Darkness. Silence. A rhythm of muted vibrations and faint warmth defined Jannet’s—or rather, his—world. Time was a shapeless concept in the egg, marked only by the occasional pulse of the profile in his mind and subtle sensations of movement. As he floated in this strange womb of isolation, he thought about the life he had left behind and the peculiar, unfolding reality of his new existence.
The first sound broke the monotony like thunder after years of quiet.
It started as a faint scratching, so soft Jannet almost missed it. The vibrations that followed were subtle but insistent, sending ripples through the dirt encasing him. He stilled his thoughts and focused entirely on the sound, his heart—or whatever passed for a heart now—thumping in anticipation.
Then came the glow of the profile, its familiar light soothing him even as the new information startled him:
Status Update:
Varanus komodoensis
Level: 0
Stage: Egg
Age: 5.5 months
ETA until next evolution: Imminent
Egg environmental conditions: 75% optimal
Jannet’s breath—or what felt like a breath—hitched. Imminent. The word reverberated in his thoughts. He concentrated, coaxing additional details from the status menu, but nothing new appeared. The vibrations around him intensified, the scratching growing louder and more frantic.
The realization struck him: It’s happening. One of my siblings is hatching.
The idea of siblings felt foreign and strange, but the sound of another creature clawing its way out of its egg filled him with an unexpected mixture of excitement and fear. He wasn’t alone, after all. Somewhere out there, others like him were beginning their new lives.
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Jannet waited, the muffled commotion around him growing as more eggs began to hatch. He could feel the movement in the dirt—shuffling, scrabbling, and the occasional burst of sudden stillness, as if the tiny creatures were adjusting to their newfound freedom.
And yet, he remained enclosed, untouched by the chaos.
The status screen didn’t waver; it simply glowed in his mind like an anchor. The word imminent felt like a tease now, stretching the moment into eternity. His thoughts spiraled inward, seeking distraction.
This really is like a video game, he mused. The absurdity of it almost made him laugh, though no sound came from his reptilian body. The skills, the levels, the progress—all of it seemed designed to mimic something he had once dismissed as a waste of time.
Regret washed over him. How many hours had Walter scoffed at video games, calling them childish nonsense? How many times had her father—no, his father—mocked her for indulging in anything that didn’t directly serve him? Jannet had let them win. He had spent his life catering to their expectations, abandoning his own interests and joy in favor of maintaining the facade of the perfect housewife.
A pang of bitterness twisted inside him. I could’ve played games. I could’ve enjoyed myself. Instead, I wasted my life pleasing those bastards.
The thought of Walter and Richard—those men—came crashing down on him like a tidal wave. Until now, he had avoided thinking about it too deeply, as if denial might keep the truth at bay. But there was no escaping it any longer. He knew who had killed him.
Walter, with his patronizing smirk and empty apologies.
Richard, with his booming orders and oppressive expectations.
They had conspired against him, united in their toxic need for control. And they had succeeded. They had stolen his life.
The betrayal burned hotter than any sun could. He had cooked them dinner, served them their drinks, done everything they demanded—and they had killed him for it. Murdered me. For what? To protect their precious reputations?
The realization made him nauseous, though his reptilian body didn’t respond the way his human one might have. A sense of helplessness threatened to overtake him, but the glow of the profile steadied him, reminding him that this was not the end. He was alive—different, yes, but alive.
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Another month passed.
The status screen updated again, its glow as familiar as an old friend:
Status Update:
Varanus komodoensis
Level: 0
Stage: Egg
Age: 6.5 months
ETA until next evolution: Less than 1 week
Egg environmental conditions: 72% optimal
The numbers fascinated him, though he couldn’t make sense of all of them. The egg environmental conditions had steadily declined, but he felt no discomfort. The yolk inside the egg continued to sustain him, though he sometimes wondered when it might run out.
The dirt surrounding him was cool, the vibrations of the nest calming. Occasionally, he would hear the faint sounds of movement—his mother, perhaps, or one of his hatched siblings nearby. He tried not to think about what might happen once he joined them. For now, the egg was safe, and he had no desire to leave it prematurely.
Still, the status screen’s promise of evolution loomed ever closer.
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It happened suddenly.
A sharp crack split the silence, sending vibrations reverberating through the dirt. For a moment, Jannet froze, his mind scrambling to process the sound. Another crack followed, then another, each one closer than the last.
The profile blazed to life, its glow brighter than ever before.
Congratulations!
The single word hung in his mind like a beacon, overwhelming every other thought. Excitement coursed through him, primal and fierce. The cracks multiplied, the egg around him trembling with the force of his awakening.
