The crab was finally tossed into a bucket by Tom, locked away for the time being. Then he grabbed a little net and dove back into the water, determined to scoop up more crabs for a full pot's worth.
Tom never delayed revenge—unless he couldn't win.
Artoria, looking unusually cute, was being taught to swim by Rui Mengmeng, who held both her hands. With nothing better to do, Zhang Da Ye joined Tom in catching shrimp, crabs, and shells.
Tom was a true master swimmer. Beyond the basic strokes like breaststroke and backstroke, he could float lazily like a turtle, or slither through the water with the grace of a fish. His body was more flexible than a snake's, allowing him to pull off all sorts of impossible moves.
Zhang Da Ye followed behind with his goggles on, planning to help, but quickly realized he couldn't keep up with Tom's underwater dexterity. In the end, he gave up and just fumbled around for shells while watching Tom's performance.
Ten minutes later, Zhang Da Ye was stunned to find Tom still busy scooping crabs without once surfacing for air.
Only then did he realize—he himself had been watching Tom underwater for a full ten minutes without surfacing either!
When his little net was finally stuffed full, Tom felt his limit was approaching. He clutched his mouth, shot to the surface, and then hopped onto the shore, tilting his head and patting his ears to let water drain out the other side.
Whether it was water in his ears or in his brain, nobody could say.
Dumping his haul into the bucket, Tom decided he had enough for a boil. He set the net aside, picked up a fishing rod, and cast his line far out to sea.
The hook stayed still for a long time, but Tom wasn't the least bit anxious. He lay back on a beach chair in his sunglasses, sipping juice every now and then, looking completely content. His surfboard rested within reach—he was waiting for the right wave to ride.
Meanwhile, Zhang Da Ye, criticized for his ugly swimming form, decided to experiment with new styles. Relying on his stamina, he flailed around the ocean in his own chaotic way.
He glanced between Artoria and Rui Mengmeng practicing nearby and Tom lounging in comfort. A wild thought crossed his mind: maybe he should pretend to be a giant fish hooked by Tom, just to see if Tom could reel him in.
But he never got the chance. The waves began rising, swelling higher and closer together.
A storm was brewing. Alarmed, Zhang Da Ye paddled for shore, afraid of being slammed against the beach.
Artoria clutched her float ring in confusion, drifting toward land with Rui Mengmeng.
Tom, however, was thrilled. This was exactly the wave he had been waiting for!
With a swoosh, he snatched up his surfboard and sprinted toward the sea. His sunglasses spun off his face and landed neatly back on the beach chair.
In no time, Tom was paddling out on the board. Spotting the swell, he turned, stood on the board, and struggled to keep his balance. The wave rose and carried him upward just as he expected. Tom struck pose after pose, enjoying the rush.
But something felt off. He wasn't moving.
Frowning, Tom peered down—and locked eyes with a sea beast beneath him.
There was no wave. It was the creature itself rising from the deep.
Its body resembled a giraffe's, but its mouth was crammed with jagged fangs. One enormous eye, larger than Tom's whole body, rolled up to fix on the tiny figure standing atop its head.
The beast's expression twisted into a snarl.
Tom blinked, raised his surfboard, and smacked it squarely on the creature's skull with a sharp crack—then bolted, running midair as if propelled by pure panic.
A swelling lump formed where the board had struck, bigger than Tom himself. Though laughably small compared to the beast's size, it was enough to enrage it. Its jaws gaped wide as it lunged at the fleeing cat.
"Tom!" Zhang Da Ye, halfway to shore, instinctively turned back and paddled toward him—but quickly realized he'd be useless in a fight. Instead, he shouted, "Artoria!"
He needn't have called. Artoria had already leapt from her float ring, bare feet striking the surface of the sea. Sword-hand raised, she sprinted across the waves.
But it was too late. Tom was far too close, and the beast's neck was impossibly long. The poor cat was swallowed in a single gulp.
Though Zhang Da Ye knew Tom wouldn't die that easily, his chest still tightened. He kicked harder, rushing forward.
Artoria stayed calm despite her worry. As long as the beast had just swallowed him, there was still a chance.
With a fierce shout, she leapt high, sword raised. Her strike carved deep into the creature's neck.
Blood sprayed. With a wail, the beast's neck snapped clean through, and Artoria landed in a crouch on its massive back.
And then—something odd.
The beast had only just swallowed, and a small bulge rolled visibly down its throat, sliding toward the severed end.
Out tumbled a sticky, slime-covered little cat. A moment later, the beast's head splashed into the water with a heavy crash.
Tom froze midair, defying gravity itself. His face was blank, arms spread as if to ask the audience what exactly had just happened. To him, the whole ordeal had probably felt like a trip down a waterslide.
Zhang Da Ye reached him in time, catching the drifting Tom. He quickly checked for missing limbs before dunking him in the water to rinse off the slime.
Artoria and Rui Mengmeng swam up anxiously. "Are you alright?"
Tom flailed pitifully, reminded of the people they had scrubbed clean like laundry at noon. He dreaded being hung out to dry next.
Of course, Zhang Da Ye wasn't that cruel. He only flipped Tom this way and that, making sure he was clean.
Seawater wasn't the best bath, but it beat being coated in beast saliva.
"Ah… I'm saved!!"
A new voice rang out. Everyone froze, turning toward the source.
From the beast's torn neck leapt a tiny figure. It spun through the air in a graceful arc—then landed squarely on Tom's head.
With a splash, Tom was dunked back underwater, and the figure neatly took his place in Zhang Da Ye's hands.
The three of them stared wide-eyed.
Though small, the figure's upper body was human, and its lower half was that of a fish.
"A mermaid!?" they all exclaimed.