Day 350 - 10:02 AM - Central Pond, Mountain Base, Mount Malabito, General Nakar, Province of Quezon
It should be a normal day for everyone. As for Mark's crew, it was another day to prepare for their next journey.
However, just as unexpected as the apocalypse ca, the egg of the [Evolved Dragonfly] i received in New Jersey showed signs of hatching.
It had been several months. And given the dragonfly's egg-laying behaviors, they left the egg at the pond they created around the [Night Everred Pure Spirit Tree]. The one tasked to take care of the egg was Milielle, the [rmaid] Princess, who chose to live in that sa pond.
Milielle was also the first to notice the signs and imdiately asked soone to call for i and Mark, who happened to be present at the base.
And now, a small group of people gathered, with Mark and i at the center, waiting for the egg's cracks as they widen.
It was not the first egg to hatch nor the first baby animal born in the Mountain Base.
The [Evolved Greebes] Mark caught before already had a dozen chicks expected to provide a consistent egg supply for the base in the near future. Even the [Evolved Cows] had already given birth to a calf. There were also other animals and insects in the base that already had an offspring or two.
However, it would be the first ti for most people to see a newly hatched dragonfly. Furthermore, most people did not even know what hatches from a dragonfly's egg or their life cycle.
With an [Evolved Dragonfly] egg hatching, many people in the base, especially children, would feel interested. In fact, the morning class for the children got cut early for the students to watch a dragonfly egg hatch.
The dragonfly egg lay in the middle of a nest-shaped clump of water lily leaves mostly subrged in water. They placed it at the deepest part of the pond usually, but Milliel moved it to a shallower part after she noticed its hatching. It was not sothing recomnded when hatching insects, but they needed to do it. This egg was not a usual dragonfly but a highly mutated one. It could turn out to be dangerous if left alone unguarded.
"Ooohhh, it's cracking!"
One of the children loudly exclaid, only to be hushed by everyone around him.
Slowly, the cracks of the egg spread out to the top of the egg. It was quite a strange way to hatch. One would expect it to be at the side of the egg instead.
SNAP!
A snapping sound followed the cracking of the egg's hard shell. The nymph inside the egg seed to be pushing the large part on top of the shell off.
SNAP!
Another snap echoed as the top part of the egg's shell ca off.
It was one leg at first. Then, the mandibles and head.
A clear-white nymph peeked out of the opened shell.
"Everyone, step back first," Odelina warned the onlookers. "Don't get too close. We don't know if it will be aggressive or not."
Everyone complied. It was better to be safe than sorry, especially in the world's current circumstances.
The only ones left near the pond were the mbers of Mark's usual crew, with the addition of Annica and Berrak. Of course, Milliell was also there, watching inside the pond.
One leg after another, the nymph ca out of the egg. And with a splash, it plopped into the water. However, it did not sing or swim. It floated motionlessly, seemingly dead.
"What happened?"
Annica asked, worried that the new pet had so problems.
"Just watch," Mark answered. "It just hatched. It's still weak, and its body is still too soft. Wait until its body gets so color."
"How did you know, Uncle?" Emika chid in. "Another of your Otaku knowledge?"
"Not really," Mark denied. "We have a creek near our house where we planted river spinach when I was little. There are a lot of dragonflies there, and I lost count of how many tis I raised one of these."
"Oooh."
Emika and the others who heard Mark were impressed.
"And this one in front of us is not just idling around," Mark continued. "It's impressively intelligent."
"What? Why?"
Annica asked for further explanation.
"It's observing its surroundings, especially us," Mark explained. "I'm pretty sure that's not a usual behavior for newly hatched insects."
"Maybe it's imprinting?" Berrak spoke. "A lot of baby animals do that, even magical ones. Though, I don't know about this one. Maybe not."
But to everyone's surprise, Mark agreed with Berrak.
"I think you're not wrong," Mark nodded. "The nymph had been focusing on i'er since earlier. I wonder if it recognizes her since she received the egg and was the first one to hold it."
On the other hand, i seed to only focus on the nymph. She also wanted a pet of her own. And now, it would be fulfilled. However, it was rather unusual for a woman to have an insect as her personal pet. Then again, it was i. She did not even care much about getting carried by Fein, the coward beetle, and flying in the sky.
After two minutes, the nymph gained so color. Its skin showed a yellower color. It was quite fast, in Mark's opinion.
As the nymph's body solidified, it began its first paddles of its legs. Soon, it moved its abdon and began to swim. It then latched on the rocks at the side of the pond before staring at Mark's group while tilting its head.
At this point, everyone was on guard. Not everyone here could tell how the nymph would behave.
But Mark stared at the nymph. Then, he scratched his head.
"Try approaching it."
Mark helplessly said with a pat on i's head.
"Is it okay?"
i asked. Although she was rather excited, she was also wary. It was a mutated insect, after all.