Jannet’s claws flexed instinctively, ready to test the limits of his shell.
It’s time.
The moment came not with fanfare but with a visceral, instinctual drive.
Status Update:
Varanus komodoensis
Level: 0 → 1
Stage: Fetus → Hatchling
Age: 1 day
Status: Active
Jannet’s mind buzzed with the update, his consciousness snapping into sharper focus. For the first time in months, he could move, truly move. His limbs twitched, and the shell around him cracked further with every flex of his tiny claws. Dirt cascaded into the egg as the fragile barrier gave way.
The sensation of the soil against his skin was overwhelming. It was hot, moist, and clung to him like a second skin. Jannet’s newly awakened body pushed through instinctively, claws scrabbling against the soft earth. His digging skill activated as if it had been a part of him all along, guiding his limbs with precision he hadn’t earned but deeply appreciated.
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Emerging from the egg was like stepping into another world—or, rather, clawing his way into it. The air was heavy with heat and humidity, filling his lungs and pressing against his scales. For a moment, Jannet marveled at the sheer vividness of sensation. After months of darkness, the world was alive, textured, and undeniably real.
But the wonder didn’t last long.
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The scene that greeted him was a nightmare.
Broken eggs littered the nest, their jagged edges stained with blood and viscera. The oppressive heat of the cave felt suffocating as Jannet’s gaze swept over the mangled remains of hatchlings. His siblings—dozens of them—lay scattered in various states of decay, their small, fragile bodies torn apart, some half-eaten. The sharp metallic tang of blood mingled with the earthy scent of the soil, making his stomach churn.
At the center of the chaos, near the mouth of the nest, stood the perpetrator.
A larger hatchling, its scales a darker shade than the others, loomed like a king surveying his conquered kingdom. Its cold, reptilian eyes locked onto Jannet the moment he emerged from the soil. The sibling’s jaws, still slick with gore, opened slightly as if sizing him up for the next meal.
Panic gripped Jannet. His claws dug into the dirt reflexively as his mind screamed at him to retreat. But where could he go? The nest was a sealed chamber, its only exit guarded by this monstrous sibling.
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Not again, Jannet thought, steeling himself. I won’t let another family betray me.
The betrayal of his previous life—the cold, calculating murder by his father and Walter—flashed in his mind like a warning. He hadn’t fought back then. He had been the perfect housewife, the perfect victim. But here, in this savage, lizard-eat-lizard world, there was no room for weakness.
I won’t be their princess. Not this time.
The older sibling lunged first, its jaws snapping with deadly intent. Jannet barely dodged, his newly hatched body reacting with an agility he hadn’t expected. The lizard struck again, its claws raking across his side. Pain flared through him, sharp and immediate, and his status updated with a sickening prompt:
HP: 108/120
“Damn it,” Jannet thought, stumbling back. He had to think fast. His sibling was larger and stronger, but its strikes were wild, unrefined. It hadn’t yet adapted to killing—it was relying on brute force and instinct.
Jannet circled, his claws sinking into the soil for better traction. His mind raced as he tried to formulate a plan. His status updated again, his HP ticking lower as another scratch landed:
HP: 96/120
It was only a matter of time before the older sibling overpowered him. Then, a spark of inspiration struck.
The gifted skills, he realized. Reptile Memetics.
Jannet focused, the world narrowing to the single, primal thread of instinct that connected him to his sibling. It was like reaching out with a thought, pushing his will into the other creature’s mind. Images and emotions flashed through his consciousness—predatory hunger, territorial rage—but Jannet forced something darker into the stream: the terror he had felt when facing his father’s oppressive gaze.
The sibling froze mid-lunge, its movements jerky and hesitant. For a moment, its cold eyes mirrored a flicker of fear, as though the shadow of Richard’s towering figure loomed over it.
Jannet didn’t hesitate.
With all the strength he could muster, he lunged forward, aiming for the sibling’s exposed neck. His jaws clamped down, activating the Maiming Bite skill. The crunch of scales and cartilage reverberated through his skull, and his sibling thrashed violently, but Jannet held firm. The struggle ended in seconds, the larger hatchling falling limp in his grip.
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The profile flared to life in his mind, glowing with a triumphant update:
Congratulations!
You have slain Varanus komodoensis, Level 2.
Experience gained: 50 XP.
Congratulations!
You are now Level 2.
