develop ideal genes

Leon walked along the worn dirt path, his new clothes clinging uncomfortably to his skin. The fabric was rough, ill-fitting, and carried the unmistakable stench of the bandit who had so generously provided them.

"What a kind soul," he thought dryly. "Not only did he tell me where to go, but he also donated his clothes. Truly, a man of charity."

He adjusted the belt, grimacing. The boots were too big, the pants too loose, and the shirt too tight around the shoulders. He had to roll the sleeves up just to make it somewhat wearable. It was hardly ideal, but it was better than walking around naked.

The road ahead was clear, but the fastest way to the capital meant cutting through the forest again. He had no idea how long the journey would take, but right now, time wasn't his biggest concern.

His stomach twisted in protest.

"Food."

The thought hit him like a stone. How long had it been since he last ate? His body didn't feel weak, but an unfamiliar, gnawing hunger clawed at his insides. It wasn't the usual dull ache of starvation—it was something deeper, something primal.

Then—

A sound.

A rustling behind the trees, faint but distinct. Something was moving.

Leon tensed, his senses sharpening. His body reacted before his mind fully caught up, his feet carrying him toward the source of the noise. He stepped lightly, weaving between the trees, his breath steady and controlled.

Then he saw it.

A massive creature, its exoskeleton glistening under the faint light that filtered through the trees. It resembled a scorpion, but it was monstrous in size—half as tall as Leon, with thick, jagged legs and a serrated tail that twitched menacingly behind it.

Leon froze.

His instincts screamed at him to run. It would be the logical choice—he had no weapon, no armor, nothing but the rags on his back and the sharp rock he had picked up earlier.

And yet…

Something inside him wanted to fight.

It was an unfamiliar feeling, alien yet intoxicating. A rush of excitement curled in his chest, different from fear, different from desperation. It was as if his body knew—knew that it was capable of more than it had ever been before.

"I should run."

But his feet didn't move.

"No… I should fight."

The scorpion-like beast sensed him now. It whirled around, its beady, soulless eyes locking onto his. Its body tensed, and then—it charged.

Leon braced himself.

The tail lashed out, slicing through the air with deadly speed. He moved on instinct, ducking just in time for the stinger to sail past him. It struck a tree behind him with a force that sent bark flying in every direction.

Leon didn't hesitate.

He lunged forward, aiming a punch at the creature's body.

Pain shot through his fist.

It was like striking solid rock. He barely managed to retreat in time before the scorpion swung at him again, its claws snapping shut just inches from his leg.

He needed a plan.

Leon's eyes darted across the creature's armored body, searching for a weakness. The exoskeleton was thick, almost impenetrable. But then he noticed it—tiny gaps between the plates, narrow slits where the joints connected.

"I can't punch through it… but I can stab it."

His fingers tightened around the sharp rock in his hand. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.

The beast lunged again, tail whipping toward him. This time, Leon didn't dodge. He caught the tail with both hands.

A sharp, searing pain shot through his wrist as the sheer force of the strike nearly wrenched his arms from their sockets. But he held on.

With a strained growl, he twisted the tail to the side, forcing the scorpion off balance. In that brief moment of vulnerability, he drove the rock into the exposed gap between its plates.

The result was immediate.

The creature shrieked, a high-pitched, ear-splitting sound that vibrated through Leon's skull. It thrashed violently, trying to shake him off, but he held firm, driving the rock deeper and twisting it for good measure.

The beast's movements became erratic, its legs twitching uncontrollably. Then, with a final violent spasm, it collapsed onto the forest floor.

Dead.

Leon staggered back, panting.

Then, the hunger returned.

His gaze fell to the corpse at his feet. The idea of eating a monster should have disgusted him—but it didn't. In fact, the thought of its flesh made his stomach growl even louder.

Before he could think twice, he crouched down and carved out a piece of meat from its side.

The texture was rough, the taste bitter and metallic, but it didn't matter. He tore into it with an urgency he couldn't explain, barely chewing before swallowing. The moment the meat hit his stomach, a strange warmth spread through his body, followed by an overwhelming drowsiness.

His limbs grew heavy. His head swayed.

"What…?"

The exhaustion hit like a crashing wave. His body refused to move, his eyelids drooping despite his attempts to stay alert. The world around him blurred, and before he could make sense of what was happening—

Darkness.

When Leon woke, something was wrong.

He was wrapped in something—something soft, yet firm. A thin, translucent membrane stretched around him, enclosing him in a familiar yet terrifying embrace.

His breath hitched.

"Not again."

The cocoon pulsed faintly, the walls shifting with an unsettling rhythm. Leon's fingers pressed against it, feeling the slick surface beneath his touch.

"Why? How?"

Had the monster's flesh done this to him? Was this something that would keep happening every time he ate?

Panic clawed at his mind, but beneath it, something else stirred.

Curiosity.

Something was changing inside him. Something unnatural.

And this time, he wouldn't run from it.