Humans

The darkness around me doesn't feel as intimidating as it used to. It's become familiar, almost like the comforting glow of a computer screen during a late-night gaming session. The last chapter of my life saw some interesting developments—evolution. Just like hitting a new level in a game, it's satisfying in a way I didn't expect. I've gone from a basic, low-tier worm to something new: a [Parasite Worm] with a skill set that's a little more complex and a lot more intriguing.

As I move through the tunnels, I find myself thinking about how different things are now compared to my life on Earth. Life back then? It was pretty mundane. You know the drill: wake up, go to work, come home, maybe play some games, watch a bit of Netflix, rinse and repeat. Life had its rhythm, but it wasn't exactly exciting. It was like grinding the same levels in a game without much progress. But even now, those memories are fuzzy—no clear details, just an overall sense of how things used to be. It's almost like that life was just a background loop, something that's now far behind me.

"Huh, was I really just drifting through life back then? It's kind of funny how it all seems so distant now."

But this? This is different. There's a sense of progress here, something I can actually measure. It's like I'm leveling up in real-time, and honestly, it's kind of fun. Seeing how far I can push these new abilities, testing them out—it's like trying out a new build in a game.

[Parasitic Domination].

The name sounds pretty intense, but really, it's just another skill to experiment with. I start small, with my fellow worms. They're not much different from how I was before evolving, and they make for easy targets. I latch onto one, and within seconds, I can feel its weak pulse, its simple thoughts. With a bit of focus, I take control. But almost immediately, it keels over and dies. Too low on HP, I guess. I try a few more, but they all have the same outcome. A bit too fragile for this, it seems.

"Well, that's a bust. They really don't hold up, do they? Guess I need something a little sturdier."

It's a little disappointing, sure, but also kind of fascinating. This skill has some real potential—it just needs the right target.

It doesn't take long for that target to show up. I'm exploring deeper into the cave when I spot a bat resting on the ground. It's not one of those massive ones I've seen before, but it's definitely tougher than a worm. This should be interesting.

"Alright, let's see what you've got, little guy."

I approach slowly, feeling that familiar sense of anticipation building. Then, I go for it, using [Parasitic Domination] to latch onto the bat. Immediately, I feel it resisting, its body writhing as it tries to shake me off. It flails around, wings beating furiously, and I try to hang on. But this bat isn't going down without a fight. I lose my grip and fall to the ground, the bat screeching as it turns on me.

"Well, that didn't go as planned. Time to bail!"

Without wasting a second, I dig into the ground with [Dig], burrowing to safety just as the bat strikes. I wait, heart racing, before emerging again to try once more. This time, I'm more careful, quicker. I latch on before the bat can react, and this time, I succeed. For a brief moment, I feel the bat's strength as it lifts off the ground, its wings carrying me through the air. But the control doesn't last long—the bat's life force fades fast, and it crashes to the ground, dead.

"Not bad for a second try. Short flight, but hey, progress is progress."

As I leave the bat's body behind, I feel a sense of satisfaction. I'm getting the hang of this. Slowly but surely, I'm making progress, and that's really all I'm after. I continue exploring, moving further into the cave, curious about what else I might find.

And then, I come across something unexpected—a group of humans. They're camping in a safe spot, torches flickering in the dim light. I pause, staying hidden in the shadows, just watching. Humans, huh? So they're real. Interesting.

"What are you guys doing down here? And what's the deal with all that gear?"

I stay up near the cave roof, observing them. They seem like they know what they're doing—seasoned, equipped, alert. It's like watching a well-coordinated raid party. The thought of experimenting with my new skills on a human crosses my mind, but I know better than to rush in. Parties like this usually have someone with detection skills—like a hunter.

Just as the thought crosses my mind, one of them, the hunter, suddenly stiffens. He narrows his eyes, scanning the darkness, and my heart skips a beat. I stay perfectly still, hoping my [Camouflage] is enough. The hunter draws an arrow and fires at the ceiling—right where I'm hiding.

"Did he see me? No way. Just stay still, stay still…"

The arrow misses, striking rock instead. The hunter frowns, obviously confused. He looks again, trying to figure out what just happened. But there's nothing there, just shadows and stone. The rest of the party starts to get nervous, picking up on the hunter's tension. Before long, they decide to pack up and move, quickly dispersing into the cave.

"Heh, looks like they got spooked by nothing. Didn't think I'd be the one causing the panic, but hey, I'll take it."

As the echoes of their footsteps fade, I'm left alone in the dark once more. But instead of feeling scared, I'm intrigued. So humans exist in this world. Interesting. Controlling a bat was one thing, but a human? That would be something else entirely.

This place is huge, and I'm just getting started. Who knows what I might find next? But whatever it is, I'll keep moving forward, just like in a game. After all, progress is progress.