Waking up was, unsurprisingly, yet again extremely uncomfortable. This time, however, I could actually feel the difference in me.

I was now, if I judged correctly, at least 80 centimeters long, and also quite a bit wider than before. Furthermore, even my mind felt different. It was easier to think, to keep track of my own thoughts, and I could tell that I 'saw things faster'. Which basically means I could register things quicker.

Congratulations! [Unnamed] is now a Snakeling Adolescent! Good job on your first evolution.

I glared at the message, annoyed at the condescending feeling coming from it. Nonetheless, I eventually opted to ignore it in favor of checking out my new and improved body.

My scales were now a deep green hue, and they looked and felt harder and bigger. Evidently, either my evolution helped out with it, or my constitution did the trick. Or both. Who knows.

Anyways, the cave was now well and truly empty. No more easy food and exp, it seemed. It was a shame, but an inevitable one. Hence, with a heavy heart, after having stretched myself and prepared myself mentally, I swam out of the cave and into the wider seas.

I was quick to speedily swim over the floor level, hiding amongst some taller algae while I considered my options.

Perhaps I was being a bit dramatic. After all, although there might have been plenty of food, the exp amount those eggs gave me was pathetic, considering it took so many for so few level-ups, although I suppose it would be fair, considering the ease of which I could kill them.

Nonetheless, I, surprisingly, did not want to die again. The entire world could burn for all I care, but I refuse to die yet again. Hence, I need strength.

I wasn't quite naive enough to believe that cozying up to humans if they even existed, would save me. No, I wanted strength of my own. Powers which I never had, something with which to change my destiny. And this world gave me the tools I needed to do so.

In a way, it was comforting. Although I couldn't feel emotions anymore, I could still logically tell that there was hope and that somehow eased the weight that's been on my shoulders since the day I was reborn.

Nonetheless, enough philosophical crap. I could make questions later, with a full stomach and a nice, sweet level-up.

I settled for waiting inside of the algae, waiting for something stupid enough to come within range. I had somewhat of a plan, and although I never had any experience fighting anything, I believed in my skills and ingenuity.

Hence, when a fish about 1/4 the size, a sardine-like creature with a horn on its head, came within range, I struck.

I erupted from my hiding place and successfully latched onto the fish, quickly using the venom I'd never before used yet somehow instinctively knew how to use. It was... weird. Still, I had little time to be weirded out as the fish struggled and tried to impale me with its horn, almost succeeding, in fact.

Still, I was nimble enough to dodge around it's progressively clumsier attempts and wrap myself around the fish. Although I couldn't asphyxiate it, I could still crush its bones using my advantage in bulk and muscle, as well as positioning.

During the entire operation, I didn't let go at all with my mouth. After a minute, the fish finally died, which I could only tell based off of the message received.

I must have looked quite funny, almost like a snake-knot, with my head sticking into my own coils, which were coincidentally murdering a cute little fishy.

I was nonetheless quick to drag my prize back into the algae and hide. Nobody seemed interested in coming to disturb me, so, as I got to work swallowing the damn fish whole, I also mentally went over the various notifications.

Horn Klinglet killed. Bonus Exp granted.

Skill (Bite Lv. 6) now Lv. 7

Skill (Constriction Lv. 1 ) now Lv. 2

Skill (Venom Injection Lv. 1) Gained

To say I was impressed would have been a vast, vast understatement. For so many skill level-ups to come about was impressive, and I had a suspicion that it was because, this time, I'd actually fought something for real. Furthermore, the 'bonus' on the kill feed sounded quite tasty.

I took my sweet time savoring the meal I'd procured myself, which, by the way, tasted quite good. My taste buds were a bit off from those I remember from my human life, but it was pleasant enough nonetheless.

Once I was finished having ingested the damned thing whole because I really had no idea how I was supposed to cut the thing into pieces, I went back to carefully watching all around my little hunting spot, waiting for any foolish enough fish to pass by me.

However, twenty or so minutes into my wait, I suddenly felt a chill run down my spine and judging by the sudden panic and complete desertion of the waters all around me as every single fish fled for their lives into various hiding places, I wasn't the only one.

I hid as deeply into the algae as I could, my mind trembling from the strange aura pressing down on me. I could barely make out an absolutely titanic figure making its way through the reef, and when it came just a little closer to me, I felt as though my soul would leave my body.

Nonetheless, it didn't come close enough for such a thing to happen. Instead, it kept going on its path, eventually disappearing off into the distance. Only after I'd made sure that the damned beast wouldn't be coming back did I poke my head out.

Corpses of fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, and even several other sea snakes laid on the bottom of the ocean, their bodies perfectly intact, and yet, it was obvious they were dead.

I took back everything I ever said about not wanting to live. In this very moment, I think I sincerely thanked God for the first time in both lives.

You have survived the aura of a Supreme Beast. For this achievement, one extra status point has been awarded.

I was almost thankful to the system for the bonus, but remembering just how close I came to death... It felt bitter.

Not that such a measly thing as almost dying would stop me from quickly snatching up one of the bigger corpses close to me and dragging it over to my spot. Hey, free food is still food, ya?