There were moments in life when thinking was important.
This...
...wasn't one of them.
"RUN! RUN! RUN!"
Ethan shot through the narrow tunnel beneath the tangled tree roots, his six tiny legs moving faster than he thought possible. Dirt flew behind him as the thunderous scraping of gigantic spider legs echoed from the entrance.
CRAAAACK!
The hunting spider tore apart the rotten acorn that had served as Ethan's shelter.
Chunks of wood rained into the tunnel.
"...It really has commitment issues!"
The tunnel shook violently.
Tiny pebbles bounced around him.
If that monster managed to squeeze inside—
No.
He didn't even want to imagine it.
Survival Instinct Activated
Danger Level: Extreme
Recommendation: Continue Running.
"I wasn't planning to stop!"
The tunnel twisted sharply.
Roots intertwined overhead like the ribs of some ancient beast.
It grew darker.
Cooler.
The sounds of the spider became muffled.
Then...
Silence.
Ethan didn't slow down.
Not until his legs finally refused to cooperate.
He collapsed beside a smooth stone, panting.
"..."
"...Am..."
"...Am I alive?"
Status
HP: 15/15
Stamina: 2/20
"Oh."
"So that's what almost dying feels like."
Correction.
"You are still approximately thirty-seven 'almost dying' experiences away from actual death."
"..."
"Iris."
"Yes?"
"I liked you better when I thought you were just a floating menu."
"I have recorded your feedback."
"...Did you?"
"No."
Ethan groaned.
"I'm being bullied by customer support."
For the first time since waking up, he actually looked around.
The tunnel wasn't natural.
The walls were strangely smooth.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Tiny glowing blue crystals jutted from the dirt, filling the passage with a soft light.
Strands of luminous moss covered the ceiling.
Water trickled somewhere deeper inside.
"...This place is actually..."
Beautiful.
In a strange way.
The roots looked like giant wooden pillars supporting an underground cathedral.
If he ignored the fact that almost everything in this world wanted to eat him...
...it wasn't so bad.
A tiny blue butterfly drifted past.
Ethan smiled.
"Finally."
"Something that isn't trying to murder me."
The butterfly landed on a nearby mushroom.
The mushroom suddenly opened.
Rows of needle-like teeth unfolded from underneath its cap.
CHOMP!
The butterfly disappeared.
"..."
"..."
"...I stand corrected."
New Monster Recorded
Snapcap Mushroom
Level: 4
Classification: Carnivorous Plant
Threat: Moderate
"...Plants."
"Even the plants."
A quiet chime echoed.
Appraisal Proficiency Increased
Lv.1 → Lv.2
"Oh."
"So I level skills by using them?"
Correct.
"That's actually useful."
"Thank you."
"...Don't get used to compliments."
A tiny pebble rolled across the ground.
Ethan froze.
Something was nearby.
Not the spider.
Smaller.
Much smaller.
A green caterpillar slowly crawled around the corner.
It stopped.
The two creatures stared at one another.
"..."
"..."
The caterpillar tilted its head.
Ethan tilted his.
"...Hi?"
Appraisal
Leaf Caterpillar
Level: 1
Temperament: Timid
Skills:
• Leaf Camouflage
Threat Assessment:
Very Low.
"Oh."
"You're harmless."
The caterpillar happily continued chewing on a leaf.
"...Lucky."
Ethan sighed.
"I wish my biggest concern was lunch."
His own stomach rumbled.
Actually...
Not rumbled.
His entire body felt strangely empty.
Warning
Energy Levels Low.
Consume Biomatter.
"...Biomatter?"
"Food."
"Oh."
"Why didn't you just say food?"
"I assumed 'biomatter' sounded more professional."
"It sounded like I was about to become a scientist."
Ethan looked around.
"So..."
"What exactly does an ant eat?"
"Almost anything."
"..."
"...Seriously?"
"Dead insects."
"Seeds."
"Fungi."
"Fruit."
"Other ants."
Ethan immediately interrupted.
"We're skipping that last one."
"Noted."
His eyes wandered across the tunnel.
Then he noticed it.
A tiny beetle.
Lying upside down.
Not moving.
"..."
"...Is..."
"...Is it dead?"
Appraisal
Rot Beetle
Level: 1
Status:
Dead
Cause of Death:
Unknown
Suitable for Consumption.
"..."
"No."
Energy Levels Critical.
"I know!"
Recommendation: Eat the beetle.
"I don't want to eat a random dead bug!"
Counterargument.
"You are a bug."
"..."
"...That's racist."
"There is only one insect species present."
"...Fair point."
Ethan slowly approached the beetle.
"This is..."
"So gross."
He poked it.
Nothing happened.
He looked away.
Opened his mandibles.
"...Mom."
"I'm sorry."
Crunch.
...
"..."
He stopped chewing.
"..."
"...Wait."
"That's..."
"...not bad?"
It tasted oddly like roasted nuts mixed with mushrooms.
"I hate that I don't hate this."
Devour Activated
Consumed:
Rot Beetle
Evolution Energy +3
Trait Absorption Attempt...
...
Failed.
Experience Gained.
+18 EXP
LEVEL UP!
Level 1 → Level 2
A warm sensation flowed through Ethan's tiny body.
His legs felt stronger.
His mandibles heavier.
His exhaustion vanished almost instantly.
Stat Increase
Strength +1
Agility +1
Defense +1
Stamina Restored
HP Restored
"..."
"...That..."
"Actually felt amazing."
"Congratulations."
"You are now approximately two percent less pathetic."
"...Could you celebrate normally?"
"I am celebrating."
"..."
"...You need friends."
Before Iris could respond—
A deafening roar shook the underground tunnels.
Not from behind.
Not ahead.
Above.
Dust poured from the ceiling.
The ground trembled.
The peaceful caterpillar instantly curled into a ball.
Even the carnivorous mushroom closed its mouth.
Everything...
Stopped moving.
Ethan's instincts screamed louder than ever before.
Warning
High-Rank Monster Detected.
Identity...
Locked.
Please increase your level to access this information.
"..."
"...Locked?"
"Correct."
"So you know what it is?"
"Correct."
"And you won't tell me?"
"Correct."
Ethan stared at the glowing blue screen.
"..."
"Iris."
"...You're the worst guide ever."
"I have added your opinion to today's feedback log."
"...You actually have one?"
"No."
The roar echoed a second time.
This time...
It was followed by dozens of smaller screams.
Monster screams.
Something...
Was hunting.
And judging by the fear in every living creature around him...
It wasn't hunting for food.
It was hunting for fun.
Ethan slowly looked deeper into the tunnel.
"..."
"I have a really bad feeling about this."
Quest Generated
The First Night
Objective: Survive until sunrise.
Reward:
100 EXP
Basic Map (Unlocked)
??? (Bonus Reward)
Failure: Death.
Ethan swallowed.
"..."
"...Of course."
He looked into the endless darkness ahead, took a deep breath, and adjusted his stance.
"Well..."
"If I'm going to survive..."
"I guess I'd better start acting less like prey."
With that, the tiny carpenter ant took his first deliberate steps into the unknown, unaware that the forest had already begun to notice the birth of something extraordinary.