My first birthday came faster than I expected.
The palace threw a huge celebration. Fishmen and merfolk from all over the island came to see the young prince, bringing gifts and well-wishes. There was music, dancing, and enough food to feed an army.
I spent most of it being passed around like a doll, forced to smile at strangers while internally dying of embarrassment. Being a baby at a party thrown for you was a special kind of torture.
But it wasn't all bad. I got to see more of the island's population, which meant more genetic scans. I analyzed dozens of different fishmen species, cataloging their traits and evolution potential in my mind.
Seahorse fishmen with their camouflage abilities. Lionfish fishmen with natural venom. Eel fishmen who could generate electricity. The variety was incredible, and each one had unique potential evolution paths.
"The prince looks so serious," someone commented. "Does he ever smile?"
"He's contemplative," Otohime defended me. "A thoughtful child."
Neptune just laughed and ruffled my hair. "He'll lighten up when he's older. Right now, he's just taking everything in."
More right than he knew.
The most interesting guest was an older fishman named Dr. Vegus. He was a coelacanth fishman like my father, but smaller and scholarly-looking. He ran the island's only research facility, which apparently studied marine biology and medicine.
"Your Majesty," he said to Neptune, "the young prince has quite the intelligent gaze. If you ever wish for him to learn about science, my doors are always open."
My ears perked up. A research facility? That was exactly what I needed access to.
"We'll see when he's older," Neptune replied. "For now, let him be a child."
Internally, I was screaming. I didn't want to be a child. I wanted to get to work.
But I forced patience. Pushing too hard, too fast, would only make people suspicious.
After the party, when things quieted down, I finally got some time alone in my room. Well, not completely alone - there was always a guard outside. But alone enough.
I pulled up my system interface.
[Arquen - Poseidon-Class Fishman]
[Age: 1 year]
[Health Points: 200/200]
[Evolution Tier: Sovereign]
[Genetic Database: 47 species scanned]
[Analysis Level: 3]
Forty-seven species. That was a decent sample size, but I'd need hundreds more to create a comprehensive evolution serum. Maybe thousands.
I focused on the genetic database function, and a mental library opened up. Every scan I'd done was stored here, organized by species type, evolution potential, and genetic traits.
It was like having a encyclopedia in my head.
I could compare species, identify common genetic markers, and even start hypothesizing about modifications. My comprehension ability made connections that would've taken normal scientists years to figure out.
For example, most fishmen with predator species traits had higher evolution potential for blood manipulation. That made sense - predators were already attuned to the blood of their prey.
Fishmen from colder water species showed potential for ice manipulation. Those from tropical waters had affinity for steam and mist.
There were patterns everywhere once you knew how to look.
But knowing wasn't enough. I needed to actually test these theories, and for that, I needed a lab. Equipment. Resources.
And I was one year old.
The frustration was building again when the system pinged.
[New Function Unlocked: Mental Simulation]
[Description: Allows theoretical testing of genetic modifications in a virtual space. No physical resources required. Results are projections based on current knowledge.]
I nearly jumped up and cheered. This was perfect. I could run experiments in my head, test different serum formulas, and see the projected outcomes without needing any equipment.
It wouldn't be as reliable as real testing, but it was a start.
I immediately dove into the mental simulation. The world around me seemed to fade as my consciousness entered a white space. In front of me appeared a holographic model of a generic fishman's genetic structure.
It looked like a twisted ladder made of light - DNA strands I recognized from biology classes in my old life. But there were additional structures here, things that didn't exist in normal human genetics. The parts that made fishmen different.
I spent hours in that space, just observing and learning. My comprehension ability worked overtime, breaking down what each genetic sequence controlled. This part regulated physical strength. This part controlled their aquatic adaptation. This part determined their species-specific traits.
It was beautiful in a way. Life reduced to code, to patterns that could be understood and modified.
When I finally pulled out of the simulation, it was dark outside. I'd been in there for what felt like ten minutes but had apparently been several hours.
Mira was in my room, looking worried. "Prince Arquen! You've been sitting so still, I thought something was wrong."
I blinked at her, still half in the simulation mindset. "Okay," I managed to say. "Just thinking."
She sighed with relief. "You scared me. Come on, it's time for bed."
As she tucked me in, I couldn't help but smile. I'd made real progress today. The mental simulation would let me work on the evolution serum years before anyone expected.
But that night, as I lay in the darkness, a thought occurred to me that wiped the smile away.
I was planning to fundamentally alter the genetics of an entire species. Give them powers that could be dangerous in the wrong hands. Create a hierarchy based on evolution.
What if I was wrong? What if this made things worse instead of better?
In the original timeline, Fishman Island suffered because fishmen were discriminated against. But what if I made them so powerful that they became the oppressors? What if the power I gave them corrupted them?
Power corrupts, after all. That was true in every world.
I pulled up an image of Otohime in my mind. Her gentle smile, her dreams of peace and coexistence.
No. I wouldn't let that happen. The evolution wouldn't just be physical. I'd make sure it came with responsibility, with culture, with values.
I'd build a kingdom that was strong but not cruel. Powerful but not tyrannical.
It was a thin line to walk, but I had to try.
Because the alternative - letting history repeat itself, letting Otohime die, letting fishmen continue to suffer - that wasn't acceptable either.
The system pinged softly.
[Personal Philosophy Registered]
[Trait Acquired: Benevolent Sovereign]
[Effect: Your leadership and evolution guidance will naturally incline subjects toward protective rather than aggressive behaviors]
Huh. So the system could pick up on my intentions and reinforce them? That was... actually really helpful.
Maybe I could do this after all.
I closed my eyes, exhaustion finally hitting me. Tomorrow I'd continue the mental simulations. Start working on basic formulas.
But tonight, I'd just be a one-year-old kid, sleeping in a palace under the sea, dreaming of a better future.
Even if that future required changing the fundamental nature of an entire species.
No pressure or anything.