Looking around, Anon noticed a massive monster sprawled on the floor in front of him.

The creature resembled a gigantic catfish, with a dark yellow hue. Sticky liquid oozed from its glands, much like the substance Anon had seen at the cave entrance.

The Catfish was humongous in size similar to an elephant and it had two basketball sized eyes.

It also had a fin and a mouth so big to fit, that two horses can fit inside easily.

It sported four human-like legs on its body, and, thankfully, it was sound asleep.

‘What the heck is that?’ Anon wondered, his eyes widening in surprise.

Name: Unknown

Race: Danglemouth Catfish

Level: 609

HP: ???

/???

MP: ???

/???

Description: A mutated catfish that has grown enormous due to the waters of Dileca.

‘Waters of Dileca?’ Anon mused as he spotted a sizable pond nearby, adjacent to the catfish.

The pond held crystal-clear water with a radiant blue hue, emitting a dense mana aura.

Name: Water of Dileca

Level ???

Description: A mysterious water that has immense healing properties and insane amount of mana packed inside it. No one knows where this water comes from but it is said that the gods bless elfs once in a while with this water.

Master, that’s the mana source. Link informed.

‘Yes, I can see that,’ Anon replied.

Master, you should immerse yourself in this water. It could grant you unimaginable powers. The longer you spend in it, the stronger you’ll become. This catfish likely spent considerable time in it, explaining its size. Link explained.

‘Yeah, I was thinking the same,’ Anon said, beginning to undress.

Master, what are you doing? Link questioned.

‘What do you mean? I’m disrobing to bathe in it. You just said it right, the longer I stay, the more powerful I’ll become, so i am going to take a bath in it.’ Anon responded.

I don’t believe you understand, Master. Others need to purify the water’s mana before using it, but you have me. I can absorb and purify the mana, then transfer it to you in one go. Link clarified.

‘Wait, you can do that?’ Anon asked, his confusion evident.

I can, Master. Just dip your hand into the water and i will suck it out. Link instructed.

‘Alright.’ Anon complied, submerging his hand. Suddenly, the water rushed into his fingers at an astonishing rate.

In just 4 minutes and 33 seconds, the entire pond had emptied. Link had absorbed every single drop of the water.

Master, I’ve acquired it. We should leave this place as soon as possible; because the catfish is about to awaken. Link warned.

‘Why would the fish wake up?’ Anon inquired with a confused expression.

You’ve taken every drop of water it spent its life in. It’ll realize this before—

Before Link could finished, the Danglemouth Catfish jolted awake, fixing its gaze on Anon with a very angry expression on it’s face.

Screeeeeeeeeeh

It emitted an ear-piercing shriek as it rose to its feet and started running towards Anon.

As soon as Anon tried to use the spell he felt a very sharp pain in his heart. This was the thick mana that was inside the cave stopping him from using any spell.

A human heart can’t purify this kind of mana. The best that can happen is, Anon will die from heart attack.

“Oh, **! Not good,” Anon exclaimed, sprinting toward the cave’s exit.

Dum-Dum-Dum-Dum.

The fish pursued Anon, using the sticky liquid on the walls to enhance its speed.

“Ah, now I get it. This **er uses its slime as a lubricant to glide through the cave like a joy ride,” Anon observed as he continued to run, though the fluid on the floor impeded his running speed.

‘And I can’t even employ any skills here. The mana’s density is stifling, and trying to purify it could stop my heart. I need to reach a low-density mana area to use spells.’ Anon realized, straining to flee.

As Anon was running through the cave, he noticed a rabbit doing weird stuff in the way.

‘Fucking Hallucination.’ Anon cursed as he continued to run.

The catfish was also running behind him at an incredible speed.

Master, we’re nearly out of the cave. Link assured. .𝒄𝒐𝒎

Seeing a source of light ahead, Anon gasped, “Yes… Let’s **ing go. I am out of here, mother**er.”

*Gop*

However, before Anon could’ve escaped from the cave, the Danglemouth Catfish swallowed him whole.

“Link i need Mana…” Anon shouted as the Danglemouth Catfish tried to swallow him and he fighted against it’s tongue.

Master, I’ve purified the mana. Transferring it to you. Link reported.

As soon as Anon felt the mana gushing into his body he used his spell.

Though tough from the outside, the catfish’s interior proved very vulnerable. Anon activated Phoenix Ignition, enveloping himself in flames that ignited within the catfish’s mouth.

Screeeeeeeeeeh

The Danglemouth Catfish howled, its mouth agape.

Recognizing the vulnerability within, Anon stopped the Phoenix Ignition and employed another skill.

A small fireball materialized before Anon.

‘Link, infuse this attack with your maximum purified mana. Empty yourself into it.’ Anon commanded.

Yes, Master. Link responded.

“Die, you bastard!” Anon shouted, channeling mana into the fireball.

The fireball shifted through colors—red, orange, yellow, white, blue—according to its increasing temperature.

Though Anon prevented it from growing excessively, the fireball eventually spiraled beyond his control, expanding out of size.

Anon hurled the fireball into the Danglemouth Catfish’s stomach, narrowly escaping its maw and running out of the cave.

Uncomfortable sensations overwhelmed the catfish. It retreated to the cavity it had emerged from, as creatures instinctively run toward their homes when sensing danger.

“Run, you piece of **. Run!” Anon jeered, watching the catfish flee. A smile appeared on his face.

Then, rays of purple light emanated from the creature’s body, followed by…

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

A colossal explosion that rocked the mountain, reducing it to dust within seconds. This spectacle was witnessed by the entire kingdom.