Evil, Now I'm a Baby Wyvern
The wyvern egg was probably several times the size of an ostrich egg. After evolving into a Crystal Crown Python, my body had shrunk a bit, allowing me to barely squeeze inside. The wyvern's neck and head looked just like a snake's. But from the neck down, it resembled the dragons of legend—with wings where the front legs should be. Considering how bird wings evolved from modified forelimbs, it was a perfectly reasonable anatomy. The hind legs were sturdy enough to stand on two feet, and the tail ended in hard spikes that could whip like an iron mace or help balance in flight. The hatchlings all looked pretty similar.
I was a snake, so my body was long, but my head was noticeably smaller.
Little Black Wyvern lv1
Traits
[Baby]
That's what their status windows showed. Similar to my own baby days. But a bit different from the 'Wangnuni Larva' centipede triplets.
'Come to think of it, these guys are quadruplets too.'
The centipede babies came to mind. Ah, wyverns were originally quadruplets. Human idiots turned them into triplets. Oblivious to that, the hatchlings cheeped with mouths agape, begging like baby birds for food.
The Wyvern Queen, brutal to humans, now brimmed with twisted maternal warmth. She regurgitated stored food into a thick nutrient slurry for her young. The babies devoured the warm, gooey mush with relish. A heartwarming sight.
'Urk!'
I barely suppressed my gag reflex.
After one round of feeding, it was my turn again. The others shoved in to steal it.
"Cheep!"
"Pip!"
Gluttony, sure—but I appreciated it. This is sibling love, huh. First time feeling it.
But their noble sacrifice for the nutrient hell shattered.
"Kwagak!"
Mom whacked them with her tail.
"Kwagak, kwagaak!"
Stealing from the poor runt? Have you no shame?!
The others wilted, mouths shut. Spineless brats. I had to choke it down again.
"Gulp glug glug!"
Ugh. Bizarre taste. Even I, tempered by centipedes, earthworms, and mosquito rats, struggled to swallow. But bitter medicine builds the body. The slurry was insanely nutrient-dense.
Oblivion Wyvern Queen Seletta's Nutrient Slurry
Body and demonic essence grow.
First time eating something like this. No wonder the babies mobbed for it. They swelled visibly with each gulp. I wasn't a baby, so no size gain—just shinier scales. Even that worried Mom; she force-fed me more.
"Gulp glug!"
Oblivion Wyvern Queen Seletta's Nutrient Slurry
Body and demonic essence grow.
Level up!
Leveled up. Won't evolve from this, right? Into some Wyvern Python? Scary.
'Can you really evolve just from eating?'
- Or how else would those brats grow hunting here? Pfft.
Pellelian's laugh grated. Still, wyvern slurry was miraculous. Strength from mere eating. Rich folks would pay fortunes. Free buffet here? Priceless luck. Must be...
Twitch twitch. Isil, clinging to me, rustled her leaves in complaint. Want some too, huh? 'Wish I could share.'
Mom fondly stroked our heads with her tail.
* * *
Birds and flying monsters exhibit an imprinting effect. Newborns mistake the first being they see for their mother.
Historically, this has spurred attempts to domesticate flying beasts. Intact eggs could theoretically be hatched under control.
But before practicality... Imprinting has a reverse effect. Mothers mistake the first hatchling for their own.
Like cuckoos laying in others' nests, some monsters do the same. Believe it or not.
Legend tells of a bold snake monster laying in a dragon's nest. The dragon raised the snake as its own wyvernling.
* * *
No mirrors here. Just three days in, but I felt plumper. Illusion, probably.
- Illusion? You're fat now.
'Say my figure's improved?'
Couldn't deny it. Slurry was nutrient-packed. Shockingly, I adapted to the taste. Actually palatable. No parental cooking in my past life, but this? True mother's milk. Way better than Medusa Mom's venom rice.
My body fattened nicely. Snake perk: face stays slim, just torso bulks. Fine for me; not the triplets.
