Chapter 174: The Merfolk (1)
In the beginning, there was something that had always existed—until the ancient force on the surface faded and the barrier dividing the world disappeared. It stepped out into the open at last, tasting freedom for the first time. And it was stunned by what it found.
What is this place?
The realm it came from was shrouded in darkness and biting cold. Food was always uncertain—sometimes one could snatch a meal, other times one might freeze to death if one let one's guard down. Survival among its own kind was a daily struggle, and the odds of making it through another day were always slim.
But the world outside was bright and warm. There was prey everywhere, and the temperature was so high it almost felt unreal. It was an astonishing place.
And then, it was struck by a second revelation.
What are these weak creatures?
All the life outside seemed unbearably fragile. Where it came from, there was no real prey—only competitors, other predators as dangerous as itself, ready to devour any who slipped up for even a moment.
But here, everything was prey—soft, yielding, easy to catch. All it had to do was reach out, and the creatures would burst open, spilling their insides everywhere. When it brought one to its mouth, the flesh was sweet, the taste rich and unfamiliar. It was, by far, the best thing it had ever eaten.
Only then did it realize just how feeble this outside world truly was—how laughably weak, compared to where it had come from. A surge of delight rushed through it. Overjoyed by the destruction of the world’s old restrictions, it gorged itself on the bounty of this new land. The helpless prey thrashed and struggled, but it made no difference—they had no chance.
What a fragile world this was.
What delicious prey filled it.
It felt as though it had become a king. Triumphant, it reveled in its newfound freedom. Across the vast continent, a creature once locked away had finally been unleashed.