The first thing he noticed was the pain. A deep, all-encompassing ache that seemed to radiate from every fiber of his tiny, battered body. His head throbbed, his limbs were heavy, and even the softest breath sent waves of discomfort through him.
I’m alive, he thought, almost in disbelief. The battle with the shrew flashed through his mind in a disjointed blur—the razor-sharp claws, the taste of blood, the moment he’d collapsed. Somehow, against all odds, he had survived. But the victory had come at a cost.
His eyes—or what passed for eyes—fluttered open, revealing the towering blades of grass and the dark, damp earth beneath him. The world still loomed large, a vast, indifferent wilderness that had nearly swallowed him whole. His body felt like it had been trampled, crushed under the weight of exhaustion and pain.
Everything hurts.
He tried to move, but his body barely responded. His legs twitched, weak and sluggish, like they were encased in lead. Each attempt at motion sent spikes of pain shooting through his sides, a grim reminder of the wounds he’d sustained during the fight.
But then he noticed that shedded skin lying beside him. He had recovered when he had leveled up. And he wasn’t really hurt. But the pain felt so real. If he was going to feel so much pain even after recovering, he didn’t know how will be able to survive.
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Mental Pain Resistance Gained – Level 1/10
Physical Pain Resistance Gained - Level 1/10
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Thank you.
I need to eat.
The thought came unbidden, primal, cutting through the fog of pain and fatigue. The familiar gnawing hunger clawed at him again, a deep emptiness that demanded to be filled. It was always there, waiting, like a shadow that followed him no matter what he did. He hated it. But he knew there was no escaping it.
Slowly, painfully, he dragged himself forward. His body protested every inch, but he kept moving, one tiny leg after another. He could feel the weight of the evolution options hanging over him, pulsing in the back of his mind, but right now, he couldn’t focus on that. Not yet.
The leaves were nearby, fresh and crisp, their green scent wafting through the air like a beacon. He sank his mandibles into one, tearing a piece free with a satisfying crunch. The taste flooded his senses, rich and nourishing, and he devoured it with the urgency of a starving man.
More.
He chewed through another leaf, then another, the gnawing emptiness in his gut slowly beginning to fade. His body, still weak and fragile, absorbed the energy like a sponge, his limbs trembling with the effort. With each bite, the ache in his muscles dulled, the fog in his mind cleared, and he could feel his strength returning, bit by bit.
But the hunger never left. It never truly went away.
After what felt like hours of eating, he finally stopped. His body had regained enough strength for him to think clearly, though the lingering soreness he felt reminded him that he wasn’t fully recovered. Not yet.
His mind wandered back to the evolution options. They hung in his thoughts like strange, otherworldly doors, each one leading to a different path, a different future. He didn’t know what awaited him on the other side, but he knew that this choice would define him, shape him into something new.
I’m supposed to evolve soon, he thought, his eyes narrowing in contemplation. His level had maxed out—5/5. This was it. The moment he had been waiting for since he first woke up in this strange, new world.
But the decision wasn’t as simple as he’d thought it would be.
He flicked through the options in his mind again, each one distinct, strange, yet powerful in its own way.
Stolen novel; please report.
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Ironhide Larva.
The image of it flashed before his eyes—thick, impenetrable armor covering his body like a shield, hardening him against the physical dangers of the world. He imagined himself shrugging off the attacks of predators, becoming a walking fortress, untouchable. The thought was tempting. Defense meant survival. No more dodging and hiding. But would he become too slow? Too immobile?
I’d be hard to kill, but what if I need to be faster? And I’m still a critter. How strong would even be?
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Venom Spitter Larva.
This one came with a much darker image. His body would change, adapting to hold deadly venom that he could spit at enemies from a distance. A ranged predator, capable of crippling foes before they ever reached him. He imagined the venom eating through flesh, paralyzing anything that came too close.
But the idea also unnerved him. Venom was power, yes, but it was also a weapon that felt... foreign to him. Would he really want to rely on something so deadly, something so... sinister?
I could fight from a distance, but what if I get too dependent on venom?
But deep down, he also knew he didn’t care for being sinister. He would actually like being sinister. The world is cruel and he wouldn’t mind giving the world a taste of what it gives. He put this one on hold.
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Shadowstep Larva.
The shadowy form flickered in his mind, sleek and silent, slipping through the darkness like a ghost. It would make him nearly invisible, capable of moving unseen, striking from the shadows before retreating back into them. Stealth was survival. He had learned that firsthand. If he couldn’t be seen, he couldn’t be hurt. It was a dangerous and cunning option, one that would allow him to avoid battles when needed—or ambush his enemies when they least expected.
But could he really live in the shadows, always hiding, always running? It felt like he’d be playing a dangerous game, one misstep away from disaster.
I could outsmart my enemies, but will I always have to run?
He wasn’t a runner. Even in his previous life. At least that’s what he remembered.
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Sage Larva.
This one was different, quieter, more... introspective. The image of it was strange—a small, fragile-looking creature with a bright, almost ethereal glow. But behind that appearance was something far more powerful: knowledge. Magic. The ability to understand and control the world around him through intellect and wisdom.
He’d never considered himself particularly wise, but in this world, knowledge was power. Magic was power. He could sense that this path would unlock something beyond brute strength—something that would allow him to manipulate the very fabric of reality.
But would that leave him vulnerable? Would his physical body be too weak, relying too much on strategy and less on instinct?
I’d be smart, but will I be too fragile? I don’t just want to die trying something that would kill him before he even knew what he had become.
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Each option called to him in different ways, tugging at his thoughts, pulling him in opposing directions. He could feel the weight of the decision pressing down on him, the gravity of it growing heavier with each passing moment.
What do I want to become?
He chewed thoughtfully on another leaf, trying to picture himself in each form. He imagined the armor of Ironhide, the venomous power of Venom Spitter, the shadowy grace of Shadowstep, and the glowing intellect of Sage. Each one felt like a piece of him, but none of them felt like the whole picture.
Do I want power? Protection? Intelligence? Venom?
The leaves crunched beneath his mandibles as he mulled over the possibilities. He knew that whichever path he chose, it would define him for the next stage of his life. But it wasn’t just about survival anymore. It was about finding his place in this strange, new world—about becoming something more than just a helpless creature.
I can’t stay like this forever.
His eyes scanned the world around him, the towering blades of grass, the vast expanse of the forest stretching out endlessly. He was small. Insignificant. But not for long.
He knew that his next evolution would change everything. It would unlock a new part of him, something he hadn’t even begun to understand yet.
But which one? Which path was his?
The answer began to form, slowly, a whisper in the back of his mind, growing louder with each passing second. It wasn’t obvious, but it was there, pulling him toward a decision.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and made his choice.
He found the safest spot he could find under a large trunk and settled down.
The world seemed to hold its breath with him. Everything fell still as the final decision settled over him like a calm, quiet weight. He felt the surge of energy inside him shift, stirring, as though the world itself had recognized the choice he’d made.
A small, tired smile tugged at the edges of his thoughts.
Let’s see what happens next.