I'm a Stingray?

Chapter 77: Recovery

Although eating that starfish helped to successfully complete task 6, it didn't really satisfy hunger enough for energy to be yielded out of it.

So after observing this little opening here, the boy managed to spot a small tunnel in the middle of this place's left walls. The tunnel was half his size so imagining just how small this spot was, shouldn't exactly be a problem.

Desperate enough to give it a try, the young man swam towards that tunnel and began squeezing in it. When it comes to holes half his size, it would be difficult to go in it but not impossible.

Crawling through it, the little sea pancake felt like an assassin. Snug spots tend to give out such a feeling, it was fair to say that he enjoyed every moment of it.

After just a meter, this snug tunnel led to what appeared to be an opening although way smaller than the main one. Just a foot wide to be exact, so this would be a good hiding spot for any animal who could actually fit in.

Although it took a few seconds to observe his surroundings better here, after moving away from the tunnel, light was allowed to breach in this small place.

That as an aid, he could spot a couple of marine animals that he did not want to see again. To which he couldn't help shouting, "God, again!? I hate starfishes!"

Their purple colour was unmistakable, well at least one of them was purple. The other carried a light shade of pink as a colour, although identical in shape to the other starfish.

Feeling a bit uneasy with these different colours, he decided to ask the system. "Are these the same starfish? I don't want to eat anything that can kill me."

[Yes they are the same, these species tend to have 3 main colours but at the end of the day are all the same and provide the same effects.]

[Would you like a reminder of what effects these starfish can bring?]

"No no, they bring 5 health points and that's all I need to know." Tim answered as a chill captivated his spine after seeing one of the 11 arms move around.

Lunging forward, that magnificent barb swung as if a helicopter's wings and landed more than a few hits on these easy kills. It was fair to say that he did not want to see them move and killing them quickly would be the way to go.

After munching through them, Timmy asked for specific statistics and the system did not fail to provide.

[Health = 76/100]

[Total system points = 38]

[Hunger bar = 4/15]

Although a hunch happy about the health bar, he instantly focused on what's not right. "This hunger thing is really slowing me down."

But one thing he managed to notice right a few seconds after was how at ease his body began to feel. Through a day of travelling he could feel the entire body feeling partially numb and a slight pain remained on his fin.

By time he came to get used of such a minor pain but feeling it go away now made the young one realise that he had been tolerating a bit too much.

That's the moment he heard his system interrupt what could have been another self lecture regarding why things happen.

[Guest is in a state good enough to start with task 7.]

[Task = find and kill a clam.]

"Really? That's easy, I killed a clam before." One would easily assume that this dumb stingray wouldn't be able to remember such a small memory between over a hundred kills...

But this memory was directly linked with Alba, the same girl he had a fancy for so in all ways it made sense for him to remember this kill.

Although at the same time it pushed him in a bit of sadness, joy remained once recalling where clams can be found.

[Small clams are preferable because the task will give just an additional point, regardless if the kill gives you more than that.]

[System recommends to proceed with this task when you have eaten enough fish, otherwise it would just be playing stupid.]

Understanding when this task has a great chance of being executed, Tim answered. "Okay. I'll look for them soon as we get back to the hidden den."

...

Soon as the young one got out of the tunnel, something rather unusual didn't fail to capture his entire attention. Stacey had come back to the spot where they were all supposed to gather up, but yet she got back too early.

That however would be a problem pale in comparison when he looked at what the lady was fighting... a group of 3 clownfish.

Although this lady was a bit bigger than the stingray, she still struggled fighting off these smaller enemies but yet didn't fail to deliver damage to a single one of them.

Considering her 17 rows of strong dependable teeth, she began devouring one of the clownfish, one bite after the other and actually managed to split the enemy in half!

After having a good laugh, knowing that these enemies can't be dangerous enough to kill this lady, Tim charged straight forward in battle and swam underneath one of the fish.

With his barb pointed forwards and curled, he managed to puncture through the tail of this enemy which left behind a wound strong enough to have the system announce. [Clownfish killed, 1 system point had been given to you as a reward.]

Seeing this as nothing, the young man just made a turn and swooped towards the only remaining enemy whom was hanging on to Stacey with a bite.

Sinking his jaws right on the clownfish's tail, Timmy pulled the enemy behind. His jaws managed to cut through flesh and bone easily, considering the jaws being level 3.

That's when the system announced again, [Clownfish killed, 1 system point had been given to you as a reward.]

[Total system points = 40]

"Thank you." He heard Stacey speak out, her tone signified a bit of exhaust. This good blue lipped lady might not be the best for battle, this situation showed it.

Knowing that everyone else is hungry, Tim decided to only take one of these clownfish and cited. "You're welcome. Eat one and leave the other for Osira."

"What about the stingrays?" The parrotfish asked, genuinely thinking for everyone.

"I'm sure they can find food for their selves." The blue dotted hunter answered and took a bite off the fish.

After finishing it off, he heard the system announcing. [Health bar = 77/100]

[Hunger bar = 5/15]

Happier than earlier, he listed out a brief plan. "Oh now it's getting better, I just need to eat something bigger now."