After recovering at the shelter, Gray hunted a few monsters to feed. The moment he spotted a Crimson Blade Scale, he gave chase without hesitation — its trait was one he still needed.
Gray twisted through the water, his serrated bell slicing a narrow arc as another Crimson Blade Scale shot past. The creature’s razor-edged fins hummed as they carved through the deep, close enough to leave a thin, bright line across his bell margin.
[-18 HP]
[GRAY ASHFORD — HP: 882 / 900]
’Tch! They’re faster than the ones I fought before.’
Two more Crimson Blade Scales circled at the edge of his perception, their crimson scales flashing as they wove between coral spires. They moved in tandem, herding him, cutting off escape routes with every pass.
One darted high, aiming for Gray’s bell from above. The second swept low, its razor-edged fins skimming the seabed as it cut off any path downward. The third trailed behind them both, keeping to Gray’s blind spot, its presence masked by the churning current.
The high Crimson Blade Scale dove, its fins flattened against its body as it shot downward like a red spear. Gray pulsed left to avoid it, but the low one had already anticipated his escape. It surged forward, hugging the seafloor, and its serrated dorsal fin slashed across his underside before he could twist away. The impact spun him slightly, the wound stinging as the cold water rushed against it.
[-24 HP]
[GRAY ASHFORD — HP: 858 / 900]
The third one struck from behind, using the moment Gray was still off balance. Its bladed tail caught the edge of his bell like a whip, the force of the blow spinning him violently through the water. The current itself seemed to churn around him as he tumbled, the glow of distant sea plants streaking past in long, blurred lines.
[-31 HP]
[GRAY ASHFORD — HP: 827 / 900]
He stabilized, Flow State flaring to life as the water around him seemed to bend and part, cradling his body instead of resisting it. The three Crimson Blade Scales circled again, faster now, their movements sharp and precise. Their golden eyes gleamed with that same fearless aggression, as if the wounds they had just inflicted were nothing more than an invitation to continue.
’So they can work as a team, Good.’
"Good?! How is that good?!"
’Because now I know their pattern.’
He focused on the water, feeling the currents shift as the Crimson Blade Scales adjusted their formation in that same coordinated pattern he had already seen once before, the high one feinting to draw his attention while the low one committed to the real strike and the third waited to punish any dodge he might attempt.
The high Crimson Blade Scale dove, and instead of dodging, Gray held his ground, allowing the low one to lunge while the third closed in from behind.
’Now, Cindy!’
"[PHYSICAL BARRIER!]"
A silver-blue wall flared into existence directly beneath the low Crimson Blade Scale. The creature slammed into it at full speed, its serrated fins screeching against the barrier’s surface. The impact stunned it long enough for Gray to move.
Instead of retreating, Gray surged forward, his body cutting through the water like a blade released from its sheath, closing the distance before the Crimson Blade Scales could react.
The third Crimson Blade Scale, expecting him to flee, overshot its attack. Gray’s tentacles wrapped around its tail as it passed, and he swung it into the stunned low Crimson Blade Scale with all his strength.
The two creatures collided with a crack of scales and chitin.
Gray released the third fish and fired Riptide Slash into the tangle.
The crescent blade tore through both Crimson Blade Scales at once.
[RIPTIDE SLASH — 88 DAMAGE]
[RIPTIDE SLASH — 84 DAMAGE]
The high Crimson Blade Scale, realizing too late that it had been drawn into a trap, twisted sharply and tried to flee. But Gray was already waiting, his tentacles spread wide and his body poised to strike the moment it turned.
’Leaving so soon?’
He activated Subterranean Ambush, vanishing into the seafloor. The high Crimson Blade Scale hesitated, its golden eyes scanning the sand below.
Gray erupted beneath it.
His serrated bell tore through the fish’s body, splitting it from gill to tail in a single upward strike.
[SUBTERRANEAN AMBUSH — 76 DAMAGE]
[CRIMSON BLADE SCALE (3) — HP: 64 / 340]
The creature spun through the water, bleeding and helpless. Gray didn’t give it a moment to recover. Grip Jaw locked around its head, and Overcharge detonated point-blank, ending the fight in a burst of lightning.
[OVERCHARGE — 92 DAMAGE]
[CRIMSON BLADE SCALE (3) DEFEATED — 450 EXP]
He turned back to the other two. They were recovering, their golden eyes burning with rage. The wounded one still had HP left, and the third was already circling for another pass.
’Cindy, barrier on my right. Six feet.’
"Got it!"
The barrier snapped into place just as the wounded Crimson Blade Scale lunged. It hit the wall and bounced off, disoriented.
Gray was already moving. Riptide Slash took the wounded one’s head.
[RIPTIDE SLASH — 86 DAMAGE]
[CRIMSON BLADE SCALE (1) DEFEATED — 380 EXP]
Gray saw the last Crimson Blade Scale bolt toward the coral maze. Its sleek body was still fast, but fear made it sloppy. It cut too sharply around a black coral spire, clipping its own fin and losing speed.
’You’re not getting away.’
He shot forward, Flow State wrapping the water around him like a second skin. The distance shrank in seconds.
Cindy’s voice cut in. "Gray! Don’t chase it too far! You already promised to help me find a body, remember? Let it go!"
Gray kept swimming, his gaze locked on the fleeing fish. Then he said while closing the gap.
’And I’m still doing that. But wandering around without a goal is a waste of time. Hunting a few monsters... hitting two birds with one stone, right?’
The Crimson Blade Scale darted into a narrow ravine between two volcanic ridges. Gray followed without slowing. The walls blurred past, his serrated bell nearly grazing the rock.
The fish tried to climb, but a Riptide Slash caught its tail fin before it could turn.
[RIPTIDE SLASH — 84 DAMAGE]
[CRIMSON BLADE SCALE — HP: 256 / 340]
The blow sent it tumbling into the rock wall. It thrashed, golden eyes wild, and tried to flee again.
Gray didn’t give it the chance.
[SUBTERRANEAN AMBUSH — ACTIVATED]
He dove, vanished into the seafloor, and erupted beneath the fish as it tried to swim upward. His barbs pierced through its underbelly and out the other side.
[SUBTERRANEAN AMBUSH — 76 DAMAGE]
[CRIMSON BLADE SCALE — HP: 180 / 340]
Grip Jaw locked around its body before it could squirm free. The muscular tentacles squeezed, and he felt something crack.
[GRIP JAW — 30 DAMAGE]
[GRIP JAW — 28 DAMAGE]
’This is over.’
Overcharge detonated at point-blank range. The fish’s body lit up from within, every fin splayed wide before going limp.
[OVERCHARGE — 94 DAMAGE]
[CRIMSON BLADE SCALE DEFEATED — 380 EXP]
Gray hovered in the ravine, breathing hard, the water around him humming with residual electricity. The Crimson Blade Scale drifted slowly to the sand below, its golden eyes already dimming.
Cindy said flatly, "You didn’t have to chase it that far."
’Maybe not,’ Gray admitted, already moving to absorb the corpse. ’But I wanted the trait fragment.’
"Did you get it?"
’Let’s see.’
He absorbed the fish and waited, but no notification came.
’...No.’
Cindy let out a soft sigh. "You risked your life for nothing."
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