ã€ŠThe Hollow Moth: I Got Reincarnated as a Caterpillarã€‹


 Chapter 1: Where Am I?

    Darkness. Silence. An overwhelming pressure wraps around me, suffocating, crushing. My body¡ªno, my entire existence¡ªfeels different.

    Where am I?

    The last thing I remember¡­ The bus. The trip. Tessa laughing about something stupid. Teach telling us to settle down. Then¡ªchaos. The sound of earth splitting. Screams. My own voice lost in the avalanche of stone and dust. And now¡­ nothing.

    Something is pressing against me, hard and unyielding. I can¡¯t move properly. My limbs¡ªor whatever I have now¡ªpush against the walls trapping me. It cracks. Light pierces through the fractures. A final shove, and the shell shatters around me.

    I fall forward, gasping for breath. Cold air rushes into my lungs. My body feels strange¡ªlighter, smaller. I look down.

    Six legs.

    What.

    What is this?

    Panic surges through me as I scramble to move. My legs¡ªmy many legs¡ªtwitch and stumble over each other. I collapse onto the ground, breathing heavily.

    I need a mirror. A reflection. Something.

    The ground is damp and uneven, stone and dirt beneath me. A puddle. I crawl toward it, dread settling deep inside me. I look down.

    A caterpillar. I am¡­ a caterpillar.

    No. No, no, no. This isn¡¯t real.

    I try to scream, but no sound escapes¡ªjust a strange clicking noise. My breathing¡ªif I even breathe anymore¡ªquickens. My mind races.

    Reincarnation? Like in those stories? That¡¯s ridiculous.

    But the proof is right in front of me. I am the proof.

    Deep breaths. Focus. Freaking out won¡¯t change anything.

    I scan my surroundings. A cavern? No¡ªmore than that. Jagged rock walls stretch into the darkness. Stalactites drip water from above. The air is thick, damp, and smells¡­ wrong. There¡¯s something else here. Something alive.

    Footsteps.

    Not human.

    Something big.

    I press myself against the damp stone. Instinct? Maybe. The vibrations in the ground grow stronger. My body tenses. Then¡ªmovement from the shadows.

    A massive centipede emerges, its many legs clicking against the rock. Its mandibles twitch. It stops. Sniffs the air. Turns its head toward me.

    It sees me.

    No.

    I scramble back, my tiny legs barely cooperating. The centipede moves fast. Too fast.

    Run. Run. Run.

    I don¡¯t think. I just move. My body is slow, clumsy, but instinct pushes me forward. The centipede lunges, its mandibles snapping shut where I was a second ago.

    I don¡¯t want to die.

    I push forward, my tiny body slipping through cracks in the rocks. The centipede slams against the stone behind me, letting out a screech of frustration. It can¡¯t follow. I keep moving, deeper into the darkness.

    Eventually, the sound of the centipede fades.

    I collapse.

    I don¡¯t know where I am. I don¡¯t know what I am supposed to do.

    But one thing is clear.

    I¡¯m alive.

    For now.

    Darkness stretches endlessly ahead. My tiny legs ache, but I don¡¯t stop. I can¡¯t stop. If I do, I¡¯m dead.

    Just keep moving. Just keep¡ª

    The sound of clicking legs echoes through the tunnel behind me.

    Oh, come on.

    I whip around, and there it is. The centipede. Bigger than before? No, just my paranoia making it look worse. But still, those mandibles are not something I want to be introduced to up close.

    It pauses, antennae twitching, then surges forward.

    "Wow, persistent, aren''t you? I guess they do have stalkers in this world too"

    I brace myself, but before it can reach me¡ª

    Movement. From the walls. The ceiling. The ground itself.

    Caterpillars. Like me.

    They drop from above, crawl out from cracks, and scuttle forward with eerie coordination. The centipede halts, sensing the shift.

    Then they attack.

    Bristles stab into its carapace, thin but sharp. It screeches, flailing, trying to shake them off. Mandibles clamp onto its legs, its back, its face. It thrashes, but for every caterpillar it crushes, more take its place.

    I watch, frozen.

    That was¡­ fast.

    The centipede collapses, its body twitching as the caterpillars overwhelm it.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    Then they start eating.

    Yep. That¡¯s happening.

    I stare at the wriggling mass of my ¡°kind,¡± devouring the centipede like it¡¯s an all-you-can-eat buffet.

    One of them turns to look at me, mandibles clicking.

    I raise what I think is a front leg in surrender.

    "Hey, no need to share. I¡¯ll just¡­ let you guys enjoy."

    I back away as they continue their feast, the centipede¡¯s body already torn open. The smell of fresh meat¡ªsurprisingly not disgusting¡ªfills the air.

    Okay. New rule: Do not piss off the locals.

    Anyway, I tried to go about my way but my legs feel like they weigh a ton. I try to move, but nope¡ªnothing. My whole body just flops onto the ground like a wet noodle.

    "Oh, great. Guess I¡¯m officially part of the floor now. Living the dream."

    I lay there, unmoving, watching as my fellow caterpillars continue their little murder feast. Good for them. I¡¯d clap if I had hands.

    Maybe it¡¯s exhaustion from running for my life. Or maybe my body just sucks. Either way, I¡¯m not going anywhere for a while.

    Then¡ªmovement.

    Not another centipede, thankfully. A caterpillar. But not like the others.

    This one¡­ looks different.

    Its body is golden, the color rich and metallic, laced with soft gray accents. Its bristles, unlike the others, have glowing red tips, pulsing faintly in the dim cave light.

    Okay. Fancy.

    It stops in front of me, staring. I stare back. A silent standoff.

    Then, without a word¡ªor whatever bug communication we¡¯re supposed to have¡ªit pushes a piece of flesh toward me.

    Centipede flesh.

    Ah.

    I glance at the half-eaten corpse. Then at the chunk of meat. Then back at the caterpillar.

    "Wow, thanks. Exactly what I wanted. Mystery dungeon bug sashimi."

    It doesn¡¯t react. Just waits.

    I sigh¡ªor at least, mentally sigh.

    "Right. Either I eat, or I starve."

    I eye the meat. I don¡¯t want to eat it, but my body is screaming for energy. I sigh again.

    "Fine. Bon app¨¦tit, I guess."

    And I take a bite.

    The moment my mandibles sink into the flesh, a sudden flash¡ªlike a shockwave¡ªrips through my head.

    A voice, distant yet overwhelming, echoes inside me.

    "Eat¡­ Be¡­ Strong".

    My whole body tenses. My vision blurs, twisting, distorting. The cave, the feasting caterpillars, the golden one in front of me¡ªall of it flickers for a split second, like reality itself is unstable.

    I snap my head up, heart¡ªno, whatever organ I have now¡ªpounding.

    The golden caterpillar hasn¡¯t moved. But now, as I truly look at it, its eyes¡­

    They¡¯re glowing. A deep, unnatural purple.

    Chills¡ªnot from the cave¡¯s cold, but something far deeper¡ªcrawl down my spine.

    Okay. That¡¯s definitely not normal.

    I swallow, the taste of raw centipede still lingering.

    "Alright, I¡¯ll bite¡ªwhat¡¯s your deal, glowing bug?"

    No answer. It just stares. Waiting.

    The voice still lingers in my mind, like an imprint burned into my thoughts.

    Eat. Be strong.

    I glance at the remaining chunk of meat. Then back at the golden caterpillar.

    It gave this to me on purpose.

    ¡­What exactly did I just sign up for?

    I stare at the golden caterpillar for a moment, then at the half-eaten chunk of centipede flesh in front of me.

    "Well¡­ uh, thanks, I guess."

    It doesn¡¯t respond. Not that I expected it to. But still, it¡¯s weirdly considerate for a creature in a murder dungeon. Unlike the others, which went straight into devour mode, this one actually shared.

    I glance at the swarm still feasting on the centipede. Are they¡­ my siblings? I mean, we look alike¡ªexcept for Goldy here, who¡¯s clearly built different.

    Wait. Goldy?

    I pause. Then nod to myself. Yeah. That fits.

    "Alright, Goldy, you¡¯re officially the least horrifying thing I¡¯ve met since waking up in this nightmare. Congrats."

    Goldy blinks at me, its bug eyes are unreadable.

    I sigh and take another bite of the centipede. It¡¯s¡­ not terrible? Chewy, slightly bitter, but weirdly satisfying. My body already feels a bit stronger. Maybe that creepy voice had a point.

    I glance at Goldy again.

    Something tells me sticking with this one might not be a bad idea.

    I let out a satisfied sigh¡ªwell, the mental kind¡ªnow that my stomach, or whatever caterpillars have, is full. Okay. That was weird, but at least I won¡¯t keel over from starvation.

    Now, time to figure out this whole ¡°being a caterpillar¡± thing.

    First test: mandibles.

    I crawl up to the centipede¡¯s remains and give it an experimental chomp. My mandibles sink in with ease¡ªsharp enough to tear flesh, but not exactly knife-grade. I glance around and spot a small rock nearby.

    Alright, let¡¯s test this.

    I bite down.

    Clink.

    Nope. Not happening.

    "Right. Not a rock-chewing kind of bug. Got it."

    Next test: flexibility.

    I stretch, trying to twist my body¡ªand suddenly, my bristles flare out.

    Whoa.

    I wiggle a bit more, and the spikes retract. Then extend again. Huh. That could be useful.

    But when I compare mine to my siblings'', I notice something. Some of them¡ªespecially the bigger ones¡ªhave this weird sheen on their bristles. Almost like¡­ venom?

    I glance at Goldy. Its bristles glow faintly at the tips, that same eerie red, but there¡¯s no obvious sign of venom.

    "Okay, so some of us get poison, and some of us just get to be pokey."

    I poke a rock with my bristles. Nothing happens. Just a rock getting stabbed by a slightly annoyed caterpillar.

    Great. So, I¡¯m all bark and no bite.

    But then I look at Goldy again.

    "Wait¡­ are your spines venomous?"

    It just stares at me, unblinking.

    "Cool. Love the mystery."

    I sigh. Maybe I¡¯ll find out later. For now, at least I know what I¡¯m working with.

    As my siblings finish their centipede buffet, they start moving out, wriggling deeper into the dungeon in a coordinated mass.

    I stay put, hesitating.

    This is the tricky part. Do I follow them or go my own way?

    I glance around the dark, rocky cave. It¡¯s not exactly welcoming. The only real safety I¡¯ve had so far was with the swarm.

    But then again¡­ I died on that bus. Which means my classmates did too.

    And if I reincarnated, then¡­ could Tessa be here too?

    The thought grips me hard. If she¡¯s out there, lost and alone in this hellhole, then I need to find her. I owe her that much.

    But.

    I glance at the caterpillars ahead, their spiky bristles swaying as they move. This species¡ªmy species¡ªis carnivorous. They hunt, they fight, they survive by sticking together.

    If I go alone, I might as well just lie down and accept my second death now.

    I let out a slow breath.

    "Alright Murder Grubs, looks like I''m tagging along."

    With that, I push myself up and crawl forward, slipping into the swarm.

    If I¡¯m lucky, I¡¯ll find Tessa along the way.

    And if I¡¯m really lucky, I¡¯ll figure out how to survive long enough to make sure we both get out of this.

    As the swarm moves, I notice something weird.

    Goldy is in the front.

    Not just moving, but leading.

    The other caterpillars are following it without hesitation, like it¡¯s some kind of alpha grub.

    "Okay, what the hell? Are you secretly royalty or something?"

    Goldy, as usual, doesn¡¯t respond. Just keeps wriggling forward with that eerie, quiet confidence.

    And then, to make things even weirder, I notice how they¡¯re moving.

    Not just along the ground.

    But along the wall.

    They¡¯re literally climbing up and sticking to the rough surface, gliding across it like it¡¯s nothing.

    I watch, fascinated¡ªand also a little annoyed.

    "Well, I¡¯ll be damned. I don¡¯t know how to do that yet."

    I glance at my own stubby legs, then at the wall.

    Alright. Time to test my limits.

    I push forward and try to follow.

    One way or another, I will figure this out.

    Turns out, my lovely siblings don¡¯t believe in waiting.

    They just keep moving, no hesitation, no looking back.

    "Wow. Real heartwarming family dynamic we got here."

    I glare at the wall, then at my stubby legs. Fine. If they can do it, I can do it too.

    I press my underside against the rough surface and try to crawl up. At first, I slip. My body feels awkward, like I¡¯m fighting against gravity itself.

    But then, instinct kicks in.

    My legs adjust, gripping in a way I didn¡¯t even realize they could. My underbelly secretes something¡ªsticky, but not exactly wet¡ªand suddenly, I¡¯m clinging to the wall like I¡¯ve been doing it my whole life.

    Well. That was easier than expected.

    I take a step. Then another. Slowly, I start moving sideways, just like the others.

    "Alright. Look at me. Wall-climbing pro in the making."

    But now I¡¯ve got another problem¡ªI¡¯m falling behind.

    The swarm is already ahead, their dark forms blending into the rocky shadows. Goldy is still in front, leading the way like some kind of majestic golden overlord.

    If I don¡¯t pick up the pace, I¡¯ll really be on my own.

    I grit my mandibles and push forward.

    No way am I getting left behind.

    Oh, come on.

    Just when I thought I was getting the hang of this, they all start climbing up.

    And now, we¡¯re on the ceiling.

    Upside down.

    I freeze, my tiny legs gripping onto the rock for dear life.

    "Are you guys serious? This is a thing we¡¯re doing now?"

    No response. Just the silent, unwavering march forward.

    I take a shaky step. My grip holds. Another step. Still good. Slowly, I force myself to move, trying not to focus on the fact that gravity exists.

    At first, it¡¯s like walking on a tightrope¡ªevery step feels like I could just slip at any moment. But then, like before, my body adjusts. The secretions from my underside increase, making my grip more stable.

    Okay. I think I got this.

    After what feels like an eternity of nerve-wracking crawling, the swarm finally stops.

    I take a moment to breathe, only now realizing how much I¡¯d been concentrating on not dying.

    And that¡¯s when I finally look around.

    ¡­Oh.

    Oh, that¡¯s not good.

    Unlike the cramped corridor we were in earlier, this place is huge. The ceiling stretches out above an enormous, open void. The floor¡ªif it even exists¡ªis too far down to see. Just endless darkness below.

    I swallow.

    If I fall¡­ yeah, I¡¯m done.

    "Fantastic. Just one slip and I¡¯m caterpillar pancake."

    I glance at Goldy, who, as usual, seems completely unbothered by the horrifying drop below us.

    "Of course you¡¯re fine with this."

    I take a deep breath.

    Okay. I need to stay calm, stay still, and not think about falling.

    Whatever we¡¯re waiting for, I just hope it doesn¡¯t involve letting go.

    As I stay there, gripping onto the ceiling for dear life, I notice something odd.

    The bigger caterpillars, including Goldy, start¡­ secreting silk.

    Thin, sticky strands stretch from their bodies, latching onto the ceiling and weaving together into what looks like a makeshift hammock. One by one, they settle in, curling up as the silk holds them securely in place.

    All of them spin the same whitish silk¡ªexcept, of course, for Goldy, who just has to be different. Instead of white, it spins golden silk, shimmering even in the dim dungeon light.

    "Of course. Because why wouldn¡¯t you have premium, luxury-grade silk?"

    But as I keep watching, realization dawns on me.

    They¡¯re not waiting for something.

    They¡¯re resting.

    "Oh. It¡¯s snoozy time."

    That¡¯s actually¡­ kind of nice? For a bunch of scary flesh-eating caterpillars, anyway.

    There¡¯s just one problem.

    I have absolutely no idea how to make silk.

    I shift uncomfortably, glancing at my own body. No silk strands. No weird secretion. Nothing.

    "¡­Well. This sucks."

    As I awkwardly cling to the ceiling, wondering if I¡¯m just supposed to stay like this all night, another caterpillar crawls up to me.

    It stares at me for a second before casually spitting out some silk, sticking it to the ceiling, and weaving a small, temporary bed right next to me.

    Once it¡¯s done, it backs away and curls up in its own silk nest, as if this was the most normal thing in the world.

    I blink.

    "Oh. Uh. Thanks, I guess?"

    No response. Just peaceful silence as the swarm settles in.

    I glance at my borrowed silk bed, then at my aching legs.

    Yeah, okay. I¡¯ll take it.

    Carefully, I crawl onto the silk, testing its strength. It holds firm.

    With a relieved sigh, I curl up, finally able to rest.

    Even if I¡¯m not the fittest in this whole survival thing, at least I¡¯m not completely alone.

    End of Chapter 1

 Chapter 2: The Dream

    Darkness fades into something familiar.

    A warm afternoon, golden light spilling over pavement. The scent of brewed coffee and the faint traces of cigarette smoke.

    Tiara Arissa, otherwise known as "Tessa" in front of me.

    She¡¯s bouncing on her feet, hands clasped together in front of her chest, eyes practically sparkling as she looks at me.

    "Nur! The caf¨¦ has a new frappe! Let¡¯s goooo!"

    I sigh, but there¡¯s no real annoyance behind it. "Didn¡¯t you just have one yesterday?"

    "Yes! But this is new! And it¡¯s limited-time! And¡ª"

    Before she can launch into a full-scale speech about the importance of trying every seasonal drink, we hear voices up ahead.

    Three figures, dressed in school uniforms¡ªdespite not having stepped foot in class all day.

    Zafi, the calm and reasonable one, walking with hands in his pockets, cigarette lazily balanced between his lips. He exhales a cloud of smoke, watching us approach with his usual unreadable expression. I always cover my nose when I near him. Rude you say? In my defense, the cigarette stinks you know? And I can''t stand stinky smells, ugh.

    Kai, the crafty one, grinning like he just pulled off something ridiculous ¡ª creepy, always. Which, knowing him, he probably did. He likes to prank people¡ªharmless ones, in my opinion. He also scam people. Scamming is bad? That¡¯s reserved for the bad guys. Which is what he do, scamming bad people. The kind who deserve to be made fools of. He also have this annoying habit of flipping his coin. Once again, ugh

    Then there¡¯s Reza. Short-tempered, always on the verge of picking a fight. If he had his way, every minor inconvenience would be solved with fists¡ª violent guy, icky. Despite the constant trouble, he get little to no consequences. Why you ask? Because Kai is always there, hand on his shoulder, holding him back. It¡¯s not that Kai won¡¯t fight¡ªhe just chooses his battles. When he does get violent, it¡¯s against other delinquents, or people who actually deserve it. Even then, he never lets Reza go too far. Youth, friendship ¡ª very touching.

    The three of them glance our way as we cross paths.

    Kai smirks. "Well, If it isn¡¯t the Ice Queen."

    I roll my eyes. "Don¡¯t call me that."

    He only grins wider¡ªnever fail making himself looking like a creep.

    Ever since that one day, when Tessa and I ran into them after school, we¡¯ve been crossing paths more and more. Hanging out, sometimes.

    It still doesn¡¯t make sense to me.

    Me, Nur Azriana, the so-called "Ice Queen," somehow ended up spending time with delinquents.

    Other students had their own theories.

    Maybe my cold personality fit in with them. Maybe I was secretly dangerous. Maybe they liked me because I didn¡¯t get scared of them.

