MASG chapter 18

 

The sounds outside were intermittent, and Mo An still couldn’t hear them clearly.

The past two days hadn’t been easy for him. It started with a stomachache, but as the discomfort grew, Mo An experienced profound hunger.

Mermaids are children of the ocean. From the moment he gained hearing and consciousness, the first thing Mo An had to learn was how to absorb nutrients. Young fish grow inside eggs. Parents give birth to their offspring but don’t feed them. Nutrients are carried by ocean currents to the hatching site with the richest nutrients.

As the water flows over the eggs, the unhatched fish begin to compete for nutrients, forcing them to fend for themselves even before they can open their eyes. Years later, the most efficient young fish will successfully hatch, while those with poor absorption will starve to death inside the eggs. This is a testament to the ocean’s survival of the fittest.

After death, mermaids turn into foam within hours. Born from the sea, they also return to its embrace. The foam becomes part of the sea’s nutrients, nourishing the remaining eggs.

Every mermaid endures this brutal birth, and Mo An is no exception. However, a successful birth is only the beginning of their lives and does not mark their transformation into mermaids. They must undergo numerous trials and journey to a special place. Only those who return alive will be accepted into the larger community. However, Mo An will never experience any of this firsthand because he has already endured an unprecedented catastrophe: predation at the hands of humans.

Now, Mo An feels as if he is back in that catastrophe, back in the depths of the sea. On the brink of unconsciousness, he felt a jolt. Was he being carried again? Where were they taking him?

After a while, the light around him grew incredibly bright—so bright that his tearless eyes began to ache.

Xia Yu and Mi Dou emerged from the sewer together. It was noon, and the intense sunlight temporarily blinded them.

“It’s so bright,” Xia Yu said. Having lived in the safe house for so long, Mi Dou was particularly sensitive to light, and tears welled up in his eyes.

“I’m sorry. I should have chosen a better time to let you out. But Mo An just can’t wait.” Xia Yu also squinted.

“It doesn’t matter. As long as we can save Mo An, this little light is nothing!” Mi Dou smiled, fearing that Xia Yu would worry too much. “Now, what’s our plan?”

“The plan… is that you take Mo An to a safe place while I go rob someone.” Xia Yu emphasized the words “rob someone”—it was clear he had made a huge decision. He knew it was wrong, but it was the only way to save Mo An.

“But have you ever robbed someone?” Mi Dou asked more open-mindedly than Xia Yu.

Xia Yu shook his head. “I should find a weapon so that I can appear more formidable when I rob.”

“Then why not let me rob someone while you stay and take care of Mo An?” Mi Dou suggested. “My mom and I were robbed before. They were big and fierce. They demanded that we hand over all our valuables and wages.”

“Huh?” Xia Yu was startled.

“If you don’t want to die, hand over the money! Or I’ll make you pay for it!” Mi Dou mimicked the words, looking quite convincing. “If one of us has to rob someone, I’ll do it. I’m stronger than you.”

“No.” Xia Yu was at a loss, but he had a key point. “I have to go. Your body is precious.”

“But your body is precious, too.” Mi Dou was worried he would get hurt.

“My body is the least precious thing. It’s not a big deal if I get hurt.” Xia Yu said as he began to look for a suitable place. Since he couldn’t avoid the cameras, he could at least avoid the sheriff. It didn’t take him long to find the perfect spot. After arranging for Mi Dou and Mo An to wait elsewhere, Xia Yu headed alone into the familiar alley.

He had been exchanging nutrients there recently, so there were very few people around.

Mo An, just hold on a little longer! I’m sure this robbery will succeed!

Xia Yu steeled his heart. “I’m sorry, Professor Wang Qin. I’m a bad boy now. I don’t have any money, so I have to cheat or rob others. But… I will never hurt anyone. Once I’ve taken the nutrients, I’ll leave.”

Just as he finished thinking this, four people walked in from the alley, one of them holding the nutrients.

