While debating whether he should go alone or if he needed help, a faint blue light began to glow in front of his face. The system map unfolded without warning, floating like a magical projection. A blinking red line marked the center of the lake, much deeper than the spots where they usually cast their nets. It was clear: the fish was there.
Long Tian frowned. He couldn't do it alone. Although he had strength and agility, he lacked the proper tools and the experience to fish out large beasts. The problem was, he couldn't reveal the existence of the mission. If he talked about rewards, spiritual energy, or infernal points, it would raise suspicions and he didn't trust anyone enough just yet.
He had to come up with a quick excuse. When the boat returned to the dock that afternoon, he pretended to be excited and claimed he had heard rumors in the tavern about a massive fish roaming the heart of the lake one that would sell for a fortune at the market if they managed to catch it. He said it would be a chance to split the profits and make a name for themselves among the fishermen. Mei raised an eyebrow, skeptical. Hao crossed his arms, and Lao shrugged, but after a few minutes of discussion, they agreed. After all, they had nothing to lose.
An hour later, they were all back on the small boat, gliding over the calm waters toward the coordinates marked on the map. The sky was clear, and the sun's reflection painted the lake's surface gold. The oars sliced the water quietly while Long Tian watched closely for the exact point to cast the line.
They didn't have heavy rods, but Lao had brought a reinforced deep-fishing reel something they used during giant eel season. Long Tian prepared it calmly, using a chunk of fish soaked in the blood of other specimens as bait. Then he let it drop, meter by meter, until it disappeared into the lake's dark depths.
Minutes passed slowly. No one spoke. Mei stared at the horizon. Hao had one hand on a harpoon in case things got out of hand. Lao kept his eyes on the tension in the line.
Then it happened.
A violent jolt shook the reel, and the line tightened with a dry, dangerous snap. The pull was so strong that Long Tian was nearly thrown overboard. If not for a swift movement, he would have gone straight into the water.
"It's here!" he shouted, clinging to the rod with all his strength "Help me, I can't do it alone!"
Lao reacted first, grabbing the base of the reel to keep it from snapping. Hao and Mei held Long Tian from behind to prevent the fish from dragging him out. The boat trembled, threatening to flip. The water, once still, began to churn.
The next tug was even stronger. The wood beneath their feet creaked. The rope stretched to its limit, on the verge of snapping, but it held. Long Tian tightened his grip, muscles straining, sweat dripping as he worked against the creature's movements.
"This isn't a normal fish!" Hao shouted, eyes wide.
"Be careful! It's going to sink us!" Mei yelled, grabbing one of the oars just in case.
For endless minutes, the battle continued. The fish swam in circles, dove, then surfaced with force, dragging the boat at times. The four of them fought in sync, sweating together, panting, swearing.
Finally, with one last pull, a colossal silhouette emerged from the surface. It was a monstrous aquatic creature, about eight meters long, its body covered in bluish-gray scales. Its head was elongated, ending in a flat structure resembling a massive saw, with razor-sharp teeth like blades. The water around it frothed with fury, and its black, round eyes gleamed with wild intelligence.
"By the heavens!"Lao exclaimed, trembling in both fear and awe.
The sawfish thrashed violently, splashing water everywhere. The boat shook. If they lost it now, it would be impossible to catch again.
"We have to pull it in!"Long Tian said, pale but determined.
"Pull THAT in?! Are you insane?!" Mei shouted.
But they had no choice.
The line remained taut. The fish, though weakened, still fought. Hao grabbed the harpoon and nodded. If they wanted to haul it in, they had to immobilize it first.
"We're going to need everything we've got," Lao said with a nervous smile.
The four of them got ready. Each had a role. The air smelled of sweat, lake water, and iron. It was time for the final step.
And that's where we'll leave off this part, right at the moment when they prepare for the real challenge: hauling the colossal sawfish onto the boat.
The boat creaked with every movement of the enormous fish. Water splashed everywhere, and each tail swipe threatened to capsize the vessel. Long Tian, soaked and with his muscles burning, didn't let go of the line for a second.
"Now!" Lao shouted, throwing the first hook into the fish's scaly body.
