Jannet smoothed the apron over her trim waist, her manicured fingers trembling slightly. The roasted chicken, browned to perfection, sat atop the dining table beside bowls of buttered peas and mashed potatoes. A bouquet of daisies sat as the centerpiece, and the room smelled of cinnamon from the pie cooling on the counter.

“Everything’s ready,” she murmured, her voice light and sweet, practiced to avoid the hint of tension that lay beneath.

Her husband, Walter, entered the room first. He always did. His broad shoulders brushed the doorway as he stopped to inspect the table. His dark hair, slicked back with pomade, gleamed under the overhead light. He didn’t smile. Walter rarely smiled.

“Dinner smells good,” he said, voice gruff but approving.

“Thank you, darling,” Jannet replied, though her heart clenched as she watched him take his place at the head of the table. Her father, Richard, came next, his heavy footfalls echoing down the hallway.

“Jannet, don’t forget my scotch,” he barked before even reaching the dining room.

Jannet rushed to fetch the glass she’d already poured, setting it by his seat just in time. She sat down at her spot, head bowed like a servant awaiting further commands. The men began their meal without so much as a nod of acknowledgment. The sound of forks clinking against plates filled the air. Jannet allowed herself only the smallest bites, though her stomach twisted in hunger.

Her life had always been like this: a rigid, carefully orchestrated dance. Her father dictated her youth, and Walter took over the reins as soon as she was married. The expectations were clear: obedience, grace, and silence.

But today, the silence in her mind was louder than ever.

It had been a routine grocery trip that shattered her world. Pushing her cart through the produce aisle, she spotted Walter across the store. He wasn’t alone. A woman, much younger, hung off his arm. She laughed at something he said, her head tilting in an exaggerated way that sent Jannet’s stomach plummeting. Jannet couldn’t move. She couldn’t breathe. For minutes, she simply stared, her mind unraveling.

When she confronted him later that evening, Walter didn’t even deny it.

“You’re imagining things,” he said with a wave of his hand. “Stop being hysterical. Do you think I don’t have enough stress already?”

Jannet’s words caught in her throat. How could he call her hysterical? The woman had kissed him, right there in the middle of the store! She wanted to scream, to cry, but instead, she nodded, lips pressed tightly together. As the meal wound down, Jannet’s hands trembled under the table. She could feel the walls closing in on her, the weight of their indifference suffocating. For years, she had bottled everything up—every slight, every insult, every hollow compliment. But tonight, something inside her snapped.

Her fork clattered to the plate, startling both men. Walter shot her a disapproving look.

“Jannet, what are you—” he began, but she didn’t let him finish.

“Enough!” she screamed, her voice raw and loud enough to echo off the dining room walls. She shot to her feet, palms slamming onto the table.

Both men froze, their expressions a mix of shock and irritation. Walter’s mouth opened as if to scold her, but she cut him off.

“I can’t take this anymore!” she yelled, her voice cracking. “Do you think I don’t see what’s happening, Walter? Do you think I didn’t see you with her? Laughing, flirting—kissing her in the middle of the store like I don’t even exist? And you!” She turned her fury on her father, who scowled at her like a misbehaving child. “You’ve spent my entire life trying to control me, telling me what to do, what to think, how to be. Both of you—you don’t care about me! You only care about your precious reputation. Well, guess what? I don’t care about it anymore!”

Her chest heaved, her voice echoing in the stunned silence. Walter leaned back in his chair, his expression darkening.

“You’re hysterical,” he said, his tone dismissive. “You’re overreacting, Jannet. This is exactly why we don’t let you make decisions—because you blow everything out of proportion.”

Her father chimed in, his voice deep and commanding. “You will lower your voice, young lady. You’re embarrassing yourself. Do you want the neighbors to hear? Is that what you want, to drag our family’s name through the mud?”

Jannet’s fists clenched at her sides. “You’re unbelievable! You’re both so worried about appearances that you can’t even admit the truth. Walter cheated on me! And instead of holding him accountable, you’re sitting here acting like I’m the problem?” She laughed bitterly, a sound more like a sob. “Do you two even hear yourselves? Do you even care what this is doing to me?”

Walter stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. His voice dropped, cold and threatening. “You’re making a fool of yourself. Sit down, Jannet. Now.”

“No!” she spat, her voice fierce despite the tremor in her hands. “I won’t sit down, and I won’t shut up! I’ve had enough of being treated like a servant—like a doll you can dress up and parade around when it suits you. I am a person, Walter. I am a person, Dad. And I’m done pretending that this is okay!”

Her father exchanged a glance with Walter, a silent understanding passing between them. It sent a chill down Jannet’s spine.

Walter sighed and stepped closer, his expression softening in a way that felt rehearsed. “Sweetheart,” he said, his tone dripping with condescension, “you’re tired. You’re stressed. We get it. But this is why you need us. You’re… not yourself right now.”

