Chapter 585

Chapter 585: Who Will Save You? The Giant God!?

"Ah, this…"

"A whole school of little fish had actually swum to the surface of the water ponds."

"And they were all pure!"

"Unpolluted!"

"Should I…?"

"Could I be seeing things?"

What Trilobite meant by "pure" and "unpolluted" certainly wasn’t heavy metals, pesticides, or excessive antibiotics in the fish.

In this plane, the latter two absolutely didn’t exist.

As for the first…

If geological activities polluted the ocean, "excessive heavy metals" were still possible.

Like the "End-Devonian Mass Extinction" that wiped out shield fish and the "End-Ordovician Mass Extinction" that ended giant hornstone dominance—back then, the oceans apparently suffered severe heavy metal pollution.

But since the system’s "version changes" hint pointed to global monsoons and Marine Invasions—seemingly unrelated to volcanic activity—Trilobite didn’t dwell on it.

His concern about "purity" meant food uncontaminated by his spawn.

Eating anything containing his microorganisms spawn not only unsettled him but actually drained his Chaos Energy.

This was basically…

"Shooting himself in the foot!"

"Why did I cultivate so many microorganisms spawn?!"

"Ah…"

Complaints aside, microorganisms were non-negotiable.

Trilobite knew microbes formed every ecosystem’s foundation. To build his own ecosystem and reshape nature, suitable microorganisms were essential.

Besides, these microbes steadily fed him Chaos Energy. Even without hunting or taking "evolution orders," given enough time, he could get things done with their energy.

"Enough overthinking."

"The priority now is getting those fish into my mouth!"

But…

A major problem remained—water.

Though the fish hovered shallow enough for Trilobite’s weak eyes to spot clearly, they weren’t near shore.

He couldn’t just crouch and plunge his head in like before.

He needed to wade toward the pond’s center before striking.

And everyone knows water conducts vibrations perfectly. On land, Trilobite’s steps might leave no trace if he moved gently.

But underwater…

The tiniest movement would ripple through the water. Those vibrations would travel to the fish’s sensory lines, scattering the nimble little fish instantly.

So, generally speaking, even wading birds with legs as thin as reeds could mostly only adopt the strategy of waiting for a chance, letting fish swim close, and then suddenly bursting forth to dive into the water from above, catching them before they could react.

Other diving or swimming birds purely relied on speed.

But now, Trilobite actually had to wade through the water.

By the time he got there, the little fish would have already fled!

"Damn it!"

"Still, I had to give it a try…"

Even if the hope was slim, trying was better than doing nothing and giving up right away.

So, Trilobite moved his thick legs and slowly stepped into the water.

"Splash…"

A very strong ripple spread out.

"Dang!"

Trilobite grew furious!

For the first time, he realized that his strong and powerful thighs were actually a damn disadvantage!

"Indeed, an Ecological Niche requires trade-offs."

"Since I had chosen the path of large carnivorous dragons, I basically had no chance with small prey!"

"My big, thick legs created such large waves; forget about little fish, even snails probably felt it!"

"Oh well… oh well…"

Just as Trilobite was about to turn and leave, he noticed something quite ridiculous.

According to Trilobite’s experience of catching fish since he was little, that ripple was almost like throwing a brick into the water; the little fish should have scattered without a trace.

Yet now?

That group of fish…

Surprisingly, they hadn’t scattered!

They were still gathered together, doing whatever they did.

"Uh…"

"Could it be that these shield fish relied on their armor and thus had dull senses, with an underdeveloped lateral line?"

"That was quite possible…"

"I’ll try again!"

So, Trilobite carefully took another step.

"Splash——!"

This time, he was very cautious, and the ripple was lighter; but the wave’s strength only dropped from a whole brick to half a brick; after all, something weighing nearly a ton couldn’t enter the water without making a splash.

However, that group of beak-like whole pipe fish still did not move…

At least, they hardly moved.

The fish just swam around a bit, forming a very odd "formation."

"Uh…"

"Is this some kind of animal social thing?"

"But never mind, let’s go on…"

Trilobite carefully lifted his thick leg again and moved a little closer.

As he went deeper, the "water" in the "pond" got deeper too.

Soon, it covered his thighs.

He couldn’t even lift his legs out of the water anymore, making bigger ripples and waves each time!

But…

It still didn’t bother the fish.

