The Hollow Moth: Reincarnated as a Caterpillar

Goldy and the armored skeleton are still locked in combat when Vex and I arrive. Every strike Goldy lands is met with a block, and every attack the skeleton throws is countered with a swift movement. It's clear they are evenly matched—until now.

The moment Goldy notices us, she suddenly slams into the armored skeleton with a powerful blow, forcing it to skid backward. Without wasting time, she retreats toward us, finally putting some distance between herself and that thing.

"Eek! You guys done already?" Goldy chirps as she comes up beside us.

I give a quick nod. "Yeah. Me and Vex here to assist."

Goldy's gaze flicks between me and Vex before she tilts her head. "Wait, Vex? That's his name now?"

I smirk. "Yup."

Vex clicks his mandibles in irritation but doesn't deny it. Good. That means he accepts it—whether he likes it or not.

Goldy lets out an annoyed huff. "Tch. You guys finished them too quickly! I was about to be a cool, strong older sister by taking this guy down alone!"

I groan, doing a mental facepalm—since, you know, caterpillar. "Goldy, you shouldn't be selfish. Besides, what do you mean by alone? You've been hogging all the spine shooters assistance this entire fight!"

Goldy twitches in response, clearly caught off guard. "W-Well, that's just... tactical support!"

"Yeah, yeah. Sure," I mutter, rolling my eyes.

Vex clicks his mandibles, clearly irritated. "Enough bickering. We should focus on the damn skeleton."

Goldy huffs but doesn't argue, and I let out a sigh. Fine, fine. Time to get serious.

The armored skeleton is already recovering, its glowing eyes locking onto us with eerie determination. It raises its sword and shield, shifting into a defensive stance. This thing isn't just strong—it has technique.

"Alright then," I say, flexing my spines. "Let's take this guy down together."

Goldy lets out a frustrated hiss. "That skeleton's a bit of a problem. Too much damn defense. Every time I attack, it either blocks with its shield or parries with that sword. I've managed to land some hits by catching it off guard after getting shot with spines, and I slowed it down with my silk—" She gestures at the shimmering threads wrapped around the skeleton's limbs. "—but it's still standing."

I whistle—or at least make the caterpillar equivalent of one. "That's tough." My eyes flick between the skeleton's cautious stance and the silken restraints holding it back. "But come on, we're literally three against one now." I smirk. "Actually, six against one, if we count the spine shooters. There's no way we can lose this."

Vex snorts. "Then let's finish this already."

Goldy nods, shaking off her frustration. "Fine. Let's crush this bastard."

As we lunge forward, ready to overwhelm the armored skeleton, it suddenly slams its sword against its shield with a loud CLANG. A brilliant light flares from the shield, forcing my vision to adjust.

Before any of us can react, the skeleton rears back and punches the ground. The glow from its shield transfers into its fist and then into the earth beneath it.

For a split second, everything goes still.

Then—BOOM!

A shockwave erupts from the impact, blasting outward like a sudden explosion. I barely have time to register what's happening before the force sends me flying through the air. I tumble, my body spinning uncontrollably before crashing into the dirt.

I groan internally. Oh, come on!

Goldy and Vex aren't spared either. Goldy, being the biggest, hits the ground hard and skids back, leaving a deep trail in the dirt. Vex, being lighter, practically bounces off a rock before rolling to a stop.

For a moment, all I can hear is ringing. Then I force myself to focus. What the hell was that?

Goldy lets out an annoyed chirp. "Damnit! That guy still has tricks up its sleeve!"

I groan as I push myself back up. Of course, it does.

Vex coughs, shaking off the dust. "Great. So it wasn't enough that it's a walking fortress—it also has area explosions now?"

I shoot a glance at the armored skeleton. It hasn't moved from where it stands, its shield's faint glow faded from whatever ability it just used. That means it probably can't spam that attack… I hope.

Goldy twitches her antennae in frustration. "I really wanted to beat this thing solo, but fine. Now we play dirty!"

Wasn't that always the plan?

Goldy clicks her mandibles. "Oh, you wanna play that way? Fine. It's on!"

She doesn't waste time. "Nur, flank its side! Vex, stay behind Nur and wait for my signal!"

I don't argue. Sprinting low, I circle to the skeleton's right, making sure to stay just outside its reach. Vex trails behind me, his movements quiet and precise as always.

The armored skeleton remains still, shield raised, sword at the ready. It's watching me, waiting for my move.

