Status Update:
Varanus komodoensis
Level: 3 (80% more experience needed to level)
Stage: Hatchling
Age: 3 months
Size: Approximately 3.5 feet from snout to tail
ETA until next evolution: 7-9 years
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The status screen’s glowing text faded as Jannet perched on one of the thicker branches of his tree. Three months into his new life, and things were changing fast—too fast, in some ways. His growing size made navigating the branches more precarious. Where he had once darted nimbly across even the thinnest limbs, now the weaker branches groaned alarmingly under his weight.
He peered down at the jungle floor below, the thick canopy doing little to lessen the shadows cast by the early morning sun. The world below was alive with movement and sound—rustling leaves, distant roars, the occasional snap of something far too large crunching through the underbrush.
The tree had been his sanctuary, but now it felt less like a fortress and more like a fragile tower. Every creak beneath his claws reminded him that he couldn’t stay here forever. His growing bulk demanded something more stable, more grounded.
But the ground… the ground was terrifying.
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Jannet had tried to explore.
It had been a nerve-wracking endeavor, his movements awkward and hesitant as he clung to the base of the tree like a toddler taking their first steps. His instincts screamed at him with every rustle of leaves, every distant snap of a twig. He darted from bush to bush, his belly close to the ground, his eyes scanning constantly for danger.
The jungle floor was a chaotic place—teeming with life, every sound and shadow a potential threat. He had managed to catch a few insects, even a small rodent, but the constant tension made his expeditions brief.
His fears were confirmed one fateful afternoon when he spotted something that froze him in his tracks.
It was a komodo dragon.
At least twice his size, the lizard prowled through the undergrowth with a confidence and power that made Jannet’s heart race. Its scales glistened in the dappled sunlight, and its massive jaws hung slightly open, revealing rows of sharp teeth.
It could have been his mother. Or his killer. Jannet wasn’t sure which, but he wasn’t about to find out.
He scrambled back up the tree as fast as his claws would allow, his heart pounding. From his perch high above, he watched the larger lizard disappear into the shadows, its movements smooth and unhurried.
The ground, he decided, was not safe.
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For weeks, Jannet fell into a strange rhythm—one that alternated between courage and fear.
He would venture down the tree, skittering cautiously from one patch of cover to the next, only to retreat at the first sign of danger. Every rustle of leaves, every shadow moving too close, sent him scrambling back to the safety of the branches.
And yet, the need to explore gnawed at him. The tree was no longer enough. His instincts urged him to push further, to test his boundaries, even as his fear held him back.
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One day, his profile updated once again:
Status Update:
Varanus komodoensis
Level: 3 (60% more experience needed to level)
Stage: Hatchling
Age: 4 months
Size: 4 feet from snout to tail
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Jannet had been eyeing a potential meal for hours—a massive rat-like creature that moved cautiously through the underbrush, its long, whip-like tail swishing behind it. It was easily twice the size of the rodents he’d caught before, its matted fur streaked with mud and something darker.
This could feed me for days, he thought, his body pressed low against the tree branch as he watched.
He waited patiently, his Ambush Predator skill active. The rat moved closer, oblivious to the danger above. Jannet’s claws flexed in anticipation, his muscles coiling like a spring.
Just a little closer…
Suddenly, a blur of movement shattered the stillness.
The larger komodo dragon burst from the underbrush, its massive jaws closing around the rat with terrifying precision. The rodent didn’t even have time to squeal before it was hoisted into the air, its lifeless body dangling from the lizard’s maw.
Jannet froze, his eyes wide as he watched the larger lizard devour the rat in a series of quick, brutal bites. The meal that would have sustained him for days was gone in seconds.
The larger dragon lingered for a moment, licking its jaws before disappearing back into the jungle.
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Jannet’s stomach growled.
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That night, the gnawing ache of hunger kept him awake.
Curled in the hollow of the tree, he tried to ignore the emptiness in his belly. It wasn’t the first time he’d gone hungry, but the frustration of losing his meal to the larger lizard made it sting even more.
He thought about the rat—the way its fur had bristled, its tail had twitched. He thought about the larger komodo dragon, its effortless power and confidence.
And then, his thoughts drifted to food in general.
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Back on Earth, in his human life, food had been… complicated. Walter had demanded perfection—restaurant-quality meals every night, with no room for mistakes or shortcuts. A slightly overcooked roast, a slightly underseasoned soup, and his condescending remarks would start.
But here, in this strange new life, Jannet had discovered something unexpected: he liked the food.
