The forest at night was a realm for hunters. Beneath the silver glow of the moon, every shadow seemed alive, and every rustle whispered of unseen predators. The air carried a damp, earthy scent, a constant reminder of the dangers that lurked within.
High in the branches of a tall, vibrant tree, a hollow hid two white eggs deep within its heart. The tree's thick canopy shielded them from the harsh winds and the rain, while its trunk deterred many predators from climbing. Here, far above the forest floor, life had been waiting patiently to begin.
Crack.
A sharp sound split the silence. One egg trembled, its surface webbed with fine lines. Then another joined it, the shell fracturing as something within pushed its way toward the light.
The shells broke apart. Two tiny white snakes emerged, their scales gleaming like jade. Their bodies were so tiny that most people would have mistaken them for worms, if not for the crystalline of their scales.
One of them blinked and in its gaze was something rare: thought.
I'm finally born.
From the moment his mind had stirred inside the shell, he had known he was different. He had thought, remembered, and understood before taking his first breath. Now, as his eyes found his sibling, he knew at once that the other was not the same. That gaze was empty, guided only by primal instinct.
In his mind, inherited memories unfolded. He was no mere snake. He was a demonic beast of the Ourobouros race. His kind rivaled dragons and phoenixes, their names carved into the annals of the heavens. Dragons were born powerful with their cultivation tied to the purity of their bloodline, while phoenixes possessed an immortal flame from the moment they hatched. The Ourobouros, however, began weak, their bodies as fragile as common hatchlings but they possessed something far greater, the potential to grow without limit.
A hunger dawned at him. His body knew what it needed. He slithered toward the broken shell and bit down.
Warmth spread through him instantly. The shell's essence dense with the life force that had once nourished him surged through his body. Each swallow sent a tingling heat along his spine strengthening muscles and bones.
Ten centimeters, Twelve, Fifteen, Twenty.
By the time the last fragment vanished down his throat, he had reached twenty-five centimeters in length.
So this is growth… but it's too slow.
Among his kind, eating was the safest path to power in the early stages. The more he ate the sooner he could begin true cultivation. He gazed upon his sibling. The other snake lay there, unguarded.
A thought stirred within him.
He opened his mouth wide, revealing tiny but needle-sharp fangs, and struck. His teeth sank into soft flesh, and he wrapped his coils around his brother's body. The other snake jerked, instinctively fighting back, but its movements were clumsy.
The coppery taste of blood filled his mouth, warm and intoxicating. He tightened his coils. The struggle grew weaker… until there was none at all.
Piece by piece, he swallowed his brother whole, his throat expanding to accommodate the meal. Each gulp drew in more life force, flooding his body with strength.
When nothing remained, he curled into himself, his belly swollen and warm. His breathing slowed as he digested, his mind wandering to the memories of his race.
The newborn stage was the most dangerous. Without strength or cultivation, even an ant could threaten his life. He could not act recklessly.
Still, the forest beyond called to him. He could smell it even from here the alluring scents of prey.
Eventually, he uncoiled and slipped from the hollow, his body sliding smoothly along the bark.
The world opened before him.
The forest floor was a living sea of shadows, leaves, and moonlight. Each step brought him a flood of scents: the sweet aroma of blooming flowers, the insects, the faint blood. But one scent stood out above all, Frogs.
Instinct sharpened his focus. Snakes had their own natural talents, but for a legendary species like him, those senses were heightened beyond normal limits.
He crawled silently toward the source. Before long, he reached a pond. The air buzzed with life. Insects hovered over the water. Fat frogs squatted among the reeds.
Perfect.
His body lowered, every muscle ready to strike. This place would feed him. This place would make him grow.
A faint vibration in the ground made him pause. Something else was here. Something Bigger.
From across the pond, in the shadows of a twisted tree, two golden eyes glimmered.
The Ourobouros's tongue flickered, tasting the air. It was a predator
His instincts screamed at him to retreat, but he decided to take a risk
The night was long, and the forest had room for more than one hunter.