History Main / AlwaysaBiggerFish

* In Chapter 6 of ''VideoGame/XenobladeChroniclesX'', the party have just finished a fairly tough boss fight with a Tainted Sphinx when ''three'' more show up. Then the colossal [[BonusBoss Telethia]] swoops in and tosses the beasts around like ragdolls before flying away. The characters are left wondering whether it intended to save them or toy with them.

** Done very extensively with the gods of the setting; any given godlike entity established as the top dog is likely to overshadowed in short order by some even more powerful entity, who will then be overshadowed by some even more powerful one, and so on and so forth. In ''Manga/DragonBall'', Kami is God? Actually, he's just the god of Earth. King Kai, the guardian of the whole universe in ''Anime/DragonBallZ''? Actually, he's just one of four guardians of the universe, with the Grand Kai above him. And above the Grand Kai we have the Supreme Kais, the gods of creation (though that reveal comes pretty soon after the Grand Kai is revealed) who in turn are ruled over by the Grand Supreme Kai, the ruler of the universe. And then, in ''Anime/DragonBallSuper,'' we learn that equal to the Supreme Kais are the gods of destruction, and above them all is the King of Everything, the creator of the multiverse.

** The opening credits sequence has a gag where the minions find a boss, that boss is eaten, and the minions want to serve the new creature... until that creature is eaten as well, culminating in the Minions serving a ''[[KingOfTheDinosaurs Tyrannosaurus rex]]''.

** The first chapter has Nigel being caught between a pair of ''[[GiantFlyer Quetzalcoatlus]]'' and ''[[RaptorAttack Dakotaraptor]]'' until a female ''[[KingOfTheDinosaurs Tyrannosaurus rex]]'' shows up and convinces the four predators to beat a hasty retreat.

** In ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaChroniclesOfSorrow Aria of Sorrow]]'', when you enter one boss fight room, a large number of smaller bats immediately form into a giant bat… Which then gets crushed by a giant hand belonging to Balore, the boss you actually end up fighting.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTime IV: Journey Through the Mists'' has the kids pursued by a nearly-blind ''Deinosuchus'', Dil, while her [[VitriolicBestBuds partner Ichy]] acts as her eyes. They continually argue about not needing each other, but just when Dil finally gets fed up and sends Ichy flying off, she realizes there is angry ''Hydrotherosaurus'' towering over her.

** A [[EldritchAbomination Pa'anuri]] serves this role for General Xinchub. At one point his [[MileLongShip Manhattan-sized battleplate]] is compared to the protagonists' ship as analogous to the difference between a [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2004-02-25 Carcholes megalodon and a sockeye salmon,]] and then the planet-sized dark matter entity is shown as [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2004-03-11 a blue whale to the battleplate's krill.]]

* In ''LightNovel/KumaKumaKumaBear'', the protagonist Yuna is escorting a group of young students from a monster academy. What should have been a peaceful, week-long field trip/practical test to a remote village becomes dangerous when goblins suddenly appear in the roads and endanger human lives. Yuna quickly finds out the reason: [[spoiler:they were running from the ''much'' larger and dangerous Black Tigerwolf]].

* ''LightNovel/TheStrongestSageWithTheWeakestCrest'': An awareness of this is the main reason Gaius reincarnated into Matthias the first place. He might have no equal in combat and defeated the most powerful monster in twenty-seven seconds, but he knows there are probably creatures out there more powerful than he can imagine and knows that his First Crest cannot grow any further. So he reincarnated hoping to get the Fourth Crest which is better suited for combat and increase his strength.

** ''ComicBook/DoctorStrange'': In one story arc, Strange is menaced by the cosmically powerful sorceress Umar. He finds and releases an artificial EldritchAbomination called Zom which is the one thing that scares her. Needless to say this quickly backfires (if Strange couldn't handle Umar, he has no chance of containing something bigger than her), and he has to find a bigger fish yet, going through a ChainOfDeals which ends with the Living Tribunal, ''the'' single biggest fish in the entire Marvel ''Multiverse'' (apart from an unseen, vaguely-defined "[[TheMaker One-Above-All]]"). The Tribunal himself was defeated in the leadup to ''Comicbook/{{Infinity}}''. It seems this was done by the mysterious 'Rabum Alal' -- Sumerian (yes, really) for "Great Destroyer" -- as Black Swan, kind of his herald in a sense, calls him. And now, as of ''ComicBook/SecretWars2015'', the Living Tribunal [[spoiler:is dead at the hands of the Beyonders]].