The iron sank into its flesh, but that only enraged the creature further. The Sawfish thrashed violently, smashing its head against the side of the boat. A wooden splinter flew through the air as the boat tilted dangerously.
Mei jumped to the opposite side to balance it out while Hao embedded another hook near the tail.
"We've got it! Pull now!"
All four of them pulled with all their strength. The fish weighed more than any of them had imagined. The taut ropes cut into their hands, and the strain made their bodies tremble. The monster fought for its life, but it was already wounded and exhausted.
In a desperate move, the fish's tail struck Hao. The young man flew backward, crashing onto the deck with a deep gash in his shoulder.
"Hao!" Mei shouted, releasing the rope for a moment to help him.
The fish seized the opportunity and thrashed wildly, yanking one of the hooks free. It snapped out, slashing Lao's cheek in the process.
Blood mixed with the lake water as the group fought desperately.
Long Tian clenched his teeth. He had nothing left to give, but he knew that if they let go now, it would all be for nothing. His body burned from the effort, his hands were covered in cuts and blisters, but he refused to let go.
"One more time, together!" he shouted.
Mei returned to her position, Lao ignored the blood on his face, and Hao, though wounded, managed to stand back up.
At Long Tian's cry, the four of them pulled in perfect sync. The Sawfish slowly began to rise, still kicking violently, but lacking its earlier strength.
Little by little, the monster's body lifted over the edge of the boat. The ropes creaked, the wood groaned, and the air filled with shouting, sweat, and adrenaline.
When the fish's head finally dropped into the boat with a heavy thud, there was a moment of absolute silence. No one could believe it. Their bodies trembled from the effort, but they had done it.
The fish lay in the center of the boat, taking up nearly all the space. Its sheer size made the vessel seem tiny.
Mei collapsed to her knees, panting. Lao dropped onto his back, smiling in exhaustion. Hao clutched his bleeding shoulder, still conscious. And Long Tian… simply stared at the fish in awe and satisfaction.
The enormous fish lay motionless, but it was still breathing weakly, its gills opening and closing with difficulty. Although its body was covered in wounds and bleeding profusely, its eyes still shone with a glimmer of resistance.
"We have to finish it off," Lao said, struggling to his feet and grabbing a harpoon.
Long Tian nodded, breathing heavily. He slowly approached the massive creature, still impressed by its size. Taking the harpoon with both hands, he let out a determined cry and drove it straight into the center of its skull.
The monster convulsed one last time and then fell completely still. Everything went quiet, except for the gentle lapping of the water against the sides of the boat.
"That's it," Mei said with relief. "We did it."
While the others regrouped, Long Tian took the chance to approach the fish's head. He pulled out a small dagger and began gutting it with quick, precise movements.
After cutting through several layers of flesh and tissue, he found something unexpected: a small, round, glowing core about the size of a walnut, embedded near the beast's heart. It was a dark purple color with red veins that pulsed as if alive.
Long Tian glanced at the others. They were busy checking the nets and securing the cargo. Without hesitation, he closed his hand around the core and hid it in his clothes before anyone could see.
At that moment, a translucent window appeared before his eyes:
[Level 1 Demonic Core Obtained]
A core belonging to a beast that has evolved from a wild creature into a demonic beast. Can be used as an energy source or refinement material.
Long Tian's eyes widened in astonishment.
Long Tian stared at the demon core hidden in his hand for a few more seconds and couldn't help but reflect:
"It seems that wild beasts can also become demon beasts..."
He carefully stored the core, knowing it was worth much more than it appeared. If a creature from the lake had reached this level, then that body of water held deeper and more dangerous secrets than anyone suspected.
After making sure there was nothing else of value in the fish's body, the others helped him arrange the massive creature onto the boat. The vessel rocked from the weight, but they managed to stabilize it and began the return journey.
The trip back was quieter than usual. Fatigue and adrenaline still coursed through their bodies. Upon reaching the dock, several fishermen and onlookers gathered, impressed by the size of the fish.
"It's a sawfish! A real one!" someone exclaimed. "I haven't seen one like that in years!"
Thanks to Mei's connections, they managed to sell it to a local merchant for a good sum. The meat, scales, and even the bones had value. The reward was divided among the five crew members, and for the first time since arriving in the city, Long Tian felt the weight of some coins in his pocket.