My Dating Sim Just Got an Update - Chapter 45

“Because there is a Level 7 mutated animal in the sea.”

Mu Ning’s flat statement instantly doused the beautiful fantasies of seafood held by the girls present.

“Actually, besides that Level 7 giant octopus we’ve seen, all the other mutated animals in the ocean are incredibly dangerous,” Sun Jia added considerately. “Any humans who tried to scavenge seafood to fill their bellies even ability users ended up becoming food for those creatures instead.”

Since the apocalypse, the entire world had undergone earth-shattering changes. The land was transformed, and the ocean was naturally no exception. In fact, the vast and mysterious sea harbored far more unknown dangers than the land. Post-apocalyptic marine life evolved even more rapidly and ferociously than terrestrial animals.

On land, besides mutated beasts, there were zombies, ability users, and ordinary humans with decent combat skills. While these various groups competed and fought one another, the overlords of the ocean were constantly devouring other marine life. Without interference from humans, zombies, or other mutated beasts, the evolution speed of sea creatures was unimaginably fast. For instance, while the highest-level ability user in the base was only Level 5, the ocean already contained high-level mutated organisms reaching Level 7.

The giant octopus was just one of them. According to Sun Jia’s speculation, given the vastness of the South Sea and its abundance of life, there was definitely more than one Level 7 creature. It just so happened that the waters and beach near Zuo’ning Town had likely been claimed by this Level 7 giant octopus as its territory. This successfully evolved high-level beast was massive, but its eight tentacles were also incredibly flexible and powerful. They allowed the octopus to move from the deep sea to the shallows and even lunge onto the beach. After snatching humans attempting to scavenge for food, it could easily retreat back into the ocean.

Once, a very powerful team of ability users from the base—whose average level was above Level 4, with one member even being stronger than the base leader Qi Sheng was at the time ventured to the shore. They believed that even if they weren’t strong enough to fight a Level 7 octopus, they would at least be fast enough to escape. They thought they could gather a basket of seafood to satisfy their cravings before the monster lunged out of the surf.

The result was the total annihilation of that 18-member elite squad; not a single person returned. No one knew exactly what kind of attack they encountered on the sand that prevented even one person from escaping the octopus’s clutches.

Of course, it wasn’t as if no survivor had ever escaped. It was thanks to one lucky survivor that the rest of the base learned of the Level 7 octopus’s existence. Previously, when ability users went to the beach and vanished without exception, people only suspected the presence of Level 5 or 6 creatures. No one imagined a high-level octopus was lurking there.

Despite knowing about the Level 7 monster, there were still many daredevil ability users and starving ordinary people who continued to gamble with their lives by venturing to the beach. They reasoned that no matter how strong the octopus was, it couldn’t lurk in the shallows at all times. It would eventually be drawn away by other prey in the deep sea.

If they gambled correctly, the rewards were immense. One lucky team of ordinary people and ability users had actually brought back three large crates of fresh seafood. Simultaneously, they harvested hundreds of crystal nuclei, mostly Level 1 and Level 2. According to them, after the tide went out, the giant crabs crawling on the beach were mostly Level 1 or 2 mutated crabs. These were easy for a Level 3 ability user to handle—once their giant claws were disabled, they weren’t scary at all. As for the other shellfish, they were even less of a threat; they had only mutated to have harder shells. Even an ordinary person without powers could handle them with a shovel or a machete by flipping them over.

That single harvest made the team rich overnight. Not only did they obtain a massive amount of nuclei from the crabs, conchs, and clams, but the seafood itself sold for a premium at the base, earning them even more wealth.

Such a staggering profit immediately made others in the base envious. Consequently, even knowing the beach was dangerous and the Level 7 octopus existed, many people continued to form groups to try their luck. However, not everyone who gambled their life was lucky, and not everyone won the bet.

Those risking their lives didn’t realize that, besides the terrifying octopus, the area was also home to many Level 5 and 6 mutated creatures. They focused so much on watching for the octopus that they were blindsided by the other horrors hidden in the water. When the Level 7 octopus was away, the beach became the playground for these “lesser” monsters.