    They were all wrong.

    It wasn¡¯t me.

    It was Tessa.

    Her weird quirks, her endless energy, her way of making friends in the most unexpected places.

    I glance at her, still rambling about the new frappe, completely oblivious to how much she changes people just by existing.

    Yeah.

    That¡¯s what happened.

    "Hey, you guys should try the new frappe too!" Tessa beams, practically bouncing in place.

    Zafi''s eyes widen slightly. "Really?" Then, as if catching himself getting too excited, he quickly smooths his expression back to his usual cool demeanor. "I mean¡­ yeah, that could be nice."

    Kai chuckles while flipping his coin. "Well, I don¡¯t mind. Freezing my brain with sugar sounds like a good time."

    Reza groans. "Ugh, seriously again? That¡¯s lame."

    Tessa clasps her hands together, giving him the biggest, most hopeful puppy-dog eyes I¡¯ve ever seen.

    Reza clicks his tongue, looking away. "Tch. Fine. But if it sucks, I¡¯m blaming all of you."

    Zafi claps a hand. "That¡¯s the spirit. C¡¯mon, let¡¯s go before Tessa explodes."

    Tessa lets out a victorious cheer, already grabbing my arm to drag me forward.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    I sigh. "I knew this would happen."

    Kai smirks. "Oh, come on, Nur. Loosen up. It¡¯s just a drink."

    "That¡¯s exactly why this is ridiculous."

    Zafi exhales a laugh. "And yet, here you are."

    ¡­Yeah. Here I am¡ª a victim of a social interaction.

    Following Tessa and the three delinquents to go drink sugar together.

    I don¡¯t even like frappes.

    The caf¨¦ is buzzing with soft chatter and the hum of an espresso machine. The scent of roasted coffee and sweet syrup lingers in the air.

    Zafi sets the tray down, distributing the frappes. He takes one, swirling it in his hand. "So this is the allegedly legendary new frappe, huh?"

    Tessa nods eagerly, already sipping hers. "Mmh! It¡¯s so good!"

    Kai lifts a brow. "Tastes like diabetes."

    "That¡¯s the point," Tessa says matter-of-factly.

    Reza takes a tentative sip, then immediately scowls. "Ugh. It¡¯s too sweet."

    Zafi chuckles. "You say that, but you¡¯re still drinking it."

    "Tch. I paid for it, didn¡¯t I?"

    Kai leans back in his seat, stirring his drink lazily. "So, Ice Queen, what do you think?"

    I glance down at my frappe. I didn¡¯t even want one, but Tessa had been so insistent. I take a small sip.

    Cold. Sweet. Overly sugary.

    I set it back down. "It¡¯s¡­ fine."

    Tessa gasps. "Fine?! Just fine? Nur, how could you?!"

    Zafi laughs. "Guess not everyone has a sweet tooth like you, Tessa."

    Tessa pouts, slumping against the table dramatically. "No one understands my love for frappes¡­"

    Kai grins. "Nah, we get it. We just don¡¯t care."

    Reza snorts. "For once, I agree with him."

    Tessa huffs, taking an exaggerated sip of her drink. "Y''all just uncultured."

    I shake my head. "This is ridiculous."

    Zafi smirks. "And yet, here you are."

    ¡­Yeah.

    Here I am.

    Kai leans back, propping his feet against the chair next to him while flipping his coin. "Oh yeah, did you guys hear? Azrai¡¯s gonna represent the school in that big soccer tournament next month."

    Zafi nods. "Yeah, not surprised. That guy¡¯s practically built for it."

    Tessa claps her hands together. "Ohh, Azrai¡¯s playing? That¡¯s amazing! He¡¯s so cool!"

    Reza scoffs. "Tch. Of course, it¡¯s him again."

    Kai smirks. "Jealous?"

    Reza glares. "Hell no. Just sick of hearing his name everywhere."

    I take another sip of my drink. "Ughh that so called Mr. Perfect again."

    Zafi chuckles. "I mean, can you blame them? He¡¯s smart,kind, athletic, good-looking¡ª"

    "Basically, he¡¯s got the main character buff," Kai adds, while grinning looking like a creep, yer again.

    I sigh. "And yet, somehow, he stucked with us mortals. What a shame."

    Tessa giggles. "Come on, Nur, don¡¯t be mean. Azrai''s really nice!"

    "Sure," I drawl. "In that polished, ¡®I-was-born-to-be-liked¡¯ kind of way."

    Zafi raises a brow. "You sound bitter."

    "I just think it¡¯s funny how life handed him the protagonist package while the rest of us are stuck grinding for basic stats."

    Kai laughs. "Damn, Ice Queen¡¯s got a point."

    Reza crosses his arms. "Whatever. I don¡¯t care about that guy."

    Tessa hums. "Still, I kinda wanna watch the tournament now."

    Kai waggles his brows. "Because of the game or because of Azrai?"

    Tessa puffs her cheeks. "The game, obviously!"

    Zafi grins. "Mhm, sure."

    I sigh. "I already regret this conversation."

    Reza snorts, arms still crossed. "You sure complain a lot for someone who¡¯s basically him with skirts"

    I blink. "Excuse me?"

    Zafi chuckles. "He¡¯s got a point. If we¡¯re talking about natural talent, you¡¯re pretty much at the top when it comes to looks."

    Tessa nods enthusiastically. "Yeah! You¡¯re easily the most beautiful girl in class! Maybe even the whole school!"

    I roll my eyes. "Great. Truly a life-changing achievement."

    Reza smirks. "If you dropped the whole Ice Queen act, you¡¯d probably be just like him¡ªworshipped by everyone, showered in praise."

    I scoff. "That sounds exhausting."

    I''d tell them there¡¯s a reason I¡¯m not like him¡ªor why I never ended up as Mr. Perfect himself¡ªif it didn¡¯t mean exposing myself to the world. But alas, that¡¯s just how things are.

    Kai grins. "Yeah? Then why¡¯d you turn him down?"

    I frown. "What?"

    Kai leans forward, elbow on the table. "Azrai... He totally tried to hit on you once, remember?"

    Zafi nods. "Oh yeah. I do remember that."

    Tessa gasps. "Wait, wait, when was this?!"

    Kai chuckles. "Sometime around few months ago. He asked her out, and guess what our dear Ice Queen said?"

    Tessa stares at me with wide eyes. "What did you say?!"

    I take another sip of my drink. "I told him I wasn¡¯t interested, shocker right?"

    Reza laughs. "Pfft! Damn."

    Tessa pouts. "But why?! He¡¯s so nice!"

    "Exactly," I deadpan. "He¡¯s too nice. Too perfect. Also I sense something off about him. I don¡¯t trust it

    Zafi smirks. "So, What if he was a little less perfect?"

    I narrow my eyes. "What are you implying?"

    Kai wags a finger. "That maybe you do have a type."

    "I hate this conversation," I mutter.

    Reza chuckles. "Yeah? Well, it¡¯s your fault for being so fun to mess with."

    Tessa sighs dramatically. "Nur, you¡¯re hopeless."

    I lean back in my chair. "And yet, somehow, here I am."

    Kai stretches lazily, swirling what¡¯s left of his drink. "Oh yeah, speaking of people who somehow always land on top¡­ Mei got a new boyfriend the other day."

    Tessa gasps. "Wait, really?! Who?!"

    Zafi raises a brow. "Another poor soul caught in her web, huh?"

    Reza snorts. "That girl¡¯s got more exes than I have patience."

    "Mei, huh?" I tap my fingers against my cup. "Figures. She always manages to land on her feet, no matter what."

    Kai grins. "That damn woman, I swear"

    Tessa tilts her head. "Why you say it like that?."

    Zafi smirks. "Well, she is kinda like Kai, y¡¯know. Sneaky, always getting out of trouble, never runs out of favors."

    Reza leans back. "Yeah, everyone always says they¡¯d make a perfect match."

    Tessa nods rapidly. "Ohhh, yeah! People do say that!"

    I glance at Kai. "So? When¡¯s the wedding?"

    Kai groans, rubbing his temples. "God, no. Do I look like I have a death wish?"

    Zafi chuckles. "You sure? It¡¯s not like you can outmaneuver her. You¡¯re evenly matched."

    Kai shakes his head. "And that¡¯s exactly why I¡¯m staying the hell away. Getting involved with her is like playing a rigged game¡ªyou think you¡¯re ahead, but she¡¯s already ten steps in front, letting you believe you¡¯re winning just so she can crush you when it counts. At least that¡¯s how it goes for a regular person anway. Me? Just the thought of constantly looking over my shoulder is already exhausting."

    Tessa giggles. "Wow, sounds like you really thought this through."

    I smirk. "Almost like he¡¯s been burned before."

    Kai clicks his tongue. "Hell no. I just have the self-preservation instinct some guys lack."

    Reza smirks. "So what you¡¯re saying is¡­ you are scared of her."

    Kai drawls. "Yes, Reza. I fear for my very existence."

    I chuckle. "Smart man."

    For a moment, there¡¯s silence¡ªthen I realize.

    They¡¯re all staring at me.

    Zafi blinks. "Wait¡­ did you just chuckle?"

    Reza squints. "No way."

    Tessa gasps dramatically. "Nur! Did you just laugh?!"

    Kai points at me, grinning like he just won the lottery. "Oh-ho, she totally did!"

    I blink. "What?"

    Zafi smirks. "You never laugh."

    Reza crosses his arms. "Not unless it¡¯s at someone¡¯s misery."

    Tessa clasps her hands together. "But that was a real laugh! You actually enjoyed that!"

    Kai flips his coin again, catching it with a knowing smirk. "Looks like the Ice Queen does have a soft spot after all."

    I scoff, taking another sip of my drink. "You¡¯re all imagining things."

    Reza smirks. "Nah, we heard it."

    Tessa leans closer, beaming. "Do it again!"

    "Absolutely not."

    Zafi chuckles. "Guess we just found something rarer than a blue moon."

    Kai nods sagely. "A Nur laugh. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime event."

    Tessa nudges my arm. "Aww, just admit it! You love us!"

    I roll my eyes, setting my drink down. "I tolerate you."

    They all laugh, and despite myself, I can¡¯t help but feel¡­ warm.

    Their voices blur together, laughter and teasing mixing into a comfortable hum.

    Tessa leans forward. "Okay, okay, but seriously, if you had to date someone from our class, who would it be?"

    Zafi smirks. "Bet it¡¯s someone unexpected."

    Reza scoffs. "Yeah right, like she¡¯d ever answer that."

    Kai flips his coin. "Or maybe she already has someone in mind?"

    I roll my eyes. "Not happening."

    Tessa pouts. "Boo, no fun."

    Their voices start to feel distant, like a radio slowly turning down.

    Zafi¡¯s voice fades first. "We should do this again¡­"

    Reza¡¯s next. "Next time, I¡¯m picking the place¡­"

    Kai¡¯s smirk lingers as his words stretch into nothing. "Guess we¡¯ll see, huh?"

    Tessa¡¯s voice is the last thing I hear. "What about you Nur¡ª"

    And then¡ªsilence.

    I blink. Darkness.

    Then warmth. A soft, sticky surface beneath me. A faint glow above.

    I¡¯m awake.

    I let out a long sigh. "Of course, the first nice thing I experience in this bug life has to be a dream."

    Shifting on the weird sticky silk, I stretch my tiny, wiggly legs. "Great. Back to reality. No frappes, no teasing idiots¡ªjust me, a bunch of caterpillars, and a whole lot of struggling to not get eaten."

    I pause.

    "¡­Still."

    I don¡¯t want to admit it.

    But I miss Tessa...

    Those 3 idiots? Nah no wayy. Alright maybe just maaybe a tiny bit? Yeah a tiny bit

    End of Chapter 2

 Chapter 3: First Battle

    As I stir, so do the others. One by one, my siblings begin to twitch and wriggle, shaking off their rest.

    Goldy is the first to fully wake, its glowing eyes flickering to life. Then, without hesitation, it lets out this piercing screech¡ªa sound that makes my insides coil up.

    Oh, great. That can¡¯t mean anything good.

    The others react immediately. Thirteen of them, including Goldy, all snapping to attention.

    Then Goldy shifts its position¡ªoh no. No way.

    It¡¯s crouching.

    Like it¡¯s about to jump.

    "Wait, hold on¡ªare we seriously doing this?"

    I glance down at the abyss below. Yeah. Still looks like a one-way trip to being a splat on the floor.

    "I know I¡¯m new here, but shouldn¡¯t we¡ªI don¡¯t know¡ªthink this through? Maybe stretch first?"

    No one listens. Figures.

    Oh. Oh. That is big.

    As I look down, something massive emerges from the darkness¡ªa manta ray-like creature, its enormous wings gliding effortlessly through the air.

    "You have got to be kidding me."

    Goldy doesn¡¯t hesitate. The moment the thing passes beneath us, it jumps.

    And just like that, the others follow, one after another, leaping off the ceiling like it¡¯s the most natural thing in the world.

    "What. The. Hell. Are they insane?!"

    I stare at the abyss, then at my siblings, now falling.

    Okay. Think. I could stay here, be alone, probably starve¡ªor I could throw myself into the unknown like a complete idiot.

    Yeah. No choice.

    "Oh, screw it¡ª!"

    I leap.

    For a split second, there¡¯s nothing but air rushing past me. Then¡ªimpact.

    Not on stone. Not on death.

    But on something firm, yet soft.

    I land safely. Right on the manta thing¡¯s back.

    "Well¡­ that just happened."

    For a second, I brace myself, expecting my siblings to start tearing into this thing like they did with the centipede.

    But¡­ nothing.

    No biting. No stabbing. No murder grubs antics.

    "Wait, we''re not attacking it?"

    I glance around. My siblings are just sitting here, latched onto the manta-ray thing¡¯s back like it¡¯s a totally normal ride.

    "Okay, what?"

    Then, as the creature glides forward, I finally get a good look at the floor below.

    And oh.

    Monsters. A lot of them.

    Big ones, small ones, some that look like they could crush me just by existing too close.

    Powerful, terrifying creatures roam the ground¡ªtough exoskeletons, massive claws, glowing eyes, and enough muscle to turn anything smaller than them into paste.

    No wonder my siblings stuck to the ceiling before.

    "Yeah, okay. That explains a lot."This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    As we glide through the cavern, Goldy suddenly starts moving¡ªheading straight for the edge of the manta-ray thing¡¯s back.

    "Oh no. Oh no no no¡ª"

    Of course, the others follow without hesitation.

    "Seriously? Again?"

    I watch as they crawl toward the very edge, their little legs gripping the creature¡¯s leathery skin.

    "Are we jumping again? Is that what¡¯s happening?"

    I hesitate. I just got used to this whole "not falling to my death" thing, and now we¡¯re already moving to the next reckless stunt?

    Goldy reaches the edge first, its glowing red bristles standing out even more against the dark void ahead.

    I gulp.

    "Whatever¡¯s about to happen, I am not ready for it."

    The manta thing glides forward, carrying us through the massive cavern until the space ahead starts narrowing.

    Goldy doesn''t hesitate¡ªonce we reach the tighter passage, it moves first, peeling itself off the creature¡¯s back and latching onto the nearby wall.

    The others follow without a second thought, clinging to the rough stone like they¡¯ve done this a thousand times before.

    "Oh, I hate how natural they make this look."

    I glance down¡ªfar, far below, the horde of monsters still roam, completely unaware of us.

    "Right. Definitely not staying here."

    I crawl forward, legs gripping tight as I reach the edge¡ªthen, with a deep breath, I push off and latch onto the wall.

    I cling there for a second, waiting to see if I actually stick.

    ¡­Okay. I''m good.

    "Whew. Still alive."

    We move along the wall, inching forward in a single file. Goldy leads, of course¡ªbecause why wouldn¡¯t the shiny, glowing one be the first into danger?

    The rough stone under my legs feels uneven, but I focus on keeping up. Falling now? Not an option.

    Then, without hesitation, Goldy disappears into a hole in the wall.

    "Oh, here we go again."

    One by one, my siblings follow, slipping inside without hesitation. No stopping, no questioning, just go.

    "What if there¡¯s something in there? What if it¡¯s a dead end? What if¡ª"

    I reach the entrance. The darkness inside swallows my siblings whole.

    "Ugh. Fine."

    I grit my mandibles and crawl in after them.

    As I crawl through the hole, the space around me tightens. The rough stone walls press closer, forcing me to move carefully.

    "Well, at least I¡¯m not dangling over a monster pit anymore. Progress."

    It¡¯s darker here, but not pitch black¡ªtiny cracks in the walls let in a faint glow from somewhere beyond. Goldy is up ahead, leading the way as usual, its glowing bristles making it easy to follow.

    Compared to the giant open cavern from before, this place actually feels safe. No massive monsters lurking below, no terrifying leaps onto flying creatures. Just a cramped, narrow passage that probably won¡¯t kill me.

    "Okay. I can work with this."

    Goldy climbs up again. Of course.

    And, of course, everyone else follows like it¡¯s the most normal thing in the world.

    At this point, I don¡¯t even question it¡ªI just follow along, sticking to the ceiling without hesitation.

    Then I feel it.

    A faint tremor, rippling through the stone. It¡¯s subtle, but definitely there.

    "¡­Okay, that¡¯s new."

    The vibrations continue, steady but growing stronger. Something¡¯s moving. Something big.

    "Great. Just when I was starting to feel safe."

    "Oh. Just ants. Giant ants. But still, not some horrifying dungeon boss. I¡¯ll take it."

    Goldy signals three of my siblings, and they turn, flexing their bristles. I recognize that stance.

    Then¡ªshhk!¡ªspiky bristles shoot out, striking two of the ants. One flinches, the other staggers.

    "Oh, nice. Ranged support. That¡¯s handy."

    Goldy doesn¡¯t waste any time. It jumps. The others follow.

    13 of us versus 8 of them. Two already injured.

    "Yeah, I like those odds."

    I brace myself. "Guess it¡¯s fighting time."

    I jump in. No point in sitting this one out.

    The two siblings with me¡ªonly slightly bigger than I am¡ªdon¡¯t look like the heavy hitters. Not like Goldy or the others.

    "Great. Looks like we¡¯re the junior varsity team."

    The ant lunges at one of them¡ªfast.

    But the other sibling moves first, blocking the strike.

    "Nice teamwork."

    The ant hesitates for just a moment. That¡¯s all I need.

    I lunge, mandibles open, and crunch.

    One of its legs comes clean off.

    Pain flares through my body as I crash against the rough cavern wall.

    "Okay. Ow."

    I shake off the impact. Nothing feels broken¡ªjust some scratches and bruises. Could¡¯ve been worse.

    The ant, now down a leg, turns its attention back to my siblings. It¡¯s still moving, still dangerous.

    "Alright, you overgrown picnic ruiner, round two."

    I push myself up, ready to jump back in.

    Smart. One holds the line while the other goes in for the kill. It¡¯s a coordinated effort, something I wouldn¡¯t expect from a bunch of caterpillars.

    But the ant¡¯s still putting up a fight. Even with a missing leg, it¡¯s quick, snapping its mandibles at any opening.

