Mato was floating in the centre of the cave. White light radiated out of his membrane to shine on the other sperms. The sperms gathered around Mato like a globe. Their bodies pressed up beside each other, making sure to make use of all of the remaining space. Mato was the sun and the sperm were the asteroids orbiting around it.

Inside Mato’s body was life energy, it flowed through his meridians like living water, nourishing everything along its path. The life energy pulsed through his meridians, which then sent micro-pulses of life energy to his muscles, which then went out through his skin.

The sperms bathed in the life energy Mato was radiating.

Guts, one of the sperms that looked up to Mato, sighed to the sky.

“Our king is so great! What is this light coming out of his body? It’s making my membrane tingle all over....”

Guts was speaking as his body started to light up. The life energy had accumulated to the point where he was starting to transform.

The light within his body became brighter as the life energy kick-started an evolutionary change. The life energy flowed until it congealed into a single point on his forehead. His body devoured the life energy as a large spike began to grow out of that point. The spike grew larger until it was half the length of his body.

The light dimmed from his body and Guts smiled.

Guts felt the horn on his head. It was large horn which was wide at the base and then tapered off as it got to the tip. Its colour was different from the rest of his body. While his body remained white, the horn on his head was a metallic grey. His horn shone like a spearhead that was ready to reap lives on the battlefield.

“Amazing!”

Guts moved his tail to stroke his newly evolved horn. His tail slid effortlessly on its metallic surface. He marvelled at the new addition to his body but also questioned himself.

“Why did I grow a horn? Was it because of the king?”

Guts looked at the king who was illuminating the cave and couldn’t help noticing that the bodies of other sperm were lighting up.

Tamo who was watching at the side looked on at Guts.

“It seems that Guts was the second to evolve. That horn on his head looks quite menacing. I wonder what other transformations the rest of the sperm will go through?”

The sperm surrounding Mato started to transform one by one. Their bodies lit up with life energy as it started to evolve their bodies in different ways.

Metallic spikes like the one that grew on Guts were seen in some transformations. The spikes were of different shapes and colours. Some had a single spike which jutted out of their head, while other sperm had numerous spikes near their back. Some spikes were near the tail while some had theirs on their backs. The variety of spiked sperm became staggering.

The millions of sperm surrounding Mato began their evolution and some were quite different.

One sperm grew an extremely large tail that he started to resemble a dragon. some sperm had two tails. Some sperm had grown suction cups on their bodies. Some sperms even gained an additional head. Some sperm began to grow scaly skin which looked incredibly tough. Some grew tentacles of all shapes and sizes. One sperm even managed to grow what looked to be a nose!

There were millions of different kinds of evolutions, none of them being exactly the same. They all differed in one way or another. Even though some had gained spikes in the exact same places, their membrane colour turned out to be different from each other. Some sperm had evolved to gain a red membrane, some were green and some were blue. One sperm even had the astonishing ability to change his membrane colour to match the surrounding area like camouflage.

Mato stopped radiating life energy. He looked around to see the differing mutations of each sperm.

Mato started examining each sperm carefully, finding out that none of them have any signs of meridians or a ‘third eye’.

“Every sperm is different in their own way. Most of the sperm have gained some additional parts to their body or changed in some particular way. The only one who didn’t change was Grudd.”

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Mato looked toward Grudd but he looked the same as he did before.

Grudd his one eye stared directly at Mato. A fire erupted within his soul and his eye shone with fury. Grudd’s mind was filled with anger.

‘Why didn’t I gained any special powers…. I obviously transformed like the rest of those sheep, my body lit up and I could feel it change me... But my body looks the damn same!’

Grudd’s body shook in anger but Mato couldn’t care less and didn’t pay any more attention to Grudd.

“Gather around my brothers.” Mato’s voice echoed throughout the cave.

The sperm hearing Mato’s voice huddled closer together so they could hear properly.

“What everyone here experienced was an evolution. This evolution has created something that is unique only to you. Everyone here has gotten stronger and have transformed into beautiful beings.”

A large about of sperm started to blush red after hearing they were beautiful.

“We have been fortunate enough that we have found this cave.”

The surrounding sperm nodded their heads. They felt quite comfortable where they were living.

“We have gotten strong but we must remain united,” Mato said, “Although are looks have changed, we were all the same at one point.”

