With my bait in hand, I searched for a large, nearby rock. One that would be big enough to not go unnoticed by the beasts, and one that would give me cover, give me area to maneuver around, in case this hunt turned into a battle. I really hoped it wouldn’t come to that, though—I’m not sure how well I’d fare against an armored, massive seahorse. One that towers over our own calvary. And I’m not sure I care to find out.

I smeared a splooge of the paste onto the smooth surface of a rock outcropping, then swiftly kicked my tail and took cover behind a towering piece of coral only a short distance away. The water was still. Unmoving. Eerily so. The only sound that met my ears was the soft hum of the ocean currents, the faint swishing of kelp above me. For a long, few moments, nothing happened.

But then, the water around the bait began to ripple.

A shrouded figure emerged from the depths, massive and slow-moving. I could make out the silhouette of the creature, and it was just as the drawings in Shea’s scrolls had described: a seahorse-like beast, easily the size of three mermen, with a long, armored body and fins that flared out like wings. Its eyes fixated on the bait, its nostrils flaring with each deep inhale of its aroma.

It swam closer, its movements graceful and full of purpose. I held my breath, not daring to scare it, only moving to thwart away some small fish that attempted to encroach on the beast and the object of its desires. It circled the rock once, twice, even thrice, then lowered its head to investigate the smear. The scent was sweet and irresistible, even to myself, though to a much less intense degree. And I could tell from the way the creature was breathing, the way its muscles relaxed, the incapacitating agent was taking effect.

This was my moment.

Summoning every ounce of courage, I offered a quick prayer of luck to the Immortal Tentacle God—and whatever remnants of Shea’s lifeforce still circled around me—then swam toward the seahorse. Its eyes drooped, drowsy, but still dangerous. One wrong move, and it could lash out with its tail or charge with its spiked snout. Plus, I had to be careful of its natural shield. Where even were its soft spots located? Perhaps I should’ve investigated a bit more before swimming in.

Too late.

As I neared the beast, I sucked in a sharp and worrisome breath, before plunging my knife into its back.

[Warning: Critical Hit Failed]

[Beast: Seahorse Titan - HP 99%]

Wrong move.

Immediately, the water exploded around me. The seahorse creature bucked wildly, its armored body twisting and contorting in a frenzied fury. Its spiked tail whipped through currents with the force of a tidal wave, barely missing my head as I darted—fell—to the side, toppling into the sharpness of the corals.

[HP -10]

[Current HP: 90/100]

Thanks for the update.

How do I silence these stupid notifications, anyway? All they’re good for are distractions. Stressful distractions.

The creature's eyes locked onto me, dark and furious, as it reared back, its snout aiming to impale me. I shot upward, only just avoiding the jagged spike as it tore into the seabed, ripping up the sand, shells and miscellaneous crab like it was grass. Though its moves were lethal, they were noticeably slow. The sheer fact I was able to dodge at all was miracle enough, and a good reminder of the bait’s effects, which would probably wear off very soon. I darted in close, my blade flashing as I aimed for the soft flesh beneath its armored plating.

Once more, my knife barely nicked it in the sides. It was like slicing a wet and bouncy rock. I now see why the weapon of choice among soldiers is a trident, and I now see why studying your opponent before fighting is very… worthwhile. Hitting the armored areas did no damage, and hitting the unarmored areas did minimal damage. Where did the weak spots exist? It had to be the fins.

[Warning: Critical Hit Failed]

[Beast: Seahorse Titan - HP 98%]

Mid-revelation, the beast lashed out, slamming me with its tail. Hard.

“Ugh!” I couldn’t help but cry out. What the hell was this thing? A battering ram?

The impact sent me careening backward and into the rocky outcrop, my ribs hitting the hard surface with a nauseating thud. Pain shot through my torso, and bubbles erupted from my mouth in a choking fit. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t get anything down into my gills. No matter how hard I tried, it seemed my airway didn’t want to open.

[HP -30]

[Current HP: 60/100]

Dammit! Just stay focused! Just… Just breathe!

With a hard swallow and a breath through my nose, I finally regained control, though there was an uncomfortable onslaught of dizziness. The beast charged again, but this time I was prepared. I had to be, or I’d surely be skewered. With a splash to the side, narrowly avoiding another devastating blow from its lethal snout, I sliced along the vulnerable joints of its fins—the last place I had not yet struck. The creature roared, its massive body shuddering, momentarily sent into a shock.

[Critical Hit! Weak Spot Found: Fin]

[Beast: Seahorse Titan - HP 60%]

This was my opening.