The sight pierced Xia Yu’s heart. Others could easily buy what he desperately needed to save Mo An. But what was he supposed to say when robbing someone? Mi Dou had just demonstrated it for him…

“Ahem! Give me all the nutrients you have, or I’ll kill you!” Xia Yu stood there training, his expression as ferocious as ever. Mi Dou stood nearby, watching Xia Yu speak alone with a flushed face, as if he were arguing with the air.

Genetically modified beings got closer, and Xia Yu thought his robbery skills were perfected. It was easy to tell they were genetically modified—his kind—since they had visible genetic modifications.

Dealing with a fellow sixth-class citizen, Xia Yu took a deep breath, strode over with his arms outstretched, and spoke with a flourish. “Give me your…”

“Are you the child whose body turned transparent?” the shortest man asked.

“Huh?” Xia Yu was caught off guard. Did they recognize him?

“It’s you, after all.” The man walked up to Xia Yu. “Heard there’s been a genetically modified one wandering around these days—young, willing to trade body parts for nutrients.”

“Yes, yes, yes, it’s me. It’s me.” Xia Yu was actually a little pleased after hearing this. The fact that they were saying that meant that they needed something. “Do you want to see my belly become transparent, or do you need an organ?”

“We need one of your legs,” the man said. “We want to take it back for an experiment.”

“Sure, sure. Do you have a weapon? Quick cuts are best. A clean incision will help my new leg grow faster.” Xia Yu showed his left hand. Yesterday, someone chopped off his hand in exchange for nutrients, but the knife was too dull. In the past, everyone at the research institute knew how to use a scalpel. They were thin and sharp, and the incisions healed quickly.

“We don’t have our weapons with us. How about this? You come back with us.” The man pointed to a spot not far away. “That’s where we live. We have more than one nutrient.”

“Really?” In the past, Xia Yu would never have followed them, but now he didn’t care and followed them out of the alley.

Mi Dou saw it all. Where were those people taking Xia Yu? No, he had to follow! Without a second thought, he put Mo An on his back and quietly followed.

Just as the genetically modified being had said, their residence wasn’t far away. Xia Yu was nervous the whole time, constantly glancing at the side of the road, hoping to find a clue. Even if he did, though, he had to follow them.

“We’re all employees here, usually responsible for sorting the garbage.” When they arrived at the scrapyard, the man in charge turned and looked at Xia Yu. “What’s your name?”

“Xia Yu.” Xia Yu stood still, examining their features as well.

They all had scales on their necks that were likely genetically modified from some marine creature. Could they live freely in the depths of the ocean like mermaids?

“Xia Yu, your name sounds elegant.” The shortest man set the supplement aside.

“Someone gave it to me.” Xia Yu buried Professor Wang Qin deep in his heart. Lately, he hadn’t dared to think about her because the thought made him uncomfortable. He began to survey the surroundings. It looked like an abandoned waste disposal plant, complete with a sunken cooling tank. It must have been used to cool the engine heat of the crusher.

“Excuse me, but where is your weapon? Can we get it quickly? I really need it urgently.” Xia Yu revealed his trump card once again. A more discerning man would have known not to rush. Anyone who needed it was at a disadvantage in the transaction. But Xia Yu clearly didn’t understand. His only concern was Mo An and Mi Dou.

How long could Mo An hold on? Had Mi Dou been driven away? He was so worried.

“Don’t worry about that. We can start now,” said the shortest man, waving at him.

Xia Yu obediently walked over, wondering which leg they wanted. Should they remove the thigh as well or just the calf?

“I forgot to ask. Which one do you want? You can’t take both at once because I need to get home quickly,” Xia Yu explained earnestly. “Just one leg is fine, so I can hop back…”

Before he could finish, two men grabbed his shoulders with their large hands. They lifted him up as easily as if he were a piece of paper; his feet barely touched the ground.

Xia Yu swung his legs rapidly. “What are you going to do? What are you going to do?”

“Of course we want to study you! Since you can regenerate organs, giving us a few lungs shouldn’t be a problem!” one man said.

“Lungs? Aren’t they going to have legs? Lungs won’t work!” Xia Yu panicked. He had only had one lung partially removed. Half a lobe had been removed, and researchers at the institute had used a mechanical lung to keep him alive.

