A dull hunger gnawed at Rei's stomach. It had been hours since he had last eaten—maybe even a full day. Time blurred when he was stranded at sea, adrift in a world of endless water.
He sat in the small boat, gripping the strange fish he had caught. The silver streaks along its black scales shimmered faintly, reflecting the dull light of the sky. It didn't move anymore, but its body still felt strangely firm, almost unnaturally tough.
His stomach let out a deep, painful growl.
Rei frowned, his fingers tightening around the fish.
"Food is food," he told himself.
But there was a problem.
He had no fire.
No tools.
No way to cook.
Rei exhaled slowly, staring at the fish as if willing it to somehow cook itself. But of course, nothing happened. He ran a hand through his messy hair, his frustration mounting.
"Do I really have to eat it raw?"
The thought alone made his stomach twist—but this time, not from hunger. He wasn't the type to be picky about food, but this? He had no idea what kind of fish this was. It wasn't like the ones he had seen in markets or textbooks.
But he had no other choice.
He swallowed hard and turned the fish over in his hands, searching for the softest spot. Its scales were tough—too tough. He tapped a knuckle against its side.
TAP. TAP.
It was hard. Like metal.
Rei's eye twitched.
"How the hell do I even bite this?"
He hesitated. His fingers ran along its underbelly, feeling for anything that resembled soft flesh. The stomach area seemed slightly more delicate than the rest.
"Alright… just don't think about it too much."
Gritting his teeth, he pressed the fish closer to his mouth and bit down.
CRUNCH.
A horrible, metallic bitterness spread across his tongue. It was like biting into a block of rusted iron, soaked in seawater that had been left to rot under the sun.
His throat seized up. His body rejected it instantly.
"Guh—!"
He turned to the side and vomited into the ocean. His stomach clenched violently, as if punishing him for even trying.
Panting, Rei wiped his mouth, his face twisted in disgust.
"What the hell was that?!"
His hands trembled slightly as he looked down at the fish. The tiny bite mark he had managed to make barely scratched the surface.
His stomach growled again, this time more painfully.
He squeezed his eyes shut, gripping the fish tighter.
"I don't have a choice… I have to eat it."
Even if it tasted horrible. Even if it made him sick.
Because if he didn't—he might not last another day.
Shaking off his hesitation, he forced himself to take another bite.
The moment it touched his tongue, bile rose in his throat, but he fought it down. His body screamed in protest, but he made himself chew.
Each bite was agony.
The bitter, metallic taste coated his tongue, leaving an aftertaste that made him want to scrape his mouth clean.
But he kept going.
One bite.
Then another.
Then another.
It felt like forever, but eventually, all that remained were the bones and the outer shell.
Rei slumped back against the boat, breathing heavily. His stomach was full, but his entire body felt drained. He wiped the back of his hand across his mouth, grimacing.
"That was… the worst thing I've ever eaten."
He let out a shaky sigh.
Then—
A strange dizziness washed over him.
His head spun.
His vision blurred, dark spots dancing at the edges of his sight.
A sharp pain exploded in his skull, like tiny needles piercing his brain.
"H-Huh…?"
His limbs felt heavy, his breathing suddenly ragged.
Then—
> [System Notification]
[WARNING: You have been poisoned.]
Rei's breath caught in his throat.
"Poison…?"
His heartbeat pounded against his ribs.
> [The poison from the Deep Silverfish takes effect after digestion.]
His blood ran cold.
"You're telling me… IT WAS POISONOUS FROM THE START?!"
A cold sweat ran down his forehead.
His chest tightened.
His vision darkened.
As the pain spread through his body, his mind clung to a single thought—
"What a fucking unlucky life."