Alright, let's see how good that defense really is.

I charge at the skeleton's side, mandibles snapping and spines bristling. If it wants a fight, I'm going to give it one.

I strike first, aiming low for its legs, hoping to throw it off balance. But the skeleton is fast—faster than a pile of bones has any right to be. It shifts its shield, blocking my attack with ease, then swings its sword down toward me.

I barely dodged in time, the blade scraping the ground where I had just been.

Okay, wow, this thing's no joke.

I keep pushing, attacking again and again, trying to find a weak spot. Every time I lash out with my mandibles or spines, it either blocks with its shield or deflects with its sword. I'm not making much progress—and I can feel it. My strikes don't have the raw power like Goldy, and I definitely am not as fast or precise as Vex.

I hiss in frustration, dodging another swing. Come on, just one opening…

But no matter how hard I press, the skeleton isn't giving me an inch.

Goldy's spines shoot through the air, glowing red at the tips. I expect them to pierce the armored skeleton like the usual barrage—but then BOOM! I don't expect the explosion that follows.

Wait, what?!

The blast sends the skeleton staggering forward, its shield lowered for the first time.

So that's what the red tips are for… I think, both impressed and slightly annoyed she hasn't used them sooner.

Goldy doesn't waste time. She gives a quick signal, and Vex springs into action, darting straight for the stunned skeleton.

The armored undead, despite its heavy frame, reacts fast. It slams its sword against its shield, causing a brief glow before rearing back a fist—another shockwave incoming.

But just as it's about to strike, Goldy does something even more surprising.

She flexes her spines against the ground, and before I can even process it, spines erupt from behind the skeleton, piercing through its back and, importantly, its arm, locking it in place. The move completely halts its punch, leaving it wide open for Vex.

Goldy grins. "Gotcha."

The moment Vex snaps the skeleton's head off, Goldy's voice rings out.

"Back off! Now!"

I don't question it—I scuttle backward as fast as my legs can carry me, and Vex darts away just as fast.

Then, with a wicked grin, Goldy flexes her spines again. The ones piercing the skeleton suddenly glow a violent red.

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Oh.

Ohhh.

An instant later, a chain of explosions erupts from inside the armored skeleton. Its entire form trembles under the force before being blown apart into scattered bones and dust.

Goldy dusts herself off with a smug look. "And that, my dear siblings, is how you deal with stubborn bastards."

What the hell was that?!

I've seen Goldy do some crazy stuff before, but this? Exploding spines? Since when?!

I stare at the scattered remains of the armored skeleton, still processing what just happened. Oh sure, just casually reveal that you've been hoarding some secret explosive power this whole time. Real nice, Goldy.

"Hey, Goldy," I finally say, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "You mind telling me when you decided to turn into a walking bomb factory? Or were you just saving that just for a shock value?"

Goldy puffs up, clearly proud of herself. "I've always been able to do that. I am a royal, after all," she says smugly.

Vex, of course, has to butt in. "Yeah, real ones know. Unlike certain kids who just hatched into this world."

I immediately shoot him a glare. "Shut up, Vex. We're brood mates. That means we hatched not that long apart, asshole."

Vex just shrugs, like the smug little pest he is.

Turning back to Goldy, I ask, "Then why didn't you use that earlier?"

Goldy crosses her arms—or, well, does the closest thing she can with her legs. "Because I didn't want my siblings getting caught in the blast. Also burned food is not very appetizing, you know?"

I blink. "Oh. That's… actually reasonable." Then, after a beat, I add, "Still, a little warning would've been nice before you started blowing stuff up."

From a distance, I can see Victor and the rest of our siblings finishing off the last of the skeletons. Looks like they have things under control.

Then, clear as day, Victor's voice rings out across the battlefield, his usual dramatic flair cranked up to the max. "Ah, what a resplendent display of overwhelming force! Our illustrious Young Highness, ever radiant in her might, has graced the battlefield with an explosion most spectacular! Truly, a sight worthy of legend!"

I groan. "Oh great, here we go."

Goldy, on the other hand, puffs up even more, obviously loving every second of it. "You couldn't be more right, my dear brother!"

Vex just sighs. "I swear, if we let him go on, we'll be standing here for an hour listening to him compose an epic about this."

Honestly? He isn't wrong.

I sigh internally. Yep, this is definitely going to inflate Goldy's already overwhelming ego.

