As Confucius once said by the river, time flows like this, day and night ceaselessly. In a cave, Lightning tries to recite, but can't, for it lacks vocal cords.

...

Feeling the gradually diminishing sunlight outside the narrow crevice, Lightning slowly awakened from slumber. Perhaps clouds were passing overhead, rendering even the previously dim moonlight unable to reach here tonight. However, this was also a blessing for the lightning bugs. After several successful night hunts, Lightning had grown fond of this nocturnal hunting method and even considered pursuing a career in nighttime raids.

Yet, this idea was only fleeting. On further reflection, Lightning realized that while night hunting was relatively safe and smooth for the lightning bugs, the quantity and quality of prey were lacking. The nocturnal prey mostly consisted of low-level soft-bodied creatures, with hardly any leader-level creatures like him encountered, and against powerful predators, the lightning bugs could only flee.

The first nighttime hunt where a sleeping creature's nest was discovered was merely a stroke of luck that hadn't occurred again for a long time. Reviewing evolution points and components gathered over this time, Lightning found the yield to be quite average.

"Let's evolve after tonight's hunt. The eye component should be complete, and the evolution points might be sufficient to evolve eyes."

"Moreover, even if the snail shell component from the first day was inadequate, we have hunted enough lightweight-shelled creatures, so we shouldn't lack anything to complete this stage."

Lightning slowly twisted its entire body, letting its spirit gradually surface from within.

"But will it really be that simple?"

"Oh well, let's focus on getting through tonight first. Gather more nutrients and, if possible, bring some food back to the nest to facilitate breeding in the morning."

The surrounding lightning bugs gradually woke from their slumber and gathered around Lightning.

"Heh heh. On this dark and gusty night, it's my time to hunt."

A group of nocturnal hunters emerged from the narrow crevice, and after a brief assessment, the lightning bugs, led by Lightning, skillfully proceeded along the rock crevices.

"Don't limit your vision to the identity of a small nocturnal hunter; our goal is to conquer the endless starry sea!"

※※※

"Target spotted."

A group of lightning bug shadows gathered at the edge of the rocks, not far from where several soft-bodied worms were leisurely strolling.

This species was one Lightning had encountered in the deep sea and was surprised to find still surviving in the perilous shallows. But this only slightly surprised him, for he was no animal conservationist, and the world didn't need such creatures.

To the lightning bugs, these soft-bodied worms were the best source of nutrition aside from plankton and plants. Even if they went extinct in the shallows, it would simply be due to their inability to adapt and being naturally selected out.

Cautiously observing the surroundings to avoid predators, Lightning focused on the soft-bodied worms. In dealing with these defenseless and slow creatures, he didn’t need such caution. Yet, the slightly grayish sandy area where these worms lingered gave him an eerie feeling, like danger mixed with familiarity.

“Damn, what's going on here?”

This contradictory feeling was unsettling for Lightning.

“There are no enemies nearby, not even after risking a wider search range, no predators, and even ordinary creatures are sparse.”

“There’s nothing in the water above, no rock creatures sighted; it has to be in the sand.”

Lightning concentrated his increasingly adept mental sensing on the sandy area ahead but still couldn’t penetrate deeply.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“But the worms are just wandering there, with no change in the sand. And it’s unlikely that bait-hunting creatures exist now; brains haven’t evolved that drastically yet.”

“Oh well, the worms can’t escape. Let the lightning bugs encircle the area, and send one in to scout.”

Unable to devise a better plan and unwilling to forfeit the food, Lightning decided to capture the present prey. Previous hunts provided sufficient nutrients for a while, but now he needed to stockpile food for reproduction and evolution, meaning he had to eliminate encountered prey as much as possible. His caution about the sandy area stemmed only from an unprecedented, eerie feeling.

“Maybe it’s just a hallucination from prolonged tension.”

A few lightning bugs slowly surrounded the peculiar sandy patch, and then one bug cautiously approached the worms in the center. No danger appeared, and the slow-to-react worms continued their leisurely stroll.

“Alright, let’s stun the worms with electricity, then rush in to clean them up.”

With no danger detected, Lightning felt slightly relieved of the peculiar feeling.

Employing the species' group attack skill—Electric Burst—a bright electric net spread from the central lightning bug, paralyzing the worms, after which the surrounding bugs would swarm in and feast, then return to the nest to reproduce and evolve.

