The subtle internal sensation, the gathering of vital substance from the consumed leaves, reached a peak. The feeling of "Critically Low" receded entirely, replaced by a new state of readiness, a stored potential. The instinct to consume quieted, its purpose temporarily fulfilled. A new, powerful drive surged, absolute and undeniable, filling his entire being: Replicate.

  It wasn't a choice, but an inevitability, the next step encoded into his very essence. He felt a strange, internal restructuring begin within his segmented body. A knotting, a reshaping, a dedication of the newly acquired substance to a singular, profound process. On the internal map of his awareness, his core unit icon pulsed brightly, the process represented as a growing aura around his form.

  The physical sensation was not one of division or pain, but of focused energy, of substance flowing and organizing according to an ancient, perfect design. From a point along his side, a bud began to form, mirroring the shape of his own body. It grew rapidly, segment by segment, pushing outwards from his form. He felt the connection, the shared being, even as the new shape became distinct.

  And then, it was done. The process completed with a silent, internal snap. A second form lay beside the first, small and pale, identical to himself. On the internal map, a second icon appeared, linked to his, undeniably a part of the whole.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Core Unit + 1 Replication Successful.

  A wave of profound, exhilarating accomplishment washed over him. This was more than mere satisfaction; it was a surge of pure, unadulterated triumph. He had done it. He had taken the raw world, consumed it, and from it, created more of himself. It felt like the culmination of every optimized build order, every perfectly executed expansion in his past life, condensed into a single, potent moment. This was the fundamental victory, the most basic, glorious proof of existence and purpose. He had multiplied. He was no longer one.

  He stretched his perception, his awareness extending to encompass the new unit. It felt like an extension of his own will, another limb to command. He instinctively understood its state – vital, ready. And he understood its potential. It, too, pulsed with the innate directives: Consume. Replicate. Explore.

  One… Now two… It worked… It’s real… More units… So fast… This is the core… This is how I grow…

  The feeling of triumph lingered, a warm glow in the background of his awareness. The world on his internal map looked the same – the small cleared patch, the looming Fog of War. But his place in it had fundamentally changed. He was no longer a singular point, vulnerable and alone. He was the beginning of a collective.

  The immediate resources around them were depleted. The objective was clear, driven by instinct and the deep-seated strategic imperative of his past: expansion. Find more substance. Create more units. Push back the unknown. Become more.

  He could feel the second body stir, an echo of his own intention. The next cycle awaited. The next opportunity to consume, to replicate, to revel in the simple, undeniable glory of growth. The swarm had begun.

  Did you know what his inner thoughts were?