tunnel network with eel/snake-like creature

The Scene:
So picture this; You find a series of open pipes some kind of Axum industrial complex. This labyrinthine network of industrial pipes, silos, tanks and valves never intended for living beings to enter is quite confusing and difficult to navigate (the player could leave a trail of flares to find their way and later maybe open up the main entrance or a valve creating a shortcut to avoid having to make the difficult trip so many times it gets tedious) and cramped but while trying to find you way through the network you come across a blockage.

The Peril:
This blockage is the VERY territorial and agressive distant relative of the hammerhead and as it’s adaped to the size of the pipes, there’s no way past it and you have to try to lose it in the pipes as it chases after you because you’d almost certainly drown if your tadpole is destroyed, and then try to find another way around it.

Anatomy:
This creature differs from the hammerhead in that its face-plate (for bashing tadpoles) is split into two (or more?) plates which reveal a mouth for feeding on it’s regular prey (and biting the player). If the player manages to aproach it from behind , The creature can’t turn around in the cramped pipe and its backside is completely undefended, perhaps carrying eggs or some smaller parasitic fish or crustaceans which the player can harvest as a reward for outwitting the beasts.

Numbers:
There would have to be more than one because they need to reproduce but too many in the tight tunnels would likely be frustrating for the player. At least two (mates for life) or maybe a small colony of 4-7 individuals. This depends of course on how large you make the area and how far apart the creatures can be spaced out so the player doesn’t get swarmed. Tweak until desired results.

Summary:
I’m picturing an area which is an underwater combination of the sewer/pipe network in Elden Ring and the Chamber of secrets and waterpipe network from Harry Potter with the perilous basilisk being replaced with a creature native to Proteus and that Subnautica 2 twist! Claustrophobic, tense, dangerous and confusing yet very rewarding to navigate!

I have over 40 hours in Subnautica 2 already and I am LOVING it so far! I hope you like idea and it would be an honor if even a SINGLE little aspect of this broad idea makes it into the game! o7

Make a natural version of small tunnels as well. That’s would be where the eels evolved.

Adding this forces biomod change selection where the pathfinder would be used here.