Boom!
The boundless ocean surged with gray waves, crashing against the reefs of Jingyue Island.
On the island, a flock of seagulls spread their cyan wings. Their eyes swept over the warships docked in the harbor as they circled above the town.
“Whoa… I must’ve gotten up too fast…” Luo Yu woke in an open courtyard, staring blankly at the mutated seabirds under the clear sky.
It seemed to him that these seagulls were wearing uniforms and carrying mailbags—were they delivering letters?
Before he could think further, a massive creature resembling a “white whale” slipped through the sea of clouds. Its silvery scales and plumage gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight. It no longer looked like any lifeform from Earth.
“What the hell is that… Who am I? Where am I…” Luo Yu’s head spun.
“I remember now…”
In his previous life, he had been a breeder at a pet breeding base, working to develop new pet breeds.
After years of hard work, he had finally bought a car and a house—and then the apocalypse came…
Countless alien water orbs streaked densely through the sky, plunging into Earth’s atmosphere. A worldwide rainstorm descended with them.
Large numbers of living things mutated rapidly after contact with the rainwater and became zombies!
Man-eating monsters, along with relentless terrible weather, caused the original order of society to collapse quickly.
Luo Yu’s last memory was of being forced to roast and eat a zombie fish due to food shortage.
Unsurprisingly, he died.
Of food poisoning.
When he opened his eyes again, he had arrived in this unfamiliar place.
Everything before him made Luo Yu judge that he had probably transmigrated…
“Sure enough!” After getting up, he walked to a pond in the courtyard and looked at his reflection. A well-proportioned youth appeared in the water. He looked only fifteen or sixteen, right?
But what concerned Luo Yu more was that the pond contained many palm-sized black octopuses. Even their appearance no longer resembled any species on Earth.
“This octopus… can it be eaten?”
Perhaps because he had not eaten for so long, everything looked like food to Luo Yu now.
The unfamiliar black octopus before him looked quite chewy. If made into teppanyaki octopus or a small seafood dish with sauce, it might be delicious.
“Forget it… I got a second chance at life for free. I’d better not eat randomly.”
Luo Yu hesitated and was just about to look away when rows of strange characters suddenly appeared on one of the black octopuses he was staring at.
[Species]: Inkfish
[Attribute]: Water
[Species Rank]: Lower-Tier Common Species
[Life Level]: Level 1
[Species Ability]: Ink Spray
[Individual Talent]: Deadly Poison (Common Talent. Possesses toxicity exceeding that of ordinary individuals.)
Was he hallucinating from hunger?
Luo Yu froze and rubbed his eyes.
The words disappeared, but when he turned to look at another one…
He could still see the information. The content was almost the same, except for the talent section.
[Individual Talent]: Jet Warrior (Common Talent. Higher precision in ink spraying than ordinary individuals.)
“What is all this…”
“With both deadly poison and jet warrior… yeah, definitely can’t eat it.”
There was even an information prompt…
Thank you, mysterious panel.
But the prompt wasn’t enough. Where exactly was this? Could anyone tell him!
Just as Luo Yu shouted inwardly, his consciousness suddenly spun. Countless images flowed through his mind.
Islands, warships, harbors, a mutated creature research institute…
His breathing quickened, and he instinctively tried to break free from that state.
“This is…”
Only after successfully breaking free did Luo Yu realize that it seemed to be the original owner’s memories… exactly what he needed most right now.
According to the vague memories, this seemed to be a world dominated by the ocean, with very little land.
The seas were filled with all kinds of powerful mutated sea beasts, making them extremely dangerous. Because of this, a group called “Beast Masters” held an extraordinary status!
They developed special abilities, contracted sea beasts, used those beasts as ships and weapons, hunted ocean resources, and protected one human settlement after another.
On the backs of some top Beast Masters’ pet beasts, cities and even nations could even be built.
And Luo Yu’s current identity was that of an apprentice Beast Master on Jingyue Island, a small human settlement. Luo Yu.
Same name, same surname, and even some resemblance in appearance, but he was no longer that corporate drone trapped in a building by the rainstorm.
