"Ah... how annoying."

"8051, don't you ever get tired of staying in that space?"

"Right, I forgot we're in the outside world now; you can't hear me."

"Sometimes the world feels vast, filled with unknown plants, animals, places, and more. It makes me want to learn, to observe. But often, the world feels small, doing the same things over and over from childhood onward. It's like being trapped in one box after another, striving to climb out, only to find myself in yet another box."

"It's so frustrating."

【Is that so?】

"Uh!?"

…

"Who am I?"

"Where am I?" Get out!

"It's dark." Get out!

"Who's there? Get out? What do you mean, get out?" Box, climb out.

"Box? Hmm, why is there a wall? Is this it?" Box, climb out.

"Climb out? This?"

The childhood box...

"Yay, I'm out. Huh? Another one."

The elementary school box...

"Yay, out again. Ah, there's more? Let's go!"

The middle school box...

"Made it out, that was hard... Oh come on."

The university box...

"Finally out, so tiring."

"There are still more? How does this keep happening, what's all this about?" Box, climb out.

"No way, too exhausting." Box, climb out.

"Alright, alright, I'll keep going."

The adult box...

"Keep going."

The elderly box...

"Surely there are no more now. Whew—"

"Wait, what's this?" Congratulations, you've finally reached your goal.

"Goal? What goal?" Your life.

"My life? Wasn't I just climbing out of boxes the whole time?" Not just boxes; didn't you see anything else?

"What other things? It was all boxes. Weren't you telling me to keep climbing out?" But now your life is over, farewell.

"Wait, what do you mean my life's over, what else was there..."

Then, the world of boxes vanished.

…

"Ah!" Ga.

Ga Ga opened its eyes, glancing around in a mild panic.

"A dream?"

"How is that possible, at my current brain level, dreaming shouldn't be possible?"

Disoriented, Ga Ga sat up, observing the already awake but still motionless herd lying on the ground.

"Honestly... Cold-blooded creatures really lack energy in the morning."

"Wake up! Wake up!" Ga—

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"Huh, I think I just had some weird nightmare." Watching the hundreds of tentacle Ga Ga Beasts slowly gathering around it, Ga Ga tried to recall the dream but failed. "Oh well, just a dream after all." (Ignorance skill leveled up)

"So, what was on the agenda for today?"

"Let's see... Oh, right, clear a safe area. Yes, that's it."

"Gather round, we're going to be busy for a while."

"Alright, minions, let's cause some havoc!"

※※※

The hills had long been peaceful and quiet, aside from the ongoing cycle of predator and prey, the plants served as passive spectators to the endless struggles.

One day, a strange group of bipedal creatures arrived, running through the woods.

Initially, all the animals were frightened by their sheer numbers and hid away.

Then, the animals noticed the intruders were disorganized, becoming more scattered as they ran through the forest.

Some bold or desperate creatures decided to attack the isolated bipeds.

They were strong and possessed electric attacks similar to those of some local creatures.

Even so, they were still preyed upon.

After gathering by the grey-white, electric-stone-clad mountainside for some rest, they suddenly launched an offensive against the surrounding creatures. Whether or not their targets had previously attacked them, any creature capable of opposing them was driven away or eliminated through sheer numbers.

The bright-scaled beast observed from the valley's edge, perplexed. Recently, more creatures had fled from that area into its territory.

More prey meant more sustainable food; sustainability entered its mind unbidden, something it had grown accustomed to over time.

The bright-scale beast stretched its legs, feeling the stiffness from being dormant for numerous rises and falls of the sun.

Around it, other bright-scale beasts stirred as their leader rose.

The leader was always the strongest and smartest individual in the herd, one appearing every generation. It ensured the herd's survival through the gathering of sufficient food during feeding periods, maintaining about seventy bright-scale beasts for many suns.

Now, the leader's actions signaled that another feeding period had begun.

Licking dry lips, every individual in the herd stood ready, instinctively moving toward the river by the small mountain.

Emerging from the river, the bright scales shed collected dust, glistening once more in the sun, with strong, elegant limbs supporting their bodies.

However, they soon found a mud hole to dull their bright appearance...

This feeding cycle, the leader planned to ambush at the valley entrance where fleeing animals often appeared, making brightly reflective scales impractical.

As for those creatures that fled into their territory, they were merely reserves—another oddity.

Indeed, the ambush paid off within two days, with a group of six animals fleeing in panic towards them.

The bright-scale beasts, built for short, powerful sprints, shone brightly in their scale armor, akin to human plate armor, and could trigger muscle bursts with electricity.

But the leader, possessing a degree of intelligence, utilized more than physical prowess, incorporating environmental factors into its tactics.

And so, the ambushing bright-scale beasts easily captured five of the fleeing creatures, reserving one for the leader.

Over time, through patient waiting and changing ambush points, this feeding cycle's needs were met perfectly.

How pleasant life is for these beasts.

Even any creature that threatened a lone bright-scale beast was merely another meal to the leader.

Relaxing back in its lair, the bright-scale leader caught sight of several more fleeing animals at the valley entrance, chased by eight peculiar bipedal creatures.

These were the ones bringing us food? There's something odd about them.

But now, satiated, the leader considered initiating the next breeding cycle.

…

Driving seven companions amidst a new set of tasks, components gained were few, and weaker creatures required more kills.

Through such tasks, Ga Ga identified six general levels:

First, legendary creatures—the only encounter being the sandworm, needing one for 500 evolution points, with a component or ability reward. Unfortunately, they're untouchable, seen but not defeated.

Next, special creatures (likely elite level), like the Greenification Seed, encountered just once, also needing only one for 80 evolution points and an ability reward.

Then, special predators or advanced hunters (boss level), comparable to Kol Beasts, posed a threat comparable to tentacle Ga Ga Beasts, with abilities like electricity or venom. Five required for 200 evolution points with component rewards.

Following, regular predators (elite level), such as Long-Spined Dragons, relying on physical attacks; twenty needed for 100 evolution points, with potential but uncertain component rewards.

Below, standard predators (common level), like Darkfin Fish, always invoked mouth-watering thoughts in Ga Ga. Fifty needed for a mere 100 points and no extra rewards.

Lastly, mild predators and herbivorous animals (civilian level), akin to Gilong, non-aggressive, feeding on plants and small animals, a hundred needed for 100 evolution points, with minimal component rewards.

However, some herbivores had formidable individuals, exceptions to the rule.

With full stomachs and low-priority tasks completed, Ga Ga chose to drive potentially threatening animals beyond a certain range, leaving fast-reproducing, low-risk creatures within the herd's territory.

"Though not comprehensive, it's a decent start. Still haven't found this Infernal Moth."

Standing atop a small hill, Ga Ga surveyed the hilly territory, centered around the electro-stone mine and surrounded by multiple hills. Running from the mine's center to these hills' edges took from sunrise to sunset at a steady pace, underscoring the large area.

"Now, expanding breeding here, gradually connecting with other tentacle Ga Ga Beast groups, extending the search area."

"Additionally, we can scout locations beside these crucial hill passes for new nests, expanding control while dividing the herd." Good plan.

Returning to the electro-stone mine as the red sun set behind the hills, Ga Ga considered establishing a nest by a nearby small lake, when the long-awaited mission prompt arrived.

[Main Mission 1: Breeding Point Completed, Brain Upgrade to Level 2.]

[Brain Level 2: Individual self-awareness, expanded memory capacity.]