The forum went dead silent.
Moments ago, everyone had envied Akinas Speedster for unlocking the first starting species—Pallbearer Chicken—a rare honor.
Now?
Now they were watching their hero become a permanent menu item.
> "What a tragedy! You didn't just fail to poison the boss… You fed him once and now he's hooked!"
"Congrats, bro. You've class-changed into 'Crispy Farm-to-Table Chicken.' Tastes like chicken, crunches like chips, and has eight times the protein of beef!"
"You spent half an hour customizing your character to be beautiful—and ended up making yourself more appetizing. LOL."
"I spat out my food watching the livestream. I wanted to cry for you, but I laughed till I wheezed."
"Face it bro. Your starter species is doomed. You didn't evolve a companion, you cooked a buffet."
Somewhere in the depths of the forum, Akinas Speedster sat stunned.
He stared at the dwindling remnants of his once-proud flock. A hundred strong had become a handful. Regret settled on his shoulders like a mountain.
"Why... Why did I make it taste so good?"
He had walked straight into his own trap, like a chef who fell in love with his own cooking—and was eaten alive for it.
---
Meanwhile, Ethan, blissfully unaware of the chaos he'd caused on the forums, strolled into his cozy countryside kitchen carrying a basket filled with plump, red-feathered birds the size of quail eggs.
"Perfect timing," he murmured. "I'm starving."
He plucked their feathers in one practiced motion, washed them clean, and tossed them into a pot.
"As expected of a gourmet-designed species," he chuckled. "Even raw, they smell amazing."
It was second nature to him. After all, what farmer doesn't cook what he grows?
He cracked a couple of eggs on top, added a few scallions, and turned on the flame. The scent soon filled the kitchen.
> "I knew that idiot would pick the first reward.
Welcome to your future, buddy: a delicacy with legs."
He stirred the simmering pot like a satisfied warlock cooking up some ancient alchemical brew.
And oh, was it delicious.
Ethan's mouth curled into a smile of pure, genuine joy as the rich broth and tender meat hit his tongue. It was an otherworldly fusion of pufferfish thrill and rotisserie chicken comfort.
> "This is it.
This is the apex of evolutionary cuisine.
I need more of this in my life."
---
Then, mid-bite, he had a thought.
> "Why stop at poultry? What if they grew me… fruits?"
He sat up, eyes gleaming.
Ethan adored fruit. He often ate it while watching the sandbox. It was the perfect snack while observing the rise and fall of civilizations.
So why not have the players evolve delicious plants for him?
The problem was obvious: players were all obsessed with mobility, limbs, and eyes. No one wanted to be a plant. They couldn't move. They couldn't fight. Who'd willingly photosynthesize?
But Ethan had a way of nudging them.
He logged into his stealth alt account—"Vengeful Creator"—and posted on the forums:
> "I've been watching. Why hasn't anyone tried evolving into a plant yet?
You do realize half of all life are plants, right?
Evolution isn't just about running around."
The forums lit up.
> "Holy crap. We forgot about plants!"
"Wait, that's genius! We've all been meatheads chasing legs and toxins. Plants are a whole new frontier!"
"Screw it. I've already died and reverted to a spore—I'm going full chlorophyll. All-night study session starting now: photosynthesis, xylem, stomata, I'm making the perfect fruit tree."
One especially poetic player chimed in:
> "Tomorrow, I shall begin life as a tree.
I will stand with dignity, half-buried in earth, half-bathed in sunlight.
A silent guardian, a proud observer.
Shade to the weary, wisdom to the world."
Ethan was delighted. He closed his alt account with a satisfied grin.
His sandbox was starting to feel like an Eden of free labor.
If all went well, they'd evolve entire orchards of divine fruits—crafted by stress, sweat, and sleepless study sessions.
---
As he continued browsing the forums and savoring his meal, something else caught his attention—a new player with potential.
Username: Future Skywhale.
The name was well-known. A chill gamer, former Minecraft veteran, and obsessive builder. But unlike others, he wasn't in a rush to evolve into some beast of war or mythical monster.
He was calmly crafting furniture.
Yes. Furniture.
While others chased power and poison, this guy had evolved five utility tentacles, each customized for different tools.
Two mantis-blade limbs for cutting wood.
One shovel-limb for digging.
Two precision tentacles for assembling components.
He was building a chair.
And he was fast.
Whoosh!
He chopped down a tree, separated the bark, carved each leg, and slotted it together with the speed of a 3D printer running on Red Bull.
Ethan blinked.
> "What… what the hell did this guy evolve? Is this a tentacled IKEA robot?!"
It wasn't evolution—it was a factory on legs.
The sandbox was becoming stranger, richer, and more alive with each passing day.
And somewhere, far beneath Ethan's watchful gaze, the seeds of gods and empires were quietly taking root.