The Hollow Moth: Reincarnated as a Caterpillar

As I wake up from my great sleepy time, I hear a familiar screech that wakes me up from slumber.

"Ugh, Goldy," I groan as I roll over, feeling the soft silk beneath me. As expected, Goldy isn't going to let anyone sleep in. Of course, the others are already starting to stir too. But something feels different. I blink a few times and then freeze.

Wait. Hold up. What the hell?

I reach down instinctively to feel my arms. They are different. Heavier, more... solid. Like I am actually stronger. I sit up quickly, feeling the stretch of my limbs. My wounds from yesterday's battle—they are gone. Not a single bruise, scratch, or scrape left on me. What kind of healing is this?

I push myself up and look around. As I shift, I notice something else. My body—it feels bigger? No, not just bigger—like my limbs are thicker, more defined. I look at my leg. It's like I have grown overnight as if all the muscle I've been building up is just... suddenly there. Maybe not as big as the other two siblings I fight with before.

"This is insane," I mutter to myself, flexing my fingers. "I mean, really insane."

Goldy is already on the move, and it's clear I'm not going to get much more rest. I glance around at my siblings, all of them waking up, oblivious to whatever just happened to me. Maybe it's just another weird side effect of whatever the hell that dream thing was. Or maybe this dungeon has more tricks up its sleeve than I thought.

But... seriously? Did I just wake up stronger? And bigger? I have no idea what's going on with me lately, but I'm not going to sit here wondering about it too long.

"Guess I'm going to have to get used to this."

"Wait a minute," I mutter to myself as I glance around. My siblings are waking up, and now that I'm more aware of my own body, I notice something else—they are healed too. All of them. No sign of the injuries from yesterday's fights. The ones that had been injured the worst... they look perfectly fine now.

I look closer at a few of them. Some of them even look a bit bigger. Huh.

Maybe it's our species? I mean, we ate a lot yesterday, and it wasn't like we were just nibbling on a snack. We devoured those monsters. So maybe... that's how it works? We heal faster because of all the nutrients from the food we ate? And now, maybe the growth spurt is a side effect?

"Seriously, this is a weird way to start the day," I say to no one in particular, still rubbing my legs. I mean, I know we are tough, but this is... next-level. My species really has some ridiculous healing factor or something. If this is the result of a good meal, I have to wonder just how strong we could really get.

And we have just woken up. Who knows what else the dungeon has in store for us today. I give my siblings a quick glance as they start stretching and waking up fully. They don't seem to realize anything has changed, but then again, they wouldn't—everyone heals and grows at different rates.

"Well, whatever it is, it's not gonna slow us down." I grin, my mood lifting a little as I stand, ready to face whatever the day has in store.

As we move on, following the same survival routines—walking, fighting, eating—I can't help but notice something... off. I am in the middle of the usual battle with another of those ant creatures when I feel a strange sensation. It starts in my back, a slight discomfort, like something is pushing out from under my skin.

What the hell is this?

I try to ignore it at first, focusing on the ant's attacks, but it doesn't go away. In fact, it gets stronger. I feel my back muscles tense and then—whoosh!—a sharp, pricking pain shoots down my spine.

I freeze for a second, momentarily distracted. Then I notice something weird.

I turn my head, catching a glimpse of spines pushing out from my back—right where the bristles had been. Not just bristles anymore, but spines. Long, sharp ones, a few inches long.

"What the—?" I hiss under my breath, my thoughts a mix of confusion and curiosity.

I instinctively reach behind me, bending myself over the new spines, which now line my back in a neat row. This... this is new.

Could it be because of my body growing, or the insane healing I've gone through?

I glance at my siblings fighting nearby. They are still focused, not noticing my change. But now, I'm not just covered in bristles. I have these spines, and I can feel them, like a strange, untapped power. The bristles are still there too, but the spines are... different. Stronger. Deadlier.

Well, at least I have a new way to attack, I think, smirking at the thought. This could be useful.

"Guess I'm really evolving, huh?" I mutter to myself, letting a few of the spines flicker out, testing their sharpness in the air. They are way sharper than anything I had before. Maybe I could even use them as a ranged weapon, like my siblings who shoot out those things.