    "Guess I should even the odds a bit more."

    I lunge forward, aiming for another leg. If I can cripple it further, this fight¡¯s as good as won.

    The ant thrashes, but with one leg gone and another barely holding, it can¡¯t shake me off.

    I bite down at the joint between its head and thorax, my mandibles sinking in. It¡¯s tough¡ªway tougher than I expected¡ªbut I keep grinding, sawing through the tough exoskeleton.

    The ant screeches, its movements turning frantic. It tries to snap at me, but my siblings keep it occupied.

    "Almost there... just a little more."

    With one final bite, I break through. A gush of thick, bitter-tasting fluid spills out, and the ant¡¯s movements slow¡­ then stop completely.

    I glance around. The fight¡¯s over. My siblings have already finished off their ants, and not a single one of us got taken out.

    "Huh. That went better than expected."

    Then my eyes land on Goldy¡ªstanding victorious over a single ant it apparently took down by itself. Of course.

    "Oh wow, what a surprise. Goldy, the golden, glowing, freakishly strong caterpillar, wins its fight solo. Truly shocking, much small, such stonk."

    I sigh, shaking my head. "Seriously, what are you? Some kind of final boss larva?"

    I narrow my eyes at Goldy, curiosity creeping in. "Wait¡­ how did it even take that thing down?"

    I was too busy dealing with my own ant to notice. The others had to work in pairs, and even I needed backup, but Goldy? Not a scratch.

    "Did it just maul it to death with brute force? Or maybe¡­ poison?"

    I recall those glowing red spines. "Are they even venomous? Or was it just for show? Or is it just a lightshow?

    I glance at the corpse of the ant it took down, trying to spot any clues. "Damn it, now I kinda wish I saw it in action. Would¡¯ve been a good learning opportunity."

    As I tear into the ant¡¯s flesh, its weirdly rich taste spreading through my mandibles, Goldy suddenly approaches.

    Its eyes flicker again¡ªdeep purple, almost glowing. And just like before, a voice echoes in my mind.

    "You-¡­ Stronger-¡­ Ca-... Spe-..."

    I freeze mid-bite, staring at Goldy.

    "Okay, that¡¯s creepy," I mutter, swallowing my food. "You really gotta do the whole spooky telepathy thing?"

    Goldy just keeps staring at me, unmoving.

    "Tch. Fine, fine. I¡¯ll take the compliment, I guess." I huff, going back to eating. "But seriously, you gonna tell me what¡¯s up with you one of these days?"

    With the feast over, my siblings waste no time moving forward again. No rest, no hesitation¡ªjust relentless crawling ahead like a well-oiled machine.

    I sigh, wiping off the last bits of ant from my mandibles. "Man, you guys really don¡¯t take breaks, huh?"

    Goldy, as expected, leads at the front, moving with that same quiet confidence. The others follow without question, their bristles twitching as they navigate through the tight dungeon tunnel.

    I shake off the lingering soreness from the fight and push forward. "Guess I¡¯m sticking with you guys for now. Let¡¯s see where this crazy bug train takes me."

    After all that fighting, I was starting to wonder if these guys ever stopped¡ªbut finally, what I perceived to be an eternity later, Goldy finally makes the call. The group slows down, and just like before, my siblings begin climbing up toward the ceiling, finding a safe place to rest.

    I¡¯m not gonna lie, I¡¯m feeling it. My body aches, my bristles are worn, and moving is starting to feel sluggish. That deer-thing we fought gave me a real nasty hit, and those water-shooting salamander larvaes? Annoying as hell. I glance at the others¡ªseven of us, including me, are in pretty bad shape.

    "About damn time," I mutter, dragging myself up the wall after them. "Thought you guys were just gonna keep going till we dropped."

    Goldy doesn¡¯t react, just does its thing¡ªspinning that fancy golden silk again, making a secure spot on the ceiling. The rest of the group follows suit, setting up their makeshift sleeping spots.

    I try to spin silk again. Nothing. Of course.

    "Figures," I sigh. But before I can even think about it, one of my siblings¡ªone of the smaller ones¡ªcrawls over and starts weaving a bed for me. Just like last time.

    I stare for a second, then sigh again. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks." I mutter, settling in.

    As exhaustion takes over, my mind starts to drift. I can¡¯t help but wonder¡ªhow long can we keep this up? And more importantly¡­ where the hell are we even going?

    Sleep pulls me under fast, the exhaustion from all the fighting catching up to me. The silk bed is surprisingly comfortable¡ªsoft but firm enough to keep me secure on the ceiling. As my body relaxes, my mind starts to drift again, slipping into another dream.

    End of Chapter 3

 Chapter 4: The Dream , Part 2

    The scene feels so vivid, like I never left. The soft hum of caf¨¦ chatter fills the air, the scent of freshly brewed coffee mixing with the sweetness of Tessa¡¯s overly sugary drink.

    Zafi stirs his coffee lazily, eyes half-lidded like he¡¯s about to doze off. "Man, I swear they¡¯re getting stingier with the coffee beans," he mutters, giving his cup a suspicious look before taking a sip.

    Kai, across from him, has his drink but barely acknowledges it, just spinning his coin between his fingers. "You complain every time, and yet you keep ordering it," he says, smirking.

    Reza, sitting next to Kai, is staring at his phone with an annoyed expression, scrolling aggressively. "Tch. Can¡¯t believe that bastard actually won the match. He was playing like crap last time," he grumbles.

    And then there¡¯s Tessa, right beside me, happily sipping her drink, eyes shining like she¡¯s in her own little world. "Mmm! No matter how many times I drink this, it¡¯s still so good!" she beams, completely unfazed by the others'' conversations.

    I sit there, just watching them, soaking it all in. The warmth of their presence, the casual bickering, the little mundane moments I never realized I missed so much.

    It feels real. Too real. And that scares me. These memories might be the only thing that grips me as a human¡ªor was

    Kai then flips his coin, catching it effortlessly as he leans back in his chair. "So, get this¡ªZal¡¯s gunning for MPP (Student Council) President."

    Zafi raises an eyebrow, still stirring his coffee. "Not surprising. He¡¯s been in the MPP since first year. Probably sees it as his birthright or something."

    Reza scoffs, eyes still glued to his phone. "Tch. Figures. That guy acts like he owns the damn school already."

    Kai smirks. "Well, he¡¯s practically Azrai¡¯s equal in academics and sports. Only difference is, Zal¡¯s got average looks at best, while Azrai¡¯s got that ¡®prince charming¡¯ thing going on." He twirls his coin again. "Still, the dude''s popular enough. And since Azrai couldn¡¯t care less about being president, everyone thinks Zal¡¯s got this in the bag."

    I let out a dry chuckle, tapping my fingers against my cup. "Yeah, everyone except me."

    That gets their attention. Kai tilts his head, intrigued. "Oh? Ice Queen''s got a different take?"

    Zafi finally stops stirring his coffee, giving me a curious glance. Reza even looks up from his phone. Tessa, of course, just happily sips her drink, waiting for me to spill.

    I sigh, leaning back. "Just saying, I wouldn¡¯t bet on it being that easy."

    I take a sip of my drink before setting it down with a smirk. "It¡¯s not gonna happen if I run for president."

    Silence.

    Then Kai lets out a laugh, flipping his coin again. "Pfft¡ªwhat?"

    Zafi blinks. "Wait, you serious?"

    Reza just snorts. "Like hell you¡¯d run."

    Tessa, eyes sparkling with amusement, clasps her hands together. "Ooooh, Nur as the MPP President! That sounds so cool!"

    Stolen story; please report.

    I roll my eyes. "Relax. I have zero intention of doing it."

    Kai leans forward, grinning. "Damn. For a second there, I thought we were about to witness a historic moment."

    Zafi shakes his head with a chuckle. "Yeah, right. Nur willingly signing up for extra responsibilities? Never happening."

    Reza smirks, tapping at his phone. "Would be funny, though. Zal¡¯s brain would short-circuit."

    I just shrug. "All I¡¯m saying is, it¡¯s not as set in stone as people think."

    Kai hums, flipping his coin one more time before catching it. "Well, guess we¡¯ll see how it plays out."

    Kai leans back, twirling his coin between his fingers¡ª that''s new. "Actually¡­ it wouldn¡¯t be impossible. You pretty much got a cult going on behind you."

    I raise an eyebrow. "A what now?"

    Zafi chuckles, stirring his coffee. "He¡¯s not wrong. You¡¯re the Ice Queen, remember? Half the guys in our year are too scared to talk to you, and the other half are weirdly obsessed."

    Reza scoffs. "Tch. Bunch of idiots."

    Tessa giggles. "It¡¯s true, though! Nur-chan is super popular! I bet if you actually ran, you¡¯d get tons of votes!"

    I take a sip of my drink, unimpressed. "Popularity doesn¡¯t mean competence. Besides, I have better things to do than babysit the entire student body."

    Cult? What do they mean, a cult? Do people actually worship me or something? Like, is there some guy out there with an altar dedicated to me in his room? Are there prayers? Like¡ªPraying for you ??O great Nur ??? You know what¡ª Just the thought alone sends a shiver down my spine. Yeah, no. Better not to think about it

    Kai flips his coin again. "True, true. But imagine the chaos. You, in charge of the council? Watching Zal¡¯s soul leave his body would be priceless."

    I smirk. "Tempting. But no thanks."

    Kai flips his coin with a smirk. "Anyway, speaking of our oh-so-interesting classmates, you guys hear about Arvan?"

    I sigh. "What about him?"

    Kai leans forward. "The guy¡¯s as average as they come, right? Decent grades, decent looks, decent at sports¡ªhe could actually land a girlfriend if it weren¡¯t for one little problem."

    Zafi chuckles. "His sister?"

    "Bingo," Kai grins. "The infamous ¡®Violent Woman.¡¯ She might¡¯ve graduated, but her legend still haunts these halls. Every girl who even thinks about getting close to Arvan backs off the moment they hear about her. Poor guy¡¯s love life is doomed."

    I raise an eyebrow. "Hold up. How do you even know this much about everyone? Do you just go around collecting gossip?"

    Kai gives me an innocent look. "Information is power, my dear Ice Queen. Besides, people talk when you know how to listen."

    I exhale sharply. "Don¡¯t call me that. It makes my skin crawl, especially from you."

    Reza snorts. "More like you¡¯re just nosy as hell." He adds.

    Tessa giggles. "But it¡¯s fun, right? What¡¯s the latest gossip, Kai?"

    Kai¡¯s grin widens. "Glad you asked! So, word is, Arvan actually tried asking someone out recently¡­"

    I roll my eyes. "Oh, here we go."

    Kai flips his coin again, catching it effortlessly. "So get this¡ªArvan finally grew a backbone and confessed to some girl. Thought he was safe since his sister already graduated."

    Zafi raises an eyebrow. "And? How¡¯d that go?"

    Kai smirks. "Well¡­ turns out, not safe at all. Somehow, the news got to his dear sister, and guess what she did?"

    I already know where this is going. "Threatened the girl?"

    "Bingo." Kai leans back in his chair. "She straight-up scared her off. Poor girl asked for a break up with Arvan the very next day. Man didn''t even get a chance."

    Reza scoffs. "That¡¯s messed up. Dude¡¯s never getting a girlfriend at this rate."

    Tessa pouts. "That¡¯s so sad! Why would she do that?"

    Zafi shrugs. "Probably doesn¡¯t want her little brother getting into trouble. Or she¡¯s just insane."

    Kai twirls his coin between his fingers. "Either way, the guy''s cursed. Any girl who even considers him will have to go through the ¡®Violent Woman¡¯ first."

    I shake my head. "Honestly, I almost feel bad for him."

    Kai grins. "Almost?"

    I smirk. "Almost."

    Zafi snorts, stirring his coffee lazily. "Honestly, it¡¯s like she¡¯s got a brocon thing going on, right? Like, ¡®Nobody can have him except me¡¯ type of deal."

    Kai laughs, leaning back in his chair. "Guess that explains the whole ¡®intimidate all the girls¡¯ thing. She probably thinks she¡¯s the only one who can have him."

    Reza grumbles, "That¡¯s just messed up. I get being protective, but that¡¯s way overboard."

    Tessa tilts her head. "Maybe she really cares about him, though?"

    I roll my eyes. "Yeah, but not in a healthy way. She needs to let him breathe."

    Zafi nods, tapping his coffee cup. "Brocon, or just plain possessive¡ªeither way, Arvan''s not gonna get anywhere if his sister keeps pulling the strings."

    I can''t help but smirk. "Maybe one day Arvan will finally break free and get a chance with someone. Or maybe he¡¯ll just end up hiding from his sister forever."

    Kai chuckles. "Wouldn''t be surprised if that happens."

    Tessa giggles, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Or... he ends up with his sister, who knows? Maybe they''re just meant to be a pair."

    Kai bursts out laughing, nearly choking on his drink. "Eww nasty."

    Zafi smirks, shaking his head. "Talk about sibling goals taken to the extreme. But honestly, if that happened, I¡¯d have to quit school. The cringe would be unbearable."

    Reza grumbles, his brows furrowing in annoyance. "No way that¡¯s happening. That¡¯s beyond messed up."

    I can¡¯t help but laugh along with them, even though part of me thinks it¡¯s not that far-fetched, given Arvan''s situation. "Well, whatever happens, I think Arvan needs to have a serious talk with his sister. But if she¡¯s that crazy protective, he¡¯s pretty much doomed."

    Tessa shrugs, sipping her drink. "Who knows, maybe he likes the attention."

    "Right," I scoff. "He totally seems like the type to enjoy that."

    Then Reza stands up, stretching his arms, he says, "I gotta head out. Got stuff to do."

    Kai quickly follows suit, "Same here. Don''t want to be late for anything."

    Zafi nods lazily, sipping the last bit of his coffee. "I''m out too. Catch you later, guys."

    Tessa gives me a playful smile, "I¡¯ll see you later, Nur. You still owe me a treat!"

    As their voices fade into the background, I feel that familiar pang of emptiness creeping in, even though I know I shouldn''t. "Yeah, see you later," I mutter, not really sure if I mean it for them or for myself.

    The moment is almost over, slipping through my fingers, and just like that, I''m left in the quiet.

    End of Chapter 4

 Chapter 5: Big Battle

    As I''m having a great sleepy time I heard a familiar screech that wakes me up from slumber.

    "Ugh, Goldy," I groaned as I rolled over, feeling the soft silk beneath me. As expected, Goldy wasn¡¯t going to let anyone sleep in. Of course, the others were already starting to stir too. But something felt different. I blinked a few times and then froze.

    Wait. Hold up. What the hell?

    I reached down instinctively to feel my arms. They were different. Heavier, more... solid. Like I was actually stronger. I sat up quickly, feeling the stretch of my limbs. My wounds from yesterday''s battle¡ªthey were gone. Not a single bruise, scratch, or scrape left on me. What kind of healing was this?

    I pushed myself up and looked around. As I shifted, I noticed something else. My body. It¡ª felt bigger? No, not just bigger¡ªlike my limbs were thicker, more defined. I looked at my hands and arms. It was like I had grown overnight, as if all the muscle I¡¯d been building up was just... suddenly there. Maybe as big as the other two siblings I fought with before.

    "This is insane," I muttered to myself, flexing my fingers. "I mean, really insane."

    Goldy was already on the move, and it was clear I wasn¡¯t going to get much more rest. I glanced around at my siblings, all of them waking up, oblivious to whatever just happened to me. Maybe it was just another weird side effect of whatever the hell that dream thing was. Or maybe this dungeon had more tricks up its sleeve than I thought.

    But... seriously? Did I just wake up stronger? And bigger? I had no idea what was going on with me lately, but I wasn''t going to sit here wondering about it too long.

    "Guess I¡¯m going to have to get used to this."

    "Wait a minute," I muttered to myself as I glanced around. My siblings were waking up, and now that I was more aware of my own body, I noticed something else¡ªthey were healed too. All of them. No sign of the injuries from yesterday''s fights. The ones that had been injured the worst... they looked perfectly fine now.

    I looked closer at a few of them. Some of them even looked a bit bigger. Huh.

    Maybe it was our species? I mean, we had eaten a lot yesterday, and it wasn¡¯t like we were just nibbling on a snack. We devoured those monsters. So maybe... that¡¯s how it worked? We healed faster because of all the nutrients from the food we ate? And now, maybe the growth spurt was a side effect?

    "Seriously, this is a weird way to start the day," I said to no one in particular, still rubbing my arms. I mean, I knew we were tough, but this was... next-level. My species really had some ridiculous healing factor or something. If this was the result of a good meal, I had to wonder just how strong we could really get.

    And we had just woken up. Who knows what else the dungeon has in store for us today. I gave my siblings a quick glance as they started stretching and waking up fully. They didn''t seem to realize anything had changed, but then again, they wouldn''t¡ªeveryone heals and grows at different rates.

    "Well, whatever it is, it¡¯s not gonna slow us down." I grinned, my mood lifting a little as I stood, ready to face whatever the day had in store.

    As we moved on, following the same survival routines¡ªwalking, fighting, eating¡ªI couldn¡¯t help but notice something... off. I was in the middle of the usual battle with another of those ant creatures when I felt a strange sensation. It started in my back, a slight discomfort, like something was pushing out from under my skin.

    What the hell is this?

    I tried to ignore it at first, focusing on the ant¡¯s attacks, but it didn¡¯t go away. In fact, it got stronger. I felt my back muscles tense and then¡ªwhoosh!¡ªa sharp, pricking pain shot down my spine.

    I froze for a second, momentarily distracted. Then I noticed something weird.

    I turned my head, catching a glimpse of spines pushing out from my back¡ªright where the bristles had been. Not just bristles anymore, but spines. Long, sharp ones, a few inches long.

    ¡°What the¡ª?¡± I hissed under my breath, my thoughts a mix of confusion and curiosity.

    I instinctively reached behind me, running my fingers over the new spines, which now lined my back in a neat row. This... this was new.

    Could it be because of my body growing, or the insane healing I¡¯d gone through?

    I glanced at my siblings fighting nearby. They were still focused, not noticing my change. But now, I wasn¡¯t just covered in bristles or able to shoot silk. I had these spines, and I could feel them, like a strange, untapped power. The bristles were still there too, but the spines were... different. Stronger. Deadlier.

    Well, at least I have a new way to attack, I thought, smirking at the thought. This could be useful.

    "Guess I¡¯m really evolving, huh?" I muttered to myself, letting a few of the spines flicker out, testing their sharpness on the air. They were way sharper than anything I had before. Maybe I could even use them as a ranged weapon, like my siblings who shoots out those things.

    For now, though, I had to keep moving. The dungeon wasn¡¯t gonna wait for me to figure out my new abilities. "Let¡¯s keep going," I muttered, my grin growing wider as I joined the others, ready to show off this new trick.

    I couldn¡¯t help but test my new spines, feeling the energy surge through me as they stuck out from my back. It felt natural, like I¡¯d always had them. I was still getting used to them, but I had a pretty good idea how I could use them in battle.

    As I fought off another group of ants, I decided to give it a shot. Instead of just using my bristles to strike, I gripped a few of the spines and focused on the nearest ant, which was charging straight at me.