* In ''FanFic/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaAvengerS'', what will happen if the TSAB have a diplomatic meeting with Earth? [[spoiler:The Asgardians will join in, obviously!]]

* The ''Literature/XeeleeSequence'' is this to an ''[[Main/ExaggeratedTrope insane degree]]''. The Transcendence for example, would be considered a near-omnipotent god-like entity if it was placed in most Sci-Fi universes like [[Franchise/StarWars Star Wars]] and [[Franchise/StarTrek Star Trek]] for example. However, they merely registered as an annoying speedbump to the titular Xeelee, who they themselves are being stomped flat by the Photino Birds, whilst both the Photino Birds and Xeelee being viewed as mere insects compared to the Monads.

* In the VideoGame/GamesOfTheKiller series, each entry has a different antagonist that BB has to deal with. However, once The Killer himself shows up, absolutely no one is safe.

* One ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' DLC trailer pulls this with someone slashing World of Light boss Galeem down the middle before he has the chance to kill everyone. The bad part about it is that the incoming character is ''[[Videogame/FinalFantasyVII Sephiroth]]'', [[MassOhCrap and now the cast has to deal with him]].

* In ''VisualNovel/DoubleHomework'', Dennis is smart enough to manipulate a blackmail just about everyone to get what he wants, [[spoiler:but he bites off more than he can chew by tangling with Dr. Mosely/Zeta]].

* One ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' DLC trailer pulls this with someone slashing World of Light boss Galeem down the middle before he has the chance to KillEmAll. The bad part about it is that the incoming character is ''[[Videogame/FinalFantasyVII Sephiroth]]'', [[MassOhCrap and now the cast has to deal with him]].

* ''Manga/{{Inuyasha}}'': the basic concept is demonstrated in a flashback showing how Jaken came to be Sesshōmaru's servant. Long ago, he was the leader of a tribe of imps who came under threat by a demon who turned out to be the greatest opponent Jaken and his tribe had faced up to that point. Just as the demon was about to kill Jaken, Sesshōmaru happened to be walking by and, considering the demon to be in his way, effortlessly destroyed it with one blow. Seeing such a great and powerful demon so nonchalantly save his life put Jaken in awe and he abandoned his tribe to follow Sesshōmaru from then on.

** Invoked by the original version of [[https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=175079 Cruel Ultimatum]], from the Shards of Alara set. The art depicts a powerful-looking demon, cowering in terror in the shadow of an unseen adversary (which would be revealed in the next set to be the mighty Elder Dragon-turned-planeswalker Nicol Bolas, the BigBad of the Alara block).

* ''Webcomic/ExterminatusNow'': While infiltrating a secret research facility, the main characters are captured and given to the mercies of genetically engineered monsters. They're saved when accidental press of a button releases a pack of captive hunter daemons, [[http://exterminatusnow.co.uk/2005-10-21/comic/facilitating-your-demise/out-of-the-frying-pan/ which quickly slaughter the other monsters]].
* ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}'': Happens twice in succession in [[http://goblinscomic.com/comic/12082008/ this]] strip, where one of the Brassmoon guards tells Complains [[TemptingFate "The bigger creatures always kill the smaller creatures, it's just the nature of the world!"]] Then he hears a loud footfall behind him and looks up at the soulspike devourer towering above him... Then they are both killed by an even bigger "fish": a magic effect created by the Shield of Wonder.

** A [[EldritchAbomination Pa'anuri]] serves this role for General Xinchub. At one point his [[MileLongShip Manhattan-sized battleplate]] is compared to the protagonists' ship as analogous to the difference between a [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2004-02-25 Carcholes megalodon and a sockeye salmon]], and then the planet-sized dark matter entity is shown as [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2004-03-11 a blue whale to the battleplate's krill]].

