Noticing that there were only a few empty eggs, I felt a wave of confusion and curiosity washing over me. I couldn't remember anything about my past, but I knew for sure that I used to be human. However, the sight of my new body, covered in mucus and with strange appendages resembling needles, made me doubt my own memories.
Approaching the center of eggshell, I couldn't help but notice the pale yellow liquid that was splashing around me.
As I clenched and unclenched my fists, feeling my knuckles crack, I realized that this form was closer to human.
Suddenly, I noticed a bald tail wagging behind me. Without thinking, I reached back and grabbed it, pulling it a few times. I was shocked to realize that it was my own tail.
I examined my legs and fell into a trance. The knees didn't end at the heels, but continued with an additional bone, like a crescent moon, curved backwards. It made me taller, but it was also disorienting.
When I opened my eyes again, I saw the ceiling covered with mold. I sighed, feeling overwhelmed by all the new discoveries about my own body.
Probably, it's from an overabundance of tension, but at some point my back began to itch.
As the itching sensation on my back grew stronger, I couldn't resist the urge to act on instinct. In a sudden, impulsive movement, I spread my arms wide, and to my amazement, snow-white wings covered in thin, delicate skin unfurled from my back. They were still not flexible, but they seemed quite suitable for flight. As I tested them tentatively, I couldn't help but wonder what other new instincts and abilities lay dormant within me.
Stretching my new limbs, I began to rock back and forth inside the shell. While I was looking around the dim environment, a plan matured in my head.
I had to get back to the surface.
About 30 minutes after I shook my body, shook my head, and stretched my neck, arms, and legs, my hunger attacks began to intensify, causing my stomach to twist and moan like a wounded whale.
Exhausted, I sat down in a puddle of liquid waste and broke off a piece of the eggshell. I quickly began to chew on the well-fed portion.
I couldn't think about the past for long. My memories were sketchy and blurry, causing my head to ache whenever I tried to recollect anything. But I knew I had to find a way out at any cost.
After finishing half of the shell and leaving the remaining part under my feet, I noticed thin black threads holding the eggs above the ground. I vaguely remembered encountering them before, but couldn't recall the details.
Feeling drowsy after my meal, I decided to postpone my journey and covered myself with my wings. Soon, I drifted off into a fuzzy dream where I was constantly running away, hiding, and even fighting, but to no avail.
Waving something sharp, I tried to fend off my enemies, but they were too many and too strong. Only one person was with me... with...
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A blurry silhouette with a smile appeared and told me that I had to keep living.
When I woke up from the dream, I opened my eyes and noticed shiny mold on the ceiling above me.
Multicolored mana filled the entire space, surrounding me with a mesmerizing radiance. This time I tried to use my body more efficiently and noticed that many more eggs hatched than last time. I felt a pang of anger at myself for being so frivolous.
Standing on a bed of almost eaten shell, I scanned the area and noticed the nearest target.
As I swung on the threads, I felt the eggshell crack under me, and an alarm bell rang in my head. Without thinking, I jumped forward and grabbed the next egg. Looking back towards where I had slept before, I saw the remains of the eggshell falling down, touching the black threads and cutting like dry leaves that have lain in the sun for a long time.
Straining my eyes, I noticed that the threads were wrapped around the eggs, not only keeping their balance but also protecting them from something. At that moment, I heard a howl and a fuss coming from downstairs.
I looked in the direction of the sound and was stunned by the sight of scaly bodies with ulcers and growths on their spines, emitting acrid smoke, fighting for the remains of the eggshells.
When the soft food was gone, they raised their glowing eyes and looked at me with endless hunger.
Did I run away from these monsters in my previous dream? The thought crossed my mind as I swallowed nervously, trying to restrain myself from the stress of the situation.
Swinging on the egg, I climbed to the very top and tried to use my wings. Opening them, I felt a gust of wind, already ready for the long-awaited flight. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a sharp movement in the air. Swallowing, I immediately saw a dark spot at the top, and noticed a fanged beast sitting on a rock. Unlike the monsters below, he had wings and powerful armor made from his own skeleton.
His vertical yellow pupils watched my every move, ready to grab an inexperienced newborn.
Folding my wings behind my back, I sat on the egg, muttering to myself, "Fuck you, not my white meat."
Thinking how it would be safer for me to climb into the hole, which was hundreds of meters away from me, I looked at a thousand snow-white eggs and shuddered.
"Where am I?" I thought to myself, sighing hopelessly.
I considered for the first time where the hatched cubs had gone. I had not observed other births, so I opted to wait. But waiting only sapped my energy, and soon my stomach rumbled in protest. Looking down, I saw a juicy shell within reach, but I pushed aside thoughts of hunger and instead patted the hard surface of the egg.
"Don't worry, bro, I don't touch my relatives," I morally supported the egg.
I tried to distract myself by counting the seconds, but it became increasingly difficult to pronounce the numbers, and I lost count again and again. Frustrated, I started over, trying to keep my focus on the task at hand. As I approached the next milestone, I heard a faint cracking sound that grew louder and louder until it filled my ears like a symphony.
The shell was breaking!
My eyes widened, and I turned towards the sound, peering at the moving oval. Chunks were falling down, causing the monsters to swarm even more furiously than before.
As a white hand reached through the crack and tore off a quarter of the egg with a slight crunch. A muzzle with red eyes appeared, looked around, and disappeared into the depths of the egg. I waited until the newly hatched cub had eaten, and then I saw him in all his glory.
The whitish body shone in the cave with a bright lamp, and I now understood why the cubs were so easy to hunt. Fragile, visible from all sides, and full of vital additives, those creatures was worthy prey. To my surprise, he finished the whole shell in one sitting and leaned on the threads with his bare limbs. I was about to warn him that it was dangerous when suddenly a deep rumble escaped from my mouth, and I realized that I had never tried to speak out loud.
The creature turned to me, spread its wings, hunched over, and responded with a louder rumble. It stuck its claws out in front of my eyes, and its tail took on a warning crescent shape. I didn't understand what was happening and blinked in disbelief.
At the same time, a mechanical voice was heard in the depths of the cave, "Participant 137, you have declared war on your fellow member of the same race. Get ready to fight."