    I darted forward, letting my body move fluidly, then in one quick motion, I slammed the spines into the ant''s side. The sharp tips sank into its tough exoskeleton with ease, piercing through like they were butter. The ant screeched in pain, trying to lash out with its mandibles, but I pulled back, watching it stagger for a moment. It wasn¡¯t down yet, but it was definitely slowed down.

    "Not bad," I muttered, impressed by how well they worked. I didn¡¯t even need to shoot them out, just using the natural range of my spines in close combat was already effective.

    The ant turned towards me, anger in its beady eyes. It didn¡¯t stand a chance. I charged again, slamming another spine straight through its head, and this time it crumpled to the ground, completely immobilized.

    "Yeah, I think I¡¯m really getting the hang of this," I smirked, turning to check on the others. The battle wasn¡¯t over yet, but I could tell this was going to make a huge difference.

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    I wasn''t sure if the spines would work as well when I shot them out, but right now, close combat was giving me all the satisfaction I needed. I could feel the power in my new abilities, and it made me even more eager to keep pushing forward.

    I took a deep breath and shifted into position, ready for the next wave of enemies. Bring it on.

    I watched as we wrapped up the ants, dragging their massive bodies towards the center for our feast, when a strange feeling washed over me. Something wasn¡¯t right. My siblings must have felt it too because they started shifting restlessly, their eyes darting around. And then, I saw it.

    It wasn¡¯t like the regular ants we¡¯d been fighting. This one was much bigger¡ªway bigger. Its body was thicker, its mandibles larger and sharper, its stance different. It was standing upright, almost like it was bipedal. And wait¡ªdid it have wings?

    I squinted, trying to make sense of it. This was no ordinary ant. The creature held a spear, which only made the whole situation weirder. It looked like some sort of... royalty? No, it couldn''t be. What was an ant royalty doing in a place like this?

    "Goldy¡¯s got a contender," I muttered under my breath, recognizing that the atmosphere was now tense. This thing was on a whole other level, and Goldy was going to have to step up.

    The rest of my siblings seemed to freeze, most of them eyeing the creature warily. Goldy, however, didn¡¯t hesitate. It looked like she was getting ready for a fight. Her stance was firm, her eyes narrowed, sizing up the opponent.

    I couldn¡¯t help but let out a dry chuckle. ¡°Well, this should be interesting,¡± I said to myself. This was no ordinary monster. It was bigger, it had weapons, and it had wings. But that didn¡¯t mean it was invincible. If we worked together, we¡¯d be able to take it down just like the others.

    I turned my attention to the creature again, ready to back Goldy up. It was about to be a fight to remember.

    Wait. Hold on. I blinked. She? Why did I just refer to Goldy as a "she"?

    I paused for a moment, suddenly aware of what I had said. How the heck did I know that? I never really thought about it before. In all honesty, Goldy had never really shown any signs of gender. At least, none that I paid attention to. And yet, here I was, casually referring to Goldy as a female.

    I couldn¡¯t even figure out why I said it. Did I just assume because she was the one leading our group? Was it the way she carried herself or how she seemed to take charge? Ugh, this wasn¡¯t even the time to be thinking about that.

    But then again, now that I was thinking about it, I was kind of... sure? Did it have something to do with how I felt connected to my siblings? The more time I spent with them, the more I understood them. Maybe it was just a gut feeling.

    "Whatever," I muttered to myself, shaking my head. I wasn''t about to waste more time thinking about this right now.

    Goldy was ready for the fight. That¡¯s what mattered. The rest could wait.

    Goldy was fast¡ªtoo fast for the ant prince to dodge her attack. As the ant charged, Goldy extended her spines with incredible speed, a forest of sharp, deadly points shooting out. It was like something out of a nightmare, how quickly she could shift from calm to full-on battle mode.

    The ant prince tried to retreat, its bipedal stance giving it a lot of mobility, but Goldy''s spines didn¡¯t give it much space to escape. The spines caught the ant, spearing it through a few places, and I could see the ant screech in pain. But it wasn¡¯t going down that easily. With a swift, desperate movement, the ant lashed out with its spear, managing to get a few hits on Goldy.

    Goldy hissed in frustration, but she wasn¡¯t letting up. The spines didn¡¯t retract; they remained extended like a defense mechanism, a constant threat as the battle continued.

    The ant prince managed to squirm out of the grasp of the spines, but it was clear that it was wounded. Still, it wasn¡¯t an easy opponent. "This thing is tough," I muttered under my breath.

    I looked over to my siblings, eyes narrowed. It was a dangerous moment, but I couldn¡¯t help but feel a strange sense of pride in Goldy¡¯s strength. We were stronger than we had been before¡ªso much stronger.

    But this fight was far from over.

    As Goldy and the ant prince struggled in a deadly deadlock, the rest of the siblings sprang into action. One by one, they moved to flank the ant prince, using the terrain and their agility to close in from the sides.

    One of the caterpillar siblings shot a barrage of spines from a distance, aiming to distract and weaken the prince, but the ant was too focused on Goldy. It ducked and dodged, narrowly avoiding the spines, but the attack made it a little more cautious.

    Another sibling, larger and with denser bristles, charged forward, attempting to close the gap, but the ant prince, with its sharp mandibles, swung the spear sideways to keep them at bay. It was quick, but it was becoming clear that the prince was getting overwhelmed, trying to fend off Goldy¡¯s relentless strikes and defend against the other siblings¡¯ assaults.

    I could feel my body tense, the urge to dive in and help rising in me. But as I watched, I realized something: Goldy was still pushing the ant back, her strength and ferocity driving it to retreat. The rest of the siblings were relentless, cutting off any possible escape routes.

    The ant prince, though powerful and skilled, was starting to look cornered. The coordination of my siblings made all the difference, distracting the prince from focusing solely on Goldy and wearing it down.

    With one final charge from Goldy, the prince staggered back, barely holding onto its spear, and I knew it was time.

    "Now!" I yelled, as I rushed forward, ready to join in the fray.

    The battle was turning in the ant prince''s favor as it quickly adapted to the onslaught. In a swift motion, it dodged Goldy''s attack and countered with a vicious strike, aiming straight for her. But just as the blow was about to land, one of my siblings¡ªlarger and more resilient than the others¡ªlunged forward and took the full impact of the strike.

    The force of the blow knocked my sibling off balance, but they managed to stay on their feet, a testament to their endurance. The ant prince hissed in frustration, now momentarily distracted by the sudden change in the tide of battle.

    "Focus!" I shouted to my siblings, trying to rally them. The situation had become more dangerous than ever, but we couldn''t afford to hesitate. Though I doubt it amount to anything since they won''t understand me

    Goldy, visibly shaken by the sacrifice, quickly regained her composure and prepared for another strike. The other siblings adjusted their positions, now determined to make the most of the opening we had gained.

    My sibling who took the hit struggled to rise, and it became clear that the spear had been coated with venom. That wasn''t a good sign¡ªit was affecting them more than I expected. Their movements were slow, and I could see the pain in their eyes.

    Goldy, however, wasn''t giving up. She lashed out at the ant prince with renewed fury, trading blow after blow, mandibles clashing with the ant¡¯s spear. The battle was intense, but the opening I had been waiting for finally appeared. The ant prince was momentarily distracted by the clash with Goldy, its guard lowering just enough for me to act.

    I charged forward, aiming for the gap in its defenses. It was now or never.

    I quickly moved behind the ant prince, positioning myself perfectly. I took a deep breath, steadying myself, and then snapped my mandibles with precision right at the weak spot between its head and thorax. The moment my mandibles sank into that vulnerable area, I felt the ant prince shudder, letting out an involuntary screech. It was a critical hit, and I could feel its strength faltering.

    The prince tried to shake me off, but it was already too late. My strike had been decisive. The ant''s movements became sluggish, its grip on the battle weakening. I quickly pulled back, ready to assist Goldy and the others, but I could see the prince was on the brink of collapsing.

    As the prince collapsing, Goldy then took this opportunity to deal with a decisive blow by snapping her shrap jaw on the prince neck, namely the weakness spot I striked earlier. With that, the prince''s head cut off clean.

    It was clear that the battle had turned in our favor. Goldy stood tall, breathing heavily but victorious, while the rest of us quickly gathered around, ensuring the threat was fully neutralized.

    We all took a moment to catch our breath, the adrenaline from the fight still coursing through us. The battle was won.

    I turned to the sibling who had sacrificed itself for Goldy, my heart heavy with concern. The poison seemed to have been quelled, but the bleeding... it wouldn¡¯t stop. The wound was severe, and despite their efforts to manage it, the blood continued to seep out. I could see the pain in their eyes, and it made my stomach twist with frustration.

    "Hang in there," I muttered, though I wasn¡¯t sure if they could hear me. It was a helpless feeling, knowing we were far from any real healing resources. All I could do was stay close and hope that the situation wouldn''t worsen. My siblings were tough, but even they had their limits.

    I stood frozen, watching as my siblings, including Goldy, surrounded the fallen caterpillar. For a moment, I thought maybe they¡¯d do something respectful, maybe mourn a bit. But instead, to my utter shock, they kill it and ¡ª began... cannibalizing it.

    "Well, I guess that¡¯s one way to show respect."

    The scene before me was unsettling, to say the least. I had known we were survivors, but watching my own kind kill and devour one of their own was something else. Still, there was no point in questioning it. This was how it was.

    "No further suffering and wasting, huh?" I muttered to myself, still a little stunned by the whole thing. It felt strange, watching my siblings go about their business, feasting on the very one who sacrificed itself. I guess that''s just how things work in this world. Survival at any cost, no room for sentimentality.

    I sighed, figuring it was pointless to dwell on it. The reality of it all had hit me hard enough. Time to move on, I suppose.

    I wasn''t really keen on the idea of cannibalizing one of my own, but it wasn''t like I had a choice, right? In this place, you either adapt or you starve. With a resigned sigh, I turned my attention back to the ants, pushing aside the strange feeling that lingered. They were food now, nothing more.

    I shoved a piece of the ant into my mouth, trying not to think too hard about what had just happened. My siblings were already deep into their meal, focused on survival, and I needed to do the same. This wasn¡¯t the time to get soft. Not here. Not now.

    Goldy, without a hint of hesitation, dragged the ant prince''s carcass to the center and began feasting on it alone. She didn¡¯t even glance at the rest of us, fully absorbed in her meal. The way she tore into it with no care at all¡ªit was impressive, in a way. Like she had no real concept of guilt or hesitation. Survival of the fittest, I guess.

    I couldn¡¯t help but feel a little bit of respect for her in that moment. Not only was she a beast in combat, but now, she was showing us what true survival looked like. No time for hesitation. No time for second-guessing.

    I glanced over at the others, who were still munching on the ants as well. We were all the same now, in some way. Hunters. Survivors. It didn¡¯t matter that the idea of what had happened back there felt wrong on some level. We couldn¡¯t afford to think like that. Not anymore.

    Goldy lurks toward me, her eyes flickering with that same strange intensity. Then, the voice echoes in my mind again, but this time it''s a bit clearer, more direct. I can almost feel her presence surrounding me, like she''s trying to tell me something important.

    "Careful... Power... Too fast..."

    I frown, not entirely sure what she means by that. My growth? Maybe... But I don''t even know what this is. Everything feels... different. Stronger. But too fast? I don''t know. Is that bad? Also her voice is clearer than last time... strange.

    Then, the voice shifts, and there''s something else¡ªanother phrase.

    "Mother... we see..."

    What? Mother? My mind stirs, trying to piece together what that means. Not like what? Who is she talking about? My mother¡ª the one who gave birth to me? Or maybe¡ªshe means someone else entirely? Someone we¡¯re supposed to find?

    I glance at Goldy, trying to catch any sign of emotion in her posture or face. But as usual, she¡¯s unreadable. Whatever this is, whatever this power, it¡¯s too overwhelming for me to fully understand. Something about this is wrong, and I can feel the weight of it pressing down on me.

    For now, though, I can¡¯t shake the feeling that there''s more going on here. That something deeper is happening that I don¡¯t fully comprehend.

    End of Chapter 5

 Chapter 6: Bug Wars

    Well, turns out I have a mother after all. Honestly, it''s not the weirdest thing to happen so far. Considering everything that''s been going on, I guess it''s almost expected at this point. After all, I''ve been having these incredibly vivid dreams of my past life, memories that feel real enough to make me question if this is some sort of reincarnation¡ªI mean what else if it''s not it?

    I wonder¡ªare my classmates from my past life here too? If they''ve been reborn like me, what¡¯s their journey like? Are they also facing monsters and strange worlds? Are there even humans in this world? It''s strange to think about, but I can''t shake the feeling that there¡¯s more to this than just surviving a dungeon.

    Maybe, just maybe, everything¡¯s connected in some way. Goldy¡¯s hurry, my growth, these strange dreams¡ª there¡¯s something bigger going on. And soon enough, we¡¯ll meet mother, and maybe then I¡¯ll get some answers.

    Alright, let¡¯s go meet this mother then.

    As we walk through the dungeon, I can feel Goldy¡¯s presence more clearly now, even though I¡¯m still not used to hearing these telepathic messages. She sends another one, "We... Close... Feel... Mother... Careful... War... Happening...."

    War? That¡¯s¡ª new. And unsettling.

    I try to focus on her words. "Careful... War..." What does she mean by that? Is there something more happening here than just the monsters and the dungeon? Maybe there¡¯s something outside this place we¡¯re not aware of. A bigger conflict brewing.

    I keep my guard up, knowing that whatever¡¯s ahead, it¡¯s bound to be more complicated than we realize. Still, I¡¯m curious. We¡¯re getting closer, and I can sense something big is about to unfold. I just hope I¡¯m ready for whatever comes next.

    As we reach the end of the narrow corridor, the sight before us is almost surreal. A vast open space stretches out, illuminated by glowing crystals embedded in the walls and the radiant fungi that pulse softly in the dark. It should be beautiful ¡ª the light reflecting off the vibrant bioluminescent plants, the warmth of the crystals in the air ¡ª but what I see ahead isn¡¯t peaceful.

    It¡¯s chaos.

    The ground below is a battleground. On one side, I can see a massive moth, its size dwarfing anything I''ve seen before. It¡¯s easily the size of an elephant, not that can confirm it since I haven''t seen any human yet. Its wings stirring the air with each deliberate step. The moth is guarded by several dark bipedal moths with wings, towering over the battlefield, their movements calculated. In front of them, I can see the remnants of the ant colony we''ve fought so many times. But this... this is not like the small skirmishes we¡¯ve been through.

    The ants are different here. Larger, stronger, more organized. They¡¯ve fortified themselves into a kind of battle formation, with caterpillars marching at the front lines. Behind them, something that looks like an egg-shaped cocoon floats in the air. It¡¯s almost eerie, like the calm before a storm, with the moths soaring overhead in waves, swooping down in coordinated strikes.

    The battlefield is chaotic. It¡¯s a far cry from the simple survival we¡¯ve been doing in the dungeon. This is war. Real war.

    I look up at Goldy, trying to understand what¡¯s going on, but she¡¯s already focused on the battle. I can feel her tension rising. Whatever¡¯s happening here, it¡¯s bigger than anything we¡¯ve faced. And I can¡¯t help but wonder: What is our place in all of this?

    Goldy¡¯s telepathic message hits again, quieter but more intense, ¡°Mother... Battle... Must fight...¡±

    So this is it. We¡¯re not just here to meet her. We¡¯re here to fight. To survive.

    The air is thick with the sounds of combat. The moths in the air, the caterpillars at the front, and the ants all locked in a deadly dance. I can sense it, the weight of the moment. This isn¡¯t just another fight in the dungeon. This is something much bigger, and we¡¯ve been thrust right into the middle of it.

    I grit my teeth. Whatever happens, I know one thing for sure: I¡¯m not going down without a fight.

    As we descend toward the battlefield, I can feel the weight of the situation pressing down on me. The air is thick with tension, the sounds of clashing mandibles and the crackle of wings fighting for dominance. The ground shakes slightly under the stomping of huge bodies, and I see ants charging forward in a disorganized frenzy, while the moths and caterpillars stand their ground.

    Goldy moves ahead of us, her body shifting smoothly, her spines glinting dangerously in the light from the glowing crystals above. She''s moving like she¡¯s been here before, like this is the path she¡¯s meant to take. I follow her instinctively, my body growing heavier as I get closer to the fight. There''s no turning back now.

    Goldy leads us straight toward the moths ¡ª the same ones that had been guarding the giant, elephant-sized moth at the front. The moths are powerful, their wings slicing through the air, sending gusts of wind that push back the ants. They seem to know what they''re doing, staying organized, their movements almost synchronized.

    I can sense it now: these are my siblings, or at least, they feel like it. I¡¯m not alone in this fight. Goldy, along with the others, are with me, and their presence gives me a sense of purpose. They¡¯ve been part of this battle for longer, and now they¡¯re leading us into the fray.

    I watch as Goldy charges forward, her movements fluid, powerful, and precise. She''s like a force of nature, colliding with the enemy in a flurry of sharp spines, cutting through the battle lines with ease. One of my siblings leaps beside me, their bristles flexing as they dart around the battlefield, taking out ants with a swiftness that I can¡¯t help but admire.

    I feel a strange connection to them all. We¡¯re not just fighting for survival; we''re fighting for something bigger, something I can barely grasp. As I charge into the thick of the battle, I realize it doesn¡¯t matter if I understand it fully. What matters is that I''m here. I¡¯m part of this fight.

    The ants are relentless, swarming toward us, but I¡¯m not afraid. Not anymore. My body feels stronger, faster. My spines, my new-found weapon, dig into the ants with precision as I follow Goldy¡¯s lead, cutting through their ranks like I was born to do this.

    And all the while, the giant moth looms above us, its wings stretching wide, casting shadows over the chaos below. It''s hard to ignore the moth, but I don¡¯t let it distract me. This battle isn''t just about us. It''s about survival. It''s about finding our place in whatever this war has become.

    I catch a glimpse of Goldy, her mandibles snapping fiercely as she fights beside the moths, and I feel a rush of determination. No matter how big the battle gets, I won''t stop fighting.

    We¡¯re in this together.

    As we push forward, the battle rages on around us. The ants are relentless, but we¡¯re chipping away at their numbers, our strikes growing more efficient, more coordinated. The sight of my siblings fighting alongside me gives me a strange sense of camaraderie, something I¡¯ve never really felt before, and it fuels my every move.

    Then, amidst the chaos, a figure flies across our path ¡ª a bipedal moth. I freeze for a moment, eyes narrowing. This moth doesn¡¯t look like anything I¡¯ve seen before. Its body is larger, its wings spread wide and powerful, the edges glowing with a faint, ethereal light. Unlike the other moths, which seem tactical and defensive, this one is on the offensive.

    The moth soars directly into the thick of the battle, heading straight for the frontlines where the ant princes are still wreaking havoc. I watch in awe as it approaches, its wings flexing dramatically. There¡¯s a sudden crackle in the air, and before I can process it, spikes shoot out from the moth¡¯s wings, scattering all around. It¡¯s as if the moth itself is a weapon ¡ª a force of nature that controls the battlefield with just a flap of its wings.

