After escaping the stone golem with the flair of a flaming egg, I stopped rolling behind a rock formation that looked like a nest. My breath—metaphorically—was still ragged.
But what made me freeze wasn't exhaustion.
Right in front of me…
A cluster of eggs.
Many of them.
Pale, faintly glowing, and… unmoving.
> [System Analysis: Object – Monster Eggs – Status: Unhatched]
One... two... three... seven...
There were maybe twelve eggs nestled in this rocky den.
I stared at them, my feelings tangled.
> "Are they... my family? Friends? Rivals? Or someone's dinner?"
I crept in slowly. No sign of their mother.
> [Warning: This zone belongs to Guardian Creature – Class B]
"Oh no..."
If this was true, I'd just wandered into a boss monster's nest. But... where were they?
I decided to rest among the eggs. It felt... safe. Warm.
For a moment, I didn't feel alone.
Then something strange happened.
> [Energy Reaction: Minor Synchronization – Element Unstable]
I touched one of the eggs. A spark flared—small, like static electricity.
My body shivered.
CRACK.
Not me.
One of the eggs... cracked.
> "Huh? Did I just... speed up the hatching?"
I slowly backed away. But…
CRACK. CRACK.
More cracks spread. Several other eggs began to split.
I panicked. "Wait! I'm not your mom!"
But it was too late.
From within, tiny creatures emerged—baby lizard-like beings with shells, red eyes, and...
They looked at me like—
Like chicks seeing their mother.
> "Don't tell me they... think I'm... Mom?!"
---
To Be Continued…