Ibaraki Prefecture, Lake Biwa.
Lake Biwa is the largest freshwater lake in Japan, with an area of more than 600 square kilometers, surrounded by mountains. Like Mount Fuji, it is regarded as a symbol of the Island nation, but its popularity may not be very high abroad.
Several old people living around the lake were carrying fishing gear and holding buckets in their hands, talking and laughing as they walked toward the lake.
Lake Biwa is a scenic spot in the eyes of outsiders, but in the eyes of the old people, "Isn't it just a lake? What's the fuss."
Even when they were young, Lake Biwa had a serious public nuisance problem like other places in the country. At that time, the whole area of Lake Biwa was filthy, and no one dared to eat the fish caught in Lake Biwa. After becoming rich, the Island nation government began to deal with it.
It was easy to deal with it when they had money. In just 30 or 40 years, the water of Lake Biwa became clear again.
"Do you see this? This is my newly developed bait."
The old fishing man wearing a hat carried a plastic bag in his hand. The bag was a mixture of beer, earthworms and all kinds of messy things to make "bait".
Fishing, the old man was happy. Most people just fish for fun. Spending a day to catch a few fish is not as good as working casually to earn money.
Don't mention this kind of bait, even fishing with an empty hook is okay, as long as you are happy.
"Today, I will definitely catch a Lake Biwa catfish for you."
"You said so 30 years ago."
A group of old men found a shady place to sit down, a pony, a hat, a kettle, and sat like this for a whole day.
"Go."
The thin fishing line was thrown into the water, the hook flashed silver in the sun, and birds flew over the sky.
"Huh?
Did you just see something? "
"What?"
"Is there something flying over the sky?"
"Bird, don't worry about that, come and help me."
The lush forest received the nourishment of Lake Biwa. There were wild legends in Ibaraki Prefecture since ancient times, but today, a real "monster" came to Ibaraki Prefecture.
"Suo suo."
A figure fell from the sky into the forest, and under the impact, the forest instantly rose countless green leaves.
The frightened flock of birds chirped and flew away, and the sky above the forest was instantly startled by a wave of birds.
"Is this … a special feather?"
Takahashi held a pure white feather in his poor hand. From the outside, this feather looked no different from other feathers. If it wasn't for the guidance of the Primordial Angel, Takahashi wouldn't have sensed anything special about this feather from its energy.
But since the Primordial Angel said that there was something special about this feather, it naturally wouldn't be lying.
[Accept the power.]
[The Authority of Creation]
The Authority of Creation?
Before he could ponder the meaning of these words, a mysterious power came from the void.
"So … that's how it is … Creation …"
…
Looking at the boundless Lake Biwa, Takahashi threw the scroll in his hand pitifully.
A flood dragon was drawn in black ink on the scroll.
The black ink formed from divine power instantly came to life. Lines peeled off from the painting, and before they even fell into the water, they vaguely formed the body of some kind of creature.
Boom!
The surface of Lake Pipa smashed a curtain of waterfall.
"Roar."
When the line dived into the water, it formed a tail, like the tail of a snake.
How could a golden scale stay in the pond? It would turn into a dragon when it encountered the wind and clouds.
After fishing for three hours, the harvest wasn't big, but the old men still happily shared their lunch.
There were a few small fish in the plastic bucket that had been released, leaving behind only three adult fish that weighed quite a bit.
"Come and try this bottle of wine. I just found a good product, made in Chiba County."
"Chiba County?
Doesn't that place only sell peanuts? Is this bottle of wine made from peanuts? "
"Qingtian Wine, a small wine workshop, but the taste is not bad. It's quite cheap and cost-effective."
The people of the Island nation loved drinking, both the old and the young. Several drunkards of Ibaraki County gathered together. Fortunately, they didn't bring a stove today, otherwise, they would definitely choose a fish as a dish to go with the wine, and see which fish in the bucket would be so lucky.
"Delicious."
"Hey, are you still fishing for catfish? Come and drink."
Lake Pipa was a huge freshwater lake. Every decade or so, there were reports of catfish the size of a human being caught. Catching a big catfish was just a joke for most people. If you want to catch that kind of giant monster, you must not only have a good body, but also the fishing rod must be specially made.
The fishing rod in the old man's hand was specially made. Fishing for catfish was not something he could do.
From the first time he read "The Old Man and the Sea" written by the Americans when he was a child, he made up his mind to catch a big fish in this life.
"I don't want to drink. I feel that I will definitely catch something good today."
"Don't say that every day."
After laughing at the old man, the others continued to deal with the food in front of them.
Ripples appeared from time to time on the quiet surface of Lake Pipa. It may be fish jumping out of the water, or it may be bubbles floating up.
But as the rippling water rippled, a strange thing vaguely appeared and then disappeared.
"Hmm?"
The old man narrowed his eyes and looked forward. He was old and his eyes were not working, but there seemed to be something in front of him.
He rubbed his eyes and looked forward again, but there seemed to be nothing in front of him.
"Plop."
There was a gurgling sound under the water, as if a giant monster was swimming.
"Ah, I, I caught a man-eating catfish."
The old fisherman opened his mouth and shouted in joy, pulling the fishing rod backward with all his might.
However, he wasn't young anymore. He didn't have the strength to pull the thing out of the water. Instead, his body slid forward.
"Let's go and see. Did he really catch something?"
"We're coming to help you."
A group of old men surrounded the fishing rod like children, holding the rod, grabbing the waist, and pressing the shoulders.
"One, two, two, two."
The shouting of the tug-of-war sounded orderly and forcefully.
"Wow, it's so heavy. I really caught a big guy."
There was really something big under the water. They pulled it backward, and it swam forward. The group of old men used all their strength to finally pull it out.
"Splash!"
A dripping wet piece of wood wrapped in seaweed was dragged up …
"Ah, what a stupid thing."
"Again."
It was not the first time they caught a piece of wood.
The old men waved their hands dejectedly. Obviously, they had experienced something like this before.
"Plop, plop."
But just as the group of people turned around gloomily, the calm Lake Pipa suddenly "boiled."
The sound of the water was so loud.
"Splash!"
A giant monster, a giant monster.
A real giant monster jumped out of the water of Lake Pipa with its ferocious body.
Its black and white slender body was covered with scales. It clearly appeared in front of them, but it gave people the feeling of an ink painting.
The old men were so scared that they fell to the ground.
"I, I caught it …"
"Dragon, dragon, dragon!"