Metamorphosis: The Story of a Butterfly

He saw it, the pattern—the rhythm of the baby birds’ movements, the slight hesitation in their jerky lunges, the gap between their attacks. The Apex of Knowledge pulsed faintly in his mind, offering him a split-second window to exploit.

This is my chance!

He darted forward, making a break for the small opening between the nearest bird’s foot and the woven wall of the nest. If he timed it just right, he could slip through and—

Crunch!

He was too slow.

The baby bird’s beak snapped down just inches from his body, forcing him to skid to the side. The floor of the nest was uneven, a chaotic mix of twigs and leaves, and he stumbled, his small legs scrambling for grip. His heart raced as panic surged through him once more.

I missed it!

The other two birds were already moving in, their squawks growing louder and more aggressive as they sensed his mistake. Their tiny, beady eyes locked onto him, mouths open wide, ready to snatch him up the moment he faltered again.

The first bird recovered quickly, lunging at him from behind. He twisted his body, narrowly dodging the attack, but his movements were frantic now, lacking the clarity he had felt just moments before.

I can't keep up with them like this!

His body tensed, instincts kicking in as he barely managed to avoid another snap of a beak. He activated Instinctive Dodge, his body moving almost on its own, twisting and weaving between the flurry of attacks. His legs moved faster than his thoughts, a desperate, jerky dance of survival as the baby birds circled in.

But they were learning too. The birds were no longer just blindly lunging. They started working together, blocking his escape routes, cutting off his movements. One snapped at him from the left, forcing him to dart right, straight into the path of another bird. He twisted again, but it was becoming harder and harder to keep track of their attacks.

He stumbled, tripping over a loose twig, and before he could recover, the largest of the birds lunged at him, its beak striking the ground right next to his leg. He felt the impact of the beak hitting the twigs beneath him, sending vibrations through the nest.

They’re relentless!

His breath came in ragged bursts—if he even had lungs anymore—his body moving purely on survival instinct. Instinctive Dodge kicked in again, his form swaying out of the way just in time to avoid another vicious snap of a beak.

Instinctive Dodge – Level 3/10

Instinctive Dodge – Level 4/10

The notifications barely registered in his mind as he continued his frantic attempts to stay alive. His legs moved with increasing speed, his dodges becoming more fluid, but the baby birds were relentless. They chirped and squawked, their sharp beaks pecking at the ground, tearing up the nest with every missed strike.

He leaped over a twig, narrowly avoiding another bite from the second bird. His small body slipped between two large pieces of straw, and for a brief moment, he thought he had gained some distance.

I need to get out of here. I can’t keep this up forever.

But just as the thought formed, the third bird lunged at him from above, its beak descending like a hammer. He threw himself to the side, instinct taking over as his body twisted in a desperate dodge.

Instinctive Dodge – Level 5/10

He felt the skill sharpen, his movements becoming more precise. The rush of adrenaline coursed through him, giving him a brief moment of clarity amidst the chaos. But the birds were fast, faster than he had expected. He needed more than just speed—he needed an opening, something to give him an edge.

But no sooner had he thought that than the largest bird struck again. This time, he didn’t see it coming.

SNAP!

Pain shot through him like lightning.

The baby bird's beak caught the back of his body, slicing through his soft skin with a clean, brutal cut. He screamed silently, his body jerking violently as the sharp pain radiated through his entire form. He stumbled forward, barely managing to escape the bird’s full grip, but the damage was done.

His backside had been torn open, a ragged gash trailing behind him. His vision swam, the pain overwhelming every sense. He twisted his body, trying to see the extent of the damage, but even the slightest movement sent waves of agony through him.

I’m hurt... badly.

Blood—or whatever passed for blood in his form—oozed from the wound, dripping down onto the nest’s floor. The baby birds chirped excitedly, sensing the weakness. The first bird lunged again, its beak snapping dangerously close to his torn body.

He barely dodged, but his movements were sluggish now, slower, the pain slowing him down. He could feel his energy draining, the blood loss making his vision blur. He couldn’t take much more of this. His legs trembled, his instincts screaming at him to move, but the pain was unbearable.

I’m not going to make it...

The second bird struck, its beak catching the edge of his tail, pulling at him. He twisted again, but the pain was blinding. He couldn’t keep this up. His body was weakening, and the baby birds were closing in, their beaks ready to tear him apart.

I can’t... I have to...

He stumbled forward, his vision fading as the world spun around him.