed to escape the carnage. It didn't escape from its hunger, having eaten nothing since its birth. It has been lying low, buried itself in the ground, afraid of being discovered.
So it has been suffering silently until the little critter met me. How miserable its life must have been. Nevertheless, it is the way of the wild. The untold truth. Only those who are brave enough to step foot onto the unknown path and face countless dangers may benefit from it all.
'Cheer up, little one! It's not something that you should need to be ashamed of. Everyone has points in time where they are weak and vulnerable. It is only through time and effort would that hole we call weakness to be closed and eventually covered. Some people would cover their weaknesses by relying on another. The same goes for the others, that is why we established independent groups and teams we could rely on.' I said, listening to my speech, the little ghost shrimp then cheered up.
He looked at me, and said, 'You're right, boss. I should trust you. You are not like the others, who rely purely on strength, not only are you strong, but you are smart as well.' The little ghost shrimp complemented, and seems to have a growing sense of admiration towards me.
'Boss, I'm quite curious. Have you bought anything from the monster system using bio-growth points yet? Like {Reinforced Mandibles}{Enlargen Tail Fin}{Camouflage Skin}.' The little ghost shrimp commented, which completely surprises me a bit.
'What do you mean, little one? What skills are those?' I turned and asked the little ghost shrimp.
'So you don't know, boss? The last time I've checked, it was quite recently, when I unlocked the monster system function after eating the red sea starfish flesh and exoskeleton. Those skills that I've said before were already unlocked, and it is part of our race, the ghost shrimps.' The little ghost shrimp commented, which further shocked me, emphasizing on the phrase 'it is part of our race, the ghost shrimps.'
'What!' I screamed, as I hurriedly opened the monster system function, searching through the unlocked mutational skill list.
[Monster Skill Store List]
{Reinforced Mandible} - 20 BGP
{Enlargen Tail Fin} - 20 BGP
{Camouflaged} - 100 BGP
{Intermediate Gastric Gland} - 240 BGP
{Mucous Gland} - 120 BGP
{Weak Exoskeleton Regeneration} - 120 BGP
{Lesser Regeneration} - 240 BGP
{Plated Exoskeleton} - 120 BGP
{Tube Tendrils} - 100 BGP
# # # # #
[Current Bio-growth points: 41]
Looking through the monster skill store list, I found the unlocked racial skills, that the little ghost shrimp was talking about, and I was immediately impressed.
'How come I didn't found this out even sooner? Well, I will eventually found out when I gather enough bio-growth points to buy the {Weak Exoskeleton Regeneration} skill.' I thought.
'Is there something the matter, boss.' The little ghost shrimp asked, slightly worried about my wellbeing since I am speaking to myself.
'No, there is nothing wrong.' I responded.
'Maybe I should spend all of the bio-growth points that I've gathered up till this point to buy the {Reinforced Mandible} and {Enlargen Tail Fin} skill. It is just a measly 40 bio-growth points, which I could easily earn back by killing all four limbs of the red sea starfish. The {Reinforced Mandible} will definitely come in handy, working well in conjunction with my {Weak Bite} skill, as I continued to level up my skill. Imagine if I could crush rocks with my mandible, it would definitely be useful.
The {Enlargen Tain Fin} will definitely come in handy, as it would improve my mobility in water, just like a fish, I could use my tail fin to propel me forward. Instead, I have to use my legs to kick the water, so that I could swim forwards.' I thought, making heads and tails, over the advantages and disadvantages of the skill.
'I would like to buy the skill {Reinforced Mandible} and {Enlargen Tail Fin}.' I said to myself, and the monster system immediately responded, as blue screen notification appeared before my retina.
[Do you wish to buy the mutational skill {Reinforced Mandible} and {Enlargen Tail Fin} from the monster system for 40 bio-growth points?]
'Yes.' I gave a short reply.
[You have purchased the mutational skill {Reinforced Mandible} and {Enlargen Tail Fin} from the monster system. 40 bio-growth points deducted...]
[You have learned the mutation skill { Reinforced Mandible Lv1}{ Enlargen Tail Fin Lv1} acquired...]
[Current bio-growth points: 1]
The moment I bought the mutational skill, I can feel a faint glow emanating from the front regions of my body, as my tiny mandibles started to grow in size, resembling sharp powerful pincers. As well as my horizontal tail fin starts to enlargen, it increased in length, giving me a boost of out maneuverability in waters.
I flapped my horizontal tail fin up and down, causing a backward thrust, which propels me forward. Steadily, as I get used to this new burst of speed.
'Congratulations, boss! You've just now become stronger!' The little ghost shrimp commented.