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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: No Time for Worries
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'Worrying won't do me any good.'
I decided that was the end of my despair.
It wasn't because I was more optimistic than others, brushing it off like it was no big deal.
Aemorphs were a battle race with robust life force, but that didn't apply to hatchlings.
We had potential and possibilities in spades, but right now, I was nothing more than a fragile thing that would die if I didn't eat something within the hour.
So I had to hustle before my remaining stamina hit zero.
The place I was in was the interior of a massive metal structure.
I knew full well it was a spaceship—an alloy vessel swimming through the ocean called space.
'Judging by the provisions, it looks like Mega Corp or Star Union.'
Either way, they weren't factions I welcomed.
Looking around, I spotted containers stacked about three times the height of a person. Between the layers of containers, plastic crates came into view.
My sub-organ under my jaw twitched, and a flood of information poured into my brain.
'What a bizarre sense.'
Experiencing the 'Super Sense' directly with my body felt completely different from the minimap-style game mechanic.
It was like smells rang out like sounds, and sounds appeared visually—my senses blending together to convey information. I could detect everything within range all at once.
From my claw tips, I felt the pulsations of the nuclear fusion engines. The sub-organ at the end tingled from the faint scents of phosphorus, carbon, and other elements mixed in the air.
Among the various smells, the sub-organ picked out the presence of food and sent the signal straight to my brain.
My top priority was nutritional intake. Knowing food was nearby was encouraging.
My three pairs of legs scurried busily toward it, claws clicking on the cold metal floor.
Each contact with the grating floor produced a metallic clang-clang.
Navigating the forest of containers, I reached the plastic crates and climbed atop one using my claws. There, I found a lock requiring a password.
'Lucky it's just a code. Let's see.'
I brought my jaw close to the keypad. As the sub-organ wriggled over it, fingerprints embedded on the surface flowed into my mind.
'1234? For real?'
Even in the space age, this level of security. Astonished, I pressed the buttons firmly with my forelegs.
A click echoed from inside the crate as the lock disengaged.
Opening the lid revealed stacks of vacuum-packed calorie bars. I grabbed the top one with my claws.
Ripping the packaging easily, I took a bite. The chewy texture felt like gnawing on an eraser. The game tooltip had said it was designed purely for nutrition, and that checked out.
'Ugh, but at least I'm refueling.'
No taste, but the high calories made energy surge all the way to my tail tip.
As I reached for another, my senses picked something up. My tail shot out like a fired arrow, impaling the unidentified thing.
'A cockroach?'
It was a cockroach skewered on my sharp stinger. It struggled to escape before going limp.
As if compelled, I bit into it. Its carapace shattered against my teeth, juices bursting out. Fat and juicy—clearly well-fed.
I devoured it whole, and a different kind of text window appeared.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Predation Effect activated! Successfully acquired gene essence of 'Wings'. Stolen 'Wings' trait from 'Cockroach'. Apply 'Wings'?
'Oh?'
Getting gene essence this quickly? Pretty lucky.
Gene essence was the alpha and omega of Aemorph operations. The more diverse ones I acquired, the stronger I could evolve.
'Wings, huh.'
In a space-setting game, wings didn't mean much. But this was reality, not a game. Considering my frail larval state, it was more useful than not. Great for gaining air superiority in hunts or escaping.
'Accept.'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Applying trait. ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 'Wings' trait applied successfully.
'Nice.'
I decided to test the wings.
'How do I even move them?'
Unlike legs, wings weren't familiar to humans.
Still, since they were on my back, I tried flexing like the trapezius muscles. It worked—the wings flapped slowly.
'Energy drain is worse than I thought.'
A few flaps made it clear. Flight guzzled energy.
I stopped and peeled open another calorie bar.
'To use these wings properly, I need something more.'
Wings were welcome, but the key ability from cockroaches was something else.
It was essential for smooth, comfortable survival.
'First goal set.'
I chewed thoughtfully on the calorie bar.
First, I had to become a cockroach exterminator.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
I remembered a story from childhood.
A man named Jonah fled God's command, only to be swallowed by a whale. A normal person would have died, but Jonah was blessed and survived three days inside before escaping. After that brush with death, he obeyed God faithfully.
