Chapter 4 - Predation

It's been several hours since I started eating the invisible plankton.

It seems that since I evolved it has become difficult for the LV to rise, and the amount of experience points obtained did change no matter how many times I loiter around in the light area.

Maybe this area doesn't have many plankton? Well, it's not even night … It's still kinda bright but maybe I can't collect that many in this area. Can [Luminous] be used even at night?

Ah, but the explanation says "sunlight", so it seems difficult to use moonlight … But the moon is shining because of sunlight, right? Then I think it's okay to make this skill more flexible!??

Aside from that, it's been a long time since I evolved.

What is my status now?

 

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Race: Bluefish (Guppy)

LV: 6/12

HP: 9/23

MP: 9/32

Attack power: 18

Defense: 25

Magical power: 10

Agility: 27

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Did it stop? Uuuuuhmmmm... It only increased by 3 levels .... Should I move on to find bigger prey?

It's a little inconvenient that I don't have a mirror or anything to measure my size …

If you don't know this, you won't know which ones you can eat and which ones you can't.

There is a big rock in front of me that I can hide, but if I go further, even just a little, I'll end up in the ocean. It's a river tho.

I feel that the water flow is quite fast, and I'm a little worried whether my body can withstand this water flow or not.

Besides, even if I move, I don't know where a safe place to move is.

I think it's possible to stay here and continue eating plankton, but … I want to somehow evolve one more time by tonight.

There is nothing to do and no choice but to look for prey!

Okay …then. First, let's get out of the shade of the rock and see if I can withstand the water current.

I decided to move from where I used to be and get out of the ledge.

I held my breath and made a decision. ThenI slowly showed my face.

The moment I went out to a place where there is a stream of water, I felt the sensation of being thrown.

Oooooooooooooooooooh! !! !! !! !! ?? ??

Stupid me! Remember the fish characteristics and act like one! Is there a guy who thrusts into the water stream to the side until half of his body? Isn't that stupid? Dear stupid mee aaaaa-! !! !! Nuuoooo!

I managed to get back in shape and swam towards the stream. By doing so, the water pressure received decreased and I managed to move.

Haaa- haaaa, that was bad … If I hit a waterfall like this, I would die in a second … Seems like I've been washed away …

With this flow, it seems difficult to return to the place I just started … moving on … is there any prey?

I looked around. At first glance, I couldn't find anything that looked like a living thing, but … I could find something moving in the shadow of the rock.

Looking at the place from a distance, there was a small school of fish. Their body is small and they are acting in a group of about 20 fishes. Their brown back and white bellies are impressive, and it is probably the closest to the medaka* among the fish I know.

(*Japanese rice fish)

Ooh! What's that … It's like a killifish … I found it! You have no choice but to prey on this using a [Big Eater]!

I thought about preying on the school before they noticed me.

And when I look straight, I can approach at a faster speed than I imagined, so I'm a little nervous.

So fast! I tried to move forward with just my intuition, but I'm moving forward with great momentum! If this is the case, I can easily eat that killifish! ?? I wonder what that medaka look alike is called here?

 

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-Maletanago-*

(*Tokyo bitterling fish)

They often act in groups of 10 to 20 fishes. The body is as small as 10 cm, but the soft tail fin of Maletanago is very sharp and can easily cut a person's finger.

It is a high-class ingredient, and it is said that fried fish made of maletanago is more delicious than fried fish of any fish.*

(*...…I feel that Mc's existential crisis here)

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You too! Are you also a high-class ingredient too? Is this a coincidence? I think not!!!!!

So they are tanago … I thought it was a medaka because it wasn't round …

Alright! Anyway, be my experience point Maletanago!

[Big Eater]!

Activate the Big Eater and open my mouth.

When I opened my mouth, two maletanago jumped into my mouth easily, as it seemed to have a slight suction effect. Close my mouth and prey on it, gouge on it, then chomp 'em up.

 

Nuoooooooo! Raw fish! I ate ~eeeeeeem!

Oh, but it doesn't smell fishy. I feel bad for them, but …

I mean …as a former human being, I'm reluctant to do this. Hey! It doesn't taste that good….or rather! Let me cook it first….!!

 

[You have gained experience points. LV is now 8]

 

Whoa! it's really going up!

I ate two of them at the same time … I think I can evolve again if I eat about five more! ??

Scale Yeah! Maletanago-san! Prepare yourself! Would you like to be eaten now …?

 

When I looked at Maletanago, the remaining 18 were looking at me. Everyone's mouths were agape and their bodies were shaking.

Then, something like fangs grew on their mouths, and their tail fins shined silver. A maletanago shook its tail fin towards the rock … and the rock broke.

The rock fell to the bottom of the river and raised sand clouds rolled around.

The rock was cut neatly and shined as if it had been processed by a stone cutter.

......... Strategy change. Let's go with hit and run tactics.