Diary of Raising a Mermaid

Lance, a former human athlete, wakes up submerged in the ocean inside a white membrane, having transformed into a mermaid with a long fish tail, silver hair, and webbed fingers. Confused and panicked, he struggles to control his new body, unable to swim properly or catch food. After emerging from what appears to be an eggshell, he realizes he is alone in the deep sea. His attempts to hunt fail miserably, and he soon encounters a massive tentacle from a giant creature that captures him. Instead of harming him, the creature, which Lance assumes is a giant octopus, places him in a coral bone enclosure atop a sea anemone in the dark abyss. The creature treats Lance like a pet, feeding him processed tentacle meat and offering pearls, while Lance remains determined to escape his imprisonment.

During his captivity, Lance attempts to dig an escape tunnel, injuring his fingers in the process. The creature tends to his wounds with seaweed mud, showing a gentle, albeit possessive, demeanor. Lance’s situation changes when he meets Wensir, a black-tailed mermaid who appears with glowing blue flame fish. Wensir heals Lance’s illness and agrees to teach him how to swim and hunt. Lance sees Wensir as an ally and a potential partner in escape, though Wensir seems hesitant about leaving the safety of the coral bone. Wensir reveals that the ocean outside is dangerous, filled with sea monsters and a phenomenon called the black storm, a whirlpool of radioactive debris from a sunken island.

As Lance learns to swim and hunt under Wensir’s guidance, he discovers he can communicate with other sea creatures through infrasound, including a chatty giant jellyfish. This interaction reveals that the coral bone is located in the Tethys Trench and that various sea monsters are aware of Lance’s presence. The giant octopus-like creature occasionally intervenes, dragging away threats like the jellyfish when they approach too closely. Lance begins to suspect that the creature’s intentions are not purely malicious, as it protects him from external dangers while keeping him confined.

Meanwhile, on the surface, researchers in a post-apocalyptic laboratory monitor seismic activity in the Nat Trench. They identify the eggshell Lance emerged from as belonging to a new species and note that the creature in the trench has awakened and moved toward shallower waters. The researchers, led by Mu Ran, prepare to send Colonel Wei Yu and his team to investigate, hinting at a larger conflict between humanity and the awakened sea monsters. Lance remains unaware of these events, focusing instead on mastering his new abilities and planning his escape with Wensir.

The story follows Lance’s adaptation to his mermaid form and his complex relationship with both his captor and Wensir. As he grows stronger and more confident in the ocean, the threat of the black storm and the intentions of the giant creature loom over him. The narrative sets the stage for a journey where Lance must navigate the dangers of the deep sea, uncover the truth about his transformation, and decide whether to remain in the safety of the coral bone or venture into the unknown world beyond.