37- Infestation of Fish and the Legends of the Sea

  Strangely, the day after planting the new algae, the number of fish in the village multiplied drastically. Even without bearing fruit, the algae seemed to attract every fish in the vicinity, turning the area into a swirling mass of scales and fins.

  With so many fish competing for food, some began to grow aggressive. Nexha quickly realized that overpopulation could become a serious problem.

  — What a mess… How can something so small cause all this?

  He watched as the fish thrashed about, some biting each other in the fight for space. The chaos in the water reminded him of the eternal struggle between predators and prey.

  — This isn’t just a bunch of hungry fish… It’s almost like a miniature war. If we let this continue, bigger predators will show up, and then we’ll have a real problem.

  Then, an idea struck him.

  — What if I move some of the sprouts farther away? That way, the hunting area won’t be so close to the village. These fish are causing too much trouble.

  Using a shell as a shovel and a small turtle shell as a temporary pot, Nexha started relocating the sprouts to more distant areas, but still within the village’s territory.

  As he transported the seedlings, he noticed something odd: the fish seemed to follow him, as if drawn to the plants. Curious, he decided to use his ability to analyze them.

  [Sprout of the Tide Mother Algae]Classification: Rare

  Luck: +5

  Ability: Increases the luck of whoever consumes it. Attracts nearby marine life.

  Description: According to legend, these algae were created to serve as shelter and food for small fish during a dark era when almost no creatures could survive in the ocean. Even today, fish instinctively remain close, sensing safety in their presence. It is also said that these algae formed the first underwater forests in the world, long before the stars fell.

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  Nexha frowned.

  — That ‘falling stars’ thing again… Why do so many sea legends talk about that?

  He had never cared much for ancient stories in his original world. For him, what mattered was his little home and what he would eat the next day. But now, the deeper he got into this world, the more everything seemed to tie back to the stars. It kept coming up, again and again, making him feel like he was barely scratching the surface of something much bigger.

  — Krahs and Zhaelor always talk about the stars like they’re important. Krahs keeps saying I get a lot of ‘gifts from the stars’... But what does that even mean? Is my system somehow connected to these legends?

  Nexha sat on a coral-covered rock, watching the fish circling the sprouts.

  — If this algae existed before the stars fell… what existed before that? Could there have been beings walking on land?

  He ran a hand over his chin, deep in thought.

  — And this ‘dark era’ they mention… It sounds like a massive extinction, like the ones that wiped out the dinosaurs in my world. But every extinction has a cause—what could have happened here?

  He looked at the sprouts, trying to imagine the chaotic world they must have emerged in.

  — What if it’s all connected? The stars… If they really fell like meteors, the ocean creatures… Could it have been an extinction caused by them, but later fixed by them too?

  He let out a nervous laugh, shaking his head.

  — That sounds crazy… but kind of fun.

  He returned to tending the sprouts, but the nagging feeling that there was something bigger behind it all wouldn’t leave him.

  The unusual silence around him caught his attention—the village felt empty.

  — It’s quieter today… Krahs went out to hunt big fish and took Lilay to learn. Zhaelor said last night that he was going to eliminate some nearby threats. Nalu was the only one who stayed, but since it’s still morning, she’s probably sleeping like a rock.

  Nexha sighed, looking around the nearly deserted village.

  — I’m not sure if I feel good having some time alone… or if I already miss them.

  He took the last sprout and carefully planted it in a more distant spot.

  — Either way… I guess I’m part of this ocean and its legends now. Even if I don’t understand everything yet, I can’t help but want to learn more.