“I am more myself than I’ve ever been,” Jannet shot back.

Her father stood, towering over her. His voice was low and menacing. “Enough of this nonsense. You’re going to apologize, Jannet, and you’re going to do it now. For your own good.”

“For my own good?” Jannet laughed bitterly. “Do you even hear yourselves? You’re conspiring to gaslight me because I dared to stand up for myself! Because I’m calling out the truth? You two don’t care about me—you just care about control. Well, guess what? You’ve lost it.”

The room fell deathly silent. Her father’s lips pressed into a thin line, and Walter’s jaw tightened. For the first time, Jannet saw them not as two separate forces in her life but as a united front—one built on manipulation and control.

She stepped back, trembling, but her voice didn’t waver. “I’m done. You can’t control me anymore.”

Walter and Richard exchanged another look. This time, there was no mistaking the sinister undertone. Walter’s voice was calm, but his words sent a shiver down her spine.

“Why don’t you sit down and have some pie, sweetheart?” he said, gesturing to the counter. “You’ll feel better after you’ve had something sweet.”

Jannet hesitated, her instincts screaming at her to leave, to run. But she shook her head, defiantly holding her ground.

“I’m not eating your pie,” she said coldly.

Walter’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Suit yourself.”

The next week one evening, she prepared dinner as usual. She chopped vegetables, her knife moving faster than it should, her hands trembling with pent-up frustration. The roast chicken sizzled in the oven. The dessert pie cooled on the counter. Everything was as perfect as it could be—just the way they expected.

Walter and Richard were already at the table when she brought out the food. Walter’s grin widened as she set the dishes down. “That’s my girl,” he said, his tone condescending.

Jannet stood by the table, staring at him. The words she wanted to say burned in her chest: Do you even care about me? Do you even notice me? But she swallowed them down. Instead, she poured Richard’s scotch and took her place at the table.

The meal passed like any other. The men ate heartily, while Jannet nibbled and served. It wasn’t until Walter leaned back with a satisfied sigh that her pulse quickened.

“Well, that was wonderful, sweetheart,” he said, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

Richard grunted his agreement, but there was a strange glint in his eyes—something Jannet couldn’t place.

Then it happened. Something hard collided with the back of her skull. Pain exploded through her head, and the world spun. Her body crumpled to the floor, the sounds of the dining room fading into blackness.

She wasn’t sure how much time had passed before the darkness lifted. A strange warmth surrounded her, like a gentle hug. She felt light—weightless, even—but there was something solid beneath her.

Her mind swirled with confusion. Am I dead? she wondered. If this was the afterlife, it was nothing like the fire and brimstone her father had often preached about. No, this was… pleasant.

She opened her eyes—or at least, she thought she did. The darkness remained, but there was a faint glow, like the flicker of a candle in the distance. Then it faded, leaving her alone again.

It wasn’t until much later that she noticed the words floating in her mind. They appeared without warning, like a dream she could read:

Varanus komodoensis (Komodo dragon)

Name: [Unnamed]

Level: 0

Stage: Fetus

Age: 3 days

ETA until next evolution: 7-8 months

Egg environmental conditions: 100% optimal

Gender: Choice needed

For a moment, Jannet thought she was hallucinating. But the words stayed, unwavering, as if they were carved into her thoughts.

Her pulse quickened. What is this? Am I dreaming?

More words appeared beneath the first set:

Skills:

* Ectotherm (innate)

* Short Sprint (innate)

* Climbing (innate)

* Digging (innate)

* Claws (innate)

* Marking

* Ambush Predator(innate)

* Stealthy Approach(innate)

* Strong Jaws(innate)

* Maiming Bite(innate)

* Infecting Bite (Deadly)

* Massive Bite(innate)

* Expandable Jaws(innate)

* Expandable Stomach(innate)

* Forced Swallow

* Red Infecting Saliva (Deadly)(innate)

* Carrion Eater

* Revulsion to Vegetables(innate)

* Sun-Aided Digestion(innate)

* Slow Metabolism(innate)

* Memories of the soul(gifted)

* Reptile memetics(gifted)

* Morphic-Field manipulation(gifted)

* Wisdom of the Seeker(gifted)

* Fabled Prodigy (Monster Trait)

The list scrolled endlessly, each word sinking into her like a stone. The pieces began to fall into place. Somehow, impossibly, she was… not herself. She was something else.

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“A Komodo dragon,” she whispered—or tried to. No sound came out. The realization hit her like another blow to the head. She wasn’t human anymore. As the days passed, she floated in and out of consciousness. The darkness became her companion, and the glowing words her only source of distraction. Occasionally, the faint light returned, a comforting warmth she couldn’t understand.