For now, though, I have to keep moving. The dungeon isn't gonna wait for me to figure out my new abilities. "Let's keep going," I mutter, my grin growing wider as I join the others, ready to show off this new trick.

I can't help but test my new spines, feeling the energy surge through me as they stick out from my back. It feels natural like I've always had them. I am still getting used to them, but I have a pretty good idea of how I could use them in battle.

As I fight off another group of ants, I decide to give it a shot. Instead of just using my bristles to strike, I grip a few of the spines and focus on the nearest ant, which is charging straight at me.

I dart forward, letting my body move fluidly, and then, in one quick motion, I slam the spines into the ant's side. The sharp tips sink into its tough exoskeleton with ease, piercing through like they are butter. The ant screeches in pain, trying to lash out with its mandibles, but I pull back, watching it stagger for a moment. It isn't down yet, but it's definitely slowed down.

"Not bad," I mutter, impressed by how well they work. I don't even need to shoot them out; just using the natural range of my spines in close combat is already effective.

The ant turns towards me, anger in its beady eyes. It doesn't stand a chance. I charge again, slamming another spine straight through its head, and this time it crumples to the ground, completely immobilized.

"Yeah, I think I'm really getting the hang of this," I smirk, turning to check on the others. The battle isn't over yet, but I can tell this is going to make a huge difference.

I'm not sure if the spines will work as well when I shoot them out, but right now, close combat is giving me all the satisfaction I need. I can feel the power in my new abilities, and it makes me even more eager to keep pushing forward.

I take a deep breath and shift into position, ready for the next wave of enemies. Bring it on.

I watch as we wrap up the ants, dragging their massive bodies towards the center for our feast when a strange feeling washes over me. Something isn't right. My siblings must feel it, too, because they start shifting restlessly, their eyes darting around. And then, I see it.

They come in a swarm—mandibles clicking, legs thrumming the ground like thunder. I launch forward with a shriek that vibrates through my bristles. My mandibles snap shut on the first ant's neck, crushing it with a wet crack. Another lunges, but I twist my thick body and flex the sharp spines along my back—impaling it mid-charge. Its twitching legs spasm once, then go still. I rear up, bristling, and slam down hard onto the next two, my weight caving in their armored shells. The last few falter, hesitant, but I surge through them in a frenzy of slicing mandibles and stabbing spines. By the time I stop, the air reeks of iron and ichor, and the ground is a carpet of broken bodies.

It isn't like the regular ants we've been fighting. This one is much bigger—way bigger. Its body is thicker, its mandibles larger and sharper, its stance different. It is standing upright, almost like it's bipedal. And wait—does it have wings?

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

I squint, trying to make sense of it. This is no ordinary ant. The creature holds a spear, which only makes the whole situation weirder. It looks like some sort of... royalty? A Prince? No, it can't be. What is an Ant Prince? Doing in a place like this?

"Goldy's got a contender," I mutter under my breath, recognizing that the atmosphere is now tense. This thing is on a whole other level, and Goldy is going to have to step up.

The rest of my siblings seem to freeze, most of them eyeing the creature warily. Goldy, however, doesn't hesitate. She looks like she is getting ready for a fight. Her stance is firm, her eyes narrow, sizing up the opponent.

I can't help but let out a dry chuckle. "Well, this should be interesting,". This is no ordinary monster. It is bigger, it has weapons, and it has wings. But that doesn't mean it's invincible. If we work together, we'll be able to take it down just like the others.

I turn my attention to the creature again, ready to back Goldy up. It is about to be a fight to remember.

Wait. Hold on. She? Why do I just refer to Goldy as a "she"?

I pause for a moment, suddenly aware of what I just said. How the heck did I know that? I never really thought about it before. In all honesty, Goldy has never really shown any signs of gender. At least, none that I paid attention to. And yet, here I am, casually referring to Goldy as a female.

I can't even figure out why I said it. Did I just assume because she is the one leading our group? Is it the way she carries herself or how she seems to take charge? Ugh, this isn't even the time to be thinking about that.

But then again, now that I'm thinking about it, I'm kind of... sure? Does it have something to do with how I feel connected to my siblings? The more time I spend with them, the more I understand them. Maybe it's just a gut feeling.