According to the usual script, this would be the correct sequence of events.

However, the previous peculiar feeling wasn't a mirage, which wasn’t good news for Lightning.

As the lightning bugs attempted their usual Electric Burst, instead of expanding outward, the electric net seemed to be drawn inward, focusing entirely on the sandy ground beneath the lightning bug before dispersing widely through the sand and dissipating. It was as if the bug had aimed the electric shock directly at the sand, a level of precision beyond the current capabilities of the lightning bugs.

“Is there something wrong with the sand?”

The problem seemed to originate here.

“Does the sand contain minerals with high electric attraction and conductivity?”

The source of the strange feeling seemed identified, but only seemed so. In truth, the eerie feeling within Lightning hadn’t diminished, even intensifying.

While Lightning considered the theory of problematic minerals in the sand, the once-settled electric net suddenly erupted again, generating a strong electric burst, far surpassing the initial output of the lightning bug, differing in magnitude substantially.

Even the highly resistant lightning bug, adapted to frequent electric use, was momentarily paralyzed by this outbreak, let alone the soft-bodied worms, which floated motionless, likely having succumbed.

“Could this area amplify electric power with delay?” Lightning mused, imagining using this place to lure and ambush high-tier predators, envisioning gaining mighty evolutionary components.

But then again, no.

Just as Lightning fantasized about this beautiful future, his mental senses detected a mini-sinkhole forming beneath the forward bug and worms, revealing a massive shadow encircled by electric currents, akin to Thor descending.

The creature swallowed the paralyzed bug and worms in one gulp, its immense body fronted by four enormous eyes that scanned the surroundings with a hint of bewilderment.

Meanwhile, the lightning bugs hiding among rocks remained frozen in terror. This was the fear of the same kind of yet stronger electric-capable creature. Even Lightning's main consciousness kept hidden, not daring to emerge.

“What a powerful electric creature.”

Lightning shivered in fear, yet more than fear, he felt excited about discovering an electric species unknown to him.

“Never encountered kin but stumbled upon such a formidable creature. Could it have evolved from a small cell as I did? It’s humbling.”

Comparing his smaller body to the giant creature made Lightning feel disheartened.

“You can’t see me, you can’t see me, you really can’t see me.”

Cautiously observing from behind the rock using mental sensing, it seemed the creature hadn’t evolved much in this regard.

Puzzlingly surveying the vicinity, its resting sandy area gradually cleared, showing nothing unusual beyond the weak creatures it had devoured. Likely, one of those must have disturbed its rest.

In the murky night, even the creature’s sporadic electric glow couldn’t illuminate far. After waiting for some time without any activity, the Thunder Beast descended back into the sand, resuming its slumber.

Gradually, the sandy area returned to peace, with no changes other than the disappearance of a lightning bug and a few soft-bodied worms.

“Hmm, no reaction?”

Upon sensing the creature submerge, with no further activity after a lengthy wait, Lightning cautiously emerged from hiding. Gathering his companions around the sandy area, none were missing except the devoured bug.

“Does it appear during the day, rendering it invisible at night, or is it like a dragon, sleeping deeply for ages? Could the electric shock have disturbed its sleep?”

“We were just passing through, yet stumbled across this thing, how unlucky.”

Circling the sandy area a few times, the strange feeling had vanished, but Lightning dared not venture inside, wary of an ambush.

“Who knew such a formidable electric beast would evolve.”

“Looks like I’m far behind.”

Spurred by the Thunder Beast, Lightning quickly led his remaining, fortunate comrades away from the dangerous sand, continuing to hunt for breeding food. Only once the sun began to pierce the sea did Lightning, with his seven remaining companions since arriving at the shallow sea, find a secluded, suitable crevice for reproduction.

“Who would have thought the once high-spirited dozen lightning bugs that landed in the shallow sea would become seven cautious dwarfs.”

“Damn, what a pitiful analogy I’ve come up with.”

“I refuse to be a menial dwarf serving a princess. If anything, I’ll be the dragon kidnapping princesses for fun, keeping female heroes as maids and tossing male heroes into lava for fuel, haha.”

“This spot seems safe, no danger sensed. Alright then.”

“System, initiate reproduction.”

[Main consciousness selects reproduction. Enter the species reproduction phase?]

“Yes.”