    The spikes launch in every direction, piercing through the air with deadly accuracy, impaling any ants unlucky enough to be in the way. I can feel the power radiating from it, a sense of dominance that makes the ants hesitate, if only for a moment. This moth isn''t just a fighter; it¡¯s a weapon in and of itself, an evolution far beyond anything I¡¯ve encountered.

    Its movements are so fluid, so precise, as it engages the ant princes, who seem to struggle under the force of the moth''s attacks. Unlike the one we faced earlier, this ant prince seems to sense the danger, trying to counter, but the bipedal moth is too fast, too powerful. The moth¡¯s wings slice through the air like blades, and the spikes continue to erupt in every direction, devastating the ranks of ants.

    It¡¯s clear now ¡ª this moth is the peak evolution of our species. It¡¯s something to aspire to, something far beyond our current capabilities. My mind races with the possibilities. Could I, too, one day be like that? Could I reach that level of power?

    Goldy, who has been fighting beside me, takes a quick glance at the bipedal moth, her mandibles clicking as if acknowledging the moth¡¯s strength. The look in her eyes tells me she feels the same awe I do. It¡¯s not a threat, but a goal ¡ª something we might one day strive for. The idea of it sends a thrill through me. Maybe, just maybe, we could all evolve like that, grow stronger, become the ultimate form of our kind.

    But right now, I can¡¯t afford to be distracted. The battlefield still rages, and the ants continue to pour in. Despite the moth¡¯s power, we still have our work cut out for us.

    I turn back to the fight at hand, my resolve hardening. No matter what, we can¡¯t afford to lose.

    As the battle intensifies, my focus shifts momentarily. Through the chaos of bodies and the clash of wings and mandibles, I notice something strange on the other side of the battlefield ¡ª the floating cocoon.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    It¡¯s unlike anything I¡¯ve ever seen before. It hovers in the air, suspended just above the fray. But what really catches my attention is the way it¡¯s fighting. Instead of being a passive bystander in this fight, the cocoon seems to be actively defending itself. Spiky spines ¡ª long, sharp, and menacing ¡ª begin to protrude from its surface, launching like projectiles toward the enemy.

    It¡¯s almost like watching Goldy, but on a whole new level. Where Goldy¡¯s spines are precise and controlled, these are wild and powerful, bursting from the cocoon with an intensity that I can barely comprehend. It¡¯s as if the cocoon is using its own form of defense, or perhaps even offense, to fight off the ants that are closing in on it.

    The sight of it is¡­ strange, unnerving. The cocoon floats in a way that defies logic, its spines shooting out in rapid succession, tearing through the battlefield, and pushing back the ants that dare approach it. It¡¯s clear now that the cocoon is something more than just a resting place for a future moth. It¡¯s an active participant in this war, as much a force of nature as any of us.

    I can¡¯t help but wonder if this is some kind of hidden power within the cocoon, a manifestation of something waiting to emerge. Maybe it¡¯s a sign of what I could become ¡ª what we all could become ¡ª evetually.

    But for now, the fight continues, and I can¡¯t afford to be distracted. Goldy, with her unyielding strength, continues to tear through the ant ranks, while my siblings and I work together, pushing forward, surviving. Yet, the cocoon¡¯s strange display lingers in my mind, as though it¡¯s telling me something, something beyond what I can yet understand.

    Could it be another part of our evolution? Another step toward becoming something greater? Or perhaps¡­ a glimpse of what¡¯s to come?

    I don¡¯t know yet, but I can¡¯t help but feel like there¡¯s something important about this moment, something that will change everything once the cocoon¡¯s true power is fully realized.

    As the chaos of the battlefield rages on, I¡¯m caught off guard by a sudden shift in the air. A group of moths, larger than any I¡¯ve seen so far, swoops down from above, their wings cutting through the air with a powerful force. Their movements are precise, calculated, and they¡¯re carrying something. At first, I can''t quite make out what it is, but as they get closer, the truth becomes clear.

    The cocoon ¡ª that cocoon ¡ª is being held by the moths. It¡¯s suspended in the air between them, and they fly in formation, carefully guiding it toward the center of the battle. There¡¯s something about the way they carry it that feels purposeful, like this is the moment something significant is about to happen.

    The moths reach the heart of the ant ranks, and without hesitation, they release the cocoon. It drops with a soft thud, landing right in the midst of the ants and some of them even dropped into some ants, crushing them. Instantly, the cocoon begins to react, as if it¡¯s been waiting for this very moment.

    From the cocoon¡¯s surface, long, sharp spines start to protrude once more, but this time, it¡¯s on a completely different scale. The spines shoot out with deadly accuracy, piercing through the air and striking the ants with an intensity I¡¯ve never seen before. The ants, caught off guard by the sheer force of it, scramble in panic, their ranks breaking apart as they try to retreat.

    The cocoon is no longer just an object of curiosity. It¡¯s a weapon ¡ª a powerful force in its own right. The moths, hovering above it, seem to guide the spines¡¯ direction with an eerie precision, pushing back the ants, clearing a path for the moths and the rest of us to move forward.

    The sheer power of the cocoon is overwhelming. It feels like we¡¯ve unlocked something far beyond what we¡¯ve seen from our own species. It¡¯s like a force of nature, unstoppable in its fury, and as the battle rages around it, I can¡¯t help but feel a sense of awe. Whatever is inside that cocoon, it¡¯s not just some passive form waiting to hatch. It¡¯s a weapon, a powerful entity in its own right, and it¡¯s fighting on our side.

    I watch in awe as the ants are pushed back, their numbers thinning, their lines breaking apart under the onslaught of the spines. The cocoon is doing the work now, and we just have to follow its lead.

    As I glance at Goldy and my siblings, I can see that they, too, are impressed. We¡¯re no longer just surviving ¡ª we¡¯re winning. And it¡¯s all thanks to whatever power this cocoon has unlocked. The battle isn¡¯t over yet, but with this new force on our side, I can¡¯t help but feel like we¡¯re one step closer to victory.

    As the battle rages on, a group of moths suddenly emerges from the chaos, their wings flapping with authority. They¡¯re not just any moths ¡ª they¡¯re carrying something, something that¡¯s floating alongside them. It¡¯s the cocoon.

    My eyes narrow as I watch them drop it right into the heart of the ant forces. The moment it touches the ground, the cocoon springs into action. Spikes shoot out of it with an almost mechanical precision, slamming into the enemy ants like a barrage of deadly projectiles. It¡¯s a sight to behold, and it sends a shockwave of power through our side, boosting our morale and our chances of winning. The ants that were once pushing forward with determination now falter, retreating as they try to avoid the spiny onslaught. It¡¯s like the cocoon¡¯s transformation was exactly what we needed.

    But as I stand there, watching the battle unfold, a thought crosses my mind.

    Why the hell am I in the middle of all this?

    I mean, seriously, here I am, just a tiny caterpillar not even a few days ago(?), and now I¡¯m standing on a battlefield surrounded by moths, ants, and cocoon things shooting spikes like it¡¯s just another day at the office. Where did I even come from? Why am I part of this mess?

    I shake my head, trying to push the thoughts away. Now¡¯s not the time for self-doubt. The cocoon has given us the upper hand, and the battle is swinging in our favor. Still, I can''t help but feel a little out of place in all of this. It''s not like I chose to be here ¡ª I didn¡¯t ask for this evolution or whatever the hell¡¯s happening to me.

    But no time to waste, I guess. There''s still a battle to win, and whether I like it or not, I¡¯m in the thick of it.

    Guess I''m part of this now. Whatever this ''this'' is...

    As the battle continues, the ants, clearly suffering from the losses, begin to falter. The once unyielding forces are now retreating, their formations crumbling under the relentless attack from the moths, the cocoon, and even us ¡ª my siblings and I, chipping away at them from all sides. The tide has definitely turned, and it''s obvious: the ants can¡¯t hold their ground anymore.

    The retreating ants aren¡¯t in disarray, though; they¡¯re pulling back with a strange, calculated precision. It¡¯s not a full-blown rout, but it''s clear they can¡¯t win this fight. Their warriors, what¡¯s left of them, are dragging their injured comrades, some even abandoning the dead. The sound of their retreating steps is like the beating of a drum ¡ª steady and determined, but now tainted with a hint of desperation.

    I watch the ants, their heads down, their movements faster now, no longer fighting back, just trying to escape. It''s strange, watching an enemy retreat, especially after all the brutal battles we¡¯ve had. In the distance, I can see the ant princes, their towering forms retreating, pulling back into the shadows of the colony as if they knew the fight was over.

    Goldy¡¯s by my side, her posture still proud, even in victory, though I can see the exhaustion in her eyes. Our team ¡ª our family ¡ª has been through a lot, and while we''ve won, it¡¯s been a hard-fought battle. We¡¯ve lost some, and I can''t ignore the weight of that. The bodies of the fallen, both our own and the enemy¡¯s, litter the battlefield.

    But there''s no time to mourn yet. The ants are retreating, and that means one thing ¡ª we need to secure this victory, make sure they don''t come back for round two.

    And here I am, in the middle of it all... just a caterpillar with too many questions, I think to myself, shaking my head.

    Goldy signals to the others, and without hesitation, we move to secure the battlefield, ensuring the ants won¡¯t get any funny ideas about regrouping and coming back to fight. It¡¯s time to finish this ¡ª at least for now. The battlefield falls eerily quiet as we take control, the once fierce noise of battle now a memory.

    We¡¯ve won. But I can¡¯t shake the feeling that this is far from over.

    As the last of the ants retreat into the shadows, we confirm our victory. The battlefield, once chaos incarnate, now seems eerily quiet. The air is thick with the smell of the aftermath¡ªsweat, blood, and the remnants of a war just fought. Goldy stands tall, the battle-hardened leader among us, her body still pulsing with the adrenaline of the fight.

    Then, the massive, elephant-sized moth lets out a screech that reverberates through the cavern. The sound is deafening and primal, a call to arms, a victory cry. It''s a noise that seems to shake the very ground beneath us, and I can feel it in my bones. My antennae twitch in response, instinctively knowing that this isn¡¯t just a random cry.

    Everyone follows suit, the others joining in with their own vocalizations. Even Goldy, who had been so focused on the fight, releases a low, guttural sound of approval. The moths ¡ª all of us ¡ª raise our heads high and join in the chorus, a celebration of our hard-earned victory. It¡¯s not just the physical battle that¡¯s been won, but the moment itself, a triumph we can now claim.

    I can see the other siblings looking around, checking for signs of further threat, but with the retreat of the ants and the rallying cry of our moth leader, there¡¯s no mistaking it ¡ª the ants are done for now. The battlefield belongs to us.

    As the screech fades, a strange calm sets in. The sounds of the other moths¡¯ calls gradually subside, leaving only the distant hum of the glowing crystals and fungi that illuminate this place. The moth leader ¡ª that massive moth, the one I now know must be an elder or possibly the mother ¡ª seems to relax, though there¡¯s an intensity in her eyes, a deep understanding that this victory, while significant, is only a small part of a much larger story.

    I glance at Goldy again, the strange, unspoken bond between us still present. It¡¯s clear we¡¯re not just fighting for survival anymore. We¡¯re part of something far bigger than ourselves, something that¡¯s been evolving in this dungeon for who knows how long.

    But as the excitement dies down, a realization begins to settle in. This was only one battle. There¡¯s more to come. And if the ants have retreated now, I have no doubt that there are other threats out there ¡ª perhaps even greater than we¡¯ve faced so far.

    I exhale slowly, my body still tingling from the fight, and look up at the huge moth. I wonder what happens next. Is this the end of our trials, or are we about to face something even bigger? Whatever comes, I know one thing for sure ¡ª I¡¯m not going to face it alone. My siblings, Goldy, and even this strange, evolving version of myself, are with me. Together, we¡¯ll keep moving forward.

    But first, I think, we celebrate. We¡¯ve earned it.

    And with that thought, the rest of my family ¡ª all of us ¡ª relaxes, letting the victory sink in. For now, we¡¯ve survived. We¡¯ve won. And that¡¯s enough.

    I drag the remains of the ants toward the center, just like everyone else. It''s a strange mix of pride and exhaustion. The battlefield behind us now feels so distant, but it''s still fresh in my mind, the clashing of mandibles, the hiss of spines shooting through the air, the heavy weight of survival.

    As I pull the heavy carcasses, I catch sight of Goldy. She moves in closer, her pace slow but deliberate, like she¡¯s got something important to say. And, as always, she doesn¡¯t waste time with pleasantries. She just drops the words straight on me.

    ¡°Mother wants to meet.¡±

    I blink, not entirely sure what to make of it. Goldy¡¯s always been the kind of leader who¡¯s efficient, straight to the point, but this feels different. I stop dragging the carcasses for a second, trying to let the words sink in. Goldy, despite being just a caterpillar, is always so focused, so fierce in her own way. She¡¯s one of the strongest here, but her words now carry a weight I didn¡¯t expect.

    ¡°Mother?¡± I murmur, trying to wrap my head around the idea. The mother she¡¯s referring to ¡ª could it be the massive moth we saw earlier? The one leading the charge, the one that screeched.

    Goldy gives a slight nod. ¡°Yes. The one who leads.¡± She says it so plainly, like it¡¯s something I should have known. Maybe I should have, but it¡¯s all so overwhelming. Everything is happening so fast, and now this¡­ meeting.

    I look at my siblings, all of us still catching our breath from the battle, still dragging the remains. But I can see the determination in Goldy¡¯s eyes. She¡¯s not one to mess around. Whatever¡¯s next, I don¡¯t think we have much time.

    I take a deep breath, preparing myself. ¡°Alright. Lead the way.¡±

    Goldy doesn¡¯t say anything else. She just turns, already heading in the direction of wherever this ¡°mother¡± is. I can¡¯t help but feel a mix of curiosity and uncertainty. We¡¯ve been through so much already, and now¡­ a meeting with this mysterious figure? This ¡°mother¡± of ours?

    I follow her, my mind buzzing. I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m walking into, but I do know one thing: there¡¯s a purpose behind this. Goldy¡¯s not just dragging us into some random meeting. This is important. I just hope I¡¯m ready for whatever it is.

    As I follow Goldy, a thought crosses my mind¡ªher telepathic messages. I remember how they used to be all jumbled, like a toddler trying to find the right words to speak. It was hard to understand, like there were pieces missing or something. But now? It¡¯s different. Her message was clear, direct. The words felt complete, like she had finally figured out how to communicate properly.

    Either Goldy finally know how to communicate or it''s me the one who finally understand or able to catch what she trying to say all this time. Anyway, I can understand her better now.

    I glance at her as she leads the way, walking with a purpose. She¡¯s always been a leader, but now it feels like she¡¯s stepping into a new role, a more confident one. It''s like she¡¯s not just physically stronger, but mentally, too.

    It makes me wonder if that¡¯s happening to me as well. After everything that¡¯s happened, the battle, the growth, the strange power... maybe we''re all changing in ways we don¡¯t fully understand yet. Maybe this meeting with ¡°mother¡± is a part of that change.

    Either way, I can¡¯t ignore the fact that Goldy¡¯s telepathy is no longer a struggle to comprehend. It¡¯s smooth, focused¡ªlike a conversation I¡¯m actually having. And that¡¯s... a little reassuring, in a way.

    As we reach the end of the path, I stop in my tracks. The massive moth looms in front of us. And I mean massive¡ªif I had to compare, it¡¯s like a dog standing next to an elephant. I can¡¯t even wrap my head around how big it is. Its wings shimmer with an eerie glow, and its presence fills the space with something almost... intimidating.

    The moth notices our arrival almost immediately, its gaze shifting toward Goldy. They share a moment, some silent exchange that I can only assume is telepathic. Goldy gives a slight nod and, without saying anything, moves away from us. It¡¯s almost like they had a whole conversation without uttering a single word.

    I cross my arms and mutter to myself, ¡°I don¡¯t know how bug communication works, but sure, whatever.¡± It¡¯s the only way I can make sense of this, really. It¡¯s just one of those things that makes sense... until it doesn¡¯t. And right now, the whole ¡°telepathic bug talk¡± thing is definitely in the ¡°doesn¡¯t¡± category.

    I watch as Goldy moves toward the massive moth, the so-called ¡°mother.¡± It¡¯s clear there¡¯s some kind of bond between them, something I¡¯m still struggling to wrap my head around. I guess it¡¯s not surprising, though. Goldy seems to have always known what to do, even when I had no idea what was going on.

    And now here we are, standing in front of this giant creature, waiting for whatever comes next. I can¡¯t help but feel a little out of place, but at least I¡¯m getting used to it. Who knows? Maybe this is the next step in whatever crazy journey this has turned into.

    End of Chapter 6

 Chapter 7: Mother

    I glance at Goldy, hoping for some clue, but she¡¯s standing there, completely still, her gaze never leaving the giant moth. Whatever¡¯s happening... it¡¯s between me and her now. And I have no idea what this ¡®mother¡¯ wants with me.

    Mother¡¯s eyes lock onto mine, and then out of nowhere, a sharp, searing pain shoots through my head, like a needle pressing against my skull. It''s enough to make me wince, clenching my teeth as I fight to stay standing. Then, through the pain, I hear a voice echoing in my mind: ¡°Welcome, child.¡±

    Before I can even process what just happened, the pain vanishes, as suddenly as it came. But something¡¯s different. My senses feel... heightened.

    "That¡¯s... new," I mutter aloud, my voice sounding far too quiet compared to the sudden clarity in my head.

    Mother¡¯s gaze softens, and she responds, "It is indeed new. You have awakened your latent psychic capabilities, child."

    Psychic... capabilities? I blink, trying to wrap my mind around the idea. There was pain in my head a second ago but there¡¯s nothing there now¡ªjust the strange aftertaste of something... new. It¡¯s like my mind is humming, a buzz that wasn''t there before. This isn¡¯t just telepathy, it¡¯s something more.

    ¡°This... feels... strange,¡± I say, half to myself and half to her.

    The realization seeps in slowly, like the tide creeping up the shore. It¡¯s unsettling¡ªlike waking up to a world I¡¯ve always seen but never truly noticed. Like suddenly being able to smell after a lifetime of nothing.

    Mother watches me, her massive form looming over us, but there¡¯s something almost gentle in her presence. "You are more than you were before, child," she says. "Embrace it."

    I nod, still processing what just happened. This new sense... It¡¯s as if everything is clearer now. And maybe, just maybe, I might be able to understand this new world a little better.

    I take a deep breath, steadying myself as my mind still hums with this newfound ability. "So¡­ is this normal?" I ask, tilting my head up to look at Mother. "Or am I some kind of special case?"

    Mother¡¯s antennae twitch slightly before she responds, "No, child. Normally, one awakens their psychic capabilities shortly after hatching."

    I freeze. Shortly after hatching? That means¡­ I should have had this ability from the start?

    A weird, sinking feeling settles in my gut. "So, what? I was defective?" The words slip out before I can stop them, laced with a bitterness I wasn¡¯t expecting.

    Mother, however, doesn¡¯t seem fazed. Instead, she responds calmly, "No. You are not defective. You are simply¡­ different."

