Woke Up to Find the Game I Made Came True

Hearing Alicio's shouts, Ye Bai felt no ripple of emotion within. In fact, she almost wished she were a true devil—if she were, she could probably harvest a decent amount of experience from Alicio's negative emotions.

She casually reassured him, "Relax, you’re incorporeal. It’s not like you can actually be eaten. This is just a great way to make use of your innate ability to lure living creatures!"

"Is this even the same kind of luring?!" Underwater, Alicio was bound to the fishing hook by chains of truth, his form compressed by Ye Bai into a flickering ball of green fluorescence, now drifting lazily with the ocean currents. It did look oddly enticing.

"Close enough. Don’t sweat the details," Ye Bai waved him off.

Using a devil as bait wasn’t some spur-of-the-moment idea—from every angle, Alicio was the perfect choice.

His incorporeal nature made him the ultimate fake bait, impossible for any fish to actually consume. On this desolate island where food was scarce, Ye Bai couldn’t afford to waste real provisions on fishing. A failed attempt would only make things worse.

And even if a fish did swallow him whole, Ye Bai could simply summon him back through their contract—completely non-toxic, eco-friendly… Oh, and speaking of "green," the guy naturally emitted a fluorescent glow, which was downright irresistible to certain fish.

The more Ye Bai thought about it, the more she believed any seasoned angler would consider a devil like Alicio a premium-grade bait.

Ignoring Alicio’s protests, Ye Bai checked her personal stats panel after completing the fishing action.

After a moment, her eyes brightened, and a smile spread across her face.

Her stamina bar hadn’t budged at all!

Not only was the stamina cost of fishing itself frozen, but even the natural stamina drain over time had been suspended the moment she started fishing.

In other words, the properties of the fishing stool overrode the influence of Kraken’s aura. Theoretically, if Ye Bai had the patience, she could fish here until the end of time.

Paired with the fishing rod that could hook anything, and the bottomless fish basket, this trio of fishing gear was nothing short of… an angler’s holy grail!

For now, just halting her stamina consumption was a massive relief. If only she could actually catch something.

Fishing was a life skill in Infinite Realms. If a territory had abundant water resources, building a Fisherman’s Hut early on could provide a steady food source—fish could be consumed directly by villagers or preserved longer as smoked fish in a smokehouse.

When Ye Bai first chose her territory, she’d spotted lakes and rivers nearby but prioritized the source energy mines instead. Now, with her territory’s direct control expanded, she’d recently built a Fisherman’s Hut by the lake.

Villagers working there could gain fishing proficiency and eventually become [Fishermen], a specialized profession.

Similarly, players could also develop fishing proficiency, which had five tiers. Higher tiers allowed them to catch rarer fish with unique attributes—some granting buffs when eaten, while others provided materials like scales, tentacles, or blood for potion-making.

Raising fishing proficiency wasn’t easy. In Infinite Realms, players had to invest significant time and stamina, not to mention high-tier rods and bait. And even with the right gear, location mattered—small lakes had hard limits, while the best fish lurked in dangerous waters.

Ye Bai had never fished in Infinite Realms before, so her proficiency was starting from zero.

But her current setup was top-tier in every way:

The holy trinity of fishing gear.

The highest-tier fishing spot in all of Infinite Realms—the divine abyssal sea.

And… an infinite, undying devil-bait.

The only question was whether anything actually lived in this barren-seeming stretch of ocean.

The sea breeze brushed past as waves shimmered beneath Ye Bai, the depths unfathomable and silent.

Given that she’d once seen a cart of seafood delivered to the Infernal Lord in the Netherrealm, this hidden abyss couldn’t be completely lifeless—otherwise, even the water-fearing demons wouldn’t have access to fresh catches. But she worried Kraken’s presence might have scared off other fish.

Fishing required patience. Minutes ticked by with no movement except Alicio’s incessant complaints transmitted through the chains.

Bored, Ye Bai tightened her grip on the icy fishing rod, her mind wandering back to the origins of this gear.

Who did it belong to? What had once filled this empty fish basket? Why was it left here?

The properties were so absurd, she half-wondered if it could even hook the Sea God Kraken itself.

The moment this wild thought crossed her mind—

Tug.

The rod jerked violently in her hands. The truth-chain float plunged underwater as an immense force yanked from below.

"PULL ME BACK!!" Alicio’s scream echoed directly through the chains.

Ye Bai’s spine prickled. A mix of shock and nervous exhilaration flooded her—she couldn’t tell which emotion dominated as she clenched the rod and heaved with all her strength.