"Whatever," I mutter to myself, shaking my head. I'm not about to waste more time thinking about this right now.

Goldy is ready for the fight. That's what matters. The rest can wait.

As the ant charges, Goldy extends her spines with incredible speed, a forest of sharp, deadly points shooting out. It's like something out of a nightmare, how quickly she can shift from calm to full-on battle mode. Goldy is fast—too fast for the ant prince to dodge her attack.

The ant prince tries to retreat, its bipedal stance giving it a lot of mobility, but Goldy's spines don't give it much space to escape. The spines catch the ant, spearing it through a few places, and I can see the ant screech in pain. But it isn't going down that easily. With a swift, desperate movement, the ant lashes out with its spear, managing to get a few hits on Goldy.

Goldy hisses in frustration, but she isn't letting up. The spines don't retract; they remain extended like a defense mechanism, a constant threat as the battle continues.

The Ant Prince manages to squirm out of the grasp of the spines, but it's clear that it's wounded. Still, it isn't an easy opponent. "This thing is tough," I mutter under my breath.

I look over to my siblings, eyes narrowed. It's a dangerous moment, but I can't help but feel a strange sense of pride in Goldy's strength. We are stronger than we have been before—so much stronger.

But this fight is far from over.

As Goldy and the ant prince struggle in a deadly deadlock, the rest of the siblings spring into action. One by one, they move to flank the ant prince, using the terrain and their agility to close in from the sides.

One of the caterpillar siblings shoots a barrage of spines from a distance, aiming to distract and weaken the prince, but the ant is too focused on Goldy. It ducks and dodges, narrowly avoiding the spines, but the attack makes it a little more cautious.

Another sibling, larger and with denser bristles, charges forward, attempting to close the gap, but the ant prince, with its sharp mandibles, swings the spear sideways to keep them at bay. It's quick, but it's becoming clear that the prince is getting overwhelmed, trying to fend off Goldy's relentless strikes and defend against the other siblings' assaults.

I can feel my body tense, the urge to dive in and help rising in me. But as I watch, I realize something: Goldy is still pushing the ant back, her strength and ferocity driving it to retreat. The rest of the siblings are relentless, cutting off any possible escape routes.

The ant prince, though powerful and skilled, is starting to look cornered. The coordination of my siblings makes all the difference, distracting the prince from focusing solely on Goldy and wearing it down.

With one final charge from Goldy, the prince staggers back, barely holding onto its spear, and I know it's time.

"Now!" I yell, not that it's gonna do anything though.

The battle turns in the ant prince's favor as it quickly adapts to the onslaught. In a swift motion, it dodges Goldy's attack and counters with a vicious strike, aiming straight for her. But just as the blow is about to land, one of my siblings—larger and more resilient than the others—lunges forward and takes the full impact of the strike.

The force of the blow knocks my sibling off balance, but they manage to stay on their feet, a testament to their endurance. The ant prince hisses in frustration, now momentarily distracted by the sudden change in the tide of battle.

"Focus!" I shout to my siblings, trying to rally them. The situation has become more dangerous than ever, but we can't afford to hesitate. Again, I doubt it amounts to anything since they won't understand me.

Goldy, visibly shaken by the sacrifice, quickly regains her composure and prepares for another strike. The other siblings adjust their positions, now determined to make the most of the opening we have gained.

My sibling, who took the hit, struggles to rise, and it becomes clear that the spear has been coated with some kind of venom. That isn't a good sign—it's affecting them more than I expected. Their movements are slow, and I can see the pain in their eyes.

Goldy, however, isn't giving up. She lashes out at the ant prince with renewed fury, trading blow after blow, mandibles clashing with the ant's spear. The battle is intense, but the opening I have been waiting for finally appears. The ant prince is momentarily distracted by the clash with Goldy, its guard lowering just enough for me to act.

I charge forward, aiming for the gap in its defenses. It's now or never.

I quickly move behind the ant prince, positioning myself perfectly. I take a deep breath, steadying myself, and then snap my mandibles with precision right at the weak spot between its head and thorax. The moment my mandibles sink into that vulnerable area, I feel the ant prince shudder, letting out an involuntary screech. It's a critical hit, and I can feel its strength faltering.