    "Different, huh?" I mutter, crossing my arms, in my mind that is since I don''t have any now. "Sounds like a fancy way of saying ''you were broken, but not too broken.''"

    But before I can sink any deeper into that thought, Mother continues, "For you, child, this is a special case. This Royal Child¡ª" she gestures towards Goldy, who is still standing nearby, "¡ªnoticed you had not yet awakened and brought you to me."

    I blink, glancing at Goldy. She meets my gaze with those eerily intelligent eyes of hers.

    "...Wait, so that¡¯s why she dragged me here?" I say, piecing it together.

    Goldy doesn¡¯t say anything, but the way she tilts her head ever so slightly is enough of an answer.

    I exhale sharply, running a hand through my¡ªoh, right, no hair. Just silk and bristles. "Hah¡­ I should¡¯ve known something was up with her. Figures."

    Still, I can¡¯t shake the feeling of unease. This ability was supposed to be a given, something I should have had all along, but for some reason, I didn¡¯t. And now, out of nowhere, I suddenly do.

    Just what am I, exactly?

    I feel Mother¡¯s piercing gaze settle on me, a weight heavier than anything I¡¯ve felt before. "You are my child, born of the same brood as this Royal Child," she begins, her voice echoing in my head. "And yet¡­ you are different. Off."

    My body stiffens. "Off?" I echo. "What¡¯s that supposed to mean?"

    "Your combat growth is unusually fast and they you carry yourself in battle is... unusal," Mother continues, as if I hadn¡¯t spoken. "Your growth is faster than any caterpillar should develop. And more than that¡ªyour speech. It is¡­ clear."

    I blink. "I mean, yeah? Is that weird?"

    Mother¡¯s antennae twitch. "Most of your kind speak as infants, their thoughts simple, their words broken. You, however¡­ you speak as though you are already fully grown."

    I pause. I knew I was different from the others, but I never really thought about how different. Sure, my siblings communicated in broken, almost childish telepathic phrases, but I had chalked that up to them just being¡­ well, not very talkative.

    But if Mother is saying this is abnormal¡­

    She studies me for a long moment, then asks, "What are you, child?"

    The question sends a chill down my spine.

    I open my mouth, then close it again. What am I supposed to say? I don''t know? I used to be human? Yeah, let¡¯s just blurt that out in front of a massive moth queen. Great idea.

    Instead, I swallow thickly and force a nervous chuckle. "I mean¡­ I¡¯m your child, right?" I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "That¡¯s what you said."

    Mother does not respond right away.

    Then, her next words send another jolt through me.

    "Are you a threat to my colony?"

    I feel my whole body freeze.

    A threat? Me?

    I suddenly feel very, very small under Mother¡¯s looming form.

    My mind races. Do I tell her the truth? Do I just blurt out, Hey, I used to be human, surprise! and hope I don¡¯t get squashed like an ant underfoot?

    No. That¡¯s a terrible idea.

    But lying outright? Also not great. I have no idea if Mother can sense deception, and if she thinks I¡¯m hiding something dangerous, I might actually end up as a threat in her eyes.

    I take a deep breath¡ªor, well, the closest thing to it in this body¡ªand settle on something in between.

    "I¡­ I have memories," I say carefully, watching for her reaction. "Memories of a past life. I don¡¯t think I¡¯m like the others because¡­ I remember things I shouldn¡¯t."

    Mother tilts her head slightly. "A past life?"Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    "Yeah," I nod slowly. "Before I was born here, before I became¡­ this." I gesture to myself. "I lived another life. Somewhere else."

    She doesn¡¯t say anything for a long moment. The weight of her gaze feels like it¡¯s peeling me apart, layer by layer, searching for something.

    Finally, she speaks.

    "Then¡­ what are you now?"

    I blink. "Huh?"

    "You say you were something else before. But now, you are here. You are my child. So, tell me¡­ what are you now?"

    I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.

    What am I now? A human reborn as a caterpillar? A freak of nature? A mistake?

    Or¡­ just Nur?

    After a long pause, I exhale. "I don¡¯t know," I admit. "But I¡¯m here now. And I don¡¯t want to be a threat to your colony."

    Mother watches me for another long moment. Then, finally, she lets out a low hum.

    "I see."

    Well, that went better than expected. I¡¯m still alive, and Mother isn¡¯t trying to squish me, so that¡¯s a win.

    "Very well," she says, her voice ringing in my head. "As long as you are not a threat to my colony, then it is fine."

    I let out a breath I didn¡¯t realize I was holding.

    "Now then, child. Do you have any questions?"

    Questions? Oh, I have plenty.

    Why are we fighting the ants? What exactly are we? And most importantly¡ªhow do I make sure I don¡¯t die before I even get wings?

    But I should probably start with something that won¡¯t make me sound completely clueless.

    "...Yeah, I have questions," I say, glancing at Goldy, who¡¯s watching quietly. "First of all, what exactly is she? You keep calling her a ¡®Royal Child.¡¯ What does that mean?"

    "A Royal Child is simply a caterpillar born with the potential to ascend as a ruler," Mother explains, her voice steady and absolute. "They bear golden skin, a mark of their lineage, setting them apart from the common brood."

    I glance at Goldy, who shifts slightly under my gaze. So she was basically born special? Figures.

    "Royal Children will eventually evolve into Royal Moths," Mother continues, "and depending on their gender, they will become either a Prince Mothkin or a Princess Moth and further evolution will result a King Mothkin or Queen Moth like myself. However, there is a condition."

    Of course, there is. There¡¯s always a catch.

    "To claim their rightful evolution, they must conquer," she states. "Be it a dungeon, a forest, or any territory of significance, they must take it as their own. And once they have secured their domain, they must unite with another Royal Prince or Princess, depeding on the gender of the royalty from another colony."

    Conquer and breed. Got it.

    Then, Mother lifts her gaze, and instinctively, I follow.

    Above us, standing with an air of absolute dominance, is an imposing figure¡ªa golden bipedal moth, muscles lined with shimmering scales, his wings radiating a faint glow and not mentiom the cool halberd thing he''s holding.

    "That is my King Mothkin," Mother declares. "Your father."

    Well. That explains the genetics. Also what are you? Guan Yu? Geez Father.

    "There is another path to ruling," she adds, drawing my attention back. "A Prince Mothkin or Princess Moth may seize an already existing kingdom, subjugating both the ruling King or Queen with own gender counterpart. By doing so, they claim dominion and ascend to true sovereignty."

    So it¡¯s either conquer and expand, or conquer and overthrow. Brutal.

    I glance at Goldy again. Sooner or later, she¡¯s going to have to take one of those paths. I wonder if she even realizes it yet.

    "For those who do not wish to conquer or fail to do so, there is still a place within the colony," Mother continues. "They serve as commanders, leaders, and protectors. Not every Royal is destined to rule, but all have a role to play."

    That makes sense, I guess. Not everyone can be a king or queen¡ªsomeone has to handle the day-to-day grunt work.

    But then, it clicks.

    This whole setup¡ªthe caste system, the warriors, the strict hierarchy¡ªthis isn¡¯t how moths should behave. This is¡­ ant, termites behavior. Queens, soldiers, workers, expansion through conquest? That¡¯s straight out of an ant colony¡¯s playbook.

    I mutter under my breath, "Since when do moths act like ants? What¡¯s next, termite diplomacy?"

    Still, I can¡¯t help but be fascinated. This is nothing like the moths from my world. Whatever this place is, the evolution¡ªor whatever force is at play¡ªhas turned these creatures into something far more organized, structured¡­ and honestly, a little terrifying.

    "So what about non-royalty moths like me?" I asked, still trying to wrap my head around all this royal business.

    Mother¡¯s voice echoed in my head, steady and firm. "Non-royalty children have no obligations. You are free to stay within the colony or leave and find your own path. Some choose to seek partners from other colonies, but most remain. Strength in numbers grants safety."

    Huh. So basically, unless I¡¯m born with a shiny golden carapace, I don¡¯t have to worry about any weird ¡®conquer and rule¡¯ business. Good. The last thing I need is to get caught up in some moth kingdom drama.

    So non-royalty moths have more freedom, huh? That¡¯s actually kind of nice. No predetermined path, no grand destiny¡ªjust the ability to choose.

    "Unlike royalty, your path is not set. Non-royalty children can evolve in different ways. You saw the bipedal moth earlier, the one that decimated the Prince Ants?"

    Yeah, I did. That thing was terrifying.

    "That is a Mothkin, the peak evolution for most non-royalty children. But there are other paths as well."

    Before I could even process that, something shifted in my vision. No¡ªnot shifted, appeared.

    A figure was suddenly there, standing right in front of me. Except... it wasn''t really sudden, was it? It felt more like it had been there the entire time, but I just now noticed it. My entire body tensed. How the hell did I not see it before?

    It looked similar to the Mothkin from before¡ªbipedal, strong¡ªbut its form was darker, its presence heavier. Its wings wrapped around its body like a cloak, as if it was deliberately hiding itself. And that aura¡­ thick, suffocating, almost unnatural.

    "This is a Mothman," Mother¡¯s voice returned, calm and absolute. "An evolution achieved through shadow attributes."

    Mothman. So this was something different from a regular Mothkin.

    "Mothmen serve as my personal guard," she continued. "That is why you did not notice them before. They remain unseen unless they choose to reveal themselves."

    I swallowed hard. Unseen unless they choose to reveal themselves? What are they? Ninjas?

    Yeah. That was definitely unsettling.

    Huh. So there¡¯s all these different evolution paths, huh? Mothkin, Mothman, Royal Moth¡­ I wonder if there''s more?

    Like, what if I could turn into a fire-breathing moth? That¡¯d be sick. Just torch everything in my way. Or a lightning moth, zapping enemies out of existence with a single flap of my wings.

    ¡­Wait. What if¡ªwhat if¡ªI could become a radioactive moth? Just casually dropping nuclear bomb scales on my enemies. Absolute devastation. Fear me, for I am Atomic.

    ¡­Okay, maybe that¡¯s getting on my cringe radar too much. But hey, a girl can dream.

    "So, what¡¯s the deal with the ants? Are we conquering them, or are they just being rude?"

    Mother flutters her massive wings slightly before answering, "This is my territory. I was on an egg-laying cycle, as I always do around the dungeon. When I returned, I found the ants had occupied it. Naturally, I had to reclaim what was mine."

    Oh. That¡­ actually makes a lot of sense. So that¡¯s why I hatched so far away from Mother. I thought it was just some cruel twist of fate, but nope¡ªturns out I was just an egg laid on the go. Great. Truly a touching mother-daughter reunion.

    Mother continues, "I lay several clutches of eggs across different areas. And in some of those clutches, there is always at least one royal egg."

    That also makes sense. I did see a few caterpillars like Goldy back on the battlefield, and here I thought she was some unique protagonist-tier existence. Guess she¡¯s got counterpart of her own, too.

    And these ants really had the audacity to move into Mother''s territory while she was out? Imagine squatting in someone¡¯s house just because they stepped out for groceries. To quote a certain spider¡ªNo wayy

    "So, what will you do now, child?" Mother¡¯s voice echoes in my mind. "Will you go your own way, or will you follow your royal brood?" Her gaze shifts slightly toward Goldy.

    I hesitate. What do I want to do? I could go off on my own, try to figure things out¡­ or I could stick with Goldy and see where that leads. But right now, I don¡¯t have an answer.

    "I¡­ don¡¯t know yet," I admit.

    "Fret not," Mother replies, her voice calm. "You have time. For now, feast on the ants and rest."

    Right. Food first, decisions later.

    With that, I excuse myself from Mother. "I''ll go feast now," I say, turning away.

    As I make my way toward the heap of ant carcasses, I spot my siblings already feasting. Goldy and a few of our broodmates fall in beside me.

    How was it? Goldy¡¯s voice pops into my head. Her tone is clearer now, but there¡¯s still that childish excitement¡ªkind of like a grade schooler eager to hear about a new experience. Are you getting used to the psychic stuff yet?

    "It went pretty well," I reply. "As for the psychic thing¡­ I¡¯m working it out. Feels like I suddenly grew a new sense."

    Hehe, it¡¯s fun, right? Goldy chirps through our link.

    I just shrug and keep walking. It¡¯s definitely something, that¡¯s for sure.

    Now that I think about it, this is the first time I¡¯m actually having a conversation with Goldy. Before, it was just one-way communication¡ªher sending vague, broken thoughts like a toddler struggling with words.

    But now? She¡¯s forming proper sentences, even if they¡¯re simple. It¡¯s weirdly surreal.

    "See? Getting better!" Goldy chimes in proudly, probably sensing my thoughts. "Mother said I¡¯m still young, but I learn fast!"

    I smirk. "Yeah, I can tell. You¡¯re making a lot more sense now."

    Goldy wiggles happily as we reach the feast.

    Goldy¡¯s way of talking¡­ it reminds me of something. No¡ªsomeone.

    For a brief moment, a memory surfaces. A voice, cheerful and determined. A little sister clumsily trying to keep up¡ª

    Sister...

    No. It¡¯s just a thought. Nothing more.

    I shake it off before it lingers any longer. No point in digging up the past. Right now, there¡¯s food in front of me, and I¡¯m starving.

    Without another word, I sink my mandibles into the ant carcass, Goldy right beside me, already tearing into her share.

    Yeah, Goldy is technically my big sister anyway. No point in getting sentimental over past life nonsense ¡ª I have dream that involuntarily appears that does the job anyway.

    I tear into the ant carcass with renewed focus, pushing away the lingering thoughts. Whatever I was before doesn¡¯t matter¡ªthis is my reality now.

    Goldy munches happily beside me, her golden skin glistening under the dim glow of the dungeon. For all her status as a Royal Child, she eats just as messily as the rest of us.

    "So you just dragged everyone out of their way just so I could meet Mother and awaken this whole psychic thing?" I ask, antennae twitching as I gnaw through an ant¡¯s exoskeleton.

    Goldy pauses mid-bite, then shrugs¡ªor at least does the caterpillar equivalent of one. "Not exactly. Decent monsters were along the way anyway, so might as well."

    I stop chewing. "...You''re telling me you planned this around getting some extra XP?"

    "Of course!" Goldy chirps through telepathy, her tone carrying the smug satisfaction of someone who just pulled off a perfect multi-tasking maneuver. "You got stronger, I got stronger, everyone got stronger. Win-win!"

    I just stare at her, then sigh, returning to my meal. Of course, she¡¯d think like that. I shouldn¡¯t even be surprised at this point.

    "You know, you grew strong pretty fast for someone who just hatched not too long ago," Goldy says, her tone half-impressed, half-pouting. "You''re acting like a big sister, even though I''m supposed to be the one!"

    I pause mid-bite, glancing at her. "Pretty sure you are the big sister, Goldy. You¡¯re literally a Royal."

    "Yeah, but still! You fight like you''ve been doing it forever! And you talk all... properly!" She wiggles her body in frustration. "It¡¯s weird!"

    I snort, swallowing the piece of ant I was chewing. "Maybe I¡¯m just built different."

    Goldy narrows her eyes. "You are different."

    That makes me pause. There¡¯s something about the way she says it¡ªless teasing, more thoughtful. But before I can ask, she just shrugs again and goes back to eating.

    I shake my head and do the same. No point in overthinking.

    As the last scraps of the ant carcasses were picked clean, leaving only shattered exoskeletons and other inedible remains, exhaustion finally settled in. My body ached, my limbs felt heavier, and my mind was already half-asleep.

    I figured we''d all start making our own silk beds now¡ªfinally, finally, I¡¯d get to use my silk-producing ability! I was kinda excited about it, to be honest. But just as I was about to try¡­

    Three Mothkins appeared.

    Without a word, they began chanting, their wings fluttering as a soft glow surrounded them. And then, right before my eyes, several massive sheets of silk materialized out of nowhere, stretching and clinging to the dungeon¡¯s ceiling and corners like a perfectly laid-out hammock system.

    ¡­Huh.

    So that¡¯s it, huh? That¡¯s magic?

    I was expecting something more dramatic¡ªfireballs, lightning bolts, something flashy. But no, they just conjured something that I could that comes silk out of my butt like nothing. And just like that, the caterpillars immediately began climbing onto the sheets, curling up, and dozing off.

    I sighed. "Well, there goes my chance to finally use my silk," I muttered to myself, a bit disappointed.

    Goldy, already halfway up the silk, glanced back at me. "Come on, Nur! Sleep time!" she called out through telepathy, sounding way too excited for something as basic as sleep.

    I rolled my eyes but followed suit, crawling up the smooth, magically conjured silk. It was surprisingly soft and sturdy¡ªbetter than any bed I had ever known, even in my past life. As I nestled in, my exhaustion fully took over, and my thoughts faded into a peaceful, dreamless sleep.

 Chapter: 8 Status Screen?

    As sleep took over, I found myself drifting into a dream.

    I expected it to be the same as always¡ªthe caf¨¦. That damn caf¨¦. Ever since I got reincarnated, it was the only dream I ever had. The same wooden tables, the scent of coffee in the air, the dull hum of an unseen city outside. It was almost comforting in its consistency.

    But this time¡­ it was different.

    There was no caf¨¦. No scent of coffee. No city hum.

    Just a vast, empty white space.

    And me¡ªstanding there. In my human body.

    ¡°¡­Okay, what the hell?¡±

    I instinctively tried to cover myself, but there was no one else here. Just me and the endless whiteness stretching in all directions. The usual warmth of the caf¨¦ was gone, replaced by an eerie stillness.

    Something was off.

    This wasn¡¯t like my usual dreams. It felt¡­ clearer. More real.

    I turned around¡ªand froze.

    There, in the middle of this endless white void, was something that had no business being here.

    A mound.

    It wasn¡¯t particularly large, maybe the size of a small car, but what made it unsettling were the cracks running along its surface. Jagged, uneven, like something inside had been trying to break free.

    And from those cracks¡­ something was seeping out.

    A strange, hazy gas curled into the air, swirling unnaturally as if it had a will of its own. It wasn¡¯t thick, but it shimmered in a way that made my skin crawl, like heatwaves rising off asphalt.

    This wasn¡¯t normal.

    ¡°Okay seriously, What the hell¡­?¡±

    My voice barely came out as a whisper.

    Something about this mound felt familiar, yet completely foreign. Like I should know what it was, but the knowledge was just out of reach.

    As my fingers brushed against the strange gas, the world around me shifted.

    The white void darkened, like ink spilling into water. Shadows swallowed everything, leaving only an eerie, empty blackness.

    Then¡ªimages

    [Current Skills Unveiled]

    Bristles

    Spines

    Silk Production

    Psychic

    The information settled in front of me like it had always been there, yet it felt new. As if something had deliberately hidden it from me until now.

    "...What is this place?"

    No answer came.

    Well, obviously there''s no one would come in this vast of nothingness isn''t it? Especially when it''s your own dream.

    Then it clicked.

    These were my abilities. Everything I had so far.

    Then¡­ is this mound thingy?

    A reflection of some sort?

    The cracked mound pulsed slightly, more gas leaking from its fractures. I couldn''t tell if it was alive or just¡­ there. But it felt significant. It feels like brimming with.. life, my life.

