As sleep took over, I found myself drifting into a dream.

  I expected it to be the same as always—the café. That damn café. Ever since I got reincarnated, it was the only dream I ever had. The same wooden tables, the scent of coffee in the air, the dull hum of an unseen city outside. It was almost comforting in its consistency.

  But this time… it was different.

  There was no café. No scent of coffee. No city hum.

  Just a vast, empty white space.

  And me—standing there. In my human body.

  “…Okay, what the hell?”

  I instinctively tried to cover myself, but there was no one else here. Just me and the endless whiteness stretching in all directions. The usual warmth of the café was gone, replaced by an eerie stillness.

  Something was off.

  This wasn’t like my usual dreams. It felt… clearer. More real.

  I turned around—and froze.

  There, in the middle of this endless white void, was something that had no business being here.

  A mound.

  It wasn’t particularly large, maybe the size of a small car, but what made it unsettling were the cracks running along its surface. Jagged, uneven, like something inside had been trying to break free.

  And from those cracks… something was seeping out.

  A strange, hazy gas curled into the air, swirling unnaturally as if it had a will of its own. It wasn’t thick, but it shimmered in a way that made my skin crawl, like heatwaves rising off asphalt.

  This wasn’t normal.

  “Okay seriously, What the hell…?”

  My voice barely came out as a whisper.

  Something about this mound felt familiar, yet completely foreign. Like I should know what it was, but the knowledge was just out of reach.

  As my fingers brushed against the strange gas, the world around me shifted.

  The white void darkened, like ink spilling into water. Shadows swallowed everything, leaving only an eerie, empty blackness.

  Then—images

  [Current Skills Unveiled]

  Bristles

  Spines

  Silk Production

  Psychic

  The information settled in front of me like it had always been there, yet it felt new. As if something had deliberately hidden it from me until now.

  "...What is this place?"

  No answer came.

  Well, obviously there's no one would come in this vast of nothingness isn't it? Especially when it's your own dream.

  Then it clicked.

  These were my abilities. Everything I had so far.

  Then… is this mound thingy?

  A reflection of some sort?

  The cracked mound pulsed slightly, more gas leaking from its fractures. I couldn't tell if it was alive or just… there. But it felt significant. It feels like brimming with.. life, my life.

  I stepped closer, hesitating. If this was some kind of representation of my life, then what did the cracks mean? Something broken? Something incomplete?

  I thought harder.

  The closest thing I could come up with was that the gas… was me. Or at least, something like my life essence.

  It was leaking out from the cracks. That didn’t seem good.

  I moved my hand away, and suddenly—

  White.

  The dark scene faded. The images of my abilities disappeared. Everything returned to the blank, empty space from before.

  I looked around, half-expecting something else to happen. But nothing did. It was just me, alone again.

  Huh, maybe this is something normal.

  If this was part of my instincts or something all moths had, then maybe Mother would know. I made a mental note to ask her later.

  But for now… I was curious.

  I reached out to the gas again.

  Just like before, the moment my hand touched it—

  Darkness.

  The white void vanished, and the images returned. My bristles. My spines. My silk. My psychic.

  But was that all?

  I focused harder, trying to see if there was more.

  Lunar Ascension.

  An image of moonlight bathed in a soft, radiant aura appeared before me.

  Moonlight? In a dungeon?

  Yeah, that makes sense. I rolled my eyes.

  Still, this one was different. The other abilities felt real, like they were a part of me. This one… it felt incomplete. Locked away.

  I reached out to it—

  But nothing happened.

  No new information, no instinctive understanding like with the others. Just the glowing moonlight, out of reach.

  Curious, I tried something different.

  This time, I placed my left hand on one of the images—my Bristles—while keeping my right hand on the strange gas.

  Immediately, a rush of sensations flooded my mind.

  I felt the air shifting, the faintest vibrations traveling through it. It was like I could see without my eyes, sensing even the smallest movement. An image flashed—me, dodging an attack before it even landed, reacting purely on instinct.

  Then it shifted. The bristles stiffened, standing on end like tiny spears. Another image: me lunging forward, brushing against an enemy, my bristles piercing weak spots in their armor. Defense and offense, all in one.

  I pulled my hand back, exhaling sharply.

  Okay… that was new.

  I tried again.

  This time, I placed my hand on Spines.

  Another rush—this one sharper, heavier.

  I saw myself curled up, spines interlocking like a shield as something slammed into me. The impact barely fazed me. Then, another image—me ramming into an enemy, my spines puncturing their body, leaving deep wounds.

  A weapon.

  A defense.

