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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter Sixteen: The Trap
In the depths of the ocean, a school of shimmering fish swam along the current, numbering in the thousands.
These fish were spindle-shaped, their bodies entirely silver, with bony spines covering the rear half of their backs and bellies, near the tail.
They had mouths through which seawater flowed in and out through their gills.
Tuna.
A species with an incredible reproductive capacity; a fifty-kilogram female can lay up to five million eggs in a year.
Their spawning period is particularly long, and they grow rapidly.
Tuna have a broad diet and are found in many oceanic regions, making them one of the most numerous types of marine fish.
They are also among the few species that thrive in the ocean without being particularly aggressive or having sharp teeth.
Upon seeing them, Xiaqiu charged forward, swimming against the current towards the school.
With a splash, Xiaqiu's arrival sent the tuna scattering. However, there were so many that a dozen or so were still swallowed whole by Xiaqiu.
These fish were consumed, and then Xiaqiu began to pursue the surrounding tuna.
With each bite, several tuna disappeared into its belly.
But the tuna were incredibly fast.
The gill muscles of the Tuna have degenerated, requiring them to keep swimming continuously to allow fresh water to flow over their gill covers and provide oxygen.
Thus, they are in constant motion, averaging between thirty to forty kilometers, with speeds reaching up to one hundred sixty kilometers at times.
In their rapid movement, the Tuna's body temperature rises above that of the surrounding water.
Moreover, their food intake is substantial, with a single meal consuming about eighteen percent of their body weight.
These Tuna accelerated towards the distance, while Xiaqiu pursued a relatively large school of fish. After devouring them, it felt utterly exhausted.
Over a hundred Tuna were more than enough.
Recently, Xiaqiu had discovered the migratory routes of the Tuna schools and had captured dozens of Tuna schools, consuming thousands of them.
Although this amount could not fully satisfy its hunger, it was sufficient for its evolution.
Clang, clang, clang.
On Xiaqiu's back and abdomen, sharp spines were beginning to grow. These spines resembled equilateral triangular shapes and were extremely hard, somewhat similar to the spines found on the dorsal and abdominal ends of some Tuna.
After consuming Tuna for the first time, Xiaqiu sensed subtle changes in its body. It attacked several more Tuna schools and noticed that it had developed spines.
These spines were highly beneficial, providing it with additional means of attack.
Currently, Xiaqiu's primary methods of attack included its teeth, headbutting horns, the hard spines on its fins, and tail strikes.
Yet it was still not enough; the fish's body and abdomen remained vulnerable areas.
If it could grow more spines, it would enhance its offensive capabilities in the abdomen.
Imagine if Xiaqiu told the moving creatures to attack other large fish, using its spikes to slice through their bodies, leaving behind wounds around them.
If there were someone like Belio, attacking the fish's belly while circling around, then Xiaqiu could also launch an attack from its own abdomen.
So, during the following time, Xiaqiu continuously preyed on Tuna.
At this moment, Xiaqiu realized that by consuming certain sea fish, it could grow corresponding organs.
This was a rather advantageous method.
This way, it could selectively attack certain sea fish.
However, it was still too little and too weak.
Xiaqiu was not satisfied with the current size of its spines, so it planned to continue hunting and wait for the next school of Tuna.
Xiaqiu slowly swam towards the distance, starting to catch other sea fish.
Now, Xiaqiu had reached a length of eighteen meters and weighed nearly fifty tons.
Such a size made it a colossal creature.
Its appearance had not changed much since it was fifteen meters long.
The horns on its head had grown larger, and its body had become more resilient.
Xiaqiu was very cautious, gradually venturing deeper into the ocean, ensuring it could capture enough food.
Thus, within its reach, there were basically no enemies.
Occasionally, there were a few sea fish over twenty meters long, but they were no match for Xiaqiu.
After consuming humans, Xiaqiu's physique had become incredibly strong. Among creatures of the same size, Xiaqiu possessed overwhelming combat power.
Yet it was still not enough; its strength remained too weak.
It needed to continue growing stronger.
As Xiaqiu pondered this, it suddenly sensed a peculiar scent in the seawater.
What is that?