The sperm looked around to look at their fellow sperm. They looked different but they were still the same sperm they were before.

“We must use our strength to protect our home. Our differences do not define us, it is the bond of our birth that brings us together.”

Mato nodded to himself as he talked. He wanted to keep the brotherhood that the sperm had for each other strong.

“The change each one of you has gone through has made you strong. I can see it with my own two eyes,” Mato said, “With that strength, we will explore the boundaries of our new territory.”

Mato signalled to a group of sperm who had evolved into trumpet-like beings. These instrumental sperms started to ready there bodies like horns about to be blown.

“Today. I, Mato, declare that we will assemble an army. A legion of sperm!”

Trumpet sounds rang out of the instrumental sperms. Each blast of sound being amplified by Mato’s declaration.

“There will be two factions, one led by our queen and one led by myself.”

“The commander of my army will be Ness.”

Ness bowed with gratitude.

Mato was pleased. To help lead the sperm is a vital role and Ness had the guts to lead them.

Mato looked at the crowd of sperm. Observing them until he glanced upon Grudd. As he saw him, his head hummed instinctually until he looked away.

“The commander of Tamo’s army will be Guts!”

Grudd’s heart darkened. He was one of the first sperm there and was born even before Guts. Why did he get chosen and not himself.?

‘If I was placed commander I would be put right beside Tamo. Now that Grudd is commander my plan to serve Tamo is a fleet less dream. This is unfair!’

Grudd tried to control his emotions but they couldn’t help but leak out.

‘I was the first one born of my kin. That position belongs to me! It is my birthright!’

Grudd’s body rumbled with anger and took of few moments until he started to relax.

Guts came forward and said, “I am extremely grateful for this opportunity. Thank you.”

Guts bowed with steadfast praise.

Mato continued to speak of his plans.

“The rest I will divide in half.”

Mato cut through the liquid with his tail. Like opening a sea of red water, vibrations gently cut through the centre of the cave. Pushing the sperm to different sides of the caves. The millions of sperm were astonished by Mato’s power.

“Half of us will explore the farther reaches. The rest will stay here and protect our home.”

“Arrange yourselves!” Mato shouted.

The sperm quickly moved to group together in order of likeness. Those with spikes grouped together, those with hard armour grouped together and so forth.

The sperm gathered into divisions and lined up in straight lines of ten. Mato saw numerous lines of sperm. They looked like soldiers ready to march into a battlefield. Their faces became hard, like they were ready to face the toughest of battles. Millions of sperm were lined up in orderly lines ready to receive orders from their leader. Both commanders looked up to Mato after they saw that everybody was ready.

Mato was pleased and shouted.

“Long live the sperm!”

Mato’s message echoed out into the cave, moving the very souls of the sperm.

The sperm started to shout in unison, this was their favourite part.

“Long live the sperm! Long live the sperm!....”

The instrumental sperm kept making sounds, making sure that they were playing on time.

The vibrations from their chanting started to shake the cave. The cave rumbled like it was giddy with excitement.

The sperm continued to chant. Their hearts were entwined with their voices. They wanted to believe in what they were saying.

“Long live the sperm!”

They kept chanting until they reached a fever pitch.

Mato shouted with a resounding boom, “FIRST ARMY MOVE OUT!”

Mato led the charge by heading to the entrance of the cave while millions of sperm followed his lead. The millions of sperm behind Mato caused the liquid to roll and turn. Like a raging tiger, they swam forward with their king leading the way.

The second army, Tamo’s army watched and continued to chant until the first army and Mato had completely exited out of the cave.

Tamo began to shout.

“You’ve heard our king we are in charge of defending our home. We must be diligent!”

Tamo tried to act like Mato, but what was supposed to sound manly only ended up sounding cute.

The second army was overwhelmed by Tamo’s cuteness and the expressions on their faces softened. They had to protect this cuteness.

Tamo continued to shout until she was interrupted.

“Get into defensive posi………”

CRASH!

A large, explosive sound came from the entrance of the cave. The cave shuddered as the entrance way echoed with a sound of an explosion.

“MATO!”

Tamo shouted.

Tamo couldn’t help but be worried for Mato and desperately sped toward the entrance as the second army followed closely behind her.