A New Beginning of Scales

The sound of relentless machines filled the air. It was the kind of noise you didn't just hear but felt pulsing in the back of your mind, unyielding. Daniel sighed. Another monotonous day at the office, another day sacrificing his passions to follow the path society dictated. He barely had time to think about himself, let alone his dreams.

But that afternoon, everything changed.

A sudden and brutal accident: screeching tires, an out-of-control truck, and the crash that snuffed out his consciousness in an instant. Daniel didn't have time to reflect on his life, to feel regret, wish for more time, or plead for another chance. He was simply gone.

A profound silence took over his mind, interrupted only by an uncomfortable sensation… of suffocating. He opened his eyes—or at least tried to. His vision was blurry, strangely restricted. Around him, everything was a deep, brilliant blue. He tried to breathe but realized he no longer had lungs. Panic was his first reaction.

"What the hell is happening?!" he tried to scream, but nothing came out.

And then, as if someone had flipped a switch, a glowing panel appeared in his mind.

[Welcome to the Aquatic Evolution System! You have been selected to be reborn in an aquatic world as a common carp.]

[Primary Objective: Survive and evolve.]

Daniel blinked—or something like that, as his new eyes seemed fixed and unmoving. He tried to process the information while reality hit him like a wave: he was underwater, unable to breathe air, and apparently now… a carp. A simple carp.

"This has to be some sick joke…" he thought, his human mind struggling against the absurdity of the situation.

He tried to move and realized he had control over his fins. Still clumsy, he began swimming in circles, observing his surroundings. The lake where he had been reborn was incredibly clear, filled with underwater vegetation swaying with the current. Here and there, small fish swam in schools, while larger predators prowled in the distance, their menacing shadows cast on the sandy bottom.

[Tutorial Initiated: Basic Survival]

[1. Stay out of sight of larger predators.]

[2. Feed to accumulate evolutionary energy.]

[3. Complete missions to unlock unique abilities.]

A small bubble escaped from what he assumed were his lips—or gills. He wasn't sure anymore. What he did know was that he was starving, and the system didn't seem willing to give him much time to question his new existence.

"So… eating? Fine. Where do I start?" he thought, instinctively swimming toward a cluster of tiny organisms floating in the water. He opened his mouth and absorbed some of them, feeling a faint wave of satisfaction.

[Consumed Plankton: Energy +1]

[Experience: 1/10 to the next level.]

"Great, it's like a game," Daniel thought. "A game where I'm on someone's menu."

He continued feeding, gradually gaining an understanding of his body and surroundings. The hunger subsided, but the sense of danger was constant. Something moved in the distance, fast and deadly, a shadow he instinctively knew he had to avoid. He swam into a dense patch of algae, trying to hide as he watched the creature pass. It was a predatory fish, something that looked like a mix between a trout and a nightmare, with sharp teeth and hungry eyes.

"This is definitely not a normal lake," he thought, a shiver running through his scaly body.

Hours passed—or what felt like hours. Daniel dedicated himself to consuming plankton and small aquatic insects, accumulating energy and experience. Finally, the panel lit up again.

[Congratulations! You have reached Level 2.]

[Choose an initial ability:]

[Fast Swim] – Increases your speed by 20%.[Basic Camouflage] – Allows you to blend into your surroundings for short periods.[Keen Vision] – Enhances your perception of predators and prey within 15 meters.

Daniel pondered for a moment. He was clearly at a disadvantage. So far, survival had been a matter of instinct and luck, but that wouldn't last forever. He needed to be strategic.

"Camouflage. Without a doubt," he thought. "Running won't help if I can't see what's coming."

As soon as he selected the ability, a strange sensation spread through his body, as though a new part of himself had just awakened. He tried activating the camouflage, and to his surprise, his body changed color, adopting the greenish hues of the algae around him.

"Impressive," he murmured mentally. "If this isn't evolution, I don't know what is."

However, as he tested his new ability, something unexpected happened. A voice echoed in his mind—a voice different from the system's.

"Interesting… a reborn one in this lake. It's been a while."

Daniel froze. "Who… or what… was that?"

"I am merely an observer, young carp," the voice replied, laughing softly. "But beware. This world is not kind to the weak. I hope you survive… for our next meeting."

And with that, the presence vanished, leaving Daniel with more questions than answers. He felt that, even as a carp, his journey was just beginning and that something far greater awaited him in this strange and perilous underwater world.