Instinctively, she started to rise from the stool for better leverage—then abruptly remembered the stamina-freezing effect only worked while seated. The realization anchored her back down with a thud.

So, under the bewildered stares of Autofis and the paperman, Ye Bai remained planted on the stool, straining in an awkward pose to reel in whatever had bitten.

Meanwhile, Alicio’s panicked shouts through the chains grew unbearable. With a thought, Ye Bai recalled him.

He materialized midair beside her, gasping in relief.

"What ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‍the hell is down there?!"

Ye Bai frowned as she exerted force, her heartbeat quickening uncontrollably as she turned to Alicio.

The fishing line was taut, the rod bent into a sharp curve—whatever had taken the bait was putting up a fierce struggle underwater.

Even as a magic-based class, even with her posture making it difficult to apply strength, Ye Bai was a level 40 second-tier professional. The fishing rod also had a fixed maximum pull of 5 kilograms. Yet, the creature on the hook was being steadily, irresistibly dragged toward the shore.

"Whew… I don’t know. I couldn’t see anything underwater. I just sensed a surge of vitality approaching, moving fast, and then… I was swallowed whole."

By the last sentence, Alicio’s voice trembled uncontrollably. A devil’s instinctive fear of death was carved into its bones. Even though it knew it was an incorporeal being, incapable of being harmed, the sight of something gulping it down in one bite had left deep psychological scars.

The way Alicio looked at Ye Bai now was a mix of anger and terror, as if she were the real monster.

Before meeting Ye Bai, devils like it had always conducted their business with dignity and grace—luring mortals, sealing contracts, harvesting souls. Even after offending a Lord of the Inferno, it had only been imprisoned, never truly destroyed. When had it ever suffered such humiliation?

Ye Bai didn’t get much useful information from Alicio, but she didn’t need it anymore. Because in the next moment—

Splash!

Water erupted violently as a massive white figure, at least two meters long, burst from the surface. Propelled by the fishing rod’s momentum, it soared into the air, tracing a graceful arc before crashing heavily onto the ground behind Ye Bai. Salty seawater splashed onto her face.

Thud! Thud-thud!

The sound of frantic flopping filled the air. Ye Bai and the others turned to see a large silver-scaled fish writhing on the ground.

"What a huge fish!"

Ye Bai’s eyes widened. A wave of relief washed over her, followed by an odd, inexplicable disappointment… Well, this definitely wasn’t the Sea God Kraken.

After a brief struggle, the fish grew sluggish.

Ye Bai cast Insight and examined its details.

[Ice Bream]

Rarity: Rare

Type: Food/Material

Weight: 75.8 kg

Capture Difficulty: Maximum

Condition: Fresh (Sedated)

Quality Rating: S

Whoa!

This ice bream weighed over a hundred pounds, and its thrashing had generated several hundred pounds of resistance. Yet, thanks to the fishing rod’s magical properties, the pull had been capped at ten pounds, making the catch feel deceptively easy.

Fishing rewards had unique attributes. The Rarity indicated the species’ scarcity, while Weight, Capture Difficulty, and Condition were the three key factors determining the Quality Rating—which in turn dictated how much meat and materials could be harvested.

Since fish were classified as Captured Creatures, they could be processed afterward, like opening a loot box. Higher-quality fish yielded more and better materials, as well as greater fishing skill experience.

This massive ice bream was not only a rare purple-grade fish but also exceptionally heavy. Combined with the sedating hook’s maximum capture efficiency, it had earned the highest possible S-rank rating.

Moreover, fish rated B or above could be taken to the Anglers’ Association to be taxidermied for free. The resulting trophies could be displayed as decorations, boosting prestige within the association and unlocking advanced rods and bait.

At the same time, a system notification appeared:

[You have gained 120 Fishing Skill EXP]

[Your Fishing skill has advanced to Fishing I]

Catching just one fish had filled the entire first-level experience bar. Such was the power of triple-max bonuses. Ye Bai’s starting point was already the endpoint for many dedicated anglers. If she had actually hooked the Sea God Kraken, she might’ve jumped straight to Fishing V.

Shaking off that absurd thought, Ye Bai approached the sedated ice bream.

Nearby, Autofis sniffed at the fish curiously, baring its large front teeth as if sizing it up. Its expression seemed eager.

