Jaden's head spun as consciousness returned. His body ached—or rather, it felt alien. Something was wrong. His limbs weren't limbs anymore, his vision blurred and distorted. Panic surged through him as he struggled to move, only to feel a strange wriggling motion.
"What the hell...?" he thought, his voice echoing in his mind but failing to emerge from his nonexistent lips.
The world around him was a chaotic blur of color and sound. Towering stalks of grass swayed like massive trees, and distant screeches and roars vibrated through the air, sending chills down his spine. He attempted to move, his body shifting and squirming across the ground in a feeble crawl.
"This isn't real. I'm dreaming. I have to be dreaming!"
But the pain of scraping his soft body against a jagged rock confirmed otherwise. This was real. He was real. The cold truth hit him like a freight train: he wasn't human anymore.
Before despair could take hold, a mechanical chime echoed in his mind, halting his thoughts.
***
[Welcome, Traveler.]
[You have been chosen to enter Evolvia, the world of endless evolution.]
[Your current form: Pink Worm (Tier 0). Classification: Low-tier creature.]
[Survival Rate: 3%. Adaptation necessary.]
***
Jaden's panic turned to confusion. "What... what is this? Some kind of... game?"
The voice was calm and unfeeling, completely detached from his terror. Before he could process the situation, a shadow loomed over him. He twisted his head—or what passed for a head—to see a massive insect-like creature, its mandibles clacking hungrily. It was some sort of centipede, its segmented body glistening in the faint light.
Instinct screamed at him to flee, but his frail body barely managed to wriggle an inch before the creature lunged. Its mandibles snapped down, narrowly missing him as he twisted desperately.
***
[Critical Threat Detected.]
[Initiating emergency evolution protocol.]
***
A glowing blue interface materialized before his vision, presenting three options:
1. [Crimson Ant] – Fast, agile, and skilled in teamwork.
2.[ Iron Beetle] – Tough, durable, and defensive.
3. [Mystic Moth] – Stealthy, with an affinity for illusions.
"Evolve? What does that even mean?!" Jaden screamed internally. The centipede hissed, preparing for another strike.
He didn't have time to think. He selected the first option—Crimson Ant—on instinct, praying it would save him. The system's voice rang out once more.
***
[Evolution initiated. Brace for transformation.]
***
Pain flooded his senses as his body began to change. He felt his form elongating, hardening, and reshaping. His pink, squishy skin turned a deep crimson, and his soft body gained a hardened exoskeleton. Sharp mandibles sprouted from his face, and six segmented legs replaced his useless worm-like body.
The transformation ended in seconds, leaving him gasping—if ants could gasp. The moment he regained control, he darted forward with speed that shocked him, narrowly avoiding the centipede's strike. His newfound agility allowed him to dodge and weave as the predator gave chase.
Jaden's mind raced. He was no longer helpless. His legs moved with precision, carrying him through the thick underbrush. He spotted a crevice in a nearby rock and dashed toward it, slipping inside just as the centipede's mandibles snapped at the entrance.
The predator hissed in frustration, unable to reach him. Jaden's body trembled as he realized he had survived—barely.
***
[Congratulations, Traveler. Evolution successful.]
[Form: Crimson Ant (Tier 1). Basic attributes enhanced. Agility increased. New skill unlocked: Pheromone Sense.]
***
The system's calm voice broke through his racing thoughts, and for the first time since waking in this bizarre world, Jaden allowed himself to breathe—or whatever the ant equivalent was.
"Pheromone Sense?" he muttered. Instinctively, he activated the skill, and his perception shifted. The air seemed to come alive with invisible trails, each one carrying information—danger, safety, food. He could sense the centipede still lurking nearby, its pheromones reeking of hunger and aggression.
"Okay... I'm not dead. That's a start," Jaden muttered. But his relief was short-lived. The realization of his situation hit him like a tidal wave.
He was no longer human. He was a creature at the bottom of the food chain, trapped in an alien world. And if the centipede was any indication, this place was unforgiving.
Still, he had survived. And if the system was telling the truth, he had a chance to evolve—to grow stronger. Jaden clenched his mandibles, determination replacing his fear.
***
[Traveler, your journey begins. Adapt, evolve, and survive.]
[Failure to do so will result in termination.]
***
"Great," Jaden muttered. "No pressure, huh?"
As the centipede finally slithered away, Jaden emerged from the crevice, his new body moving with surprising ease. He didn't know how long he could last in this world, but one thing was clear: he wasn't going down without a fight.
With the system as his guide, he would evolve. He would survive. And maybe, just maybe, he'd figure out why he was here—and how to get back home.