As I inwardly fought the third world war over clothing, the system seemed to want to contribute to my inner despair, for how else could I describe the message I received?

Congratulations! For having rescued the Cursed Princess of Oceania, you have received special rewards!

+20% Evolution Progress

+10% magic ability(due to lack of magic, the bonus has transformed into +10% aura)

+ Special evolutions unlocked

While I am plenty glad for the evolution thing, I am not so glad that little Shelly is apparently a cursed princess. Welp, nothing to do with me. I hope.

After showing Shelly around the safe reef and secretly murdering anything and everything that could possibly even be a slight threat to her health, I told her to get comfortable, for tomorrow she would start living like a real citizen of the sea.

Then, I retreated back into the Killzone, happy to see that literally everything in the area around me immediately fled. I suppose the sight of a 40+ meter long snake would do that to them.

I checked up on my status. It has been quite some time since I last did, so I was eager to see my progress.

[Nameless] [Colossal Serpent (1st Stage)]

Age - 0 years

Evolution Progress - 85%

Mastery - [Serpent's Dance - 80%], [Devour - 40%], [Extreme Constriction - 100%], [Aura Manipulation - 75%], [Colossus Scales - 100% (skill evolution ready)]

I was immediately intrigued by my evolution for colossus scales, so I clicked on it. However, instead of giving me options, the skill chose for me, apparently.

Colossus Scales ---> Scales of the Abyss

Scales of the Abyss - Scales forged from the pressure of the deep Abyss. Overall resistance greatly increases, becomes immune to any physical pressure.

... Well, I'm not complaining, but a choice or two would have been nice. I already lost the ability to choose my own growth, but isn't taking away my choice of skill evolution a bit much?

Well, whatever. No use crying over spilled milk. Besides, I have much more important things to worry about.

I snatched up a couple of small snacks from the Killzone before retreating back into the reef. After a brief search, I found my very first little throne, and with a strange longing for it, I happily settled my now huge body around and over it. The kingdom of Cute and Cuddly MurderSnakes has it's queen once more.

... Okay, I was originally planning on going back into the deep ocean, or abyss as the system calls it, end eat up some random losers, but I think I'll just sunbathe today. I missed the sun.

At this point, having my Aura vision activated was more or less a subconscious action, however, I now forced myself to turn it off. I wanted to completely relax at last.

When I finally fell asleep, I didn't dream. However, it was a refreshing and pleasant sleep. The awakening, however, could have been a bit better.

I awoke to an annoying mermaid brat poking my cheek, giggling slightly as she swam around me. I opened one eye and stared at her with what I hoped was a chastising look, but I doubt she understood me.

"Ms. Snake, look at what I found!" She immediately half-shouted after quickly casting her telepathy, shoving a handful of pretty shells and corals on my face.

"... Yes. Very pretty. I'm glad you like this little area." I said after a short pause. She nodded ferociously, a big smile on her face. Well, she's probably not going to find this place quite as fun in the coming months.

"Yeah, it's amazing! Everything is shiny and pretty, and the little fish around here are really cute!" She said excitedly. Aah, now I almost feel bad for what I'm about to say... Just kidding. I don't feel emotions.

"Yes, very cute. That's why you're going to kill them all." I said offhandedly. She stared at me for a second with a confused expression, that then turned into disbelief, then outrage, then finally resignation.

"... Yes." She said after a long moment. "You've gotten bigger, Ms. Snake..." She said after a bit, her voice now much more subdued than before.

"Mhm. I'm close to evolving my stage. I'm quite eager to see what it will do." I commented, looking at my 85% progress. It's about time, to be honest.

After telling Shelly to go do whatever she wanted, I got to work inspecting myself. I'd reached 45 meters in length now, and I could easily swallow an entire bus, far more if I unhinged my jaws.

Still... Why stop now? I could become as big as the ocean itself, although that's just a pipe dream. Although I lost the opportunity to ever practice magic, I still have my aura as a subpar substitute. Although, after observing Shelly do her own spells, I do admit I felt just a sliver of regret.

... Whatever. This is my path, and I will not abandon it. I'm lucky enough as is, being given a second chance in a relatively good environment, I really shouldn't be complaining.

And this was a path I would walk to the end, or die trying. With those words as the basis for my motivation, I took one final look at Shelly to make sure she was fine and headed off to the abyss once more.

I wasn't quite ready to explore the middle area of the ocean, but I was definitely strong enough that anything and everything in my path fled for their lives. Satisfied with having asserted my dominance, I plunged downwards directly.

An hour later, I arrived at the bottom. Thanks to my quicker swimming speed and gravity working with me, along with my new scales that made it a breeze to resist the water pressure, the trip was faster than expected. Nonetheless, I got work.

Keeping the location of the reef to the back of my mind, I made a long round around a 50km area, seeking out anything worth eating.

Eventually, by the time I returned to the reef's wall, three chocolate slugs and four queer sharks had found their way into my stomach. I swear the genetic makeup of those sharks was ridiculous. One had a head where its ass was supposed to be, for fuck's sake.

How the hell do they even end up like that? It makes no sense. It's like a 5-year old trying to draw a real-life imitation of cancer.

... Anyways. When, after a two-hour-long swim, I reached the reef once more, I was still unsatisfied with my hunt. Those guys provided very little evolution progress, but I suppose that was normal. Furthermore, I really didn't feel like risking my life against some of the titans of the middle-waters.

How troubling. At least Shelly looked happy enough, dozing in what should be my throne.

You damned pretender.