Over time, she began to notice patterns. The light appeared every few hours, always accompanied by a faint sensation—almost like movement. Was it her mother? The dragon whose egg she was now inside?

She wasn’t sure how much time had passed when the gender selection flashed again in her mind. It felt… significant, though she didn’t know why.

Gender: Choice needed.

The words pulsed gently, as if waiting for her decision. Jannet hesitated. Did it matter? She wasn’t even human anymore. Let’s think this through there are pros and cons to both options But deep down, she felt a strange sense of rebellion—against her old life, against her father and Walter, against everything they had forced her to be and she was a fucking lizard probably in the wild the bigger and scarier the better.

“Male,” she thought firmly. The words pulsed once, then faded.

For the first time, Jannet felt a glimmer of control.

Darkness was her world, her only companion the words that scrolled across her mind like a script from a game she never agreed to play. She could feel her awareness sharpening, expanding, yet the confines of her tiny, fragile body kept her tethered to a bizarre new reality.

Varanus komodoensis

Level: 0

Stage: Fetus

Age: 3 days

ETA until next evolution: 7-8 months

Egg environmental conditions: 89% optimal

Gender: Male (chosen)

The status glowed faintly in her thoughts. She focused on it again, and something shifted—a slight buzzing sensation as if her mind had latched onto a hidden layer. New words unfurled beneath the initial list, a cascade of text detailing something that both intrigued and unnerved her: skills.

The moment she concentrated, the list unfurled further, and she felt a faint pulse as each line seemed to demand her attention.

INNATE SKILLS

Ectotherm (innate): The ability to regulate body temperature through external sources, like sunlight or warm surfaces.

Jannet winced. “So, I’m cold-blooded now. Wonderful,” she muttered internally. The thought of relying on the sun to function sent a ripple of unease through her. She had always hated the heat.

Short Sprint (innate): A sudden burst of speed over short distances, often used for ambushes or fleeing danger.

“Handy for a predator, I guess,” she thought. But it struck her how limited that burst would be. Not exactly an endurance runner.

Climbing (innate): The ability to scale trees and rough surfaces using claws and muscle coordination.

Jannet imagined herself, a lumbering reptile, clinging to the side of a tree. The thought was almost comical. At least I’ll get a nice view of my kingdom, she joked.

Digging (innate): The capacity to dig burrows or uncover hidden prey.

The idea of clawing through dirt felt oddly primal but somehow satisfying. It resonated with her newfound existence. “Great, I’m a glorified gardener.”

Claws (innate): Sharp, durable claws capable of ripping, climbing, and digging.

She flinched, imagining those claws tearing through something. Let’s just hope I don’t hurt myself before I figure out how to use them.

HUNTING AND COMBAT SKILLS

Ambush Predator: Enhanced stealth and patience for surprise attacks.

“Well, subtlety was never my strong suit as a housewife, but I suppose I’ll have to learn.”

Stealthy Approach: Quiet movement for sneaking up on prey or evading detection.

Jannet frowned. “Does this come with a tutorial? Or do I just hope for the best?”

Strong Jaws: Unparalleled biting force capable of crushing bone.

The words sent a shiver through her. “I was worried about my manicure before. Now I’m a bone-crusher?”

Maiming Bite: A specialized attack designed to disable prey, ensuring it cannot flee.

She didn’t like the sound of this one. It felt cruel. But then again, nature didn’t care about cruelty.

Infecting Bite (Deadly): Bacteria-laden saliva ensures that even a minor wound can become fatal to prey.

The idea of her mouth being a toxic weapon was both disgusting and fascinating. “Deadly bad breath. Charming.”

Massive Bite: A devastating attack that maximizes damage, often used to finish prey.

“The closer I look at this list, the scarier I get,” she mused.

Expandable Jaws: An adaptation allowing her to swallow prey larger than her head.

“Okay, that’s… horrifying. Am I a snake or a lizard?”

Expandable Stomach: The ability to hold large quantities of food, ensuring survival during long periods without hunting.

“Great, I’m a living trash compactor.”

Forced Swallow: The ability to manipulate prey into the throat even when struggling.(requires tree)

She shuddered. “I’d rather not think about that one, thank you.”

SURVIVAL AND FEEDING SKILLS

Red Infecting Saliva (Deadly): Saliva with additional toxins to incapacitate prey faster.

“Why does this list keep getting worse?”

Carrion Eater: The ability to consume decaying meat safely.

“Lovely. A bottom-feeder. If Walter could see me now…”

Revulsion to Vegetables: An inability to digest plant matter effectively.

This one almost made her laugh. “Finally, something familiar! I’ve always hated brussels sprouts.”

Sun-Aided Digestion: Solar energy speeds up digestion.