  It was all instinctual, as if my body already knew how to fight—I just had to remember. So when I touches them it shows me how to use that skill, like a tutorial video—handy.

  Yet, when I reached out to Lunar Ascension again… nothing.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  It remained just out of reach.

  I frowned. Maybe I need to actually see the moon… or at least moonlight?

  Great. Guess I’ll just go drape myself in flowing robes and bask under the moonlight like some tragic maiden of the night.

  That would mean leaving this dungeon. Or I just have to find an area in this dungeon that somehow have moonlights which not very likely gonna happen.

  I crossed my arms, deep in thought. So far, everything I had unlocked was instinctive, things my body already knew how to do. But this Lunar Ascension—it felt different, like it needed something external to activate.

  I groaned. Great. Another mystery to solve.

  If I really needed to be outside to understand this ability, then at some point, I’d have to find a way out of this dungeon or whatever this place was. But that wasn’t happening anytime soon. For now, I had other things to focus on—like surviving.

  With a sigh, I pulled my hand away from the strange gas once more. The darkness faded, and the endless white void returned.

  Alright, how do I get out of this?

  I had no idea how I even got here in the first place, so leaving was another issue entirely. Maybe… if I just closed my eyes and willed myself to wake up?

  I shut my eyes and focused. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.

  Then—

  A shift. A sensation like falling—

  And then I was awake. Huh it was that easy.

  The first thing I saw was Goldy’s big, round face staring at me, way too close for comfort.

  “Ah—” I flinched back instinctively. “What the hell, Goldy?”

  Goldy tilted her head, antennae twitching. “You were making weird faces in your sleep. Did you have a nightmare?”

  I blinked, still processing everything. “Something like that…”

  I blinked at Goldy, still groggy from waking up. Since when do caterpillars even have faces?

  The thought made me snort internally. Sure, they had eyes, mandibles, and all that, but calling it a face like a human’s? That was just weird.

  Shaking off the lingering haze of sleep, I stretched my tiny legs. “It wasn’t a nightmare, just… something strange. I’ll figure it out later.”

  Goldy wiggled slightly, her golden body shimmering under the dim dungeon light. Weird dreams, huh? Maybe you’re evolving soon! she said, her telepathic voice still carrying that childlike excitement.

  I paused. Evolving…? That dream did show something about my abilities. Maybe Goldy had a point.

  Shifting slightly on my silk bedding, I still wasn’t quite used to how my body felt after waking up. I turned to Goldy, who was still staring at me with that weirdly expressive caterpillar face.

  “Hey, Goldy,” I started, tone curious but casual. “I had this dream… but it wasn’t the usual one. It was a white space, completely empty, except for this weird gas floating around. And when I touched it, I saw stuff—like my own abilities. Ever had something like that?”.

  Goldy perked up, wiggling in excitement. Oh! You had that dream! she replied through our psychic link. Yeah, yeah, everyone gets it! It’s like a dream that tells you how strong you are.

  I narrowed my eyes. “That’s it? No fancy explanation? No deep mystical meaning?”.

  Goldy shrugged—or at least, felt like she did through the link. Dunno the details. It just happens! Some get it early, some later. I had mine a while ago. It’s useful, right?

  I hummed in thought. “I mean, yeah, it was kind of helpful… but it felt weirdly important. Like there’s more to it.”

  Maybe there is? Or maybe you just think too much, Goldy teased. Anyway, what’d you see?

  I smirked. “That I’m already way cooler than you.”

  Goldy gasped dramatically. Rude!

  I could feel the pout through our psychic link.

  “Well, I don’t know much about it,” she admitted. But Mother probably does! If you’re really that curious, you should ask her.

  I sighed. “Figures. Everything weird seems to go back to her one way or another.”

  Goldy wiggled in agreement. Well, she is the Queen. She knows a lot. Oh! Maybe it means you’re gonna evolve into something cool!

  I snorted. “Pfft, you wish I’d evolve first.”

  Goldy gasped. Excuse you! I am a Royal Child, thank you very much! I’ll definitely evolve before you! Besides, I’ve technically already evolved twice!

  I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, yeah, keep telling yourself that, I'm catch up sooner or later. Anyway, I’ll ask Mother. No point overthinking it now.”

  With that I crawled my way to Mother's area, feeling the familiar roughness of the dungeon floor beneath me. Goldy trailed behind, but even without looking, I could feel her impatience pressing against me like an annoying itch.

  "Can you be patient for once?" I sighed, flicking my bristles slightly.

  "I am being patient!" Goldy huffed through the psychic link. "You’re just slow!"

