I'm a Stingray?

Chapter 259: Numb (2)

Timothy used up his entire mental and physical force for the sake of escaping the paralysation, but had no luck around such an attempt!

His anxiety managed to spike more every time he tried to escape from trouble! And worse yet, the eels were getting closer in all directions.

One of them had gotten close enough to swim right above his head, but thankfully the elongated creature didn't plan to cause any trouble worth mentioning.

Because these eels weren't searching for any marine animal in particular, and it seemed like they were just as panicked!

Timmy was covered in a bit of dirt, so he was mostly camouflaged from the naked eye; safe so to speak, but not exactly calm towards this whole problem.

He witnessed the panicking eels, using brute force in order to reap information out of these fish! They had killed several of them already, but the attempt that came from the higher in position, seemed quite like a pale attempt.

Because not only were these hundreds of fish, clueless. But they are also not the kind that would talk, this weird mind control that they are suffering with, likely had to do something with the inability of speech.

The scene was too cruel, even for the hero's taste, but at least these fish were absent-minded enough to barely even notice their own deaths. This was sad and convenient at the same time.

What managed to finally become effective, was the boy's constant attempts to wiggle around from the spot.

He did not make fast progress right away, but it was still worth mentioning. The hero just lightly moved his fin once, and that result had managed to spread wider, the more he put effort into it.

Eventually, both of his fins began flapping enough to escape the dirt that had covered his back. Such progress had managed to make him a bit happier to say at least, but most of the movements were quite limited.

That and he only managed to swim a couple of feet before crashing again!

He was thankfully still conscious, but felt more tired than he had ever been in this new life and possibly in the previous one as well.

[Can you hear me, guest? This is the thirteenth time I call you]

"I can hear you now, what's happening?" Timmy asked with a simple thought, because he didn't have enough energy to speak up.

[It's difficult to explain...] The system tried to specify, but that was when she lost connection with the hero again.

Such a sour fate felt tremendously scary! Because he wasn't losing any health, neither was he losing the system as a whole; but his senses just felt too numb to process!

His entire brain felt numb, that was why the sea-pancake couldn't hear most of what the system said - portions of his brain just refused to properly work.

They refused to function, but yet he still could feel one deep emotion, such as grief. He had managed to swim just a little bit a moment ago, but now all that progress went to the drain because he felt paralysed again!

This grief weighed heavier than a boulder, and managed to tamper with his other emotions: such as confidence.

It led him to feel more helpless than ever, and it was quite a hit on the ego regarding how such an insane situation had been caused by a single worm!

Timothy could feel his consciousness slipping away, along with his ability to move. But the more he thought about that silver worm, the angrier he became!

This hate had started with a handful of seeds, and irrationally exploded into tens of roots! Afterwards this root had been cultivated to a huge tree that no metal could cut! Surely, this was far too much hate and anger for a little boy.

It was as if the salty-waters themselves that were near him, began heating up by the shere anger he instantly developed towards that accursed worm!

He began regaining consciousness bit by bit, all because of this rage that solely grew bigger thanks to one thought: why should a mere worm make him lose so much control?!

His ego wouldn't allow that to happen! And although such an emotion was assertive at a massively toxic level, he did not want to give it up! Because it was this extreme stubbornness who is giving him strength.

In half a minute, he managed to move enough again to swim a little bit. And this time, he managed to get all the way towards one of the cavern's walls and hide in one of the cracks, which stood nearly thirty meters away from his former position!

This was a great sign of how much he had just achieved, just with the aid of anger! And the progress did not stop there, as he even began hearing the system again.

Although it might sound like a far shot, the system's vocal projection had given signs of intense worry. She was genuinely scared for Timmy's life, which was tremendously odd itself.

Especially since she was a sixteen-hundred year old system who had thousands, if not millions of guests before - she shouldn't be having this much care towards a mere stingray!

However, what the system had said right now was far stronger in comparison to anything else.

[You have been poisoned with an unidentified substance!]

[This poison is very stubborn and won't let me analyse it. I think it somehow is a conscious attacker, the worm that has attacked you can think!]

After hearing out what the lady had to say, his motivation was damaged severely. Which ultimately led to him losing a bit of control against the attacker that was raining havoc in his body!

But a dim light of hope still shone in his noggin, so he asked. "Tell me that there is a way out of this?"

[Oh definitely,] The system assured with a tone as firm as a mountain.

And then continued, [The poison won't let me understand it, but it can't fight me no matter how strong it is]

[Your toxic ego has just saved your life, but now prepare for the worst part yet]