Right now, he was living in the biological research institute that the island had assigned to the original owner’s parents.
Luo Yu raised a hand to block the glaring sunlight. He had only eaten one zombie fish—where the hell had it brought him?
“Not long ago, in order to buy an extraordinary pet beast cub for the original owner, Luo Yu’s parents, who were both ‘Biologists,’ were attacked by a sea beast on their way to Canglan Island, the largest human settlement. The ship was destroyed, and they died…”
“After learning the terrible news, the original owner could not bear the blow and committed suicide by taking a large amount of sleeping pills…”
Now Luo Yu understood what the black octopuses in the pond were.
Research materials…
Luo Yu’s parents had both been obsessed with mutated creature research. Though they had not achieved anything astonishing, they were somewhat famous on Jingyue Island. The evolution of the inkfish was currently one of the problems they were trying to solve.
Normally, the evolution of organisms was extremely slow. But this world was special. Under the influence of supernatural power, sometimes only a single opportunity was needed for one species to evolve into another, more powerful species.
Years ago, someone had witnessed the evolution ritual of a group of wild inkfish.
During the ritual, a large number of inkfish would turn into black ink, merge with one another, condense into new forms in the sea, and finally complete their transformation.
The strength after fusion evolution was said to be terrifying. They became a “King Species,” and their bodies could easily crush ships.
Once the news spread, the price of inkfish skyrocketed. Many people rushed to breed them, hoping to discover the principle of evolution. But even now, no one had successfully reproduced that evolution ritual. Luo Yu’s parents had been two of those suckers.
“So I transmigrated into a supernatural ocean world where mutated creatures and humans coexist, with a power system based on ‘Beast Taming’?”
“But couldn’t you give me a normal start? My previous life I was an orphan who grew up on social welfare. This time my parents are sacrificed to heaven again…”
Luo Yu looked at the group of inkfish.
The craze for breeding inkfish had long passed, and their price had collapsed. They were practically liabilities…
On top of that, the original owner’s parents had sold all their other assets to buy a pet beast, so now Luo Yu was unquestionably broke.
He could not even afford a decent pet beast… How was he supposed to survive in this world?
Even if he became a farmer in this world, it seemed he would need a pet beast to handle ripening and watering so that crops could grow quickly and well… Contracting a pet beast was no less important than being reborn a second time!
Although he vaguely remembered that Jingyue Island’s welfare was decent and it would distribute free pet beast contracts to eligible Beast Masters, was there really a bright future in contracting a free pet beast?
“It’ll probably be pitch black. Should’ve never lent my light to Tiga back then… Huh… wait…!” Luo Yu suddenly realized something.
Wait, had he just been able to see the information of those inkfish?
In his memories, no one else had this ability.
A cheat ability…?
After observing for a while, Luo Yu discovered that many of the inkfish here had non-dominant talents—hidden talents that were hard to discover without careful digging. They were like a group of college students who appeared useless on the surface but unknowingly possessed talents such as “marksmanship,” “diving,” and “perfect pitch.”
As a breeder who had worked in pet breeding for many years, his heart suddenly raced…
This ability seemed to be usable for breeding mutated creatures and farming premium traits?
Find low-ranked individuals hiding excellent talents, let them mate, produce offspring, continuously optimize the bloodline, and inherit premium talents. Over several generations, wasn’t that a kind of “evolution” too?
In his previous life, as an orphan, he had loved keeping pets since childhood and enjoyed their companionship.
After growing up, he also worked in pet-related industries, and he was especially interested in breeding all kinds of new pet breeds.
Even when playing monster-catching games, he was not one of the mainstream collectors or battle-focused players. Instead, he preferred quietly hatching eggs at his base and breeding the cubs he liked…
But in reality, no matter how carefully ordinary creatures were bred, what was born in the end was still an ordinary creature, with no huge difference.
However, in this world where the evolution of creatures defied reason… perhaps he could breed a super individual capable of breaking racial shackles and possessing evolution qualifications?
Luo Yu’s hands trembled slightly.
Wasn’t this world a breeder’s dream?
So perhaps he could inherit the original owner’s parents’ profession and also engage in mutated creature research?