  I scoffed. "You’re the older one here. Shouldn’t you be the patient and wise one?"

  Goldy wiggled, which I was pretty sure was the caterpillar version of puffing up. "I am wise! I just don’t like waiting!"

  I rolled my eyes and kept moving. Sometimes, I wondered who the real big sister was here.

  Just as we were about to reach Mother, a powerful thud shook the ground in front of us. A halberd struck deep into the earth, its gleaming blade reflecting the dim dungeon light.

  I froze. Goldy tensed beside me.

  Standing before us, wings partially spread and golden chitin gleaming like polished armor, was him—the King Mothkin. Our father.

  His presence was suffocating. The sheer weight of his aura pressed down on us like an unseen force, making my bristles stand on end.

  "What business do you have with the Queen?" his voice resonated through the air, deep and commanding. His compound eyes locked onto us, unreadable yet piercing.

  Goldy, despite her usual confidence, hesitated. I could feel her unease through our link.

  I swallowed and spoke up. "I need to ask Mother something important."

  His grip on the halberd didn’t loosen. "Important?" he echoed, his gaze scrutinizing me.

  I held my ground. "Yes. About a dream."

  The King Mothkin studied us for a long moment, his gaze unwavering. Then, with a slow, deliberate movement, he pulled his halberd from the ground and stepped aside.

  "Very well. You may pass."

  Goldy let out a small breath of relief beside me, but I knew better than to relax just yet.

  Before we could move, his wings flared slightly, and his presence grew heavier. A dark, looming shadow stretched over us as his voice dropped into something even colder.

  "But know this—" he said, his tone sharp as a blade, "if you try anything foolish in the Queen’s presence, I will not hesitate to strike you down myself."

  A chill ran down my spine. There was no doubt in my mind—he meant every word.

  I forced myself to nod. "Understood."

  Goldy stiffened but managed a quick, "Got it, Father."

  With that, we moved past him, his piercing gaze lingering on our backs as we approached Mother.

  As we moved past him, Goldy let out a small shudder. "That was scary," she admitted through our psychic link.

  I couldn't help but snort. "Yeah, real scary. He’s got the whole ‘edgy warrior’ thing going on. I bet he spends his free time brooding on the edge of a cliff, muttering about power and destiny."

  Goldy tilted her head. "I don’t really get what you mean, but... I agree?"

  Well of course you do Goldy.

  As we finally reached Mother's area, we were met with a massive, Huge tent-like structure woven from shimmering golden silk. The way it draped down from the ceiling and coiled elegantly around the walls made it look almost regal—fitting for a queen.

  Just as I was taking it all in, the entrance shifted, and Mother emerged, her radiant form as imposing as ever. Her large wings fluttered slightly, sending a faint breeze through the space.

  "Ah, my children," she greeted us, her voice smooth yet commanding. "What brings you here?"

  “I have some questions,” I said, getting straight to the point. “Something about the white space thingy in my dream.”

  Mother’s antennae twitched slightly as she gave a knowing nod. “Ah, that thing.” Her tone was calm, as if she had explained this countless times before. “It has many names, but most commonly, it is known as Lucid Reflection or The Realm of Reflection.”

  She folded her wings slightly as she continued, “It is a dream where one can self-evaluate their skills and abilities. It also serves as an indicator of your evolution progress.”

  I blinked. So, basically, it was like a status screen but in dream form? Convenient.

  “It was once created by a god—Aritheon, the god of statistics and calculations—thousands of years ago.”

  I almost choked on nothing. The god of what now?

  Statistics and Calculations? That’s got to be the most boring ass sounding god I’ve ever heard of. What’s next? The god of bookkeeping? Divine Lord of Spreadsheets?

  Mother continued, unaware of my internal commentary. “Back then, people had to learn a spell and cast it in order for Lucid Reflection to appear in their dreams. However, because it was cast so frequently, generation after generation, the spell eventually became ingrained in one’s soul. Now, it manifests naturally in dreams.”

  She tilted her head slightly before adding, “Of course, if you still learn the spell and cast it manually, you can enter Lucid Reflection at will… but you’ll become unconscious immediately, which is why it only activates when you’re asleep.”

  Huh. So, self-evaluation magic became so routine that it turned into a biological feature. That’s… actually kind of cool.

  "Thanks for explaining, Mother."

  "No problem," she replied smoothly, but then her tone shifted slightly. "Now then, have you made your decision yet?"

  I blinked. "Decision?"

  "Whether you will go your own way or follow your royal brood," she clarified, glancing at Goldy.

