The first time IT gained consciousness, it was like waking up from a long, deep slumber. Disoriented, confused and deeply tired. It’s eyes were not working properly, just a few glimmers of light for a second before it drifted into darkness again. It seemed like IT’s slumber had lasted for only a second, but hours must have passed, since there was no light anymore. Or was IT blind now?

Realising that eyesight was not something to rely on, it tried to feel the surroundings. Unable to move even an inch it only felt as if life itself was all around. A short while of struggling later IT felt hungry. With this the realisation came that the surrounding energy was edible. Egg? Maybe IT still had to be born? No. Still had to hatch? But what was IT? And where exactly was this place he would be born into.

IT had to find out. The only way to do so was to get stronger. Eat. Grow. That was the idea at least. But the energy around IT was so strong and dense IT was only able to eat a couple of small bites every few minutes. The food gave a lot of power in a short amount of time and soon it felt a change inside itself.

[You have reached Level 1.]

[Eyesight repaired.]

The small room around IT, that was created by eating gave IT enough space to spin around wildly. What was THIS? This knowledge flooding inside the mind was confusing. IT wished it would stop, but there was more. Much more. Was that also who IT was? Were these things a part of IT? Hitting the head against the energy food and struggling wildly with it’s six legs did not help. Maybe eating helped? IT took another bite. No.

After minutes of confused struggle IT tried to accept the messages. Quickly a lot more information was flowing in, and focusing on everything was hard. Especially since IT’s eyes worked again, allowing to see the surroundings for the first time in a bit more detail. Ignoring the information again IT was finally able to look down on IT’s body. Slim, sturdy legs, a big body. Small claws at the end of each leg. Beautiful. ME. Then it looked at the food. Blue, yellow and black at times at other parts a barely visible wall, with the same colours behind. FOOD. ENERGY.

Then IT proceeded to eat and focused on the informations. Soon everything felt easier and at times it understood.

[Evolutionary Options:]

[Locked.] - [Locked.] - [Locked.]

While this was confusing, other parts were easier to understand.

[Profile]

[Energy: 8/25]

[Power Level: 0]

[Size: 1] - [Upgrade: 50 E.]

[Enhance Body] - [Remaining Points: 5]

[Eyesight: 2]

[Legs: 1]

[Stomache: 1]

[Wings: 0]

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

[-Locked-]

[-Locked-]

[-Locked-]

Many more fields were locked and IT felt like growing and eating would solve all the problems sooner or later. After continuing to eat IT noticed that food filled up the energy bar. by 1. While slowly eating and filling up his energy one by one, a few ideas came to mind. There were remaining points. When IT was focusing on them, power flowed through IT’s body and IT felt the options were limitless. Clearly these points were meant to be used.

But what to use them on? IT had no wings. Flying came to IT’s mind. A weird feeling to know of something IT never had felt before… Thinking ahead wings were not a good option. IT was safe here, inside the food. IT did not need to run, or in this case fly, away. Legs? Same thing. They were good enough for now.

Improving eyesight was important, so IT tried to invest all the points there. When they hit 5 it was maxed out though. IT confirmed to spend 3 points there and everything changed.

IT’s eyesight improved so drastically that it was able to comprehend the whole room it was in. Room, because it was now very obvious now that the block food was not infinite. Below there was earth. IT was able to plan ahead now. Just eating randomly was not an option. IT would eat downwards, to hide inside the earth as soon as possible and get food whenever hunger struck.

Furthermore IT invested two more points to the stomach. Now IT was able to eat three times as much and able to gain 3 energy each time. With this increase in growth it did not take long to take effect.

[You have reached Level 2.]

Another five points were now available in IT’s profile. Soon the profile looked entirely different:

[Profile] - [Level 2]

[Energy: 2/50]

[Power Level: 0]

[Size: 1] - [Upgrade: 50 E.]

[Enhance Body] - [Remaining Points: 0]

[Eyesight: 5: Max]

[Legs: 1]

[Stomache: 8]

[Wings: 0]

[-Locked-]

[-Locked-]

[-Locked-]

Apparently whenever the energy maximum was reached IT leveled up. Realising that IT put all the points into the stomach capacity again. IT was feeling hungry. With a hunger eight times as big as when IT started the next level was quickly reached.

[You have reached Level 3.]

[Evolutionary Options were unlocked.]

The now nearly empty block off food did not offer all too much anymore. With another round of eating IT finally broke through the last layer and fell into the outside world. Feet touched earth, the eyes observed everything, curious and careful.

Then the new informations IT had acquired with the level up became too hard to ignore. Three new options were activated:

[Evolutionary Options:]

[Queen] - [Magical Entity] - [Predator]

When IT concentrated on a option a new wave of information shoved itself ahead and pushed into IT’s consciousness. After awhile the information was easier to comprehend.

Queen:

You evolve from your basic form to a Queen, able to birth your kind and make them work for your goals. While they are absolutely loyal, work and die without a second thought for you, it will be hard to maintain a strong swarm to protect yourself. Under the right conditions you will flourish in power beyond anything a single being could ever achieve.

Magical Entity:

Being in contact to highly magical material allowed you to get a feeling of magic. Devoting yourself to it’s study however can be dangerous and truly terrifying. It is unclear whether you will rise as a strong entity, or die in a burst of energy, randomly set free by your uneducated mind.

Predator:

You. Strong. Alone fight. Adapt. Defeat. Overcome. Devoting yourself to a life of continuous fighting will be truly dangerous, but the advantage of not having to rely on others or your magical abilities makes you flexible. Growth will be limitless and so are your options here. Gain stealth to ambush your foes, pure brute strength to crush anything in your path or simply outclass everything with your fighting abilities.

IT did not know what to do. What would be the right decision? Who was IT? This was a defining moment and only a single evolution could be chosen permanently.

Struggling with finding a decision a huge shadow approached from behind and towered over IT.

What was this giant being and did it come to destroy IT? Eat IT?

Or was that a friend?

A decision had to be made and it had to be made now...