Ye Bai’s lips twitched. Eating bread was one thing—at least that was vegetarian. But a donkey eating fish? That didn’t make sense…

But Autofis quickly paused, its eyes shifting to Ye Bai with a meaningful glance—

Somehow, she understood: Prepare it first.

"You… Fine."

[Process the fish?]

[Yes]

Once confirmed, the massive ice bream dissolved into light, just like a defeated boss, and Ye Bai received a flood of loot—minus the usual EXP.

[Obtained ‘Fresh Ice Bream Meat’ x20]

[Obtained ‘Ice Bream Blood’ x5]

[Obtained ‘Ice Bream Bones’ x8]

The blood and bones were purple-grade alchemical materials, while the fresh meat was a legendary gold-tier ingredient.

[Fresh Ice Bream Meat]

Rarity: Legendary

Type: Ingredient

Effect: Reduces fire damage taken by 80% for 1 hour when consumed.

Description: Exceptionally tender and flavorful, naturally imbued with cooling magic. Delicious even raw.

This effect applied to raw consumption. Cooking it would undoubtedly restore more stamina, though the exact amount depended on the chef’s skill.

"Eeeh!"

Autofis let out an eager cry upon seeing the meat, clearly hungry.

Having just caught her first fish, Ye Bai felt a surge of novelty, finally understanding the joy of anglers. That moment of success brought an indescribable thrill, not unlike the satisfaction of a bountiful harvest.

Why not give it a try?

Her eyebrows lifted with interest. After storing the materials, she gathered firewood and built a small campfire nearby.

With no cooking skills or proper ingredients, she’d keep it simple: grilled fish.

Whoosh!

Soon, flames rose, and under the system's guidance, Ye Bai skillfully skewered the fish meat with two long fish bones, turning them over the campfire for roasting—the island was barren, devoid of branches, so fish bones had to suffice. But where there was one, there would be more; the presence of fish here had already been proven, and they could always fish for more later.

Before long, the fish meat sizzling over the fire began to glisten with oil, its delicate, snow-white flesh developing a golden-brown crust that made one's mouth water.

Fish cooks faster than any other meat, and Ye Bai soon had large slices ready—one for Autofis, who had been circling impatiently at the tantalizing aroma, and one for herself.

As for the devil Alicio, he could only hover like a ghost, sniffing the air wistfully.

The unluckiest of all was the paper man, who couldn’t even smell the food. Ye Bai had jokingly offered to draw him a fish to taste, but he declined with a complicated expression—apparently, drawn food still didn’t taste good.

"Eeeh-eeh!"

"It’s still a bit hot, take it slow." Ye Bai handed the steaming fish to Autofis, who was eagerly nudging her, reminding it to be careful.

The next moment, Autofis opened its mouth wide and swallowed the entire slice of fish vertically.

"Gulp!"

"Chomp chomp… gulp!"

After devouring the fish in one bite and chewing a couple of times, Autofis’s donkey-like face visibly melted into an expression of pure bliss.

"Is it really that good?"

Puzzled, Ye Bai took a bite of her own skewer.

"…!!!"

Fresh, tender, springy—and as she chewed, a subtle, indescribable cool sweetness emerged. Amazing~

One bite was enough to transport Ye Bai, whose real-world taste buds had dulled from years of nutrient drinks, back to the euphoric sensation of savoring expertly cooked food after extreme hunger. It was a spiritual delight. Though she had never tried it, she imagined that even the futuristic, hyper-engineered delicacies of the ancient Yin civilization couldn’t surpass this.

No wonder it was a gold-tier ingredient! Even a simple roast was this delicious!

Her eyes sparkling, Ye Bai happily finished her skewer and immediately prepared two more slices of fish on fishbone skewers.

"Eeeh-eeh!"

Autofis let out an excited cry at the sight. Ye Bai chuckled and tossed it a piece of bread.

"Chomp…"

Autofis swallowed the bread in one go, then immediately fixed its gaze back on the fish roasting over the fire.

Well, it seemed this glutton wanted everything.

Shaking her head with a smile, Ye Bai continued grilling while pulling up her character panel to check how much stamina the fish had restored.

But the numbers left her disappointed.

Only 35 stamina points—the standard value for roasted fish. No matter how delicious, it seemed the bonus was still tied to her cooking level. Raw fish would have restored just 25 points.

Each slice cost her 10 stamina to cook—double her usual expenditure—and factoring in Autofis’s share, the net gain was only 15 stamina per slice. Not exactly efficient.

That said, eating the roasted ice bream did grant her a flame resistance buff, useful against infernal enemies—though right now, she wasn’t fighting any.