Why bring up an old tale? Because I felt like Jonah in the whale's belly. I was wandering a steel whale's guts in zero gravity, hunting cockroaches.
Stuck to the wall waiting, one passed below me. My tail hooked it like a baited fishing line.
Puk.
Careful yet firm, like a fisherman hauling a net, my tail reeled it in. Sensing its fate, it thrashed desperately.
'Not getting away.'
My sharp teeth sank into its head. My small, keen teeth worked relentlessly, mincing the tough exoskeleton and thick flesh into digestible bits. Only after it was practically pureed did it slide down my throat.
Nutrition-wise, the calorie bar won, but taste? Cockroach all the way. It let me do what I'd never have imagined as a human.
'Sounds crazy, but it kinda tastes like a pupa.'
The kind that calls for soju.
'That's 20. Another dud?'
Old human habit—I picked my teeth with a foreleg and summoned the text window at will.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ ⚡ Race: Unidentified Hostile Space Creature 💨 Status: Hatchling ✨ Goal: Survive 💪 Traits: Super Sense, Wings, Chitinous Shell
The first wings were beginner's luck. Nineteen more down, only one more essence.
'Chitinous Shell isn't bad, but...'
Chitinous Shell greatly boosted defense based on growth level. Useful late-game, but not now.
In near-zero defense hatchling state, a little extra didn't matter. Other abilities were priority.
'Need Robust Life Force, but it's not dropping.'
Robust Life Force was common in insects and plants. Simple effect too.
'Reduces energy use, slows aging.'
In a game without lifespan, it was for concept players. But in reality? Game-changer.
'With Robust Life Force, no constant food obsession.'
Couldn't stay in this cargo hold forever. Vibrations beyond walls, faint footsteps. Each reminded me time was short.
This ship's owners—humanity—were my enemies.
Even without game lore, they wouldn't react well seeing me.
Notice missing cargo, they'd hunt me. Caught? Death or lab rat.
To dodge that grim fate, fulfill evolution ASAP, escape hatchling stage. Expand range beyond cargo hold.
Long story short: Hunt cockroaches diligently to survive.
'Change spots.'
Cockroaches were smart and wary—never returned where kin died. Knew danger lurked. Wasted 30 minutes once, clueless.
'Here goes!'
Bending my eight legs against the wall, I exploded outward.
My body sprang elastically into flight.
Mid-air, wings unfurled from my back. Back muscles tensed like trapezius. Flapping began, lifting my falling body upward.
A desert spider monster flapping wings? Heart patients might faint.
Even flying, eyes and sub-organ scanned for cockroaches.
'At this point, honorary Aemorph.'
Lost in silly thoughts, I detected two: one on wall, one on crate.
Targeted the closer wall one first. Adjusted wing angle, body turning toward it.
It was oblivious. I snatched it like an eagle grabbing fish with forelegs.
Before it slipped claws, shoved it in my mouth. Exoskeleton like polished shoe cracked; guts and juices sprayed from side.
One left—I kept it in mouth, eyed next.
'Damn.'
The floor one spotted me, fled under crate.
Its tiny legs headed for floor seam. If it slipped alloy plates, hunt over.
'Can't let it!'
Pushed off wall with four legs for thrust, arrowed toward it. Antennae and head already in gap.
As hindquarters showed, I crashed down. Impact on unforgiving metal shot pain everywhere, but focus stayed on tail.
Tail lashed like viper striking. Cut air, stinger pierced plate hole.
It panicked, tried fleeing—but brain split by stinger.
'Whew.'
Narrowly got both. Tail elegantly retracted, trophy dangling proudly.
Finished mouth one, then tail catch. Near end, awaited message appeared.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Predation Effect activated! Successfully acquired gene essence of 'Robust Life Force'. Stolen 'Robust Life Force' trait from 'Cockroach'. Apply 'Robust Life Force'?
'Of course.'
A qualitatively different vitality surged through me.
Skinny legs bulked with muscle; chitinous shell on back and belly gleamed better.
Now it begins.
The cargo hold—vast compared to me, but tiny fraction of ship.
Time to break out of the world where I took my first steps.