Biologists were a very noble profession in this world, especially marine biologists with major research achievements.
After all, the system of this world revolved around ocean life.
Research mutated sea beasts… Once he produced a series of achievements, wouldn’t he have money!
“Also… even if I don’t have money, it seems I won’t have to worry about not being able to buy an extraordinary pet beast.”
Luo Yu also discovered that the individual talents of mutated beasts were ranked too.
Among these hundreds of inkfish, aside from most having common talents such as “Cold Resistance,” “Focus,” and “Strongman,” four possessed “Advanced Talents,” and one of them even possessed a “Dual Talent.”
They were “Breeding Champion,” “Dark Affinity,” “Eight-Blade Style,” “Mercy,” and “Tough Hide”!
“Breeding Champion, Advanced Talent: more likely to produce outstanding offspring than ordinary individuals.”
“Dark Affinity, Advanced Talent: possesses the aptitude to comprehend and master dark-element abilities.”
“Eight-Blade Style, Advanced Talent: its eight tentacles can flexibly control tools and abilities simultaneously.”
And “Mercy, Advanced Talent: the ink it sprays has hemostatic and healing effects; Tough Hide, Common Talent: stronger resistance to blows than ordinary individuals.” These two talents appeared on the same inkfish at the same time. It was the only Dual-Talent individual here.
Palm-sized inkfish were unquestionably just trash-tier mutated beasts at the bottom of the food chain…
But on these four inkfish with Advanced Talents, Luo Yu saw different possibilities. Take that Breeding Champion, for example—it was practically prepared for him.
And that “dark octopus,” for instance, if cultivated specifically, its combat power would definitely crush those ordinary individuals once it learned dark-element abilities beyond its own attribute.
There might even be a chance to provoke mutated beasts of a higher species rank…
So, since he had no money to contract a higher-tier mutated beast, was it possible to snag a bargain—one with an ordinary species rank but an incredibly heaven-defying hidden talent—and contract it?
A low species rank did not necessarily mean low potential if the individual talent was strong!
It was just that no one had discovered their shining points.
Moreover, species rank could be improved through mutated evolution, while talents were innate. Clearly, individuals with higher talents had greater potential.
Although Luo Yu wanted more to personally breed a satisfactory pet beast—for example, having two Advanced-Talent individuals mate and produce offspring that possessed both Advanced Talents—time and money did not seem to allow him to do that for his first pet beast…
It was more important to contract a pet beast first to establish himself. Breeding could wait until later.
“Not bad. Let’s do that. There are plenty of free, wild, weak mutated beasts on the island. There must be a bargain to be found…”
Just as Luo Yu finished planning, a knock suddenly came at the door, interrupting his fantasy.
“Is anyone there?” A woman’s voice accompanied the knock.
Luo Yu was startled. He passed through the research institute from the backyard and arrived at the door.
Through the peephole, he saw a mature woman in professional attire holding a document. She looked about twenty-eight or twenty-nine.
Great. At least it was not a zombie frog knocking with its tongue again.
“Who is it?” Luo Yu asked instinctively.
“I’m Yu Wan, a clerk from the Beast Management Bureau. I’m here to deliver the Notice of Reclamation of Luoshui Research Institute Use Rights,” the woman said from outside the door.
Reclaim the research institute?
He had just planned to freeload using the identity of a “Biologist,” and now they were taking away his rice bowl?
Have a heart!
If he wanted to engage in mutated creature research, a research institute and laboratory were indispensable…
He had to keep Luoshui Research Institute!
“Please come in.”
Luo Yu opened the door, and the Beast Management Bureau clerk entered the institute.
“Miss Yu Wan, when exactly will it be reclaimed?” Luo Yu asked first.
Yu Wan stared directly at Luo Yu.
“You don’t recognize me when I’m dressed?” Yu Wan asked.
Luo Yu: ???
Weren’t you a clerk from the Beast Master Administration? Did we… have some other relationship?
Brain, think faster!
“You don’t remember? That makes sense. You were still young back then.” Yu Wan smiled.
“Here’s a hint: swimming lessons…”
Luo Yu fell into thought.