    I stepped closer, hesitating. If this was some kind of representation of my life, then what did the cracks mean? Something broken? Something incomplete?

    I thought harder.

    The closest thing I could come up with was that the gas¡­ was me. Or at least, something like my life essence.

    It was leaking out from the cracks. That didn¡¯t seem good.

    I moved my hand away, and suddenly¡ª

    White.

    The dark scene faded. The images of my abilities disappeared. Everything returned to the blank, empty space from before.

    I looked around, half-expecting something else to happen. But nothing did. It was just me, alone again.

    Huh, maybe this is something normal.

    If this was part of my instincts or something all moths had, then maybe Mother would know. I made a mental note to ask her later.

    But for now¡­ I was curious.

    I reached out to the gas again.

    Just like before, the moment my hand touched it¡ª

    Darkness.

    The white void vanished, and the images returned. My bristles. My spines. My silk. My psychic.

    But was that all?

    I focused harder, trying to see if there was more.

    Lunar Ascension.

    An image of moonlight bathed in a soft, radiant aura appeared before me.

    Moonlight? In a dungeon?

    Yeah, that makes sense. I rolled my eyes.

    Still, this one was different. The other abilities felt real, like they were a part of me. This one¡­ it felt incomplete. Locked away.

    I reached out to it¡ª

    But nothing happened.

    No new information, no instinctive understanding like with the others. Just the glowing moonlight, out of reach.

    Curious, I tried something different.

    This time, I placed my left hand on one of the images¡ªmy Bristles¡ªwhile keeping my right hand on the strange gas.

    Immediately, a rush of sensations flooded my mind.

    I felt the air shifting, the faintest vibrations traveling through it. It was like I could see without my eyes, sensing even the smallest movement. An image flashed¡ªme, dodging an attack before it even landed, reacting purely on instinct.

    Then it shifted. The bristles stiffened, standing on end like tiny spears. Another image: me lunging forward, brushing against an enemy, my bristles piercing weak spots in their armor. Defense and offense, all in one.

    I pulled my hand back, exhaling sharply.

    Okay¡­ that was new.

    I tried again.

    This time, I placed my hand on Spines.

    Another rush¡ªthis one sharper, heavier.

    I saw myself curled up, spines interlocking like a shield as something slammed into me. The impact barely fazed me. Then, another image¡ªme ramming into an enemy, my spines puncturing their body, leaving deep wounds.

    A weapon.

    A defense.

    It was all instinctual, as if my body already knew how to fight¡ªI just had to remember. So when I touches them it shows me how to use that skill, like a tutorial video¡ªhandy.

    Yet, when I reached out to Lunar Ascension again¡­ nothing.

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    It remained just out of reach.

    I frowned. Maybe I need to actually see the moon¡­ or at least moonlight?

    Great. Guess I¡¯ll just go drape myself in flowing robes and bask under the moonlight like some tragic maiden of the night.

    That would mean leaving this dungeon. Or I just have to find an area in this dungeon that somehow have moonlights which not very likely gonna happen.

    I crossed my arms, deep in thought. So far, everything I had unlocked was instinctive, things my body already knew how to do. But this Lunar Ascension¡ªit felt different, like it needed something external to activate.

    I groaned. Great. Another mystery to solve.

    If I really needed to be outside to understand this ability, then at some point, I¡¯d have to find a way out of this dungeon or whatever this place was. But that wasn¡¯t happening anytime soon. For now, I had other things to focus on¡ªlike surviving.

    With a sigh, I pulled my hand away from the strange gas once more. The darkness faded, and the endless white void returned.

    Alright, how do I get out of this?

    I had no idea how I even got here in the first place, so leaving was another issue entirely. Maybe¡­ if I just closed my eyes and willed myself to wake up?

    I shut my eyes and focused. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.

    Then¡ª

    A shift. A sensation like falling¡ª

    And then I was awake. Huh it was that easy.

    The first thing I saw was Goldy¡¯s big, round face staring at me, way too close for comfort.

    ¡°Ah¡ª¡± I flinched back instinctively. ¡°What the hell, Goldy?¡±

    Goldy tilted her head, antennae twitching. ¡°You were making weird faces in your sleep. Did you have a nightmare?¡±

    I blinked, still processing everything. ¡°Something like that¡­¡±

    I blinked at Goldy, still groggy from waking up. Since when do caterpillars even have faces?

    The thought made me snort internally. Sure, they had eyes, mandibles, and all that, but calling it a face like a human¡¯s? That was just weird.

    Shaking off the lingering haze of sleep, I stretched my tiny legs. ¡°It wasn¡¯t a nightmare, just¡­ something strange. I¡¯ll figure it out later.¡±

    Goldy wiggled slightly, her golden body shimmering under the dim dungeon light. Weird dreams, huh? Maybe you¡¯re evolving soon! she said, her telepathic voice still carrying that childlike excitement.

    I paused. Evolving¡­? That dream did show something about my abilities. Maybe Goldy had a point.

    Shifting slightly on my silk bedding, I still wasn¡¯t quite used to how my body felt after waking up. I turned to Goldy, who was still staring at me with that weirdly expressive caterpillar face.

    ¡°Hey, Goldy,¡± I started, tone curious but casual. ¡°I had this dream¡­ but it wasn¡¯t the usual one. It was a white space, completely empty, except for this weird gas floating around. And when I touched it, I saw stuff¡ªlike my own abilities. Ever had something like that?¡±.

    Goldy perked up, wiggling in excitement. Oh! You had that dream! she replied through our psychic link. Yeah, yeah, everyone gets it! It¡¯s like a dream that tells you how strong you are.

    I narrowed my eyes. ¡°That¡¯s it? No fancy explanation? No deep mystical meaning?¡±.

    Goldy shrugged¡ªor at least, felt like she did through the link. Dunno the details. It just happens! Some get it early, some later. I had mine a while ago. It¡¯s useful, right?

    I hummed in thought. ¡°I mean, yeah, it was kind of helpful¡­ but it felt weirdly important. Like there¡¯s more to it.¡±

    Maybe there is? Or maybe you just think too much, Goldy teased. Anyway, what¡¯d you see?

    I smirked. ¡°That I¡¯m already way cooler than you.¡±

    Goldy gasped dramatically. Rude!

    I could feel the pout through our psychic link.

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know much about it,¡± she admitted. But Mother probably does! If you¡¯re really that curious, you should ask her.

    I sighed. ¡°Figures. Everything weird seems to go back to her one way or another.¡±

    Goldy wiggled in agreement. Well, she is the Queen. She knows a lot. Oh! Maybe it means you¡¯re gonna evolve into something cool!

    I snorted. ¡°Pfft, you wish I¡¯d evolve first.¡±

    Goldy gasped. Excuse you! I am a Royal Child, thank you very much! I¡¯ll definitely evolve before you! Besides, I¡¯ve technically already evolved twice!

    I rolled my eyes. ¡°Yeah, yeah, keep telling yourself that, I''m catch up sooner or later. Anyway, I¡¯ll ask Mother. No point overthinking it now.¡±

    With that I crawled my way to Mother''s area, feeling the familiar roughness of the dungeon floor beneath me. Goldy trailed behind, but even without looking, I could feel her impatience pressing against me like an annoying itch.

    "Can you be patient for once?" I sighed, flicking my bristles slightly.

    "I am being patient!" Goldy huffed through the psychic link. "You¡¯re just slow!"

    I scoffed. "You¡¯re the older one here. Shouldn¡¯t you be the patient and wise one?"

    Goldy wiggled, which I was pretty sure was the caterpillar version of puffing up. "I am wise! I just don¡¯t like waiting!"

    I rolled my eyes and kept moving. Sometimes, I wondered who the real big sister was here.

    Just as we were about to reach Mother, a powerful thud shook the ground in front of us. A halberd struck deep into the earth, its gleaming blade reflecting the dim dungeon light.

    I froze. Goldy tensed beside me.

    Standing before us, wings partially spread and golden chitin gleaming like polished armor, was him¡ªthe King Mothkin. Our father.

    His presence was suffocating. The sheer weight of his aura pressed down on us like an unseen force, making my bristles stand on end.

    "What business do you have with the Queen?" his voice resonated through the air, deep and commanding. His compound eyes locked onto us, unreadable yet piercing.

    Goldy, despite her usual confidence, hesitated. I could feel her unease through our link.

    I swallowed and spoke up. "I need to ask Mother something important."

    His grip on the halberd didn¡¯t loosen. "Important?" he echoed, his gaze scrutinizing me.

    I held my ground. "Yes. About a dream."

    The King Mothkin studied us for a long moment, his gaze unwavering. Then, with a slow, deliberate movement, he pulled his halberd from the ground and stepped aside.

    "Very well. You may pass."

    Goldy let out a small breath of relief beside me, but I knew better than to relax just yet.

    Before we could move, his wings flared slightly, and his presence grew heavier. A dark, looming shadow stretched over us as his voice dropped into something even colder.

    "But know this¡ª" he said, his tone sharp as a blade, "if you try anything foolish in the Queen¡¯s presence, I will not hesitate to strike you down myself."

    A chill ran down my spine. There was no doubt in my mind¡ªhe meant every word.

    I forced myself to nod. "Understood."

    Goldy stiffened but managed a quick, "Got it, Father."

    With that, we moved past him, his piercing gaze lingering on our backs as we approached Mother.

    As we moved past him, Goldy let out a small shudder. "That was scary," she admitted through our psychic link.

    I couldn''t help but snort. "Yeah, real scary. He¡¯s got the whole ¡®edgy warrior¡¯ thing going on. I bet he spends his free time brooding on the edge of a cliff, muttering about power and destiny."

    Goldy tilted her head. "I don¡¯t really get what you mean, but... I agree?"

    Well of course you do Goldy.

    As we finally reached Mother''s area, we were met with a massive, Huge tent-like structure woven from shimmering golden silk. The way it draped down from the ceiling and coiled elegantly around the walls made it look almost regal¡ªfitting for a queen.

    Just as I was taking it all in, the entrance shifted, and Mother emerged, her radiant form as imposing as ever. Her large wings fluttered slightly, sending a faint breeze through the space.

    "Ah, my children," she greeted us, her voice smooth yet commanding. "What brings you here?"

    ¡°I have some questions,¡± I said, getting straight to the point. ¡°Something about the white space thingy in my dream.¡±

    Mother¡¯s antennae twitched slightly as she gave a knowing nod. ¡°Ah, that thing.¡± Her tone was calm, as if she had explained this countless times before. ¡°It has many names, but most commonly, it is known as Lucid Reflection or The Realm of Reflection.¡±

    She folded her wings slightly as she continued, ¡°It is a dream where one can self-evaluate their skills and abilities. It also serves as an indicator of your evolution progress.¡±

    I blinked. So, basically, it was like a status screen but in dream form? Convenient.

    ¡°It was once created by a god¡ªAritheon, the god of statistics and calculations¡ªthousands of years ago.¡±

    I almost choked on nothing. The god of what now?

    Statistics and Calculations? That¡¯s got to be the most boring ass sounding god I¡¯ve ever heard of. What¡¯s next? The god of bookkeeping? Divine Lord of Spreadsheets?

    Mother continued, unaware of my internal commentary. ¡°Back then, people had to learn a spell and cast it in order for Lucid Reflection to appear in their dreams. However, because it was cast so frequently, generation after generation, the spell eventually became ingrained in one¡¯s soul. Now, it manifests naturally in dreams.¡±

    She tilted her head slightly before adding, ¡°Of course, if you still learn the spell and cast it manually, you can enter Lucid Reflection at will¡­ but you¡¯ll become unconscious immediately, which is why it only activates when you¡¯re asleep.¡±

    Huh. So, self-evaluation magic became so routine that it turned into a biological feature. That¡¯s¡­ actually kind of cool.

    "Thanks for explaining, Mother."

    "No problem," she replied smoothly, but then her tone shifted slightly. "Now then, have you made your decision yet?"

    I blinked. "Decision?"

    "Whether you will go your own way or follow your royal brood," she clarified, glancing at Goldy.

    Ah. That. Right.

    I hadn''t really thought too hard about it since earlier, but... for now, the easiest path was clear.

    "I''ll stick with Goldy for now," I said. "Not forever or anything, just... for now."

    Goldy practically radiated excitement through the psychic link, like a kid who just found out they were getting ice cream.

    "Very well then," Mother said with a nod before turning her attention to Goldy. "And you? Do you wish to stay within the colony, or will you lead your own brood?"

    Goldy perked up at the question, practically beaming through the psychic link. "I wanna lead my own brood!" she declared with enthusiasm. "That way, I can grow faster and stronger!"

    I wasn¡¯t surprised. If anything, this was the most Goldy answer possible. The little caterpillar might act like a grade-schooler, but she had ambitions the size of a dragon¡ªand the management style of a black company CEO with a caffeine addiction. If she had a tiny suit and a clipboard, we¡¯d all be doomed.

    Mother¡¯s tone grew serious, as if the weight of her words was something to be taken to heart. "Very well, Royal Child," she said, addressing Goldy. "I respect your decision." She turned her gaze back to both of us, her voice lowering as she spoke again. "However, heed this warning¡ªthis Labyrinth may hold countless monsters, but they are predictable. You can avoid them if you judge their strength well enough. What you must fear are the unpredictable elements."

    I raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. What could she mean by that? Then she said it, and it hit me with a chill I hadn¡¯t expected.

    ¡°Humans.¡±

    I froze for a moment, as the reality of her words settled in. Humans. They existed after all, and they were far from friendly to our kind. The way she described them made me shudder¡ªhunting, kidnapping, and killing us for our precious silk. My silk. The royal silk that seemed so prized in the world outside.

    ¡°If you see one, run. If they can be outnumbered, kill them.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help but think of the humans I¡¯d heard of back in my old life. But to think they were out there, hunting creatures like us... It was hard to even wrap my head around the idea. But Goldy was right. This world had its own dangers, and if humans were as dangerous as Mother said, then survival came first. It was as simple as that.

    I nodded to myself, making a silent vow to stay cautious. Humans were unpredictable, and if I had to fight to protect myself, I would.

    I couldn''t help but chuckle inwardly at the irony of it all. The way Mother spoke about humans, it was as if she had some deep-seated hatred for them. And honestly, who could blame her? After all, if they were as dangerous as she said, I¡¯d want to be wary of them too. Still, I made sure to keep that part of my thoughts to myself. The last thing I needed was Mother finding out I was once a human.

    Good thing I didn¡¯t say anything about that past life of mine, I mused, suppressing the urge to snicker. If she knew, it would probably be the last time I was allowed anywhere near her. Or at least, that¡¯s how I imagined it going.

    For now, it was better to let her think of me as just another one of her brood. After all, I didn¡¯t exactly have a choice in this new life.

    "Wait, hold on¡ªLabyrinth?" I cut in before Mother could move on to another topic. "You mean to tell me we¡¯re actually inside a giant dungeon this whole time?"

    Mother turned her gaze toward me, her antennae twitching slightly. "That is correct. This place is known as the Great Labyrinth of Syrrath. We are currently in the 3rd Zone, The Glowing Cave."

    I blinked. "Third Zone? So, how many zones are there?"

    "There are 13 primary layers, meaning 13 major zones," she explained. "However, there are also extra zones, hidden areas, and secret zones scattered throughout the labyrinth. Some are well-documented, while others remain undiscovered."

    I took a moment to process that. "Huh. So basically, this place is even bigger than I thought¡­" I muttered, rubbing my head with one of my little stubby legs. A massive underground death maze filled with monsters? Great. Just great.

    "Indeed," Mother continued. "And the deeper one goes, the more dangerous it becomes. Only the strong can survive beyond the upper zones."

    I sighed. "Of course it works like that," I grumbled. Wouldn¡¯t be a proper death trap if it didn¡¯t have a difficulty spike.

    Mother continued, "I usually linger around the 5th to 6th Zone, but since it¡¯s my laying cycle, I need to move to the upper zones. I generally moves between the 3rd and 6th Zones, as I have established territories for our colony in those areas."

    I processed that for a moment. "So basically, this entire dungeon is your personal backyard?"

    "In a way, yes," she responded.

    "The 3rd Zone, the Glowing Cave, is where monsters are weak enough for a group of hatchlings to fend for themselves. The 4th Zone, the Dark Cave, is usually a transitional place for caterpillars evolving to the cocoon stage, and its environment is also optimal for cocoons¡ªits complete darkness enhances spatial senses, making it an ideal place to develop our latent psychic abilities.

    The 5th Zone, the Green Abyss, is where moths and Mothkin further cultivate their strength and usually serves as the transitional stage for cocoons into moths and Mothkin.Then the 6th Zone, the Sunken Ruins, is where the peak challenge themselves. It¡¯s where the strongest moths and Mothkin push their limits. I go there from time to time for a cleaning session for myself."

    I nodded along, taking mental notes. "So, third for hatchlings, fourth for cocooning, fifth for training¡­ Got it."

    Then her last words finally sank in.

    Wait. Back up.

    "Hold on," I said, giving her a flat look. "Did you just casually drop ¡®cleaning session¡¯ in the same breath as talking about a death gauntlet for overachievers?"

    Mother simply nodded, entirely unbothered.

    I could only stare.

    Of course she did. Because why wouldn¡¯t the strongest being in the colony consider a life-threatening endurance test to be the equivalent of a spa day? Meanwhile, the rest of us were out here struggling to get past level one.

    My mind, against my will, conjured the image of Mother in a bath towel, lounging in a hot spring like some kind of elegant noblewoman¡ªexcept, y¡¯know, still a massive, terrifying moth. Did she¡­ use her own wings as a loofah?

    I shook the thought away before it could settle in too deep.

    "Right. Okay. Makes total sense," I said, voice laced with sarcasm. "The Sunken Ruins¡ªwhere the strongest go to prove themselves or where Mother goes to exfoliate. Love that for us."

    Then she casually added, "As for my own strength, I am strong enough to navigate the 7th and 8th Zones without issue, struggles on 9th floor and might die on 10th floor."

    I nearly choked on nothing. Wait, what?

    So she¡¯s just been babying us in the 3rd to 6th Zones while she¡¯s actually powerful enough to roam way deeper? Great. Just great. I had a feeling that if she really wanted, she could squash everything in these upper zones like an overpowered endgame boss just chilling in the newbie area.

    I tilted my head. "Then, what exactly is in the deeper floors?"

    Mother¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, but there was a brief pause before she answered. "That is something you would be better off not knowing."

    ...Oh. That¡¯s not ominous at all.

    Goldy, ever the curious one, piped up. "But isn¡¯t it good to know what¡¯s ahead so we can prepare?"

    Mother turned her many eyes toward her. "Knowing something does not always mean being prepared for it."

    That sent a small chill down my spine. Okay, so either it''s something so horrible she doesn''t want to talk about it, or she just thinks we''d die the moment we even think about stepping foot down there.

    Goldy, however, wasn¡¯t convinced. "So, you''re not going to tell us anything?"

    Mother simply replied, "No."

    Alright. Message received.

    Some things are better left unknown.

    With that, I figured I was done with my questions¡ªfor now.

    "Thanks for explaining, Mother. I¡¯ll be going now."

