The Hollow Moth: Reincarnated as a Caterpillar

As we crawl forward, I turn to Goldy and ask, "Hey, that huge space we were in before, when we were riding that flying thing—what was that place?"

Goldy, still leading the way, replies without looking back. "Oh, that? That was the space between the 2nd Zone, the Echoing Hall, and the 3rd Zone. It's basically the last area of the 2nd Zone that connects to the 3rd Zone."

I think back to the vast, open area, its eerie echoes, and the strange sense of weightlessness as we ride through the air. "So, we actually went from the 3rd Zone, up to the 2nd Zone, and then back down to a deeper part of the 3rd Zone?"

Goldy nods. "Yep! It's a shortcut."

I blink. "A shortcut?"

"Mhm!" Goldy chirps. "If we had gone through the normal path, we would've had to fight our way through weaker monsters first. But since we got a ride straight to Mother, we skipped all that and landed in the deeper part of the 3rd Zone!"

I process that for a moment before sighing. "So basically, we're in a way more dangerous part of the 3rd Zone than we would've been if we'd just walked here normally?"

Goldy giggles. "That's right! Monsters here are way stronger."

I stare at her. "...And that doesn't concern you?"

Goldy tilts her head as if I have asked the strangest question in the world. "Why would it? We just have to get stronger too!"

I sigh. Of course, that's her answer. "Well, I guess there's no turning back now."

With that, we press on, deeper into the 3rd Zone, where stronger enemies await us.

So all those monsters back in that huge space are supposed to be weaker monsters? Seriously? If those are the weak ones, then what kind of horrors are lurking around here? What, are we going to run into monsters that breathe fire, spit acid, or have some kind of death laser? Great. Just great.

I swear, this whole "getting stronger" thing better come with some serious perks, or I'm going to file a complaint—with who, I have no idea.

As I am lost in my thoughts about fire-breathing, acid-spitting, death-laser-shooting nightmares, one of my siblings suddenly tenses up.

"Mine own bristles do hum with the whispers of the unseen. A tremor from the abyss, a vibration most delicate yet persistent… something doth draw nigh."

I stare at him.

Brown. Bristly. Upright and staring at me like I'm the strange one. His antennae shift slowly, his sharp mandibles resting still and neat. He looks too calm. Too proper for a bug.

Did… did he just say that? Who talks like that? What is he, some kind of Victorian poet? Oh, dear brother verily, I doth perceive a most unsettling disturbance within the aether!

Before I can voice my thoughts, the whole group, especially Goldy, immediately snaps into a battle stance. I quickly follow suit. Whatever is coming, it isn't going to wait for me to finish my internal monologue.

And then it appears—a massive, towering snake-like creature, its bioluminescent skin shifting in mesmerizing patterns. It looks like someone has taken a deep-sea jellyfish, stretched it out, and decided, yeah, let's make this thing a snake.

I squint. Great. A glow-in-the-dark death noodle.

Goldy, ever the leader, steps forward, her spikes bristling as she readies for battle. "That's a Lumi Viper! Be careful of its hypnotizing skin!"

Hypnotizing? Oh, fantastic. So not only is it big and probably fast, but it also comes with a built-in light show designed to fry our brains. Just my luck.

The Lumi Viper wastes no time and spits a stream of poison straight at Goldy. She reacts instantly, dodging with a swift, practiced movement, her body a blur as she closes the distance toward the snake.

At the same time, the three siblings who specialized in shooting spines do what they do best—firing off a barrage of hardened projectiles at the snake. The spines zip through the air, some striking the Lumi Viper's glowing body while others miss, clattering onto the cavern floor.

Well, at least they aren't just standing around, I think, watching the fight unfold. Now let's see if this thing is as tough as it looks.

Victor, the ever-eloquent brother, turns to me with his bristles still faintly trembling.

"Dear Sister, might I entreat upon thee to partake in the noble fray alongside our esteemed Young Highness? Thy bristles and spines, no doubt, would prove most advantageous in the vanquishing of this most accursed serpent!"

I stare at him again. Did he just ask me to jump into close combat in the most roundabout way possible?

Well, two can play that game.

