Chapter 7

Serpens' focus was entirely on the imposing Yellow Catfish before him.

The Yellow Catfish has a head comparable in size to Serpens's own, advanced menacingly, a small octopus lingering on its teeth as it fixed its gaze on Serpens.

"Pre-emptive strike," Serpens muttered, eyeing the Yellow Catfish intently. With a swift wriggle, he propelled himself like a golden arrow toward his adversary.

The Yellow Catfish's reaction surpassed Serpens's expectations, its combat prowess in the water rivaling that of a human. Its sharp teeth aimed directly for Serpens.

"I can't face it head-on," Serpens realized, observing the Yellow Catfish's formidable teeth. He extended his dragon claws, bracing himself for a direct confrontation.

Tssss.

As Serpens heard the Yellow Catfish's roar, it widened its mouth, revealing rows of sharp teeth.

A glimmer of cunning flashed in Serpens's eyes. Just before collision, he maneuvered his body upward, slashing his dragon claws toward the Yellow Catfish's eyes.

Belonging to the "Seven Talons Great Dragon" breed, Serpens's claws, though small, were incredibly sharp.

The Seven Talons struck the Yellow Catfish's eyes with precision, easily rupturing them.

"The intelligence of marine animals pales in comparison to mine. Their attacks are primitive, based on instinct," Serpens remarked, pleased as he witnessed the Yellow Catfish thrash violently. He darted toward it, clamping his sharp jaws onto its head.

Crack, crack, crack.

Serpens's jaws sank into the Yellow Catfish's head as it thrashed violently, attempting to dislodge him. Serpens extended his claws, ruthlessly slashing at its body.

"Devour," he commanded as the Yellow Catfish weakened. Serpens opened his mouth wide, consuming the entire creature.

"A direct increase of eighty-eight points of Dragonic Force," Serpens exclaimed, feeling his strength surge once more.

"As a Great Dragon with human intelligence, defeating marine animals of the same level is child's play. Even encountering level two marine animals wouldn't give me pause," Serpens reflected, watching the ribbonfish scatter in all directions as he gave chase.

One, two, three…

Soon, he had devoured seven to eight hundred ribbonfish, though several hundred managed to escape.

Unconcerned, Serpens wriggled his body, surveying his surroundings. The area was abundant with seaweed, corals, and an array of sea creatures, including octopuses, lobsters, sea cucumbers, jellyfish, and swimming crabs.

"I'll capture some lobsters and swimming crabs tonight," Serpens resolved, eyeing the tantalizing seafood around him.

The thought of dining at the First-grade Seafood Restaurant crossed his mind, though he knew it would cost a hefty sum.

He licked his lips, resuming his frenzied consumption of the marine animals.

"Eh? There's a small island ahead," Serpens observed, though he paid it little heed as he focused on a sea snake in his path.

"Sea Snake: Level One. Extractable Dragonic Force: 44," Serpens noted, deciding to avoid it due to its lethal poison.

"That's a sea turtle," he remarked as he spotted the creature near the island's rocks.

"Sea Turtle: Level Three. Extractable Dragonic Force: 988," Serpens marveled at the sea turtle's strength, envisioning acquiring one as a Prime Minister for his future kingdom.

"It's a shame my level is still too low," Serpens lamented, contemplating the requirements for upgrading marine animals. He resolved to level up quickly to command his own subordinates.

"There's a large humphead wrasse ahead," Serpens exclaimed, spotting the sizable fish.

"Humphead Wrasse: Level One. Extractable Dragonic Force: 44," he noted excitedly, launching his attack.

As he pursued the wrasse, Serpens was taken aback when it sought refuge beside what appeared to be a rock, only to be devoured by the seemingly inert object.

"That's a sea clam," Serpens realized, marveling at its enormity.

"Sea Clam: Level Six. Extractable Dragonic Force: 9,987," Serpens's eyes widened in disbelief, fixating on the massive creature before him.

With a swish, Serpens propelled himself through the boundless expanse of the Bohai Sea, his tail swaying forcefully as his gaze fixated on the looming Yellow Catfish ahead.

The Yellow Catfish, its massive head rivaling Serpens's own size, approached with menacing intent, a remnant of small octopus dangling from its teeth as it glared at Serpens and surged forward.

"Pre-emptive strike," Serpens muttered, eyeing his adversary. With a swift wriggle, he shot toward the Yellow Catfish like a golden arrow.

The Yellow Catfish's reaction surpassed Serpens's expectations, its combat prowess in the water matching that of a human. Its sharp teeth aimed directly at Serpens.

"I can't face it head-on," Serpens realized, observing the Yellow Catfish's formidable teeth. He extended his dragon claws, bracing himself for a direct clash.

As if hearing the Yellow Catfish's roar, Serpens swiftly shifted his body upward, slashing his dragon claws toward its eyes with a glimpse of craftiness in his eyes.

Belonging to the "Seven Talons Great Dragon" breed, Serpens's claws, though small, were incredibly sharp. They landed on the Yellow Catfish's eyes, easily rupturing them.

"The intelligence of marine animals can't be compared to mine," Serpens observed as the Yellow Catfish thrashed violently. Diving toward it, he clamped his sharp jaws onto its head.

Crack, crack, crack.

Boom!

Serpens's jaws sank into the Yellow Catfish's head as it struggled violently, wagging its tail toward Serpens's body.

Serpens extended his claws, ruthlessly slashing the Yellow Catfish's body, the sharp claws penetrating directly.

"Devour," Serpens commanded as the blinded Yellow Catfish weakened. He opened his mouth wide, consuming the entire creature.

"An increase of eighty-eight points of Dragonic Force," Serpens exclaimed, feeling his strength surge once more.

"As a Great Dragon with human intelligence, slaying marine animals of the same level is an easy task," Serpens mused as he gave chase to the scattered ribbonfish.

One, two, three…

Soon, he had devoured seven to eight hundred ribbonfish, though several hundred managed to escape.

Serpens surveyed his surroundings, noting the abundant seaweed, corals, and sea creatures, including octopuses, lobsters, sea cucumbers, jellyfish, and swimming crabs.

"I'll capture some lobsters and swimming crabs tonight," Serpens decided, eyeing the tempting seafood around him.

"If one desires lobsters or swimming crabs, it would cost six hundred dollars," Serpens noted, licking his lips before continuing to devour marine animals at a frantic pace.

"Eh? There's a small island ahead," Serpens observed, though he focused his attention on a sea snake in front of him.

"Sea snake! I'd better not mess with it," Serpens cautioned, opting to capture other marine animals instead.

"That's a sea turtle," Serpens remarked, observing the docile creature near the rocks below the island.

"The sea turtle is level three," Serpens noted, impressed by its size and strength.

"In mythical legends, Dragon Palace would have a Turtle as Prime Minister," Serpens recalled, envisioning acquiring a strong Prime Minister Turtle in the future.

"It's a shame my level is still too low," Serpens lamented, contemplating the requirements for upgrading marine animals.

"I'm going to level up quickly and get my own subordinates," Serpens resolved, devouring marine animals around him rapidly.

"There's a large humphead wrasse ahead," Serpens observed, spotting the sizable fish.

"I can extract forty-four points of Dragonic Force," Serpens noted excitedly, launching his attacks rapidly toward the humphead wrasse.

As he pursued the wrasse, Serpens was taken aback when it sought refuge beside what appeared to be a rock, only to be devoured by the seemingly inert object.

"That's a sea clam," Serpens realized, astonished by its enormity.

"It's level six. Moreover, I could extract close to ten thousand points of Dragonic Force from it," Serpens marveled, staring at the huge sea clam wide-eyed.