Just in time

"Wow, I woke up and there isn't a shark trying to kiss me." Tim mumbled, realizing he has slept like a rock and his fins feel heavy too.

Taking a peek around, it's fair to say that he isn't the only life form in this little nice hole of a home.

There are no threats, nothing to worry about but shrimps of the same species have slowly called this place home.

They are less in number this time, Tim can count 4 of them. He isn't hungry at all but 4 marble shrimps still equal 4 system points.

Cocky about being able to beat the weaker, Tim waves his fins cockly and shouts. "You're on my land!"

Finally, he digs jaws on the back of a marble shrimp, at the same time waves his barb and stabs another one closeby.

Few chomps later, all of the shrimps died although he doesn't really want to eat all of them considering that they will make the boy sleepy again.

When looking at these marble shrimps, Tim can only see 2 benefits. They bring health and easy system points.

[Available system points = 12]

"Nice, I'm gonna buy the hunting thing in no time." With buying in mind, another idea struck the boy and he didn't fail to put it into word. "Why can't I buy anything else?"

[For survival, you must buy every option there is before more options unlock.]

"You're a greedy bastard." Tim scolded, getting tad angry already but in a way he's thinking twice about offending this system, considering that it might be able to make the man go crazy. It's in his head after all.

Completely ignoring what Tim wants to say, the System continues with its own agendas.

[Hunger bar = 15/15]

[Health bar = 100/100]

[Sleep bar = 15/35]

[Stamina bar = 10/15]

[Barb venom = 0/0]

[Barb = Fresh and replenished]

[Based on current state, you can proceed with task 2.]

[Your second task = Locate and kill a sea urchin.]

[Killing an urchin will grant you 1 system point.]

[Since it's also a task, system will give an additional point.]

[Upcoming hunting tip, free of charge.]

[Try to avoid the urchin's spiky spines, don't let it touch your belly or head and just go for the bite.]

Tad concerned about his well being, Tim finally gets the opportunity to speak and weighs in. "What if I get stabbed?"

[You will feel pain.]

Well that's pretty direct, Tim needs such transparency in terms of survival but the task given still feels dangerous considering the reward.

Trying to be optimistic for once, Tim recalls a few sights. "I've seen plenty through the map thing. Hopefully I find one before the shark gets back."

The system kept quiet regarding that expression, no need to speak anything, the lady behind this system has said what she had to say. Now all Tim has to do is follow her recommendations.

Poking his head out of the red sea plants, the stingray instantly spots the left over body of that eel who became the reason of Tim's survival.

Well the eel wanted to eat Time as well but still, it's animal instincts made it a hero.

Gazing at as many directions that a stingray can gaze at, the shark seems nowhere in sight.

Maybe it had enough? Tim stabbed it a few times and the eel took a few bites off that shark as well.

Let's hope it had enough, Tim does not want to deal with it again.

This hole of a home he has found however, is too good to let go off so Tim has to remember it's location as it gives so much safety, food as well.

Waving his fins across the sea waters, moving slowly and close to the sand to not grab any unnecessary attention.

A couple of minutes later, he reaches the eel and sees it as an opportunity to finally learn what species it is.

Num num.

He takes a bite and the system starts yapping, finally breaking the 5 minute long silence.

[Eel killed. 40 system points have been added as a reward.]

Freaking out, mostly for the better, Tim hollers. "What!?"

But the system of course continues its own agendas, citing.

[Moray eel identified, statistics have been saved in your collection.]

[Effect on hunger, +1 bar]

[Effect on health, +2 bars]

[Effect on sleep, +2 bars]

[Effect on stamina, -1 bars]

[This information can be used endlessly regardless of upgrades.]

"Just let me get it straight here, I got 40 system points for biting this eel?" Tim shouted, excited and hoping that the system didn't malfunction.

[It looks like the shark bit the moray eel very badly, but it didn't exactly kill it.]

"But the eel wasn't moving." Tim weighs in, but in another way finding himself stupid for fighting about all these points.

[It was paralyzed from pain and giving its last struggle, you bit it just in time.]

"Wait so now I can do that upgrade?" Tim asks, his enthusiasm rising for the better.

[You can but system recommends to do it back in the den. Upgrading body parts is painful and can disorientate you.]

Looking forward to this a lot less now, Tim simply replies. "Oh." As a small bubble breaks out in front of him.

Thinking about the task, he pitches. "Guess I should find a sea urchin then. Oh and bite this eel, because it wakes me up!"

Another idea going through his head, Tim asks. "How many points do I have right now?"

[Available system points = 52]

More than happy, the young stingray celebrates. "I'm rich boooi."

...

Having swum about 50 meters from the den now, after crashing on the sand a few times because the eel messes with stamina.

Better than ever since he got here, Tim did a little rush against the water, simply because he can.

The thing with finding urchins is that Tim would need to look down all the time in order to spot one, but he can't.

His eyes can see left, right and a bit above. That's just how his eyes are naturally placed on his head.

To see below, he has to spin so either of his eyes catches any glimpse of the sand.

That was one option at least, but then he remembered to swim close to the sand.

That way, he can see everything from the bottom to top. Can look out for enemies as well and be less exposed at the same time.

Swimming just five minutes more, he finally spots an urchin crawling across the sand.