* Parodied in [[https://www.deviantart.com/roflo-felorez/art/Godzilla-Jurassic-World-PATREON-741399796 this comic]], where a human is eaten by a raptor, which is eaten by the ''Indominus rex'', which is eaten by a mosasaur, which is eaten by Franchise/{{Godzilla}}, all to an increasingly confused narration.

[[folder:Machinima]]
* ''Machinima/GamingAllStars'': [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/DoshinTheGiant Doshin the Giant]]]] serves as this to [[VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay The Great Mighty Poo]], arriving just in time to dispatch him (With his foot in ''The Ultimate Crossover'', with a boulder in ''Remastered'') before rescuing Donkey Kong and his team.
[[/folder]]

If the "savior" was previously the main antagonist, this may set up an unusual reaction in the viewer, who notes how his feelings about that antagonist are changed in this scene. The characters may notice the same; they may say, "I never thought I'd be so happy to see you!".

* ''Fanfic/BetweenMinds'': What's worse than a [[VideoGame/HalfLife2 Combine battalion]] capturing the hero? [[spoiler: A Xenian water monster, of course!]]

* In ''FanFic/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaAvengerS'', what will happen if the TSAB have a diplomatic meeting with Earth? [[spoiler: The Asgardians will join in, obviously!]]

* ''Fanfic/RemnantAndRuneterraATaleOfTwoWorlds'': The Creatures of Grimm have always been a blight on the people of Remnant. Imagine their reaction to [[BigRedDevil Aatrox]] or [[spoiler: [[EldritchAbomination Vel'koz]]]], coming to their world.

** In ''Film/JurassicWorld'', the ''Indominus rex'' proves too much for everything thrown at her [[spoiler: until the ''T. rex'' knocks her through a fence to the edge of the lagoon and [[SeaMonster the mosasaur]] eats her]].

* Done twice in ''Film/TheMeg'', first when the deep sea expedition is attacked by a giant squid, which gets eaten by the titular prehistoric shark. And second, [[spoiler: when they kill the ''first'' megalodon only for an even bigger one to eat the corpse and use its blood to breach the thermocline]].

* ''Franchise/StarWars'': In ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'', as Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Jar Jar travel in a sub through the watery core of Naboo, this happens twice in a row: their sub is first attacked by a crablike [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Opee_sea_killer opee sea killer]], and then later by a serpentine [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Colo_claw_fish colo claw fish]]. On both occasions, a ''massive'' [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Sando_aqua_monster sando aqua monster]] comes along and eats the smaller predator.

** ''Bruce Coville's Book of Nightmares'': [[spoiler: ''The Baby-Sitter'' features "Them", a mysterious force that lurks in the house where the Mitchell family lives, but they have a special protection ritual that, done once a night, keeps "Them" from harming the person who does it. When the titular babysitter is confronted and chased down the hall by a burglar one night, he fails to do the ritual, and "They" attack and eliminate him.]]
** ''Bruce Coville's Book of Spine Tinglers'': In ''Grendel'', scientists analyze a {{Kaiju}} that has washed up on shore, marveling at its massive size. [[spoiler: The story ends with the monster's much, ''much'' bigger mother showing up to find out what happened to her baby...]]

* ''{{Literature/Worm}}'' has the Endbringers, unstoppable killing machines that require heroes and villains to team up in order to ward them off, and sometimes not even then. [[spoiler: Scion is even more powerful than all the Endbringers combined, smiting continents out of existence.]] It's sequel, ''{{Literature/Ward}}'', [[PlayingWithATrope plays with it]] as [[spoiler: Titan Fortuna is larger and stronger than the Simurgh, but the Simurgh has had years to rig the game against her. How effective this is remains to be seen]].

** [[spoiler: Amara, a.k.a. The Darkness, is the biggest fish in the series so far. She effortlessly slaps around everyone who goes after her, including Lucifer, and even ''God himself'' acknowledges he can't beat her on his own.]]