Just as she was about to close the panel, her gaze happened to drift to her experience pool below.

She froze.

The number had changed.

Originally, Ye Bai had enough experience to reach just past Level 45, with the last two digits rounding out a neat 4.5 million total. But now, the ten-thousands digit had jumped from zero to five—a full 50,000 experience increase.

Fishing was a life skill that yielded rewards, so it only boosted skill proficiency, not personal experience like the Historian class did.

Where had this experience come from?

Between fishing and now, the only thing she’d done was eat a piece of fish.

Her eyes lit up as she stared at the fish sizzling over the fire. A new hypothesis formed.

Soon, the next batch was ready.

This time, Ye Bai didn’t feed Autofis first. Instead, she quickly devoured a slice herself to test her theory.

The moment the tender, flavorful fish hit her stomach, she reopened her character panel, eyes locked on the experience pool.

Then, the number in the ten-thousands place dropped from five back to zero—while the hundred-thousands digit climbed from five to six.

"…What?"

Ye Bai was stunned. Eating fish gave personal experience?!

If this was true, wasn’t it practically breathing to grow stronger?

She’d been relying solely on level-ups to restore stamina, never eating until now—which was why she’d missed this effect entirely.

"What’s wrong?" The paper man and Autofis both turned to her, noticing her shock.

"After eating the fish, I feel… stronger." NPCs wouldn’t understand "experience points," so Ye Bai phrased it in the simplest way.

"Could it be… because the fish is high-tier?" The paper man looked equally surprised.

From past interactions, Ye Bai knew he could only see her general level, not granular details like experience fluctuations—hence why he hadn’t noticed either.

Because of the fish? But the item description hadn’t mentioned any experience gain. Normally, even ambiguous hints would appear, like with the Golden Compass’s treasure-seeking function.

Ye Bai shook her head. "I don’t think so."

Then, the paper man’s eyes widened slightly. "What if… it’s the act of eating itself?"

"Eating…" A lightbulb went off in Ye Bai’s mind. She immediately pulled a piece of bread from her inventory and ate it. Sure enough, aside from restoring 30 stamina, her experience pool ticked up—though only by 200 points, far less than the fish.

But the key was—it worked!

"That’s it! It’s eating!" Ye Bai confirmed, then immediately connected it to the influence of the Kraken’s aura. "Is it because of… hunger?"

"Exactly." The paper man nodded. "The Kraken’s presence is overwhelmingly powerful. This ‘hunger’ might be a law-like effect. Under its influence, satisfying that hunger grants a ‘reward’ of sorts."

"Ah..." Ye Bai took a deep breath, feeling a sudden clarity wash over her.

Being a historian with archaeological experience was thrilling, but finding ruins wasn't always easy. Now, here was an opportunity to grow stronger just by eating and drinking—where else could she find such a good deal? She had to seize this chance without hesitation!

Earlier, Ye Bai had been worried about the doubled stamina consumption and the scarcity of food. But now, she couldn’t help but think the Kraken people—no, the fish—were actually pretty great!

Moreover, comparing the roasted fish to bread, it was clear that higher-level food granted her more experience points.

After feeding the freshly grilled fish to Autofis, Ye Bai immediately returned to her fishing stool and sat down.

This abyssal sea, nestled within the cracks of purgatory, knew no day or night. Ye Bai transformed into the most fervent angler, losing track of time as she cast her line again and again—

A writhing electric eel? Into the fish basket!

A four-meter-long black catfish? Into the fish basket!

A rainbow koi shimmering with multicolored light? Into the fish basket!

A translucent, glowing jellyfish? Into the fish basket!

Hook, reel, catch!

Eat, chew, devour!

...

[Your 'Fishing' skill has leveled up to 'Fishing IV.']

Every fish she caught was high-tier, with even the lowest being rare-grade. Two days passed, and though Ye Bai had initially focused on grinding experience, her fishing skill steadily climbed, now just a sliver away from reaching the highest level.

Then, on this particular day, after countless casts, Ye Bai once again felt a tug beneath the water.

"Splash!"

With practiced ease, she pulled the rod—but instead of the expected shadow of a massive fish, only a small bundle flew over her head.

This was unusual. In these advanced waters, she hadn’t caught anything smaller than a meter long.

"Plop." The sound of the "fish" hitting the ground echoed.

Before Ye Bai could even turn around, a crisp, childish voice shrieked: "Hungry, hungry, HUNGRY!!!"