As if to prove my point, Goldy dramatically flicks her spines, letting the last bits of golden silk shimmer in the dim light. "Finally, someone who appreciates true power!" she says, basking in Victor's praise like a queen on her throne.

Vex groans. "Great. Now she's gonna be unbearable for a while."

I give him a side glance. "Yeah, definitely."

I shake my head and decide to break the moment before Goldy gets too full of herself. "Yeah, yeah, that's great and all, but how exactly are we supposed to eat these bones?"

Goldy turns to me, looking genuinely confused. "What do you mean? Just eat it."

I stare at her, then at the pile of shattered skeletons around us. Right… I forget these guys eat literally anything.

Vex, already gnawing on a rib bone, smirks at me. "What, too delicate for some crunchy snacks, little sis?"

I shoot him a glare. "I just prefer my food not to try and stab me first, thanks."

Before I can retort more, Victor strolls up, already crunching on a femur with an exaggerated flourish. "Ah, but dear Nur, thou simply must partake in this most scrumptious pile of bones," he declares in his ever-verbose manner. "The texture! The richness! A culinary delight befitting only the most refined of palates."

I just stare at him, unimpressed. "Victor, you're literally eating a reanimated corpse."

He waves a claw dismissively. "Details, details. One must learn to appreciate the finer things in life." Then he takes another dramatic bite, as if dining at some fancy noble feast instead of devouring battlefield leftovers.

Goldy, clearly enjoying the nonsense, chuckles. "See, even Victor gets it. Now quit being picky and start eating."

I sigh, resigning myself to my fate. This brood is insane.

As much as I want to keep up my complaints, I have to admit… this isn't the worst idea. Bones = calcium, right? And given how much we grow, maybe crunching down on some undead leftovers isn't such a bad deal.

I pick up a loose rib, giving it a hesitant nibble. The texture is weird—like stale rock mixed with something almost chalky—but not unbearable. Huh… not bad.

Goldy smirks at me. "See? Told ya."

Victor, still fully in character, nods approvingly. "Ah, Nur, welcome to the sophisticated art of bone dining. Do take your time to savor its subtle undertones of decay and lingering necromantic essence."

I gag. "Okay, you ruined it."

Then there's Vex, looking all smug at me.

I clench my mandibles, narrowing my many eyes at Vex as he gives me that insufferable, smug look. He doesn't say a word—he doesn't have to. That stupid expression screams heh, what a weakling loud and clear.

Oh, it's on.

I meet his gaze with an icy stare, my body language screaming don't test me. If looks could kill, I'd turn him into a pile of dust already. It's the kind of glare that once, in another life, makes entire rooms go silent. Even now, in this new body, old habits die hard.

The tension between us thickens, neither of us backing down.

Goldy fidgets beside us, her usual confidence slipping. "Uhh… guys?" she says, looking between us. "We did just win, you know? No need to start another fight…"

Neither of us moves. Neither of us blinks.

This isn't about bones anymore. It's principle.

Vex finally breaks the silence with that smug tone of his. "Imagine struggling over bones." He lets out a low chuckle, clicking his mandibles together. "Don't worry, your big brother here can help if it's too tough for you."

I scoff. "Oh, like how you were so useful against that skeleton?" My voice drips with sarcasm. "Face it, you were useless. And don't even get me started on you trying to use venom on bones." I make a mock gasp. "Wow, Vex, you really showed them."

His smug look twitches for just a second, his pride clearly wounded, but before he can snap back, Goldy claps her forelegs together. "Alright, enough, both of you!" she chirps, forcing a big, definitely-fake smile. "We just won a fight, we have food, and I don't wanna hear any more bickering over who's the better sibling."

Vex huffs, clicking his mandibles in irritation, but backs off. I roll my eyes, but I let it slide too. For now.

Goldy sighs in relief. "See? Much better. Now eat your damn bones and stop acting like hatchlings."

I sigh, shaking my head. No use wasting energy on Vex's nonsense. Without another word, I go back to eating. The bones are surprisingly easy to crunch through—not exactly delicious, but they'll do.

I guess there's no point in overthinking it. Food is food.

With the skeletons defeated and the bones thoroughly crunched, we press onward toward the 4th Zone. The air grows heavier with an eerie stillness, and the ground beneath us shifts subtly, as if warning us of the challenges ahead.

Goldy takes the lead, her golden silk shimmering faintly in the dim light. Vex follows closely behind, his smugness replaced by quiet focus. Victor, ever the dramatic one, adjusts his posture as if stepping onto the stage of a grand performance. The spine-shooter siblings move in formation, scanning for threats, while the hatchlings trail cautiously, still energized from the battle.