Thus, Level 6 giant crabs with near-invincible shells, Level 5 freakish fish with massive heads and needle-sharp teeth, Level 5 sea snakes as thick as four men, and even Level 6 deep-sea jellyfish capable of killing instantly with their venom began lunging onto the sand to slaughter the humans who came looking for an easy score. After ten consecutive teams vanished without a survivor, the hunger for seafood in the base finally turned into paralyzing fear. A speed-user who managed to crawl back with one arm torn off told everyone that many marine mutations allowed the creatures to move freely beyond the deep sea. When they attacked on the beach, their movements weren’t restricted at all.

The speed-user’s warning put the entire base on high alert. Some forward-thinkers even worried that these terrifying marine creatures might one day turn their sights toward the base itself.

With the warning and the mounting body count of annihilated teams, the restless hearts of most people in the base finally cooled. They stopped blindly dreaming of striking it rich on the shore. However, this did not include the team that had struck it lucky the first time.

Having tasted the massive benefits of their initial risk and emerging unscathed, that team felt they were the exception. Once they had exhausted their crystal nuclei and raised their levels by one rank, they ventured back to the sea while everyone else was staying away in fear…

“They didn’t make it back this time?” Hearing Sun Jia’s story, Tang Ying interrupted with a trembling voice.

“No. They never returned. Since then, even fewer people in the base have dared to risk the beach.”

“Fewer? So people do still go?” Jian Dan asked, puzzled. “With so many examples of what happens, why would anyone still go there to seek death?”

“Because,” Sun Jia shook her head helplessly, “there are always people in the base who feel that if they don’t try their luck at the sea, they won’t survive anyway.”

“…Sigh!”

While the girls continued their meal, lamenting that the seaside was so dangerous and delicious seafood had become so terrifying, Ren Chenxi was frantically calculating in her head. How many crystals could Level 5, 6, and 7 nuclei be traded for? Especially that Level 7 octopus—a Level 7 nucleus could be traded for… one million crystals!!!

A full million crystals!

Ren Chenxi felt that, one day in the future, she might become one of those adventurers Sun Jia described someone willing to gamble their life for profit. However, while those people faced certain death against the octopus, she was different. Ren Chenxi hadn’t forgotten that she currently held five SR Burst Cards. Five SR cards could be fused into one SSR Burst Card. An SSR card specifically designed for high-level enemies should be enough to handle a Level 7 octopus, right? Of course, she’d have to wait until she actually fused the card to see the detailed stats. After seeing the Greasy Card’s varying success rates against different levels, she had become much more cautious.

So, should she fuse her five precious SR Burst Cards into an SSR card?

Ren Chenxi’s brow furrowed as she vacillated. On one hand, she wanted to keep the five SR cards as a safety net for emergencies. On the other hand, she was incredibly greedy for that octopus’s nucleus. If she actually got a Level 7 nucleus, how many ten-pulls could she do? She could easily fuse five more SR Burst Cards afterward, right?

While she was torn, Mu Ning noticed her distraction. Although Ren Chenxi was still eating her rice and occasionally picking up a green vegetable, she was clearly no longer enjoying the meal as much as before. Why?

Mu Ning watched her for a while before suddenly asking, “Are you craving seafood now? You’re not thinking of risking the beach to scavenge, are you?”

Stunned that Mu Ning had read her mind so easily, Ren Chenxi’s hand paused for a split second. She then feigned innocent surprise and shot back, “Go to the beach? I’m only a Level 4 ability user; how would I dare take such a risk?”

Seeing the flicker of evasion in Ren Chenxi’s eyes, Mu Ning warned in a low voice, “You’d better mean that. You should know that not even I, nor even Qi Sheng, would easily take a team to the beach to try our luck.” The subtext was: A Level 4 rookie like you shouldn’t go there just to offer yourself up as a snack.

Hmph. Is being Level 5 such a big deal? I could blow your head off whenever I want. Ren Chenxi curled her lip in disdain and ignored Mu Ning, returning to her rice. With a feast in front of her, she should focus on eating. As for the beach… wait, just wait a little longer. When she had a few more cards and her strength had increased a bit more, she would find an opportunity to scout the area from a safe distance.

With her mini-map, she could detect danger and escape immediately.

In that case, she needed to stock up on a few more Flash Cards. Ideally, she should also try to max out her Hit skill!

Support