I'm a Stingray?

Chapter 208: Simplicity

Such a statement regarding power, was put through contemplation by the grouper lady. So Gerlach didn't have anyone to talk to for a little while, and that was why he began focusing on the boy who was devouring the carcass.

At first he became a bit bothered regarding how the young boy was chewing through flesh and bone like there was no tomorrow. But after a little while, he began noticing an interesting pattern.

The most visual one, was how wounds be it small or big, were healing. The small cuts on his back had completely disappeared, while the bigger ones seemed a lot better.

Apart from these wounds finding painless ease, he could also notice the boy's skin gaining a coating of sparkle. Everything seemed smoother, it almost looked like Timmy was becoming younger.

Until now it was noticeable that the mantis shrimp was a smart man, he was rather direct too. So of course he had no trouble vocalizing his thoughts once approaching the boy a bit closer.

After a few more seconds of observation, he cited. "I might be going crazy but your wounds are healing at an exquisite pace."

The latter took a short break from eating, enough to answer. "Yeah, that happens."

"Most intriguing." The geezer added, a tad unaware that he was confusing the boy with this wordplay.

Curiosity was growing stronger for this shrimp, that's why he added. "Do you mind if I join in?"

He had never tasted a barracuda before, so the geezer thought that maybe such healthy attributes could be benefited from today.

Knowing that he could never devour the barracuda alone, the hero shortly answered. "Sure."

The sea-pancake continued to chew through the carcass for a few minutes longer, but then felt rather full. He didn't know what gut damage felt like, but it would be a new experience if he had continued eating.

Regardless of that fact, he had managed to reap enough benefits from this feast. Because although it still sounded bizarre, a barracuda provided every positive effect on the list; the most treasured one being health.

Having the procedures memorized, the system didn't shy away to give notifications that surrounded this feast. Specifically, what the young man wanted to hear about the most.

[Health, +9 bars]

[Total health = 85/110]

The improvements were clearly not drastic, but it felt like a good achievement to reach this mark again. And the greatest deal out of this was how the strongest portions of pain were eradicated. Since his health bar was more plentiful right now when it came to numbers, raising the bar was more impactful than before; as pain can go away with the aid of a few bars of health.

Noticing that her friend was caught up in terms of stuffing his face all the way to the other end of his guts, Osira decided to remind the initial task. The information about her powers was tiresome right now, so she wanted to get her mind off it.

That was why she cited, "Okay now we need to hunt for another tribe."

She expected a reply from the younger one, but the geezer spoke out instead. "There aren't really any tribes close by, the sect doesn't prefer the middle of the reef."

Although feeling a bit nervous towards such knowledge, the grouper decided to believe it: because regardless, this old man proved helpful so far. It only seemed logical to take his advice, especially after considering that he wanted to massacre the sect as well.

Hearing out such a portion, the sea-disk decided to add his own thoughts. "Then we're going back home."

Feeling like that was a bad idea, Gerlach added. "There should be a lot of other tribes though, why don't we explore the north for a while?"

"My siblings are handling every other side of the reef, don't worry." It felt nice to utter out such a sentence, and it wasn't because of blood relation.

What made him feel like a more easy going hero, was the idea that all of this madness didn't solely lie on his shoulders anymore... well, spine.

In the beginning he had most definitely decided to save the reef from a fate they could not control. But the more he indulged towards such a task, the tougher it got.

So now, to have a group of capable siblings who could handle such pressure, felt satisfying as much as it felt relieving.

With all those facts considered, the group decided to get back home towards the hidden-den. Gerlach was given the opportunity to join them, but the prime idea was to drop him off in the same den rather than dragging him along everywhere.

...

It took them a great part of the day to travel across the reef, but they were finally close to reaching the hidden den. It was a tiresome day at least, and now it was a bit after noon so admittedly they had time to put any work in.

Being back here gave the feeling of satisfying simplicity. Because danger here was lower, and an overall goal before had been to just recruit as many orphans as possible, and any task was easier to achieve. Such feelings were nostalgic at least, even though all of that had happened just over a couple of weeks ago.

Before they could enter the den, what blessed their field of vision was Snoopy who casually approached them.

The first thing that uttered out of his mouth, was. "Y'all look great."

At this point it was difficult to figure out if this compliment was genuine or just coated with sarcasm. But after recalling that this boy was too covered in metal-like skin, it became noticeable that the joke was more complex than first perceived.

Osira felt the most touched by such a sentence, and added. "You don't look so bad yourself."

It sounded like a compliment but on the contrary, such a phrase had just continued the ray of sarcasm. But as these two were communicating, the little old man on her back was mumbling through a few words.

When attention was given to him, he spoke out a bit more clearly. "Fascinating, you are fascinating."