* In ''VideoGame/ParasiteEve2'', ANMC's are running rampant throughout the Shelter, having killed [[spoiler: or converted]] the humans inside and many in a nearby town. It's only after Aya [[spoiler: kills the generators in the Neo Ark]] that the Golems show up. If you thought the ANMC's were bad, [[FromBadToWorse you are going to get a very rude surprise]]. The Golems eventually run into their own bigger fish...[[spoiler:[[SemperFi The United States Marine Corps.]]]].

** ''VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon'': This comes full circle when a school of Wishiwashi forms and the player expects the Totem battle against a School Forme Wishiwashi from ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' to take place... [[spoiler: [[BaitAndSwitchBoss and then]] a Totem [[GiantSpider Araquanid]] pounces on the forming school and takes its place as the boss battle.]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Subnautica}}'': The Reaper Leviathan is a fearsome, best avoided beast. But as the game goes on, the once seemingly apex predator is revealed to be both the smallest of the Leviathan class beasts and ''food'' for the other members of the class. [[spoiler: Subverted! The Sea Emperor and the Ghost Leviathan are both filter-feeders. However, the Sea Dragon Leviathan ''does'' apparently eat Reapers, and the Ghost is [[AngryGuardDog territorial and vicious enough]] to kill Reapers anyway.]]

* ''Webcomic/EnnuiGo'': In "[[http://ennuigo.thecomicseries.com/comics/1413 Little Fish]]", Max learns this trope the hard way on his first day of high school, when he decides to pick a fight against one of the bullies in his school but gets his butt easily handed to him in turn.

* ''Webcomic/{{Scurry}}'': Wix makes a run for the forest, because he knows the cats won't follow him in. Titan decides he hates Wix more than he fears the forest and chases him in. [[spoiler: Titan is immediately killed and eaten by the wolves that live in the forest.]]

* ''Machinima/GamingAllStars'': [[spoiler: [[VideoGame/DoshinTheGiant Doshin the Giant]]]] serves as this to [[VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay The Great Mighty Poo]], arriving just in time to dispatch him (With his foot in ''The Ultimate Crossover'', with a boulder in ''Remastered'') before rescuing Donkey Kong and his team.

*** In fact, Nihilanth, the supreme leader of Xen, the main antagonist and final boss of Half-Life, was seeking refuge and domination of Earth because the Combine [[TakeOverTheWorld took over its world]] and [[LastOfHisKind wiped out its race]]. [[FridgeHorror It really puts into perspective how dangerous the Combine are when they effortlessly wiped out perhaps thousands of a giant creature that could enslave the Vortigaunts and lead an alien invasion.]]

* ''Comicstrip/ShermansLagoon'': One comic has a progression of Bigger Fish eating each other. When Sherman, a great white shark, shows up to eat the third, another fish protests "You're going out of turn. I eat that guy, then you eat me."

* ''FanFic/BetweenMinds'': What's worse than a [[VideoGame/HalfLife2 Combine battalion]] capturing the hero? [[spoiler: A Xenian water monster, of course!]]
* ''FanFic/TheBridge'':

* In ''FanFic/ADreamOfDawn'', Nightmare Moon has overthrown Celestia, shattered the Elements of Harmony and rules Equestria with an iron hoof. Her reign lasts about five minutes after [[BigBad Discord]] returns.

* In ''FanFic/ShadowsOfGiants'', an Oodako stalks a giant squid, only to be caught and eaten by Godzilla.

** This is essentially what happened between ''Half-Life 1'' and ''2''. At some point after or during the AlienInvasion by Xen forces, a ''different'' alien invasion by the Combine happened. They [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomped]] both Earth and Xen forces easily, and took over the planet.

* In ''Webcomic/YokokasQuest'', in Kalliv's flashback dream, a [[MixAndMatchCritters hawk-wolf]] which is [[KidnappingBirdOfPrey carrying him away]] gets attacked by a larger [[MixAndMatchCritters boar-mandrill]], leading to him being dropped. [[note]](the big [[MixAndMatchCritters koi-catfish]] is a [[FiendishFish different trope]])[[/note]]

** ''WesternAnimation/ThePiratesOfDarkWater'': The intro to the first episode shows a dragon-like creature flying over a stormy ocean, only for a sea serpent to surge out of the water, snatch the dragon in its jaws and dive back into the sea.