    Mother gave a slight nod. "Go on, then. Stay sharp, my childrens."

    Goldy and I turned to leave, and as we stepped out of the golden silk-covered area, I saw our other broodmates waiting for us. Some were idly shifting around, others were chatting through their little psychic links.

    One of them noticed us and called out, "Took you long enough!"

    Goldy puffed up slightly, trying to look important. "We were getting valuable information!"

    I rolled my eyes. Yeah, and also getting threatened by Father.

    I turned to Goldy. "So, what now?"

    Goldy perked up, antennae twitching. "For now, we''ll explore around the 3rd Zone and then press on to the 4th Zone. But before that¡ª" she turned to the rest of our brood. "What do you all think?"

    The response was almost instant.

    "Whatever you decide, Royal Sister!"

    "We¡¯ll follow you, Royal Sister!"

    Goldy seemed satisfied, nodding as if she expected this answer. Of course, she did¡ªshe was our Royal Sister, our leader.

    Meanwhile, I had my own thoughts.

    Pressing deeper meant going farther from the surface, away from the moonlight I might need for my so-called Lunar Ascension. But going to the upper floors meant dealing with the possibility of humans. And from what Mother said, humans were dangerous¡ªhunters of our kind.

    If I wanted to survive, if I wanted to be ready for whatever was up there¡­ then going deeper and getting stronger was the best choice.

    I looked at Goldy. "Alright, then. Let¡¯s press on."

    Goldy grinned. "That¡¯s the spirit!"

    And just like that, our small brood of thirteen set off, deeper into the labyrinth.

    Goldy, beaming with energy, waved her front legs excitedly. "Alright then, let''s go!"

    With that, she turned and began leading the way, her movements full of enthusiasm. The rest of our siblings followed without question, their tiny bodies crawling over the rocky terrain with ease.

    I sighed internally. How does she have so much energy?

    Still, there was no turning back now. With a final glance toward Mother¡¯s golden silk-covered domain, I followed after Goldy, ready to face whatever awaited us in the depths of the labyrinth.

    End of Chapter 8

 Chapter 9: The Glowing Cave

    As we crawled forward, I turned to Goldy and asked, "Hey, that huge space we were in before, when we were riding that flying thing¡ªwhat was that place?"

    Goldy, still leading the way, replied without looking back. "Oh, that? That was the space between the 2nd Zone, the Echoing Hall, and the 3rd Zone. It''s basically the last area of the 2nd Zone that connects to the 3rd Zone."

    I thought back to the vast, open area, its eerie echoes and the strange sense of weightlessness as we rode through the air. "So, we actually went from the 3rd Zone, up to the 2nd Zone, and then back down to a deeper part of the 3rd Zone?"

    Goldy nodded. "Yep! It was a shortcut."

    I blinked. "A shortcut?"

    "Mhm!" Goldy chirped. "If we had gone through the normal path, we would''ve had to fight our way through weaker monsters first. But since we got a ride straight to Mother, we skipped all that and landed in the deeper part of the 3rd Zone."

    I processed that for a moment before sighing. "So basically, we''re in a way more dangerous part of the 3rd Zone than we would''ve been if we''d just walked here normally?"

    Goldy giggled. "That''s right! Monsters here are way stronger."

    I stared at her. "...And that doesn''t concern you?"

    Goldy tilted her head as if I had asked the strangest question in the world. "Why would it? We just have to get stronger too!"

    I sighed. Of course, that was her answer. "Well, I guess there''s no turning back now."

    With that, we pressed on, deeper into the 3rd Zone, where stronger enemies awaited us.

    So all those monsters back in that huge space were supposed to be weaker monsters? Seriously? If those were the weak ones, then what kind of horrors are lurking around here? What, are we going to run into monsters that breathe fire, spit acid, or have some kind of death laser? Great. Just great.

    I swear, this whole "getting stronger" thing better come with some serious perks, or I''m going to file a complaint¡ªwith who, I have no idea.

    As I was lost in my thoughts about fire-breathing, acid-spitting, death-laser-shooting nightmares, one of my siblings suddenly tensed up.

    "Mine own bristles do hum with the whispers of the unseen. A tremor from the abyss, a vibration most delicate yet persistent¡­ something doth draw nigh."

    I blink.

    What?

    Did¡­ did he just say that? Who talks like that? What is he, some kind of Victorian poet? Oh, dear brother verily, I doth perceive a most unsettling disturbance within the aether!

    Before I could voice my thoughts, the whole group, especially Goldy, immediately snapped into a battle stance. I quickly followed suit. Whatever was coming, it wasn¡¯t going to wait for me to finish my internal monologue.

    And then it appeared¡ªa massive, towering snake-like creature, its bioluminescent skin shifting in mesmerizing patterns. It looked like someone had taken a deep-sea jellyfish, stretched it out, and decided, yeah, let¡¯s make this thing a snake.

    I squinted. Great. A glow-in-the-dark death noodle.

    Goldy, ever the leader, stepped forward, her spikes bristling as she readied for battle. ¡°That¡¯s a Lumi Viper! Be careful of its hypnotizing skin!¡±

    Hypnotizing? Oh, fantastic. So not only was it big and probably fast, but it also came with a built-in light show designed to fry our brains. Just my luck.

    The Lumi Viper wasted no time and spat a stream of poison straight at Goldy. She reacted instantly, dodging with a swift, practiced movement, her body a blur as she closed the distance toward the snake.

    At the same time, the three siblings specialized in shooting spines did what they did best¡ªfiring off a barrage of hardened projectiles at the snake. The spines zipped through the air, some striking the Lumi Viper¡¯s glowing body while others missed, clattering onto the cavern floor.

    Well, at least they aren¡¯t just standing around, I thought, watching the fight unfold. Now let¡¯s see if this thing is as tough as it looks.

    Victor, the ever eloquent brother, turned to me with his bristles still faintly trembling.

    "Dear Sister, might I entreat upon thee to partake in the noble fray alongside our esteemed Young Highness? Thy bristles and spines, no doubt, would prove most advantageous in the vanquishing of this most accursed serpent!"

    I blinked. Did he just ask me to jump into close combat in the most roundabout way possible?

    Well, two can play that game.

    "Ah, but of course, my most loquacious kin! How could I ever forsake our radiant Young Highness in her gallant endeavor? Verily, I shall lend my humble mandibles and bristles to this most fateful battle!"

    Victor actually nodded, seeming pleased with my response. Goldy, on the other hand, barely spared us a glance, too focused on the Lumi Viper, which was already recoiling from the earlier spine barrage.

    Alright, enough messing around. Time to get in there. I readied myself and rushed toward the fight.

    Goldy lunged at the Lumi Viper with precision, her spines glinting under the glow of the bioluminescent patterns. As Victor and I rushed in to assist, the rest of our siblings wasted no time positioning themselves strategically¡ªfour flanking from behind, three scaling the ceiling, and the last three continuing their barrage of spines from the rear.

    The Lumi Viper hissed, its shifting colors growing erratic as it recoiled from Goldy''s relentless assault. I could feel the air hum with the vibrations of movement, my bristles picking up every slight shift in the battle.

    Victor, ever the dramatist, called out, "Beware, dear siblings! The wretched serpent shall seek to enthrall thee with its deceitful shimmer!"

    Right. Hypnosis.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    I narrowed my eyes, forcing myself to focus on the movement of its body rather than the mesmerizing patterns rippling across its skin. The last thing I needed was to freeze up mid-fight.

    Goldy dodged another spit of venom, her movements swift and practiced. Meanwhile, the siblings behind the Lumi Viper struck¡ªbiting and clawing at its body, forcing it to coil defensively. The ones on the ceiling prepared their descent, aiming for a synchronized ambush.

    Seeing an opening, I surged forward, bristles twitching, ready to strike. Time to see just how much I can really do.

    I lunged forward, bristles sharp with anticipation, and drove my spine into the Lumi Viper¡¯s side. At the same time, two of my siblings flanked from behind, striking in unison.

    The attack landed¡ªour spines piercing into the viper¡¯s bioluminescent flesh, making it let out a sharp, hissing cry. For a moment, I thought we had it¡ªuntil its body suddenly twisted and flailed violently.

    Oh.

    Before I could react, a powerful swing of its tail sent all three of us flying.

    Well, that¡¯s unfortunate.

    I felt the rush of air as I tumbled backward, then¡ªTHUD. I crashed onto the cold cavern floor, bristles scraping against the rough surface. The impact rattled me for a moment, and I barely had time to register the ringing in my head before¡ª

    "Dear sibling! Art thou still in one piece, or hath the cruel hands of fate delivered thee unto despair?"

    Oh, for the love of Mother.

    I groaned, rolling onto my legs, and turned to see Victor staring at me with deep, dramatic concern, his own bristles twitching with exaggerated worry.

    "Victor, please. I just got thrown, not staged a tragic demise."

    Still, I shook myself off, flexing my spines experimentally. Everything seemed intact. Which meant¡ª

    I snapped my gaze back toward the Lumi Viper. It was still writhing, trying to shake off the pain from our combined assault. Goldy was already moving in again

    I let out a breath. "Alright, Victor. Less theatrics, more fighting. Let¡¯s finish this thing."

    Victor and I steadied ourselves, facing the Lumi Viper as it coiled and shifted. Goldy, usually relentless, hesitated this time, her stance wary.

    The Viper, sensing an opportunity, suddenly flared its bioluminescent scales. The shifting colors pulsed in mesmerizing patterns, an eerie, hypnotic dance of blues and purples.

    I felt something tug at my mind¡ªa heavy, drowsy sensation, like sinking into a warm, endless abyss. My limbs slackened, my focus blurred.

    "Ah¡­ such resplendence, such unearthly allure!" Victor¡¯s voice echoed through the haze, his tone filled with awe. "¡¯Tis as though the very cosmos hath descended upon us, whispering secrets of the eternal! Might this be¡ªnay, surely this must be¡ªthe divine artistry of fate itself!"

    Oh, for Mother¡¯s sake.

    I barely managed to shoot him a glare, my mind sluggishly trying to resist. Not the time for poetry, Victor.

    But¡­ I had to admit, the colors were¡­ quite pretty¡­

    The Lumi Viper seized the moment. In one swift, fluid motion, it lunged at one of our siblings, sinking its fangs deep into their side. A sickening crunch echoed through the cavern. With terrifying strength, the viper flung them against the dungeon wall.

    Another sibling barely had time to react before the serpent struck again¡ªthis time using it''s tail, coiling them, its coils tightening and then launching them through the air like a discarded husk.

    Then it turned to Goldy.

    She stood frozen, eyes locked onto the shifting lights, her usual sharp focus clouded. The viper reared back, ready to strike¡ª

    Fwip!

    A spine shot through the air, striking the viper in the side. It recoiled with a hiss, its hypnotic glow flickering. The spell broke.

    Goldy blinked rapidly, realization dawning as she stumbled back, putting distance between herself and the creature.

    I gasped for breath, the weight of the trance lifting. My mind snapped back into focus, and as I turned to look at our fallen siblings, my gut twisted.

    Not again.

    Victor, beside me, shuddered. His usual dramatic flair was gone, his expression grim.

    We have to end this.

    Enraged, one of our flanking siblings lunged forward, his bristles flaring with a faint, eerie glow. Unlike the others, his spines weren¡¯t just sharp¡ªthey carried venom. With a swift, practiced motion, he drove his venomous spike deep into the Lumi Viper¡¯s side.

    The viper let out a shrill, hissing screech, its glowing patterns flickering erratically as it recoiled. Its body twisted violently, trying to shake him off, but he clung on, pushing the spike deeper.

    Goldy, now fully back to her senses, saw the opening. "Now! While it''s distracted!" she commanded, her voice sharp and clear.

    The rest of us moved without hesitation.

    The siblings clinging to the ceiling took their chance. One by one, they dropped onto the Lumi Viper, their bristles flaring as they stabbed into its bioluminescent scales. The sudden weight and piercing strikes forced the viper to the ground, its long body thrashing violently against the cave floor.

    With a loud, guttural hiss, it coiled in on itself, its shifting patterns flickering like a dying ember. It tried to rise again, but with the venom from our sibling sinking in, the spines digging deeper, and the weight of multiple caterpillars holding it down, it was losing strength fast.

    Goldy didn¡¯t waste a second. "Finish it!" she commanded, her eyes locked onto the struggling creature.

    I wasted no time. With the viper pinned down, its struggles growing weaker, I lunged forward, sinking my mandibles into its glowing flesh. A sharp, bitter taste filled my mouth, but I bit down harder, tearing at the flesh as Victor joined in beside me.

    "Ah, dear sibling, let us bring swift judgment upon this wretched beast!" Victor declared in his usual verbose manner as he sank his own mandibles into the creature¡¯s side.

    The others followed suit, striking with their spines, biting, and tearing into the viper¡¯s thrashing body. It let out a final, agonized hiss, its bioluminescent glow flickering erratically.

    Then Goldy stepped forward. She climbed onto its head, her bristles standing on end. Without hesitation, she drove her mandibles into its eye, biting deep and ripping it apart and she spits it out like it worth damn nothing. The viper''s body spasmed violently, then went still followed by the bioluminescent scales, fading.

    Silence filled the cavern, only broken by the siblings¡¯ heavy breathing. We had won.

    After a moment of silence, I prodded the viper¡¯s motionless body with one of my spines. No reaction. Yeah, it was definitely dead.

    Just as I confirmed it, two of our siblings dragged the fallen ones toward Goldy. The rest of us gathered around them, forming a tight circle.

    Goldy, standing tall despite her wounds, looked over the two still forms. Her bristles twitched as she took a deep breath. ¡°They fought bravely. Their strength carried us through this battle. We will not forget them.¡± She paused, then continued, her tone steady. ¡°And to honor them, we will eat them.¡±

    I almost forgot cannibalism was a thing. Right. We¡¯re bugs. Bugs do that. Still, the human part of me cringed a little. Not that I was about to argue. Food was food, and in this place, survival came first.

    As I watched my siblings tear into the fallen, I just¡­ couldn¡¯t do it. My mandibles twitched, but no matter how much I tried to convince myself, the human part of me still recoiled.

    So I just sat there, silent, as they ate.

    When they were done, Goldy turned toward me. Her glowing eyes studied me for a moment before she spoke. ¡°You didn¡¯t join us.¡±

    I stiffened. I needed an excuse. Something. Anything. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry,¡± I said, lowering my head. ¡°I just¡ª I can¡¯t. Not yet.¡±

    Goldy tilted her head, then let out a soft hum. ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± she said, surprisingly gentle. ¡°You have past life memories, don¡¯t you? Maybe in that life, cannibalism was something frowned upon.¡±

    I blinked. That¡­ was unexpectedly understanding.

    ¡°Yes,¡± I said, relieved she wasn¡¯t pressing the issue.

    As she turned back to the others, I stared at her, a little stunned. For once, she actually acted like an big sister.

    Goldy suddenly perked up, her usual energy returning in full force. ¡°Enough weeping!¡± she declared, waving a bristle-covered limb. ¡°Time to eat that damn snake and get our bellies full!¡±

    I let out a small sigh, shaking off the lingering thoughts. Yeah, I guess brooding over it wouldn¡¯t change anything. Survival was survival.

    ¡°¡­Alright,¡± I said, stepping forward. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡±

    And with that, I finally joined them.

    As I sank my mandibles into the Lumi Viper¡¯s flesh, a strange taste spread across my mouth¡ªsomewhere between bitter herbs and liquid medicines. I grimaced.

    ¡°¡­Tastes weird,¡± I muttered.

    Victor, of course, had to chime in with his usual speech. ¡°Ah, the essence of the labyrinth¡¯s offerings¡ªan intricate blend of nature¡¯s finest toxins and the faintest hint of despair. A meal fit for those who tread the perilous path of survival.¡±

    Goldy shot us both a look. ¡°No complaining,¡± she said flatly, swallowing another chunk. ¡°It¡¯s what we have, and we need to get stronger. So eat.¡±

    I sighed but kept eating. Well, she wasn¡¯t wrong.

    As we continued eating, Goldy suddenly turned to me, her antennae twitching with curiosity.

    "Hey, Nur. Why do you call me ''Goldy''?" she asked, tilting her head. "Most just call me ''Royal Sister'' or ''Your Highness'' and all that, but you never do."

    I swallowed a chunk of viper and shrugged. "It''s too long. I¡¯m not gonna say ''Royal'' this and ''Royal'' that all the time. You¡¯re gold-colored, so... Goldy."

    Goldy blinked, then nodded. "Oh. That makes sense, I guess. Simple enough."

    Then she glanced at Victor, who was still chewing dramatically. "What about him? Why ''Victor''?"

    At that, Victor perked up, his bristles straightening. "Ah, indeed, Most Esteemed Sister! I too have contemplated the origins of this curious appellation thou hast conferred upon me. Pray, enlighten us forthwith!"

    I smirked. "Don''t worry about it. Just something from my past life."

    Victor and Goldy exchanged looks, clearly confused, but I just kept eating. No way I was explaining the Victorian thing.

    As I kept eating, I noticed the other siblings glancing at each other, then at Goldy.

    One of them, a bristle-covered one, hesitantly spoke up. "Uh... so, can we call you Goldy too?"

    "Yeah," another chimed in. "Goldy¡¯s easier to say than ''Royal Sister'' or ''Your Highness'' all the time."

    Goldy blinked, then grinned. "Sure! I don¡¯t mind." She flicked her antennae happily. "Goldy it is!"

    Then, for some reason, they all turned to Victor.

    "And Victor... uh, Victor, right?"

    Victor, as if expecting this grand acknowledgment, straightened himself, his bristles quivering dramatically. "Ah! It pleases me greatly that you all would accept such a noble title! Very well, I shall bear this name with pride!"

    I rolled my eyes. Of course, he would take it like that.

    Then, a few of the siblings turned my way.

    "Uh... what about us?" one of them asked. "Can you name us too?"

    I paused mid-bite. "No."

    They all looked taken aback. "Why not?"

    I sighed. "Because I don¡¯t know you that well yet."

    They looked a little disappointed but didn¡¯t push the issue. Goldy just laughed. "Guess you gotta earn names, huh?"

    I just kept eating. No way I''m naming an entire brood right now.

    Goldy tilted her head. "You¡¯ve been calling us names, but what about you? Do you have a name?"

    The others murmured in agreement, clearly curious. Even Victor, who usually had something overly elaborate to say, simply waited for my answer.

    I hesitated. I did have a name¡ªNur. It was something I instinctively thought of myself as ever since I hatched. But saying it out loud¡­ it felt different.

    After a brief pause, I swallowed my food and nodded. "Yeah. It¡¯s Nur."

    Goldy¡¯s antennae twitched. "Nur, huh?" She repeated it, testing how it sounded. "That¡¯s short. Simple." Then she grinned. "I like it!"

    The others seemed to accept it as well, some repeating it to themselves.

    Victor, of course, had to chime in. "Ah, a name as succinct as it is refined. Fitting for one as sharp-witted as you, dear Sister!"

    I rolled my eyes but let it slide. At least now I wouldn¡¯t be just "Hey" to everyone.

    End of Chapter 9