Chapter 46: Underwater Exploration
Underwater Exploration
A male snow crab is happy these days. Born in the seas near Korea, ever since he became an adult, he's been in a constant state of ‘fullness.' As a result, he's grown to a size incomparable to his parents or any of his ancestors. He has mated numerous times with females drawn to his size. Soon, over a million eggs carrying his genes will hatch and spread throughout the world.
Many snow crabs were caught by humans before reaching this size. Fishing boats sank traps filled with pieces of anchovy, sardine, or mackerel because no crustacean could resist the stench coming from dead fish.
After enjoying a feast exchanged for their lives, these crabs ended up in steamers and on display at markets. But this male snow crab has evaded all those dangers. A large container emitting a mixture of an unpleasant metallic smell and a faint fishy odor was in front of him. Once again, the male snow crab boldly crawled into the container.
When he first found this place, it was filled with meat to eat, and even more, it was packed with competitors. As time passed and the last scrap of meat disappeared, the competitors left. However, the male snow crab knew there's a secret chamber at the bottom of this container. Reaching it was no easy task, but the reward was worth it.
After a tough journey through narrow, winding tunnels, the snow crab finally arrived at the promised chamber. The moment he entered the room, a strong smell overwhelmed his senses. It's the smell of meat and corpses. The snow crab’s small brain was flooded with ecstasy as if drugged.
Click Click—
His front claws clashed, making a sound. His eyes glistened with anticipation. The prey in front of him was large and hearty. It’d provide enough nourishment for him to breed for years.
His mouth busily moved as he tore, chewed, and tasted the soggy meat. With the small vibrations, the hat worn by the prey slipped off and slowly sank to the floor of the combat command room.