Chapter 179: Nonstop

After getting inside the reef with all the multicolored sponge-like coral, I settled down in the sand again and decided to wait until night came. If I was a nocturnal hunter, then no point in getting my days and nights mixed. I covered myself up completely with sand and settled in.

'How do I find the girl? Any idea, Mom?'

'Each time you mate you have a twenty-five percent chance of summoning a Harem member, but they start out at Rank A like you did.' -Tequila.

'So, then, I want to start right away?'

'I would not suggest that. At the present moment, you cannot protect yourself, so adding more people to your group right away is not advisable. I suggest you take some time to get strong and that way you can help them power level to your Rank.' -Tequila.

That did make sense, I needed to get into shape and level first before bringing the girls in.

'One more thing about mating, please do not attempt it until you have evolved.' -Tequila.

'Hmm? Why not?' 

Different things started questions started to roll into my head about how I even would mate, but Mom but my thought off.

'When a squid mates, they die, so I suggest fighting something that doesn't die when it mates so you would have to suffer that fate when you choose to.' -Tequila.

Wow, now isn't that some fine print, hidden between the lines bullshit. If I didn't have Mom I that would have been the end of me at some point...maybe. I wasn't sure if I would want to try and mate at this size, I might end up as lunch after the fun was done! 

The scene around me was slowly starting to darken and different fish with red and yellowish-brown scales started to swim around. Each of the fish had larger eyes and they became increasingly harder to see as it got darker, that must mean that the larger meant night time fish, duh. Well, I wasn't getting any smarter in my sandbox, time to get stronger or something to that degree...maybe more flexible? 

I looked around and looked on to...no that was an octopus, basically, a bigger version of myself so no no on the tango with the one. I looked and spotted another shrimp, but I decided that it was dark enough to start moving around. Yes, I could stay safe, there was a bid dopey looking fish above me with red scales and yellowish fins and it was calling to me, but it was just out of my reach.

I shot out of the sand, straight towards the unsuspecting fish.

[Tentacle Grab]

[Scan]

Owww! My damn tentacle was stinging like a bitch!

[-1 HP] ⅘ HP Remaining

Name: Squirrelfish

HP: 14/17

Skill: 

[Poison Spines]

I pulled myself to the redfish with all my suckers raised but had to cringe again as the spines did more damage.

[-1 HP] ⅗ HP Remaining

[Octo-Sucker Punch]

[Sucker Punch] Skill is now level 4

Well that hurt, but the fish disintegrated and I was still alive and close to leveling again! I looked around and shot out a small jet of water as I narrowly dodged a large green eel thing with a fin on its back and sharp teeth.

[Underwater Mobility](Passive) Skill is now level 3

I flung my tentacles around the thing and they stretched to latch around as it passed.

[Tentacle Grab]

[Tentacle Grab] Skill is now level 4

[Scan]

Name: Green Moray Eel

HP: 30/34

Skill: 

[Ambush]

[Poison Skin]

[Bite]

I quickly sucked myself in for a sucker punch and was able to avoid the mouth since I was wrapped just behind his head.

[Octo-Sucker Punch]

It exploded into particles and I shot back to the ground; I was almost there! That ambush would have got me if I hadn't looked back, but now there were Rank up notifications! Two of them, oh boy! 

[Rank A+++] Acquired! 

[Rank A Max] Acquired! 

New title Acquired!

//1ST EVOLUTION CHOICE

{Squid}{Octopus}{Crab}

Okay, here we go, this is the good stuff! What to pick? The crab had a shell and, well, I was already a Squid, so I guess that meant I would be more squidy? Ugh, piss on it.

{Octopus}

*Small flash*

Oh, I felt different now! My arms were bigger! And they were just doing their own thing, which was fine by me and I could still use them when I wanted to! I could see a blue ring on my body which was almost twice as big as before, but after some looking around me...yup still a tiny little bastard! Oh well, let's have a looksie at this new sheet!

