Cooking Up the Stages of My Next Life

It had been a few weeks—maybe more—since Asher found himself reborn into this new existence. Time was hard to measure from within the confines of his mother's womb, but he could sense the steady progression of his development.

*Everything's smooth sailing,* Asher thought, or at least, that's what he wanted to believe.

From the bits and pieces of his parents' conversations that he could overhear, Asher gathered that elf babies took about six months to mature in the womb—three months less than the average human gestation period. By his rough estimate, his own development had already made a noticeable bulge in his mother's stomach, a small hill growing larger by the day.

As he mulled over these thoughts, a violent tremor rippled through the womb, jerking him from his contemplation. It felt as though his entire world was being shaken, and Asher immediately activated his Insight Skill, curious about the cause.

What he saw made his newly formed mind reel in both disbelief and resignation. His father, Ruham, was at it again—engaging in yet another passionate bout of intimacy with his mother, Seraphina.

*Even when she's pregnant... really?* Asher thought with a mixture of annoyance and something resembling dark amusement. He had grown used to it by now, but it still shocked him that Ruham didn't seem to care that his child was practically within arm's reach of his sexual escapades. At times, Asher could even feel his father's manhood coming dangerously close to him, separated only by the thin walls of the womb.

*This guy is seriously trying to f**k my brains out.*

But, rather than dwell on the strangeness of it, Asher watched the scene unfold in silence. He had grown accustomed to observing their encounters, but now, he found a strange new opportunity within the discomfort.

As his father climaxed and collapsed beside Seraphina in exhaustion, Asher's mind raced.

*I can use this. Every time they have sex, I gain points… and I need those points.*

A faint, familiar notification lit up in his consciousness:

{A familiar cell structure has entered your range.}

{You have dominated the cells of the elf sperm.}

{Would you like to absorb and convert them to Evolution Points?}

*Yes.* Asher barely hesitated before confirming. It was a grim necessity, and one he had grudgingly accepted over the past few months.

Seconds later, the system's confirmation chimed again, sending a thrill through Asher.

{You have successfully absorbed the sperm cells.}

{You have gained 1 Evolution Point.}

{Evolution Points: 8/20.}

Evolution Points. They were the key to his development. Without them, he wouldn't be able to grow. The system had warned him early on: if he failed to accumulate enough points, he would remain stagnant—trapped in his mother's womb, regressing into nothingness.

But there was a catch. The only cells Asher could absorb were his father's sperm. And so, he had become a twisted parasite, relying on his father's frequent visits to grow stronger. *It's like I've become some weird sperm-sucking monster,* he thought bitterly.

The system wouldn't allow him to absorb the bacterial cells that existed naturally within his mother's body, for reasons beyond his current understanding. So, his only option was to make use of every encounter between his parents. And Ruham, who had taken full advantage of his wife's current fertility, unknowingly became Asher's unwitting provider.

*It's a parasitic relationship at this point.*

He had little choice but to embrace it.

Each time, Asher could feel the slight shift in his mother's body after their intimacy, and each time, he would dominate and absorb the cells his father left behind. The process was straightforward—until one particular night when something went wrong.

As he attempted to dominate a new batch of cells, a blaring notification shattered his concentration:

{Warning: Object is too powerful to be dominated.}

{You have lost half of your HP.}

{You have gained dominance over 20% of Seraphina's… private regions.}

Asher's vision blurred, the exhaustion taking its toll on his fragile form. *I feel like I'm about to pass out,* he thought, struggling to keep his consciousness intact. But he couldn't stop now. He needed more points.

His gaze sharpened as he focused on Seraphina. If his father wasn't able to keep up, he would have to take matters into his own hands. Using his dominance over her reproductive organs, Asher activated a subtle stimulus, creating a soft tinge of pleasure that coursed through her body.

Seraphina, who had been resting beside Ruham, stirred suddenly. A warm flush of arousal crept up her body, and she pressed her thighs together, biting back a moan. She hesitated for a moment, glancing at her exhausted husband before leaning over to place a delicate hand on his cheek.

"My lord… I'm not satisfied yet."

Ruham stirred from his slumber, eyes heavy with drowsiness, but Seraphina's words sparked something in him. His lips curved into a sleepy smile as he sat up, looking more than willing to oblige her.

*Yes! Yes! Keep going, you two—don't stop! I'll drain you dry if I have to,* Asher thought, relishing the manipulative power he held.

***

Three months had passed since Asher had been reborn as a single cell, and in that time, he had explored the depths of his newfound abilities. His mind—no, minds—were divided into several entities, each capable of controlling a part of his surroundings. It was a strange sensation, almost like having multiple versions of himself working in tandem.

*It's like I'm controlling an army of zombies,* he mused. Each cell acted as a mirror of his own consciousness, storing memories and allowing him to recall them with perfect clarity. It was a gift far beyond anything an ordinary human could comprehend.

But despite his growing abilities, Asher had one major limitation. His only source of nourishment and Evolution Points had dried up. Ruham, his father, had been called away for duties and had not visited in weeks. Without Ruham's presence, there were no sperm cells to absorb.

Asher checked his status again:

{Evolution Points: 19/20.}

*Just one more point,* he thought, frustration clawing at him. *I'm so close to being reborn, but without that last point, I could regress and die.*

Desperation gnawed at him. Each day that passed without his father's return brought him closer to the brink of failure. He had tried using his dominance over his mother's body to stir her desires, but her tolerance was formidable. No matter how much he stimulated her, she remained steadfast, unwilling to act on her impulses. It was almost admirable, if it weren't so infuriating.

*If she keeps this up, I'm going to die in here.*

He needed a solution, and fast.

Asher's mind raced. If his father wasn't coming back anytime soon, there was only one option left. He had to break his mother's resolve. He had to make her give in to her desires… even if it meant pushing her to the edge of betrayal.

*If Ruham won't give me what I need, I'll make her get it elsewhere.*

It was a cruel and manipulative plan, but Asher was determined. He had come too far to fail now. His rebirth was within reach, and he would achieve it by any means necessary—even if it meant using his mother's body to secure his future.