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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter Five: Transformation
The itching sensation grew more intense, and Xiaqiu could no longer endure it. Slowly, she lifted herself, leaning against the cabin, rubbing gently.
Sizzle.
Xiaqiu felt the itch subside significantly, but with the friction, something began to fall away from her body.
What was it?
Xiaqiu quickly stopped her movements and looked down, but it was too dark to see clearly.
So, she swam out of the cabin and found a rock to continue rubbing against.
With each motion, scales began to shed.
Scales were falling off.
Xiaqiu halted again, staring at the scales on the ground—gray, yellowish, and brownish-yellow.
Even though she had stopped moving, the scales continued to drop slowly.
What was happening?
Shedding scales was not a good sign.
Scales served a vital purpose; they were a protective barrier for her body, preventing water loss and providing camouflage while also blocking microorganisms and infections.
Scales also reduced friction and resistance, making it difficult for enemies to catch her.
The shapes of fish scales vary widely, categorized into Shield Scales, Hard Scales, Round Scales, and Comb Scales.
His own scales were Round Scales, a type of Bone Scale.
He never expected them to fall off.
Most fish never change their scales throughout their lives; the scales grow gradually as the fish matures, forming rings of varying widths. By counting the number of these rings, one can determine the age of the fish.
Scales may fall off for various reasons; some are more prone to shedding, but most often it is due to parasites and bacteria.
Are there parasites and bacteria in his body?
A persistent itch arose, and Xiaqiu felt somewhat anxious, but he could only endure it as he returned to the cabin, cautiously waiting.
Scales continued to shed, and after about two hours, a large patch of scales covered the ground—almost half of them had fallen off.
Xiaqiu felt the mud and sand beneath him as he touched the cabin floor; his senses became sharper, accompanied by a slight pain.
This won't do.
Without the protection of his scales, his body would become vulnerable.
But at that moment, Xiaqiu felt a sharp stinging sensation on his skin. The pain was localized but felt like being pricked by needles.
Hmm?
Xiaqiu's nerves immediately tensed up. What was this pain?
The pain intensified, spreading across a larger area. It started near the tail and then radiated outward, until half of the body was engulfed in a stinging sensation.
It felt as if countless needles were piercing through, causing immense discomfort.
Was it the effect of shedding scales?
But in the next moment, the pain surged again, as if something was penetrating the skin, slowly forming beneath it.
What is this?
Xiaqiu felt a gradual covering on the surface of her body, starting from the tail and slowly creating a sense of fullness.
She quickly swam out of the cabin and onto the sandy ground, enduring the pain from the contact with the mud and sand. Then she twisted her body, bending it.
As she bent to a certain degree, Xiaqiu caught sight of what was happening near her tail.
New scales.
She was growing new scales.
Although shedding scales was relatively rare, there were indeed many fish on Earth that did so.
In the world of One Piece, it was even less surprising.
Xiaqiu observed the new scales; their shape resembled that of the shed Roundscale, but with jagged protrusions along the edges.
These were Comb scales.
Originally, I was a Roundscale, but now I have transformed into a Comb Scale.
Both Comb Scales and Roundscales are types of Bone Scales, unique to Hard-Boned Fish, but Comb Scales are more commonly found in higher fish species, such as Perciformes.
Fish with Comb Scales tend to be larger, sometimes growing over two meters long.
The transition from Roundscale to Comb Scale is notable in species like Herring, which has Roundscales as juveniles and switches to Comb Scales as adults.
My own Comb Scales have also changed in color.
They were originally light gray, with a yellow hue near the belly and a brownish-yellow near the back.
Now they are silvery white, with silver scales and white edges that shimmer beautifully.
Noticing my scales regenerating, I felt relieved.
It was just a shedding of scales.
It wasn't due to disease, parasites, or any other reason.
I sighed in relief and returned to the cabin to wait quietly; the pain seemed to have lessened considerably.
However, at that moment, hunger struck.
So soon?
I had eaten a lot this time; it should have lasted me over three hours, yet here I was feeling hungry again in less than two.
Xiaqiu had to venture out of the cabin to search for food.
Crack.
Xiaqiu swallowed two or three Shrimp. Now, when it consumed Shrimp, there was no need to spit out the head, tail, or claws; it simply crushed everything and swallowed it whole.
A school of Sandfish appeared.
Upon spotting a group of Sandfish, Xiaqiu immediately charged forward, causing the fish to scatter in all directions.
However, Xiaqiu was incredibly fast and quickly zeroed in on one Sandfish. With a single bite, its three rows of sharp teeth severed the fish, swallowing most of its body while leaving only the head behind.
Splash, splash, splash.
Xiaqiu relentlessly pursued the fleeing fish, often catching up with those that tried to escape in the opposite direction and swallowing them whole.
Before long, it had consumed more than half of the Sandfish—at least seven or eight of them.
Still not enough.
Continuing its search, Xiaqiu moved closer to the seabed in search of Shrimp and crabs.
After eating two crabs and several more Shrimp,
Xiaqiu also caught two solitary fish, filling its belly before leisurely returning to the cabin.
Its scales continued to shed, slowly giving way to new ones.
During the process of growing scales, Xiaqiu's digestion significantly improved, necessitating continued feeding.
Thus, two days passed.
All of Xiaqiu's Roundscales shed, replaced by Comb Scales. The scales became denser and tighter, shimmering with a silvery sheen.
In the process of shedding scales, Xiaqiu's form also changed, becoming rounder.
With a sudden movement, Xiaqiu approached a raised plank of the ship and swung its body, pulling back sharply.
Crack.
The plank broke cleanly, flung away by the force, yet Xiaqiu felt no pain.
The scales had become harder, and its body more resilient and powerful.
Xiaqiu sensed the changes within itself and felt a deep joy.
Becoming stronger made survival easier.
Xiaqiu did not aspire to be as powerful as the Sea Kings, but at the very least, it wanted to have the ability to protect itself.
Now, in the area near the island, there were no enemies to be found.
The fish here mostly range between twenty to thirty centimeters, with the largest ones reaching no more than fifty centimeters, which is already considered quite large.
Xiaqiu is now over a meter long, with hard scales and a tough body. Coupled with its massive Pectoral Fin, it possesses incredible speed and has three rows of sharp teeth capable of cracking crab shells.
In this sea area, Xiaqiu is an invincible presence.
However, if one ventures slightly deeper into the ocean, still within the coastal zone, one can encounter even larger fish.
Creatures over two meters long, some exceeding three meters.
The mere shadow of these giants can scare Xiaqiu back, extinguishing its desire to explore further.
Limited by water depth, they prefer to stay in areas with higher pressure and do not come here.
Yet, Xiaqiu fears none of them; it occasionally finds itself here, discovering its own strength.
So it is still not enough; it needs to continue growing larger and stronger.
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