"MOTHER, NO!"
Sephiran shouted, fluttering back in panic, his tiny fists clenching.
"It won't become you! It'll just be a very bloated, very full worm! Please… give it to Big Brother, Arach! He'll… he'll handle it! Right? Right, Big Brother? Oh… Mother is having some really… really not good thoughts!"
Arach stepped forward, blades partially drawn.
"Hand it over, Mother. It's a pest."
Maddy shook her head, still in full-field zoologist mode.
"No! He's like my brother! Or sister! Look at this!"
In an instant, she shifted into her Chimera Worm form, perfectly mirroring the tiny worm before her. The moment her belly touched the ground, the worm froze—its attempts to bite halted, as if it recognized her. Then, with a joyful bounce, the two worms leaped in unison, tail thrashing and bodies wriggling.
"See? It just wants to play! Hahaha! This is so much fun!"
Her children clutched their heads in disbelief, eyes wide at the chaotic scene.
"Oh no…"
"Wait… Who is Mother?"