They concluded that his lungs could grow back, but his body couldn’t lack oxygen. If they removed his entire lung, he would suffocate before it could regrow.

“No! No… Ugh!” Xia Yu couldn’t speak. A cloth was stuffed in his mouth. It had been inserted too deeply, and he felt the urge to vomit, but nothing came out. He could only watch helplessly as they placed him on the shredder.

What should I do? What should I do now? Xia Yu thrashed his limbs, trying to find a way to escape. He hoped Jingwei would tell him what to do. But no one responded. Once again, he was strapped to the operating table, facing the fate of being disassembled.

The difference was that the people at the institute wouldn’t just disassemble him and leave him alone.

“If only I had his lungs.”

“Never mind for now. I’m sure they’ll come in handy someday. Jellyfish lungs should also be able to breathe underwater.”

“When that day comes, they’ll definitely come in handy!”

That day? What day? My lungs can’t breathe underwater!

These words rang in his ears, and Xia Yu’s tongue strained, unable to push the ball of cloth free. The cutter high above him began to spin, making a piercing noise. He closed his eyes, awaiting the final moment.

“Stop! Let him go! Bastards!”

A childish voice echoed throughout the factory, but it couldn’t drown out the swarm of knives. Mi Dou arrived just in time to witness the scene. Sure enough, these men had bad intentions! He didn’t have time to let go of Mo An and rushed forward with the fish egg on his back. Though he wasn’t fast, he was incredibly strong and knocked one of the men back.

“Get out! I’ll kill you too!” But another man immediately attacked, slapping Mi Dou’s tiny body over.

Xia Yu opened his eyes at the noise and saw Mi Dou and the fish egg tumble several meters. The white lab coat, worn and tattered after all this time, finally tore completely, exposing the large egg inside.

The giant fish eggs rolled toward the cooling pool and finally came to rest at its edge.

No, I can’t die here, and neither can Mi Dou and Mo An! Xia Yu’s will to survive was reignited as he channeled all his strength into his tongue. After repeated attempts, he finally pushed a little.

Try harder!

With one last push, the dirty ball of cloth fell out.

“Run!” Xia Yu shouted at the top of his lungs as he struggled once more.

Run? Why run?

Where can I run?

Can I run fast?

Mo An had these thoughts suddenly, and he didn’t know when he had regained consciousness. He opened his eyes and weakly moved his hands and tail.

“Let him go! Let him go!” Mi Dou grabbed a man’s wrist, was kicked twice, and then bit his arm hard.

Let go of whom? Let go of whom? Xia Yu? Mo An’s consciousness slowly returned, and his amniotic fluid sloshed violently. The fish egg contracted again, but not as much. A faint light flickered on his tail.

Through the fish egg, he saw Mi Dou being kicked and the little jellyfish being held down.

“Help! Help!” Xia Yu cried out. What if someone kind was nearby? What if someone rushed in and saved them?

Help! Help… Mo An closed his eyes as if he were falling back asleep.

The next second, however, his eyes opened wide, and his ear fins moved with the swirl of the amniotic fluid. Only one layer of ear fins had grown, and the gill slits on either side of his neck continued to expand as if tearing through the skin.

Through the gill slits, his bright red newborn gills could be seen.

The next second, Mo An felt an excruciating pain.

His tail fin forced its way free from the inner wall. During the struggle, his symmetrical tail fin split, and the fan-shaped fins tore apart. Part remained on his tail and part was trapped inside the egg membrane. The umbilical cord then broke, allowing pale blue blood to enter the amniotic fluid. Finally, Mo An broke free from the egg, freeing himself from his final restraint.

When his sharp nails first scratched the egg, it felt as if he were slicing through his own body. When his head emerged from the egg for the first time, his gills quickly closed as if they were nothing. His first breath of fresh air entered his nasal cavity and lungs, filling his alveoli and causing his lungs to expand rapidly. The calls of his kin echoed in his ears, and he recalled more things.

“Anixda…” Someone of his kind had called him that before he was caught and dragged ashore. The humans called him Mo An, but his true name was Anixda.

Little Jellyfish is clumsy, but he must never be hurt.

This was Mo An’s only thought after his early hatching.