The spring rain persisted for two consecutive days before finally relenting. A gentle breeze caressed the land as the bright morning sun illuminated droplets on leaves, refracting dazzling rays of light. The jungle seemed to awaken suddenly, with insects chirping, and tender green shoots budding on branches, brimming with vitality. Spring had arrived.

Yet, the warriors of the Blattodea tribe were nowhere to be found. The rain had washed away their scent, allowing bold birds to venture to the peaks, soaring in search of food.

Speckle, observing the situation outside, canceled plans to test flight abilities. Instead, lazily lounging at the cave entrance, it basked in the brilliant spring light. Hours passed, until deep into the night, sporadic cockroaches crawled out from their dormant nests, guided by memory, only to depart disappointed after surveying the mountainside.

Speckle hesitated to venture far from home. Bold rodents with fluffy tails had dared to come to the peak in search of food. "It left before I went into hibernation. It's been over five days now. Could something have happened?" Speckle pondered silently, feeling a sense of worry.

Speculating that the Blattodea warriors must have gone hunting, Speckle fretted over the possibility of their untimely demise. Without the protection of the strong, safety was not assured, and the free supply of food was lost. They would have to forage for themselves, and leaving the nest meant constant peril to their lives.

Five days passed, yet there was no sign of their return, nor the arrival of any other Blattodea warriors from nearby. The disappearance of the Blattodea tribe extended beyond ten days!

Speckle's hope waned entirely, compelled by the pressure of survival to contemplate self-reliance. After observing, it determined that the pre-dawn darkness was the most suitable time to venture out for food. At that time, nocturnal animals returned to their dens, while diurnal creatures still slumbered.

The target for foraging was the caterpillars gnawing on tender leaves of the mountainous trees. Mastering the art of camouflage, they blended seamlessly with the tree bark, making them difficult to detect. However, their cunning disguise couldn't evade Speckle's pursuit.

While searching for a large tree, Speckle examined the condition of the newly sprouted buds. Once signs of nibbling were detected, it swiftly moved in, meticulously searching inch by inch, assured of a harvest nearby.

During the hunt, Speckle unexpectedly discovered a prey option among the jungle's weak insects — the larvae of wood-boring beetles. These chubby creatures burrowed into tree trunks, devouring the wood, and the slender bodies of male cockroaches were just the right size to enter the openings.

They were all defenseless targets, and killing one provided enough food for an entire day. Their hiding spots within tree cavities also served as the safest shelter. Speckle decided not to return to the mountain, opting for a nomadic lifestyle instead.

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Resting during the day and early night in tree hollows, Speckle ventured out before dawn, hunting for moth larvae on trees. After exterminating all the insects in one tree, it moved to the next. Life was far from idyllic. Losing the protection of the Blattodea warriors led to increased activity of large predators like birds, snakes, and rodents in the mountains.

Speckle witnessed fellow nocturnal roaches being preyed upon multiple times, even encountering what seemed to be a large feline, possibly a lynx or a leopard.

Ordinary cockroaches were at the bottom of the jungle's food chain. Without shelter, they were exposed, becoming easy prey. The abundance of cockroaches in the mountains attracted various predators.

"Thud, thud, thud..."

Speckle was awakened from its nap.

Wiggling its antennae, it recognized the scent of a bird, knocking on its door.

Trouble was brewing!

Cautiously peering outside, Speckle was immediately met with a sharp, beak-like peck, swiftly followed by a long tongue sweeping in.

Reacting quickly, Speckle swung its forelimbs, fiercely striking the tongue with sharp claws.

The bird recoiled in pain, retracting its tongue rapidly.

Speckle, shaken but not defeated, hastily retreated deeper into the tree hollow.

"Thud, thud, thud..."

The knocking grew more intense.

"Damn, is it a woodpecker? I..."

Speckle, initially alarmed, regained composure but not without anxiety.

At 19 ages and a length of about 12, Speckle was much stronger than ordinary adult cockroaches. However, compared to the woodpecker outside, it was no match. The woodpecker's beak alone was longer than 12, making direct confrontation impossible.

"Thud, thud, thud... crack..."

The tree trunk was pecked through, and the bird's tongue, sensitive and precise, sought out Speckle, curling towards it.

Just a tongue...

Speckle retreated while swinging its forelimbs, striking fiercely and leaving two bloodied punctures.

"Gurgle!"

"Thud, thud, thud..."

The woodpecker screeched angrily, continuing its assault on the tree trunk, determined to upend Speckle's sanctuary.

Observing the sky outside, Speckle finally felt a sense of relief.

It took the woodpecker considerable effort to create two holes. Attempting to peck away the entire infested section of the trunk was impossible.

"Goo, goo, goo..."

After a while, the woodpecker suddenly flew up to a branch, calling loudly.

Speckle sensed trouble, and its suspicions were soon confirmed.

"Goo, goo, goo..."

Another woodpecker flew over, and the two birds communicated briefly before beginning their assault.

"Thud, thud, thud..."

"Crack, crack, crack..."

"More reinforcements! They're really trying to take me down!" Speckle lamented bitterly.

With two woodpeckers working together, they would surely peck through the entire trunk, leaving Speckle with nowhere to hide.

Struggling to maintain composure, Speckle's thoughts raced, searching for a solution.

After much consideration, there was only one conclusion: certain death!

"My soul mutated from exposure to the metallic core's radiation. I wonder if I'll be able to reincarnate after this death."

"If I can, I hope the next life form is tougher."

Unable to find a way out, Speckle began contemplating life after death, harboring a deep resentment towards the two woodpeckers. After all the hardship endured, from growing from a cockroach nymph to an adult, it seemed it was on the brink of evolving with the potential presence of the Force. Yet, just as it was about to become the apex predator, it faced this moment of crisis.