"Pip pip pip!"
"Kreee!"
"Chwee!"
Different cries. Pip, Kay, Chwee? They'd grown heads bigger in three days. Tyrannosaur-nub wings now decent-sized—still too small to fly. No real skills yet.
Biggest and boldest: Pip, probably big sis. Wyvern females outsize males.
"Pip..."
Pip snarled, baring her single tooth. Not very scary.
Surprisingly, I ate the most slurry among us four. Felt guilty stealing baby food, but hey—runt treatment meant force-feeds. Triplets resented it. Pip ambushed whenever.
"Pik!"
Leapt, jaws wide. But a lv3 Little Black Wyvern's sneak attack? Child's play. Dodged, tail-slapped.
Smack!
"Piiiik! Pik!"
Dramatic wail—like I bit her. Shiba-level drama.
Then meek Kay pounced.
"Chit!"
Not me—Isil on my back. But Isil had evolved once, born from world tree roots. Superior lineage.
Snap.
Vine shot out, gripped Kay's neck. Bound wings and legs.
Crunch.
Jiu-jitsu joint lock.
"Chiiiik!"
More drama.
Not fun brawling—but hierarchy needs enforcing. Order: me, Isil, triplets.
Mom watched, then cooed to stop.
"Kwoooo!"
Wish Medusa Mom was this sweet. She doted fiercely.
'Time to go.'
Can't stay forever. Meetings end in partings. Here for Pellelian's dungeon in Delphram, right?
- Fine. No time loss.
From the high blade spire: nest north of my capture spot. Closer to Delphram.
- Bit more north, then Delphram. Wait for chance.
Mom leaves to hunt. Huge body needs fuel; slurry from meals.
"Kukuku."
Licked us all, flapped off.
'Thanks for everything.'
Even cold snake heart felt weird. Watching Seletta soar tugged.
- Move!
Can't live as wyvern baby. Farewell to triplets.
'Bye, kids.'
They stared blankly—no comprehension. But as I descended...
"Piii!"
"Kay!"
'Danger!' Rushed to grab me. Unexpected attachment.
Wasn't jumping—climbed down with Isil's vines. Still, they fretted.
"Pip! Pi!"
Persistent cries. Problem: Mom's subordinate wyverns nearby.
- Told you to handle the brats!
'Trash fairy.'
- Knockout only...!
Flee. As I hit ground, others scanned, wings spreading. Triplets' fault.
'No hiding spots!'
Guano-hard soil: ant-tunnel only. No shade...
"Kwagagaga."
"Guguk!"
Adults took off, strange cries. Hunting me? No—skyward, at clouds.
'What the...'
Clouds parted: new wyverns, all white.
- Different colors. Rival pack raid. Lucky for you—blacks vs whites.
Adults countered.
"Kwagagak!"
Blacks tangled with whites midair. Epic aerial clash. White snake vanishing? Unnoticed.
Targeted Mom's absence. Worried for triplets, but...
'They'll be fine.'
Dark shadow stirred in clouds. Another wyvern? Massive.
Instant: beam lanced from clouds—to the nest.
Boom!
Rock exploded. Destruction Beam. Like Mom or Dad—giant wyvern hidden.
And...
"Piiiik!"
Hatchlings plummeted screaming.
'Shit!'
- Damn it!
I gaped; Pellelian fumed. Dodged falling debris. Predator Leap to mid-spire ledge. Leap, leap—to halfway. Spotted falling Pip.
Transparent Hand snatched her.
'Whoa!'
Too heavy. Coiled tail, teeth clamped pillar—barely held.
"Kay!"
Second fell.
'Isil!'
Vine-gripped. Crunch! Weight on me—teeth nearly snapped.
Third impossible. But no Chwee cry. Already...?
"Chuuui!"
Glanced: 'Baby!' Flapping glide—slow enough.
- Sky, idiot!
White wyvern dove—for Chwee.
Snap.