Nightfall brought drizzling rain.
A fishing boat passed through the harbor, its crew shaking their heads at the deserted docks.
"Some bigshot rented out the entire South Bay. Now we’ve got nowhere to unload."
"Quit complaining – they paid us, didn’t they?"
"Money’s temporary…"
"Take it day by day."
"Wait – what’s that?"
"Looks like… a person?"
A fisherman raised binoculars to spot a dark green humanoid figure floating offshore.
"That’s… not human."
"It’s moving toward us!"
"What the—?!"
"Let me see!" Another crewman grabbed the lenses. A foamy wake streaked across the water.
"Holy shit… A fish?"
"Fish? That speed’s like a jet ski!"
"BRACE!"
SPLASH!
A dark green creature erupted from the waves, landing on deck with webbed claws.
"God almighty – a mermaid?!"
The fish-man cracked its neck joints and advanced. Crewmen stumbled backward, one brandishing a harpoon.
SNICK!
Claws sheared through steel like paper.
THUD.
A man collapsed trembling as the creature pressed clawed hands to his temples, foreheads touching.
"Awuwaxiyakamogedos."
The incantation triggered violent convulsions. Bones snapped and reformed as green scales consumed the man’s flesh. Within seconds, he’d transformed into another fish-man.
Panicked crewmen leaped overboard.
"Retrieve them," the original deep one commanded. Two converted hybrids dove after the fleeing humans with unnatural speed.
"Hmm… Now that I’m no longer unique, I require a grander title."
"Perhaps… Ocean King."
The progenitor lounged on deck as screams echoed from below.
Beneath the waves:
"Stop struggling, Lao Liu! Join us!"
"Fuck off, sea demon!"
GURGLE
"This power – we’re unstoppable now!"
"Become us!"
"CONQUER THE SEAS TOGETHER!"
By dawn, fifty-six converted hybrids stood aboard. Their leader basked in sunlight, human features reemerging through shimmering epidermal film.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
After secondary evolution, his body now contained a black swallower fish’s expandable abdomen – storing ten times its volume in water. Every pore could absorb or expel liquid at will, allowing controlled transformations without rain triggers. Enhanced regeneration and hive-like reproduction completed the upgrade.
"Children, this is your home now."
"One rule: Obey."
"Questions?"
A new hybrid hesitated. "My… family…"
The Ocean King’s gaze sharpened. "Invite them." Silence followed.
"Remember – you may do anything in this world except defy me… or Him."
"Who’s—?"
"The God."
South Bay Port, Noon:
Queen Bee and Raven surveyed the army.
"Impressive prep work, 002."
The Ocean King’s voice chilled. "I won’t fail Lord Oz again."
Raven nodded. "Wise. Our targets allied with police – formed a Paranormal Investigation Unit."
"Twenty thousand hybrids minimum," the fish-man stated.
Queen Bee gaped. "Invading the UN? You’re fighting a hundred cops!"
"Underestimating humans cost me blood last time."
Raven chuckled, morphing into a girl. "You’re like that Cautious Hero anime! Who sends bosses to camp starter villages?!"
Designation 002: Deep One (Secondary Evolution)
Chapter 012: The Puppeteer
Beiling City, Chen Ye’s Apartment:
The researcher cataloged five biological sequences on his computer:
001: Mimic
002: Deep One
003: Phantom
004: Queen Bee
005: Wallflower
"Queen’s blood granted 002 reproduction through conversion, not creation. Planarian genes might…"
Two crimson vials glinted nearby – Vampire Serums (Bat/Salamander base + human/leech variants), both blended with Deep One blood.
"Test subjects…" Chen Ye clicked to a photo of marionettes controlled by invisible strings.
Designation: Puppeteer
Components:
- Spider (TBD species)
- Marionette
- Phantom/Queen Bee/Wallflower serum hybrids
Downtown Beiling:
The Ocean King wandered streets in his perpetual raincoat, ignoring stares. When he closed eyes, shadowy cityscapes pulsed in his mind – particularly police headquarters. Nineteen heat signatures analyzed recordings of his weeping ability.
A noodle shop owner’s guitar playing paused as a college girl entered.
"Li Yuan? Heard you got expelled! What happened?"
The raincoat figure ignored her until she placed a condensation-beaded cola before him.
"I don’t drink."
"Still the same wet blanket!" She snorted.
As he left cash, the girl wrinkled her nose. "Fish stench – you work at a market?"
The chef shrugged. "Comes here daily reeking like low tide. Probably a fishmonger."