Cold.
Dark.
Weightless.
El-Mond's consciousness snapped
awake inside a world of endless blue-black shadows.
What… is going on?
What is this?
His thoughts rippled then panic surged.
"I didn't die… but became a
DAMN! A FISH!?"
He thrashed violently, his massive body
cutting through the water in wild,
uncontrolled arcs.
"Is this reincarnation!? WHAT KIND OF NONSENSE IS THIS!?"
The memory of his unfair death
burned inside his mind.
A second chance should be fair…
"BUT A FISH!? REALLY!? A FISH!?"
His tail lashed. His jaws snapped
uselessly at the water.
This went on for fifteen long minutes
rage, disbelief, denial until exhaustion
forced clarity.
Finally, El-Mond stopped.
The water grew still around him.
"…Sigh."
He looked down no, felt himself.
Rows of razor teeth. A colossal frame.
Muscle built for domination.
"So… I'm a great white shark, huh?"
Acceptance settled in like a heavy tide.
Strangely, moving felt natural.
Too natural.
His body responded as if
it had always been his.
With a single flex, he surged forward smooth, powerful, terrifyingly fast.
Ludicrous…
"I'm here like this… while those bastards are enjoying themselves."
Bitterness twisted his thoughts.
Then
KILLING INTENT.
His senses screamed.
Something sharp fast ripped
through the water.
METERS AWAY!
El-Mond twisted his body at the last second.
WHOOSH!
The projectile tore past him with explosive
force.
His heart thundered.
"I dodged…?"
Before he could steady himself
IT CAME AGAIN.
Even faster.
El-Mond reacted instinctively,
his massive body shifting aside
like flowing steel.
He turned.
From the depths, a silhouette emerged.
A voice deep, vibrating through
the water itself.
"Either you surrender and leave this
territory to me…"
"…or I take it
and you become FISH FOOD."
The darkness parted.
Another GREAT WHITE SHARK surfaced
scarred, dominant, eyes burning with
hostility.
"Huh!? WAIT WHAT!?"
"Did you just speak!?"
El-Mond stared in disbelief.
He could hear the words.
No he understood It.
"What are you playing at?"
"Don't think you can talk your way out of this!"
"FIGHT OR DIE!"
"Oh my god…"
"I can understand fish?"
Shock barely had time to settle.
The enemy charged jaws wide.
El-Mond dove sideways and BIT
into its flank, using his momentum
to hurl the massive predator forward.
The ocean roared.
The enemy recovered instantly and
charged again.
El-Mond tried the same move
WHAM!
A powerful tail smashed into his face.
Teeth nearly tore into his fin.
He spun, stabilizing himself.
The two apex predators circled each other in silence.
Then—
The enemy exploded forward.
El-Mond turned upward.
The surface.
He surged with everything he had.
The water peeled away behind him as he accelerated.
Faster.
Faster.
Light pierced the darkness.
He BREACHED
So did the other shark.
But
Midair
El-Mond twisted.
A perfect back-flip.
The enemy's back was exposed.
NOW.
El-Mond clamped down with terrifying force, dragging the struggling body back into
the depths.
Blood clouded the water.
The enemy thrashed wildly, jaws snapping
in desperation.
But El-Mond didn't let go.
He tightened his bite.
One minute passed.
Then
Stillness.
The struggle ceased.
Death claimed the challenger.
El-Mond released the lifeless body.
Silence returned.
Then..
DING.
A glowing blue panel materialized before
his eyes.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
Congratulations.
Your body has evolved into an
APEX-LEVEL GREAT WHITE SHARK.
"…Huh?"
El-Mond stared at the floating screen in
shock.
The abyss around him seemed… smaller.
Colder.
And suddenly
Full of possibilities.
TO BE CONTINUED