Current Evolution: Blue Ringed Octopus

Title: [Weak, The Hunter Killer] 

Rank: B

Experience: 5%/100

Size: [Very Small]: 20 cm

Heath Points: 15/15

Speed: 4

Attack: 3

Sight: 2

Mobility: 4

Current Skills:

[Ink Blot] Level 2

[Sucker Punch] Level 4

[Blue Ringed Venom Strike] Level 1

[Hide] Level 8

[Scan] Level 5

Passive Skills

[Active Camouflage] Level 1

[Underwater Mobility] Level 3

Mating Skills:

[Squid]: Large Load: Increase initial stats +2

[Octopus]: Packet Delivery: Increase Harem Member summoning chance to 50% 

The venom strike looked good, but I was sad to see a bunch of skills disappear, but I am different now and I would have to make do! But, damn, I was still frickin tiny! OH SHIT, OWWW!

[-4 HP] 11/15 HP Remaining

Fuuuudge! I was bit by the damn ugly fish that I avoided, and it had half my arms pinned, but that wouldn't stop me!

[Blue Ringed Venom Strike]

[Blue Ringed Venom Strike] Skill is increased to level 2

I poked the fish with a spine that stuck out of my arm, but it didn't stop, and it chomped down on me again!

[-7 HP] 4/15 HP Remaining

I tried to make a sucker punch, but the monster disintegrated before I could hit it, the Venom must have finally got to its mark. I fell to the sea bottom and covered myself up. Looks like no level for not paying attention. This place was rough, it was almost like non-stop trying to eat or be eaten.

I buried myself in the sand and relaxed, I would need to heal now for a bit. There were no health potions or healers here so a good old sit and wait for me to recover would…

[Hide] 

[Hide] Skill is increased to level 13

[Active Camouflage](Passive) Skill is increased to level 7

That fucking seal was back, and probably looking for me, but maybe this was my chance. If that thing got close enough, I could poke it, and I don't know how effective this poison will be but, It killed the uglyfish fast. 

It didn't take long for the seal to come my way, and it almost looked like he was looking for me, but I also thought being a tiny little Octopussy might have had something to do with it. I waited as the seal drew closer, ready to strike, and then right as it passed over the top of me, I struck!

[Blue Ringed Venom Strike]

[Ink Blot]

[Ink Blot] Skill is increased to level 3

As I struck, I instantly let out a big cloud of ink into the water and then expelled all the water I had trying to get away/ The seal noticed me, but I shot back down and into the coral. The seal chased me and smashed the coral as I kept pushing water out and taking it into a jet in sporadic patterns. 

Suddenly the chasing stopped, and the seal burst into tiny black pieces, making the ocean full of particles. Holy shit, that was too close of a call! 

[Rank B+] Acquired! 

[Rank B++] Acquired! 

[Rank B+++] Acquired! 

[Rank B Max] Acquired! 

//2ND EVOLUTION CHOICE

{Eel}{Octopus}{Seal}

Octo-Seal? Let's go!

{Seal}

*Small flash*

Okay, I was way bigger now, but what the fuck was I? I was like a mix between a seal and an octopus alright, but like something out of a science fiction movie. I was the seal part on top, but I was like a jellyfish underneath. The thighs were that they weren't clear so I was pretty sure it looked like my insides were hanging out... 

Current Evolution: Blue Ringed Octo-Seal 

Title: [Weak, The Hunter Killer] 

Rank: C

Experience: 22%/100

Size: [Medium]: 130 cm

Heath Points: 45/45

Speed: 4

Attack: 8

Sight: 3

Mobility: 4

Current Skills:

[Grab] Level 1

[Constrict] Level 1

[Blue Ringed Venom Strike] Level 2

[Hide] Level 13

[Scan] Level 5

[Mating] Level 1

Passive Skills

[Active Camouflage] Level 7

[Underwater Mobility] Level 3

Mating Skills:

[Squid]: Large Load: Increase initial stats +2

[Octopus]: Packet Delivery: Increase Harem Member summoning chance to 50% 

[Seal]: Mammal Mating: You will not die from Mating

'On the positive side, now you can find a mate!' -Tequila.

I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cry at this point, but Mom was right, it was time To find me a woman!

That feeling of excitement drained from me when I looked down at my gut that hung out below me. Where the hell was I going to find someone that wanted to mate with me? Also, this was not starting to sound as fun as it was in the mini-game; how the hell was I supposed to mate?

'Don't worry about that part, just find a female that is close to your species and then you just have to activate the skill and you will see!' -Tequila.

I would see, hmmm? Well, not like I had much of a choice. Time to find some squid/seal/octopussy!