With a swift motion, I used my blade to sever the creature’s main fin. The beast now had no way of moving, no way of attacking, other than rearing its ugly snout at me. As it struggled to control its bulk, I slashed again, severing the final, primary fin.

It wasn’t dead. But I couldn’t waste time. I had to get to work before whatever other larger creatures that lived here smelled blood—smelled food.

Rapidly, I pressed and carved my knife through the thick, rubbery hide with a diligence I did not know I had. It was… strangely exhilarating. Both the hunt and the butchering. Perhaps I should’ve joined my father on all his expeditions instead of lazing around.

[Beast: Seahorse Titan - HP 0%]

[You have defeated the Seahorse Titan! XP Gained.]

Eventually, I sheathed my blade, breathless but victorious. With a flick of my wrist, I stored the marbled flesh in my inventory, feeling a familiar hum beneath my skin—the system recognizing my efforts. A notification flashed before me.

[Skill Level Up: Herbalism Level II]

[Special Skill Level Up: Crafting Level II]

[Level Up: You are now Level 4]

Oh, would you look at that. Firth Ridire has Leveled Up. Big time. My chest puffed out, and I wiped the blood and sinew from my hands, thinking of all the possibilities this sweet, satisfying ping of progress brought alongside it. I had completely forgotten I had been at Level Three. My skill tree was open, a glowing web of abilities branching out in every direction, all at my disposal. So many paths, so many options, all because I had taken the initiative.

Maybe this is just how life is always going to be. I’m just going to keep doing stuff, keep getting rewards, keep getting a dopamine rush each time I master a Level—and, of course, really be someone in Ariel’s unit.

Eagerly, I swam back to the camp, navigating myself through the murky waters, attempting to remember which way was north, and which was south. Polaris was unfortunately shrouded from view, and I couldn’t quite make out the sky.

Sigh.

Was it this way? Or that way.

Did I pass that rock before? That kelp?

What about this cave–

DING!

[New Side Quest: Locate the Leviathan of Shell Grotto.] 

[Objective: Locate and Slay the Leviathan.]

[Reward: XP, Doubled Mana Reserves, Nereid’s Salvation, Special Skill Potential.]

What the?

I immediately turned on my tail, making a beeline for whichever path was opposite this one. Clearly, this was not the way. And clearly, my level was not high enough to be here. But maybe I’d remember this for another day, when I’m stronger, more important, and a magician, at that.

A Leviathan…

Catching and slaying one of those would gain me not only the rewards of the quest, but the Marine Defender Insignia as well. Which brought along a certain respect I was unaccustomed to.

My inner deliberations would have to wait, though. After what felt like hours of aimless wading, I had finally arrived back at the platoon, watching as skeptical soldiers eyed me without greeting, clearly expecting the worst.

Ha! Keep expecting.

I dumped the bounty before them, and watched their disapproval vanish with a smug raise of my brows. Ariel stepped forward, his head tilted and his brows knit together in focus. He knelt by the pile, inspecting it with, in my opinion, an overly critical eye. After a long, needlessly tense and drawn out moment, he straightened up, then clapped me on the shoulder.

“Huh. You did it,” he said, his voice filled with something close to approval.

“I told you I could,” I replied, attempting to play it cool despite the searing hot rush of adrenaline that coursed through me at his words.

Ariel nodded slowly, scanning me from head to tail. “Perhaps I underestimated you. Slightly. But…” he began to circle me, his hands behind his back, his eyes fixated on me. “You still are an incredibly low-rank for your age. Out of shape, and embarrassing. Your current reputation is that of an… empathetic braveheart, and your looks match the descriptor.”

Oh. Oh, come on. Please don’t tell me this was all some elaborate ruse to get me to hunt for him, only to kick me out of the army once more.

“But I don’t necessarily mind that. Not if you want to improve, want to be better. And someone who clings to their dying platoon leader, protecting his body—protecting him—isn’t always a bad thing.” Ariel continued, much to my delight. “If I were in Shea’s position—which I would never be—I would’ve been thankful my soldiers cared that deeply for me. So…”

[New Side Quest: Hunt the Outer Reefs Beasts — COMPLETED!] 

[Rewards Gained: +100 Rations, Invitation to Join Ariel’s Platoon, Poaching Skill.]

Ah! Hey! Look at that, I’m back in! And he gave me the poaching skill.

Ariel could see my grin, and he matched it with a much wryer, much drier one of his own.

“Welcome aboard, Firth Ridire. Today is the first day of the rest of your life.”