Upon catching a whiff of the aroma, Xiaqiu felt an insatiable hunger stirring within, an intense desire to feed.
What could it be?
Xiaqiu thought as it looked into the distance, realizing the scent was coming from that direction.
This smell...
Xiaqiu's appetite surged, overwhelming its ability to control its desires.
I should go take a look.
With that thought, Xiaqiu swayed its body and swam toward the source of the scent.
...
"Colonel Lido, that sea fish is quite intelligent. I wonder if we can lure it over."
On the Naval Battleship, Krumay gazed at the deep ocean, where countless fish swarmed around, colliding with the surrounding waters, creating a rhythmic sound even against the hull of the ship.
"This capturing agent is specially designed for sea fish. Whether it's ordinary fish or Sea Beasts, even the Sea Kings will be drawn here," he explained.
Beside Krumay stood a robust man dressed in Navy Uniform. "As long as it's nearby, we can lure it in. When the time comes, I'll take it down myself."
"With Colonel Lido on the job, this sea fish is no cause for concern," Krumay replied quickly.
The sturdy man was Colonel Lido. He smiled lightly and said, "Krumay, if we succeed in killing it, I will let you take all the credit."
"If we are successful, it will also be your achievement, Colonel Lido. I wouldn't dare claim it for myself," Krumay insisted.
Lido waved his hand dismissively. "The credit will be yours. This sea fish has already been classified as a threatening Sea Beast level. Killing it will be enough for your promotion to Lieutenant Colonel."
Although Xiaqiu was still just a sea fish and not yet a Sea Beast, it possessed immense growth potential and posed a significant threat.
In just a month and a half, it had grown from seven meters to fifteen meters in length.
It had also killed Colonel Belial and threatened the safety of the village.
Upon receiving this information, Lido reported it up the chain of command, embellishing the details somewhat, while the villagers described their fears for their own safety.
As a result, the Navy's Eastern Sea Division classified this sea fish as a target for elimination and categorized it as a Sea Beast.
Eliminating it would resolve a major trouble and earn them significant military merit.
Currently, Krumay held the rank of Major but had already accumulated a considerable amount of military achievements.
Half a month ago, he had defeated the Porcupine Pirates, killing the Pirate Crew leader, Moor, which was quite an achievement.
However, such an accomplishment was still not enough for him to be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
But if he could kill another Sea Beast, it would likely secure his promotion.
Krumay felt a surge of excitement upon hearing this and quickly replied, "Colonel Lido, my current strength is still weak; I fear I may not be sufficient..."
"Strength is not important."
Colonel Lido interrupted Krumay, giving him a glance and smiling as he said, "What matters most is that you can get things done, that you can work for me."
"I will do my utmost to fulfill my duties, remain loyal to you, and obey your commands."
Upon hearing this, Krumay immediately responded.
"Very good."
Colonel Lido nodded, clearly pleased with Krumay's words. What he wanted was Krumay's loyalty.
Lido was willing to help Krumay not out of greed for the credit of Krumay's defeat of the Porcupine Pirates but because he recognized Krumay's strong ability to get things done.
Belio was dead, yet the collection of security fees at Branch Base had encountered no trouble at all.
On the contrary, several villages praised Krumay, and even his sailors spoke highly of him.
Not only that, but after defeating the Porcupine Pirates, he had brought back their Pirate Ship, repaired it, and sold it for a substantial profit.
Additionally, the treasure plundered by the Pirate Crew was also returned to the base, with Lido himself acquiring a significant portion.
He was a competent subordinate, and his responsibilities had already warranted the rank of a Lieutenant Colonel. With Belio's death, Base 154 also needed a Lieutenant Colonel.
As for whether his promotion would pose a threat to him...
His skills were lacking; he had fought against him before and found him to be no match, barely at the level of a Major.
The one who could kill five million Bounty was Moor, likely due to the heinous acts committed by the Porcupine Pirates. However, his own strength was not particularly high, as he had relied on the capabilities of the Battleship.
With Krum's abilities, he was utterly incapable of handling the dangers faced by Branch Base 154.
In the face of such an absolute disparity in strength, Lido did not care about his promotion.
Lido thought as he looked towards the Water Surface, waiting for that sea fish to arrive.
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