Raw meat, slimy insects, crunchy beetles—they should have been disgusting, revolting. And yet, his reptilian instincts made them… enjoyable. The taste, the texture, the satisfaction of a full belly—it was all so simple, so primal.
Walter would lose his mind if he saw this, Jannet thought with a faint smile. He’d probably gag at the sight of me swallowing a rat whole.
The thought was oddly comforting. Walter, Richard—those men who had controlled his life, who had demanded so much of him—were gone. They weren’t here to judge him, to dictate his every move.
They’ll have to make their own meals now, he thought, a flicker of dark humor warming him. And knowing them, they’ll burn everything and end up eating canned soup.
As the jungle hummed with its nighttime symphony, Jannet’s hunger slowly gave way to a strange sense of contentment.
Status Update:
Varanus komodoensis
Level: 4
Stage: Hatchling
Age: 6 months
Size: 4.5 feet from snout to tail
ETA until next evolution: 7-9 years
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The tree had once been everything to Jannet—a sanctuary, a home, and a vantage point to survey the jungle below. But now, its branches sagged beneath his weight, and the hollow he had once curled into at night could no longer accommodate him.
He spent most of his time at the base of the tree, lounging in the cool shadows or patrolling the area for food. His hunts had become easier as he grew stronger and more confident. Creatures like the horned rabbits and the gelatinous slimes, which had once seemed too daunting to challenge, were now fightable prey.
Jannet lay sprawled at the base of the tree, his belly full from a successful hunt. A horned rabbit carcass lay nearby, its dark fur matted with blood. The sun filtered through the canopy, warming his scales as he rested.
He had been growing stronger, adapting to this harsh world in ways that his past self could never have imagined. The jungle floor, once a source of terror, now felt almost familiar. He knew its sounds, its rhythms, its dangers. He was no longer just surviving—he was thriving.
But his peace didn’t last.
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The sound of soft footfalls reached his ears, accompanied by the faint rustle of leaves. Jannet tensed, his claws digging into the dirt as he lifted his head to survey his surroundings.
A lizard emerged from the underbrush.
It was another Komodo dragon, about his size, its sleek body gliding over the ground with practiced ease. Its forked tongue flicked out, tasting the air as it moved closer.
Jannet’s instincts flared. This wasn’t a horned rabbit or a slime. This was competition, a potential threat. His mind raced, calculating his options.
The lizard stopped a few feet away, its tongue flicking again. Jannet mirrored the action, tasting the air and catching the other’s scent. It was strange—familiar, yet alien.
For a moment, they simply stared at each other, their bodies coiled like springs, ready to strike.
Jannet’s plan was simple: fight, drive the other lizard away, and assert dominance over the territory. But just as he prepared to launch his attack, a thought stopped him.
What if I don’t have to fight?
His mind flashed back to his time in the egg, floating in darkness and contemplating his skills. He remembered thinking about starting an empire—a vision of lizards working together, building something greater than the endless cycle of eat or be eaten.
The idea had seemed laughable then, a silly daydream. But now, faced with this other Komodo dragon, it didn’t seem so impossible.
What if I could make this lizard an ally?
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Jannet’s thoughts raced. He knew he had tools at his disposal—Morphic-Field Manipulation and Reptile Memetics. These weren’t just skills for survival; they were tools for influence, for connection.
He focused on the other lizard, letting the morphic resonance between them grow stronger. It was like tuning into a frequency, a subtle thread of instinct and understanding that bound them as members of the same species. He could feel the lizard’s wariness, its territorial instincts, and its hunger.
Jannet racked his brain, searching for a way to communicate what he needed. He had no words, no language—only images, feelings, and the faint hope that his skills would bridge the gap.
Then, a memory surfaced.
It was from his human life, one of the rare dates he’d shared with Walter. They had gone to the movies, and the film had been something about apes banding together to survive in a hostile world. The line that stuck with him came rushing back: Ape together strong.
Jannet’s reptilian lips couldn’t form the words, but his mind could shape the idea. He poured everything he had into the thought—teamwork, cooperation, the promise of shared strength and safety.
Lizard together strong, he thought, willing the phrase into being. He packed it with every ounce of meaning he could muster, weaving images of hunting together, defending territory, and sharing the spoils of survival.
He felt the resistance against the morphic fields immediately. The other lizard’s mind was a fortress of suspicion and instinct, its thoughts guarded by territorial fear. But Jannet pressed on, using the resonance to hold it down.
The seconds stretched into an eternity as the other lizard’s body tensed, its muscles coiling as it prepared to strike.
There was no time left.
With one final push, Jannet willed the thought into the lizard’s mind: Lizard together strong.
The world seemed to hold its breath.