"Ah, but of course, my most loquacious kin! How could I ever forsake our radiant Young Highness in her gallant endeavor? Verily, I shall lend my humble mandibles and bristles to this most fateful battle!"

Victor actually nods, seeming pleased with my response. Goldy, on the other hand, barely spares us a glance, too focused on the Lumi Viper, which is already recoiling from the earlier spine barrage.

Alright, enough messing around. Time to get in there. I ready myself and rush toward the fight.

Goldy lunges at the Lumi Viper with precision, her spines glinting under the glow of the bioluminescent patterns. As Victor and I rush in to assist, the rest of our siblings waste no time positioning themselves strategically—four flanking from behind, three scaling the ceiling, and the last three continuing their barrage of spines from the rear.

The Lumi Viper hisses, its shifting colors growing erratic as it recoils from Goldy's relentless assault. I can feel the air hum with the vibrations of movement, my bristles picking up every slight shift in the battle.

Victor, ever the dramatist, calls out, "Beware, dear siblings! The wretched serpent shall seek to enthrall thee with its deceitful shimmer!"

Right. Hypnosis.

I narrow my eyes, forcing myself to focus on the movement of its body rather than the mesmerizing patterns rippling across its skin. The last thing I need is to freeze up mid-fight.

Goldy dodges another spit of venom, her movements swift and practiced. Meanwhile, the siblings behind the Lumi Viper strike—biting at its body, forcing it to coil defensively. The ones on the ceiling prepare their descent, aiming for a synchronized ambush.

Seeing an opening, I surge forward, bristles twitching, ready to strike. Time to see just how much I can really do.

I lunge forward, bristles sharp with anticipation, and drive my spine into the Lumi Viper's side. At the same time, two of my siblings flank from behind, striking in unison.

The attack lands—our spines pierce into the viper's bioluminescent flesh, making it let out a sharp, hissing cry. For a moment, I think we have it—until its body suddenly twists and flails violently.

Oh.

Before I can react, a powerful swing of its tail sends all three of us flying.

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Well, that's unfortunate.

I feel the rush of air as I tumble backward, then—THUD. I crash onto the cold cavern floor, bristles scraping against the rough surface. The impact rattles me for a moment, and I barely have time to register the ringing in my head before—

"Dear sibling! Art thou still in one piece, or hath the cruel hands of fate delivered thee unto despair?"

Oh, for the love of Mother.

I groan, rolling onto my legs, and turn to see Victor staring at me with deep, dramatic concern, his own bristles twitching with exaggerated worry.

"Victor, please. I just got thrown, not staged a tragic demise."

Still, I shake myself off, flexing my spines experimentally. Everything seems intact. Which means—

I snap my gaze back toward the Lumi Viper. It is still writhing, trying to shake off the pain from our combined assault. Goldy is already moving in again.

I let out a breath. "Alright, Victor. Less theatrics, more fighting. Let's finish this thing."

Victor and I steady ourselves, facing the Lumi Viper as it coils and shifts. Goldy, usually relentless, hesitates this time, her stance wary.

The Viper, sensing an opportunity, suddenly flares its bioluminescent scales. The shifting colors pulse in mesmerizing patterns, an eerie, hypnotic dance of blues and purples.

I feel something tug at my mind—a heavy, drowsy sensation, like sinking into a warm, endless abyss. My limbs slacken and my focus blurs.

"Ah… such resplendence, such unearthly allure!" Victor's voice echoes through the haze, his tone filled with awe. "'Tis as though the very cosmos hath descended upon us, whispering secrets of the eternal! Might this be—nay, surely this must be—the divine artistry of fate itself!"

Oh, for Mother's sake.

I barely manage to shoot him a glare, my mind sluggishly trying to resist. Not the time for poetry, Victor.

But… I have to admit, the colors are… quite pretty…

The Lumi Viper seizes the moment. In one swift, fluid motion, it lunges at one of our siblings, sinking its fangs deep into their side. A sickening crunch echoes through the cavern. With terrifying strength, the viper flings them against the dungeon wall.

Another sibling barely has time to react before the serpent strikes again—this time using its tail, coiling them, its coils tightening, and then launching them through the air like a discarded husk.

Then it turns to Goldy.

