Deep within a dim cavern, illuminated only by faint streams of light seeping through cracks above, rested a lone egg. Its shell was pale white, patterned with winding black lines that resembled veins of obsidian. It lay upon a patch of moss and grass, as if nature itself had carefully chosen this spot for it.
Without warning, the egg trembled. A faint crack echoed through the cave as it shifted, rolling slightly before striking against the stone wall. The sound repeated, crack, crack, until a small claw pushed its way through the shell. The movements grew more frantic, as though the creature inside could no longer wait to be born.
Fragments of the shell splintered outward. Each strike widened the cracks, scattering shards across the moss until, at last, the egg burst open. From within, a small figure tumbled free, landing unsteadily on the grass.
What emerged was a lizard-like creature, its scales as dark as midnight. Its body was small and fragile, yet sleek in shape, with a long pointed tail that twitched instinctively. From its shoulders extended a pair of underdeveloped wings, bony and claw-tipped structures that doubled as forelimbs.
"…What the hell!?"
The newborn screeched, or at least tried to, before immediately toppling over with a thud, his head smacking against the floor. His voice came out more like a squeaky growl than a proper roar, but the intent was there.
Groaning, he forced himself up and glanced at his limb in disbelief. Is this… a claw? Then, twisting his neck, he noticed the twitching, wing-like forelimbs in front of him. Wait, are those wings? But… where are my arms!?
"Hold up. I only have two legs? And my arms are wings!? No way, don't tell me…"
Recognition hit him like a hammer.
"I get it now. I'm a wyvern!? No, wait, more like a baby wyvern!?"
For a moment, excitement welled up inside him. The very word wyvern carried weight, the kind of aerial predator that ruled the skies. But then reality set in, and his wings stiffened in dread.
"No, no, no, this isn't something to celebrate! I actually got reincarnated… and this definitely isn't my old world. I don't remember pterodactyl-looking lizards roaming around freely, at least not in public. Unless… unless this is some Jurassic Park setting!?"
He froze, his thoughts spiralling between awe and despair.
"This… this is really some protagonist-type shit."
His words echoed faintly against the cavern walls. Despite the panic in his flailing movements, there was also a spark of thrill.
He couldn't help it. Deep down, he really felt like he was the chosen one.
After all, back in his old life he had devoured isekai stories, novels, manga, anime, even endless fanfictions. Half for entertainment, half just to imagine what it would be like if he were thrown into another world. He had laughed at self-inserts, judged other people's choices, and daydreamed about what he would do differently.
And now… here he was.
"Grrrrrr…"
The sound rumbled faintly from his belly, breaking his reflection. He twitched his wings in annoyance.
"…I'm hungry."
Instinct told him he needed to eat something, and soon. But what?
I can't just waltz out of this cave… who knows what kind of monsters are waiting outside? And yet… I can't exactly starve either.
Thinking that, he tried to stand up. The attempt ended in another stumble, his new body refusing to cooperate. Still, after a few clumsy falls, he managed to steady himself. Standing on two legs wasn't entirely foreign. His old life had prepared him for that much, at least.
His eyes swept the cavern floor in search of food, but the dim light revealed nothing. No prey. No scraps. Not even a sign that his so-called "parents" had left anything behind.
He sighed, then turned his gaze toward the patch of grass beneath him. His nose twitched at the faint earthy scent.
"…Nope."
Instead, his eyes settled on something else, the shattered fragments of the egg he had just crawled out of.
Wait a sec… I've read this in tons of fanfictions. The MC always eats their eggshells first. Supposedly it's full of nutrients and helps newborn monsters grow.
He gulped nervously, staring at the jagged pieces.
"…Should I really try it? …Well, it's not like I have any other option."
With that resigned thought, he shuffled forward and dragged himself to the broken pieces. He stared at it for several seconds, trying to convince himself this was perfectly normal. Finally, he opened his mouth and chomped down.
Crunch!
The shell shattered between his teeth, sharp edges breaking into powdery flakes as he swallowed a piece.
Crunch, crunch, crunch…
His doubtful expression shifted to surprise.
"…Huh? This… isn't bad at all."
Another bite. And another.
"Wait, this is actually good! I don't even know what to compare it to, but it's crunchy, savoury, and somehow satisfying. Like… some weird mix between roasted nuts and crackers, but better."
Before long, he was devouring the fragments one after another, his tiny tail swishing unconsciously behind him with every bite.
By the time nearly a tenth of the shell had vanished into his stomach, the reincarnator finally paused.
"I… I'm full."
A heavy drowsiness washed over him, his eyelids growing heavier with each passing moment. No matter how hard he tried to resist, his vision blurred as sleep clawed at him.
Still, he muttered one last lingering thought.
"…Not that I noticed before, but… the shell I came out of… it's way bigger than me. Am I… underdeveloped? Or is this… normal…?"
His voice trailed off, swallowed by the silence of the cave, and he drifted into sleep.
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Basic /Racial/ Intrinsic Skills he should be born with