"Splash… splash… splash…"

In the end, Trilobite stopped caring; it didn’t matter how big the splashes were. Getting to the hunting range was what counted!

Ripples spread one after another in the "pond," but that group of beak-like whole pipe fish just swam in place, not scattering or moving away.

Finally…

"Ha…"

"I’m finally in range!"

In truth, what Trilobite called "range" was almost like close combat.

Though he had the head of a Megapnosaurus, the Mask of the Shape-Shifter didn’t cover his neck; compared to Megapnosaurus and Giganotosaurus, Trilobite’s neck was thick and short.

When fishing, he usually had to hang his head right above the prey to bite.

Now, Trilobite was directly above those fish, watching them leave quick trails in the water that made complex patterns.

"I need to find the right moment."

His short-term memory was poor, so even though the fish’s paths were complex geometric patterns, he couldn’t keep track of them.

At that moment, Trilobite, as a Beautiful Nodosaurus with a Megapnosaurus head, was only focused on one thing—snatching fish.

"Um…"

"I can’t figure out their swimming pattern…"

"But I can tell they tend to ‘gather and disperse.’"

"I’ll wait for these armored silly fish to gather together, then take a big mouthful, like scooping fish with a net, and catch them all!"

Trilobite waited for his chance.

"Now’s the time!"

"Boom——!"

Trilobite’s thick, short neck suddenly plunged down!

"Hah…"

"Excellent, excellent!"

"This feels just like… insecticide!"

"Though calling you insecticide is still giving you too much credit!"

"After all, mortals are mere dust!"

"Hahahaha…"

"Perhaps detergent would be more fitting!"

Barbatos’s taunts and jeers continued relentlessly.

Had he been a gamer, he’d have been the type who loved spewing trash talk.

Of course, when a deity trash-talked, it was no ordinary banter—it carried curses and soul-shaking intimidation.

His voice resonated through the soul fragments embedded within the "Armored Fish God," piercing the Ether Sea’s barriers to strike the souls of mortal warriors.

Even shielded by the Holy Light from the Sun, the warriors fell unavoidably into momentary dazes.

On a battlefield where "Chaos Rain" streaked and pursued relentlessly, a split-second lapse meant defeat!

Shattered armor and spilled flesh drifted—the mangled remains of mortals floating in the Ether Sea.

"Look at your pitiful state!"

"Where is your Giant God? Where is he?!"

"Where?!"

"Hahahahaha—!"

The First Demon God roared with mad laughter.

His consciousness swept through each sinking warrior via his soul fragments.

But when he focused on the battle’s commander—Dekhaka, war leader of the First Paratroopers—the First Demon God froze.

Because…

"Heh…"

Dekhaka had removed his full-face mask. As a veteran Chosen Warrior, he possessed formidable combat instincts.

He was also among the Giant God’s earliest devotees, his faith unshakable.

Even Barbatos’s "trash talk" failed to faze him.

Yet the First Demon God cared little for that.

What gripped him was…

The raw hatred and mockery radiating from Dekhaka.

Hatred was understandable.

Barbatos’s magic had slaughtered countless Chosen Warriors—Dekhaka’s comrades. Vengeance was inevitable.

But mockery…?

"Mortal cricket!"

"How dare you mock me?!"

Dekhaka seemed to sense Barbatos’s confusion. Facing the Chaos Rain hurtling toward him, he raised a defiant middle finger. Then he closed his eyes and spread his arms, as if basking in some unseen glory.

"Enjoying death?"

"You think dying peacefully is an option?!"

As Barbatos plotted the cruelest demise for Dekhaka—to harvest his soul for eternal torment—

"Boom—! Boom—! Boom—!"

Deafening explosions erupted above the swarm of "Armored Fish God" embedded with Barbatos’s soul fragments!

A Colossal Head, mountain-sized, plunged downward.

It speared into the Ether Sea, hurling kilometer-high waves!

Divine power surged as the massive head charged, unleashing a flood of ether infused with godly might. It scattered the "Chaos Rain," its sacred energy neutralizing the chaos into nothingness.

The Colossal Head drove deeper, swallowing the entire fish swarm!

"Gluuuuurp—!"

"Crunch—!"

The Big Mouth snapped shut!

"Pshhh—!"

Its slender jaws clamped shut like a bizarre fishing net, trapping every last "fish"!