  Ah. That. Right.

  I hadn't really thought too hard about it since earlier, but... for now, the easiest path was clear.

  "I'll stick with Goldy for now," I said. "Not forever or anything, just... for now."

  Goldy practically radiated excitement through the psychic link, like a kid who just found out they were getting ice cream.

  "Very well then," Mother said with a nod before turning her attention to Goldy. "And you? Do you wish to stay within the colony, or will you lead your own brood?"

  Goldy perked up at the question, practically beaming through the psychic link. "I wanna lead my own brood!" she declared with enthusiasm. "That way, I can grow faster and stronger!"

  I wasn’t surprised. If anything, this was the most Goldy answer possible. The little caterpillar might act like a grade-schooler, but she had ambitions the size of a dragon—and the management style of a black company CEO with a caffeine addiction. If she had a tiny suit and a clipboard, we’d all be doomed.

  Mother’s tone grew serious, as if the weight of her words was something to be taken to heart. "Very well, Royal Child," she said, addressing Goldy. "I respect your decision." She turned her gaze back to both of us, her voice lowering as she spoke again. "However, heed this warning—this Labyrinth may hold countless monsters, but they are predictable. You can avoid them if you judge their strength well enough. What you must fear are the unpredictable elements."

  I raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. What could she mean by that? Then she said it, and it hit me with a chill I hadn’t expected.

  “Humans.”

  I froze for a moment, as the reality of her words settled in. Humans. They existed after all, and they were far from friendly to our kind. The way she described them made me shudder—hunting, kidnapping, and killing us for our precious silk. My silk. The royal silk that seemed so prized in the world outside.

  “If you see one, run. If they can be outnumbered, kill them.”

  I couldn’t help but think of the humans I’d heard of back in my old life. But to think they were out there, hunting creatures like us... It was hard to even wrap my head around the idea. But Goldy was right. This world had its own dangers, and if humans were as dangerous as Mother said, then survival came first. It was as simple as that.

  I nodded to myself, making a silent vow to stay cautious. Humans were unpredictable, and if I had to fight to protect myself, I would.

  I couldn't help but chuckle inwardly at the irony of it all. The way Mother spoke about humans, it was as if she had some deep-seated hatred for them. And honestly, who could blame her? After all, if they were as dangerous as she said, I’d want to be wary of them too. Still, I made sure to keep that part of my thoughts to myself. The last thing I needed was Mother finding out I was once a human.

  Good thing I didn’t say anything about that past life of mine, I mused, suppressing the urge to snicker. If she knew, it would probably be the last time I was allowed anywhere near her. Or at least, that’s how I imagined it going.

  For now, it was better to let her think of me as just another one of her brood. After all, I didn’t exactly have a choice in this new life.

  "Wait, hold on—Labyrinth?" I cut in before Mother could move on to another topic. "You mean to tell me we’re actually inside a giant dungeon this whole time?"

  Mother turned her gaze toward me, her antennae twitching slightly. "That is correct. This place is known as the Great Labyrinth of Syrrath. We are currently in the 3rd Zone, The Glowing Cave."

  I blinked. "Third Zone? So, how many zones are there?"

  "There are 13 primary layers, meaning 13 major zones," she explained. "However, there are also extra zones, hidden areas, and secret zones scattered throughout the labyrinth. Some are well-documented, while others remain undiscovered."

  I took a moment to process that. "Huh. So basically, this place is even bigger than I thought…" I muttered, rubbing my head with one of my little stubby legs. A massive underground death maze filled with monsters? Great. Just great.

  "Indeed," Mother continued. "And the deeper one goes, the more dangerous it becomes. Only the strong can survive beyond the upper zones."

  I sighed. "Of course it works like that," I grumbled. Wouldn’t be a proper death trap if it didn’t have a difficulty spike.

  Mother continued, "I usually linger around the 5th to 6th Zone, but since it’s my laying cycle, I need to move to the upper zones. I generally moves between the 3rd and 6th Zones, as I have established territories for our colony in those areas."

  I processed that for a moment. "So basically, this entire dungeon is your personal backyard?"

  "In a way, yes," she responded.

  "The 3rd Zone, the Glowing Cave, is where monsters are weak enough for a group of hatchlings to fend for themselves. The 4th Zone, the Dark Cave, is usually a transitional place for caterpillars evolving to the cocoon stage, and its environment is also optimal for cocoons—its complete darkness enhances spatial senses, making it an ideal place to develop our latent psychic abilities.

