Chapter Two — The First Skill
The world spun.
Stone.
Darkness.
Pain.
The tiny hatchling had only just learned to walk, yet now it had no ground beneath its countless legs.
Its body struck the sloping tunnel wall.
Thunk.
It bounced.
Rolled.
Spun.
The cave became nothing but flashes of stone and dim glowing moss.
Up.
Down.
Which was which?
The hatchling couldn't tell.
Its tiny body tumbled end over end until...
Thwip.
Everything stopped.
Silence.
The creature lay still.
Its legs twitched uncertainly.
Alive?
Slowly, it tried to move.
One leg lifted.
Then another.
Something resisted.
The front half of its body rose, but the rear refused to follow.
Sticky?
It twisted awkwardly.
Still stuck.
What?
What is?
Several of its legs reached toward the strange thing holding it in place.
Prod.
Prod.
Prod.
Soft.
Stretchy.
Sticky.
Its antennae waved back and forth, searching for an answer that did not exist.
Want...
Know.
The strange voice returned without warning.
It did not come from the cave.
Nor from another creature.
It simply appeared inside its mind.
Would Hatchling Lithobid like to acquire the skill: Identify?
The hatchling froze.
More strange sounds.
The same strange sounds from before.
Before it could even think, a glowing blue rectangle appeared before its eyes.
Bright.
Flat.
Floating.
Not rock.
Not food.
Not bug.
The hatchling instinctively lashed out with one of its forelegs.
Tap.
The blue window shattered into countless tiny motes of light before vanishing.
Silence returned.
Then...
Skill Acquired.
Identify Lv.1
The words lingered for only a moment before fading away.
Skill...
Identify.
The hatchling repeated the unfamiliar sounds quietly.
Important.
Felt...
Important.
The sticky strands still held one side of its body firmly in place.
The hatchling reached out again.
This time not because it wanted free.
Because...
Want know.
Its leg touched the strange white strand.
Immediately...
Identify Activated
More words.
Different this time.
Web
Highly adhesive.
The hatchling stared.
Web.
Web sticky.
Know now.
It didn't understand how it knew.
Only that it did.
The knowledge simply... existed.
The creature pulled again.
The web stretched slightly before snapping back into place.
Still trapped.
Not good.
It looked around.
Nearby, a jagged stone protruded from the cavern wall.
The hatchling slowly reached one free leg toward it.
Grab.
Pull.
Its tiny body strained.
The web stretched farther this time.
One leg came free.
Another.
Then...
Snap.
A sharp pain shot through one of its rear legs.
Pain.
The hatchling recoiled instinctively.
Minor Injury Sustained
-1 HP
Remaining HP: 4/5
Hurt.
Leg hurt.
It stared at the injured limb.
It still moved.
Slow.
Pain.
But move.
Good.
The hatchling cautiously crawled forward, leaving behind several strands of web still clinging to its shell.
The cavern around it was much quieter than the hive above.
The endless clicking of hatchlings had disappeared.
Only distant dripping water echoed through the darkness.
The creature stopped.
Something...
Wrong.
No.
Different.
Ahead, an enormous hole had been torn through the webbing.
Thousands of silky strands hung loosely around its edges.
Something large had forced its way through.
The hatchling could see broken strands scattered across the stone floor.
Big.
Strong.
Its instincts whispered one thing.
Danger.
Another sensation quickly drowned it out.
Hunger.
Its empty stomach tightened painfully.
Need...
Food.
The hatchling's antennae twitched violently.
A scent.
Fresh.
Nearby.
Food.
Without hesitation it hurried toward the smell, its many tiny legs carrying it over loose stones and broken silk.
The scent became stronger.
Closer.
There.
Something lay against the cave wall.
The hatchling slowed.
Not...
Like me?
It had fewer legs.
Many more eyes.
Bright markings covered its small body.
Dark patches mixed with colors the hatchling had no words for.
One side of its body had been crushed inward.
Its legs twitched weakly.
Alive.
Barely.
The hatchling watched.
The strange creature barely moved.
Hungry.
Very hungry.
Its instincts overpowered everything else.
Without another thought, the Lithobid lunged.
Its small mandibles pierced the creature's hardened shell.
Crack.
The outer layer resisted for only a heartbeat.
Beneath it...
Soft.
Warm.
Rich.
The hatchling tore away another mouthful.
Then another.
Juices filled its mouth.
The aching emptiness inside its stomach slowly disappeared.
Eat.
More.
More.
Nothing else existed.
Only food.
Only survival.
Several minutes later...
Nothing remained.
Only scattered fragments of shell.
The hatchling stood quietly over the remains.
Its antennae twitched once.
Then the familiar voice returned.
Skill Fragment Acquired
Silk Production Fragment
Progress: 1/2
Fragment?
Silk.
Web?
The hatchling remembered the sticky strands from before.
Same?
Maybe.
It didn't know.
Another message appeared almost immediately afterward.
Experience Limit Reached
Hatchling Lithobid
Level 1 → Level 2
Molting Initiated
Suddenly...
Its entire body became unbearably itchy.
The shell around its body tightened.
Too tight.
Cracks spread slowly across the old exoskeleton.
The hatchling instinctively rubbed itself against the cave floor.
The old shell split open.
Piece by piece, it crawled free.
Cool air brushed against its fresh exoskeleton.
Its injured leg no longer hurt.
The soreness vanished completely.
Strength returned.
Its movements felt smoother.
Lighter.
Better.
The old shell remained behind like an empty husk.
The voice spoke once more.
Molting Complete
All Statuses Restored
HP Fully Recovered
Feel...
Good.
Very good.
The hatchling flexed each of its many legs one after another.
Everything responded perfectly.
Level...
Good.
Its body felt stronger.
Not much.
Just enough to notice.
The cave grew quiet once more.
Only now did another instinct begin speaking louder than the others.
Rest.
The hatchling looked around cautiously.
Nearby, the stone wall curved inward, forming a shallow hollow barely large enough to fit its tiny body.
Several loose rocks partially covered the entrance.
Hidden.
Safe.
The hatchling slowly approached.
Its antennae swept across the opening.
Nothing.
No movement.
No scent.
Good.
Without hesitation it crawled inside.
The cramped space wrapped around it comfortably, reminding it ever so slightly of the egg it had emerged from not long ago.
It curled its many legs beneath itself.
Its eyes slowly closed.
The strange voice remained silent.
The cave remained still.
For the first time since its birth...
The little Lithobid slept.