Then just as he is a couple of feet from the surface…
Everything goes black.
Until…
GASP
Finally, a sweet, sweet breath of fresh air.
Huff, Huff. That was close. Kyle thinks to himself tiredly after the fight of his life, but before he can orient himself and try to figure out his next move, a couple of things happened at the same time. First, his vision became convoluted with notifications and second, the carcass of the emperor perch that he had previously slain floated to the surface nearly giving Kyle a heart attack from fear of there being a second one seeking revenge.
Realizing that it's the same one he killed after it rolled onto its side and stopped moving, and even more importantly, the fact that the sea monster's body is buoyant he decides to climb on top of it in order to finally get out of the water.
Huff, Huff. Still hyperventilating after that scare, Kyle lays down on his back trying to catch his breath after getting 'on board' of the emperor perch.
What in the actual fuck Kyle thinks to himself after recalling the ridiculous situation that he's found himself in. Welp… It is what it is. I guess this is my life now…
Kai's heart pounded like a drum in his chest as he lay atop the giant red Emperor Perch fish, the waves lapping at his legs. The scales of the fish were slick and cold beneath him, a stark contrast to the warmth of his own body. He'd never felt so alive, not since the day he first stepped into the ocean's embrace. The salty air filled his lungs as he took deep, ragged breaths, trying to calm the adrenaline coursing through his veins. His eyes searched the horizon, not for rescue, but for the next challenge.
The sun painted the sky with strokes of orange and pink, casting a warm glow across the water. It was a gentle reminder of the world that existed beyond this solitary moment. Yet, here he was, floating on the vast sea with only his thoughts and the weight of his recent victory to keep him company. The fish's glassy eye stared back at him, a silent witness to the battle they'd just endured. Kai felt a strange kinship with the creature; it too had once been a force to be reckoned with in this alien world.
A soft splash drew his attention to a pod of dolphins playing in the distance, their sleek forms weaving in and out of the water's surface. They seemed so carefree, a stark contrast to the gravity of his situation. But Kai knew better than to be fooled by appearances. This was a world where the strong survived and the weak were forgotten. The dolphins, like him, had to fight their battles too.
His eyes drifted shut, and the rhythm of the waves lulled him into a semi-conscious state. Memories of his old life began to surface, like flotsam from a forgotten shipwreck. He saw the faces of his family, his friends, and the land that had been his home for seventeen years. It was a life that felt so distant now, a mere echo in the vast expanse of this new reality. How did he end up here? What twist of fate had brought him to this place where the rules of life had been rewritten?
The taste of saltwater filled his mouth as a rogue wave slapped him awake. The fish beneath him shifted, a grim reminder of his new reality. Kai wiped his eyes and took stock of his situation. The fish was a prize beyond his wildest dreams, but it was also a heavy burden. He needed to find a way to get back to shore before nightfall, or he would become part of the sea's endless buffet. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the journey ahead.
The horizon grew darker, and the stars began to peek out one by one, like shy guests at a masquerade ball. Kai knew that the sea held many secrets, and he had only just begun to unravel them. As he started to paddle, the weight of his past slipped away, replaced by the thrill of the unknown. This was his new world now, and he was ready to conquer it.
This is going to be… awesome He continues thinking to himself remembering when he was little and dreaming of living during the Age of Sail. This is even better than I dreamed about, because this new world has magic.
Still laying on his back, he uses this chance of respite to look at his status and his logs.
[Mission Complete: Survive]
[Rewarded 1000 Exp; Foundational Spear Arts]
[Congratulations you have leveled up]
[You have received 4 free attribute points]
[Congratulations You have leveled up]
[You have Received 4 free attribute points]
[Hidden Mission Complete: Thrive]
[You must not only survive the encounter with the Emperor Perch, you must slay it too, showing that you are not only capable of surviving in this new and dangerous world, but thriving in it]
[Reward: Beast Companion Egg]
Description: This egg contains your Beast companion. Once it hatches, the creature will be your soul bound Beast who will help you continue to thrive in this life.
[Beast companion egg has been stored in your]
"This just keeps getting better and better" Kyle says out loud. He then tries out something that he hasn't done yet due to the unusual circumstances that he 'woke up' in.
"System, why was I reincarnated?"
[Replying to Host, everyone gets reincarnated. As to why you came into this world, the system is not at liberty to say.]
"It actually worked!" Kyle exclaims, happy to just be able to get some answers. "System what Kind of beast is in the egg?"
[Replying to host, you will find out once it hatches]
Kind of a dick move but oh well, it is what it is. Kyle thinks to himself. Deciding to hold off on more questions until he is somewhere safe and not standing on a dead sea monster in the middle of only God kno-… Goddess knows where.
"System, add four points to strength two points to agility and two points to vitality" he says out loud. He knows he doesn't have to speak out loud and can just say it in his mind for the same result, but it kind of makes him feel like he has someone to talk to as he is starting to feel, figuratively and literally, lonely in an unfamiliar world. He was all alone after his grandfather passed and he is all alone again.
Immediately after the points were added to his previous attributes, a sudden surge of power coursed throughout his body revitalizing him. With his newfound power, he now feels as if he is just as strong and healthy as he was in his past life and also, even a little bit faster. Now that he is no longer in the water, he can also see his body which is no longer frail and malnourished but has instead filled out nicely. At his own best guess, he probably standing around six feet tall maybe even 6'1", with defined abs and toned muscles.
Taking a quick glance at his status that reads:
[Status]
Name: Kyle
Age: 17
Rank: Ensign 3
Exp Points: 400/1000
Str: 10
Agi: 13
Vit: 11
Charisma: 10
Free Points: 0
With a surge of determination and his newfound strength, he began to examine the giant red perch more closely. Its body was massive, almost too large for one person to handle alone. But Kai's eyes fell upon the fish's pectoral fin, a broad and sturdy structure that could serve a new purpose. He knew that the night was not his ally, and he had to find a way to harness the power of the wind and waves to get back to shore.
Using the sharp end of a piece of driftwood, he carefully sliced through the tough tissue that connected the fin to the fish's body. It was a gruesome task, but necessary for his survival. The fin came free with a wet tear, and he laid it out on the fish's back, feeling the firmness and resilience beneath his fingers. He had an idea, a desperate gamble that could either lead him to safety or doom him to a watery grave.
Kai took the rope that was his makeshift belt, it had held up his threadbare britches; now, it would serve a different purpose. He attached one end to the fin's base and the other to the tail of the fish, creating a makeshift mast and sail. The wind picked up, and the fin fluttered in the breeze. He positioned himself at the tail, using his body weight to steer the unwieldy vessel towards the distant silhouette of land.
The sea was vast, but Kai felt a strange sense of control as the wind filled his improvised sail. The giant red perch, now a lifeboat of sorts, glided over the waves with surprising grace. The dolphins from earlier had vanished into the twilight, but he could still feel their spirits urging him on. He was no longer just a boy lost at sea; he was a sailor navigating the mysteries of a new world.
"At the very least, I am finally under way again"