Luo Yu’s parents had valued the original owner’s education very much. Because of their busy work, they had hired many tutors for him to learn all kinds of skills.
Swimming was one of them.
About ten years ago, they had hired Yu Wan, who had recently graduated and ranked first in her school’s swimming exam, to teach him.
Why hire a student? Because students were cheap.
So the so-called “without clothes” referred to swimwear. Tch…
“Teacher Yu Wan…” Luo Yu said weakly.
“Good that you remember. About your parents… I heard. Please accept my condolences.” Yu Wan patted Luo Yu’s shoulder.
“You were just asking when the research institute will be reclaimed, right?”
Luo Yu nodded.
“You may need to have Luoshui Research Institute dispose of its own assets within seven days.” She flipped open the notice, preparing to explain it to Luo Yu.
“After all, this research institute was only allocated by the island. Under the current circumstances, according to the rules, it needs to be reclaimed.”
Luo Yu asked, “Then what conditions do I need to meet if I want to continue possessing the use rights to the research institute?”
Yu Wan stopped what she was doing and looked up, her expression surprised.
“Are you worried about having no place to live in the future? Your parents were scholars who contributed to the island’s development. From now on, whether it’s housing or schooling, the island will make proper arrangements for you. Don’t worry…”
“That’s not what I mean.” Luo Yu shook his head.
“Then what?”
“My parents still have an important research project about inkfish underway. Although they met with an accident, I participated in the entire research as their assistant. I’m confident I can complete the rest. Therefore, I still want one year of use rights to the research institute.”
“Within a year, I will produce an important research result about inkfish.”
The first part of what he said was naturally made up. Although “Luo Yu” often helped his parents with some tasks as an assistant, it was mostly odd jobs. He had never touched the core experiments.
However, Luo Yu was indeed confident that he could produce a research result about inkfish within a year.
It did not necessarily have to be finding the method of evolution, but breeding a batch of more valuable individuals should be no problem.
“Are you serious?” Yu Wan looked at Luo Yu suspiciously.
Luo Yu said, “There’s no need for me to lie. I just don’t want their hard work to be ruined…”
“I see.” Yu Wan was very surprised.
Luo Yu’s reaction did not resemble that of a youth who had just lost both parents…
She had originally thought Luo Yu would numbly accept the notice.
“But I can’t make decisions about what you said. I can only truthfully report it to my superiors,” Yu Wan said.
“Then I’ll trouble you, Teacher Yu Wan.” Luo Yu thanked her.
“No problem. I’ll come again this afternoon or tomorrow.” Yu Wan nodded and prepared to leave.
However, just as she reached the door, she suddenly remembered something and turned back to add, “By the way, don’t run around outside recently. There are suspected signs of zombie activity in the nearshore waters. After all, it’s not long before the ‘Tide Zombie Cataclysm.’ Your research shouldn’t require field investigation, right?”
“No…” Luo Yu was about to thank her again,
but the next moment,
his expression suddenly stiffened slightly, and he doubted whether he had heard something wrong.
Zombies?
What the hell? Hadn’t he transmigrated to a different world where humans and mutated sea beasts coexisted? Why the hell were there still zombies?
And in the sea?
The fragmented, chaotic memories continued to piece together in his mind. After a moment, Luo Yu fell silent.
So that was it… He had not transmigrated to a different world at all…
He had clearly arrived in a future world that had experienced the rainstorm apocalypse, where sea levels had risen madly and the ocean had swallowed most of the land!
Under the baptism of the mysterious rainstorm, some animals on Earth first underwent erroneous evolution. Their genes collapsed, and they became zombies and zombie beasts. However, not long after, correct evolution routes appeared one after another.
Mutated beasts that wielded powerful strength and could maintain their sanity were also born.
The surviving humans simultaneously evolved abilities to control mutated creatures, preventing humanity from going extinct.
From then on, Earth officially entered the Ocean Beast Taming Era. The “Tide Zombie Cataclysm” that Yu Wan spoke of referred to the act of those deep-sea zombie beasts attacking human settlements along with the once-a-decade super tide, commonly known as the “zombie tide.” And the next great tide was now less than a year away…