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As the creature fed, its body began to swell at a terrifying speed. In less than an hour, its original size of under a meter exploded to nearly two meters. Coupled with its jet-black, metallic exoskeleton, it looked utterly bone-chilling. I felt that if I had encountered such a thing in my previous world, I would have died of fright on the spot.
The transformation wasn't just in size; the Xenomorph’s head lost its original luster, the dorsal tubes became thick and powerful, and its pincer-like claws gradually grew into opposable fingers, much like a human's. Due to the unique traits of its species, and because there were no other Xenomorphs in this space, it began to evolve once more.
During the feeding process, the male genes within it faded as the female genes took dominance, slowly transforming it into a Queen.
"A Xenomorph Queen?" I muttered, stunned. I had thought I would need to keep breeding new Facehuggers to build an army, but it turns out this species has an innate way of ensuring its survival. Does "life find a way," as they say?
However, the newly evolved Queen didn't immediately start laying eggs. Instead, she approached me slowly and knelt down respectfully, like a high-ranking minister bowing to a monarch. Although the Queen is the true leader in a natural hive, I was her creator, making my authority absolute. She remained huddled at my feet, docile and obedient, not daring to overstep.
This display of submission stirred a strange feeling within me. I tentatively reached out and stroked her head; the texture was smoother than I imagined, feeling almost like the sleek skin of a girl's leg. I suddenly felt that my Queen was actually a rather graceful "lady" in her own way.
But just as I was about to indulge further, my stomach roared like a drum. I had been so focused on feeding my beast that I forgot about myself. Time to eat!
Just as I prepared to exit the beast space, the Queen moved. With a powerful kick of her hind legs, she blurred across the grassland. In a flash, she returned, dropping a mangled bull at my feet. She crouched nearby, looking at me expectantly—much like a kitten bringing a dead mouse to its owner.
"Thanks, but you eat it," I said with a mix of helplessness and affection.
Watching her enjoy the meal under my command, I whispered, "Jarvis, exit," and returned to the real world. My stomach growled like thunder. I couldn't care about my "King" persona anymore; I sprinted toward the academy cafeteria. It was late, and since all freshmen had received their meal cards, the place was packed.
"Are you truly that Leon?" a booming, disdainful voice called out just as I reached the doors.
I frowned. Who is this brat addressing me by my name so casually?
Whispers erupted among the surrounding students. "Leon? Isn't that the fool who chose an insect? My Great Horned Bull could stomp him into the dirt with one kick!" another sneered, "What a waste of national resources!"
I ignored them. How can a hawk concern itself with the chirping of sparrows? I focused on the person who stopped me. He was massive, wearing a tight black tracksuit that couldn't contain his bulging muscles. He stood about 1.9 meters tall, looking like he could crush me with a single punch.
"Are you... the P.E. teacher?" I asked, my lip twitching.
In my past life, P.E. teachers were always "sick" and stayed silent when other teachers took their slots. But here, physical prowess is tied to beast strength; P.E. teachers hold absolute authority. I thought he was here to scold me for my choice.
The giant blinked, then snorted, "What are you talking about? I'm Mark. My entrance rank was 11th, with a score of 675." He continued seriously, "I remember you, Leon. You were 7th in the city with a 689. Since we’ve crossed paths, why don't we settle who's better right here?"
The crowd went wild. "Mark? The wealthy one whose family owns the largest supermarket chain?" People were buzzing with excitement. Mark had always been confident, but being ranked 11th—just outside the top ten—stung him. Now, seeing the "genius" who chose a bug in front of him, he saw a perfect chance to prove himself before classes even began.
"Even though the school gave us a week to train, I'm sure someone like you has already started," Mark said, gripping his beast card tightly. "So, let’s duel! Leon!"
I was a bit speechless. I didn't expect a hothead to challenge me on my very first day. But I wasn't about to back down. Constant challenges would allow my Queen to assimilate more genes. Mark seemed confident, which meant his beast was likely formidable.
I smirked internally. Fine, Mark. Let’s see how strong my Queen truly is in this world!
- Writer
