Apocalypse: System of lotteries



Amid the mountainside, the horde of zombies cleared a flat area. Ming erected a tent there. He carelessly placed the mermaid in a corner of the tent. Two hours had passed, and she had yet to awaken. It seemed she was in a deep slumber. How desirable are those blessed with sound sleep?

Sitting at the tent's entrance, Ming gazed at the vast ocean's expanse, its waves rolling serenely. He summoned Raoul, conversing with him for nearly half an hour before dismissing the creature.

Raoul hovered over the sea, holding a shark's head that hadn't been grilled and still dripped with blood. A spiderweb-like rope fastened the head, threaded through its mouth and gullet, with Raoul holding the rope's end. He dropped the shark's head into the water when he reached a suitable position.

Ming observed Raoul's series of actions from his concealed spot behind some low shrubs on the shore and felt content. After half an hour of instruction, the beginning was going well.

This technique was named the 'Shark Summoning Spell.' After all, those creatures are drawn to fresh blood.

Floating in mid-air, Raoul watched as a shark began to approach from the distance. Holding the rope, he circled slowly above, the 'baited shark head' moving in the water below.

Raoul gripped the rope with two hands while his other four counted on their fingers. He was certain that, currently, only one shark had been lured. It wasn't enough. He had to lure more.

[…]

"Clever," Ming murmured.

Ming didn't expect Raoul to be a mathematical genius; if he could count up to ten, Ming would be satisfied.

Raoul eyed the shark fins moving in the water, counting on his fingers. Four fingers. Yes, that's right. Not yet ten fingers. Still manageable.

[…]

From a distance, Ming looked through a telescope. The Shark Summoning Spell was effective. He hoped for more mutated sharks this time. His plan was straightforward: capture as many sharks as possible to power his 'aircraft carrier.' 

Ming wouldn't worry about their limited strength if it were ordinary sharks. But against other formidable underwater creatures, their lack of retaliatory power was their Achilles' heel. Sharks, after all, fight tooth for tooth.

In a slight panic, Raoul realized he had counted beyond ten fingers. But he figured anything past ten was still one. Right?

Raoul continued counting on his fingers.

[…]

Ming peered through his telescope and instructed Raoul: it was time to reel in the bait.

Receiving the command, Raoul began pulling the bait towards the shore, ensuring no sharks strayed away.

Following your command, Raoul plunged into the water as he approached the shore. Standing 6 meters tall, the water only reached his waist, and he positioned the bait between his legs.

[…]

Silent, Ming was certain he'd never taught Raoul this particular move. Raoul was being incredibly bold with his own form.

Raoul thrust all six arms into the water with tremendous force, seizing the sharks and hurling them toward the shore. For a moment, sharks seemed to fill the sky.

Using his "Eagle Eye" ability, Ming examined a shark that appeared to be around 6 meters in length and 2 meters in diameter:

[Three-Star King Mackerel Shark]

[Vitality 100]

[…]

[Weakness: In your presence, its entire body is vulnerable~]

"Mackerel Shark?" 

After examining it, a vague memory about this type of shark seemed to linger in Ming's mind. After all, shows like Animal Planet and Ocean World were excellent remedies for the solitude of singlehood.

Growing to 6 meters after mutation was commendable for a typical Mackerel Shark. The crucial point, however, was that this didn't hinder them from being laborious fish.

"Such is the difference in power," Ming mused. When faced with the epic Raoul, these King Mackerel Sharks truly stood no chance.

Soon, the sharks were collectively tossed onto the beach, floundering and flipping, struggling to return to the sea. As expected, stranding was fatal for them.

Raoul leaped onto the shore, his fists punching the heads of the mackerel sharks, breaking through their defenses. He then lifted his foot, preparing to crush their heads one by one.

Your Napoleon, leading a horde of zombies, charged forward, shouting at Raoul, "You fiend! How dare you bully these adorable sharks! I'll finish you!" He then commanded the zombies behind him, "Destroy him!"

[Napoleon watched as Raoul, being pursued by the zombie horde, fled in panic. Napoleon then hopped over to the most injured mackerel shark, trying to console it, asking about its family leader. Napoleon feigned compassion upon learning that the most rotund one was their leader. The gravely injured mackerel shark was baffled. Were Napoleon's caring eyes just a deception?]

[Napoleon reassured the shark leader, "Does it hurt much? Fear not. I, Napoleon, always uphold justice. With me around, no one will bully you again." The shark leader stared at the strange creature before him, "Could you please toss us back into the water before bragging about your prowess?" ]

[Napoleon told the leader, "Interrupting your savior is impolite. Didn't your ancestors teach you the proverb 'Good children should not interrupt'?" The mackerel shark leader blinked weakly, "Our ancestors only taught us to bite off, ok?" ]

"…"

Ming squatted behind a bush, originally thinking that once Napoleon approached, the sharks would immediately acknowledge him as their leader and naturally become part of Napoleon's crew. Unexpectedly, these creatures had now engaged in conversation mode.

[Napoleon continued his dialogue with the Mackerel Shark, sharing his vision of unifying the world in harmony and allowing all creatures to circulate sustainably in the food chain. The shark leader weakened, looked at the frog figure before him, and proposed, "If you throw us back into the water, the Mackerel Shark clan of Little Marco Island will follow you." ]

[Napoleon calmly responded, "I'm not the kind of frog that takes advantage of others in distress." The shark leader became anxious, "We're not humans; feel free to take advantage." ]

[Napoleon smiled gleefully, "Right, you're not humans. You don't have to be bound by human standards. Now, submit to me." ]

[Napoleon's puppet count +29]

[Napoleon turned his head to see you approaching and introduced you to the sharks, "This is my boss, Ming. He's a great guy, and you'll grow fond of him." The sharks glanced at the charred remnants of shark corpses on the beach, "Indeed, such a good person. He even left us a skeleton." ]

"..."

Ming looked at the skeleton, musing that nobody's perfect, but this oversight shouldn't be too consequential.

Moments later, a cyclops lifted the sharks one by one and tossed them back into the water. 

The Mackerel Sharks, finally able to "breathe" fresh seawater, circled the rock where Napoleon was perched.

Ming smiled in satisfaction. The plan was off to a good start. At that moment, the mermaid Lorelei approached him with her long legs, "Um...  sir, I fainted from hunger last night. Thank you for not leaving me behind, and... you really are a good person."

Ming nodded, "Mmm, as long as you know."

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