A mosquito, barely larger than a human fingernail and as delicate as a strand of hair, drifted aimlessly through the thick, humid air of the forest. Driven solely by instinct, this minuscule predator sought the warmth of blood, its very existence a silent, relentless quest for sustenance.
The evening breeze carried the tantalizing scent of countless creatures, their bodies pulsating with life. The mosquito was inexorably drawn to this symphony of vitality, its hunger an insatiable force that propelled it forward.
Suddenly—
Swoosh!
A fierce gust of wind tore through the forest, sending leaves into a chaotic dance. The tiny mosquito was caught in the tempest, tossed about like a mere speck of dust. It spiraled helplessly, its fragile form at the mercy of the storm's fury.
And then—
The world stood still.
Leaves froze mid-flight, and a slithering snake, poised to strike a terrified water rat, became an unmoving sculpture. Time itself seemed to halt, as if the very fabric of reality had been paused.
A profound, resonant sound echoed through the stillness.
BOOM.
A blinding flash of light tore through the heavens, carving a luminous path across the darkening sky. It descended with an unyielding force, crashing into the mosquito's delicate body.
A cold, mechanical voice resonated through the air.
[Ding! Calculating time. Starting point confirmed.]
[7 billion years have passed since the Big Bang.]
[After 7 billion years, a perfect host has finally taken birth.]
[Assimilation initiated. Mission to create a Stage 10 lifeform—commencing.]
---
Pain.
A searing, skull-splitting agony ripped through Ricky's consciousness as he awakened, his thoughts a jumbled mess. His mind felt shattered, like a mirror barely held together by fractured shards.
Wind howled around him, and he realized with a jolt that he was tumbling through open space. His limbs flailed, but something felt profoundly wrong. His body didn't respond as it should.
His senses were heightened to an almost unbearable degree. Colors were too vivid, sounds too layered, and every detail of the world around him was amplified beyond comprehension. The trees were no longer just trees; they were colossal giants, their emerald canopies stretching endlessly above.
His vision warped, shifting in ways that made his stomach churn. He felt light, almost weightless.
Then, a sound.
A sharp, rhythmic buzzing filled the air.
His chaotic descent slowed, transforming into a controlled flight. He wasn't falling anymore.
He was flying.
A terrible realization dawned on him.
No… No, no, no.
Desperate, Ricky forced himself to look down.
What he saw shattered every last thread of denial.
His arms were gone, replaced by six thin, spindly legs that dangled beneath him, jointed and alien. His skin—no, not skin—was glossy and nearly translucent, reflecting glimmers of light.
And worst of all…
A long, needle-like proboscis protruded from his face.
His mind recoiled in horror.
Is this some kind of hallucination? Did I drink too much?
The last thing he remembered was sitting in a bar, accepting a foolish bet. His friend had challenged him to drink fifty bottles of whiskey. Being a natural drinker, he hadn't hesitated. He had won. Hadn't he?
Hadn't he just… blacked out?
A cold wind slammed into his body, forcing him out from his thoughts. Every nerve screamed at him—this was real.
The crisp sensation of the air against his exoskeleton, the amplified scent of damp earth, the distant chirping of birds—it was all too detailed to be a dream.
No.
This wasn't a drunken haze.
This wasn't a nightmare.
It was reality.
And then, just as his mind threatened to spiral into chaos, a flickering screen of glowing text appeared before his eyes.
---
[Status Window]
[Name]: Ricky Stormwind
[Race]: Common Mosquito (Stage 1)
[Bloodline]: None (Unawakened)
[Lifespan]: 1 Hour (Can be extended by consuming lifespan.)
[Stage]: Quasi-Stage 1 Larval Pest (Early)
[Rank]: 1 (Newborn, unstable foundation.)
[Evolution Path]: Unknown
[Condition]: Heavily injured soul, Frail, Instinct-Driven
---
[Abilities]
[Lifespan Sense (F-Rank, Passive)] – Can vaguely sense lifespan-rich beings within a small range.
[Micro Drain (F-Rank, Innate)] – Absorbs minutes of lifespan per bite.
---
His thoughts screeched to a halt.
One hour.
That's all the time he had.
His body trembled. If this screen was real—if the information displayed was true—then in just sixty minutes, his existence would end.
Panic surged through him like a tidal wave.
Then, something new surged through him—an instinctual awareness. A strange pull. He could sense them—warm-blooded creatures nearby, radiating with vibrant lifespan.
Hunger, sharp and undeniable, erupted from within him.
His wings twitched. His body moved before his mind could resist.
His first prey was near.
---
The mosquito navigated through the dense foliage, fighting against the erratic air currents. His small, fragile body struggled against the powerful winds.
"Damn it…! Come on!" Ricky cursed, but even thinking too hard sent painful jolts through his mind. His soul was still weak.
Then—silence.
The winds died down, and he moved.
A few rapid flaps and he saw it.
A squirrel.
It perched on a thick branch, its tiny paws clutching a nut, nibbling away, oblivious to the predator lurking nearby.
The scent hit him.
Iron-rich. Warm. Pulsing.
Blood.
His instincts screamed.
Attack. Feed. Survive.
He darted forward. His minuscule body landed lightly on the squirrel's furry back, delicate legs barely causing a stir.
The creature didn't react.
He struck.
His proboscis extended—an organic spear designed for one purpose. Piercing flesh.
Stab.
Pain flared through his tiny body. It felt like ramming a needle into steel. The squirrel's hide was tougher than expected.
He gritted his nonexistent teeth, adjusted, and stabbed again.
This time—success.
Warm, thick lifeblood surged into his tiny form.
Ecstasy.
It was unlike anything he had ever felt—a rush of vitality, a stolen piece of existence.
The screen flickered.
[+6 minutes Lifespan Absorbed.]
Another rush.
[+10 minutes Lifespan Absorbed.]
The squirrel twitched but remained unaware. Ricky withdrew instantly, lifting off into the air before it could react.
His body thrummed with newfound strength.
Sixteen extra minutes.
It wasn't much.
It wasn't nearly enough.
But it was a start.
And the hunger—it hadn't faded.
It had only grown.