"I don't think it sees you as its mother. At the least, it's not aggressive. Just take it slow and don't startle it. It looks confused about sothing." Mark explained. "Also, try this first."
Mark then took out a piece of raw mutated lizard at from his [Spatial Ring] and handed it to i on a platter.
"Why do you have sothing like that inside your ring?"
Spera asked Mark, seeing the odd thing he was carrying inside his storage.
"I didn't have it earlier," Mark replied. "I took it from the kitchen when i called ."
"Ah," Spera understood. "You already expected this since you raised so before."
"Not exactly, but close."
Mark shrugged. He had no idea if that would work. After all, nymphs and dragonflies feed on other insects. On the other hand, the mother of this nymph fed on [Infected] corpses. In that case, it should be capable of eating animal flesh.
Everyone watched as i carefully approached the nymph. The nymph did not show much movent. However, it continued to stare at i as she moved closer.
When the two were just a few steps apart, i placed the at just a foot away in front of the nymph.
The nymph looked at i. And then, on the at. Finally, the nymph moved, stepping closer to the platter.
As the nymph reached the at, it began chomping on it. Was it hungry already? It was continuously biting pieces of at off the platter.
While the nymph ate, i took advantage of the situation and slowly reached out. Finally, i's right hand touched the hardened shell on the head of the nymph. i looked at Mark with an excited smile.
Mark smiled back, and he was relieved. The nymph clearly saw i. However, it did not care. In fact, it also showed so excitent when she touched it.
It looked like there would be no problems raising this nymph, at least for now.
Nonetheless, it was quite a strange sight. It was a scene of a beautiful woman touching an adult cat-sized insect.
"Can I touch it too?"
Miracle tugged on Mark's clothes, asking for her father's permission.
"Later," Mark patted her head. "It still needs to get used to your Mama before we can play with it. If it gets startled now, it might bite."
"Okay."
Miracle nodded. She was a little disappointed. However, she was understanding enough to follow Mark's instructions and be patient.
It took another minute, which passed rather quickly for everyone. At that ti, the nymph finished its al. After all, it was just a small cut of at. Even if the nymph only took a little in each bite, it bit rather quickly.
After eating, the nymph quickly walked to i's foot. However, instead of rubbing its body on her leg as one would expect a docile animal would do, it began stretching its legs.
And then, everyone gasped. The nymph jumped onto i.
Unfortunately for the nymph, it ended up nowhere. A hand appeared out of nowhere and grabbed it on its back. It could only flail its legs in protest, but there was no way it would be able to escape the hand grasping it.
It was Mark. He could only shrug as he held onto the large insect.
"You okay?"
Mark asked i. She was also surprised. It seed that she let her guard down after the docile display of the insect.
"I'm okay," i replied and asked. "Did it turn aggressive?"
"No, it didn't," Mark replied. "It's just, it is intelligent for an insect, but its intelligence is just on the level of a cat. It wanted to climb on your shoulder, I think. But it didn't regard its claws hurting you."
Mark pointed at the claws of the flailing insect. It had sharp hooks that could likely slice through human skin easily.
"We need to train strictly before letting it run around," Mark said before turning his head to soone. "Annica, your turn."
Annica stepped forward and nodded. Among the people in the base, she was one of the most important people because of her ability. It was to ta evolved and mutated animals that gained a certain level of intelligence. Furthermore, she could communicate with them clearly.
However, the most important thing about Annica's ability was her capability to transfer her "connection" to her tad animals to other people. It might have a limit of one animal per person. However, it also ant clear communication between the animal and the owner.
Everyone watched as the process went through. Mark restrained the flailing insect while Annica held its head to ta it. Annica closed her eyes as she ford a connection with the insect. When the connection ford, the nymph's resistance beca weaker.
It was then Annica grabbed i's hand before she closed her eyes again.
i felt a little dizzy and could not help but close her eyes. She could feel sothing strange forming inside her mind. Nonetheless, it was a familiar sensation for her. It was sothing she was already used to.
"Huh?"
Annica opened her eyes in surprise.
"What's wrong?"
Mark asked.
"There's nothing wrong," Annica said while looking at i. "Rather, it went so well that it surprised ."
Forming a connection to a tad animal was like forming a new organ that could sense the animal's thoughts. Annica was already used to it, but people who would experience it for the first ti would feel extrely nauseous. Sotis, they would even fall unconscious.
As Emika transferred the connection to i, Mark was already preparing to catch i if that happened. However, i remained standing, although her thoughts were a little fuzzy.
i opened her eyes. She then looked at the nymph while the latter looked at her.
All of a sudden, the nymph went limp as if it beca dejected about sothing.
"Wow," Annica exclaid. "Sister can already send her thoughts. Other people needed a few days to get used to it and so more ti to send commands. It's just been a few seconds!"
There sure was sothing strange going on with i. It could be a good or bad thing. Nonetheless, it looked like they properly put the nymph under control. The only thing left was to train it slowly while raising it to beco a magnificent ruler of the sky.
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