She stands frozen, eyes locked onto the shifting lights, her usual sharp focus clouded. The viper rears back, ready to strike—

Fwip!

A spine shoots through the air, striking the viper in the side. It recoils with a hiss, its hypnotic glow flickering. The spell breaks.

Goldy blinks rapidly, realization dawning as she stumbles back, putting distance between herself and the creature.

I gasp for breath, the weight of the trance lifting. My mind snaps back into focus, and as I turn to look at our fallen siblings, my gut twists.

Not again.

Victor, beside me, shudders. His usual dramatic flair is gone, his expression grim.

We have to end this

Then I see it.

A sibling, unlike the others.

His body is dark purple, deep and muted, blending into the shadows. He is lean, with sharp edges and thin bristles and spines tipped in faint, sickly green, glowing softly like venom ready to strike. His eyes are narrow, cold, and calculating—he looks dangerous, made for precise and deadly movements.

Then, in a sudden burst of fury, he lunges.

Enraged, his bristles and spines flare wide as he drives a venomous spike straight into the Lumi Viper's side with ruthless precision.

The viper lets out a shrill, hissing screech, its glowing patterns flickering erratically as it recoils. Its body twists violently, trying to shake him off, but he clings on, pushing the spike deeper.

Goldy, now fully back to her senses, sees the opening. "Now! While it's distracted!" she commands, her voice sharp and clear.

The rest of us move without hesitation.

The siblings clinging to the ceiling take their chance. One by one, they drop onto the Lumi Viper, their bristles flaring as they stab into its bioluminescent scales. The sudden weight and piercing strikes force the viper to the ground, its long body thrashing violently against the cave floor.

With a loud, guttural hiss, it coils in on itself, its shifting patterns flickering like a dying ember. It tries to rise again, but with the venom from our sibling sinking in, the spines digging deeper, and the weight of multiple caterpillars holding it down, it is losing strength fast.

Goldy doesn't waste a second. "Finish it!" she commands, her eyes locked onto the struggling creature.

I waste no time. With the viper pinned down, its struggles growing weaker, I lunge forward, sinking my mandibles into its glowing flesh. A sharp, bitter taste fills my mouth, but I bite down harder, tearing at the flesh as Victor joins in beside me.

"Ah, dear sibling, let us bring swift judgment upon this wretched beast!" Victor declares in his usual verbose manner as he sinks his own mandibles into the creature's side.

The others follow suit, striking with their spines, biting, and tearing into the viper's thrashing body. It lets out a final, agonized hiss, its bioluminescent glow flickering erratically.

Then Goldy steps forward. She climbs onto its head, her bristles standing on end. Without hesitation, she drives her mandibles into its eye, biting deep and ripping it apart and she spits it out like it is worth damn nothing. The viper's body spasms violently, then goes still followed by the bioluminescent scales, fading.

Silence fills the cavern, only broken by the siblings' heavy breathing. We have won.

After a moment of silence, I prod the viper's motionless body with one of my spines. No reaction. Yeah, it is definitely dead.

Just as I confirm it, two of our siblings drag the fallen ones toward Goldy. The rest of us gather around them, forming a tight circle.

Goldy, standing tall despite her wounds, looks over the two still forms. Her bristles twitch as she takes a deep breath. "They fought bravely. Their strength carried us through this battle. We will not forget them." She pauses, then continues, her tone steady. "And to honor them, we will eat them."

I almost forget cannibalism is a thing. Right. We're bugs. Bugs do that. Still, the human part of me cringes a little. Not that I am about to argue. Food is food, and in this place, survival comes first.

As I watch my siblings tear into the fallen, I just… can't do it. My mandibles twitch, but no matter how much I try to convince myself, the human part of me still recoils.

So I just sit there, silent, as they eat.

When they are done, Goldy turns toward me. Her glowing eyes study me for a moment before she speaks. "You didn't join us."

I stiffen. I need an excuse. Something. Anything. "I… I'm sorry," I say, lowering my head. "I just—I can't. Not yet."

Goldy tilts her head, then lets out a soft hum. "It's alright," she says, surprisingly gentle. "You have past life memories, don't you? Maybe in that life, cannibalism was something frowned upon."

