I'm a Stingray?

Chapter 95: Marlo

The crackling sounds continued to grow, ignoring it now was impossible regardless of what thoughts the most recent event could arouse, and what struck him amazed the most from this situation was a claw that finally managed to burst out of the ceiling.

The claw was pointy and no doubt large for a crab although it was just about 7-9 centimetres long, such a scene made the boy think just how that could be possible.

The thin line that coated the ceiling before had advanced more than ever, it had transformed into several holes and cracks.

One of these crabs bashed through the ceiling after and Tim could see the very rest of the ceiling in front of him, swiftly collapsing and causing quite a barricade.

The collapse was followed along with what almost felt like an earthquake, the crabs could feel everything shake but for swimmers like Timmy - the dust that came along with it was the most troubling, his vision was struck with what felt like several sharp pains.

Opening eyes barely felt like an option after that, thankfully both of them were functional but it was difficult to observe everything.

A slight nudge on his left fin was felt after, it wasn't anything painful but it sure didn't ask for permission or respected personal space.

He was pushed forward a bit like a ragdoll, at first it felt confusing but it only required a little bit of thinking to figure out that a fish was pushing him out of the tunnel.

The cleaner water the boy found himself at, aided to clear out the dust off the already limited eyesight, the salt didn't really bother him at any given time.

This situation was a bit tough to understand under these few seconds. Tim expected that the team digging him out would take a good while but this all just happened too fast, these dungeness crabs are not to be underestimated.

"How did you get down there?" A familiar tone asked, gazing at who was close by, he noticed Osira.

He was glad how she was the first fish to burst down there although expressing it with words was difficult - so instead he just teased. "You love to follow me don't you?"

Unwilling to tap out after acknowledging the tease, she contradicted. "I will follow you, dumbass. Just left you alone for a little while and you're here under the sand."

Recalling this situation and going back to the base root of the problem, Timmy murmured. "I just wanted a goddamn clam."

"Marlo!" A male tone shouted out and rushed in the scene like a torpedo.

With a quick glance, the group was able to figure out that the fast swimming fish was Koob. Thinking about it, there wasn't ever a time where either of these brothers was slow paced, he guessed their speed to be at least 15 mp/h at this point.

"What about Marlo?" Amie asked after swiftly swimming close to the fish whom a lot consider a friend.

Thankfully this long and thin lady can translate, although her face wasn't naturally capable of emotion, after consulting with the pufferfish: the aura she unleashed swallowed the entire team here, the inability to speak sealed conclusions and managed to freeze everyone else.

It felt as if a knot was on her throat, hesitation shone as an emotion and an alarm had to be forced out with all the force of her organs. "The hidden den is under attack!"

"Shit." Tim pointed out and instantly blasted towards the direction where he thinks the den is.

The reef seemed close by so that's a good start. Osira followed the hero along right after and took a right turn, signifying which way to follow.

For a little while they could hear the dungeness crabs bashing their legs against the sand, following the hero, but they were swiftly outswam considering that speed wasn't to their disposition considering size and thickness.

Although both of the swimming fish were swallowed in fear, Osira managed to point out what could be the main problem here. "All the guards are behind us."

Unable to catch up, the rushing stingray asked. "So?"

Less hesitant by speech compared to everyone else, she pointed out what most had overlooked. "So our strongest friends are not in the den, whoever is attacking us will have plenty to kill."

Once again, Tim felt anxiety raising up as he expressed. "Shit."

...

As they reached the very front of the entrance that the den held, it was easy to notice that it was as if blown open, triple in size and it's stubby coral architecture was shattered and turned either into rubble or sharp and long edges.

"What could have possibly done that?" Osira questioned and after checking how the rest of the tunnel was normal, it became more confusing.

It felt as if the attacker wanted to prove a point, what fish could they have possibly fought here when no one wasn't even there?

Rushing down the tunnel, they found a big fish battling the 3 large diamond stingrays whom had joined this village just recently.

Granting a bit more attention to their surroundings, they could see a lot of dead fish laid around the ground of this place or just floating about - their bellies facing the ceiling of this joint.

Half of the bodies belonged to smaller souls, but 30 or so belonged to foreigners and had patterns of which the hero could easily recognize ~ checkered pufferfish.

The focus slid away from these bodies once the diamond stingrays swung their tails around, hitting the enemy against the head and leaving holes bigger than Tim was in width.

The enemy shouted out in pain and anger followed along as a thick but feminine tone hollered. "The holy tar demands all of your souls, all of them!"

With one more strike against the head, the enemy was forced a couple of feet away and stopped struggling.

It's face aligned towards Timothy's gaze and he spoke. "You crazy old anglerfish."

After a split second, the dead eyes she carried, returned with a bit of life and the jaws snapped with a set of rage, urging to dig on flesh.