The prince tries to shake me off, but it's already too late. My strike has been decisive. The ant's movements become sluggish, its grip on the battle weakening. I quickly pull back—just to be safe, but I can see the prince is on the brink of collapsing.

As the prince collapses, Goldy then takes this opportunity to deal with a decisive blow by snapping her sharp jaw on the prince's neck, namely the weak spot I struck earlier. With that, the prince's head cuts off clean.

The battle is over. Goldy stands tall, breathing heavily but victorious, while the rest of us quickly gather around, ensuring the threat is fully neutralized.

We all take a moment to catch our breath, the adrenaline from the fight still coursing through us. The battle is won.

I turn to the sibling who sacrificed itself for Goldy, my heart heavy with concern. The poison seems to have been quelled, but the bleeding... it won't stop. The wound is severe, and despite their efforts to manage it, the blood continues to seep out. I can see the pain in their eyes, and it makes my stomach twist with frustration.

"Hang in there," I mutter, though I'm not sure if they can hear me. It's a helpless feeling, knowing we are far from any real healing resources. All I can do is stay close and hope that the situation won't worsen. My siblings are tough, but even they have their limits.

I stand frozen, watching as my siblings, including Goldy, surround the fallen caterpillar. For a moment, I think maybe they'll do something respectful, maybe mourn a bit. But instead, to my utter shock, they kill it and—begin... cannibalizing it.

"Well, I guess that's one way to show respect."

The scene before me is unsettling, to say the least. I have known we are survivors, but watching my own kind kill and devour one of their own is something else. Still, there is no point in questioning it. This is how it is.

"No suffering. No waste. Only the cycle." I mutter to myself, still a little stunned by the whole thing. It feels strange, watching my siblings go about their business, feasting on the very one who sacrificed itself. I guess that's just how things work in this world. Survival at any cost, no room for sentimentality.

I sigh, figuring it's pointless to dwell on it. The reality of it all has hit me hard enough. Time to move on, I suppose.

I'm not really keen on the idea of cannibalizing one of my own, but it's not like I have a say in it, right? In this place, you either adapt or you starve. With a resigned sigh, I turn my attention back to the ants, pushing aside the strange feeling that lingers. They are food now, nothing more.

I shove a piece of the ant into my mouth, trying not to think too hard about what has just happened. My siblings are already deep into their meal, focused on survival, and I need to do the same. This isn't the time to get soft. Not here. Not now.

Goldy, without a hint of hesitation, drags the ant prince's carcass to the center and begins feasting on it alone. She doesn't even glance at the rest of us, fully absorbed in her meal. The way she tears into it with no care at all—it's impressive, in a way. Like she has no real concept of guilt or hesitation. Survival of the fittest, I guess.

I can't help but feel a little bit of respect for her at that moment. Not only is she a beast in combat, but now, she is showing us what true survival looks like. No time for hesitation. No time for second-guessing.

I glance over at the others, who are still munching on the ants as well. We are all the same now, in some way. Hunters. Survivors. It doesn't matter that the idea of what has happened back there feels wrong on some level. We can't afford to think like that. Not anymore.

Goldy lurks toward me, her eyes flickering with that same strange intensity. Then, the voice echoes in my mind again, but this time, it's a bit clearer and more direct. I can almost feel her presence surrounding me like she's trying to tell me something important.

"Careful... Grow... Too fast..."

I frown, not entirely sure what she means by that. My growth? Maybe... But I don't even know what this is. Everything feels... different. Stronger. But too fast? I don't know. Is that bad? Also, her voice is clearer than last time... strange.

Then, the voice shifts, and there's something else—another phrase.

"Mother... We See.. Help... Talk..."

What? Mother? My mind stirs, trying to piece together what that means. Not like what? Who is she talking about? My mother—the one who gave birth to me? Or maybe—she means someone else entirely? Someone we're supposed to find?

I glance at Goldy, trying to catch any sign of emotion in her posture or face. But as usual, she's unreadable. Whatever this is, whatever this power, it's too overwhelming for me to fully understand. Something about this is wrong, and I can feel the weight of it pressing down on me.

For now, though, I can't shake the feeling that there's more going on here. That something deeper is happening that I don't fully comprehend.

End of Chapter 4