I blink. That… is unexpectedly understanding.

"Yes," I say, relieved she isn't pressing the issue.

As she turns back to the others, I stare at her, a little stunned. For once, she actually acts like a big sister.

Goldy suddenly perks up, her usual energy returning in full force. "Enough weeping!" she declares, waving a stubby proleg. "Time to eat that damn snake and get our bellies full!"

I let out a small sigh, shaking off the lingering thoughts. Yeah, I guess brooding over it won't change anything. Survival is survival.

"…Alright," I say, stepping forward. "Let's eat."

And with that, I finally join them.

As I sink my mandibles into the Lumi Viper's flesh, a strange taste spreads across my mouth—somewhere between bitter herbs and liquid medicines. I grimace.

"…Tastes weird," I mutter.

Victor, of course, has to chime in with his usual speech. "Ah, the essence of the labyrinth's offerings—an intricate blend of nature's finest toxins and the faintest hint of despair. A meal fit for those who tread the perilous path of survival."

Goldy shoots us both a look. "No complaining," she says flatly, swallowing another chunk. "It's what we have, and we need to get stronger. So eat."

I sigh but keep eating. Well, she isn't wrong.

As we continue eating, Goldy suddenly turns to me, her antennae twitching with curiosity.

"Hey Sis, Why do you call me 'Goldy'?" she asks, tilting her head. "Most just call me 'Royal Sister' or 'Your Highness' and all that, but you never do."

I swallow a chunk of viper and shrug. "It's too long. I'm not gonna say 'Royal' this and 'Royal' that all the time. You're gold-colored, so... Goldy."

Goldy blinks, then nods. "Oh. That makes sense, I guess. Simple enough."

Then she glances at Victor, who is still chewing dramatically. "What about him? Why 'Victor'?"

At that, Victor perks up, his bristles straightening. "Ah, indeed, Most Esteemed Sister! I, too, have contemplated the origins of this curious appellation thou hast conferred upon me. Pray, enlighten us forthwith!"

I smirk. "Don't worry about it. Just something from my past life."

Victor and Goldy exchange looks, clearly confused, but I just keep eating. No way I am explaining the Victorian thing.

As I keep eating, I notice the other siblings glancing at each other, then at Goldy.

One of them, a bristle-covered one, hesitantly speaks up. "Uh... so, can we call you Goldy too?"

"Yeah," another chimes in. "Goldy's easier to say than 'Royal Sister' or 'Your Highness' all the time."

Goldy blinks, then grins. "Sure! I don't mind." She flicks her antennae happily. "Goldy it is!"

Then, for some reason, they all turn to Victor.

"And Victor... uh, Victor, right?"

Victor, as if expecting this grand acknowledgment, straightens himself, his bristles quivering dramatically. "Ah! It pleases me greatly that you all would accept such a noble title! Very well, I shall bear this name with pride!"

I roll my eyes. Of course, he would take it like that.

Then, a few of the siblings turn my way.

"Uh... what about us?" one of them asks. "Can you name us too?"

I pause mid-bite. "No."

They all look taken aback. "Why not?"

I sigh. "Because I don't know you that well yet."

They look a little disappointed but don't push the issue. Goldy just laughs. "Guess you gotta earn names, huh?"

I just keep eating. No way I'm naming an entire brood right now.

Goldy tilts her head. "You've been calling us names, but what about you? Do you have a name?"

The others murmur in agreement, clearly curious. Even Victor, who usually has something overly elaborate to say, simply waits for my answer.

I hesitate. I do have a name—Nur. It is something I instinctively think of myself as ever since I hatched. But saying it out loud… it feels different.

After a brief pause, I swallow my food and nod. "Yeah. It's Nur."

Goldy's antennae twitch. "Nur, huh?" She repeats it, testing how it sounds. "That's short. Simple." Then she grins. "I like it!"

The others seem to accept it as well, some repeating it to themselves.

Victor, of course, has to chime in. "Ah, a name as succinct as it is refined. Fitting for one as sharp-witted as you, dear Sister!"

I roll my eyes but let it slide. At least now I won't be just "Hey" to everyone.

End of Chapter 8