As we pass through the narrow opening and into the wider area, the scenery before us is almost otherworldly—glimmering crystals and bioluminescent fungi casting an ethereal glow. The air has a heavy, yet strangely calming, energy to it, the kind that reminds me of the place where our mother was not too long ago.

Goldy, ever the confident one, announces with her usual bravado, "Here we are. We've finally reached the deeper, and possibly the last part of this zone."

My thoughts immediately jump to the implications of that. "Deeper part?" I mutter under my breath. That means stronger monsters, doesn't it? My eyes dart to the others. We've barely managed to defeat the skeletons, and two of our siblings have already fallen during the battle with the viper. It doesn't sit right with me.

"Goldy," I ask cautiously, "Do you think it's a good idea to press on? We barely made it through the skeletons, and we've lost two siblings against that viper."

Vex, who has remained uncharacteristically quiet until now, surprisingly agrees. "Normally, I'd be the one to object, but I think Nur's right. We should consider our situation."

I can't help but raise an eyebrow at that. It's surprising, but then again, not really. Vex was furious when our siblings fell. It isn't like him to let emotions cloud his judgment, but the weight of the losses is heavy even for him.

"We can't afford to be reckless," I add, my voice firm. We have come this far together, but I can't shake the feeling that the true test is just beginning.

Goldy turns to face the rest of the group, her voice a bit sharper this time. "So, what do you all think? Should we keep going?"

Victor, as expected, responds in his usual verbose manner, "I must implore, dear siblings, that we refrain from pressing forward just yet. We still have two hatchlings in our midst, and their well-being should be considered paramount. It would be unwise to venture further into the unknown without ensuring their safety."

The others chime in with varying opinions—some agree with Victor, some voice their willingness to push forward, but the majority seem to lean toward hesitation. It seems that the consensus is clear: not everyone wants to continue just yet.

As the group settles into silence, I can't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me. The weight of the decision has been heavy, but now that it's made, I can focus on something more immediate.

Goldy, looking a bit exasperated, asks, "Fine, but what do we do now? We can't just sit here."

Without missing a beat, I suggest, "We circle back the way we came. Fight more monsters, gain some experience, at least until the hatchlings evolve."

Goldy pauses, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. Then she gives a half-smirk, clearly amused by my practical approach. "Not a bad idea, little sis. We'll be stronger for it. Alright, let's head back and hunt some more. Get the hatchlings to evolve before we make any more risky decisions."

The decision is made, and with that, we set off to retrace our steps. As we move through the shimmering crystal-lit cavern, I can't shake the thought that the deeper part of the dungeon is still out there, waiting for us. But for now, we have a plan, and that's enough.

As we are about to turn around and head back, a sudden rustling sound echoes through the cavern. From the shadows, a small figure leaps out with surprising agility. At first, I thought it was some sort of creature or beast, but then I see the unmistakable shape. It's a puppy—a small, slightly scrappy-looking thing, almost the size of me, with fur that looks too wild and untamed for its own good.

Clutched in its jaws is a bipedal myconid, roughly the size of a hatchling caterpillar. The puppy lands gracefully on its feet, its muscles coiling as it thrashes the myconid around, shaking it violently from side to side. The tiny creature lets out a shrill, warbling screech, its limbs flailing as it struggles against the powerful grip. With one final jerk, the puppy releases it, sending the myconid tumbling across the floor.

The myconid hits the ground hard but, to our surprise, scrambles back onto its feet. It staggers for a moment, then turns and bolts, scampering into the shadows as fast as its spindly legs can carry it.

The puppy snorts, watching the myconid flee before shifting its gaze toward us. Its eyes narrow in suspicion, muscles tensed as if ready to spring at any moment. We all instinctively take stances, preparing for a fight, weapons drawn and instincts sharp. Everyone except me.

As I watch the puppy closely, something feels... off, but in a way that isn't threatening. The hostility in its eyes falters for just a moment, replaced by something unfamiliar, something warm. I can sense it. The puppy is familiar.

I take a cautious step forward, my heartbeat quickening, recognizing a deeper connection between us. The puppy's posture shifts, its ears perking up, its hostile stance softening. It's like it recognizes me, just as much as I recognize it.

And then it hits me. There's no mistaking it.

The word slips out of my mouth before I even realize it. That puppy is...

"Tessa."

End of Chapter 11