She felt her unease soften. “Well, at least the sun has some purpose now.”

Slow Metabolism: Reduced energy consumption during inactivity, allowing for extended periods of survival without food.

“The silver lining of being a reptile, I suppose.”

Unknown Skills

Memories of the Soul (gifted): A connection to past lives, granting fragmented memories, insights, or skills from previous incarnations.

“Past lives?” Jannet thought, startled. “I don’t even believe in that… or at least, I didn’t.”

A strange sensation washed over her, like distant whispers in her mind. They weren’t clear words but impressions: flashes of warmth, laughter, and pain. A sense of familiarity with things she shouldn’t know. Could it be true? Could she really tap into lives she had lived before? “Wait, this can’t mean I’ve been reincarnated before, can it?” she thought. The implications unsettled her. She didn’t want to believe in reincarnation; that would mean she’d lived—and possibly suffered—many times before this. Yet, the thought of uncovering forgotten truths was intoxicating.

Reptile Memetics (Gifted): The ability to implant ideas, instincts, or emotions into the   minds of other reptiles, with greater success the closer they are genetically.

Jannet winced. The word memetics sounded eerily clinical, almost sinister. “So, I can brainwash other reptiles?” she muttered. She couldn’t decide if this was horrifying or thrilling. Her mind raced with possibilities: Could I command a swarm of lizards someday? Build my own empire? For the first time, the thought of having power, true power, didn’t feel so foreign.

Morphic-Field Manipulation (Gifted): The ability to subtly influence the biological and instinctual behavior of living creatures through an unseen energy field.

The explanation made her pause. It wasn’t just reptiles she could affect—this was something bigger. Morphic fields, she recalled vaguely, were a theoretical concept she’d skimmed in a science article once. Now, she was living proof of their existence.

“So… I can influence living things around me? Does this mean I could make a predator hesitate? Or push prey into my jaws?” The skill sent a shiver through her. It felt godlike, in a way—an ability to bend the rules of nature to her will.

Wisdom of the Seeker (Gifted): Doubles the experience gained from actions, ensuring faster growth and learning.

This one brought a flicker of hope. “Finally, something that makes sense,” Jannet said, her mental voice tinged with relief. The faster she grew, the sooner she might understand this strange world. “At least I won’t be stuck as an egg forever.”

Fabled Prodigy (Monster Trait): A unique marker of extraordinary potential, granting enhanced growth rates, skill acquisition, and influence over other creatures.

“A prodigy?” she repeated, skeptical. The word felt incongruous with her image of herself—Jannet the housewife.

The weight of the words struck her like a hammer. Monster Trait. The phrase reverberated in her mind, raising questions she wasn’t ready to answer. Was this what she was now? A monster? Or had she always been one?

Yet, deep down, something stirred. She remembered the suffocating control her father and husband had wielded over her. They had never let her shine, never let her excel beyond their shadow. But now, in this strange new life, she had the chance to be something more. “Immense potential,” she whispered to herself. “What does that even mean?” But deep down, the words lit a small flame of determination. If this was her new life, perhaps it wouldn’t just be about survival.

The first jolt of movement shattered her thoughts. The warmth that had cradled her since her arrival shifted violently, and the darkness seemed to expand. She realized her surroundings weren’t entirely still; the faint sense of compression and gravity made her realize she was moving.

The glow returned briefly, illuminating her surroundings. She felt pressure and vibration, like being pressed through soft clay.

What is happening? she thought, panic surging. The warmth gave way to a sudden rush of cool air, followed by a blinding flash of light—the brightest she’d seen since arriving in this strange new existence.

She felt herself tumbling, then settling into what felt like a soft cradle. The light disappeared, replaced by dim shadow and the sound of something heavy moving overhead. Dirt. She could sense it piling on top of her, pressing her down, sealing her away. The realization came slowly: she had been laid.

The moonlight had been her only glimpse of the outside world before she was buried. Her new mother, an enormous Komodo dragon, had carefully crafted a nest, and Jannet was now part of it.

Time slowed again. She floated between awareness and the strange rhythms of her new existence. Occasionally, vibrations rippled through the dirt—perhaps the movements of her mother, guarding the nest. The faintest hint of safety settled over her.

Status Update:

Varanus komodoensis

Level: 0

Stage: Egg

Age: 13 days

ETA until next evolution: 6-7 months

Egg environmental conditions: 79% optimal

The changes startled her. Ten days had passed, but she hadn’t felt hunger or discomfort. Then it dawned on her: she didn’t need food. The yolk inside her egg sustained her, keeping her alive and growing.

So that’s why I don’t feel hungry… she mused. But what happens when that runs out?

Her world became a cycle of waiting, pondering her strange skills, and trying to make sense of this new existence. Time moved slowly, but she resolved to adapt. She had no choice.