New information flooded his mind, the profile expanding with details he hadn’t seen before:
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Status Update:
Varanus komodoensis
Level: 2
Stage: Hatchling
Age: 1 day
Stats:
* Health (HP): 120 → 140
* Stamina (SP): 80 → 100
* Mana (MP): 30 → 50
* Strength: 15 → 17
* Agility: 8 → 10
* Venom Effectiveness: 12 → 14
* Armor/Defense: 10 → 12
* Resistance: 5 → 7
* Perception: 10 → 12
* Stealth: 6 → 8
* Climbing Ability: 7 → 9
Note: Stat increases doubled due to Wisdom of the Seeker.
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The pain in his side dulled as his HP replenished slightly with the level-up. Jannet stared down at the lifeless body of his sibling, his chest heaving. The weight of what he had done settled over him, but there was no room for guilt. This was survival.
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The oppressive heat of the nest seemed to intensify as Jannet surveyed the carnage around him. The remains of his siblings, the destruction of what should have been a sanctuary—it all felt grotesquely fitting. This was his new world, one where survival was earned through blood and instinct.
He wouldn’t be a victim again.
The oppressive silence of the nest lingered as Jannet stood over the lifeless body of his sibling. The heat pressed down on him, and the scent of blood filled his nostrils, mingling with the humid, earthy smell of the pit. The realization that there was no mother here—not guarding the nest, not protecting her young—struck him hard. This wasn’t the nurturing family he might have imagined. It was a pit of chaos, death, and survival.
He had emerged alone into a brutal world, and any hope for a guiding hand—or claw—was gone. No one is coming to help me.
His stomach growled, pulling him from his thoughts. The sound startled him, almost making him laugh. Of course, I’m hungry. I just fought for my life.
But even with his enemy vanquished, the nest didn’t feel safe. The shattered eggshells, the remains of his siblings, and the stillness were too ominous. Any moment, another predator could emerge—another sibling who had survived just long enough to try their luck at the top of the hatchling food chain.
Instinct surged through him, and his claws flexed. A primal urge whispered in his mind, guiding his actions: Get to higher ground. Drag the kill. Eat in safety.
It wasn’t just logic; it was a deep, undeniable pull. Jannet's muscles moved before his conscious mind fully grasped the plan. He clamped his jaws around the limp body of his sibling, the weight awkward but manageable in his jaws. The dirt of the pit felt slick and treacherous beneath his claws, but the instincts driving him seemed to adjust for this. He scrambled toward the edge of the nest. He looked out at the sparsely wooded landscape. It was still night how late he had no idea. He spotted a tree that matched the feeling deep inside of him. Dragging the kill took longer than Janet would have liked but something in his stomach wouldn't let him drop it. a large, twisted tree whose roots formed a natural ladder leading up its sturdy trunk. The pale light filtering through the canopy’s opening illuminated his path, and Jannet focused entirely on the task at hand.
His claws dug into the bark as he began his ascent. The climb was surprisingly smooth, his climbing skill engaging automatically to aid him. Every movement felt fluid, purposeful, as if this tree was meant to be his refuge. The scent of the wood and the slight sway of the trunk beneath his weight grounded him, pulling him further from the horrors of the pit below.
Halfway up, he paused to glance back. The nest looked even more desolate from above—a pit of destruction and death. The eggs were scattered, the remains of his siblings stark against the dark soil. The image burned itself into his mind, a reminder of the stakes of this world.
I’m not staying there, he thought, the resolve hardening in his chest. I’m not fighting to be the king of a pit full of corpses.
Reaching a wide, sturdy branch, Jannet pulled himself onto it and deposited the body of his sibling. The effort had left his limbs trembling, but he ignored it. This was better—safer. Up here, he could eat without worrying about another ambush.
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The moment he sank his teeth into the flesh, the reality of what he was doing hit him. He was consuming his sibling, a creature he’d shared a nest and a mother with. It was horrifying on some level, but another part of him—the cold, reptilian part—didn’t flinch. This was survival. In this world, you didn’t waste food.
The meat was tough, but his jaws worked through it with surprising efficiency, and his expandable stomach allowed him to consume far more than he expected. The warmth of sustenance filled him, dulling the sharp edges of his earlier panic.
As he ate, his thoughts wandered. There’s no mother here, no guiding hand to show me how to survive. The absence gnawed at him. The image of a protective mother dragon had been a faint hope, but reality was far crueler. He was alone.
That’s fine, he thought, the bitterness of his human memories mingling with his reptilian instincts. I’ve been alone before. And I’m still here.
The branch swayed gently beneath him as the oppressive heat of the nest gave way to a cooler breeze higher up. For the first time since hatching, Jannet felt something close to peace.
This is better, he decided. I’ll stay up here as long as I can. Let the others fight over the pit.
He wasn’t sure what the future held, but for now, he had a plan. And this time, it wasn’t about pleasing anyone else.