  The 5th Zone, the Green Abyss, is where moths and Mothkin further cultivate their strength and usually serves as the transitional stage for cocoons into moths and Mothkin.Then the 6th Zone, the Sunken Ruins, is where the peak challenge themselves. It’s where the strongest moths and Mothkin push their limits. I go there from time to time for a cleaning session for myself."

  I nodded along, taking mental notes. "So, third for hatchlings, fourth for cocooning, fifth for training… Got it."

  Then her last words finally sank in.

  Wait. Back up.

  "Hold on," I said, giving her a flat look. "Did you just casually drop ‘cleaning session’ in the same breath as talking about a death gauntlet for overachievers?"

  Mother simply nodded, entirely unbothered.

  I could only stare.

  Of course she did. Because why wouldn’t the strongest being in the colony consider a life-threatening endurance test to be the equivalent of a spa day? Meanwhile, the rest of us were out here struggling to get past level one.

  My mind, against my will, conjured the image of Mother in a bath towel, lounging in a hot spring like some kind of elegant noblewoman—except, y’know, still a massive, terrifying moth. Did she… use her own wings as a loofah?

  I shook the thought away before it could settle in too deep.

  "Right. Okay. Makes total sense," I said, voice laced with sarcasm. "The Sunken Ruins—where the strongest go to prove themselves or where Mother goes to exfoliate. Love that for us."

  Then she casually added, "As for my own strength, I am strong enough to navigate the 7th and 8th Zones without issue, struggles on 9th floor and might die on 10th floor."

  I nearly choked on nothing. Wait, what?

  So she’s just been babying us in the 3rd to 6th Zones while she’s actually powerful enough to roam way deeper? Great. Just great. I had a feeling that if she really wanted, she could squash everything in these upper zones like an overpowered endgame boss just chilling in the newbie area.

  I tilted my head. "Then, what exactly is in the deeper floors?"

  Mother’s expression didn’t change, but there was a brief pause before she answered. "That is something you would be better off not knowing."

  ...Oh. That’s not ominous at all.

  Goldy, ever the curious one, piped up. "But isn’t it good to know what’s ahead so we can prepare?"

  Mother turned her many eyes toward her. "Knowing something does not always mean being prepared for it."

  That sent a small chill down my spine. Okay, so either it's something so horrible she doesn't want to talk about it, or she just thinks we'd die the moment we even think about stepping foot down there.

  Goldy, however, wasn’t convinced. "So, you're not going to tell us anything?"

  Mother simply replied, "No."

  Alright. Message received.

  Some things are better left unknown.

  With that, I figured I was done with my questions—for now.

  "Thanks for explaining, Mother. I’ll be going now."

  Mother gave a slight nod. "Go on, then. Stay sharp, my childrens."

  Goldy and I turned to leave, and as we stepped out of the golden silk-covered area, I saw our other broodmates waiting for us. Some were idly shifting around, others were chatting through their little psychic links.

  One of them noticed us and called out, "Took you long enough!"

  Goldy puffed up slightly, trying to look important. "We were getting valuable information!"

  I rolled my eyes. Yeah, and also getting threatened by Father.

  I turned to Goldy. "So, what now?"

  Goldy perked up, antennae twitching. "For now, we'll explore around the 3rd Zone and then press on to the 4th Zone. But before that—" she turned to the rest of our brood. "What do you all think?"

  The response was almost instant.

  "Whatever you decide, Royal Sister!"

  "We’ll follow you, Royal Sister!"

  Goldy seemed satisfied, nodding as if she expected this answer. Of course, she did—she was our Royal Sister, our leader.

  Meanwhile, I had my own thoughts.

  Pressing deeper meant going farther from the surface, away from the moonlight I might need for my so-called Lunar Ascension. But going to the upper floors meant dealing with the possibility of humans. And from what Mother said, humans were dangerous—hunters of our kind.

  If I wanted to survive, if I wanted to be ready for whatever was up there… then going deeper and getting stronger was the best choice.

  I looked at Goldy. "Alright, then. Let’s press on."

  Goldy grinned. "That’s the spirit!"

  And just like that, our small brood of thirteen set off, deeper into the labyrinth.

  Goldy, beaming with energy, waved her front legs excitedly. "Alright then, let's go!"

  With that, she turned and began leading the way, her movements full of enthusiasm. The rest of our siblings followed without question, their tiny bodies crawling over the rocky terrain with ease.

  I sighed internally. How does she have so much energy?

  Still, there was no turning back now. With a final glance toward Mother’s golden silk-covered domain, I followed after Goldy, ready to face whatever awaited us in the depths of the labyrinth.

  End of Chapter 8