Darkness. Silence. Hunger. And then—pain.
'Where am I? Why is it so dark? But… It's warm. Cozy. I just want to sleep. I'm so hungry. I need something to eat…'
Sirus's thoughts echoed through the void. His stomach growled.
'So thirsty… so weak...'
Then, something touched him.
Black tendrils slithered from the unseen floor, veined with white, reaching with deliberate hunger. They wrapped around his ankles, his hips, his wrists.
Sirus's eyes snapped open. His limbs refused to obey. No matter how violently he struggled, he couldn't move. His body felt distant—not his own.
The tendrils tightened.
[Snap!]
[Crack!]
One by one, his bones shattered. Legs twisted in unnatural directions. His lower body dismantled like a broken marionette. And yet—no blood spilled.
He couldn't even scream.
Was this still his body? Was he dreaming? Or trapped in some alien reality crafted to unmake him?
Time lost all meaning. Days. Weeks. Each second an eternity. Consciousness faded only to be yanked back by fresh torment.
Then… a voice.
[This should do it. The host should be waking up any moment now. Why was I assigned to this host? No matter. This body will be better… stronger.]
Sirus's eyes fluttered open. His body trembled, numb and raw.
"Ugh… my head… Where am I? Wait—my voice? I can speak?"
He sat up slowly, dazed, peering through the fading dark.
[Host! You're awake. Do not be alarmed. I am Menu, your assigned system. You are now my host.]
He scanned for the voice, but saw no one.
[I do not possess a physical form. I reside within you—or more precisely, I am a part of you now.]
"Inside me? Wait—Menu? That sounds familiar... So you're the one who brought me here." He clutched his head. "I remember… vaguely. But I'm not sure I want to remember."
[Apologies, Host. I initiated the hidden quest after scanning your body and discovering extensive defects—particularly your legs. They were malformed compared to others of your kind. The quest was a test. And you… exceeded expectations.]
"So being able to speak now… that's part of the reward? I do feel stronger. My legs still feel strange, though."
[Partilly. While I could have reconstructed them to standard humanoid form, I deducted that your current structure—though abnormal—offers advantages. In this configuration, your mobility potential is tripled. Jumping, running, and striking are all significantly enhanced. Hence I simply reconstructed your legs so they may work now.]
"I see… strange, but I'll trust you. How long was I in here? My parents must be losing their minds."
[Approximately twelve weeks here. However, time flows differently. Outside, only thirty-two hours have passed. Your parents await you. We shall speak again, Host.]
Outside the Cocoon
"What's going on? It's gone quiet."
"E-Ethan, the lights… they're dimming. I think—it's done."
'Come back to me, Sirus… I know you're in there.'
[Crickle]
[Kr-click]
[Swroom]
Black mist hissed from the cracked cocoon. Thick liquid seeped across the floor. Ethan, Sasha, and the Doctor—with his daughter—backed away, wary of contamination.
Then, the mist and liquid dissolved, shimmering into mana particles, vanishing like a dream.
Sasha stepped forward, breath trembling. She approached the split cocoon and saw a small figure inside.
Her hands flew to her mouth. "Sirus…"
She lifted him gently, clutching him to her chest. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Sirus! Thank the stars—you're alive!"
His eyes opened. Blinking. Slowly, they focused on her.
"Oh, my boy… we were so worried…"
Ethan, unable to speak, wept with a hand over his mouth.
The Doctor cleared his throat. "Ms. Sasha, Mr. Ethan… I must examine your son. We need to confirm he's—"
"No." Sasha's tone cut like a blade. "I can feel it. He's… better. And bigger. You're not touching him."
The Doctor flinched under her gaze. His daughter stepped forward instead, softly.
"If I may? I'll be gentle. I promise."
Sasha hesitated, then slowly nodded. "Fine. But I'm not leaving his side."
She laid Sirus on a cloth-covered table, never releasing his hand.
The young doctor raised her fingers in a dual peace sign and muttered a chant.
[X-Ray Shine]
Green light flowed from her eyes, bathing Sirus's body in spectral glow. Through it, she saw everything—bones, muscle, the very lattice of his being.
After minutes of silent study, she finally spoke.
"Miss Sasha… It's remarkable. His body has been entirely reconstructed. At a glance, he looks the same. But his inner structure—joints, muscles, bones—they're… evolved. Stronger. Healthier. And most incredibly—he should be able to stand. And walk."
She pointed to the dissolving cocoon. "Whatever that was—it helped him."
Sasha gathered Sirus in her arms, kissing his forehead.
"Then I am grateful. Ethan, let's go home."
As they left, the Doctor stared at the empty corner where the cocoon had once stood.
"…What have they given birth to?"
His daughter waved him off. "Don't drag me into this, Dad. I'm going to bed and pretending none of this ever happened."
She vanished into the hallway.
"…Good idea. I need a drink."