I took my first steps at eight months old.
The nursemaids lost their minds. Apparently, that was way earlier than normal, even for fishmen who developed faster than humans. Mira actually cried happy tears while Kora rushed off to tell Neptune.
What they didn't know was that I'd been secretly practicing for weeks. The water made it easier - I could use my authority to give myself a little extra support when I wobbled. Not enough to be obvious, just enough to keep from face-planting.
"The prince is a prodigy!" Neptune declared when he saw me walking around. He picked me up and spun me around like I was a trophy. "Strong legs, good balance. You'll be a fine warrior someday, Arquen."
Otohime laughed at his enthusiasm. "Or perhaps a scholar. Look how observant he is."
Both, I thought. I'd need to be both.
Being mobile changed everything. I could finally explore the palace properly, even if I had to be supervised constantly. The guards followed me everywhere, making sure the "precious prince" didn't get into trouble.
Little did they know I was mapping out the entire palace layout and analyzing everything I saw.
The Ryugu Palace was massive. Built from coral and giant shells, with towers that spiraled up into the water. There were gardens filled with sea plants I didn't have names for, courtyards where guards trained, and a huge library that I was desperately trying to get access to.
"Prince Arquen shouldn't go to the library yet," one guard said when I kept wandering toward it. "He's too young to read."
I wanted to argue, but all I could manage was "Book!" and pointing. My vocabulary was still limited, even if my mind wasn't.
The guard just chuckled and redirected me to the gardens instead.
Frustrating.
But the gardens had their own benefits. I could practice my abilities more freely here, away from so many watching eyes. There were fish everywhere - colorful reef fish, small sharks, eels hiding in the coral.
I'd sit by a pond and focus, reaching out with that Aquatic Dominion ability.
Come here, I'd think.
And they'd come. Swimming right up to me, letting me touch them. The fish didn't question it, didn't resist. To them, my command was absolute.
It was kind of terrifying when I thought about it too hard. This level of control over living creatures. But I pushed that discomfort aside. I'd need this power to protect the island.
I experimented with the Water Authority too. Making small currents, creating tiny whirlpools in the pond, even pulling water into shapes. A sphere, a cube, a snake that wound through the air before splashing back down.
"The prince has a talent for water manipulation," I overheard one guard tell another. "Must be his royal blood."
If only it was that simple.
[Analysis Level Increased]
[New function available: Basic Genetic Scan]
The system notification made me pause mid-play. Genetic scan? I focused on the new function, and more information appeared.
[Basic Genetic Scan - Allows analysis of genetic structure in observed subjects. Can identify evolution potential, genetic advantages, and possible modifications.]
This was it. This was the foundation I'd need for creating the evolution serum. If I could scan and understand fishman genetics, I could figure out how to improve them.
I immediately tried it on the nearest guard. He was a hammerhead shark fishman named Torr, built like a tank with gray skin and the distinctive head shape of his species.
[Torr - Hammerhead Shark Fishman]
[Age: 32]
[Base Strength: 8x human average]
[Genetic Advantages: Enhanced electroreception, powerful bite force, thick skin]
[Evolution Potential: High]
[Possible Evolution Path: Blood manipulation, enhanced regeneration]
[Current Genetic Limitation: Slow reaction time, vulnerable to extreme temperatures]
Holy shit. This was detailed. I could see not just his current abilities but what he could potentially become. And his weaknesses too.
I scanned Mira next when she came to check on me.
[Mira - Goldfish Mermaid]
[Age: 24]
[Base Strength: 5x human average]
[Genetic Advantages: Rapid swimming, flexible body, enhanced vision]
[Evolution Potential: Medium]
[Possible Evolution Path: Mist manipulation, water breathing enhancement]
[Current Genetic Limitation: Low physical defense, poor stamina on land]
Every fishman and mermaid had different evolution paths based on their species and genetics. This was way more complex than I'd initially thought.
I couldn't create one generic serum. I'd need to customize it, or at least create different variations for different species types.
That would take years of research. Years I didn't have if I wanted to change things before the major tragedies started happening.
Unless...
I focused on my own status screen.
[Arquen - Poseidon-Class Fishman]
[Age: 8 months]
[Evolution Tier: Sovereign]
[Genetic Advantages: Complete water affinity, absolute aquatic authority, enhanced comprehension, adaptive biology]
[Evolution Potential: Maximum (Already achieved)]
Adaptive biology. That was new. I focused on it.
[Adaptive Biology - Your genetic structure can adjust and incorporate beneficial traits from analyzed subjects. Physical contact required for deep scan and adaptation.]
Wait. So I could evolve myself by analyzing others? That seemed broken as hell.
But more importantly, if I understood how my own evolution worked, I could potentially reverse-engineer it for others. Use my body as a template.
It would still take time, but it gave me a clearer path forward.
"Prince Arquen, time for lunch," Kora called.
I toddled over obediently, my mind racing with possibilities.
That evening, Otohime visited and found me trying to stack building blocks. I wasn't actually interested in the blocks - I was testing my water manipulation by making tiny currents to move them without touching them.
"You're so focused," she said, sitting beside me. "What are you thinking about, little one?"
If I could talk properly, I'd tell her I was thinking about genetic engineering and political reform. Instead, I just said "Make strong."
She smiled sadly. "You want to be strong like your father?"
I shook my head. "Make everyone strong."
Otohime's eyes widened a bit. For an eight-month-old, that was apparently a pretty complex thought.
"You want to make everyone strong? Why?"
"Protect," I said simply. "No more hurt."
Her expression softened, and she pulled me into a hug. "You have a kind heart, Arquen. Just like I'd hoped."
She didn't understand what I really meant. That I wanted to make fishmen strong enough that humans couldn't look down on them, couldn't enslave them, couldn't treat them as less than people.
That I wanted to build a kingdom so powerful that when Otohime preached coexistence, it would be from a position of strength, not weakness.
But I'd show her eventually.
I'd show everyone.
The system pinged again.
[Long-term Goal Registered: Evolution of Fishman Island]
[Milestone System Activated]
[First Milestone: Begin genetic research]
[Reward: Advanced Analysis Functions]
[Time Limit: Age 5]
I had until I was five years old to start the real work. That gave me about four years to grow, learn, and prepare.
Four years to become strong enough to change the world.
I looked up at Otohime, still holding me close, and made a silent promise.
I won't let you die this time.