Chapter Four: The Hunt for the Prehistoric Monster, the Fat Baby Fish

Inside the aquarium.

With the passing of days and nights, the number of Primordial Demons, which had started out as a mere handful, swelled to tens of thousands. In the blink of an eye, across the endless eons, they began to ascend to the status of overlords of their era; any being daring enough to defy their will would be torn to bloody shreds.

They hid within the crevices of fine sand at the bottom of the tank, the pustules on their heads gradually rupturing and sprouting vein-like tendrils—sinister and writhing, like venomous serpents poised to strike.

In contrast to the burgeoning strength of the Primordial Demons, the population of the original primordial lifeforms dwindled rapidly, falling to five figures and continuing to decrease.

“It’s time to add some food...”

Fang Zhuowei stroked his chin, thinking to himself.

If things continued this way, these still relatively normal primordial beings stood a high chance of being completely wiped out.

“Plankton are no longer an option. They’re easy to come by and cost nothing—just scoop a bucket of water from any river—but these spore creatures devour them too quickly. On the other hand, fish that are even slightly larger won’t work either. Given the current combat abilities of the spore creatures, who eats whom would be anyone’s guess.”

Fang Zhuowei frowned.

After much deliberation, he finally settled on his choice—a peculiar species known as Fat-Infant Fish.

The Fat-Infant Fish, also called the Stout Short-bodied Micro Fish, is a tiny species, only about seven or eight millimeters long, visible only under a magnifying glass. Slender in form and reminiscent of a little worm, it lacks fins, teeth, and scales. Its body is entirely transparent, devoid of pigment except for the eyes.

Although each fish measures only seven or eight millimeters, they are still colossal compared to the spore creatures—large enough to provide sustenance for the remaining primordial beings.

Fang Zhuowei purchased over five hundred Fat-Infant Fish. In addition, he made a special trip to the riverbank to gather a large bundle of aquatic plants.

Not only do these plants beautify the aquarium, they also provide food for the Fat-Infant Fish—a double benefit. He collected a species called goldfish weed, whose leaves resemble pine needles, a common riverbank algae.

The Old House.

Fang Zhuowei had set aside a room and placed the aquarium inside. From a distance, the modest tank resembled a vast expanse of rivers and lakes, its surface shimmering, the depths swirling with hidden currents—like myriad streams converging into the sea.

Without delay, Fang Zhuowei released the Fat-Infant Fish and the goldfish weed into the tank.

The swarm of Fat-Infant Fish darted about the surface before swiftly diving into the water, their black pearl-like eyes ceaselessly observing their new surroundings—curious as a brood of infants.

As the creator of this aquarium world, anything that entered its domain fell under Fang Zhuowei’s control.

Overlooking his miniature realm, Fang Zhuowei guided a portion of the fish toward the territory of the remaining primordial species, while another group swam toward the domain of the Primordial Demons.

Yet, to his surprise, the Primordial Demons showed no interest in the Fat-Infant Fish. After sniffing curiously around them, they merely returned to their sandy burrows.

The reaction of the remaining primordial species was the complete opposite. Clearly intrigued by the sudden appearance of the Fat-Infant Fish, they eyed them as potential food. Yet, daunted by the fish’s imposing size, the spore creatures merely circled a few times, refraining from a reckless attack.

Still, the hunger that haunted them would not abate, growing ever more agonizing.

At last.

One day.

The last remnants of floating algae were exhausted, depriving the remaining primordial beings of their final food source.

Driven by starvation, the survivors resolved to make a concerted assault, choosing as their target the Fat-Infant Fish nearest to them.

It was a mature female Fat-Infant Fish, nearly eight millimeters long—hundreds of times the size of a typical primordial being, as if a whale faced off against krill.

Though famished, the primordial creatures did not attack recklessly. Instead, they paired off and circled the Fat-Infant Fish again and again, scouting their prey like soldiers before a battle.

Tiny as they were, these primordial beings were supreme hunters—exceptionally skilled, experienced, and relentless.

Year 1,800 of the Primordial Age of Darkness.

A dire food crisis forced the remaining primordial species to finally strike.

Cautiously, they approached from all directions, moving in stealthy ranks, forming a wide, multilayered ring around the female Fat-Infant Fish.

Suddenly—

A dozen robust elite primordial beings surged forth from the shadows, launching a fierce assault on the Fat-Infant Fish.

Their claws, tipped with jagged hooks, tore into the fish’s flesh with savage precision, leaving many wounds of varying size and depth.

A bolt of searing pain shot through the Fat-Infant Fish, plunging her into a state of terrified frenzy.

Though not a predator by nature, and virtually devoid of aggression, the fish’s sheer size and lightning speed in water made her a juggernaut—like a locomotive at full throttle.

With one convulsive flick, her monstrous body sent several of the attacking primordial elites hurtling away, their limbs torn and their bodies mangled…

The primordial species suffered terrible losses in this battle.

Enraged, the Fat-Infant Fish rampaged like a prehistoric beast, flinging spore creatures in all directions, crushing them into pulp. Dark, bloody water spread across an area the size of a pinhead…

Yet, undeterred, the remaining primordial beings threw themselves at her, fighting to the death. One fell; another immediately took its place, with no thought of retreat.

Born hunters, they would not relent until their goal was achieved; death was meaningless to them.

At last—

At the cost of more than thirty of their own, the survivors managed to grievously wound the eight-millimeter-long Fat-Infant Fish.

Spurred by the scent of blood, the rest attacked with even greater desperation.

Moments later,

Within the aquarium,

A surge of crimson blood billowed through the water, and the wounded fish’s massive body shuddered a few times, belly up, then moved no more…

Her body, covered in wounds large and small, stained the surrounding water a vivid red, radiating a feverish heat.

Under the relentless, sacrificial onslaught of hundreds of primordial beings, the female Fat-Infant Fish—before she could ever prove her dominance—was finally slain in bitter defeat. Her corpse was instantly swarmed and devoured, providing the surviving primordial species with a bounty of energy and nourishment.