Chapter 11: The Mutation Begins

As Lin Qiu stood bewildered, a beam of golden light erupted from the undersea canyon, bursting forth from the seething, flowing magma. In an instant, it vanished without a trace. This golden light was so fleeting and mysterious that neither the retinas of ordinary creatures nor the most advanced technology could hope to capture it. Yet, if one could see it, they would witness this golden radiance flashing across every ocean, mountain, and sky of the planet, gone in a heartbeat.

Gradually, the haze in the eyes of every creature began to dissipate, replaced by the faint spark of intelligence. Yet, in all of this, humanity was not involved. Lin Qiu did not notice, nor did any human, but among the birds, beasts, and aquatic life, subtle changes emerged—as if the birth of wisdom had just begun. Perhaps humanity had evolved later, no longer belonging to these ancient races. Or perhaps the structure of the human body prevented them from perceiving this sudden shift. It might also be that humans, having developed intelligence without mutation, had become the planet's rulers in a way unique to themselves.

High above, an eagle soared, its powerful wings outstretched, the landscape below reflected in its keen gaze. With a piercing cry that seemed to shatter stone and metal, the eagle folded its wings in a swift dive, talons extended. In a single fluid motion, it skimmed the water's surface, its claws striking with deadly precision. Water erupted in a spray, and as the eagle ascended once more, a ten-kilogram dragonfish was clutched tightly in its talons.

“B-b-brother, spare me—please, have mercy…” the dragonfish pleaded, its body thrashing, its distress conveyed through a desperate mental wave.

A flash of cold intent passed through the eagle’s eyes. With a shudder of its wings, it accelerated, and suddenly loosened its grip. The massive dragonfish plummeted toward the earth below.

“My fate is sealed!” wailed the dragonfish, its psychic cry filled with rage and terror.

Yet just before it struck the ground, a sudden gust flared and, in an instant, the dragonfish vanished into thin air.

Far above, the same eagle soared, the dragonfish once again in its talons, tears streaming from its eyes. With another mighty beat of its wings, the eagle became a fading speck against the distant horizon.

The mutations began in utter silence.

Out at sea, thunderclouds pressed low, and lightning grew wild and violent. Sheets of rain battered the heaving ocean, and the water level began to rise rapidly. A black, hulking back broke the surface, emerging like a continent slowly rising from the depths. The shape grew larger and higher until, with a mighty surge, a walrus appeared, lifting its head and raising its trunk skyward. A column of water spouted from its trunk, blasting three hundred meters into the air before merging into the falling rain.

Water cascaded from the walrus like a thousand waterfalls, pouring down its vast body. As it reveled in its display of power, the sea exploded once more—a giant great white shark, nearly a hundred meters long, launched itself from the depths. Its jaws clamped down, embedding rows of razor-sharp teeth into the walrus’s neck. With a violent twist, the shark’s momentum forced the walrus beneath the surface.

Enormous waves burst forth, then both creatures vanished, leaving only a vast, blood-tinged patch on the water’s surface—soon diluted and swept away by the sea.

Scenes like this played out across the ocean floor. Once-ordinary sea beasts grew rapidly larger, their eyes glinting with newfound intelligence.

“What is this?” Lin Qiu stared in shock as an octopus before him, once the size of his palm, swelled to the size of a millstone under his gaze. Its eight arms fluttered as it swam toward him.

“Haha, a little dolphin—looks delicious. Let me see how you taste,” the octopus broadcasted through a mental pulse, making Lin Qiu shudder.

Clearly, these sea beasts had awakened to intelligence and could now communicate.

Since his rebirth as an orca, Lin Qiu had encountered countless sea creatures, but they had all acted on instinct, hunting and surviving without thought. Now, these beings had opened the door to wisdom.

This small octopus even dared challenge him, the ocean’s apex orca. Did it take him for a sickly cat?

The octopus eyed the little dolphin hungrily, even wiping its mouth with a tentacle in a disturbingly human gesture, as if to clean away drool. The remaining seven arms stretched out like ropes, slicing silently through the water, reaching to ensnare the little dolphin.

“You’re courting death, little one!” Lin Qiu snorted, his body straightening as he shot forward like an arrow.

“So fast!” the octopus exclaimed in terror, unable to track Lin Qiu’s movements. Alarmed, it gathered its arms defensively around itself, its small eyes darting warily.

“Come on in!” a mocking voice sounded above the octopus. It looked up to see the little dolphin’s mouth open, a small black hole forming in its throat. Before it could react, an immense suction seized it.

With a piercing shriek, the octopus spun helplessly, drawn inexorably toward the black vortex. By the time it reached Lin Qiu’s mouth, a mysterious force had compressed it to the size of a peanut, and it vanished into the darkness.

Lin Qiu paused to sense the change. After devouring the octopus, the system promptly notified him: “Host has devoured an octopus. Bloodline progress increased by one!”

A system interface appeared before his eyes—on the second-level progress bar, a new mark was added.

“System, does this octopus have a nobler bloodline than mine?” Lin Qiu asked, somewhat vexed.

“The octopus is a species left over from the Triassic period. Over the cycles of sun and moon, its bloodline had degenerated. Now, with the onset of mutation, its ancient blood is awakening. Consuming it can promote the evolution of the host’s bloodline.”

Lin Qiu felt a twinge of frustration. He hadn't expected that the famed, head-popping octopus from viral eating shows would have such formidable ancestors.

Meanwhile, as time passed, the water around him grew ever hotter—the sea could no longer quell the molten rivers of magma below. Watching the magma surge and flow, Lin Qiu performed a swift tail flick, shooting away like a dragon in flight.

On the surface, a burst of spray announced the leap of a small dolphin, arching gracefully before plunging ahead. As he dove back into the water, he witnessed nature’s wrath—a waterspout spiraled across the surface, sweeping into the distance.

Along the coastal sea, anguished shrieks and wails rose one after another, echoing endlessly into the sky…