Prologue: Death

(' ')- Thoughts

(" ")- Spoken

In a dark, cold alley, her consciousness slowly waning, she thought with a lonely smile plastered on her face. 'I had always dreamed that someone would come to notice and save me someday... just like the heroines in the various animes and novels I have watched. I had hoped... prayed to God, day and night for every moment, for every breath I took I prayed deep in my heart that I might escape this treatment, to escape from the problems my parents shoved on me as they abandoned me...' she cried between stifled sobs.

She had a lonely smile on her face as she continued sobbing. 'But...*sniffs* it seems it was never meant to be... *sniffs* ' 

[NOTICE! Processing requirements...]

'...'

Near an abandoned alley, the colored lights from nearby buildings reflected on fresh snow. In a discreet alley corner, a young woman had a wry smile on her face, appearing sad yet strangely amused.

"...Hmm, am I hearing things?... I guess it can't be helped~." The girl mumbled, her mind hazy. Eyes wandering, she saw in a corner a maggot, a... larva? wriggling closer, running from the harsh winter cold.

'...Poor thing... what a horrible season to be born in...' The girl thought as she reached out limply, scooping up the sizable larvae about the size of her palm. She held it close to her chest to keep it warm.

If anyone else saw this scene, they would think that the young girl had gone crazy, to straddle something from who knows where- not to mention a larva of all things. 

She continued to hold it close to her, even rubbing its hard head and leathery-like body.

'Hmm... I wonder what it is... a beetle larva? Maybe a moth, perhaps?' She thought curiously through her waning mind... 'Now that I think about it, it has always interested me how such insects and bugs could transform and go through a process of rebirth- to something much much different...'

[Strong curiosity detected. Creating alternate iterations for a body: A symbol of renewal and rebirth. Success]

'It hurts...' She thought as she felt the stinging pain from the cold.

[Confirmed. Removing perception of pain. Success]

[Confirmed. Acquiring cold resistance. Success]

The pain vanished but the symptoms still lingered; her fingertips were pale and pruned like an old lady's.

'Ew...' She thought in passing.

[Confirmed. Extra skill 『Old Age』. Success]

[NOTICE! Extra skill 『Old Age』 has successfully evolved into Unique Skill 『Ageless』 ]

...

'Is this voice saying I'm already old...? What a rude thing to say to a lady...' She thought.

"Whatever-" She stopped mid-tantrum as she heard her belly rumble... 'I'm hungry...'

[Confirmed. Unique skill 『Devour』has been acquired]

*Sigh*

"Can you please shut up... I just want to take a nap... I just miss my bed and silken sheets..." she grumbled, annoyed at the voice that kept on ringing in her head as she remembered her bed.

[NOTICE! Presence of Intrinsic skill 『Universal Thread』. Confirmed]

...

...

After a few moments, silence seemed to have descended. 'Finally... some peace and quiet.' The girl thought as she lay down on the cold and icy ground, still holding the larva close to her chest.

She gave a warm and gentle smile as she closed her eyes before gently whispering... "Goodnight~"

...